Treat You Better ➳ PEAKY BLINDERS (on hiatus)

xiv.

 THE EPSOM RACES 

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James had gone back to Ada's house and Ivy and Thomas walked over to a group of people crowded around a car. As they neared the vehicle, Ivy could see that it was the Peaky Blinders that stood around the car. "You're late." John jokingly scolded. There was a slim man standing next to John. Arthur. A smile grew on Ivy's face as she noticed her friend. "Please, we had business." Tom told his brother. Arthur walked towards Tom and engulfed him in a large hug. They patted each other, "How did you get me out of that?" The eldest Shelby asked."I need you today, brother. We pulled some strings." They pulled out of the hug and Arthur went over to Ivy. "You alright?" The girl asked him. "I am now." He replied and rubbed her shoulder. Ivy saw John out of the corner of her eye. "So Arthur's back in charge now?" he asked. "He's in charge of you," Thomas told his younger brother. "And you're both in charge of them. Look-out duties only today," He pointed towards Ivy and Finn. The girl hadn't even noticed Finn stood in the corner of the crowd. "Tom, I'm getting sick o-" Finn started to complain but Thomas cut him off. "Finn, you don't obey orders, you don't come. Same goes for you, Ivy." Ivy looked towards her friend, a look of sadness passed across his face. She gave him a look of sympathy and he returned the look briefly. Ivy began to look around the group and she noticed a certain face was missing. "Tommo, where's Michael?" The man turned to the girl, and pulled her away from the crowd. "Listen, Polly told me that she's trying to send him away, to London. She wants him as far away from this business as she can get him. Pol was trying to do the same to you but I convinced her to let you stay." The girl stood there, silent, unsure of what to say next. "Do you think he'll leave?" She asked, hoping that the answer would be 'no'. Yes, Michael scared her and yes, he was annoying at times but he was still Ivy's friend and she didn't want him to leave. "No. He has more to offer us. And to you." With his last comment, he returned to the group, leaving Ivy stunned. 'What did he mean by that? Did Tommo know that Mickey was the one who stayed with me the other night?' She asked herself multiple questions but didn't further any of them onto Tommo. She was glad that Michael was probably going to stay, though. Ivy went back to the group and listened to Tom's new orders.

"Johnny Dogs. Your boys will meet us there." Tom asked the gypsy. "Well, the Lees will be there, captain." He responded. "Captain?" Thomas questioned. The small man went to explain the reasons behind the nickname, "I've promoted you. Well, the boys say that you're no longer like a sergeant major. Fucking those rich women and using those fancy words," Ivy couldn't help but think that Johnny Dogs was referencing her mother, she ignored the comment however. "I'd say you're more like a captain these days." Tommo continued to look at the floor whilst his friend spoke. "Fine then, I'll take that as a compliment. Just don't bloody shoot me," He joked with the men. "Let's go to the Derby boys." Tom walked to the front of the car and everyone followed. "Alright, then. Light 'em up!" Arthur spurred everyone on. Everyone climbed into the car and sat down. Ivy got squished in between Arthur and Finn. The smell of musk and men filled the van as they set off to Epsom. "Shit." Ivy whispered. "What's wrong, Vee?" Arthur asked the girl. "I can't go to the bloody Epsom races dressed like this." She gestured to her plain skirt and shirt that she wore. Finn giggled at her worry. "You'll be working so don't worry." He added after he stifled his laughter. Ivy shot him a glance but waited for Arthur to say something else. "John said that Tommy said that he has a dress for you. You can get changed when we're there." Ivy nodded her head, relieved at the fact that she had something nicer to wear. She just hoped it that it fit. "Hey," Ivy nudged her friend's arm "Are you okay?" She asked, worried about how he felt after what Tommy said. He sighed deeply. "Yeah. I'm just fed up of Tom treating me like a child. He lets you do more than me." He ranted, the noise of all the other men almost drowning him out. "I'm sure that's not true." Ivy placed her hand on Finn's leg to comfort him. "It is true. He took you to get Michael, he took you to the auction, he took you to see the horse. Why would he take you if he didn't trust you?" Finn's hand rested on top of Ivy's. When she spoke, her voice came out soft. "He took me to get Michael because I was one of the only people to know that Polly had kids. He took me to the auction because I practically begged him to go and he took me to see the horse because my mum is the one training him. He's just trying to protect his family. The only reason he's keeping me around is because I'm useful when it comes to manipulating my father." She spoke for longer than she had meant to but kept her eye contact with the boy. "Okay." He muttered softly, agreeing to what she was saying.