Author's Note:

Thank you to the new follows, favorites, and reviews on this story! A special thanks to the two new reviews from paulavara140 and Heaven's Mistake.

I will admit, this was a difficult chapter to write for many reasons. Within this chapter, these is betrayal and a difficult, traumatic encounter between the Inspector and Antonina (while it is not sexual assault, the Inspector wants to do so to Antonina and threatens). I did want to put that as a content note. It comes after Tommy's POV in the chapter.

I have to agree that Grace was not my favorite character in the show, despite the fact that she is a complex character. In many ways Tommy has been sweet to Antonina in this series, but he also has his faults. I wanted to showcase the complexities of it all, within the general framework of the show's timeline.

I did want to note that this series is coming to a close...but please do not be alarmed! There will be a sequel for every series' season. I plan to write this story through Season 5. So I hope that is a small bit of good news. Details will come in the coming chapters.

As always, please let me know what you think! I plan to update the next chapters very shortly.

x A

Part Twenty:

As Thomas Shelby entered the small apartment of Grace Burgess on the second floor of the dingy building just streets away from The Garrison, his mind was racing.

He was no stupid man. Surely, Antonina did not make it out in time before the coppers had come bursting through the door. They had just barely made it.

He only hoped that his men were as loyal as he thought they were. Surely, someone would have hidden her away or died defending her. There was no safety now that the guns were gone. He didn't even have time to question Grace's willingness to help. Although he had noticed on more than one occasion Grace had fancied him, he knew that he could never betray Antonina like that.

There was only one thing on his mind.

Would Antonina be safe?

"It's not much of a place."

The silky voice of the Irish barmaid broke him from his thoughts.

He nodded, his eyes not focusing on his surroundings. It seemed just fine for a short stay.

"It's alright."

"You want tea?"

He smirked, before answering. Hospitality in a moment like this?

"Tea? No."

"I have rum."

Grace appeared nervous at his refusal to have tea, quickly offering the solution to the problem. He sighed, realizing that he seemed rather ungrateful.

Tommy decided to be a good guest, as he owned Grace Burgess for saving him. A debt that he would have to repay. The least he could do was accept her offer of tea in the moment.

"Actually tea it is."

Grace smiled, relaxing as she began to start the kettle. As she finished filling the pot with water, an uncomfortable silence lay in between them.

Even though he worried about Antonina, he felt a sudden calm appear over him. Another calm in the storm.

"It must have been a shock to see the cops in the lane. What were they after anyhow?"

Grace's voice broke him from his thoughts again.

"They found something that I had. Something of value."

"How did they know about it?"

Tommy sighed, anxiety coursing through him once more. He hadn't even had time to consider what had happened. All he could think about was finding Antonina and bringing her to safety. He hoped that she was safe above all else.

Still, he was no fool. Business was a top priority.

And it seemed to be slipping from him, all at once.

He decided to answer honestly.

"I have no idea, Grace."

Grace's hands began to shake, as she fiddled with the cup of tea. As she set it down on the table in front of Tommy, his curiosity peaked as a sense of dread began to follow it.

"Grace, do you have something to tell me?"

She passed, unsure of herself. Soon, she found her voice.

"I think it was Antonina, Tommy…."

Tommy stood, anger surging through his veins. Although he never liked to shout at women, something in him snapped.

"What the fuck are you talkin' 'bout, Grace?"

Grace's eyes widened. She began to stammer, as she spoke.

"I saw Campbell meetin' with Antonina…."

Tommy shook his head. Clearly, there was a misunderstanding.

"I knew about that, Grace. He was threatening her."

Grace sighed, moving towards him. As she placed her hand on his arm, she put her head down before meeting his gaze. Her eyes were filled with tears, as she spoke.

"More than once, Mr. Shelby….she was always disappearing at work lately. Late for her shifts. Secret meetings, it seemed."

Tommy couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. He began to pace the floor, trying to work it all out.

It couldn't be true.

But then...how else did the coppers find out about Freddie? About the guns?

It suddenly all became clear.

He was so blind. Blinded by love.

It was Antonina's idea about Freddie coming to see Ada when the child was born. The Inspector always seemed to be preoccupied with Antonina. Campbell knew that she was Tommy's weakness.

He had only told Antonina about the location of the guns outside of Charlie and Curly. They were the only ones who knew. Charlie and Curly would never betray him.

With Antonina's arrival, it seemed that everything had gone out of the ordinary. Business was anything, but usual.

Could she have been capable?

Deep inside, he knew that she was capable of anything.

She was the smartest, cunning, and most dangerous woman he knew.

She was familiar with this life. He considered it an asset.

But was it?

The more that he thought about it, the more it all made sense.

She was just too perfect.

Even though she was no stranger to this life, she had to have done something to warrant being an agent of the Crown.

After all, betrayal was written on her back.

He couldn't contain his anger.

"Why the FUCK didn't you tell me soon, Grace? What are you playin' at?"

"I didn't want to say anything...because…"

Tommy turned to face Grace.

His anger began to melt away.

For a moment, Tommy really saw her for what she was. A former posh girl, who found herself in unfortunate circumstances. He realized that he had been attempting to win over her affections before Antonina had arrived. Her care for him melted the ice that he felt in his heart towards her.

In that moment, he could see what they could have been. She was always loyal. A nice girl who simply waited on the side of business, rather than being directly involved. Someone he could keep safe.

"Why, Grace?"

His sultry, soft voice seemed to shock Grace. Her sharp inhale of breath was a clear sign. She was so vulnerable, hanging on his every movement. He took a slow step towards her, anticipating the words that came out of her mouth.

"Because I love you, Thomas Shelby."

As soon as the words left her lips, he kissed her. It was as if every kiss, every movement was made to absolve the mistake he had made with Antonina.

Soon, Antonina became a distant memory.

Soon, she became a ghost of his past.

It was only Grace Burgess in his present.

As I walked onto Grace's street, my heartbeat threatened to drown out the sounds of the Small Heath night. My thoughts were running wild, dulling my instincts and senses.

What if she had already turned him in? What if the Inspector was killing him as I crept along?

My panic nearly blinded me from spotting the solitary figure standing in front of Grace's building. The figure stood staring at the only lit window, a hunter studying his prey.

Campbell.

He turned to look at me, regarding me as if I were any other member of the Small Heath scum to flitter around in the evening. As if I weren't Small Heath's most wanted women.

I froze in my place, unable to understand the scene before me. As if it were a dream.

Still, it shocked me when he spoke.

"You're a bit of a foregone conclusion. I knew you'd be here."

As I looked around to see where the rest of my executioner squad were to be hidden, he shook his head at my inquires. He motioned for me to come stand next to him.

"It's just you and me, Ms. Casey."

Despite my usual sharp nature, I could not speak.

The situation was odd, unlike anything I could have been prepared for.

Still not trusting my surroundings, I held my pistol firmly in my hand as I slowly approached him, our adverse roles obviously making us unfit to be together peacefully in this setting.

And yet we were.

Soon, he offered me his pipe and I shook my head. He silently smoked his pipe, not bothering to reach for his gun.

Despite every rational instinct, I lowered my gun into my dress pocket.

I lit the match for what should have been my very last cigarette.

I didn't dare look away from his face, anticipating his next move.

It was years before either of us spoke. It seemed that he was waiting for me to speak.

"Why haven't you arrested me yet, Inspector? You have the guns."

"No point….you're not a valuable asset to Mr. Shelby anymore, I'm afraid."

My blood ran cold at his words.

"I'm his fiancé, Inspector. I don't understand."

"It seems we have both been played the fool, Antonina."

I cocked my head at him, suddenly finding my fire.

"What the fuck are you talking about, Campbell?"

He merely tilted his head up to the lit window.

It was then that I saw it.

Two bodies were embracing one another in passion, against the window pane. Her body was pressed against the glass, her blonde hair fanned out in a myriad of directions. Above her, I could make out the sliver of the signature haircut from anywhere.

It was Tommy.

Against the window pane, Grace was pressed into the glass.

The cigarette fell from my lips, spraying the asphalt with sparks everywhere.

Time stood still.

I felt my heart stop and break all at once. There had to be an explanation.

There had to be.

I couldn't bare it any longer. It had to be a nightmare.

As I turned my face away from the window, the Inspector grabbed my face and forced me to watch the scene unfolding before me. His nails dug into my face, forcing me to watch the horror show in front of me.

It wasn't the physical pain that caused me to cry out, but the emotional turmoil, watching the two lovers before my eyes.

I couldn't stop the tears from brimming in my eyes and the strangled sob escaping from my lips.

I didn't even have the sense to shoot Campbell. It was as if everything stood still.

He made me watch for what seemed like ages.

"Stop...I can't watch anymore."

I didn't even recognize my own voice. It resembled that of a small child, begging.

To Campbell's everlasting credit for his sadistic nature, he finally pushed me away and smirked, despite his obvious pain.

Normally, I would take joy in his pain, as he did my own. We were the same in this regard, two sadistic creatures attempting to conceal our true nature to the world.

It only came as an afterthought to me, why he would be in pain.

Then, it became all too clear to me: he was in love with Grace Burgess.

Despite myself, I chuckled. He raised his eyebrows at me, puffing on his pipe, as he awaited my explanation.

How funny we were, the two of us in love with the two who were embraced in intimacy just feet from our footsteps.

"It seems that you may be an even bigger fool than myself, Inspector Campbell."

He was quick to reply.

"For his whore, you are sharp…...as much as it used to give me satisfaction to imagine how much pain Mr. Shelby would be in for you to meet your end with your family, I realize you are nothing to 'im now."

"Then what now, Inspector? What do you have planned for me?"

He took a moment, before responding.

"Don't worry, you can stay in Small Heath."

"And what about your double agent, Campbell?"

Despite his arrogant smirk, a flash of pain shot through his eyes. Like me, he soon found his fire.

"Grace will be arrested. Mr. Shelby will likely meet his death one day soon from his own stupidity. You will be left with all of the ghosts to be, all alone. What a joy it will be to witness."

It wasn't rational. He had done much worse things to me tonight, in the past, and beyond.

And yet, his words struck a chord within me that I thought was long dead, left in Chicago. Something in me snapped. I didn't care who he was anymore.

I had no one to protect any longer.

My anger boiled over as I went to strike Inspector Campbell with as much force as I could muster.

Unfortunately, he anticipated my response. He grabbed my arm, twisting it to the point it nearly broke. I cried out in pain, dropping to the ground.

"You listen to me, Ms. Casey. I have little patience for Thomas Shelby's whores. Don't mistake my temporary kindness for insanity. You'll be useful to me one day, so I'll let you live. But not before I take something first."

As soon as the words left his mouth, my blood ran cold. Ever since he had caressed my arm those months ago, I knew what he secretly wanted to do to me. What every horrible man wanted to do, to take something from a woman that wasn't theirs. To rob them of a piece of themselves.

As his face came down to meet mine, it suddenly dawned on me that I was armed and ready to kill.

Even if it meant the end of my life.

With my free hand, I quickly grabbed the pistol in my pocket, pressing it to his crotch through my dress. His face stopped just an inch from my own.

As the adrenaline had replaced my blood flow, I spoke quickly.

"You will let me go or I'll fucking kill you. His whore or not, I'll never be tried for your murder. Less than seven minutes after the shot and you'll bleed out every cell of that rotten blood that makes up the core of you. I was the best shot in Chicago. Take your pick. My mercy is limited."

He held my gaze, as I continued to hold the pistol in place.

The sick bastard simply smirked.

"You may have won this battle, Antonina. But mark my words: I will win the war. And I will take my winnings then. You will be sure of it."

It seemed like an eternity before he let go of my arm. As soon as he did, I pushed past him.

I didn't even bother trying to shoot him.

I couldn't process what had just happened.

It had all become too much.

I had no destination in mind, as the scenes of Small Heath became a blur.

It only occurred to me as I pounded on the rotting wood door of the dingy apartment, that I was at Ada's home.

Something resembling home.

Panicked that the Inspector would come to finish what he started, my pounding became more frenzied.

"Alright, alright, stop stop, I am comin'! Whoever the fuck it is-"

As soon as Ada opened the door, I collapsed in the entryway, cutting off whatever words she was shouting prior to our greeting. Sobs wracked through my body.

"Antonina!"

I had no energy to even reply. It was as if my life had left me.

I couldn't breathe.

Everything went black.