Cruel To Be Kind - Peaky Blinders Fanfiction

Part 30 - Contracts and Deals

Another one bites the dust.

I apologise for any mistakes, it's very late - or really early - and I've proofread this chapter but can quite possibly have missed mistakes.

Hope you enjoy this one and please enjoy yourselves.

Is anyone going a little crazy in isolation? I think I am and I feel like it's got a hold on my writing. I also feel like it's making Elsie see light in a different way - it might also have to do with the fact she's a hostage. I was also a little emotional writing this chapter as I was watching Avengers: Endgame and I just love that film and there are so many feels in it.

Please enjoy and I do hope you are all staying safe.

Love Comet96 xx

***

At some point, we must have drifted off to sleep because when I woke it was darker in the warehouse. There was a low hum as the few lights flickered and brought a dim light to the open space and I could make out Graves and two of his men sat at a table.

The more I blinked the more I became aware of the pain in my shoulders and the need to wee. My head hurt and I wasn't sure if it was because I'd been knocked out or because I was in need of a drink. And I felt like Graves was tormenting me as he stared and brought a glass to his lips.

It was selfish of me to notice now that I couldn't see Kyle and I knew he was with us at the park. He'd been running towards me when I was knocked out.

"What happened to the man I was with?" I asked, shifting my head to look at Graves. I hope he didn't do anything to Kyle. From the look in his eyes, I knew there was no hope for that.

"Aye, my boys had some fun with him." It was vague and I couldn't tell if he'd killed him or just beat him up a bit.

The two men that were sitting with him laughed and one went to say something only to be stopped by the door to the warehouse slamming open and a young lad coming in, a crazy look in his eyes.

"Tommy Shelby is 'ere and he's got a lot of men!" he shouted, running over to Graves with a panicked look on his face. There was a rush as they all tried to stand and Graves tried to spit out orders.

The doors opened again, this time hitting against the wall as John and Arthur charged in, their guns up and aimed. John's eyes fell on us and his jaw clenched as he saw Jacob sleeping in my lap. I was surprised he was still asleep through all the noise.

My eyes drifted back to the door as Tommy walked in, followed by Al and Jimmy. I thought the kid said Tommy had a lot of men, this was only four. Tommy's eyes flashed over to me and I could see the anger held within them before he stepped closer to Graves. If I didn't know my husband, I would say that he didn't look bothered that I was tied to a chair.

"Graves," Tommy said, coming to a stop in front of the table Graves was sitting at. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it and took a long smoke before addressing the man again. "I got your message."

Oh, you got his fucking message, did you?

"Took you a while to get here," Graves said, a slight tone of torment in his voice. He was enjoying this. He must have known Tommy was worried and was enjoying how Tommy was reacting.

Tommy let his eyes wander around the warehouse and I could see him taking in each of Graves' men, noting the weapons they had on them. He pulled the cigarette from his mouth and smirked.

What was he up to?

"We've been here before," Tommy said, pointing to Graves and then himself. "You sure you want to do this? The last time we were in this position, my wife shot you." He brought his cigarette back to his lips and that smirk was back in place.