𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐘 & 𝐒𝐌𝐎𝐊𝐄 | 𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒

ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴀʏ

"Get out of my fucking way" John shoved Cliona through the doorframe playfully, snorting a laugh. Thomas and Arthur followed behind, as the two pushed and shoved each other right through to the living room where they stopped drastically, as Polly had company. 

"Who's this?" Arthur questioned, as he walked into the room. Polly stood up from her velvet chair, smoothing down her dress, that had been crushed, in her sitting position. 

"This is Michael" So, this was Polly's son. It was clear that he had some of the Shelby looks within his young face. His innocence was intact, but a place like this would strip that away quickly. 

"Pleased to meet you" Michael held out his hand, shaking the brothers hands equally. Michael's eyes fell on the young woman. Her hand outreached gracefully towards him. 

"I'm Cliona" He picked up on her thick Irish drawl almost immediately. "A family friend" Her mouth upturned into a warm smile. John shoved her shoulder again 

"Naw Clee, you're part of this family, maybe not by blood but by something" All she did was laugh and shake her head. Polly then escorted them out, hastily. It was clear she hadn't told the boy of everything that took place within the Shelby household.  

A few days later, Cliona hopped off the covered back of the car, a pair of leather strap boots upon her feet, a grey skirt billowing to the top of the boots. Her same tweed blazer covered the top half of her torso, over a blouse. Her hair sat in a single plait, her peaked cap upon her head. The car horn filled her ears, as she waved it off running up the steps as the door of Polly's house opened to reveal Michael Gray. 

"You ready then?" She asked with a smile as she turned going back to the car, hopping in the back. And with that they were on their way to Doncaster Blood Stock, where Thomas Shelby planned to buy a horse. Michael sat quietly, a basket on his knee that jumped up and down with the movement of the car. Cliona gave him an encouraging smile, but felt Polly's reluctance for him to go with them. He was only a boy, he didn't need this in his life.                                                                                                                                                              

The car pulled up outside the place, the auction was being held. However before any of the bodies could exit, Tommy spoke. 

"No weapons, no drinking. That includes you, Cliona" His hand pulled the gun and knives out of the holder in her stockings, making her jerk back slightly at his decision to put his hand up her skirt. 

"Oh, piss off" Was all she muttered as she hopped out of the car first, walking down the path filled with stones. Upon reaching the doorway, they walked in, with the other people attending the auction. They made their way, up the stairs walking out onto above the space, the horses would be shown. In no time at all horse after horse was being sold, some for wads of money that Cliona would never think she'd possess. Suddenly, the horse, that Thomas had his eye on, was being led in. 

"Do I hear 800 guineas? Do I hear 9?" The auctioneer boomed to the people above. Thomas nodded to the man below. Another woman across the hall, eyed the horse, then her eyes rose, to Thomas, intently. "Do I hear 250?" The woman, with a fur coat nodded, which caused complications for the Shelby's intentions. "Do I hear 5?" Thomas nodded again. Cliona had never been to an auction before, but she knew a little about horses, and they were definitely on the verge of paying too much. The woman indicated another bid "Do I hear 7?" The auctioneer questioned to the hall. The woman withdrew, but Thomas stood calmly, his arms leaning against the railing. Some of the men beside him told him to stop, but Thomas being told to stop at anything was a hopeless case. He was having that horse. The auctioneer brought down the hammer, with a shrill knock. "Sold to Mr?..." The man questioned into the stands where they stood. Thomas withdrew a cigarette from his lips. 

"Thomas Shelby"                                                                                                                                                                      

As the hoard of people walked down the stairs, Thomas stopped with the woman from before. She was wealthy, the wealthiest in the room, by the look of it. It was also clear she was after more than just the horse. She followed the other men, through the arena, all the light withdrawn, now that it was empty. Thomas caught up to them, as they walked. Cliona's eyes rose at  the high ceiling, when suddenly a man from above came into her view, a gun in his hand, aimed undeniably at Thomas's head. Cliona hadn't a weapon on, well except her hat. With one swift movement, her hat was off, the blade sharp, as it swung through the air at speed, hitting the man above, in the face. He clutched his face in his hands, as he tumbled over the railings, falling in front of them. Another man, as if on cue, came out of the dark, gun shits being fired. The blinders ducked, but the gun of the man that lay unconscious was already in the girls hand, and within seconds the other man was kneecapped, falling forward. Arthur ran at him, starting to beat him. Cliona was sure he wouldn't stop until the man was dead. 

"Arthur stop!" John yelled at him as Thomas and himself dragged their older brother off the bloodied man. Michael, who knew now of what the Shelby's did, stood a little taken back. His eyes fell on the girl, who picked her hat off the ground, placing it back on her head. He could not understand, how a woman he'd known to be courteous towards him, was so gracefully ruthless. She was a force, that he didn't think anyone should get between. Maybe not even Thomas himself. She didn't question anything, she just complied with what needed to be done.