The Falling Man

Chapter 33

Tommy POV

Two weeks have passed since May Carleton came to visit Birmingham to pick up the horse. Since then we have started somewhat of a romantic relationship. I was purely fucking her because I couldn't fuck Ethel. Using May as a distraction to forget the woman I told I never want to see again. As I fucked Ms. Carleton, for the first time, all that was on my mind was the pretty Irish woman sitting somewhere in London. It almost felt like I was cheating on her, betraying her by fucking another woman.

As I walk along the cobbled road of the grounds where my horse is being trained and held, May walking slightly in front of me, I try to shake the thoughts of the Switzer girl from my mind. "Mick, this is Thomas Shelby. He's come to check up on his filly." May states to the man as we walk into a stable. "Yes, I've heard about you." The man states as we arrive to the pen where I see my horse. "Mickey's the best horseman in England." The woman beside me tells me as I slightly nod. "Oh. He likes to waste money, I know that. According to the reports I've been given, you're spending two pounds a month on worming powder." I state to the man.

"What? You want a horse with worms?" He asks me surprised. "Horses get worms from the water trough. Put goldfish in them, they eat the worm eggs." I respond. "Goldfish?" He inquires as I nod in reply, "That'll be a Gypsy thing, is it?" "No, it's an accounting thing. Goldfish cost a penny each." I state to him. "Or you can win them at the fair...If you want, I'll dispense with the vet altogether. Excuse me." He says slightly angry, leaving the pen. Me and May watch him leave, "Did you ever consider a career in diplomacy?" She asks jokingly.

I snicker a laugh and approach my horse with a click of my tongue and cheek. "Hello, hello. How are you, eh?" "Goldfish? Seriously?" May asks me. "Yep. You people have a lot to learn." I say patting the horse and turning to look at her.

We leave the stables soon after and continue our walk of the quite large property. As we are walking my mind still wonders back to Ethel. It's always been like this since I've met her the first time and even more so after we reunited. May comes to stand in front of me, halting my walk and puts her hand on my face to kiss me. I reel back slightly at the action but let her, bringing my hands to rest softly on her shoulders. As she pulls back slowly we look at eachother in silence for a moment before she speaks, "They asked me if I wanted a fire in the guest bedroom...I said no...Just one fire tonight." She brings her hands to rest on my chest as I look down at her.

"Bold and fearless, eh?" I ask her. "Yes...Though I'm not really fearless." She says looking at my lips before we pull away and she takes my hand in hers, continuing our walk. We soon make our way into the large house. "Drink?" I ask her. "Why not?" She responds taking a seat on a chaise as I pour our drinks. "Madam, there is a telephone call." A maid comes into the room informing May as I hand her one of the two glasses in my hands. "I'll take it in the drawing room." She responds. "It's for Mr. Shelby." The maid adds on. I glance up to the maid confused.
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I slam the door closed of the church. "We had a deal." I say angrily stomping up the isle towards Ray who I see sitting in one of the front rows. "Hey!" I shout at him. "We had a fucking deal!" I shout again arriving to the end of the row he sits in. "I would thank you to moderate your language in a place of worship." He responds. I rip the newspaper he is reading out of his hands and throw it to the ground, pointing in his face. "We had a fucking deal." I state angrily to him. "Mr. Shelby...If you were still in partnership with us, you might have known that the the younger Switzer brother has got himself into a bit of a fizz about certain moral issues. Prostitution, protection, racketeering, drinking, cocaine and, of course...gambling. And he has demanded results." Ray states to me blankly.

"You offered me protection. You promised me protection." I point at him angrily once again, referring to the contract. "Well, no, you see, it was Robert that wrote that promise. And the younger Switzer brother is beginning to outrank him, so...And I can hardly be blamed if your demented brother decides to go on some sort of blood orgy during dinner." The man states to me. "Don't fucking lie to me. Do not sit here in a fucking church and lie to me!" I shout in his face grabbing the bench he sits on. "You will need to contain your emotions or this meeting is at an end." He says calmly.