Painting The Races Red | Tommy Shelby

Chapter Fourteen ✔

C h a p t e r F o u r t e e n
S u r p r i s e s U p o n S u r p r i s e s

Most of the men that worked in the Shelby's betting shop were also members of The Peaky Blinders, this arrangement often meant that the shop was short on staff when the razor gang were required elsewhere. On this particular bright day, the men were loading more shipments that would leave for Camden Town in two days time under the cover of a discreet location. Although they had the police on their side, it would be far too risky to use Charlie's Yard for their business on every occasion necessary. Because of this shortage, it was not unusual for Lynette to swap out her day in the office for a day in the shop taking in bets.

It was early in the morning when she left home for the shop, it was a nice change to take the short walk - which was a literal twenty seconds across the street - rather than the journey to the office on the days that she did not drive over with Tommy.

Her fiancé had left before her that morning. She had still been asleep, meaning that she had not informed him about her plans to go to the betting shop where she knew Esme would be left to handle the front herself for most of the morning. Lynette wasn't concerned as she knew that Tommy would already assume where she was when he did not find her at the office, he would then call the shop or drive over to ensure that she was actually there. The loyalty and protectiveness for those in his family meant that he was extra cautious, especially in their current situations.

The impatient men outside the shop called out to the redhead as they noticed her approaching the building. She was quick to shut them down as she informed them that the shop was still closed and that they would have to wait. They quietly grumbled as Lynette took out her own keys to unlock the door, but did not protest as she entered and closed the door behind her. They knew better than to talk back to one of the respected members of the Shelby family, even if she was not married into them yet.

Esme failed miserably at hiding the displeased look on her face when Lynette joined her. Her movements around the shop were haltered as she stopped in front of the redhead, her arms crossed over her chest defensively.

"What you doin' here?" she demanded.

Lynette locked the door behind her before moving to stand directly opposite the gypsy girl. "I heard you were working yourself, thought I'd come check on you. See if you needed any help."

Esme scoffed loudly, her glare unwavering despite the lack of spite in the redhead's voice. "I'm surprised you didn't spare yourself the trouble, especially considering you don't like me. Don't you have work at the office?"

Lynette rolled her eyes in exasperation as she threw her arms up in the air. "You're right, I shouldn't have bothered my arse, but I was feeling generous." Her sarcastic tone was then replaced with a warning. "I'll only respect you, once you control that mouth of yours. Maybe then, the others would start to take you seriously too."

Esme's reaction showed that she was offended by the Scottish woman's words. Both individuals had stubborn personalities, they shared independent qualities which made it so easy for them to clash. But Lynette would rather put aside their differences when it came to maintaining the company.

"Oh yeah," the brunette laughed. "Cause I can really see you listening to me. You don't care that I don't agree with the plans, because you're too busy sucking Tommy's cock every night."

A humorous smile formed onto Lynette's lips as she chuckled. "Actually that doesn't happen in our house often, because the sex is pleasurable enough without all the one-sided extras. Must only be you that does that to keep your John happy, cause he doesn't return the favour like Tommy does."