Chapter twenty-four: Jealousy

Kate's heart is pounding in her stomach as she enters the library beside Polly. The first thing she notices is Thomas seated at his desk, his hands pressed on the table. She can tell from the look in his eyes, that something is wrong. Sure, his brow is lightly arched, but there's something in his eyes that's just dark and distant.

He nods his head in acknowledgement at her. She really doesn't like this. There are chairs all in the room for everyone to sit. She would have preferred to sit in the back, but Polly pulled her up front to sit on her right side, while Michael sat on her left. She felt slightly uncomfortable about being in this group. John was seated to her right. Once everyone is seated, there's a long, uncomfortable, moment of silence.

"Before I begin," Thomas says slowly without looking up. "I want to let you know that I made a mistake." Those words make everyone look up. Even Kate is stunned. Thomas never apologizes. Nor did he ever admit he made a mistake. Kate glances at Polly and even she looks slightly stunned. "I made a mistake," he forces himself to stand up from the desk, glancing casually at the clock on the wall. "and I want to apologize to all of you." again, there's silence. "Arthur, your warned me against getting involved in Russian business. And you were right." Arthur nods his head in agreement. "I doubted your wife, and for that I'm sorry. Linda, I've added 3,000 pounds here in the hope that you'll forgive me."

Linda barely waits a second before standing up and walking over to the desk to claim the money. "Apology accepted." Kate refuses to look at Polly, knowing there's a smirk on her face and knows if she looks at her, she will end up laughing aloud. Linda's fooling no one. Everyone knows she's in it for the money.

"Esme, I doubted you as well."

"Now John's got innocent lives on his conscience." Esme states firmly. "Ordinary working men—

"Yeah, all right, Esme. Got it." Kate does note how John avoids looking directly back at Esme, as if knowing that the look on her face will burn him alive.

"No, she's right," Thomas says quietly. "and you and Arthur are gonna have to share that burden. But I hope the house that you can buy with this can become a place of contemplation. Perhaps redemption." As John stands up to pick up money, Thomas begins tossing money to people and explaining why they've earned it. "Charlie, for lost tools, dangerous goods and Curly's wise words. Johnny, for board and lodgings. Lizzie." She makes a face of disgust before she throws it back at him. That surprises Thomas for a moment. Kate glances back and forth between the two of them, wondering what she missed. "Michael, for the killings." He slams the money down on the desk. "5,000 for the cutting and 5,000 for the shootings."

Polly stands up and states firmly. "No Tommy."

"What?" He shouts. "Tell me, eh? This is who I am!" Kate almost smiles, a bit of the old Thomas Shelby is coming out again. "And this is all I can give you for what you've given me. Your hearts and your souls. Yesterday, I nearly lost my son and a member of this family." Kate inhales sharply as she glances around the room, wondering which family member was nearly lost yesterday. "You should f**king understand that. For what, eh for what? For this? For this?" He chuckles bitterly. "And I know you all want me to say that I'll change. That this f**king business will change. However, I've learnt something in the last few days. Those bastards, those bastards, are worse than us." Kate nods her head in agreement, having learned all of this years ago. "Politicians, f**king judges, lords and ladies. They are worse than use and they will never admit us to their palaces no matter how legitimate we become. Because of who we are. Because of who we f**king are, because of where we are f**king from. Isn't that right Ada? Our Ada knows. She got smart about the revolution. And she knows you have to get what you want your own way." He stares Ada down for a second before turning towards Lizzie, who is still glowering at him. "Lizzie, I want it know that money was for you, because some nights it was you who stopped my heart from breaking. No one else."

That hurt. She didn't know why it hurt, it just hurt. Thomas and Lizzie…no, she couldn't think about it. For some reason, it made her feel as if she had just been stabbed in the back and she didn't know why.

Now, Thomas looks towards her. "And Kate-

"Don't," she inhales deeply, for some reason, she's hurt and upset now. She doesn't know why she is. "I don't want any money."

He tilts his head at her. "I'm not giving you any money. I'm answering a question you've been asking for a while." She sits up slightly. "You wanted to know exactly what your role is in this house."

Polly glowers at her. "That's just nonsense, Kate."

"No, it's not." She bites out. "I'm not family and I'm clearly not a servant as I'm allowed way too many liberties, in addition to being paid far more than one."

"And, I think I speak for all of us here, that when you do something stupid," she glowers at him. "like willingly jumping into a car, with gunmen to keep an eye on my boy, that…you become a part of the family." Everyone nods in agreement. "So, you can just consider yourself to be part of this family." She nods as her eyes water slightly. As wonderful as the words were, they just felt empty to her now. "And the rest of you, you took the kings shilling. You took the kings f**king shilling. And when you take the kings shilling, the king expects you to kill. Right Arthur?"

"Yea." Arthur reluctantly admits.

"That's how it works. Right John?" John nods as Michael stands up takes the money, giving Polly a cold side look. "That's right. That's right pol. That's f**king right." He puts his hands on his hips, silently daring her to tell him differently.

"Oh Tommy, you've had a bad time." Polly says patiently and calmly. "We understand. So at an alternative time, when we have all recovered," she takes the money back from Michael. "I would like to put before the family, an alternative view of the future of the Shelby company limited." Kate's head shoots up. What else is going on in this house that she's unaware of? She can bet that Linda and her revolutionary ideas had spread throughout the group. "A more hopeful view."

All is silent for a second, before Ada speaks up. "Which hi for one would like to hear."

"As w would I." Esme states as she stands up.

"As would I." normally, Lizzie speaking doesn't upset her, but today for some reason, the sight and sound of her is just grating on her nerves.

"Come on Arthur." Linda says as she stands up, placing a hand on his shoulder. "The train leaves for the dock in one hour. Then we get the boat to New York and it will all be in the past."

Arthur hesitates for the longest time, watching Thomas. He doesn't even break eye contact with Thomas until Polly kisses him on the cheek. With his view obscured, Thomas sits back down in his chair. Kate is slightly confused, there's something wrong. She can sense it and feel it. She can hear the family giving their goodbyes, but, Thomas is ignoring everyone. She's very familiar with this mood. Whenever something's up, he shuts everyone out. At first, she thought he was going to be missing his older brother, it was more than that. And when he glanced at the clock again, Kate knew it.

"I'll be off then tom." Thomas continues to sit there, calming smoking his cigarette and ignoring Arthur's hand. Kate places her hands on her hips and bites her tongue, forcing herself to stay silent. "I'll see you then, eh?" no answer. Kate can hear the hurt in Arthur's voice. "I'll see you brother."

She can't stand it a moment longer. She finally asks. "What did you do, Thomas?" all eyes go to her. Again, he avoids her gaze. "Don't bother pulling that nonsense on me now. I've been stuck in this house for a long time. I know you and all of your moods, so I know that something's wrong."

Thomas doesn't even blink, before admitting. "You can go but you won't get far Arthur."

Arthur, like everyone else, but her, looks confused. "Ah, alright tom."

"I spoke to Moss last night." Now everyone starts paying attention. "He told me that the chief constable of Birmingham has a warrant for your arrest. Murder, sedition, conspiracy to cause explosion." Arthur stumbles forwards, stunned by these words. "John they're coming for you as well. Murder, conspiracy to cause explosion. Michael-

Kate plops back down into her chair as Arthur curses. "What the f**k-

"For the murder of Hughes. Polly-

Kate gasps in shock. "What?!"

"Wait a minute." Arthur demands. "What the f** are you talking about-

Thomas ignores him and continues with the charges. "For the murder of chief inspector Chester Campbell." Everyone begins clamoring in protest. Kate is glad that she's sitting down, for were she standing, she could have truly fainted dead away. She always thought Thomas to be an honorable man, but…now she's confused. "The people that we betrayed last night, they want to bring us down. They control the police," Kate can barely hear Thomas explaining as the police start banging on the front door. "they control the judges, they control the juries, and they control the jails. But they do not control the elected government." John and Arthur are now shouting, demanding explanations. However, once Thomas said 'elected government' he had her attention. He must know someone in high power. "Listen to me! So I've made a deal, in return for giving evidence, against them."

"We'll f**king hang!" John declares.

"It's all taken care of. Lizzie, collect up the money and bring it to the cellar." Lizzie moves calmly and swiftly, collecting the money. "You will all get your money in due course when the police get in, do not resist." Everyone starts moving out of the room. "You go with them, do not say anything." Kate shakes her head, running her hand through her hair. She can't understand this, or him. "Arthur, I've made a deal with people even more powerful than our enemies. Trust me brother, eh?" Arthur can only shake his head. "Trust me."

Kate shakes her head as she stands up. "You're asking…a bloody lot from everyone Thomas."

"They're my family; I do what needs to be done to protect them." He says quietly as Linda runs in the room screaming loudly at him.

"You did this deliberately!" Kate can only watch Linda shoving and pushing at Thomas as she struggles to make sense of the madness filling this. "You made this happen to keep us here!"

Arthur corrals Linda out of the room. "F**k you!" he shouts as he hits the door to the library before exiting.

Thomas sits down, hands on the desk and head low. She's silent for a moment before asking. "Does it feel like hell?"

He's silent for a moment before stating. "Yes."

"Good." he doesn't even bother to look up at her. "I don't understand you; I thought I did, but not anymore." She inhales as she wipes her eyes. "That's your family. Did you do that deliberately?" No answer. "Look at me." he looks up her. "Do you know what you're doing?" he nods. "Are they going to be alright?" he nods again. "Alright, I'll just have to trust you even though I can barely stand the sight of you right now."

She steps towards the library, heading there to see the sight of the Shelby family being put under arrest. Arthur is in the process of being subdued by two officers and John is already subdued. An officer has pressed Polly's face to the wood wall and he's taunting her. She steps towards the man, but Thomas, who's quietly gotten out of his chair, catches her by the arm and pulls her back. She yanks hard, attempting to get away from him, but even though his grip seemed loose, it's firm.

She exhales in frustration. "He's hurting Polly."

"She's alright." he says quietly. She rolls her eyes, only to exhale in relief as a police inspector, possibly Moss, pulls the man off Polly. As Polly is turned back towards them, she shoots Thomas a dark glower and Kate knows that his family won't forgive him for this. And if they do, it'll take something horrible to bring them together again.

She can only stand there numbly as the whole family is herded out of the house and into the police vans. It's all wrong, she can feel it. The situation is under control, but it's wrong. After the vans are gone, Thomas turns and walks back into the library. She follows him somewhat, for she can't make herself pass the threshold of the library, so, she leans against it.

Thomas is calm and collected again, somewhat; she can still sense the turmoil. "Well, it's just us. The house already feels empty." He nods as he lights a cigarette. "Well, I'll just….I don't know, I'll do something."

He nods. "I don't care what you do."

"Clearly." The words come out somewhat tightly, for he glances at her. The phone rings, causing them to blink. "I'll leave you to get, whatever that is."

He nods as he picks up the phone. "Hello." He's silent for a beat. "Changretta. What do you want?" Kate spins around, her green eyes possibly betraying her concern. Thomas glances at her. "Is that so? What makes you think I'll allow that?" He's quiet for a moment before handing her the phone. "It's for you."

Kate stares for a moment before walking over to him. She hesitates before holding the phone and receiver up to her ear and mouth. "Hello?"

Kate? It's clearly Luca Changretta on the line for her. Good, Mr. Shelby allowed you to speak to me.

"Well, as Mr. Shelby said recently, he doesn't care what I do." She can feel Thomas flinch so she turns her back to him. "What are you calling me for?"

To see that you made it back all right. Are you free to talk?

"Yes, I am. And, thank you again for helping Charlie and I get home."

You know why I did, right?

She bites her lip before admitting. "I have my suspicions, however, Luca, I am still in mourning."

Now, there's no reason why we can't talk to each other once a week.

She hesitates before stating. "I told you that I'd be outright honest with you, so, I'm going to state this. I want to know what it is you're going to accomplish by calling me. If you're planning on using me as a spy, trust me, it won't happen. The Shelby family has been very helpful and supportive of me; I will not betray them by relaying anything to you."

Well, I don't want you to spy for me; I may have a question or two about the house-

"No." she says firmly. "I'm not telling you anything about the Shelby house. I'm not even telling you the color of the carpet."

Alright, understood.

"Besides, wouldn't my calling you be a conflict of interest? Clearly you and my boss are enemies, so how could I trust you not to do anything to them should things go bad between us?"

You can't. You know your boss and you know me. You know what we're both capable of.

"That I do."

One might argue that a mutual interest in you would help keep the peace.

She bites her lip before admitting. "Possibly."

As to my talking to you, you've been injured and I doubt you want to go to London for a chat over tea.

"Tea?" she frowns. "Why would we talk over tea?"

In case I haven't been subtly making it clear to you, I want us to take another try at that engagement.

"Engagement?" Thomas drops something behind him and Kate sits on the edge. "Look, I'll be honest. I like you Luca, a part of me always did. However, how in the world would this ever work out? In addition to having shot your mother, I work for the man who killed your father and not only that, I consider him a friend of mine. So, how would we ever form a relationship with it being formed on such a dark foundation?"

I didn't say it would be easy. I said I would like to try. He exhales. Well, will you try it?

Kate's silent for a long time before exhaling. "Well, I guess I can have no objections to trying. So….yes, you can call me once a week."

Alright, and maybe once you've healed completely, I can take you out somewhere.

"If you don't mind seeing me in mourning, we should be alright."

I don't mind.

"Kate," Thomas says firmly. "I need my phone to make some calls, so Polly and the others don't hang."

"Right. Luca, I have to hang up. There's an emergency and Mr. Shelby needs the phone. Goodbye."

Goodbye.

Kate hangs up and hands him the phone. "Here you go."

"Thank you." As she walks away, he adds. "I hope you know what you're doing."

She spins around and shoots him a look. "Considering what you've just done to your family, one might be able to say the same about you."

He looks up at her and gives her a dark look. Kate holds the gaze until Thomas addresses the operator. As she walks out of the room, she can't help but feel as if their friendship, again, had been altered. As she walked out of the room, she realized that today was April 1st. Why, couldn't this whole thing have been one horrific joke?

MeriemDjez: And then…Thomas had to go and bring up Lizzie! Now, she's off with Luca! Yes, there will be an Alfie chapter with just the two of them.

Idcam: Yes, she's family, but I don't think you were expecting that from Thomas. Yes, he was jealous, but now so is Kate and he just drove her right into Luca's arms!

TheHoodedAssassin: It's great to have you back! I always try to keep an eye on my followers. And I made this chapter really long, just for you. (Over 3,000 words.) And we were all happy, then Thomas and I had to yank the rug out from everyone's feet! Tsk, it'll be interesting to see her and Luca, won't it?