Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

Sleepless Nights

            Grace was hunched over a ledger when Kate burst in through the doors. "You look as if you've seen a ghost." She remarked.

"I don't have much time." Kate glanced over her shoulder; afraid someone had followed her to the pub. "But I wanted to say my goodbyes to you in person and hoped that you would pass them along to the rest of the family."

"Goodbyes? What on Earth are you talking about?" Grace looked alarmed.

"Really, I did quite enjoy our talks together. You helped the time pass by faster in this...wonderful city. And I wanted to warn you. Warn you that, Tommy." Kate shook her head. "That isn't a path you want to go down. Trust me I know what getting into this life entails. Once you're in, you never get out of it. So, I'd run while you still have both legs."

"Kate, sit down and talk to me, you're about to faint!" Grace stood and pulled up a chair for her.

"I can't stay, really I-"

The doors opened and Kate reacted instinctually. She pulled out her gun and pointed it at the doors.

Tommy put his hands up defensively. "I can't walk into me own pub without getting shot?" He joked half-heartedly.

"Tommy, talk to her, she's run in here talking nonsense." Grace waved him over, her brow furrowed.

"What's going on?" Tommy went to walk over but paused. He locked the doors behind him just in case there really was danger lurking around the corner.

"I need to leave," Kate explained cryptically.

"Why?"

"Because I just do!" She huffed anxiously. "You take the information I gave you, free of charge. Forget about me and let me go on my way." Her mind was racing. Where on Earth would she go? There were very few hiding spots she had left unless she ventured even further East. She wondered if Australia was far enough.

"Kate. What happened? Are you in danger?"

"Sit down." Grace urged and placed a hand on Kate's shoulder.

She hoped she wasn't wasting precious time by sitting down. "I received a letter from an old-I don't know how you would describe our relationship. Maybe an enemy, who cares. I received a letter from him and I know what he's after."

"What is he after?" Grace sat back down beside Kate.

"Me." She swallowed and looked at her hands. "My father was in so deep in Boston. He had nothing left and the people he had taken money from were closing in on our family. So, he made a deal with them. Six months to get the money back in full, plus interest. If that failed, then I would be betrothed to the head of the family, Santo Leoni."

"I'm guessing you skipped town before those six months were up," Tommy said.

Kate nodded with a grim expression. "There was no point waiting around for my father to fail. Figures he wouldn't put his own life on the line, rather he'd use his daughter as a bargaining chip. That's the kind of man he was. I knew he'd never get the money so I left for France. Now Santo's found out where I am."

"How?" Grace looked to Tommy as if he'd have any answers.

She shook her head. "I haven't the faintest. I thought I was in the clear a long time ago but I guess I've let my guard down too soon. I should've known he would catch up to my one of these days."