"Once you get attracted to someone's mind you'll find beauty in everything they do." Anonymous.

For once Adele was in a good mood.

She was coming straight from the market where she had taken the liberty of buying a new soccer ball for Finn. She thought he deserved it after his little encounter with these bullies and his friend's suffering.

She knew her gesture somehow proved Edith's statement but she didn't prefer to think about it. She had never really thought about having children. Not after the war at least. Maybe before, when she was still young and naive.

She had imagined having the life of a docile and complacent woman in front of her husband. Serving him good meals and doing the housework in addition to raising their children, but she soon realized that this was not real life. Or at least it wasn't just that.

There was much more to the world to discover than what the decency books had to offer. And being a wife, a mother was totally at odds with that.

So she would be content to cherish the children of others. Or at least that was what she intended to do. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before she took a sudden break as she turned into the Shelbys' street just to spot a familiar Bentley parked to the side.

An unfamiliar brunette climbed inside alongside Thomas. Now that wasn't much of a sight that particularly needed her interest. After all, she paid little attention to the life of Thomas fuckin' Shelby. So she didn't care if he saw women. Why would that interest her? She despised him.

And yet, she found herself hiding in the nearest alley to watch the interaction from afar. Despite her obvious annoyance, she had a bad feeling.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn't long before she realized she was right once again as she saw the infamous brown with icy blue eyes pull out banknotes one after the other.

He was very discreet but Adele had the perfect angle on the seat. So she saw him add pounds after pounds as he continued to talk to the brunette. The latter seemed to become more and more uncomfortable and hesitant as the exchange progressed.

Thomas, meanwhile, remained true to himself. Detached, cold.

Prostitute or not, Adele really didn't understand how a woman could be charmed by a man like Thomas Shelby. He was arrogant, dismissive and ...

He could also be charming, even confusing. And Adele wasn't even talking about the vulnerability hidden behind his cold, unmoved exterior. She had had a brief glimpse of what was really lurking in Thomas Shelby's mind.

For some reason, he had let her take a glimpse of a part of himself. And she had done the same in return. She hated to admit it, but she opened up to Thomas more than she opened up to her own mother or even her little brother. She didn't speak to anyone like she spoke to Thomas. The obvious carelessness and hatred she felt for him made it easier. Besides, she doubted that he was the type of man to gossip about other people's weaknesses.

But that was the whole point.

Because she had found herself wanting their futile exchange filled with sarcastic comments. In a way, he had managed to give her a sense of company. A remedy for her loneliness.

And he understood her. Oh, dear God, she hated to admit it but he probably understood her like no other.

He just had this ability to make her understand things with a simple look and an eloquent silence. He had seen her at her lowest. He had prevented her from jumping into the canal for heaven's sake. Even Adele's cold heart couldn't quite deny the obvious. He had saved her life. Maybe more than once.

Thomas Shelby was a man of few words but he knew how to use them wisely. And Adele could feel the emotions return a little more each time they met.

She had only been a little too blinded by her hatred to realize how much she actually enjoyed those moments. And she hated herself even more for making it that way.

Obviously he wasn't reserving this kind of behavior just for her. Worse yet, he used this kind of behavior with whores. Now Adele was feeling fucking stupid.

She clenched her fists on the bag containing Finn's ball in the realization before shaking her head sharply as she realized how stupid she was right now.

There she was, suddenly allowing herself to be controlled by futile emotions. She had never experienced a feeling of jealousy in her life and now she found herself envying a whore.

Had she lost her mind? She certainly had to if she was doing this.

She gritted her teeth at the thought before abruptly stepping out of the aisle in a sudden deep sense of rebellion. She wasn't going to be fooled by her stupid feelings. She wasn't the type to fall in love with a man because he made her feel a little bit important. No, she was better than that.

Not to mention that's was Thomas fuckin' Shelby. He was her enemy. He was the man she promised to put a bullet in the head one of these days.

She intended to keep her promise. So she made her way back down the sidewalk with her head held high and her gaze riveted straight ahead as she passed the famous Bentley.

Her appearance was noticed in spite of herself.

Thomas almost forgot where he was as he froze, his eyes locked in the outside mirror as he watched the familiar, curvy figure of Adele pull away from him a little further. Their conversation from some night earlier popped into his mind. The touch of her hand against his cheek and his hair. He swallowed in a sudden sense of shame and panic that she'd been able to see him with Lizzie.

It was a fucking bad idea to have chosen to confront her in the middle of the street.

"So where shall we go?" Lizzie asked, just to be ignored again.

And then why did it bother him? It was Adele's fault. This bloody woman was supposed to work. She was just doing that. She seemed to have very few hobbies. Maybe he hadn't asked enough. Now he found himself wondering what sort of thing she liked to do outside of her job.

"Tommy?"

Had he really let himself be infatuated with her charms? Ha, charms! Did she have any? Tommy would be a liar if he didn't admit that she was a desirable woman. He had seen the eyes of his brothers. Other men in town. Adele was certainly a desirable woman. Magnificent. And her wit and sharp tongue only made her allure powerful. Magnetic even. But she was still a lady. A Lady. Not a whore like Lizzie. No, Adele had nothing to do with their world. She had nothing to do with him.

"Shall we go to my lodging?" Lizzie asked again, clearly oblivious to the trap she had just fallen into.

Tommy finally snapped out of his thoughts as he licked his lower lip in an attempt to convey the emotions brought on by the sight of Adele. He nodded before keeping his eyes on the windshield."So the past is not the past." He paused before resuming coldly."You can keep the money. Get out of the car."

"Tommy, please."

He shook his head impatiently with a sneer."Get out of the car."

"I love him, Tommy." Lizzie pleaded in panic."Really." He turned his head to gauge her."Really."

He watched her almost tearful expression before slamming his tongue against her palate as he raised his hand. Just to brush her face. Just to check if her skin against his felt the same as when Adele had touched him. Without success.

"John will make his own decision. But he will have the facts."

Lizzie sharply clenched her jaw before sharply slapping his hand away from her face in anger."Your brother is ten times the man you are!"

He remained unperturbed as she scrambled out of the car before slamming the door. He returned his eyes to the windshield, swallowing before nodding in agreement.

"Of that I have no doubts."

"Polly? Finn?"

"In the kitchen!" Hailed Polly.

Adele closed the door of 5 Watery Lane behind her before removing her hat as she made her way to the familiar kitchen. She took a moment to get used to the emotions assaulting her again before unbuttoning the buttons on her coat as she caught sight of Polly sitting at a table with a newspaper in her hands.

"Now is my mind playing tricks on me?" Polly immediately lowered the newspaper to look at her with a teasing smile before folding it in half as she took in her uncomfortable form."No, I'm not dreaming. Adèle Fitzpatrick is really in Shelby's kitchen."

"Hilarious." Adele commented as she pulled up a chair to sit down."Is Finn there?"

"He's playing upstairs. Tea?" Polly asked as she stood to brew a mug before hailing over her shoulder."Finn! Come down! There is someone special for you!"

Adele rolled her eyes with a small smile as she heard a hollow sound coming from upstairs soon followed by Finn's excited and quick footsteps on the stairs.

"Yes, Aunt Pol? Who's-Ms Adèle!"

Adele didn't have time to say anything as she was suddenly enveloped in a warm embrace. She immediately hugged the little dark-haired Shelby with a sense of calm. Her stupid thoughts from earlier definitely forgotten. She took advantage of the embrace before rolling her eyes at the sight of Polly's gaze.

"I have something for you." She pulled away from the little boy before bending down to pick up the paper bag she had brought with her."Here. I saw it as I passed the market. I thought you might need it."

"A gift ?" Finn exclaimed as he picked up the bag inflated by the balloon inside with wide eyes of excitement before looking inside with a little cry of joy."A new balloon!"

Polly immediately paused with an arched eyebrow."A new one? What happened to the one I gave you for your birthday?"

Finn instantly lost his smile as he jerked his head up, swallowing as he met Adele's brown eyes in distress. The latter quickly gave him a wink before turning to Polly."He knocked it down the canal."

"Nice try." Scoffed Polly letting Adele frown. "Seamus told me what really happened. I don't know if I should be impressed that you lied to me or deeply disappointed."

Adele pursed her lips as she looked away somewhat ashamed. It was the kind of power Polly had on her. Just one of her scolding looks could turn her back into a rebellious fifteen-year-old teenager.

"Here. Your tea." Polly announced with a smirk at the sight of her guilty expression. It was just like before. She liked the youthful look on Adele's face. It reminded her of a time when she wasn't so cold and detached. It was nice."Now what do we say Finn?"

"Thank you, Ms Adèle." Finn said cheerfully just as the front door opened.

Adele let out a huff of laughter at the expression on Finn's face, clearly oblivious to the newcomer's identity."You're welcome, Finn."

"Can I go and show Isaiah my new ball?" He asked politely as he turned to Polly. If she was surprised by his politeness and manner in front of Adele, she said nothing. She was used to it now. It seemed that the girl brought out the best in her little nephew.

However, it was a much deeper and hoarse voice that answered."A new balloon? Since when ?"

Adele instantly lost her smile as she looked at the man leaning against the kitchen crack, a cigarette in hand and his deep blue eyes already riveted on her.

Polly immediately gave a look between the duo. A sudden urge to see their interaction up close. She knew Adele wasn't a fan of her nephew, but the tea leaves rarely lie. Her instinct was seldom wrong. And if she believed the gaze of her nephew focused on Adele, she was never wrong.

The tension in the room was stifling. And yet Polly found herself leaving a semblance of a secret smile.

Obviously Finn seemed oblivious to the growing tension in the room as he immediately turned to Tommy with a broad smile as he showed his present."Ms Adele bought me a ball! Just for me."

"You're lucky." Thomas commented as he brought his cigarette to his lips before pushing himself out of the crack and into the kitchen, nonchalantly."Looks like you're the only one she likes in this family."

Adele immediately left a scoff."I like Polly too. And Ada. Even John and Arthur. They are nice people compared to others."

She hated being so childish, but he had been looking for it. He had been the first to jab. Not to mention that she was still fucking mad at him for some stupid reason. Maybe she wasn't going to be bamboozled any further, but she wasn't going to forget the emotions swirling in her head either. It allowed her to keep a cool head when it came to him.

He was the enemy. Nothing more.

"Don't you love Tommy?" Finn asked, puzzled.

Adele pursed her lips in sudden embarrassment before clearing her throat as Polly rolled her eyes at the situation getting more and more ridiculous."Finn, go play outside. Let the grown-ups talk."

"No." Suddenly said Adele as she stood up."I had just come to bring the ball to him anyway. I'll go. Thanks for the tea, Pol."

Polly arched an eyebrow as she immediately turned off the stove in response before giving Thomas an annoyed look. The latter immediately raised his eyebrows with a mock innocent air.

Adele rolled her eyes at the sight before giving a small smile in the direction of the woman with the defined features."Keep me posted if there is any news."

With that, she put on her hat again before crossing the familiar Shebly hallway again. She buttoned the buttons on her coat as she made her way down the sidewalk before taking a deep breath. As if the mere presence of Thomas fuckin 'Shelby had deprived her of oxygen.

Unfortunately, she had barely taken two steps on the sidewalk when she heard the door to Watery Lane open behind her again.

Having a hunch of the person's identity, she hastened to pick up the pace. In vain.

"So even Arthur and John, eh?"

Adele let out a long audible sigh as she rolled her eyes, once again noticing the permanent fog above Small Heath. She looked back in front of her to avoid hitting anyone. Although she doubted she could crash into anyone, they all seemed to make room for her now that she stood alongside the self-proclaimed King of Small Heath.

"What do you want ?" She asked as they made a turn along the sidewalk."People start to watch. And I preferred to avoid meeting this cop again."

Thomas's face hardened immediately at the mention of Adele finding herself in Campbell's company. He couldn't let this happen an umpteenth time. Especially not after the threats he made against his family and Adele. Another point reminding him why Adele had nothing to do with his family.

And yet he was at her side. The posture strangely pleasant .

"I guess you saw me earlier with Lizzie. I just wanted to make sure you weren't brainstorming." He asked smoothly.

Adele widened her eyes before leaving an incredulous scoff."To get ideas, I would already have to care. And we both know that will never happen so ..."

"So aren't you curious?" He asked, his eyes still focused on the skyline through the haze of smoke and clouds.

"Curious of what?" Snorted Adèle. "I think what I saw was pretty self-explanatory. Guess you didn't think about your brother in the process, right? You really are a nice bastard, Thomas."

Suddenly, Adele felt a firm, still gentle hand on her arm before being pulled into an alley.

Her heart sped up unconsciously in spite of herself as she was suddenly slammed against a cold wall, moisture seeping into the thin fabric of her coat. Her eyes widened as Thomas positioned himself in front of her, clinched. They were so close she could feel his hot breath smelling of tobacco on her face. She took a short breath before swallowing, looking to the side in embarrassment and heat."The hell you think you're doing?"

"I thought of John." Thomas said, forcing Adele to turn her head towards him in puzzlement."That's exactly why I did what I did. I did it for John."

"By paying you for the services of a whore?" Seethed Adele as she sustained his gaze without batting an eyelid."A whore, who if I remember correctly, is already engaged to your little brother."

Thomas raised his eyebrows."I thought you didn't care."

"I didn't." She said."You can do whatever the hell you want. Fuck the nice little barmaid for all I care."

Thomas readjusted his hand that was leaning over her head, effectively keeping her in place."For someone who doesn't care you seem to be fucking pissed off."

"It's you." She scoffed."I'm always fucking pissed when I see you."

He arched an eyebrow, daring her to lie again. Adele lifted her chin proudly, clearly not ready to be intimidated by his usual mask of coldness. He found himself once again captivated by the depth of her eyes.

Chocolate. It was the color of her eyes. They strangely reminded him of the chocolate the nurses gave them on Christmas mornings on the battlefield. It was the only sweetness they were entitled to. The only moment of respite before having to throw oneself again under the rains of bullets.

Thomas didn't know why he found himself watching her face intently with a whole new interest. He didn't even know why he was thinking about it but after touching Lizzie he wanted to demonstrate what he already knew.

Reacting instantly, he raised his hand, unlike Lizzie she didn't flinch. She narrowed her eyes on his raised hand before puckering her lips in a straight line, defying him. He brushed her cheekbone with his fingertips, carefully analyzing her reaction, expecting her rejection.

Her skin was soft, her luxurious scent infiltrated her nostrils.

Adele swallowed as she felt her body ignite under his touch. His calloused fingers bringing a slight redness down her cheeks. She remained rigid, suspicious as she took in his suddenly sincere, transparent gaze. For once his intentions were clear as day.

Thomas took a chance as he took a deep breath before leaning over. Adele turned her face away just in time in panic. Thomas paused, his hot breath lifting her hairs along her arms as he leaned forward, analyzing her reaction. He expected her to push him away or even slap him.

However, she froze against that wall as he suddenly buried his face in the crook of her neck. The contact was even more intimate than a simple kiss.

She shuddered under his touch as she felt his nose tickle the elegant ridge of her neck before briefly closing her eyes at the feel of his lips against her pulse point.

Adele suddenly felt like she was like those teenage girls exploring the limits in a dark alley. Her body warmed and aroused at the mere thought of being touched by a man. The mere sensation of Thomas' full, slightly wet lips awakening instincts she had long thought were asleep.

He pulled away slightly to rise higher, just below her ear.

Adele felt her eyes snap open in realization as a low moan passed her lips. Reacting on instinct, she abruptly raised her knee, effectively hitting him where the sun isn't shining.

Thomas immediately let out a groan of pain as he leaned down with his hand on her crotch."Bloody hell!"

Adele winced in a sudden act of sympathy before quickly remembering her disdain for him, the fog of lust quickly dissipating."Have you lost your damn mind? Stay away from me!"

With that, she hastily readjusted the collar of her coat around her neck. The sensation of his kisses still too present in her mind as she abruptly makes her way back onto the sidewalk. She watched the aisle over her shoulder before hurrying up to speed.

Once far enough from that famous alley, Adele suddenly fell back against the nearest wall, the emotions of earlier attacking her with full force. She felt her legs about to give way under her as she thought back to her reaction to Thomas.

Did this really happen? Did she really let him kiss her?

She brought her hand to her neck as she closed her eyes for a moment, swallowing, her throat suddenly dry. She bit her lower lip as she remembered the emotion she hadn't felt in a long time.

Lust, desire and ultimately, sexual frustration.

She abruptly reopened her eyes in realization.

She wanted Thomas fuckin' Shelby. Or at last, her body wanted him.