love knows no bounds | thomas shelby

the wrath of sabini

(warning--this chapter is graphic!)

eveline ward sat at thomas shelby's desk, her fingers deftly moving across the ledger, meticulously recording the figures that thomas had assigned to her. it was a task that required focus and precision, but he trusted her to handle it. 

a thin plume of smoke curled from the cigarette perched delicately on her lips as she pushed back a few loose strands of her dark brunette hair, which fell softly around her face.

she wore a cotton dark green dress with long sleeves, the fabric cinching at her waist in a way that flattered her figure perfectly. the rich green complemented her dark hair and deep brown eyes, enhancing her natural beauty. since she was a little girl, eveline had loved fashion; she had an eye for fabrics and styles that spoke to her. dresses that fit just right, colors that brought out the best in her complexion--those were the things that filled her dreams. it was something that thomas had admired about her even as children, the way she carried herself with an effortless grace.

though she cherished her dresses, eveline had never been one to shy away from getting them a bit dirty. she could recall many afternoons spent running around with thomas, playing cops and robbers, her laughter echoing in the alleyways as they chased each other without a care in the world. though, the shouts of her drunken parents when she returned home with grass stains and scrapes never bothered her. the joy of those days spent with tom far outweighed the scolding that followed.

as she continued her bookkeeping, the door creaked open, pulling her from her reverie. eveline looked up, taking another drag from her cigarette just as thomas stepped into the room. his presence was still commanding, and she felt a familiar flutter of excitement mixed with the trill of his company.

"what are you still doin' up, love?" thomas asked, leaning against the doorframe, a hint of smile playing on his lips.

eveline looked up at him.

"just finishin' what you set me to, tommy," she replied, her tone playful, knowing full well that he expected nothing less than perfection from her.

thomas pushed himself off the doorframe.

"stand up and shut your eyes," he commanded.

eveline chuckled, her curiosity piqued.

"what are you up to, tommy?" she asked with a smile on her face as she stood up from the desk and walked closer to him, obediently shutting her eyes.

"good. now come with me, eveline," he said, taking her hands in his. 

she felt a thrill at his touch, a familiar warmth spreading through her. she couldn't help but try to sneak a peek, but thomas noticed right away.

"no, shut your eyes," he told her firmly, though his voice held a teasing lilt.

in that moment, it felt like they were children again.

"this way," he said while guiding her gently across the room by her hands. eveline laughed.

"what are we doing?" she asked.

"right, sit down," thomas instructed, leading her to another desk.

he gently pushed her into the chair, then stood behind her, pushing it in slightly to make her comfortable. he then raised his hand to cover her eyes, ensuring she couldn't sneak a glance.

"right, now type this.."

eveline furrowed her brow in confusion.

"why?" she asked, but thomas quickly replied, "now's not the time to be stubborn, just type what i want you to."