"Welcome to the opening of the Grace Shelby Institute for the non-insured children of the poor." Polly spoke from the stage. "I would very much like you to help me in thanking the man that made the founding of this establishment actually possible. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr.Thomas Shelby." The crowd erupted into applause as Tommy stood up, Charles on his hip.
Lilah walked over to where her brother stood, taking the young boy and sitting back down next to Isiah. "Say it, Tom. Say it to 'em!" Arthur shouted loudly, "Lay the foundation!" John chimed in.
"I didn't come to make a speech- but I'll say this, these children are now safe. In our care, they'll be safe because we are from the same cold streets as they are. They will grow up in here- at home, loved." Thomas said, as everyone erupted into applaud again. "BY ORDER OF THE PEAKY BLINDERS- NOW STAND UP!" Arthur ordered.
"I don't know how he does it." John muttered his siblings, as they watched Tommy be pushed about the room.
"Ada, where's Charles?" Thomas asked, "I don't know Tom," she replied.
"Have you lot seen Charles?" He asked his siblings. Lilah took a worried glance around. "Where's Oliver?!" She breathed, shakily.
"Tommy- someone said they saw a nurse take two boys out through the back door!" Ada informed, hugging her sister as the boys ran off. "It'll be okay Lilah- they'll get him back." She reassured.
Lilah watched through the window, her eldest brother held Tommy's head in his arms. She knew for a fact that the boys had been taken, and whoever took them, was in for it now.
~
"Michael, I'm going with you."
"Lilah you can't- it's for your own good I promise!" Michael told his cousin, she ignored him and got in the passenger seat of his car. "Drive." she instructed, lighting a cigarette and placing it between her lips.
...
The two could hear babies whining- Charles and Oliver. Lilah slowly lifted her gun, pointing it ahead as Michael did the same. The cousins face to face with the pope, their guns clicking automatically."what do you think you're doing?" He asked.
Michael pressed his gun roughly against the popes face. "Please don't." He begged, Michael stood still, he was too scared to carry out the deed. The pope grabbed him and shoved him into a near by table, punching his face repeatedly.
Lilah pulled the pope off her cousin by the neck, holding a gun to his head. "Don't fuck with the Peaky blinders." She said, pulling the trigger.
Michael stood, trying to catch his breath. Staring down at the dead man beneath his feet, kicking him in the hip. Lilah ran off to the two children she could hear crying in the other room.
She gathered the young boys in her arms, cooing at them. "I'm here- you're safe." She reassured.
~
Lilah held Oliver and Michael held Charles; they walked into the betting den, passing over the children to Ada. Polly's eyes brimmed with tears as she stared at the two, pulling them each into a hug. Michael walked off, Lilah took and cradled young Oliver in her arms.
"Where's Isiah?" She asked Polly, placing down her sleeping baby. "They should be back soon, love." She told her, wiping a drop of blood off her forehead.
The next morning, the boys finally arrived at Tommys house. Tommy was eager to see Charles, holding onto him as if he would never let go again. He thanked Lilah and Michael, before going out to do some business.
"Lilah," Isiah breathed, running up to his wife to hug her. "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly, checking for any marks on her face. "We're fine Siah." She assured, gesturing at baby Oliver asleep in Ada's arms.
~
"Before I begin, I want to let you know I made a mistake." Tommy stood up from his chair. "I made a mistake and I want to apologise to all of you."
"Arthur, you warned me against getting involved in Russian business. And you were right, I doubted your wife. For that I am sorry." Thomas told his brother, who grunted.
"Linda, I have added 3,000 here in hope that you'll forgive me." Tommy said, chucking a wad of cash at her. "Apology accepted."
"Esme I doubted you aswell- Now Johns got innocent lives on his conscience." She cut Tommy off, "ordinary working men," "All right Esme- we get it." John hushed her.
"No she's right, you and Arthur are gonna have to share that burden." Tommy agreed, "but I hope the house you can buy with this can become a place of contemplation- Perhaps redemption." John stood up, taking the money his brother held out for him.
"Michael, Lilah- for the killings." Tommy said, placing some money in-front of them.
...
"C'mon Arthur, the train for the dock leaves in an hour." Linda told the eldest Shelby brother, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Then we get the boat to New York and it'll all be in the past." She said through gritted teeth, her eyes darting up to meet Tommys.
"I'll be off then Tom." Arthur said, beginning to walk away with his wife.
"You can go, but you won't get far Arthur."
Tommy plucked the cigarette from his lips, "I spoke to Moss last night, he told me that the Chief Constable of Birmingham has issued a warrant for your arrest." He said, looking away from all of his family.
"Murder, sedition, conspiracy to cause explosion." The Shelby brother continued, "John they're coming for you as well. Michael and Lilah, murder of Hughes. Polly the murder of Chief Inspector Campbell." "I FUCKING KNEW IT, THOMAS YOU PRICK!" Lilah shouted as coppers burst into the room, arresting all of the family.
"I love you Siah, look after Oliver." She whispered, taking his face in her hands. "WE'LL FUCKIN' HANG!" Arthur yelled, getting dragged away by the wops. "GET OFF HER!" Isiah yelled, as they dragged his wife away too.
...
Thomas watched from the window as his family were shoved into police trucks and driven away.
~
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
