Burdened Love - A Peaky Blinders Story

38

The next few days I was booked and busy. I had been working long hours at the office preparing for shipments of Gin. Tommy had been not so secretly, sneaking in to my room at Polly's every night to see me. It was a time where we could just be ourselves, free from business, the Italians, and the Shelby family.

I rolled over on to Tommy's bare chest and kissed it lightly.

He groaned not wanting to wake up.

"Come on Mr. Shelby OBE. It's time to conquer the world" I climbed on top of him and his eyes sleepily opened.

He groaned in delight this time. "Fuck" his groggy morning voice broke his silence.

I rolled off of him and sat at the edge of the bed.

Today was the day where I was meeting Alfie at the distillery in Birmingham. It was just going to be me, since Tommy had business elsewhere. I don't know why but I was extremely nervous.

"You're going to do great" he said sitting up and grabbing a cigarette.

"I don't want to let you down" I said looking at him.

"You won't." His confidence in me was empowering but also made my anxiety worse.

I move to sit next to him with my knees up to my chest and steal the cigarettes out of his mouth just as he had lit it.

"Fucking hell" he groaned as he watched me exhale the smoke.

"What do I get for a job well done?" I smirk handing him back the cigarette.

"You get a paycheck" he replied.

"I don't get any bonuses for fucking the boss?" I stand up to start getting dressed.

"That is your bonus" he smirks as he watches me remove my nightgown and I throw it at him in response to his comment.

—

I sat at the small table in the middle of the distillery waiting for Alfie to arrive. I had everything laid out and planned. It was easy for me to take kindly to this work, since I had helped Alfie with his business at times.

Before I had the chance to get more nervous I hear the door open.

"Wow Tommy, you got yourself a real legitimate fuckin distillery here mate" Alfie's voice trailed off when his eyes met mine.

"Well you're not Tommy" he huffed a laugh and sat down across from me.

"I am in charge of this business" I said confidently.

It took him a second for him to reply "Damn right he put you in charge, who better than my sister?"

I just laughed in response.

"The man has an eye for business, I will tell you Mills" he looks at me like nothing had changed and all the nerves I had wash away.

"Well good then, when is the earliest we can get our first shipment out?" I say slapping papers on the table.

The look in his eyes showed me he was proud. There was almost no better feeling than that.

—

Alfie offered to walk me to the betting shop offices since he knew the threat of the Italians was still imminent. We had laughed and caught up on small things that were not business or Tommy Shelby related and it felt good.

We hugged goodbye and I walked in to the betting shop. I was met with Alfie covered in red paint or blood or both, and the horrified faces of Linda, Lizzie and Ada.

"What the fuck Arthur?" I looked at him with my hands out.

"I killed 'em Millie" he sounded psychotic.

"Who did you kill?" Linda, his wife, stood up.

"The fucking Italians" he spat out blood.

"They came for you?!" Ada asked looking at him concerned.

"Yes sister, but they found out very quickly NOT TO FUCK WITH ARTHUR SHELBY" he yelled and began laughing hysterically.

Tommy busted through the front door of the betting shop.

"What happened?" He yelled walking straight to Arthur.

Arthur explained that he was at the factory and was attacked by two of Changrettas men.

"I killed em with me bare hands Tommy" Arthur finished.

Tommy rubbed his face with his hands. "Linda go get him cleaned up." He motioned over to her.

"How the fuck did they get in?" Tommy yelled looking at all of us.

"Finn come with me." Tommy looked over to Finn as he headed out.

Before leaving, he pulled me toward him. "Go be with me boy Amelia. I need to know he is with someone I trust." He almost seemed scared.

"Of course" I squeeze his hand as he leaves.