How To Love A Bad Man|Thomas Shelby

2| don't be a commie

The police were at my doorstep last night. They heard of my involvement with Arthur Shelby, my only involvement being the slap I delivered to his face. They came to warn me.

"You might've angered a Shelby. So we advise you to lay low for a week or so." I nodded along with the conversation, zoning in and out. "They keep razor blades in their hats, they like to cut people's ears off Miss..." blah blah blah. "They carry guns 99% of the time..."

"Thank you officer." I cut him off and sighed. "I will keep a look out, but keep the lights off." He bid me a farewell, I clicked the door shut and slid down it. Lots of other people have been in this position, I'm no different. It's just a bit stressful, I'm a soft woman.

Where did I put my whiskey?

I reached out towards the curtains, behind the couch, ah, there it was. I gripped the bottle, popped the cork out and just lost myself. Just completely lost everything.

My journal was precious to me, it held every time I resented my father, my mother, my life in it. My last present to my father was the journey, and I wrote on the penultimate page just for him. The final page was for whatever happened with me next, blank, unknown.

I picked up my fountain pen, and stroked the ink across the paper in cursive.

"When your desire to kill is not your biggest priority, I'll be here. But I guess I'll be waiting forever won't I? You love the fact you can stain blood on your hands whenever you want. You adore the feeling of powers surging into your veins. I don't father. I want to live a normal life, but I never will because of you. One of your own men caused my misery and you'll never acknowledge that. I don't see it fit that I stay in the house of a murderer anymore. I'm going to survive on my own, without
crimson stains and graves on the sides of the road. Farewell."

I fumbled for a pack of cigarettes, lighting one up and drawing it to my mouth. Inhaling and exhaling, I might as well take all of his. I shoved as many packs as I could in my dress pocket. And money of course.

A mantra of a new beginning was at the front of my mind.

But of course it was too good to be too.

I woke up to the sound of doors being caved in, and people screaming. What the hell was going on? I scrambled up and the voices drew closer. Upstairs. Get upstairs. I scurried up the steps and thought which window would be best to jump out of. Right.

I fiddled with the window lock and jumped hesitantly onto the roof tiles. This was a new experience for me. I climbed to the top, discovering a flat part. Was I safe? I leant against one of the brick chimneys. Exhaling worriedly.

Then I caught onto the shuffling besides me, and a gun being tampered with. I got up and hurriedly skidded down the other side of the roof. The police hated communists, I wasn't an extreme one, but I thought everyone deserved some form of equality. I didn't know what my plan was, but it wasn't to fall off the roof. My heart stopped as I was falling.

But luckily I landed in a pile of hay.

Unfortunately, I still couldn't escape the wrath of the police. Last night they didn't know, but now they did. Or maybe they know all along, wanted me to stay put so they could eradicate me. I felt an officer pull me and whack me with a baton, I was too dazed to do anything. So I allowed my body to be dragged.

I had only been in Birmingham a few times, and this time might've been my last.

Where's a Shelby when you need one?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - /

"What is your name?" A man named Major Campbell interrogated me, and every time I didn't answer he put the lit end of his cigarette into my back.

Men always thought they could get away with hurting a woman. He didn't know who he was engaging with. "Major Campbell, I thought you would've heard of me. I'm quite well known in London."

"Stop playing games. You're scum, a communist." I started laughing, I put my hand up and gestured for him to come closer. When he did, I whispered something that made him tremble.

"I apologise Miss." he unbound me and offered his hand, I took it and stood proudly, even though I didn't want to.

"You just don't want to be on the same level as everyone else. I'm not a communist, people I'm associated with are." I chastised him.

He stayed silent.

"Does it make you feel good? To tie up men and woman who are only dangerous because of their opinions? A lot of communists sit tight at home and wait for a better future." I knew he wouldn't learn, but I wanted to take the opportunity to dig into him. "Have a good day sir." I spoke my final words and departed.

"To you too Miss." He spoke reluctantly on my way out, I didn't like how he said it at all. At least I had protection for a while. He didn't know I wasn't with my father at this very moment.

It's nice to be a free woman. But straightforwardly, No one is free in this world.