"Take this," Tommy spoke, offering the glass of whiskey to Liz as she sat on the side of the bed, looking to the alcohol as she sniffed and shook her head.
"I don't drink," she reminded me and Tommy frowned, tilting his head to the side as he looked at her again with that stubborn expression.
"Humour me," he told her. "It will help settle your nerves."
Liz scoffed but she took hold of the glass in her fingertips, taking a small sip as Tommy watched her and nodded, his hand moving down her cheek as John sat in the corner in the red chair of their hotel room.
"When did yer get married?" John decided to ask and Tommy glanced across to him, wondering if he would answer his brother. He didn't know if he could handle civil conversation at this moment in time. His anger was overtaking him, but he knew who that anger was mainly directed at.
He blamed Arthur for this mess. He doubted John had anything to do with it.
"Yesterday morning," Elizabeth declared. She had a feeling that Tommy was not in the mood for conversation.
"Right," John nodded his head and Tommy felt Elizabeth take his hand as she held the alcohol with just one hand.
Giving his fingers a squeeze, she watched him sit down next to her on the bed, his arm leaning behind her body to support his weight as Elizabeth rested her head against his shoulder and closed her own eyes. Tommy's hand moved to take hold of hers again as he kissed the top of her head tenderly. It was odd for John to see his brother behave in such a way. Tommy rarely showed emotion, but here he was showing Elizabeth nothing but love and tenderness. It was odd to John.
"When did Arthur get involved with Solomons and Sabini?" Tommy suddenly asked out of the blue and John shrugged his shoulders, moving to light a cigarette he took from his pocket.
"A few weeks ago," John said. "He 'eard about yer plan to take London and decided to 'ave a go 'imself. We took Sabini's club and asked Solomons for 'elp. He said 'e would only 'elp if you were on board…Arthur wrote to yer to ask."
"I got the letter," Tommy confirmed and John nodded.
"We were goin' to the club to take it over," John continued. "Last time we went and didn't get anywhere really…killed a few men…but this time we brought backup. We ain't scared of Sabini."
"No?" Tommy wondered with a small scoff. "Only a fool is not scared of his enemies. It is fear that keeps you alive, John. 'Ave you forgotten that, eh?"
John said nothing as Tommy rolled his eyes and they heard a knock on the door. Moving for his own gun, Tommy pulled it from the bedside table as John moved to the wood, peeling it open slowly to reveal Arthur stood there. His knuckles were blooded and his face had a small purple bruise on the corner near his mouth. He held a hipflask in his fingers and his hair was matted on the top of his head.
"Tom," he greeted his brother and Tommy stood up slowly, untangling himself from Elizabeth as she remained silent with one leg folded over the other, her coat still on her body.
"What the 'ell are yer playin' at?" Tommy snapped at Arthur. "Solomons and Sabini? Did you think you were in the big league, Arthur? Yer 'ave got no 'ope of stoppin' both of 'em."
"Says who?" Arthur demanded. "You left, Tommy. What we do ain't none of your business."
"It is when Solomons makes it," Tommy sniped back. "Did you think yer were clever enough to take Epsom? Did you yer not see what Sabini would 'ave done to me? To Liz? He would 'ave killed me, Arthur…killed me and raped my wife!"
Elizabeth seemed to recoil at hearing Tommy speak in such a tone, her eyes closing and a shudder running through her body along with a gasp of breath.
"What do yer want us to do?" Arthur snapped. "The business don't stop just because you left, Tommy. Someone has to keep the Shelby name going considering yer too busy with a Kimber now."
Balling his hands into fists, Tommy shook his head and placed his hands on his hips. He turned on the spot, his eyes on the floor as he considered using his gun to shoot Arthur and make himself feel better. He could barely stand to look at his brother anymore.
"Men like Solomons and Sabini don't care, Tommy," Arthur spoke. "We need to control London and Epsom."
"No!" Tommy snapped. "You could 'ave stayed in the Midlands. You could 'ave stayed away from me and Liz. They want the brains, Arthur…Solomons wants me to get him Epsom, not you. He thinks yer a mad dog without a leash."
John remained silent during the exchange, looking outside as he peeled the curtains back and pretended to be more interested on the street than on the brawl between both of the brothers.
"Then I'll tell 'im that I'm in charge now-"
Arthur stopped talking as Tommy laughed, looking to the ceiling as he tilted his head back and allowed the noise to echo through him. Elizabeth looked on with a cocked brow as Arthur balled his hands into fists and Elizabeth stood up as the eldest Shelby took his brother by the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the wall, his head hitting the brickwork and Elizabeth moved with haste as John tried to push Arthur from Tommy.
"You always thought you were better than me," Arthur snapped at Tommy. "I'm in charge now, Tommy. I run this show. Do you understand me?"
"You run nothin'," Tommy snapped. "You need me to get yer out of this mess."
"Pack it in!" Elizabeth was the one to yell as she moved to stand in between the two brothers. She looked between them as they continued to glower at each other, but Arthur did release Tommy from his grip. "What will fighting achieve? There is nothing that both of you can do. As much as you hate this, you are in this mess together. Do you understand me?"
As her glare intensified between the pair of them they looked to her and neither one of them looked too impressed. Nodding her head, Elizabeth dropped her hands to her hips.
"Now we need to find a way to stop Sabini. Can you both agree on that?"
"I don't appreciate being spoken to by a woman-"
"-Don't talk to 'er like that," Tommy quickly interrupted his brother. "She is my wife."
"She is a Kimber-"
"-A Kimber whore?" Elizabeth cut Arthur off before he could continue and she looked at him with a fair amount of disgust as she stood in front of him and Tommy felt her back almost press against his chest as his wife challenged his brother. "Or a traitor? What about a little streetwalker? I've had that one. I must admit that Campbell's favourite was harlot. He liked calling me that as his men fondled me. Of course there is Sabini too. He preferred to call me a gypsy's whore as his men prepared to rape me. I can keep going if you like?" Elizabeth declared and took a moment to watch as Arthur had the decency to look slightly embarrassed.
"No? I did not think so. My point is, I am your brother's wife now. I am part of this god damn family even though I can hardly stand the majority of you. I was raised to believe that family worked together when they had to? And it seems as though you have to. Therefore I would appreciate less of the name calling and rude remarks."
Tommy continued to watch his wife, wondering where the meek little Liz had gone as she turned to Thomas and her glare fell on him. Holding his hands up in innocence, he stepped away from Liz and looked to his brother, a cocky smile on his face as he saw Arthur blush for the first time in years.
John was the one to step forwards then, rocking back and forth on his heels as he looked between the three of them. "Where do we start then, Liz?"
….
Elizabeth awoke before Tommy the following morning. She was not surprised. Every time she woke her husband was also awoke. Tommy didn't sleep many hours, but she suspected there came a point where every man needed his rest. After changing from her nightgown into a light red dress she covered Tommy up, pushing the blanket to his chin as he didn't even stir. She dropped down to press a small kiss on his forehead.
She slipped her boots on underneath her dress and left their room in the elegant hotel. She was hungry, even after everything that had happened. She tried to forget the entire incident with Sabini, but she could still feel hands on her skin, tugging and pinching at her as she remained powerless and watched her husband almost suffer.
Perhaps a morning of normality would push it from her mind?
"Good morning," Elizabeth spoke as she came to the large mahogany desk near the restaurant where men and women were sat, eating their breakfast already. "I was wondering if there was a chance of a spot of breakfast? My husband is still sleeping and I am parched."
"Of course," the man in the smart suit said from behind the desk and Elizabeth gave him a grateful nod as he led her towards the restaurant.
"Liz!"
The distinct cockney accent drew her attention to a man in the corner, a cigar dangling from his mouth and a cup of tea in front of him. He had a table to himself and already he had what looked like some oats in front of him. Men and woman looked at Liz as she acknowledged his loud outburst.
"I think I have found somewhere to sit," Elizabeth informed the receptionist. "Thank you very much."
Making her way through the crowds of tables who were sipping on tea and eating breakfast, Elizabeth finally came to the seat by the window which overlooked a large garden she had been surprised to see in London. Settling down in the chair, Elizabeth looked across to Alfie Solomons as he held his teacup as though it was the size of a thimble in his large fingers. His appearance was the same as usual, but he wore a top hat on his head and his top button to his white shirt was done up.
"Mr Solomons," Elizabeth greeted him. "What brings you here this morning?"
"I'd 'ave thought that was obvious, sweetheart," Alfie said, looking at her after taking a drink of his tea. "I 'eard about what 'appened last night. 'Ad my men watchin' yer 'otel but Sabini's men knocked 'em out right cold. I 'ad words, mind you."
Nodding, Elizabeth took the teapot into her own hands and poured herself a small cup of tea as the sudden smell of sausage moved into her nostrils and she felt her stomach growl.
"Sabini demanded our presence at his club," Elizabeth agreed with him. "He had the intention of…well…some not very pleasant things were threatened that are best not to be discussed at the table."
Alfie cocked his head to the side and his brows knitted together after hearing Elizabeth speak to him in such a manner. She took a sip of her tea and placed it down, adding some sugar to it in order to sweeten it. Looking over to Alfie, he nodded to her, prompting her to speak.
"Was he goin' to kill Tommy and 'urt you?" Alfie wondered.
"Something like that," Elizabeth nodded her agreement and Solomons. "He was going to have his men rape me and then kill Tommy, if you must know. Of course, he failed. Tommy's brothers turned up just in time."
"I'm glad," Solomons said and he sounded sincere about that. "So where is yer 'usband? I 'eard yer got married."
"Still sleeping," Elizabeth said. "But I trust you want to speak with him?"
"Nah," Solomons said. "I find you more interesting, besides, I know Shelby. He'll do what I want because he knows he 'as to. He wants to protect yer from Sabini…especially now that Sabini threatened yer."
Elizabeth's brows rose and she looked to Solomons with wonder as he watched her back and she shook her head. What could he want with her?
"Look," Alfie said. "I ain't ever 'ad a bird talk to me like yer did, got it? It was brave…you've more balls than some of the wet shits I hire."
"I appreciate the compliment," Elizabeth declared, almost scoffing at hearing him.
"Yeah, yeah," he shrugged off. "Look, yer goin' to be stayin' in London for a while and I need someone to do my books for me…keep me out of trouble with the authorities if they come callin'. You 'ave the brains and the balls…more than Ollie anyway. He runs a mile when someone questions his math…suppliers…what not…they need a firm hand."
Elizabeth had to admit that she was shocked at hearing him. She looked confused, wondering what a man like Alfie Solomons would want with her really. Surely there were hundreds of people able to do what he wanted? She was no one special.
"I am flattered," Elizabeth said, not entirely sure if she was or not. "But…I do not know how long we shall be in London for or if it is permanent. Besides, I yelled at you one time. I doubt it would work on everyone."
"Nah," Solomons waved a hand. "It would. If you made me shut up you can make anyone shut up. Besides, your 'usband is goin' to be 'ere a while whilst we do business. It was just an offer."
Elizabeth wondered if there was more to this. She continued to stare at Alfie as he watched her back, wondering what was going on in her mind as she wondered the same about his mind. Saying nothing, Elizabeth sat back in her seat and regarded Solomons with wonder.
"I shall consider it," she finally said, "but I need to talk with Tommy. But first I really do want breakfast."
Solomons chuckled and waved a waiter over as Elizabeth kept on trying to work out Alfie. She chatted with him politely as they ate breakfast and was shocked when he escorted her to the foyer, bidding her farewell with a kiss to her cheek and the tip of his hat. Watching him go as the foyer grew busier, Elizabeth almost smiled before rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She turned back around and moved towards the staircase and to her husband.
"Mrs Shelby."
Her hand wrapped around the bannister as that familiar voice haunted her ears. She stood on the bottom step and looked to the man who was moving towards her. He stopped on her step and Elizabeth remembered what he had done to her…what his men had done.
The smile on his face seemed sinister as he moved his hand to her chin, tilting her gaze up to meet his as his other hand moved down her pale throat, his fingers resting at the base of it.
His Irish accent shone through as he moved to whisper into her ear, his voice hot and tickling her skin as he did so.
"Miss me?"
….
A/N: Sorry for another cliffhanger. I can't help myself! Anyway, what does he want? Let me know what you think!
