The Darkness Within (Peaky Blinders) Thomas Shelby

29. Broken Breaths

I let it fall, my heart,

And as it fell you rose to claim it

It was dark and I was over

Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

- Set Fire To The Rain, by Adele

"Oh, thank god." Kiara breathed as her husband walked through the door to the living room and she made her way over to him, instantly wrapping her arms around his shoulder as he looped his around her waist on reaction.

"What is it?" He asked as pulled back.

"I couldn't find you. Ada came to the Garrison worried sick. She said that Freddie..."

"It's fine." Tommy quickly cut in before she finished. "Everything's fine." He reassured before placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

Polly sat on the couch, a sleeping Finn in her lap. Tommy stepped back from his wife and moved to sit in the seat opposite his aunt with a sigh. He reached over and picked up the glass of whiskey Kiara had been drinking and threw it back in one gulp before rubbing his eyes in exhaustion. Then he recovered and quickly pulled out the stack of money he had in his pocket, throwing it down on the table.

"Freddie didn't want your money." He said to Polly with a shake of his head. "And now the coppers are saying that if we don't turn Freddie in, they'll put Ada on the arrest warrant as well." He explained for Polly. "That's where your compassion gets you, Poll. From now on, we do it my way."

"Or what?" She asked calmly.

Tommy looked to his feet before rising, grabbing his wife on the way out and slamming the door shut behind them.

"You look exhausted." Kiara commented once they were alone.

"Mmm," was his only reply.

"Come on." She held out her hand for him to take. He looked at it for a moment before taking her hand in his and allowing her to lead him up stairs and to the bedroom.

She took his jacket off him, throwing it over the back of the chair and then allowed him to get undressed before he sat down on the edge of the bed. He prepared his pipe of opium and then went to lay down. Kiara hadn't changed into her nightgown, not yet tired, but she still crawled on to her side of the bed and let him fall back and rest his head against her stomach as she sat up against the headboard. She ran her fingers through his hair as his eyes closed. Once he was asleep she finally got up and quietly tidied around the room and then changed, going to bed herself.

Not two hours later Tommy was woken by banging on the bedroom door and someone calling his name as he shot up out of bed with deep breaths. Kiara woke calmly, her eyes fluttering open at the noise.

"Tommy?" She asked sleepily.

"It's alright." He whispered, getting to his feet and moving to hide the opium under his pillow.

He then threw Kiara a dressing gown to put over her nightgown. She was wearing a cream coloured nightdress, but the slim straps, low cut and thin fabric were far to revealing for Tommy to be comfortable with anyone else seeing. She pulled her arms through the sleeves and did up the rope around the waist before pulling her hair out and over her shoulder.

"It's open." Tommy called to the person on the other side once Kiara was done.

The door swung open and in walked Danny. He raised a hand and saluted Tommy. "Private Whizz-Bang reporting, sir." He said.