Chapter twenty-six: Fish and flirtations

Kate could feel Thomas watching her as he drove. It had been awkwardly silent for almost five minutes and Kate had the distinct feeling that something was bothering him. "Where do you want to eat?" he finally asked.

She bites her lip before stating. "A pub." He blinks. "I've never been in one and…I've heard they have the best fish and chips."

"Oh, in that case. I know a good one on the next block." He smirks. "I would have thought a fancy lady would have wanted something a bit more expensive."

"I may be 'raised expensive' but I still prefer the more down to earth things." She teasingly slaps his shoulder. "You should know that by now."

"Maybe." He says simply, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. They didn't speak and Kate spent most of her time looking out the window to watch the people milling about in the street. She could tell which one was the pub, because there were people coming in and out of it. Thomas parked the car and she patiently waited for him to get the car door for her. He smirks at her as he helps her out, teasingly bowing for her. "Your majesty."

"Ah, thank you." she gestures towards the pub door. "You may now have the honor of the pleasure of my company in this humble abode." Thomas chuckles slightly as he opens the pub door for her to enter. "Thank you." she takes a few steps inside and lets out a yelp. "Ow! Thomas, my hair is caught on something."

"Nail." He says as he tugs on the ribbon, freeing it. She turns and sees that the ribbon is still caught on the nail. She rolls her eyes as he unties it and hands it back to her. "Odd."

"I know." She nods as she takes the ribbon from him, there's a hole in the center of the ribbon. "You couldn't have planned it to do that, if you tried."

"Oi," the bartender says sharply. "no ladies allowed in," Thomas steps in front of her, possibly shooting the man a dark warning look. She doesn't need to see his face, but she can hear the tone change. "would the two of you like a booth, Mr. Shelby?"

"Yes Amos." Thomas turns to her. "What are you drinking?"

"Whiskey, Irish."

His brow arches slightly in surprise as he takes her by the elbow and leads her to a table in a more deserted part of the pub. "Two Irish whiskeys and two fish and chips."

"Right away, Mr. Shelby."

Kate smiles as she sits down. "This almost reminds me of going out for dinner with my father. People scrambling to make sure that he had everything and that he was perfectly content."

"You know," he moves to sit down. "you never told me what happened with your father."

"Well, I eloped with Emmett, while he'd made an arrangement with Mr. Changretta for me to marry Luca." He leans back slightly, arms crossed as he nods. "So, Emmett and I eloped, Mrs. Changretta was our witness at our wedding." He blinks in surprise. She smiles as she braids her hair. "She didn't want me to marry Luca. She wanted him to marry someone who loved him."

"And do you?"

She shakes her head. "No, I don't." she sees something like relief in his eyes, prompting her to ask. "And speak of love, how are you and Lizzie?"

"There's a difference between loving and using." She blinks at his blunt words. "As far as using goes, she's doing well." Kate says nothing. His eyes narrow. "What? That offends you?"

Kate arches a brow as the bartender approaches with their drinks. "Really? You expect honesty to offend me?" she smiles at the bar tender. "Thank you." he smiles back nervously before hurrying away. She takes a sip before turning back to Thomas. "No, honesty never offends me. Lies do and I trust Lizzie's aware that you're just using her. not that I'm judging you, I'm very familiar with the story about men having needs."

"She knows what she's here for." He leans forward slightly, elbows on the table. "Someone spreading lies about you?"

She bites her lip before stating. "Not quite. Alfie informed me that Luca is making allegations that we'll be getting married soon." Thomas snorts and rolls his eyes. "And that means, what, in Thomas Shelby language?"

"It means that the man would have better luck trying to reach the moon." She arches a brow at him as he semi-glowers at her. "I mean it Kate; I don't know what you see in him. Believe me; Alfie is doing you a disservice by lying to you. Changretta is not just talking marriage. I've heard the rumor mills as well, as I've made it my personally business to keep an eye on you."

Her mouth drops open in outrage. "Excuse me-

"He has men following every time you go somewhere off my property, especially alone." She blanches slightly. "It started two weeks ago and I've had two of my men watching you as well. You need to be careful. The man is dangerous and obsessive. He won't let you go."

"Wait a minute." her head is reeling with those words. "What makes you say all of this?"

"Rumors have already started circulating that he intends to have you as his wife by Christmas, by whatever means necessary."

"Hold on. that makes no sense. Why would he make such a statement?"

"Clearly, there's something else going on that neither of us are aware of." he states quietly. "Kate, you shot his mother in the face. He doesn't care. He's so obsessed with you that he doesn't harbor one bit of anger towards you for that. I hated my father, but had I known the man, who shot him, believe me, that man wouldn't be breathing." the blood drains out of her face. "You think Changretta is any different than me? trust me; he's got people watching you."

"Prove it!" she bites out. "I don't understand what is about-

"Give me your hand." Kate blinks and puts out her right hand. Thomas grips it, firmly in his, running his thumb over her knuckles. "Thank you."

"What…are you doing?" she asks quietly, as her face flushes unwittingly.

"There's two men, who've been following us, ever since we left the cemetery." He says calmly as he places his other hand on top of hers. "They're across from us at the other end of the bar."

"Clothing, description?" she asks.

"Both are in gray suits. One has a red tie, the other was white, I think. I saw them in the cemetery as well. they've been following us."

Kate nods. "Alright, pardon me for this, need to get a good look." Kate brings Thomas's hand towards her cheek and she runs her free hand down his arm. She tilts her head to the side slightly, making it look like she's leaning into his touch, but she is able to get a glance at the two men. She recognizes one of them. she nods and turns back towards Thomas. "I recognize one of the men. Andre. He went with Luca two weeks ago."

"On one of your dates?" he bit out tightly.

She smiles tightly at him. "Not that it's any of your business. Yes."

He exhales. "So, where is his idea of a date?"

"Well, last week, we went to the ballet." Thomas made a face. "Giselle, a French ballet."

"Which is about, what exactly?"

"Why are you even asking me?" she asks. "I know for a fact that you hate ballet."

"Because," he smirks faintly. "if we look like we're wrapped in conversation, it's just a matter of time before they go call Changretta."

"Arrogant sod." She mutters under her breath. "Fine, Giselle is a peasant girl who falls in love with a nobleman, Albrecht. He toys with her feelings, getting her to fall in love with him until it's revealed that he's already engaged. Giselle dies of a broken heart."

"Well, that's another f**king miserable play you've informed me about." Kate chuckles against her will. "Aren't there ever any happy plays?"

"No." he leans forward and strokes her cheek just as the waiter comes around with their order. He nods at the skittish waiter, who hurries away without looking either of them dead in the eye. "Now, eat up."

Kate nods and glances towards the bar. Her eyes widen slightly in surprise. "The other man is gone, André is watching."

"Probably making sure I don't kiss you or drag you into the back room for a quick f**k."

Kate shoots him a look. "Really, Thomas?"

"He's a man. Trust me, that's what he's thinking." He glances at his watch. "Give it ten minutes…and Amos will tell you that you've got a call from the pub."

"For holding hands?" Kate rolls her eyes as she uses her free hand to eat a chip. Her eyes bulge. "Oh my God, these are delicious!"

He nods. "The best and yes…Luca would call just because I'm holding your hand. if he's obsessive as I think he is."

She rolls her eyes. "We shall see, we shall see."

In spite of Thomas holding her hand or occasionally reaching across to touch her face or brush a strand of hair back from her face, conversation between the two flowed easily enough. Kate had just finished telling Thomas the first act of Giselle when the bartender approached their table. "Telephone call, for you."

She blinks and risks a glance at Thomas. "What? I'm sure you're mistaken. No one knows I'm here."

"The caller is asking for the lady with Shelby. you can take it in the backroom."

She nods. "Thank you." Kate stands and follows Amos to the backroom. Thomas follows her, walking a decent distance behind her. she vaguely notes that they abandoned their food, but she doubts either of them will be interested in the food. Kate inhales as she picks up the phone, holding it to her ear and mouth. "Hello?"

I guess you weren't expecting me. it's definitely Luca Changretta on the other line. She spins around and stares at Thomas in complete shock. he was right! whore.

"Excuse me! How dare you call me that!" Thomas grabs the phone from her. "Hey!"

"I thought you'd call Changretta!" he shouts, startling her for a moment. "Can't stand the thought of her being seen with another man?"

"Give me that phone!"

"Intimate dinner?" Thomas laughs darkly. "If it had been intimate, trust me, your men would have called you much sooner!"

"Stop it!" Kate grabs the phone from him. "Look, Mr. Shelby, found me visiting my husband's grave this evening. I hadn't eaten anything all day and he was kind enough to buy me dinner, so I didn't have to wait an hour before taken me home."

I heard that he was holding your hand, touching you-

"So what? He's a friend! He's allowed to hold my hand and you don't get to call me a whore just because he touched me!" Thomas grabs the phone again. "Thomas Shelby, I swear to God-

"You called her a whore? You f**king Italian bastard!"

"Thomas Michael Shelby," Kate grabs the phone again and shouts at him. "that's it, get out of this room and let me handle this call!"

"Kate, I will not-

"I will handle this myself!" She shouts, causing everyone outside to go silent. "This is my life, my business! You don't own me! anymore than Changretta owns me!" Thomas stares her down. "Now, give me the phone." He hands it over and Kate inhales as he studies her intensely. She jerks her head towards the door. "As I was saying, Thomas was right." Thomas turns and walks towards the door. he doesn't exit; he leans against the wall near the door, watching her as if he can protect her from Changretta's words. "He knew you were watching me and I didn't believe him, so he baited you and you showed yourself to be You had to go and spoil this."

Sources tell me that you've been sitting in the pub, holding Shelby's hand. I already know that he kissed you at the cemetery!

"On the forehead! It didn't mean a thing!" Kate stated plainly. "As to the hand holding, he told me that you were spying on me, but I didn't want to believe it. I refused to think that such a simple, innocent thing could cause you to become so furious!" silence on the other end of the line. "How dare you! You've also had men following me!"

Do you think I'm such a fool? He hisses. I've heard about the two of you and I didn't want to believe it.

"What have you heard? there is nothing going on between Thomas Shelby and I. he's involved with someone else!"

Who?

"You don't get to ask me that." She states firmly. "I know her and I assure you, they've been together before you even asked to call me." She inhales before blurting out. "Which you needn't bother to do anymore." Luca starts swearing violently and furiously on the other end of the phone. "I told you from the beginning that I'd be honest with you and I thought, I genuinely thought that there was a possibility that we might become more than friends one day. But not now, not anymore, not ever. I don't ever want to see you again."

I'll kill him. Kate went still and silent at the deathly cold tone Luca used. I swear it; I'll kill him and his little bastard boy.

Kate was silent for a long moment before inhaling. "If you…dare…to lay a hand on him or Charlie, I swear to God," Kate can hear Thomas walking towards her. "that I'll kill you. and trust me; I'll have no qualms about doing so."

Luca goes silent for a long time. I'm going to Paris for three months. Come with me.

"No."

If you're still with Shelby when I return, the day before Christmas, his whole family will get hurt.

"I'm not going to back down." Though her tone was firm, Kate was terrified. She wouldn't allow the family to get hurt, but she wasn't going to back down to Luca's threats. "Have a nice trip Luca, take comfort in the fact that you lost the same woman…twice!"

With that, she hangs up the phone with an exhale before he could say another word. She bends over with an exhale, allowing the blood to run back up to her head as she rubs her eyes. "Kate?" Thomas kneels beside her. "What is it?"

"I'm alright." She exhales before straightening up. "I have to leave."

"Not an option." He shakes his head. "What did he say to you?" She hesitates, not wanting to tell him the truth. "Don't lie to me. what did he say?"

She groans. "Basically that I've got until Christmas to get out of your house or everyone gets hurt."

"You're staying." He states as he takes her elbow and leads her towards the door to enter the pub.

"Thomas, while I appreciate your enthusiasm, this isn't your decision. Now, I can't bear to have-

"Don't argue, you are staying." He says firmly as he maneuvers her throughout the mob of people in the pub. Everyone is trying not to stare curiously at them. "Changretta has an obsession with you. If you go to him, do you have any idea what he'll do to you? Trust me Kate, a man like that will hurt you."

"I don't care about myself, I'm worth nothing. But how will I live with myself if he hurts any one of you? This is all my fault!" Thomas says nothing as he helps her outside the noisy pub. She inhales the cool autumn air deeply. "And God, I wish that just once you could keep your nose out of everything!" Thomas takes his hat off. "Because now, you've meddled in it, I've got to figure out a way to get out of this without involving you or-

And that's when Thomas decided to suddenly grabbed her by her shoulders and kiss her in the middle of a public street!

TheHoodedAssassin: I know, Alfie is funny! And she just did, now…everyone's going to kill me for this cliffhanger, aren't they?

MeriemDjez: Same here! Oh, Changretta was seeing red and Thomas just had to go one-step further, didn't he?

Idcam: Well, she didn't get the chance to shut them down. Luca's green-eyed monster came out and it was ugly.