Already Broken

Last Words

"Head down, as I watch my feet take turns hitting the ground. Eyes shut, I find myself in love racing the Earth." 

Beyoncé, Smash Into You (Live)

~

Toni had never run so fast in her life. She had no plan and no rational thoughts going through her head. All she felt to do was run to him. She needed him with everything in her and she had to save him.

~

"Tommy," Teddy snatched a handful of his hair.

Tommy winced but made eye contact.

"What you feel now doesn't compare to what I felt when I lost my sister...when I lost Toni," he gripped Tommy's throat with the other hand and Tommy rushed to defend himself. He was not strong enough to claw Teddy's hands away so the life was slowly being choked out of him. A stream of blood fell anew from Tommy's nose as there was a hemorrhage in his right eye. "Do you feel that?" Teddy choked Tommy even harder. Tommy's hands fell limply to his sides as oxygen fled his body.

He could no longer fight back. He could no longer move. He just stared up at Teddy and hoped it would all end soon. A tear fell down his eye as he thought of Toni.

Toni... he focused on an image of her smiling, laughing. Immediate warmth filled his body. He almost smiled.

~

Toni's chest burned once she arrived at the correct address. She had run the whole way here. There was a man guarding the door to a large warehouse-like building. She began to run past him but he pushed her away.

He pointed his gun at her head and she put her hands up in surrender.

"Please," she said, panting afterward. "Please-," pant, "I need-," pant, "to see Teddy."

The man looked at her in amusement. "Teddy?" He laughed. "Yeah right, so does everyone else. Get lost, sweetheart."

Toni stood up straighter as her patience ran out. "Open. The. Fucking. Door." She said.

The guard moved toward her, inspecting her more closely. "You know," he said, "you look familiar."

Toni remained silent, staring daggers at the man.

"If you want to stay so bad," he said, studying her still, "you can wait out here and keep me company."

Toni watched as his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. "What do you say, sweetheart," he whispered.

Suddenly, Toni's expression softened. "What do I say?" she repeated sweetly.

"Mhmm," he nodded, pleased.

Toni beckoned with her finger for him to lean in closer. He did.

She whispered into his ear, "I say, you're not my type."

His face contorted into confusion and she immediately grabbed him by the back of his neck and kneed him in his most sensitive area.

He whimpered as his knees buckled and fell to the ground. Content with her work, Toni secured his fallen weapon and hit him over the head with it.

"Being married to a gangster really teaches you things," she marveled as she made her way to the door. It was locked.

Toni pointed the gun at the lock and braced for impact, then fired.

~

The sound of a gunshot rang throughout the walls of the empty building and Teddy released Tommy as a reflex. Tommy collapsed onto his back and rolled over onto his stomach, coughing and choking for air.

Teddy stood and looked around, he ran to the door and peered outside. He could hear several voices and resolved to go see who it was. But before he left the room he looked down at Tommy. "Is that your family? It's a shame that they'll be too late to save you." Teddy decided against leaving the room, instead he pulled out his pistol.

~

Toni ran through hallway after hallway calling Tommy's name over and over again. She did not care who heard.

As stepped into the next hall, she was immediately pulled back by two strong arms. She screamed as another set of arms took a hold of her, causing her weapon to fall. Toni was defenseless and she struggled with all her might. Her captors only held her tighter and commanded her to shut up and stop moving.

She could not see her oppressors but soon after, a third man ran into the same hallway.

"What is this?" He yelled at the men behind her. "Who is sh-," He stopped as his attention focused on Toni's face.

"My God," he said, "let her go."

~

"Any last words Thomas Shelby?" Teddy asked.

Tommy lay still, his face to the hard floor just like before.

Before he answered, there was a distinct call of "Tommyyy!" They both heard it as it rippled off the walls. Tommy's eyes filled with tears and Teddy looked around in confusion.

"Tommyyy!" The call came again and Tommy laughed softly to himself.

"What is that? Wh-Who is that?" Teddy commanded in frustration.

"Teddy," Tommy said hoarsely, "that's your niece."

Tommy was not awake for much after that but he knew he wasn't dead...well, he hadn't been shot. His eyes opened and closed out of fatigue. He could not seem to keep them open for too long.

They opened as Richard entered the room with someone behind him and then they closed. They opened as Teddy was on his knees holding onto a kneeling Toni. She kissed Teddy's cheek and looked over at Tommy just as they closed. They opened again, this time facing a different direction, facing up. They were focused right on her beautiful face...she looked weary as a tear fell from her eye. The eyes closed again. Thomas had no strength left after that. He let himself drift to sleep and be carried to wherever was necessary. As long as she was with him, he would be fine. 

~

Thanks for reading! Vote and Comment!