How To Love A Bad Man|Thomas Shelby

5| Hate brewing

All I could think about was the lavish dress waiting at home for me to wear later that day. I was getting a small buzz, feeling partially wanted and all. No man had touched me since I lost my sight, not in a moment of lust or love. Once they figured out I was blind, apparently I just became nothing, a waste of bloody space.

My thought process was interrupted by the last thing I expected. A woman stumbling in the door's, breathing harshly. Grace gasped and fled from the bar to help, but help who exactly. "Ada Shelby, whatever is the matter?"

They had a sister.

"Have you seen Freddie? Or Tommy?" She inhaled loudly, whining when it got more difficult to breathe. I tried not to chip at the wood with my nails as I headed for their direction. As I got closer, Grace put her arm out to stop me, Ada must've been nearer than I thought.

"No we haven't. Are you okay Miss?" I answered and stepped in instead of Grace. Did this woman mean of Freddie Thorne? He was another man of power in this vast place called Birmingham.

"Oh my god, they're going to kill each other." She breathed even heavier, Grace whispered to me if I could go get a towel, but soon realised the problem and did it herself. "And I'm okay, just pregnant."

"They won't kill each other. neither of them die today." I assured her, worriedly bringing my arm towards her and hoping for it to land on her shoulder for comfort.

Locks of hair intertwined with my slender fingers, I chewed on the corner of my mouth and took to quickly stroking her hair and withdrawing my hand back vigorously fast. "I don't know. Freddie won't bow down to Thomas." She sighed, like a weight was on her entire body. "They'll both send me to an early grave."

"Here you go Ada." Grace appeared with a wet towel, I heard the relief Ada felt when the towel was pressed to her forehead. "Now let's sit you down properly."

"Thank you grace, and, is your name Rose?" Ada asked politely, I didn't know until Grace mumbled quietly enough for only me to hear that Ada's hand was out for me to shake. Grace took my elbow and inched it towards the pregnant Shelby.

"Yes. You can call me Rose." I smiled unsurely, only close friends had the honour of calling me that, but maybe it was time to let go of that custom, Rose sounded so much kinder.

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

I was slithering into my dress, while recalling the conversation I had shared with Thomas after he had a close call with Freddie Thorne.

"Ada could've chose anyone. Of course she had to choose Freddie Thorne." He chuckled half heartedly, his voice coated in disdain. I listened intently, not even meaning to, I was attracted to his voice, it was a social magnet for me.

"Most things have irony Mr Shelby." I added my input, dragging the soaked cloth over the ash covered wood. I swapped hands, using my left to wipe with a dry towel this time. "We tend to go for those who we would not expect."

A comfortable silence began to flourish and infect our mouths.

But then it was smoothly broken by a question, one that I did certainly not expect. "I think you should sing along with Grace. Now that'd be something no one could predict. A blind woman with the voice of home when you're in France."

"Let's see if I survive the races first Mr. Shelby." I laughed fully, qignoring the part about France, he didn't need more reminders of it. No one needed to remember France.

I escaped the room, leaving Mr Shelby with what I thought was a full glass.

Now I was patting down fabric in hopes of it looking smooth and pristine on me.

At the sound of knocking on my door and Thomas Shelby calling my name, I sat on the top step and slowly lowered myself down the stairs, one step at a time. I avoided any obstacles in the front room and hurriedly unlocked the door, twisting the handle, and only being able to imagine the man on the other side of the door. "Hello Mr Shelby, is it time?"

"Indeed it is." He linked his arm with mine and I got an electrifying jolt run down my chest. He escorted me to his vehicle and then we were off, travelling swiftly to the races.

It was crowded when we got there, I knew from all the hot bodies skimming against mine as Thomas lead me to the ball room. This time, he was holding my hand, and although it was brief, it was enough to send my heart racing.

When we arrived in the spacious room (according to Tommy), he drew me in to a dancing position. Giving me a fleeting offer to dance with him, I nodded and intertwined my fingers with his as we bounced around the room. Despite the noise and chaos, it was almost serene how we bobbed around lightly, going in whatever direction Thomas desired. "Are you smiling?" I asked him meekly.

"Indeed I am Rosalind." The conversation was left at that. We danced for a little longer before Thomas said he had some business to attend to. He told me to walk straight on and I'd be at the bar, so I did exactly that.

I drank in the atmosphere that I couldn't see, recalling times when my own father would have parties and large gatherings. There'd be an array of beverages, most of them being beer. I'd always sneak in a shot of whiskey before my father would see me, he wasn't fond of me drinking. He wasn't fond of anything I did in a way.

I didn't let my mind spiral any further, father wasn't in my life anymore. It wasn't important.

I was suddenly accompanied again, a quick tap on my arm to let me know someone was there. From just a smell, I could tell it was Thomas. "This soon already?" I asked jokingly.

He cleared his throat and didn't answer. "I need you to spend a couple hours with Mr. Kimber." My expression turned sour, I wasn't a toy.

"You think I'm a whore?" I whispered with a numb realisation. He only brought me here for a deal. A little eye candy on the side so he could bargain me if the money didn't work.

"Everyone's a whore Rosalind, we all sell different parts of ourselves." I scoffed, pushing him away from me slightly. "At any point, you can kick him where the sun doesn't shine alright?"

"That's if I can fucking guess where his balls are." I was growing upset, and hate was brewing. The hate wasn't for Tommy, even though I was mad, it was the fact Billy Kimber thought he could just take a girl without their permission.

"2 hours Rosalind. Nothing more." I nodded my head, accepting the fact there was no way of getting out of this.

"Just direct me where I need to go."