The Darkness Within (Peaky Blinders) Thomas Shelby

15. Secrets

And I'll use you as a makeshift gauge

Of how much to give and how much to take

Oh I'll use you as a warning sign

That if you talk enough sense, then you'll lose your mind

- I Found, by Amber Run

"Right!" Arthur started. "I've called this family meeting because I've got some very important news." They were all in the betting shop with the door closed, all but Finn who stood on the other side of the door, no doubt listening in.

Kiara sat at a table beside Polly with Ada opposite them while the men all stood around them. Arthur was at the front of the room, John sat on top of chair, balancing on the back of it instead of sitting properly next to Kiara and Thomas stood behind Kiara's chair leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Standing right behind him was Riley.

"Scudboat and Lovelock got back from Belfast last night." Arthur pointed towards the two men. "They were buying a stallion to cover their mares. They were in a pub on the Shankhill Road yesterday and in that pub there was a copper... handing out these." Arthur grabbed a pile of paper and handed it out everyone.

"If you're over five feet and can fight, come to Birmingham." John read it aloud.

"They're recruiting Protestant Irishmen to come over here as Special." Arthur stated.

"To do what?"

"To clean up the city, Ada." Tommy answered. "He's the Chief Inspector." He held up the paper. "The last four years, he's been clearing the IRA out of Belfast."

"How do you know so bloody much?" Arthur questioned.

"'Cause I asked the coppers on our payroll."

"And why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm telling you." Tommy stated calmly.

"So why are they sending him to Birmingham?" Polly asked Tommy.

"Well there's been all these bloody strikes at the BSA and the Austin works, lately. Now the papers are talking about sedition and revolution." Tommy stated.

"You think he's after the communists?" Kiara asked her husband who nodded.

"So this copper's gonna leave us alone, right?" Poll asked.

"There are Irishmen in Green Lanes who left Belfast to get away from him. They say Catholic men who crossed him used to disappear in the night."

"Yeah, but we ain't IRA. We bloody fought for the King." John spat. "Anyway, we're Peaky Blinders. We're not scared of coppers."

"He's right." Arthur nodded.

"If they come for us, we'll cut them a smile each." John stated, toothpick between his teeth.

"So, Arthur. Is that it?" Tommy asked his older brother.

"What do you think, Aunt Poll?" Arthur turned to Polly.

"This family does everything open. You've nothing more to say to this meeting, Thomas?" Polly questioned, noticing the same thing Kiara had... he was hiding something.

"No. Nothing that's women's business." He shook his head.

"This whole bloody enterprise was women's business while you boys were away at war. What's changed?"

"We came back." It was true that he told his wife and his aunt pretty well everything that happened, but the meetings were different. They other men didn't take kindly to them being a part of the discussions of their biggest wrong doings. The bets were different, they didn't mind that. It was just the robberies.