STORM 🚬 PEAKY BLINDERS [on hold]

CHAPTER TWO

TIN-MAN

STILL dressed in her funeral best, Clara had followed her family home from the chapel after the funeral of her brother's friend, Danny Whizz-Bang. Except, he wasn't really dead, her Uncle Charlie had took the man into hiding after an episode of PTSD ended with him sticking a knife in the chest of an Italian mobster. And so, Thomas had to fake his death in order to avoid retaliation.

"Your horse really is magic, Clara."

The Shelby girl looked up from her book, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she looked over the dining table at Finn who tried hard to concentrate on his schoolwork his sister was tasked with helping him with "What are you talking about?"

"I heard Arthur say he won the race." Finn told her "That the Chinese powder trick Tommy used, worked."

Clara felt her stomach churn as she stood from the table, the chair squeaking obnoxiously against the stained wood floor "Stay here. I'll be right back."

Finn didn't bother to look up as the girl stormed towards the double doors, no intentions of knocking before she flung them open, her wide eyes set on her brother as he sat in the office, a few Blinders working idly nearby, including Arthur who watched the girl silently as she moved to confront Thomas "You used my horse?"

Thomas sighed as he set down the paper in his hands "Clara—"

Her eyebrows were pinched wearily "You can't do that—"

"Clara!" Thomas was stern, eyes full of warning and the girl quickly silenced, swallowing thickly "I can do what I please. I am your older brother and the leader of this family and you will respect me as such. As for the horse, I paid for it. Therefore, it's mine."

Clara pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek for a moment before looking up at her brother "Did you really use the Chinese powder trick on him?"

"Yes. And word will spread so the next time I do the powder trick, it won't just be the Garrison that bets on him, it'll be all of Small Heath and you know what? He'll win again. And the third time we do, we'll have the whole of Birmingham betting on him. A thousand-quid bet on the magic horse. And that time, when we are ready, the horse will lose."

Clara bit her lower lip as she her shoulders fell "And then you'll stop using him, right? Let him be?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

Thomas' face softened at his sister's expression, the hopefulness in her eyes, the naivety. If only he could guarantee she'd stay that way forever. Maybe she'd have a chance at a normal life "I promise."
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