Tear It Down

Chapter Sixteen

"This is a joke." Arthur growled as he glared at Adrien, her once swollen eye back to normal size, her skin yellow and green where it had healed.

"Oh, it's not Arthur. Seems like you and I will be working together now." She said as Tommy handed Arthur his gun over the kitchen table.

"Keep a better eye on this." Tommy told him before looking back to Adrien. "Now, th-"

"You little bitch!" Arthur hissed and pointed the gun at her as he stood.

"Temper, temper Arthur." Adrien said with a tsk. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of bullets, offering them to Arthur. "You may need these."

There was a sound of snickering to Tommy's left and Arthur quickly snapped for John to shut up. He quickly began loading the bullets back into his gun and Tommy looked to Adrien as she smirked at Arthur. "If you plan on shooting me-" she began.

"No one is shooting anyone." Tommy said. "We're here to make a deal."

"A fools deal." Arthur grumbled as he laid his gun down before him, the tip pointed at Adrien.

"Enough Arthur." Polly sighed.

"What has Tommy offered you then?" Arthur snarled at Adrien.

She shrugged. "My life. I may be good at many things," Adrien said as she shot a look to Penny, who stood in the corner of the kitchen scowling. "But with the men you could hire to track me down I doubt I could get away. So I figured I'd save myself the trouble. Plus business now a days isn't nearly as plentiful."

"And why is that?" Polly asked. "Someone of your talent would be in high demand I would think."

Adrien smiled at Polly. "There are more like me out there Polly. Too many competitors, not enough jobs. But I believe those who I worked for figured the message was sent. No messages to send then no work for me."

"Or they thought you failed. Probably got someone better to do the job." John said, chewing his toothpick.

"There is that. Tell me John," Adrien tapped her chin with her knuckle as she looked to him. "Katie still has problems wetting the bed doesn't she? You-" but she was cut off as John lunged for her, Tommy and Arthur rushing to their feet to keep him back.

"I warned you! My children-"

"Stop this John, you reacting like this only gives her a better way at getting to you. Do you want that?" Tommy hissed in John's ear, pushing him back. "The more you react the more she has to use against you. Don't be an idiot."

John stared at Adrien, breathing hard for a few moments before he stood up straight and pushed back his hair. "Fine." He was able to get out before taking a few steps back.

"And they say it is women who are hysterical." Adrien laughed, looking to Penny. "No wonder you prefer to work with those beasts in the stables."

"They are not beasts." Penny snapped.

"No more than you or I then is it?"

"Enough of this. We are not here to fool around, any of you. If we are to make a deal then let us do so or else be done with this all." Polly barked, lips pressing together to form a thin line. "No more time needs to be wasted."

"Quite right Po-"

"Enough out of you." Polly snapped at Adrien. "Get to it Tommy." She then lit another cigarette.

"You will serve the Peaky Blinders in exchange for your life. Past actions against us will be forgotten as long as your work proves to benefit us." Tommy said as he watched her reaction, the way her eyes moved from each face in the room, the way the tip of her tongue pressed to her top teeth, anything to give him idea of what she might be thinking.

"And if it doesn't? Not immediately that is." She asked of Tommy, placing her hand on the table to drum her fingertips lightly against the surface.

"You pray that it does." Arthur growled.

" I've never been one for faith. I believe in the power of my abilities, nothing more." Adrien said with a bored sigh. "But I will do as I must it seems." She leaned forward and smiled at Tommy and Arthur, her gaze cold, as she asked, "And payment? Only a fool works for nothing."

"Is your life not enough?" Arthur asked.

Adrien looked to him. "How am I to live then? To eat? To dress myself? If I am to work for the Peaky Blinders and no one else I must have some form of income."

"You will be given a fair amount that matches the worth of your work." Tommy stated simply.

Adrien thought for a moment then gave a small nod. "I will take it Thomas."

"Tommy. Call me Tommy."

Adrien chuckled and slowly shook her head. "I think not Thomas."