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"Hold on a minute Tom... he's on 'is way 'ere? The man that just beat me up, is on 'is way 'ere for dinner? Are you fucking kiddin' me?!" John said, in the presence of all the Shelby's gathered again. Rowan sat in the corner unsure of what to do, if anything at all. Ada sat next to her, they had talked for a little while in hush tones before John had obviously received the message and stormed his way in with a powerful entrance.
"John, calm yourself. Alfie may have given you a knock about but you're alive ain't ya?" " 'e 'as been playing us Tom, 'e's with Sabini... I've fuckin' told you this already." Rowan stayed vigilant, and as much as she wanted to entail her own point of view into the conversation (that was steadily becoming an argument), she kept tight-lipped. "I know that John, do you think I'm fuckin' deaf? I've got a plan alright?"
"If Solomons 'as been fraternising with our enemy then surely it will not be worth the food we're going to serve to 'im tonight, nor the rum." Polly said and Tommy rubbed his forehead in his loss of patience. "When can I shoot 'im in the face?" John cut in, and Tommy just looked at him with a glare. "John, first off we're not killing 'im. 'e's too valuable to us. We've got 15% of our income coming from his place, as well as other things that are handled by 'im for us." Rowan looked at him, she felt he was foreshadowing something with that and before she could think, she had asked. "What other things?" Everyone looked at her, Arthur still hadn't warmed to her presence and seemed to step forward a little, almost a threat. "Arthur step away from 'er." Pol said and looked to Rowan who held an unreadable stare towards Arthur.
"Things that you don't need to know about, that's all. 'E's coming' 'round 'ere and you're gonna be welcoming 'im like the kings comin' to visit. Alright?" Everyone silently agreed. "Good...you two, with me." He pointed to Arthur and John. Tommy looked at his youngest brother Finn and decided not to involve him in this one. He didn't want him in too deep this young. Polly and Ada went home while Finn remained, but moved to the kitchen.
Rowan heard a few 'ouches' coming from the kitchen, as well as the tap running every few moments. She had sat staring at the fire but decided to see what the youngest Shelby was doing in the kitchen. She walked into his fingers covered in blood and a set of razor blades scattered across the table. Rowan had immediately presumed the worst.
"Finn oh my God!" She yelled before grabbing his arm and hoping his wrists were clear. "What the fuck are you doing?" He yelled before pulling his arm away from her grip and she saw there were not cuts except tiny ones on his fingers. "What-... what are you doing?" She asked and he sat down with annoyance. "Tommy's forcing me to sew in Arthur's razor blades because I was playing with em... but I can't fuckin' do it." Rowan smiled a little, she sat down beside him and grabbed the cap and the sewing kit. She picked up the razor blade and began to sew it in, remembering Tommy's wound from last time and how she was almost a natural at sewing.
"But Tom said I 'ad to do it." He said in protest and Rowan shook her head. "He'll never know." He smiled a little and folded his hand together. On the last razor, just as she was about to begin sewing it into the cap it slipped in her hand and cut her palm and in immediate effect it began to bleed. She rushed to the sink and held it under the water, her eyes resembling the tap as they cried from the seething pain. Finn stood behind her with a cloth, as she turned and faced him they ended up rather close. He wrapped her hand up and gazed into her eyes, she smiled and thanked him.
"I think I misjudged you." He whispered and began to lean in to kiss Rowan's lips that were open a little in shock. She leaned back and tried to get away from the boy, knowing he was young and she had no interest in him. "Finn..." a gruff voice said before Finn stepped back and Rowan turned to face the sink, blushing from the embarrassment at what had just happened.
"What the fuck is going on?" Tommy could see the blood on her hand and the razors on the table. "Did you do this?" He asked Finn and the teen shook his head, whilst Tommy held Rowan's hand in his own, removing the cloth and studying her wound. "You won't need stitches... go to my office Rowan." He looked over at Finn who just stared a the floor.
"Tommy, please it wasn't his fault. My hand slipped, I promise." They looked into each other's eyes and it was clear that Rowan's pleading wasn't unnecessary. Tommy was angry, the little creases at the corner of his eyes and the burning stare he held backed up the observation heavily. He had managed to once again stay calm and controlled, but whenever it came to Rowan he seemed to grow so much angrier when little things occurred.
Especially seeing her hurt.
"Go to my office now." He stepped to the side and allowed Rowan to walk out, who looked back and tried to see what was happening. It was no use.
"What the fuck is wrong with you Finn? What if that was 'er wrist, 'ey?" Tommy was annoyed but confused as to why she was handling the razor blades anyway. "She was sewing them in for me Tom. She was really good but her hand just slipped, I promise." "I said that only you could sew 'em in for Arthur to forgive ya..." Finn looked to the floor, knowing he was going to have to start all again.
"I suppose I'll have to start again." Tommy nodded before moving out of the room towards Rowan's room.
Just as she had began to change, he knocked at the door.
