Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Peaky Blinders characters, only the ones I have created.

PART 1: IN WHICH KARA GETS ACQUAINTED WITH THE SHELBY FAMILY

CHAPTER 1

Screaming. I heard screaming - it invaded my eardrums and made me want to press my hands to my head.

Daniel ran towards me – his eyes filled with concern and he took the letter from my hands as I dropped onto my knees into the dirt.

Who was screaming?

My cheeks felt wet and I when I touched them I realized I was crying.

My chest clenched painfully as if someone had driven a dagger through it.

I heard Daniel break down beside me and felt him drop to the ground too, his arms were around me and he was sobbing into my shoulder.

I couldn't move.

I gasped for breath and I realized I was the one screaming – it was a strange sound, I had never heard come out of my mouth before.

"She's dead," Daniel cried.

I opened my eyes and was met with a small streak of sunlight shining through a crack in the curtains.

My chest was still rising rapidly of the nightmare I had had and it was then I realized my hand had closed around the knife under my pillow.

I slowly pried my fingers off the hilt one by one and rubbed my face tiredly – it was late when we had arrived at Small Heath and finally settled in our rooms.

I propped myself up on my elbows and stared at the bleak wall where the wallpaper was chipped and stained.

My brother – Daniel – was probably still asleep behind it in the next room.

I wish we didn't have to stay here, but Daniel had made a good point in saying we'd attract less attention here in Small Heath while we plan our next move.

I glanced at my watch on the bedside table beside me and noticed it was still early.

I got up from my bed to splash some water into my face from the small basin and went to get dressed, knowing that I wouldn't be able to sleep some more.

With a pin I moved my dark curls to the back on one side and hoped it would stay that way – my dress was a bit crinkled, but I didn't particularly care with the lack of sleep I had.

I stepped out and descended the stairs to the small pub we had first entered last night - The Garrison.

"Y'er up early," the owner commented as he noticed me. He sat at a table with a newspaper in front of him and a cup of coffee.

I nodded, not feeling like explaining myself and went for the door.

"What are you and y'er brother here for anyway? We don't really get visitors here." His voice stopped me on my way o the door and I glanced over my shoulder.

"There's a first for everything," I merely said before stepping outside.

It was chilly outside, but I enjoyed the fresh air as it cleared my mind.

People were already up and about in Small Heath – some factory men went to work, children were rushing by, to school probably, and women walked by with baskets on their arms.

The town was awful – it smelled horrible due to the factory and horses and it was filled with criminals - at least if the rumours are to be trusted.

My hand went to the small silver case of cigarettes in the pocket of my coat and lighting one, I took a long drag, the smoke chasing away the last remnants of my nightmare - or I should rather say memory.

That's when I first saw him. Thomas Shelby.

Of course, I didn't know his name back then or the influence he had in the town. He was on a horse, a beautiful one at that, as he passed me. People all around him nodded at him or said their greetings, maybe a bit nervously.

He was dressed in a fine, tailored and expensive looking suit and he wore a peaked cap on his head. The sides of his head were shaved expertly, as was his face.

A cigarette hung from his lips and as I took another drag of mine, his eyes fell on me – the bluest eyes I had ever seen, even from where I was standing I realized he must make the hearts of many women beat a little faster with those looks.

His eyes stayed on me and he hesitated - almost tugging on the reins to stop the horse, but he didn't.

I finished my cigarette and stepped back into the pub to find my brother talking to the owner.

"Kara," Daniel said with a nod, taking in my crinkled dress and lack of sleep.

"Morning, Daniel," I said swiftly, taking a seat next to him at the bar. "How'd you sleep?"

His dark hair was combed back from his face and I could see the dark shadows under his green, blue eyes – the same eyes that were so like my own. "Thought so," I said, not waiting for an answer.

"I was just talking to Mr. Fenton here about the upcoming Kempton races." I raised an eyebrow.

"Please call me Harry," the owner said.

"So you're interested in the horse races, eh?"

I glanced at my brother quickly catching on what he was doing - he was making sure no one would get suspicious of our stay here - and I plastered a smile on my face.

"Oh yes, I love seeing them. My family kept horses when we were little, you see."

Harry nodded. "I don't know why you're not staying closer to Kempton though. Not many people choose to stay here."

My brother shrugged and I had to give it to him – he was a good actor. "Well, we were passing through and my sister has never really liked the big cities. Makes her anxious."

Well, that wasn't completely a lie.

Harry still didn't look convinced, so I pushed on. "Besides, we know people around here like to gamble a bit too, don't they? We thought we'd earn a little extra money to finance the rest of our trip in England by placing a bet."

Harry looked a little reluctant to say the following: "Well, there's a betting shop here, alright." My brother and I just stared at him.

Harry sighed. "It's not exactly legal."

I grinned at him. "Oh Harry, don't you know that those are the best kinds. Where could we find it?"

"It's on Watery Lane. Two blocks from here. It's owned by the Peaky Blinders, but I wouldn't get involved with them if I were you."

I shared a look with Daniel and a smirk tugged on my lips.

The rest of our day was spent at the pub which became gradually more crowded and we chatted with some of the locals, buying them drinks and asking questions occasionally when they were getting tipsy.

It seemed that everyone knew about the Peaky Blinders.

"They're a gang full of criminals," one man had said disgustedly and a little boldly, but then he quickly glanced around to make sure no one had heard him.

"They're keeping this town together, that's what they do. When the coppers do nothing, ya can always count on the Blinders."

"I heard they're doing some illegal business."

Besides the Peaky Blinders, we found out that there was a horse here in Small Heath that was gonna compete in the Kempton Races.

Another man was telling us that his money was on this horse, Monaghan Boy, as he had seen a Chinese girl putting a spell on the animal earlier today.

I shared a knowing look with my brother when the doors of the pub opened and two men walked in. People around us shifted nervously and some of the laughter quieted down.

I studied them from the corner I was sitting at, my hand around a glass of Irish whiskey.

They looked like brothers to me. Both were dressed in fine suits and wore peaked caps.

One looked to be in his thirties and had a bushy moustache whereas the other seemed to be in his early twenties and had a matchstick sticking out of his mouth.

My brother continued his conversation with the man at the next table who had told us about the spell on Monaghan Boy.

I saw the older one glancing around, his eyes staying a moment longer on me before shifting to Daniel and the other man.

He tapped his brother on the arm and walked over to us.

"Yep, so, if ya want to bet on a 'orse, ya best do it on Monaghan Boy," the man next to us finished with a hiccup.

"George!" The man with the moustache yelled out, slapping him on the shoulder.

"Y'er trying to get everyone gambling their money these days? Hoping to earn a little extra, do ya?"

His voice was teasing, but his eyes were narrowed as he looked me and Daniel over.

"I'm sure y'er boring the pretty lady and her husband, George."

George looked a bit panic-stricken, especially as the younger fellow stepped closer too.

"No, Mr. Shelby. They seemed interested."

"He's not my husband," I commented. "And we were interested in the races actually."

The older Shelby looked surprised at me speaking up before he grinned and shamelessly looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my chest.

"The races are no place for a lady such as yourself."

His brother grinned at this. "Nah, especially not for an Irish lady."

I was mildly surprised they knew we were Irish – we hid our accents well.

"I fail to see how that's any of your business," I snapped. Daniel stiffened beside me, his foot tapped mine lightly as a warning.

This only seemed to amuse the older Shelby more and he dropped into a chair at our table, his brother doing the same.

"A feisty Irish lady at that, John Boy."

I pressed my lips together and took out a cigarette from my silver case.

"Well then, what would ya like to know? Me and John know all about the races."

He spoke to me and me alone, leaving Daniel out. As they sat down, the smell of ale and smoke accompanied them.

John grinned too, taking the matchstick out of his mouth before lighting it quickly with a swipe at the wooden table and holding it in front of me so I could light my cigarette.

The door of the pub opened again and someone entered.

"We were thinking of placing a bet on one of the horses at the Kempton Races," Daniel explained, a small smile tugging at his lips. The older Shelby took his eyes off me rather reluctantly to focus on my brother.

John kept his eyes on me as his brother took off his cap and swiped his hair back which was longer at the top of his head and shaved on the sides.

My eyes dropped to his cap on the table - there was a razor blade sewn into the edge. Interesting.

"Well, there's the horses Rockferry, Bourbon, Percy Piper, Heaven's Gate, Drummer Boy, Sovereign, Smoking Gun and of course, Monaghan Boy." He tapped his knuckles on the table while thinking it over.

"Was that all of 'em, John Boy?"

A figure stepped up to our table.

"What are we discussing, lads?"

His voice was low and husky and when I glanced up, I recognized him from earlier today when he had been riding a horse.

I also now realized he must also be related to these other two Shelby's - they shared some of the same features.

His eyes stunned me again and from up close I could make out his thick, black lashes that any woman would be jealous of and his sharp, high cheekbones.

He really was a piece of art, I thought.

The older brother looked a little miffed at being interrupted.

"These lovely people want to place a bet, Tommy, and I was just explaining the Kempton Races to them."

The newcomer switched his stare from Daniel to me and his expression remained cool and unwavering as he took out a cigarette, placing it between his lips.

"Is that so, Arthur?"

"We heard there's a betting shop at Watery Lane," Daniel spoke up, lifting his glass to his mouth.

His blue, hypnotising eyes stayed on mine when he answered: "You heard right. We own it."

I raised an eyebrow. These Shelby's seemed to be getting more interesting by the minute.

"So, you're the Peaky Blinders."

A/N: Hi everyone, since I just finished Peaky Blinders and absolutely loved it, I decided to start this story.

Please let me know what you think and if I should continue!