Sin - [T.Shelby]

A Kiss, A Death

     It was the next day and Stella was walking through the smog of the damp streets, her black coat wrapped around her and a hat low over her eyes. She turned a corner entering an alleyway, a woman in rags stood wringing her hands, her eyes darting around restlessly. "You said you had news." Stella spoke, the woman nodded "Y-yes, news. Late last night Ada Shelby and their aunt Polly was seen at Katherine's house. Only one reason girls go to Katherine's house late at night." Stella nodded "And the father?" she asked, the woman shrugged "Ran, they say. Hasn't come back, they say. Spooked by the coppers." Stella handed the woman over some money "Good. You tell your girls to be careful out there, things are changing. Also if any of them happen with a Peaky Blinder tell me right away." the woman bowed her head "Yes, miss Stella." Stella nodded her head "Go on." the woman scurried away.

Next stop was to check on her shipment, Harold Ferdan was her shipping man. "It was mighty successful, miss, shipped out without an issue." he said happily, he knew when they did their job right they wouldn't get punished. "Alright, start the moving process as soon as you can. Remember small loads, and be careful, we don't want to raise suspicion. There's new cops in town." the man nodded. "Yes, miss." Stella narrowed her eyes as she looked across the way to see Thomas Shelby prancing down the road on a white horse. "That's all." she dismissed.

Stella watched as the horse got spooked from a loud bang and Tommy dismounted to try and tame the beast. "Easy, boy. Shh, shh, shh, shh." the horse tried to pull from his grasp "In France we used to say...shh easy boy...in France we used to say it's just the music hall band turning up. It's just trombones and tubas, that's all. It's just noise." Stella smiled a bit at how sweetly he talked to the horse. 

     She walked over then "Skittish. Won't be good for races." Thomas looked to her "Mind if I try?" she asked, he eyed her but said nothing. Stella removed one of her gloves and gently placed a hand on the horse's snout "Shh, shh, it's alright." she spoke softly. The horse whinnied and shook his head but she just gently stroked it's nose and brushed a hand down its neck "Calm yourself, it's alright now, it's alright." the horse calmed and she smiled

"He's a beauty." she said, the horse nudged her with his nose and she chuckled a bit. Thomas watched her "You like horses then?" he asked, she was a mystery to him, no one seemed to have any information on this woman. "No. After the war I learned that a gentle touch and a soothing voice will calm anyone. The soldiers may be back home but their minds were left in those trenches." she spoke, she smiled softly as the horse nudged his nose into her hand. She placed a gentle kiss on his snout leaving a red kiss mark on his white coat which made her chuckle. She knew of so many men that would have fits of rage, night terrors, she was able to calm them back to sleep. This was when the men first came back, before she built up her business.

   She walked on the other side of the horse as Tommy lead him. "You have some pain there, boy, hey?" he asked watching the Horse favor one of his legs "Trouble with the Lee's for him? He's a sweet boy, Mr. Shelby, but he isn't going to win you any races." Stella spoke "News travels fast." he commented "I told you, I've got eyes on this town." he looked over to see her smiling smugly. Thomas couldn't deny that she was a beautiful woman it was obvious to everyone, but he was more annoyed by her secrets than drawn in by her beauty. Plus he knew the truth. She was a rose, delicate and inviting but willing to draw blood.

"You can have your pick of my men, I can spare you fifteen. The rest are all working on a project I currently have underway." Stella spoke as they walked. "Fifteen is fine." he nodded "Do I have to be worried about this project of yours?" he asked "I thought I told you that my business is off limits." she looked to him "You're avoiding the question. Good technique for someone who hates to lie." he noticed.