Tommy had insisted that I went back to his, concerned about the prospect of another attack. I had done what he asked willingly, still shaken from my encounter with Changretta and the mention of a deal still going around my head. "Here you go." Tommy said, bringing me out of my revere and when I looked up he was offering me a glass of whiskey. I took it gratefully, downing the amber liquid before holding it out for a refill. I had managed to sneak some cocaine while he was organising his men but I knew the numbness wouldn't last long. The drug had become less and less effective as the days wore on and I found myself asking Isaiah for more and more. Something I knew he was growing concerned about. He obliged before sitting down next to me. "You're safe here, Eves." Tommy told me, stroking my cheek as I looked at him. "Are we safe here?" I asked, my voice faraway as I looked into his cool blue eyes. He searched my face for a moment.
"You're safe with me, Eves. I won't let anyone hurt you." he told me, pressing a kiss to my forehead. I watched him for another moment before taking a sip of my drink. "Do you think Aberama and Bonnie will get him?" I asked, leaning my body into Tommy's as we sat back on the sofa. "I think they've got a good chance." he replied, his hand going to my head and gently stroking my hair. I nodded, my head on his chest as we sat in a comfortable silence and watched the fire. "Were you scared? When you worked out he'd come after me and not Arthur?" I asked, my voice hoarse from not talking and I took a sip of my drink. "Terrified." he replied, hardly missing a beat. I tilted my head back so I could look into his face and I saw the sincerity there.
Without thinking, my lips went to his and the need to be close to someone overwhelmed me. My mind switched off and my body took over as Tommy lifted me, positioning me so I was straddling his waist, both our glasses discarded. It was like I was on autopilot as we kissed, my hands going to his waistcoat and shirt, removing them before Tommy stood, taking me with him and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me upstairs. I gasped as he threw me on the bed, our lips disconnecting and his blue eyes watching me with hunger. He looked at me for a moment before joining me on the bed, both of us on our knees as peppering kisses along my jaw and chest. His hands made light work of my dress and moments later my slip joined it on the floor.
I captured his lips back to mine, my nails scratching down his bare back and his hands gripping my hips tightly. I moaned into his mouth as his hands traveled down my body, finding the soft flesh between my legs and working it expertly. My hands gripped his back tighter, his hand going around my waist to hold me firmly in place. He released my lips to bow his head and kiss along my chest. Eliciting more moans from me as I could feel myself reaching the edge, his hand pushing me over the edge with a loud moan. My chest heavy as my body shivered against his. He continued to work me until my shaking subsided, my entire body sensitive as he placed a languid kiss on my lips before laying me on my back.
He removed his trousers and boxers before joining me once more, positioning himself between my legs as I brought his lips to mine once more. My hand went to his hip as he hesitated, pulling him into me and giving him the motivation he needed to slide gently inside me. I moaned into his mouth again, my hand tightening on his hip as I pulsed around him, my body getting used to him. His body moved gently against mine as I took him further and further in. I wrapped my legs around his hips, silently begging him to go harder and his eyes came to mine. He brought his hand to my face and kissed my lips gently. "Slowly." he whispered against my lips, continuing his gentle movements that had me begging me for more.
I looked up at him with hazy eyes. His clear blue eyes looked into mine and I thought I saw a hint of something in him. But I dismissed it, pulling him back down to me and pressing my lips to his before flipping us over so I was straddling him once more. I sat up and he watched as I moved my body up and down around him, his hands going to my hips. I quickly built up the pace, every movement had us moaning in time and I knew we were both close. Tommy suddenly sat up, holding my body against his as we continued to move. His nipping and biting at my neck soon had me coming undone around him and he used the hands on my hips to keep me moving through it, drawing out his own release.
We both collapsed back on the bed, breathing heavily as Tommy pulled me into his body. I rested my head on his chest as we both looked up at the ceiling. He kissed my head as our breathing and heart rates came back down to normal. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I'm okay." I replied, my voice quiet. "Do you think John's watching us wherever he is?" I asked after a brief moment. Tommy shifted under me and cleared his throat before answering. "I don't know. Why?" he asked, wrapping his arms around me. "When I sleep, I see my parents and Grace and some of the boys we lost in the war but he never comes to me." I told him, my mind faraway. "He's just giving you space. He'd want you to be happy." Tommy told me, kissing my head once more. "Come on. No more talk about spirits." he added, pulling the blanket over us and I curled my body into his side. I kissed his chest and I knew that sleep wouldn't come for him as it didn't for me and we lay in a comfortable silence.
The next morning, I crossed the road with Tommy watching from the window. I walked into the house and found Polly in the kitchen. I looked at her for a moment, remembering what Changretta had said. "Luca Changretta came to visit me." I told her, sitting down opposite her. She looked up at me, concerned. "He told me to tell you that the deal was made. What deal, Polly?" I asked, watching her. She sighed, deeply. "The deal where he stays away from you and Michael in exchange for Tommy." she replied, matter of factly. "You're seriously going to give him Tommy?" I asked, my brow furrowing. She didn't respond. "Okay, Michael I get. But why me?" I asked, trying a different tactic. "Because you are precious to this family, Evelyn, and you are precious to Michael." she told me. "Precious to Michael? What is that supposed to mean?" I scoffed. "It means that I know that baby you lost last year was his and not Johns." she replied.
My eyes went to hers as my heart dropped. "I have no idea what you are talking about." I told her, lowly. "Don't play stupid with me, Evelyn. I see the way he looks at you, the way that he's looked at you for years. The men in this house may be blind but I am not." she told me. "You're wrong." I told her, my face was hard. "I'm not, Evelyn and I don't know your intentions with my son but he is a good boy that loves you. Don't take that for granted." she told me sternly before standing. "And pray Thomas doesn't find out." she added before leaving.
I was upstairs when I heard the backdoor open and close. I looked out the window and saw the two Blinders still stood in the alley and knew whoever came in would be fine. I finished hanging up my clean clothes and went downstairs. I was surprised to see Bonnie sitting at the kitchen table. "Hello." I greeted him, unsure what he was doing here. "Hello, you." he replied, a cheeky grin on his face. "You just let yourself into my house." I said, leaning against the door frame. "I did. A little bird told me you were here by yourself so I let myself in." he replied, still grinning. "Did you now?" I asked, amusement in my voice. "And the boys at my back door just let you stroll in?" I asked, the teasing tone still in my voice. "I may have told them you were expecting me. They had recognised me from the meetings with your brothers." He told me. I nodded thoughtfully. "I see. And what can I do for you?" I asked, finally coming into the room, my eyes still on him.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay." he told me, his voice serious as he stood. My eyes stayed on his as he crossed the room to me, stopping in front of me so our bodies were almost touching. "I'm fine." I whispered, looking up at him. He looked at me intently, his dark eyes filled with questions. I shifted slightly under his gaze and he lifted his hand, brushing my curls over my shoulder and holding the side of my face and neck. His hand was warm and rough against my smooth skin and my breathing hitched as he leant in, gently pressing his lips to mine. My eyes closed instinctively, tasting him on my lips for a brief moment before he pulled away.
My eyes fluttered open to see his dark eyes on me again, my face flushed as I tried to look away but his hand kept me from turning. "Tommy's got me in training for the next few weeks. Will you come watch?" he whispered and my eyes drifted to his lips. I nodded, not trusting my voice and he pressed his lips back to mine. This kiss was just as gentle but lasted longer, my hands going to his hips and holding him in place as the kiss deepened. I vaguely heard talking outside and the sound of boots in the yard as I pulled away from him, reluctantly letting him go and putting a respectable distance between us as Arthur walked in.
He paused when he saw Bonnie. "What are you doing here?" he asked gruffly. "Delivering a message from Tommy. When he realised I was here alone, he offered to stay until someone else got here." I lied easily. Arthur's eyes went over Bonnie suspiciously. "Well you can go now, lad." Arthur told him before heading towards the shop. "Sorry about that." I said, turning to Bonnie. "I get it, he's protective of you. I would be too." he said, watching Arthur's retreating back before turning to me. "I better go. I'll see you soon." he told me, looking over his shoulder before pressing a kiss to my lips. He grinned and winked at me before leaving through the back door.
"Mrs Shelby, haven't seen you in here for a few years." King Maine commented as I watched Bonnie sparring. "There hasn't been anything in here to interest me in a few years." I replied, watching Bonnie's movements. The man scoffed before continuing walking, going to join Tommy and Aberama as Bonnie knocked out his opponent. I had been coming here for the last few days, watching him train and spar. This was at both his and Tommy's request. I smiled to myself as he crossed the ring to speak to Maine, asking for his next opponent. "You're not in the fucking fairground now, son. Get down and skip me two hundred for taking the piss out of a fine fighter." Maine told him and I chuckled to myself, smiling at Bonnie as he jumped down from the ring. "And don't stop to talk to the girl, either!" Maine shouted as Bonnie approached me.
"Well done." I congratulated him, pushing off the windowsill and going over to sit on the stool next to him. He picked up a rope and started skipping, a cheeky grin on his face. "So will you come watch my first proper fight?" he asked, still moving. "You try and stop me." I smiled, tilting my head and making him grin wider. He skipped for another few moments before stopping, I hopped off my stool and leaned in close to him. "You might even get a prize if you win." I whispered, winking at him before heading towards Tommy. "That's two hundred, Mr Maine." he called a moment later and I heard his footsteps following me.
"So, who am I fighting first, Mr. Shelby?" he asked as we joined the men. "When you step in the ring, Bonnie, who do you see across the canvas, eh?" Tommy asked. Bonnie looked at his father for a moment. "I see myself. Forty years old, having done fuck all except tramping the lines. See my life wasted. I won't let it happen. Me? I'm going to be a champion." Bonnie replied and his father didn't look impressed. Tommy turned to him, speaking in Romany. "When this business is done, you'll be champion of the world, Gypsy boy." he told him before walking away. "Fights out of Camden Town. Boy's name is Goliath." Tommy called over his shoulder in English. I smiled at Bonnie before following Tommy.