Walking through the streets of London was a far cry from Birmingham. There were people everywhere, kissing and touching. There was music in the air from various pubs and bars. I walked between Tommy and John, Johns hand firmly on the small of my back as my heels clacked along the stone streets. Nobody paid us much attention but I did occasionally catch the eye of men looking my way.
We approached the club confidently and Tommy quickly paid the doorman to let us through. Tommy entered first and John waved me in front of him, closely following with Arthur behind. Tommy walked first through the narrow corridor, I sped up slightly to match his stride, threading my arm through his as we walked. I knew John wouldn't mind as long as it was evident I was with them. John and Arthur fell into step behind us. There were men and women everywhere, some half dressed and even a few fucking on the sofas and against the walls. I gave Tommy a look out of the corner of my eye and I knew John and Arthur would be looking around behind us.
We made our way into the busiest room where men and women were dancing wildly to loud music. Tommy confidently guided us through the middle of the dance floor. "What the fuck is that racket?" Arthur shouted. "This is what they call music these days." Tommy responded. "Music?" Arthur questioned. Tommy guided me over to a table where a couple were kissing. Standing in front of them he broke them up. "Oi. Put it away." he told them, as they quickly left. I let go of Tommys arm and watched John and Arthur checking out women as Tommy took my coat from my shoulders, revealing the dress underneath.
"Nice dress." He whispered in my ear before placing my coat on the back of a chair. "What? This old thing?" I teased, smiling as I turned to him. The dress was black and covered in beading that played with the dim lighting. Although a simple shift shape that I had worn before, it was sleeveless and came higher up on my thigh than usual. It was loose but hugged my curves perfectly. Tommy just raised an eyebrow at me as he pulled out my chair signalling for me to sit.
When John and Arthur eventually made their way over to me, John's eyes went wide. "Where the bloody hell did you get that dress?" he asked, looking down at my legs. I rolled my eyes at him. "Just because I am a wife and mother doesn't mean I can't wear nice things." I told him as he sat down, moving his chair closer to mine. "I didn't say that. It's just a bit funny how this is the first time I've seen it." he muttered, placing a hand on my thigh and turning back to his brothers and the room around us.
Tommy was on edge beside me, looking around the room. "Fucking hell, I recognize a few of these lads." John told us, his hand unmoving from my leg. "Sabini's cousin over there." Arthur told us. "That's right, this is Sabini's club." Tommy informed us, nonchalantly. "Jesus Christ." John said, echoing my thoughts. The waiter placed a bottle of whiskey on the table along with four glasses. John and Tommy were still talking across me. I caught the waiters eye and his gaze lingered on me for a moment as I gave him a coy smile. "Can I fucking help you, mate?" John shouted beside me and I didn't have to turn to see he was talking to the waiter. I reached for a glass with my left hand, purposefully showing him the shiny rings that sat there. He left quickly, Arthur and John still glaring at him. I smiled innocently at John when he eventually looked back at me. Arthur poured us all a drink as I watched two men approach our table from behind him.
"Gentlemen, madam, there's been a mistake. You're going to have to leave." he told us, placing a hand on John and Arthur's shoulders. Arthur looked him up and down as I picked up my drink. "We just bought a fucking bottle." John told him, moving away from his so his hand dropped. "Some here recognize you from the racetracks in the north." the man explained. "Yeah, we get that a lot." Arthur told him, looking at Tommy. Tommy fought a smile as he took a sip of his drink. "They say you have no business coming south of the line without prior agreement." he told us, looking between Tommy and Arthur. "And what line would that be, my friend?" Tommy asked, placing his glass on the table. "They say this is provocation." the man said, looking at Tommy. Arthur and John looked at Tommy as I took a sip of my drink. "Right, well, you tell them we're on holiday." Tommy replied, picking up his drink. "You're breaking the rules." the guy said, waving his finger at Tommy. "They say you are the Peaky Blinders." he added.
Suddenly, a glass sailed passed me and Tommy, crashing into the bottle on the table. "Peaky scum!" someone shouted and all hell broke loose. All three of them were up from their seats, throwing punches as I stayed where I was, watching, Arthur had picked up a shard of the bottle and was cutting into peoples faces. Tommy had removed his hat and was slicing people with that. John had just headbutted someone, sending them to the floor. Arthur laughed over a man who he had just knocked out before turning and shouting. "Who the fuck is next?" he asked, looking around him. John had a man on his knees next to me, punching him in the face until blood spurted from his mouth. I watched John's face as he did it, winking at him as he dropped the guy and looked at me. He gave me a grin before turning and punching someone else. Tommy was stamping on someone who was down.
Then there was a gunshot and the band was silent. I saw the man who had came over to us stood on the stage a shotgun pointed at the ceiling. He leveled the gun at Tommy. "Get out." he commanded. "Yeah? Are you going to use that?" Tommy asked while walking to the man. He looked around, unsure. I rolled my eyes and downed my drink before standing, interrupting Tommy as I spoke. "I'm bored." I announced, causing everyone to look at me as I turned and walked back across the dancefloor, making sure I sashayed my hips as I went. I walked up the few steps before turning back to the Shelby brothers. "Are you coming?" I asked. Arthur had a grin on his face but Tommy and John looked annoyed.
They all slowly turned and walked towards me, Arthur picking up my coat as he passed my chair. "We came here not to make enemies. No. We came here to make new friends." Tommy began but my eyes weren't on him. They were on John who instead of following his brother onto the dancefloor and decided to bend down and kiss one of the girls. Arthur's eyes flickered between me and John. I masked my face with a smile but I knew he could see the betrayal in my eyes. Tommy had turned while he was speaking and faltered slightly at the sight of his brother with another girl. I didn't wait for them any longer, turning on my heel and walking out, forgetting my coat and wanting to forget about John Shelby.
I had no idea where I was going when I stepped out into the cold crisp air but I knew I was not going to be waiting for the brothers. I set off with my head held high and hoped I looked like I knew what I was doing. "Hey, darlin'." a female voice called after me once I had got halfway down the street. I turned, ready for a fight. I watched the woman approach she was pretty with a straight blond bob. "Sorry to shout at you, hun. But I love your shoes!" she told me. I looked down at the green heels. "Thank you." I responded, smiling. "You're not from round here, are you?" she laughed. I shook my head. "I got split up from my friends." I lied, easily. "I'm Ruth Solomons, me and the girls were going to meet our husbands over in the Candlelight Club. It's the only decent place around here so I'm sure your friends will turn up there if you want to come join us." She invited. I thought for a moment. "Sure, I'm Evie." I smiled and followed her across the street.
John POV
"Where the fuck has she gone?" Arthur said, looking up and down the street. "What was that with that girl?" Tommy asked me, lighting a cigarette. I shrugged, doing the same. "I dunno, felt like a good idea at the time." I mumbled, looking around for any sign of Evie. "Why'd she have to wear that dress? And flirt with that waiter? And get up and say I'm bored like that?" I added. Tommy shook his head. "Who knows what goes through that girls head but I know you're in for a whack when we find her." he replied.
We had been walking around for about twenty minutes before Tommy approached a man on the street. "Have you seen a little Birmingham lass? About this high, dark curls and no coat?" he asked. "Yeah, I think she went to the Candle with the Solomons." the man replied gesturing down the road. "Thank you." Tommy thanked him. "Did he just say Solomons?" Arthur questioned. Tommy nodded taking a drag from his cigarette.
When walking into the Candlelight Club it was busier than the Eden but the crowd was a lot calmer. "How the fuck are we going to find her in here?" I shouted to Tommy and Arthur. "I think I've found her." Tommy shouted back. When I looked down at him he was looking across the dancefloor and following his gaze I could see why. There was Evie dancing on a table with three other girls. "What the fuck is she playin at?" I shouted, making my way through the crowd towards her.