His Sister Orla

06

Silence was not something that Orla, nor Tommy found to be uncomfortable. The two of them could just as easily sit in silence for hours as they could hold a conversation. Walking alongside her brother, Orla couldn't help but think of the blonde beauty that had wandered into her brother's city. She was far too beautiful to belong here. She stuck out like a sore thumb and there was no way a rich girl like her wouldn't draw attention to herself. If she was hiding from something, it would not take long before it caught up with her here. 

 "You do know why I do the things I do, right O", Tommy held an unlit cigarette between his lips as he spoke to the girl. Looking up at him, she grinned, "Oh Thomas Shelby, even if I didn't, I am not the sibling who questions your every move. I do worry that Polly may stroke out if you don't keep her up to date on the many plans that you have."

Chuckling, Tommy shook his head and wrapped his arm around his sisters' shoulder, "Orla, you may be correct there, little sister."

Back at the family's home, Polly and the siblings sat at the kitchen table in silence, a very uncomfortable, ear piercing silence. "That girl has absolutely no idea who her brother is", shaking her head, Polly stood up and started to clean up the bloody mess of Arthur's mishap.

Arthur and John shared glances before standing up from the table. Grabbing their coats, they started out the door, but before exiting, John turned to face his aunt. "Pol, we all know how Orla is with Tommy, and we all know how fucking Tommy is with Orla. The two have been connected at the fucking hips since she was born. He would never do anything to put her in the line of fire and he has made bloody damn well sure that she is oblivious to the fucking evils we commit. I know you mean well, and you just want to see us all happy, but tearing those two apart would be bloody cruel. She will eventually find out the truth and it will break her entire world in half, so just bloody leave them the fuck alone."

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Eventually Arthur and John caught up with Tommy and Orla. Tommy led the pack when the brothers walked together. Arthur was the eldest, but Tommy was the boss, and everyone knew it. With Tommy ahead of her, and the other two sharp dressed men at her sides, Orla felt invincible. She was surrounded by the strongest of men who loved her unconditionally. She had each of them wrapped around her finger and the funny thing was that she did not even know it. Orla was so unlike her siblings. She did not use her power over her brothers against them; She uses it to empower them. She is the type of person to fit another's crown without telling the world it was ever broken.

Once the Garrison came into view, the siblings could hear the voices of drunken men singing, all happy as clams. The boys busted into the pub, and just as Orla had expected, all the voices died down, well, all but one.

Orla immediately recognized the familiar blonde headed woman who stood up in a chair. She did not shy away from Tommy's harsh stares and once she finished her song, the barman spoke. "We haven't had singing in here since the war." Harry was a gentle soul. He may have been intimidated by the Shelby family, but he sure did respect them. He had witnessed the boys grow up and shape into fine young men, even if they did cut and beat people. "And why do you think that is, Harry?" Tommy broke his stare from the beauty across the room and headed into the snug with his brothers.

Orla, unlike her unsocial brothers, walked to the bar to introduce herself. Sticking her hand out to greet the woman, Orla spoke, "Hi, I'm Orla. I don't believe we've met before." The woman stared at the extended hand for a moment before reluctantly taking it. "I'm Grace, I am the new barmaid." Her Irish accent was thick, almost too thick to understand at first, but Orla being the quick-witted girl she is, adapted and moved on. "So, Grace, you sing?"

After several minutes of making small talk, the window at the end of the bar flew open. Making her way to the window to take care of the customer, Harry told Grace that whatever they wanted, it was on the house. Orla watched the barmaid collect the bottle of whiskey and three glasses and then she watched how Grace interacted with her brother, her Tommy to be more exact.

Grace was trying to be brave and forward, but all Orla could see was an act. Grace had no idea how to act around Tommy and she knew it. Thomas Shelby was not a man to be taken lightly. He was a force to be reckoned with. He was smart, cunning and extremely handsome. Anything he wanted, he got. Unfortunately for Grace, his wants did not seem to include her. Eventually Tommy slammed the doors of the window shut and Grace walked back over to where Orla was sitting.

Grace asked a lot of questions, Orla noticed. The questions were of no importance at first, but then she started questioning her connection to the Shelby's. "What are you to Thomas?" This had caught Orla off guard, as well as most people in earshot of the two women talking. Why would she ask such a question? Why does the barmaid care what I am to Tommy?

Furrowing her eyebrows together, Orla questioned Grace's intentions. "What do you mean, what am I to Thomas?" Now Orla Mae Shelby was not an easily angered person. She was the calmest of all the siblings and she almost never raised her voice, almost never that is. "What business is it of yours to what my relationship is to Thomas Shelby?" Orla had a way about her that the others did not. Everyone who had the pleasure of being in her presence only wanted to please her. Orla was the life of any room she was in. She radiated class and elegance, and her smile made grown men weak at the knees. But when she was angry, people knew they had messed up and often people cowered at her stare. She had the same qualities of Thomas. They knew how to read the room and how to achieve whatever they desired, and right now, Orla Mae wanted answers.

"I – um.... I was just ...I – didn't mean to- ...um" Grace fumbled over her words and before she would forma proper sentence, Orla leaned over closer to her. "Grace dear, I assure you that Thomas Shelby is not interested in you. But to answer your question, it is not what I am that you should be concerned, but who I am. My full name is Orla Mae Shelby, and I promise that I am your worst nightmare where Thomas Shelby is concerned." And with that, Orla Mae removed herself from the bar stool and walked into the snug to join her brothers.

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OKAY! so this chapter kinda sucks, but that is fine because it is a filler. The good stuff is coming soon. 

QUESTION!!! What is everyone's thoughts on a little bickering with Tommy and Orla? Should we have a small falling out? Just let me know!!