Chapter twenty-seven: What hurts the most

"Alright, here's the cell…just stop the screaming."

"Open it." Kate demands. The man stands still for a moment. "Now!"

"Sabini ain't gonna like this." The other man states."

"Yeah, well Sabini is going to like it less when he finds out you picked up Kovach's daughter! He'll probably be more merciful if you accommodate her."

Kate nods. "You'd be right."

Sabini was a creep. The man had a whole underground dungeon, which was more like a torture chamber under his house! God, she had smelled death in the war and just knew Sabini had left everyone in their cells to die after doing, God knows what to them!

The man opens the door to Thomas's cell and lets her in. he is lying on his back, his face, once again, covered in blood. "Oh, my God." Kate kneels beside him, examining his face. It wasn't as bad as the first time he'd been beaten by Sabini's men, but he was still bleeding.

"It's not that bad Kate." he opens his eyes.

"We've got to stop meeting like this." He chuckles as she tries to tear her slip but fails, as it's silk. She groans before reaching up her skirt to grab the knife she keeps strapped to her ankle. She then tears a section off and uses it to wipe up the blood on his face.

"You don't happen to have a gun up that skirt of yours, do you?"

She shakes her head. "Unfortunately, no. why are they doing this to you?"

"They're trying to rattle me, I don't really know what the connection is. It could be the fact that I now own Sabini's club, but your father was a part of that. I don't think Sabini wants to go against your father, no man is that stupid, especially since he's friends with Solomons." He looks at her. "Anyone lay a hand on you?"

"One of the men recognized me and immediately told the others not to lay a hand on me. He's also the one who allowed me to come in here."

"I heard you screaming, Kate."

"I'm sorry. It's just a common fact that most men hate hearing women scream and will do anything thing to shut them up."

"I was worried, they were hurting you."

She stills. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you could hear me down here. And, they wouldn't use me in any part of this deal, would they?"

"It's clear to everyone how I feel about you and they could use you if they wanted to make me answer whatever questions they need. But you're Gilbert Kovach's daughter, so, that'll make them think."

She swallows. "Would they try to-

He shakes his head. "No one's going to touch you while you're with me. I promise. "

"I want you to have me first." He stills and looks at her. "I trust you, but I know the rules of the game. If Sabini decides that he doesn't care about the rules and let's his men do whatever to me to make a point." He shakes his head. "I don't care how fast or painful it is, I don't want anyone else to have me first."

He sighs and pulls her against him. "I understand that Kate, but trust me, I won't let anyone hurt you. I'll risk dying before I let anyone hurt you like that."

She shakes her head. "No, no you won't. Don't go putting yourself in harm's way for me."

"Kate, if they tried-

"I'd ewant you to be alive and waiting for me once it was over." She looks at him. "If you're dead, who would I go to? Do you think my mother would be of any support to me?"

"There's Polly."

"And be a constant reminder to her of the reason why her nephew is dead? Not to mention, who else is going to love me?"

He shrugs. "Arthur."

"Not my type." She says with a faint smile, appreciating how he's trying to inject some humor into this dire situation. "Never liked a man with a moustache."

"Just as well, can't see him shaving it for you."

"If something did happen with Arthur, it would only be because I was looking for you in him. But I wouldn't find it, I've never met a man like you before in my life and I know I never will again."

He studies her very closely before saying. "When we get out of this…you're going to have to marry me, soon."

Kate nods. "I will…once you propose to me."

"Well, I'm not going to propose to you in here." She blushes at the tone in his voice. "It's going to be alright Kate. I promise."

At that moment, the door opens and Sabini enters the cell. His eyes widen in surprise that she's actually in his cell. "My deepest apologies Miss Kovach. I was unaware that you were with Mr. Shelby and my men are clearly too stupid to learn the faces of your father's family members. You're free to go."

Kate stands up from the, her legs are shaking. "And, Mr. Shelby?"

"Will be detained." Sabini shoots him a look. "We have some…business to discuss."

Kate inhales. "I can wait for him."

He shoots Thomas a knowing look. "No woman waits that long for anyone."

"Kate," Thomas stands up, pausing only when Sabini draws his gun. "go on home, I'll be alright."

"No." She shakes her head. "I can't leave you here alone."

"Yes, you can. It's alright."

"It clearly won't be!" Kate tries to keep calm, but panic is filling her every being. "He's going to kill you as soon as I'm out of this room."

"No, he won't." Thomas says firmly and assuringly. "I'm going to get out and everything will be alright."

"Don't make her any promises Shelby." Sheer terror fills every ounce of Kate's body at those words. Thomas shoots him a dark look. "Get her out of here, Shelby, so we can talk."

"Kate, you need to go."

"I can't! Not when I know they're going to-

"I don't want you hurt. Remember? Please. For my sake, go."

"But how can I-

"I can't get out of this if I'm worried about you." he says firmly as he grips her shoulders. "It's already clear to everyone here, Sabini included, that you mean something to me. Once you're gone, I can focus on getting back to you. I need you to trust me Kate."

"I do trust you, but-

"Then go."

Kate throws her arms around his neck. She doesn't want to go, but she has to trust in him, even though she knows it's a big mistake to leave him. Thomas hugs her tight as he presses a discreet cheek to her neck. At that moment, Kate inhales before whispering in his ear. "I love you, Thomas Shelby."

Thomas lets out a groan. "Kate, you didn't need to say-

"Yes, I did." She says firmly. "Because if something happens, I need you to know that I love you. I truly do."

"I love you too, now, go home."

She nods. "Alright. Come back to me."

He nods, holding her gaze as she steps away from him. "I will."

"Make sure the lady makes it out alright." Sabini orders one of his men who cautiously escort Kate. "Let me know once she's in a cab."

Those instructions are so clear that Kate instantly understands that as soon as she's off the premises, Sabini is going to kill Thomas. At that moment, a plan starts to form in her mind and she hopes that she can pull it off.

Thomas glances at Sabini, who is dying to pull the trigger. "Wait for her to leave."

Sabini shoots him a look of extreme annoyance. "You think I want Kovach to kill me? No. I'll kill you as soon as she's off the premises."

I love you, Thomas Shelby. Thomas can't help but smile at Kate's words ringing in his ears. She loves him. He's been waiting to hear those words from her for the longest time.

"Good show, you two put on. But she's getting married this Sunday." Sabini sneers. "Saw it in the papers this morning, three days from now. It definitely wasn't your name in the papers."

"Her ring's gone in case you didn't notice." Thomas says calmly. He doesn't know what Sabini wants, but Kate's affection for him should be enough to cause Sabini to reconsider killing him. "She loves me."

Sabini blinks. "You're a cunning bastard. Do you think any man would be stupid enough to seduce Kovach's daughter into giving up her ring on the week of her wedding?"

"What if he f**king paid me to do it?" Thomas smirks at him.

Sabini chuckles. "Sounds like him, but no man would do that to his daughter."

"So…what's this about?"

"There's a price on your head. 300,000."

He frowns, wondering who's willing to pay that kind of sum. "Who from?"

"Don't know. But I ain't the first man who's contemplated taking a shot at you." He reaches into his pocket and hands Thomas a letter. "Solomons got this as well and who knows who else has."

"Why grab us now?"

"First time you've been out of Kovach's house alone." His eyes narrow. "What you been doing at his house the whole time?"

Thomas shrugs. "Her." Sabini rolls his eyes. "Think what you like, but as soon as Kovach finds out you offed me…your whole organization is going down." Sabini pauses. "You know how Kovach works. It won't just be you who dies, it'll be your family, it'll be the men who work for you and it'll be their families."

"Shut up."

"I'm just trying to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed."

"You want to avoid some, you shut up now. If you care about that b**ch, as you say you do. Keep quiet, or else I'll kill you here and now, with her in the house. And if she comes down here…she'll see you with a bullet in your head."

Thomas holds Kovach's gaze, not willing to surrender to the fear, even though the thought of Kate finding him like that is terrifying. The sound of footsteps, cause him and Sabini to glance that way. One of the men runs in and shouts.

"Stupid b**ch called her father."

Thomas stills and looks upwards as Sabini shouts at the man. "You gave her a phone?!"

"She was calling a cab. Asked to speak to the manager in regards to some credit due to her for a ride."

Sabini stared at the. "Cab companies don't offer credit to rides!"

"Not my fault, I said not to let her call. Now, her father is on his way right now."

Sabini groans before turning to glower at Thomas. "You're not bulls**tting me about her and you are you?"

Thomas shakes his head. "I gave you fair warning. Now, Kovach will be coming after you."

"Not if you're not here." He jerks his gun, pointing it towards the door. "Out the back."

Thomas hears Kate's light feet running back down the stairs, two men grab for her. One catches a hold of her arm; she yanks free and tumbles down the final steps to the concrete floor. Thomas ignores the fact that Sabini has a gun on him and goes straight for her. "Kate?"

"Dad's coming." She gasps out. "He'll be here soon."

"I told you to get out."

"I can't leave you Thomas!" the hurt in her voice tears at his soul, bit by bit. "If he kills you because I left, I will never forgive myself."

He helps her up from the floor. "You need to go."

"I'm not going!" Kate grips his arms firmly. "I'm going with you."

"F**king hell, Kate!" he shouts. "Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?!"

"Because I love you!" she shouts back at him. "I'm not going to leave you! I can't!"

"Hold on."Sabini blinks. "So the two of you aren't bluffing? If she loves you-

"I do love him." She snaps. "And how do you think father is going to feel when he finds out you killed his future son-in-law?"

Thomas almost laughs at the look of terror in Sabini's eyes. "The two of you, get the f**k out of my house now." He turns to his men. "Give Shelby back his gun and escort them outside right away."

"We can't give in to them, boss!"

"Everyone's royally f**ked as near as I can see." Sabini says dejectedly. "Who's going to go against Kovach and the peaky blinders?"

Thomas nods as he leads Kate up the stairs. "Start spreading the news that there is a family alliance between the two parties. I won't have anyone grabbing her again without thinking twice of the consequences."

Sabini nodded. "Agreed. I'm not sure what idiot wants you dead, but once people find out about you two, there won't be a man alive willing to kill you." he stands there as his men hand Thomas his gun d coat back. "Good luck, Mr. Shelby and…soon to be Mrs. Shelby."

Kate nods stiffly. "Thank you Sabini."

"Let's go." Thomas grips her arm and leads her out of the front door. "I can't believe you did that, Kate."

"Neither can I." she looks positively dazed as they hurry down the stairs. "I can't believe I pulled that off. I guess, I'm a bit more like dad than I realized."

"Hey," he spins her around at the foot of the stairs. "don't ever do that again."

"Thomas-

"I mean it. I don't want to see you hurt."

"And I don't want to see you dead." She says. "If I see that someone's going to kill you, I'm not going to leave."

"Damn you to Hell, you're the most frustrating woman I've ever met!" he shouts in her face.

"And you're the most arrogant, pig-headed man I've ever met!" she shouts back at him.

Thomas lets out a frustrated groan before grabbing around the waist and pulling her towards him. He is going to be one hell of a life with this woman. He kisses her, in public with people milling around them, gasping in shock. He can feel her react for a moment, but she clings to him and he smiles, knowing he has finally won this woman and her love.

The moment is shattered as several cars pull up. Thomas breaks the kiss as dozens of men pile out. Kate lets out a moan as her father approaches them. "It's alright." She assures him. "He let us go."

"Right, Shelby, get my daughter home. I'm having a talk with Sabini."

Thomas nods. "Someone has a hit out for me. See if you can get him to tell you more."

Her father nods and storms up the stairs with several men behind him. Kate groans. "Today, was a complete disaster. The whole criminal world will know about us before my mother does!"

"I wouldn't call it a complete disaster." Thomas states completely as he wraps his arms around her waist. "You said that you loved me. I've been waiting to hear those words from you for the longest time."

"I love you."

Those words cause him to smile again. "I love you too, with every breath I breathe."

She smiles, blinking back more tears from those dazzling eyes of hers. "Well...aren't I a lucky one, Mr. Shelby?"

"Yes." She can't help but smile as he leads her towards the nearest car. "Come on, let's get you home…after we circle back and get rosemary that lavender lemonade ice cream, or whatever it is she wanted."

"We can pick it up tomorrow."

"It's just five minutes."

"You have a soft spot for my sister." Thomas rolls his eyes. "Don't bother denying it."

He decides to ignore it. "Fortunately, Sabini lives just down the street from your father."

She nods. "As he says, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. In this case, it paid off" He helps her into the car. "Who do you think has the hit on you?"

"No idea." Which is a lie, he's certain he knows someone who has a big enough grudge against him to try something like that and the resources to cough up a sum like that, even if it would bankrupt him.

Inspector Campbell.

Alienfromnorth: I know, it took them long enough!

Thehoodedassassin: Yes, they certainly have their moments. It was mildly wild, Sabini wisely chose not to get involved in family affairs.

Idcam:Lol, you have no idea. Thomas luckily still thinks of Rosemary.

Wildestdreams8913: I know, but, at least I didn't leave you all hanging!