Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

Weightless

            It was stifling to have dirt in his throat again even with the cloth over his mouth he could feel the grime coating his lungs. The tight spot of the tunnel was hellish and made every nerve in Tommy's body scream in panic. There wasn't any time to decide whether it was just another opium-induced dream. He just had to keep digging.

It happened in a split second. One moment everything was fine at the opening of Grace's orphanage, then Ada asked where Karl was. The innocent question turned to panic when no one could seem to find the little boy. Then, a harrowing scream came from outside.

"Mum!" Karl's panicked cry was unmistakable.

They had taken Tommy's nephew. Now he was a puppet to them, forced to do what they said. There was no way Ada was losing her son, not after everything she'd suffered. And certainly not by Tommy's fault. So, he drove to the tunnel being dug to the Russian's vault.

Midnight. They had to get it by midnight.

All his muscles ached as he worked in the cramped, dank, tunnel. He was caked in mud but there was no time to wipe it from his face. No time to rest. No time to breathe.

~~~~~~~~~

There was a knock at the door and Kate descended down the stairs to answer it. Santo was working so she had the flat to herself. Yet she wasn't ready to open the door to a familiar face. Her jaw dropped.

"You happy to see me or what?" The man gave her a signature lopsided smile.

"Frankie..." She whispered. "What on Earth?" Trying to shake off her shock, she herded him into the apartment so no one would notice him standing there. "Are you fucking crazy?" She hissed as she shut the door. "You could be killed for coming around here!

Frank Wallace was the no-nonsense leader of the Gustin Gang. About ten years older than her, he was a strong ally to Kate. Along with his brother, Steve, Frank ran South Boston with an iron fist. Only the strongest men, like Santo, ever tested his power.

"Few of my boys are causing a bit of ruckus to tie up Santo's men. They won't ever catch me here." He smiled confidently.

Still, Kate was sick to her stomach to know he was there. "Why are you here? How did you even know where to find me I haven't seen you-"

"Since that fucker chased you out of the city." Frank looked a bit disgusted that he was standing in Santo's foyer. He appeared to have the same distaste for the décor, even if he didn't have a good reason to hate it.

"So, how'd you know I was back?"

"Got a telegram from a Mr. Thomas Shelby, in London. Can you fucking believe that?" He grinned like a kid on Christmas day. "Bit more international than I thought, huh?"

"Tommy sent you?" She whispered in shock. Sending Patrick was one thing, but contacting another gang leader?

"Yeah, said something about forming an alliance. Said you'd know something about it. Maybe not, I dunno." He shrugged.

Kate's throat started to constrict. Patrick hadn't done anything to convince Tommy to stay in Birmingham where he belonged. "Frank, you need to get out of here now. He's got eyes everywhere if he finds out you've been here..." She warned and pushed him to the door.

"Santo? Katie, he don't have anything over you!" He urged. "This fucking debt, s'bullshit! He wants the money you owe, I'll give you the fucking money. Would've given it to you years ago if you'd just asked."