Dance with Death

2

Arabella and Finn stood in Charlie's scrap yard. There was a table set up with tea set out on top of it. The Changrettas stood having a meeting with John and Arthur, who were not taking anything seriously.

"Finn pour the Italian, some English tea." John said.

"I don't want any fucking tea." He said but Finn poured the tea anyways. Arabella was getting a bad feeling from this. She felt danger and she didn't think John or Arthur were handling this properly. She took this as a chance to whisper into Johns and Arthur ear.

"Take this seriously. Somethings not right." Arabella whispered.

"Arabella, sweet heart, theres no need to be afraid of these assholes. We're the peaky fucking blinders." John whisper back to her. Arthur seemed to be uneasy as well. The meeting went on fine, until John joked about putting a bullet in Changretta's son. He then walked off angrily saying the Shelbys were going to regret it. Everyone instantly got a bad feeling.

It was later on in the day and the Shelbys were having a meeting.

"Bella, Finn, lovely to have you here. Thanks for coming. Now fuck off." Arthur said. He was just trying to keep the two out of trouble. It was his way of looking out for them. They looked up at each other and began to walk away but Tommy came into the room.

"Finn, Bell, stay." He commanded. Finn playfully smiled at Arthur, but he looked so worn and tired. It pulled at Arabella's heart, to see him like that. She knew Arthur was sensitive, deep deep down, and he couldn't handle all the burden right now, it was breaking him, bit by bit, tearing at the seams.

Tommy was eating John up, telling him all the trouble he's caused.
"You did the right thing John." Tommy said, quickly switching up.
"You get soft of the rebellion and they bite back. Send our men to burn two of their pubs tonight." Tommy said. Everyone perked up. What the hell is he thinking.

"For god sakes, why?" Polly asked voicing what everyone else was thinking.

"Why? Because we can! And if we can we will! Because if we let our foot up, just a bit from on their necks right now, they'll come at us." Tommy shouted. They all looked at Tommy like he was a monster.

"You're getting soft and weak brother. Save the Bible's for Sunday." Tommy said and stormed off. Arabella shot up in her seat.

"Dont listen to him Arthur." She mumbled before she jogged to catch up with Tommy. She caught up with him right before he was gonna leave.

"Tommy wait."
"For god sakes, what is it now, Arabella?" Tommy snapped. Arabella was taken aback and a little hurt. Tommy never took his frustration out on her like that. Never the less she went on.

"I have a really bad feeling about this. I don't think we should mess with the Changretta. They're hiding something." Arabella whispered. Tommy sighed and grabbed the girl by her shoulders.

"There's nothing to worry about. If they were hiding something, I'd know. You just worry about Finn and look after each other." Tommy said reassuringly and left.

Arabella was left unsatisfied with the answer. She knew something was coming, it could be tomorrow or in 10 years but she knew there was repercussions for cutting the Changretta boy.

Arabella stood in thought. No, surely Changretta was a common last name. There's no way the two could be related...

Later on that night it was pouring. A true rain storm, where hardly anything could be seen.

Arabella stood outside a burning building, soaking in the warm spring rain. Finn and some peaky boys came out of the burning build. Arabella watched Finn beat up an Italian. He walked towards her heaving.