We walked into the building, it stunk.
I walked behind John and Arthur as they talk about something that happened last night with Freddie and the cops, I shake my head lighting a cigarette as we approach a man by the fighting ring, illegal fighting ring.
"Mr.marston I believe? The ringmaster?" Arthur asks the man.
"Proud i am to say so."
"Yeah well, these here are civilized parts. Man wants to set up his stall with fellas lamping each other, he needs himself a license." Arthur grabs a drink holding it up.
"A license?"
"For a fee, from those in charge." Arthur says pouring the drink onto the floor.
"I'll tell you what, how about I keep my money, and you shove a license up your arse crack?" The man steps closer.
I stare at him putting my hand on my hip my finger tracing my gun in the holster.
"You don't want to speak to me like that." Arthur leans close in.
"And who the bloody hell—" I cut the man off.
"Were the peaky fucking blinders." I say taking Arthur's glass and smashing it against the man's head causing him to stumble back.
"My name is Arthur Shelby!" A man from the ring yells making me whip my head around.
"Dad?" Arthur's eyes widen.
His dad turns staring at Arthur and John "Jesus."
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Arthur for some reason Invited him back to the house. I sat across the table from his dad Finn and John standing on the side, Arthur and Polly on the other side.
I stare up at Arthur as he gives his dad a sandwich on a plate, I slightly roll my eyes lighting up a cigarette.
"Thank you, you are a good boy." His dad says and I stare at Him.
Their dad before eating begins saying a prayer, extracting a "Jesus Christ." Out of Polly's mouth.
"Please, woman, not in vain." He says looking up at her.
"Finish your sandwich and sling your hook." I say taking a puff of my cigarette.
"I'm the guest of the head of this family. So why don't you maybe tend to your mangle and your scuttle." He stares me down and I sit up in my chair before Arthur grabs my shoulder and leans me back.
"The head of the family ain't here." John speaks up.
As John speaks the door opens, a slight smirk appears on my face as I see Tommy.
"Well. Speak of the devil." Their dad says putting the butter knife down.
He stands. "How are you son?" He asks Tommy. Tommy shakes his head. "Get out."
"Come on, son. I'm a changed man." He waves his arms.
"This family needed you ten years ago and you walked out on us, not now. Get out of this house."
"Tommy, he's different—"
"Shut up, Arthur." I say quietly.
"It's alright son, Arthur Shelby never stays where he's not welcome." He says as he makes his exit.
John and Finn slowly approach the table as I put out my cigarette.
"He's our dad."
Tommy lets out a long sigh. "He's a selfish bastard."
"You calling someone a selfish bastard, that's a bit rich, Tommy. I mean, thanks to you were already down a bloody sister." Arthur speaks quietly.
"You want to see him, Arthur?" Tommy takes a step closer.
"You want to see him?" He points to the door.
"You go with him."
Arthur stands from his chair getting in Tommy's face. "Arthur—" I open my mouth.
"Shut up." He muttered.
He turns back to Tommy before leaving silently.
A few hours later I went looking for him finding him at that same illegal fighting ring, I was going to talk to him but once I saw his dad with him, I changed my mind.
He locked eyes with me standing up but I left the building through a crowd of men.
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I sat in the dining room the next day with Polly, quietly smoking a cigarette as she read the news paper, I look up to Arthur as he comes inside.
"Where's your father?" I ask.
Disappointment was on his face, I lean forward with a glare putting my cigarette out.
"I'm assuming he's fritting away the 500 you took from us and put it in his thieving, whore-groping hands?" I ask flattening the news paper in my lap.
"What were you thinking, how dare you do something like that without talking to Thomas or me, bloody hell you could've talked to y/n." Polly asks him.
"Does Tommy know?" He asked quietly.
"No, but you're gonna tell him." I say lighting up another cigarette.
————————————
The next morning I sat silently next to Arthur staring at the bruises around his neck, tears pricking my eyes.
"What were you bloody thinking?" I whisper, slowly taking a hit of my cigarette, my hand shaking.
He stays silent, I reach forward brushing my fingers over the bruises, he moves away sitting back in his chair.
"Don't you dare ever do something like that again." I lean back in my chair as Thomas enters the room.
Pouring himself a cup of tea, he sips it slowly staring Arthur down.
"You should've used a gun." Tommy says.
"Tommy—" I glare.
"Are you laughing at me, Tommy?" Arthur looks up at him.
"Yeah." He nods. "Just when things are staring to go right, Arthur, you try and do this. Don't you like fancy parties? Women?" Tommy glances at me.
"Champagne? And fast cars? And how about this?" Tommy reaches into his pocket.
"You're name on a business card." Tommy hands him a card.
"Shelby brothers limited." He reads it aloud.
"Arthur Shelby. Associate bookmaker." He scoffs slightly.
"I just had them picked up from the printers this morning. You are one of three shareholders. Me, you, John. And according to the law, we are equal partners. And it is written on the paperwork in black and white." He points at the card.
"A third, a third, a third. But the thing is we'll, me and John, we quite dance splitting you're share so, maybe even y/n will get some of it." He smirks sipping his tea. "Just next time, use a gun, man."
Him and Arthur share a small laugh, I roll my eyes putting out my cigarette.
"Our men at the station tell me that copper is leaving town, we're in the clear." Tommy looks at me and I nod.
"We are on our way up in the world."
"Believe me."
