The Hostage // Peaky Blinders

To Bring You My Love

"This had better be good to interrupt my holiday," Polly says, walking in the doors with Tommy.

Tommy had a blank look on his face. Polly takes a drag off of her cigarette as she approaches the rest of the family. "Where's the boy?" Arthur asks.

"In the back room," Polly answers, "I only brought him because afterwards we're going to the museum."

"He wanted to come in and say hello—"

"There is nothing of interest to Michael in this room," Polly says, interrupting John, "Tommy, get on with it."

The family waits, watching Tommy's lifeless face. "Last night, Amelié was taken from Winson Green," he starts. The eyes of everybody in the room go wide. "This morning, I got a telegram saying it was Sabini who ordered it," Tommy continues.

"And it says here that they're coming for Tommy next so he can watch her die," Arthur says, ripping up the paper in his hand.

"If our men think we can't protect them in prison they'll not work for us. He... also knows about me and Amelié's relationship. We need to get the Green sorted out," Tommy says with hesitation.

He was scared and angry, it wasn't hard to tell for the people in the room. But the fact that he wasn't on his way over there to get her already was surprising. "Scudboat, you and one of the boys, break a couple of windows, get yourselves arrested. I'll have our coppers get you into the Green. You can find the bastards who got her," Tommy continues.

"Aren't you worried about Amelié?" Polly asks, concerned.

"We should march down there with our men and take her from them Tommy!" John shouts.

More people begin shouting things, but Tommy stops them. "I'm as worried about Amelié as you all are, if not more. But if we aren't careful about this he'll kill her and most of us. We can't take that chance, so I have a plan," he says.

"I'm just the treasurer, can I go now?" Polly asks.

"Well, as company treasurer, I need your permission to spend a thousands guineas," Tommy says.

"On what?" Polly asks.

"A horse."

"A thousand guineas on a horse?"

"That's right."

"And when was this decided?" Polly asks, walking around the room.

"It's part of my plan, Poll," Tommy says, almost rolling his eyes.

After a few more minutes of bickering and planning, Michael comes in. Everybody stops and looks at him. "I've been listening. I want to go with them to the auction," he suggests.

"You see?" Polly yells.

"I love horses! I could even help," Michael says.

"Over my dead body!" she says, crossing her arms.

"It'll be alright mum! I've been to loads of horse auctions before with me uncle. It's very respectable, people bring their butlers," he says, looking around the room.

"Yeah... and their posh wives," Arthur adds.

"And their mistresses," John adds, tapping Michael on the shoulder with a laugh.

The boys reassure Polly that it'll be quick and easy, but she still refuses. The meeting was adjourned after Michael had left, slamming the door behind him. Everybody in that room had work to do. It killed Tommy to keep Amelié there for more than a day, but he knew he had to be careful or he would lose her forever.

-

Clair De Lune plays softly on the piano. Amelié's fingers glide across the keys with more grace than anyone has ever seen. She really had gotten good at piano, and she loved to do it. Although, doing it for Sabini made her feel weird.

She finishes the song and is snapped back to reality. When she looks up, she sees the hauntingly familiar golden walls of Sabini's club. It had been a few days since she was captured, and they hadn't gotten anything out of her. She was tough, like she was with Kimber. They were using her to play in their club as bait, so the only form of abuse they could use was the kind that Amelié hated most. Sabini reassured her that it wasn't his first choice, but more of his last result. She had gone through days and nights dehydrated from lack of resources and a lot of crying. She was becoming weak again.

Amelié sniffs, and looks back at Sabini. "It's a bit slow, but I think the crowd will love you," Sabini says, sitting behind her, "I have the perfect dress for you too."

Amelié nods quietly and gets up. She hated how Sabini got so much joy out of her. Getting up, she feels a firm hand on her shoulder, forcing her back down. "Play again," the man says.

She nods again and begins. She closes her eyes, still playing the keys perfectly. She imagines a simple life with Tommy. A small farm; horses, cattle, maybe even a child too.

This is what kept her from breaking. Hope. She had hope that the Shelby's would save her, she couldn't depend on anybody else; not even herself.

The Shelby's had plans to take over Sabini's club, but days were growing longer, and Amelié was beginning to think she would permanently work for Sabini. At this rate, she thought she might even be forced to marry one of the men. Perhaps the man who came to her room every now and then.

-

Tommy stares down at his desk with a cigarette in his mouth. He had avoided as many people as possible the last few days, since Amelié had gotten into Sabini's hands. He was angry with himself, and knew Amelié would be angry with him.

He continues to stare. Flashbacks of their last night together ran through his mind. Holding her, being with her; it was all he wanted. His plan was going to work, but how long would it take?

The woman from the auction crossed his mind. She was interested in him and he knew that. He thought about the possibility that Amelié had already been killed, and that made him almost want that woman too. He wanted somebody to be close with. Flashes from France cross his mind. The night at the Garrison with Amelié crosses his mind too.

He clears his throat and puts out his cigarette, when he stands, he notices John standing at his door. "I was lockin' up. You look like you need a drink, though," John says.

"I'm alright. Just go home, I'll get the rest of the place," Tommy answers, looking down at his desk again.

"We will get her back Tom," John says, taking a step forward.

Tommy holds his hand up, gesturing for John to stop where he was. "Go home," he demands.

John keeps walking towards him and Tommy grows irritated. He wanted to be alone, nobody could help him now. John approaches him and tries to grab his arm, but Tommy takes his arm and pushes him to the ground, "fucking go home John!" he yells, throwing his hand up in the air.

John sighs and gets up. After taking one last look at Tommy, he dusts off his coat and leaves the room. Tommy stands, distraught. Breathing heavily, he looks up at the white ceiling. "Oh... Amelié," he sighs, thinking about the night at the Garrison.