I walked into the shop with Polly, leaving Ada and the baby in the kitchen. Tommy had called a meeting so that meant the shop was closed and the inner circles of the Peaky Blinders were filing in. I found a stool by one of the tables and sat down, John coming up and standing behind me. Once everyone was quiet Tommy began. "Right, I've got you all here today because this is the day that we replace Billy Kimber. This is the day we become respectable. The day we join the official National Association of Racecourse Bookmakers. But first we do the dirty work. We've all known this days been coming. I just haven't told anybody the date." Tommy turned to the blackboard behind him.
"We are going to the Worcester races. The track opens at one. We'll get there at two. Now, Kimber thinks we're going there to help him fight the Lee brothers. But thanks to the efforts of our John and his lovely new wife, Evelyn, the Lees are now our kin." Tommy told the room. I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile as Arthur chuckled and John placed a hand on my shoulder. "I interrupted those efforts this morning and I can assure you all, John is making great sacrifices for the cause of peace." The men around us erupted into laughter. "Thomas!" I laughed, shaking my head. "You two should start charging on the door if you ain't gonna lock it." Arthur called, laughing. "Yeah. All right." John said behind me, clearly not amused at his older brothers jokes. I could hear Polly joining in with the laughter as I bit back a retort, narrowing my eyes playfully at the eldest Shelby.
"So it'll be us and the Lees against Kimber's boys. We take them out but leave the bookies. I expect a swift victory which will send a signal all the way to London, that we believe in letting legitimate businesses run peacefully." Tommy finished. I could feel John shift behind me. "And what about Kimber himself?" he asked. "I'll deal with Kimber." Tommy told him before looking back out to the room. "Any other questions." he asked there was a moment of pause before Polly spoke up. "Yes!" she said, before turning and walking towards the kitchen doors. Everyone watched her in anticipation. She turned before reaching the doors. "Does anybody object if I bring a newcomer to the meeting?" she asked, glancing around the room.
I knew she wasn't really waiting for an answer and stood up in anticipation. John pulled me backwards so I was by his side and looked at me, confused. I smiled up at him and turned to see Polly opening the kitchen doors. "I'd like to introduce the newest member of the Shelby clan." she said, opening the door further for Ada to walk in with Karl. I smiled broadly at her as she looked at Tommy, nervous. Arthur began clapping as Ada walked further into the room. Finn went to her side, giggling at the small baby in her arms.
"Welcome home, Ada." Tommy said, smiling at his sister. "Did you know about this?" John asked in my ear. "I only found out when I got here." I told him. "We named him Karl. After Karl Marx." Ada announced. "Karl bloody Marx. Let me get a look at him." Arthur said, walking over to his sister. I smiled at the scene as John pulled me into him, my back pressed against him and his hand on my slightly swollen stomach, his thumb massaging gentle circles through my dress. "Here we go." John laughed, placing his chin on top of my head. "Hey, look. He looks just like me." Arthur proclaimed, taking the baby from Adas arms, placing his hat on Karls head and raising him into the air. "That's his arse that looks like you, Arthur." John called. "He's alright. He's a Shelby." Arthur responded, bringing the baby down and cradling him in his arms.
"Well, Ada? Am I forgiven?" Tommy asked, watching his sister carefully. She nodded. "If what Aunt Polly says is true, you are." She told him, nervously looking at me. "It's true." he told her. Her face lit up, going to her brother and wrapping her arms around him. "Give me a go then." John said to Arthur, releasing me from his arms and taking the baby from Arthur. "Ya gotta get in the practice, John boy." Arthur told him, draping his arm across my shoulders. I laughed and smiled at John as he gently rocked the baby in his arms. Arthur wandered off to talk to some of the men and John shifted Karl onto one arm, holding the other one out to me. I tucked myself under his arm, watching the happy baby and taking his small hand in mine. "Now that's a scene I approve of." Polly said from behind me. We both looked at her, smiling. "It won't be long." Ada reminded her, still at Tommys side.
After the meeting, the men went down to the Garrison for a few drinks before heading to the races and Polly, Ada and I stayed in the house, cooing over baby Karl and making sure the books were up straight for the shop. Once I was satisfied they were correct, I headed upstairs to pack some more of our things. John and I had decided to move our things bit by bit and there were only a few things left to go.
The men had only been gone about an hour when I heard the front door slam from upstairs. "Evie!" I heard John call, he sounded worried. "I'm here!" I shouted back heading out the bedroom and for the stairs. "What's wrong?" I asked, quickly coming down the stairs to stand with him. Tommy was in the living room with Pol and Ada. "What's going on?" Polly asked as I reached the bottom of the stairs. "We've been fucking betrayed. Somebody let slip, Kimber's men are on their way here." Tommy told us, pacing. I looked at John and the look on his face confirmed it. "But you can handle them Tommy?" Polly said. "It's just us. All the Lees are all on their way to the Worcester. We're outnumbered." Tommy told us all, panicking. John was holding my coat out for me as Ada stood up, going over to baby Karl and picking him up.
"Who else knew today was the day you were moving on Kimber? You said you kept it secret. Who else did you tell?" Polly asked, watching her nephew. Tommy didn't answer and I quickly pieced it together. "Please tell me you wouldn't be so fucking stupid." I said, taking a step towards him. He glared at me. I shook my head in disbelief as I looked at Polly, she had worked it out as well. "There's only one thing could blind a man as smart as you Tommy. Love. It was that barmaid." she said. Tommy stayed silent. "I'll deal with Grace. If you set eyes on her again, you might kill her." Polly told him before ushering Ada out of the room.
I shook my head as John helped me into my coat, placing a kiss on my head as he wrapped it around me. "Go to the Bullring with Polly and Ada. I'll come find you when it's all done." he told me, gently pushing me towards the kitchen. I glared at Tommy as I went. "Evie!" Tommy stopped me as I reached the door. He held a gun out to me. I looked at it then him then John and back at Tommy. "And what do you expect me to do with that?" I asked, eyebrow raised. "Take it, to protect yourself and Ada. I hope you don't have to use it but I'll feel better if you have it." he told me, taking a few steps towards me. I looked over to John who was looking between me and his brother. "You remember how to shoot, yeah? What John and I taught you?" Tommy questioned, pressing the gun into my hand. I nodded, drawing my eyes back to him. "Point and shoot." I told him, taking the gun and putting it in my coat pocket. "Go on. Go with them." he told me, ushering me out of the living room.
Polly and Ada were waiting for me in the back garden, Karl in his pram. "You two go, I'll deal with Grace then I'll come find you." Polly told us. We both nodded and left the garden, walking the alley until we joined Glover Street. We walked down Glover Street until we reached the turning to the Bullring. However, Ada turned right instead of left. "Ada? Where are you going?" i asked, stopping at the junction and watching her walk towards Garrison Lane. "I am going to tell those men what fucking idiots they are being." she called back to me.
I had to nearly run to keep up with Ada as she pushed the pram. "Ada, I seriously don't think this is a good idea." I told her as we approached the men. "Move!" She shouted behind them and they all turned to look at us, moving to the side to allow us through. Karl started to cry as she held her head high and walked into the middle of the two groups. "What're you doing?" Freddie called from beside Tommy. John looked at me, slowly lowering his rifle. "I believe you boys call this no man's land." Ada told him, stopping in the middle. I stood beside her, earning some looks off John, Tommy and Arthur. "Ada! Evie!" Freddie shouted. "Shut up and listen." Ada told him. "Have you lost your mind?" Freddie asked. "I said shut up!" she told him. I watched as Kimber looked amongst his men before turning back to us.
Ada began to address them. "Now most of you were in France. So you all know what happens next. I've got brothers and a husband here but you've all got somebody waiting for you." She turned to her brothers. "Now, I'm wearing black in preparation. I want you to look at me. Look at Evie, John, who is carrying your child. I want you all to look at us. Who'll be wearing black for you?" I was suddenly aware that I was still stood in the middle while Ada had wandered to the side. I placed a hand on Karls pram as the baby still cried. "Think about them. Think about them right now. And fight if you want to but that baby ain't moving anywhere. And neither are me or Evie." Ada finished. How did I get roped into this?
There was a moment of pause. "She's right you know." Kimber called out. "Why should all you men die. It should just be them who caused it." he shouted, pulling his own gun and pointing it towards Tommy. A shot rang out and everything seemed to go in slow motion. I watched as Tommy fell. As John raised his rifle at someone behind me and was shouting at me, eyes wide but I couldn't hear the words. Then another shot rang out. Danny Whizz-Bang hit the floor. Freddie was suddenly the other side of the pram, shouting words that I didn't hear. Then Ada was there. There was shouting around me but all I could hear was Kimber laughing behind me.
Without hesitating I turned, taking the gun out of my pocket as I went. I leveled it at Kimbers head and squeezed the trigger, flinching slightly as the shot rang out. Time sped back up as he hit the floor, a single bullet wound through his forehead. "Enough!" Tommy shouted behind me. Kimbers men were all watching me, guns trained on me and the men behind me. "Kimber and me fought this battle one on one. It's over. Go home to your families." Tommy told them.
After a long moment, they lowered their weapons looking around at each other before dragging Kimbers body away. I looked down at the ground where he had been, the blood pooling. I slowly lowered the gun, my hand shaking as John was suddenly next to me. He took the gun from my hand and tossed it on the ground, enveloping me in his arms and burying my face in his chest. I could vaguely hear Tommy giving orders but I couldn't bring myself to move, wrapping my arms around Johns waist and grabbing a fistful of his coat.
A/N What did you think about Evie being the one to kill Kimber?! I was so unsure but I thought it was something she needed to do. Let me know what you think!