Author's Note: I'm sorry for the lateness. College is a pain and always unpredictable. I'll do my best, but I'm in intensive study mode to prepare for the MCAT in several months time. Thank you for your patience.
THOMAS
She was right, I was tired of war. But everything felt like the best and only option I had left to me. Everything I had done was for the family. It was about time someone else stepped up, and it was for that exact reason that I even stepped into the Romany camp.
CAMPBELL
The rain came down in a heavy drizzle. It kept people from the streets and that just made it all the more concealing. Meeting Tommy Shelby would be simple now…now I wasn't the only one with a horse in the race.
"Anonymous tip-off."
"I was promised Freddie Thorn." I should have known he'd try to pull one over on me.
"Stanley Chapman is a much bigger fish, one with 200 pounds on his person."
I sighed and motioned him to continue, a proposition was his game it seemed. "In exchanged you will leave Ada and Freddie out of this. They're no longer your concern."
"Fine. I'll agree to your terms, but you should know that the Prime Minster is becoming impatient." I took a seat, my confidence growing.
"We made our deal. Once my business with Kimber is through, you'll get your guns."
"Well then let us hope my dismissal doesn't come before then. If it does you'll certainly feel all of my fury." The gross, confident rage oozed from me as I listed all the things I wished to bestow upon him and his blood. Everyone he ever knew would feel my revenge. My power of him and his would be absolute. Soon…soon he'd finally get a tasting of it.
GRACE
He startled me with his line of questioning and his suspicious requests. He wanted a confession now. So he knew, he found me out.
"I need someone to run the legal side of a business. I need someone with class and who looks the part."
"What is this, an interview? I'm not an accountant or a lawyer."
"Arthur tells me you're good with numbers, you help him keep the books." He practically interrupted me.
"That's not saying much, your brother isn't very good at it. The books were a mess, I've just been trying to help."
"But you're also a liar." My chest seized at his words and I stayed silent. "No good catholic girl would enter a church and forget to make the sign of the cross. You didn't work at a pub and now I find out you're a protestant."
Anger would say me, "Do you care?"
I bit out the words and he was quick to respond in kind, "No."
I searched for my words. Nothing had yet been given away, not yet at least. "I did it to fit in." He snorted, obviously he still didn't believe me.
"You know that what I do is illegal..." It was my turn to scoff.
"I'm not blind." I smiled a bit to myself. "Are you offering me a job?"
His answer, or lack thereof game me all I need know on the subject, "Then I accept." I smiled more.
I didn't bother to pay attention to his next words. I was safe, my cover was safe, and Tommy was staring at me almost expectantly.
"There is another reason for my employing you…" he whispered it out as he came closer. His lips were soft on mine and I felt the shiver at his touch run down my neck. My cover was definitely safe, but did that even matter now. He left as ominously as he found me, but my body felt suddenly hot now. Campbell can't know!
THOMAS
Lizzie Stark huh? I haven't been able to choke that one down. So here I was chasing her down, "That bag looks heavy, Lizzie. Hop in."
"Kids teas." Her reply didn't stop her.
"So you like kids? Because John's got four of them." I slowed and she too gave pause before turning. "I'm not here to argue, Lizzie."
She slumped and moved towards my car, climbing into the cab next to me. I reached into my jacket and pulled out the money, rolling it in my hand before speaking. But Lizzie beat me to it, "You're not going to stop us?"
"John's own man." And I laid a pound down. "Now, Lizzie. Since I've returned from France you and I have spent many a time together." Another pound.
Her voice was worried and urgent, "Oh, Tommy. You didn't tell him did you?"
"Of course I didn't tell him…but why didn't you?" I laid a third pound down.
Her eyes twitched to remain locked with mine, "Because the past is the past." A fourth pound down.
"I was hoping you'd say that." I felt my chest loosen a bit even with the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth pound, "I was hoping you'd consider this a wedding gift and a farewell to days gone by."
Now she didn't contain herself from eyeing the money with heavy eyes. She was hesitant and worried, the question hanging from her lips, "You mean…one last time?"
"I do." I counted to ten and I wasn't even to 8 when she scooped the money up and stuffed it into her boot. My chest tightened and I released the sigh I'd been holding.
"Take the money and get out Lizzie." Her mistake was made and she realized it immediately.
"Fuck you Tommy Shelby!" grabbing her basket she shoved hard to close my door.
I sighed. John would receive the proper information, and he'd make his decisions like an adult. I just hoped when the time came that he wouldn't be too hard pressed to man up for the family.
The wedding was a success. I was more than happy to settle one squabble just to strengthen our chances. Esme was properly welcomed, and John it seemed was smitten. He didn't totally hate me, as of currently. But that was more than possible to change. With one settled squabble, I had hoped to reconcile a sister. I felt even more accomplished to see Ada stroll in at Poll's side. Today would be for family, and I could breathe easy in that regard.
