The Darkness Within (Peaky Blinders) Thomas Shelby

41. Fucking Life

I rambled with the worst of them

Fell in love with a harlequin

Saw the darkest hearts of men

And I saw myself starin' back again

And I saw myself starin' back again

- Bartholomew, by The Silent Comedy

Kiara spent the better part of two hours tidying up around the house before she decided to head back to the Garrison and find her husband. When she got there he was sitting silently at the bar by himself, drinking whiskey and smoking a cigarette.

She stopped in the doorway and looked at him as Grace walked over to her.

"He's barely said anything since he got here and he hasn't moved." She stated. "Is everything alright?"

"It's a family thing." Kiara answered, glancing over to the barmaid. There was no harm in answering this question of hers and it would probably get Grace off her back for a while so she decided to elaborate. "Their father showed up... first time in ten years, preaching about God and how he's a new man, a changed man."

"And you don't believe him?" Grace asked.

"I've known Arthur Shelby Senior from the time I was born... but I've never known him well enough to make a judgement call on this. Tommy and John don't believe him and even if they did they don't want him around. That's all I need to know and it's more than you need to know."

"You didn't have to tell me." She stated.

"I'm telling you so you don't ask my husband or even John." Kiara stated. "They don't want to talk about it, Tommy certainly doesn't and on this matter... it's best to leave it alone. Do you understand?" Grace nodded and for the first time Kiara knew the girl would listen. "Good. Now, he's not going to want to come home for some time. So when I leave can you make sure he doesn't drink his senses away. We don't need a fist fight between him and Arthur."

"His father?" Grace asked.

"No, his brother." Kiara stated before finally walking away from the girl and over to her husband.

She didn't say anything as she pulled up a seat beside Tommy. He poured a glass of whiskey and slid it over to her without looking up. She took a sip and placed it down. She pulled out a cigarette and placed it between her lips before reaching over to take the matches that had been resting on the table in front of Tom. She lit it and placed the used match in the ashtray, taking a deep breath and the exhaling while she lowered the cigarette from her mouth.

"Finn's not at home. I think he ran after Arthur."

"He's a curious boy." Tommy replied.

"I convinced John it wasn't you that shopped Freddie."

Tommy scoffed ever so lightly as he raised his cigarette to his mouth, knowing exactly why his brother would listen to his wife, but not him. "If only the rest of my family could be as easily persuaded by your charm, my love."

He almost sounded bitter, but still calm as always. He knew how John felt and he knew his wife had no idea. He had always known and he had always known that he'd been selfish in going after her all those years ago, but he didn't care. Not when it came to Kiara. He used to tease his brother about his crush, but he'd never even come close to bringing it up since the night he found her in a dark alley, a body at her feet, pleading him for help.