How To Love A Bad Man|Thomas Shelby

1| a drink for the lady

I feverishly made way to the pub, feeling the sparks of fire inches from my face as I closed in on the building. The doors were smooth, dark oak that's lived for hundred of years beneath my fingers. I pushed them open and stumbled in, minding the step and barging through people to get to a stool.

I smiled as the smell of alcohol flooded my nose, I had deeply missed the Garrison. I cleared my throat unnecessarily loud, signalling the bartender. "Yes Miss?" The man asked politely.

"Whiskey please." I hummed and tapped on the counter. My nails were getting longer, it's good to have long nails around this place, they pierce skin easier.

"Whiskey? That's strong for a woman." I had a hard time distinguishing the Shelby's, they all seemed the same sometimes. Apart from Finn, he barely came in here. I laughed, shaking my head at...the oldest Shelby?

"Can't a woman enjoy herself Arthur Shelby?" I replied, picking up the glass that just slid towards me. I put it to my lips, and oh my, I forgot how heavenly whiskey was. I didn't mean to, but it was all gone in a second. I waited for Arthur's signature move, as the ladies call it, he'd run a hand through his hair, smirk, and then sit on the stool next to you smugly.

I waited. One second. Two secon-

The stool beside me creaked with Arthur's body weight. "I know my attempts may be futile with you, but you are a gorgeous maiden."

"How kind of you Arthur, although I can only presume you're going for it because I'm not a whore." He spluttered next to me for a moment. Jackpot. Who can say they've made a Shelby flustered. "You want to make me your whore don't you Mr. Shelby?"

"They did say you were a smart one." He chuckled, avoiding my words but silently agreeing to them. What he next spoke was harsh and quick. "Get a drink for the lady, make all hers on the house."

"Yes Mr. Shelby." The bartender was on his feet fast and scurried to get me another whiskey. It was sweet of Arthur to get me a drink. A little less sweet that he just wanted to get me drunk.

I heard a deep breath escape from Arthur, but before he could speak. A commotion occurred, glass went everywhere, tables and stool were knocked carelessly to the ground. I thought the pub was about to be searched or a fight was to break out.

"Danny, you're not in France." Was all that anyone could make out. Ah, the man with shell shock. Extreme shell shock. I briefly remembered him, the last time I was in here, he did the same thing but he was stopped sooner. Bless his poor soul.

"I did it again didn't I?" He whimpered, about to sob. I couldn't imagine how it must feel, to think everything is a threat, to be scared all the time, to panic at the smallest of things. Or maybe I could understand a little.

"You did Danny."

I didn't pay much attention to the voices, all I did pay attention to was my whiskey. Arthur was no longer next to me, he was dealing with Danny. So I was at peace. The alcohol burned and churned in my stomach, and it began to make my head woozy as some Londoners say.

Ah, London, a home of paradise, but really the gates to hell. I had no need of being there now. An absent mother and a psycho father. Living the life. That life being that I fled from London to find refuge in a place that was dangerous. Harder to get through. Watched.

I was broken out of my thoughts by Arthur. His hand clamping on my shoulder, drunkenly. "Get this lady one last drink ay!"

This lady. I didn't desire to stand up to a Shelby, but I was disheartened. He hadn't even asked for my name, what a gorgeous maiden I was, one without a name, one that he couldn't get attached to.

"This lady has a name." I stood and swung, and it got right on target. "Leave me be Mr. Shelby, unless you have something better to say." I broke my glass and threw the remains of shards at him.

Truth is, I was always scared, I panicked at every small thing, and everything that moved was a threat. As I rushed out of the pub doors, all I could think of was Arthur hunting me down. Everyone knows, you do not mess with a Shelby.

Dear lord keep me safe.