Cross my heart - Tommy Shelby

•7•

The next few weeks had passed quicker than Eliza expected. She had gotten back into working almost full time at the school to avoid doing joint shifts at the Garrison with Grace.

Whenever Eliza saw Tommy, whether out on the streets or in the Garrison, she just opted to ignore him.

No words were exchanged between them. If he ordered a drink while she was at the counter, then she would call for Grace to do it instead.

She couldn't handle even looking at him.

After the night at the Garrison, John and Arthur were more on guard than Eliza had ever seen them.

There would always be a hush that fell over the room whenever Tommy or Grace entered it. And Eliza wasn't so high up her own arse that she couldn't admit the sight made her body react in glee.

They gave their responses and answers in short words and refused to discuss any of the business while Grace was around.

It was obvious that it angered Tommy and that there was a slight drift within the family.

Eliza felt guilty at first, blaming herself for the divide between the brothers.

Only to be reassured by John and Arthur that the small rift now, would have been nothing compared to the wedge that Grace would've driven between them if they had not known what Grace was planning.

~

Eliza had decided to stay late at the schoolhouse the following Tuesday, she was tired- but John had told her that his older brother was planning on going to the Garrison for a few hours.

She'd made the excuse of staying behind at the school to do lesson plans and to set up an activity for her class for the next day.

She had the master key for the building, so she had been left there alone, with the promise of locking up behind her.

It was silent, the only noise came from the clock ticking on the brick wall.

She heard the opening and closing of the school yards gate, but dismissed it as a fellow member of staff coming back for something they had forgotten.

"Ah, Miss Fenton." A voice spoke from the doorway of her classroom.

She turned, eyeing up her handbag that held a loaded pistol.

There was a man stood, cane in hand and a black bowler hat atop his head.

He had a thick, bushy moustache and spoke with an authoritative Irish accent.

Eliza thought through the best way to handle this situation, he looked as if he didn't pose too much of a threat- but you couldn't be too sure now days.

She opted to ignore the man, turning away as she scribbled down more notes.

The man obviously did not like the fact that he was being ignored as he strutted over to the front of the desk and brought his cane down harshly onto the wood where Eliza's hands had previously been moments before.

"Now that I've got you're attention, Miss Fenton." He seemed proud of his threatening stature, "I say we have a little chat."

Eliza tried to hide the alarm on her face, her heart pounded in her ears. She glared at the older man, distain written on her face.

"You need to leave." She said firmly, "You are trespassing on private property."

Eliza gave him a glance up and down, his face looked as if it were burning.

"I think you'll find that I have a warrant to be here, you see- I'm here to find something." His burning gaze was on her face, looking for any tell of a give away, "Something that your dear Shelby friends have got."

"I'm not friends with any of the Shelby's, I try to steer clear of them. They bring nothing but trouble to our city." Eliza lied, her heart pounded faster but she kept composed.

That was until she was pushed up against the black board, her head ached as it hit the surface with a crack

A hand wrapped around her neck and squeezed for a few moments as her airways became desperate for air.

"You know I don't like liars," the man licked his lips, "It's a sin- a dirty tarnish against the Lord."

Eliza struggled against him.

"I know all about you Eliza Fenton, soon enough one of my associates will too- and when she knows of your life story, well she can strike you down and the Shelby family will crumble with you."

He finally let go of her neck, allowing her to go lax and collapse of the floor.

She could feel her ears ringing, Eliza rose to her feet- her legs wobbly. Her throat hurt and it ached to even whisper, but still she pressed on.

"Well Sir, You obviously don't know me that well. You can have all the records about me in the world, but you've missed a pretty big piece of information." She stepped forwards, "I'm stubborn, I'm protective and I never go down without a good fucking fight." Eliza growled. "That being said, I know when there's a snake in my midst and more importantly I know when to kill before they strike me down first."

The atmosphere was thick and tense, and Eliza wanted nothing more that to beat the man to the floor.

"Now I think it's clear to see that you have overstayed your welcome, so I suggest you leave before I do something we'll both regret and I'm sure that from reading my files you know what I'm fucking capable of."

The blank expression on the mans face, caused Eliza to realise that he was having an internal debate as to whether or not he should leave or stay.

Eventually he decided the latter, and began to make his move towards the door.

"Goodnight Miss Fenton, I'll be in touch." He began to walk away.

But not before Eliza threw a final verbal punch in the mans direction, "Oh and Sir?" She smirked with satisfaction, "Say hello to Grace for me."