Embers of the Brave // Peaky Blinders

Chapter 24

London Bound

It was Arthur and John who dragged the unconscious Italian back onto his side of town. In the days that passed, the Peaky Blinders had patiently waited for any retaliation, but it never came. In fact, the group hadn't seen any Italians wander onto their streets of Small Heath.

The night of the knock out, as soon as the boys had turned to mock the sleeping Dante. The cheers and laughter had been Ella's last straw. Polly had taken a crying Ella to one of the many upstairs bedrooms. Ada's old room was clad in wallpaper of a faint pink tone with lilac coloured flowers adorning the wall. Aunt Pol's motherly nature came true as she laid with the upset blonde who sobbed her-self to sleep. The Shelby family had a way of ruining anything that is beautiful.

And yet Ella strength held firm as she successfully ignored every Shelby other than Polly for more than a few days. She even brewed nasty and short replies to anyone who dared to converse with her. The weather seemed to mimic the mood of the young blonde as it turned the days into darkness and rain poured mercilessly for hours on end, the entirety of Small Heath looked as if it was flooded and yet the cleanest it has looked in years. It was a shame that the rain didn't wash away the sins of the town. Arthur, Polly and Finn had tried their best to get through to Ella, but she was less than impressed at their effort.

As the fifth day of silent treatment came to a close, Ella worked through the paperwork detailing the massive profits they were making at the races through the payments by jockeys, horse owners and stable rental among the huge sums that arrive on her desk when events were under way.

"Ella, come, we are having a meeting." Called Esme, from beside John.

The blonde blinder stood abruptly from her desk and dropped the stack of papers that she had been working through with a little too much force. They waited until Ella was seated at the last available chair beside Finn and Michael. The Gray boy was dressed in a dark suit with a navy tie, his dark was slicked to one side and his were alight as he stared at the frustrated girl. With a pointed look from Thomas's sharp blue hues, he began. "Alright, now that everyone is here we can begin."

While Ella knew that all eyes were focused on the blank response that she gave to Thomas Shelby following his obvious dig at her current mood. Instead she kept her gaze downward on the hardwood floors.

"So, clearly this deal with the Italians is not going to work because of a certain someone's unwillingness." The leading blinder spoke with a certain type of amusement coating the words.

Michael immediately cleared his throat and gave his older cousin a warning glare.

Ella's eyes crackled like thunder in her anger, "I refuse to be an object to the Shelby corporation, Thomas." The tone shot through Tommy and nestled deep in his spine.

"It's okay." Michael said softly from beside her, the whisper intended only for her but the static silence in the empty room travelled to each at the circle.

She shot from her chair followed by Finn who went to grab her shoulder as she stepped towards the ring leader. "No, it's not okay." Ella's eyes welled with tears, but she wouldn't let them fall. "I am not an object. I don't want anything to do with the stupid Italians or you Shelby's. You can have your racecourse back, I don't want it."

A heavy silence balanced in the air around them, no one dared to speak. But Thomas kept his eyes level with the blonde's, acknowledging her anger and hatred towards him at the time.

The phone began to ring persistently, at an almost deafening loudness. Ella ignored the echo, instead continues, "and I want my identification papers now. You owe me that much."

Polly sat with her nails over her mouth, it was this moment that she had been careful to tip toe around. Ella's temper was something that shouldn't be flared and toyed with. After all, it was that temper that killed her adoptive family.

Thomas spoke over the droning phone with a certain amusement back in his eyes. "No."

The sun moved behind the ever-present clouds and the room got even darker, reflecting the tension that seemed to strain even more. While Esme picked up the phone, the young blonde countered the reaction that Thomas wanted with a strikingly bright smile but threatening eyes. Her long black green dress swam and swayed at her feet as she slightly shook in anger.

Esme almost whispered to the silent group, "Sorry Ella." She said lightly as she blondes gaze whipper around to meet hers. "It's Ada, she wants to speak with you."

The extended phone stayed outreached for a few moments as the girl made her way towards it. The structure made from a stunning copper and it gleamed underneath the dim orange coloured lights. An expression of wealth made over the years.

"Ella, Ella is that you." Ada's voice was rushed and freaked.

Immediately the worries of herself fell away as she answered quickly, "it's me Ada, what's wrong?"

"Can you come to London? Something is wrong with Karl! I don't know what to do."

Ella replied in a hushed tone as the group looked on. "of course, I'll be on the next train, I'll come with Polly."

A child wailing came from the other end of the phone but no reply from the only female Shelby. Karl cried out again followed by a chocked cough. Ella's brows furrowed at the clear pain he was in.

"Ada? Hello?"

"I'm here." An exhausted voice replied. "Come quickly please."

"Everything's going to be okay." With that the phone line died.

Polly was already on her feet and pulling on her coat, "do we have time to pack a bag." Ella only responded with a shake of her hand. The young blinder also moved over to the doorway and plucked her crimson coat from the stand.

Michael was already onto her, "Where are you going?" He tugged lightly at her hip to turn Ella towards him. But she didn't reply instead shoved her hands through the arms of the coat.

"We will be back in a few days. I think you'll manage without us." She said with a certain edge to her voice. She had made it clear to him yesterday how mad she still was with him when she had moved away from an oncoming kiss. He looked deeply into her crystal eyes before stepping back.

And with that the two women swept out from the doorway onto the streets of Birmingham, headed directly for the station.

Little did they know that the Shelby boys were also taking a trip to London.

A/N:

Hey Guys,

I'm so sorry about not uploading in ages. My computer basically died on me and I had to wait for my new to arrive and then re-write the chapter. It was this whole ordeal but here we are with another chapter. This one is a little on the dull side because I'm gearing up for something big!

Please comment and vote - it means the world to me :)

-A