Subtle Invitation [Thomas Shelby]

Meeting You

Lily was on time as she slipped out of her door, her hair curled and loose around her face, her face perfectly made up, special attention placed on her split lip and cheek. As soon as Tommy saw her it bought him back to the first day of meeting her, she was just as put together then. Lily never had an off day even with a split lip.

"Hello boys" she grinned as she passed them. "John you'll have to follow us because if Albert sees you rolling up in that thing he'll shoot first and ask questions later" she said as she pointed to the small truck that had a closed green back.

"I like the sound of this Albert already" Arthur grinned as he clapped his hands together. "Come on let's get this on the road!"

Lily looked to Tommy who was still staring, his expression blank "You covered it well" he whispered as he guided her into the back of the car.

Lily blushed as she let him shut the door behind her, Tommy taking the seat next to Arthur in front. Although Lily was disappointed that he wasn't with her but it meant she could do her work in the back.

"We have men on the streets finding out who attacked ya love. Not be long before someone squeals" Arthur said from the front as he pulled off, side eyeing Tommy.

Lily sighed as she remembered tumbling, her hands hitting the wall last as her cheek hit the cold concrete wall.

"Thanks Arthur" she mumbled hoping that their short conversation wasn't going to set Tommy off again.

—-

"Are you bloody sure love? There's nothing out here?" Arthur bristled as he leaned forward to look out at the vast green land around them.

Lily rolled her eyes as she went over the recent figures for the betting shop.

"Yes Arthur" she huffed impatiently. They had been driving for an hour now and he questioned every direction she had given him "I have lived here for most of my life I'm pretty bloody sure"

Tommy looked out at the vast land that was scattered with forests and wild flowers, Lily hadn't been understating how hidden she had been. They hadn't even seen a house yet.

Thirty minutes later in the faint distance there appeared a building. Tommy leaned forward, squinting slightly trying to make out the house.

"Your face will get stuck like that if you carry on" she mumbled from the back as she hid behind her papers, it had been so easy to tease him.

Arthur snorted as he put his foot down on the gas.

—-

"Fuckin ell'" Arthur blurted as Adler Estate appeared to them all. The mansion was a huge bricked building that spanned across two acres. It stood in the middle of the forest proudly. Surrounding the house where courtyards that spanned off to other buildings that held horses, cars and boats.

As they where ten feet away from the gate a bullet whistled by Tommy's side of the car and both men in-front ducked.

Leaning into the front Lily reached quickly into Tommy's pocket and whipped out his handkerchief. Leaning out of her window she waved the white material.

"Albert! It's me, it's Lily!" She yelled as loud as she could, her hand waving frantically with the white handkerchief.

"Lily? What the hell? I could of bloody shot you" She heard back.

Lily jumped out of the car and made her way towards the gate, as quickly as she could in her heels.  As her hair bounced in the wind Tommy tried to fight the urge to follow her, not trusting anyone around her especially an old man who willingly fired their way.