Burdened Love - A Peaky Blinders Story

33

The past two days were filled with business for Tommy and Arthur. 

It was the same for Polly and I. Polly was offered her position back in the business and I was offered a new position.  We had talked for hours that night after Tommy had asked me, debating on whether or not we should take the opportunity. We drunkingly decided to do it together, but we wanted to make sure we could back out at any moment. We told them to write that in to the contract. 

Polly had cut her hair into a badass short hair cut. She took me shopping and I bought some peaky blinders inspired clothes so that I could look the part. Arthur gave us guns and we went out to the fields outside the city and practiced shooting. It almost felt that Polly and I were taking back our power, after being so broken for so long. We did not talk about it, but I think we both knew it. 

The day we were to be initiated into the company officially, I headed to the hospital early to talk to Michael. I had not seen him since Tommy and I had kissed two nights ago, and I wanted to talk to him before the meeting.

I knock lightly on the hospital room door and hear Michael's voice say "Come in". 

He seems surprised to see me when I enter. 

"You're here early" he says. 

"I wanted to talk to you, before the meeting" I say sitting at the table next to him where he is working on some books for the company. 

"Let me guess. Tommy found out about us, and you are coming here to tell me it cant happen anymore" he says nonchalantly putting a cigarette from my purse in his mouth and lighting it. 

"Well not exactly, but kind of" I sigh. 

"Millie, I knew it would happen, but I cant say I am not slightly disappointed" he smirks as he blows the smoke from his lips. 

I laugh at his bluntness. "Its not about Tommy, I just dont want to complicate things with the business and Polly especially" 

"Not saying that those reasons arent true, but it is about Tommy a little bit is it not?" Him seeing right through me made me wonder if everyone could do the same. 

I did not say anything back. "Come on Mille, you love him" He says looking at me. 

Before I could say anything the hospital room door opens and Tommy enters. 

His gaze slides from Michael to me and then back to Michael. "Those books done?" he asks sitting by me at the table and sliding over the papers from in front of Michael to in front of him. 

"Yeah they are done" Michael says unamused and stands up walking over to his hospital bed and sitting on the edge wincing. 

"You are early" Tommy says to me in a low tone looking me dead in the eyes. 

"Just wanted to sort out some things before everyone came" I reply. 

His gaze holds mine for what feels like forever, but our stares break once the door flings open again. 

Ada walks in and Michael lets out a dramatic sigh. "Thank God someone else is here, the tension between these two is uncomfortable" Ada laughs and hugs Michael. 

"They will sort it out soon enough" She says as if we were not sitting right there. 

"I would fuckin hope so" Polly says as she walks in. 

At this point I just laugh a little, and I almost think I see a smirk on Tommy's face. 

Tommy clears his throat and stands up, "We are just missing Arthur now?" he looks around the room. 

"His wife did not want him to come" Ada says and sighs plopping into the chair across from me. 

"Fucking Linda" Tommy sighs and then calls to one of the blinders outside to go retrieve Arthur. 

"We can start without him" He says and then stands at the head of the table looking at all of us. 

He throws two small stacks of paper on the table. "Your terms and conditions, for being in the Shelby company". He looks to Polly and I. I slide the stack of papers closer to me and look at it.

"All in favor of Polly and Amelia being apart of the Shelby company, raise your hand." Tommy says.  

Michael, Ada, and Tommy raise their hands. "Now all you need to do is sign" he says nodding to the papers. 

I take the pen and as I sign, I cant help but thinking of what my brother would say of me signing this. I wonder if he is still even alive. I shake the thoughts away and sign the papers. There in permanent ink I signed to be a Peaky Blinder.