Angel

16

            I stormed through the streets of Camden Town, fury in my eyes and tears streaming down my cheeks. I threw open the doors of the bakery, pushing men out of my way as I made my way to Alfie's office. I threw open the door, breathing heavily in anger as I stood before him. The curtains were closed, covering the windows. "Ollie, fuck off," Alfie said quietly as he rose to his feet. Ollie gave a curt nod and left the room, closing the door behind him. "You fucking bastard," I said, my voice dangerously low. "You fucking bastard!" I cried out as Alfie crossed the room towards me. "You killed Billy Kitchen! And you got my brother fucking arrested!" I shouted, throwing punches at his chest. "I had to form an alliance with Sabini, angel," Alfie said quietly, almost ashamed. "You got my brother fucking arrested! You betrayed them!" I screamed, throwing more punches as I cried. Alfie grabbed my hands as I jerked, trying to reach any part of him I could with my fists. Michael had been arrested for arson at a pub Arthur and John lit up in flames, Arthur was in jail for something he didn't do, and Billy Kitchen was dead. And I was pissed.

            "Shhh, shh, now, angel. It 'ad nothin' to do with ya, right? Ya know the way I feel, ya do, don't ya. This is simply business," Alfie whispered. "My family has been torn to pieces because of you!" I yelled. Alfie said nothing in response, only bear hugging me against his body to restrain my wild thrashing. "It's your fault," I cried into his chest. "I know, angel, I know. It's only business. Arthur will be fine in prison, nothin' will 'appen to 'im. I just need more income from ya brother's business, and I 'ad to go through Sabini to make it 'appen," he said softly. "My brother's business? You forget I'm also a part of Peaky Blinder's business," I said through gritted teeth, pushing him off of me and staring him down, "Why didn't you send me to prison then?" I shot at him. "I could never let anything 'appen to you, angel," he whispered. "I can't believe you," I seethed, pacing around his office. "Angel, he'll be alright," Alfie assured me, and I rolled my eyes, furiously wiping the tears from my cheeks. "All for the fucking money," I scoffed. "It'll all get worked out, angel. Arthur won't be harmed, alright?" Alfie insisted. I shook my head, my lips pressed in a tight line.

            "Look, it's business. I 'ad to do what I 'ad to do. Your brothers campaign in London has gone a bit off the rails, right, I had to get everythin' back in order," he said, holding his hands up. I paced his office, taking in his words. I knew my brothers had made a statement by taking over Sabini's clubs, and Arthur had started doing cocaine, which I'm sure had become a problem for the London gangsters. "They've gotten a bit drunk on power, but did you really have to go through Sabini to make this happen? Tommy will retaliate you know, and it won't be pretty," I told Alfie, my voice raspy from the yelling. "I know angel, I know," he said softly. "He's going to use me too you know. He always uses me as a fail safe, knowing no one could ever hurt a woman. Anyone except Tommy. You could have very well just put my life in danger, if he comes to you and you don't give him what he wants," I told him, and he nodded. "Which is why I'm prepared to settle, love. I'm going to ask 'im for everything, and 'e won't give it to me, right, so then I'll wait to see what his next offer is, and we'll negotiate on a settlement," Alfie replied, stepping closer to me. I stayed silent as he approached me, placing a hand on my hip and bringing the other up to my cheek, his thumb grazing the skin and letting his hand run down my neck and down my shoulder and arm before resting it on my other hip. "I'll have to leave London for a while. He won't let me down here until you two eventually agree on new terms," I said quietly, and Alfie sighed.

            "I know what 'e'll do, angel. He's a smart man, but I'm just as smart, eh? Ya know I'd never let anythin' 'appen to ya," he whispered, and I looked up into his eyes. "And you're sure about all this?" I asked him, and his eyes searched mine as he nodded earnestly. "It's incredibly infuriating that I can't stay mad at you," I whispered, and he chuckled softly, bringing his lips down to mine and pressing them together. Our lips moved in sync for a moment before I broke away from him. "I'll be seeing you in a few days. With Tommy. You already know he's going to want to see you," I told him, and he nodded silently, "I have to go back to Birmingham. Family meeting." Alfie nodded in response, taking his hands off my hips and taking my small hand in his, lifting it to his lips, his beard tickling the skin. "I'll see ya soon, angel," he said softly, and I nodded, before turning and making my way out of the bakery.

            I rode quickly back to Birmingham, making it just in time for the family meeting. I walked in silently, taking a seat next to John as I watched Polly anxiously bounce her knee up and down as she smoked. Tommy strode in a moment later. "John?" he asked. "The coppers have lifted ten of our men in Camden Town, the rest of them are on the run," John replied. "Tom, they've taken Michael," Finn piped up. "Business first," Tommy replied, holding out a hand to shut our little brother up. "They took Michael-" Polly said, rising and crossing the room to Tommy. "I said business first," Tommy said, holding up a hand to her. "They picked him up-" Polly argued, but Tommy cut her off again. "Polly, business first!" he yelled, and Polly looked away as though she'd been slapped. Tensions ran high in the room as she fell quiet and Tommy turned back to my brother. "John?" he asked again. "They took all our whiskey, so no doubt they'll be supping that for Christmas. They've impounded all our vans, put their own locks on the warehouse. The Eden club and all our pubs have been raided by the coppers and handed back to Sabini and Solomons. The Black Country boys think it was Arthur who killed Billy because that's what the coppers told them. So there'll be no more free passes for our whiskey boats," John reported.

            "I don't give a fuck about whiskey. I don't give a fuck about Billy Kitchen. I want my son out of prison, now!" Polly yelled, slamming her hands down on the table. "Thomas, I spoke to Johnny Dogs," Esme piped up. "This meeting should just be family," Polly barked at her. "I can help," Esme insisted. "It's family only, she's not blood, Tommy!" Polly shouted. "Let her speak," Tommy said, but Polly shouted over him. "Or is this a business, have you forgotten our family-" she shouted. "Enough!" Tommy roared, holding up a hand to silence her. "Enough, Polly," he said, his voice low. "Esme?" he said, gesturing for her to speak. "I spoke to Johnny Dogs. The Lee's are kin," Esme spoke. "The bloody Lee's?!" Polly shouted, slamming her hands on the table again. "They can give us men," Esme insisted. "We don't need more fucking men!" Polly shouted, "It's men that have done the damage! It's...it...it is men fighting like cockerels that have put us here in the first place." "Esme, we'll take up their offer. We need men," Tommy said after a beat. Polly shook her head incredulously. "If Michael ever gets out of prison, I am taking him away from this family. For good. This life is bad," she spat at Tommy before storming towards Finn, taking him by the arm. "Aunt Pol, what are you doing?" he asked as she lead him away. "Shut up and walk," she ordered, and my little brother fell silent as they left the room.

            Tommy leaned against the table, sighing heavily. "Thomas?" Esme said, approaching him, " Should I go speak to Queen Mary Lee at the Black Patch?" "Yes," Tommy muttered as he took a seat across from me. "She can give us soldiers for a few nights," Esme said. "Hmmm, good," Tommy replied, hands linked together as the cogs in his mind turned. "John, go bring up the car," Esme muttered. John made no movements, and Esme linked eyes with him sternly. He sighed, gripping his hat in his hands as he rose from the table, leaving the room in silence. "Imagine riding away, Thomas," Esme whispered, leaning in close to my brother, "Living the real like, you know? Your Gypsy half is the stronger. You just want to ride away. France is a new place for us, they say. Lot of metal lying around still. Guns and trucks and spent shells and things. Then you go south. Saintes-Maries, where the Black Madonna is. My brothers go sometimes for the fair. It's like a home for us. They still let you get lost there." I opened my mouth to speak, but Tommy held up a hand, locking eyes with our sister in law. "I've been to France, Esme," he whispered, "So has John. Now get your coat and go with your husband." Esme made no move to go after John, and Tommy took her face in his hand.

            "If you ever talk about getting lost again, I'll cut you...from this family," he whispered, letting go of her face. Esme looked around the room, ignoring my presence. "What family?" she whispered, leaning away from Tommy. "Esme. Get out. Now," I growled, my eyes on Tommy. She stiffened in response, sweeping from the room, leaving Tommy and I in silence. "He just wants more money, you know, Alfie Solomons," I said after a few moments. My brother looked up at me, meeting my eyes. "I heard bits and pieces here and there while I was nursing for them. He'll cut you a deal. But you'll have to bring me along, for the insurance. And you'll have to scare him into it. Threaten that he'll lose the bakery...his empire...even his own life," I told him, trying desperately to get him to consider a new alliance so both men I cared about would no longer be at each other's throats, and he nodded. We fell into a short silence as his mind raced. "I have to pull some strings for Arthur. But I have a plan. And your presence will be required," he muttered as he rose from the table.