Ex-soldier Birmingham-gangster bets his life on luck and illegalities, adroit wit and burning passion streaking his blood-stained fingertips as a dire quarrel commence between himself and the disturbed Dane who purloined his lover.
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LENZ EXPANDING
BUSINESS WAS BLOOMING. INES had recently closed a business deal with Belgian clubowner Anton Maes, confirming Lenz Leather Ltd. was to provide him new custom design interior for his clubs around the continent of Europe, starting with the one opening in the upcoming year in Brussels. Of course, that meant more workers and stationary, and she had been informed men were in desperate need of work in Ghent which also happened to be a city not too far behind on the industrial side. Anton had been more than happy to call about and make some arrangements for her.
Thomas had been one to take it surprisingly well. Then, the first time he had been told, he had not paid attention as his mind was elsewhere. The absent state was not uncommon in these days.
"Did you hear me, Thomas?"
Standing nervous and gloomy in the betting shop which had been cleared for the day, Ines did her best to cover her concern with a rigid posture and blank face. Her arms fell from their crossed tangle and fell slapdash to her sides. She had had enough.
"For how long?" said Thomas after a while, letting Ines know he had been listening, although his dismissive and unconcerned appearance gave away his obliviousness.
"I'm not sure I will be back," said she and Tommy finally granted her his attention. "If not forever, at least for a couple of years."
Tommy's brows furrowed and his blank, cold eyes flashed emotion. What kind, Ines could not decipher but it was the most human she had seenhim for a while. He put down the paper. "You're leaving?"
Ines nodded stiffly, her shaking fingers fiddling before her.
"Forever?"
Thomas stood from his chair and cornered his desk, his long fingers sliding delicately on the wooden table as he closed the space between the two.
Ines had known this man since he was just a child, but even after all this time, she felt intimidated by his unforgiving eyes and stiff posture.
Lenz Leather Ltd. was not the only company God had blessed over the passed years. The deed Thomas had done since returning from the war was enough to make the Shelby able to classify themselves as wealthy, and for that, he had earned great respect all over town. His hard work had paid off, only with the job came certain responsibilities and his status had put some of a target on his back. The kind of opponents he had was not the same as the ones Ines had. In other words, what he had going on was nowhere as legitimate as she.
"For a long time."
Thomas's face shifted and he stood still.
The truth was that Ines had no clue as to when her return would settle. Years away or lifetimes, she did not know. On the other side of the sea, she had a life waiting for her, in Belgium with a neat contract, ready to engage in a new way of business.
