Tommy glowered as his pushed his foot down on the accelerator, urging the car to go faster. This latest escapade of Rose's was the absolute last thing he needed. Of all the things he thought her capable of, running away to London to meet with the head of the Jewish gang in Camden Town was not one of them. Despite his anger and worry, he couldn't help but be impressed with the sheer audacity of her plan. She'd been smart about it, he'd give her that. Waiting until everyone, including Ada, was in the Garrison celebrating the reopening, making sure she told every family member a different story about who she was staying with that night. She'd told him she was staying with Polly and, of course, Polly wasn't speaking to him so he hadn't had the opportunity to find out otherwise. He'd just assumed Rose was telling the truth. They hadn't realised she was missing until that morning after they'd all met Michael, Polly's son. Tommy shook his head. Michael turning up was an event he hadn't reckoned with quite so soon. He'd left his card with him in the hope he'd find Polly when he turned 18. Polly was delighted, of course, but the boy had to return to his adopted mother whilst he was still a minor.

It was only when Finn came crashing into the kitchen, stopping short at the sight of Michael, that they began to wonder where Rose was. Her deception was very quickly established, and then all hell broke loose. The Shelbys began the process of turning Birmingham upside down. Tommy had barked out orders to his brothers as to how to start looking for her using the full might of the Peaky Blinders, and then he'd gone to his office to make some phone calls to everyone in Birmingham who was on his payroll. He avoided phoning the police, however, even if some of them were also on that roll. Involving the police meant running the risk of involving social services and that was the last thing he wanted.

He'd just put the phone down when it rang. He snatched it up only to hear Alfie's London accent on the other end. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alfie, now isn't a good time…" Tommy went cold with fear when he heard Alfie's next words: "Yes, yes, I know it's not a good time for you but I am the bearer of good news. I have in front of me a small red-headed girl who looks an awful lot like you." Tommy sat down heavily, shocked and confused. "Rose is there? With you? In London?" He wasn't usually blindsided like this, but it was the last thing he'd expected to hear. Upon hearing Alfie confirm that yes indeed Rose was there with him, a murderous anger began to rise in him. "What do you want with her? I swear, Alfie, if you've hurt her…" "Calm down, Tommy, put away the knives. I have not kidnapped her; she appeared in my office about half an hour ago all by herself talking about how sorry she was for injuring one of my kin and asking me not kill any of her brothers."

All at once, Tommy understood what had happened and groaned inwardly, recalling the conversation he'd had with her earlier in the week. She'd slunk into the house one afternoon, her head down, making a beeline for the stairs. He watched her from his seat at the table, wondering if he had the time to deal with another of her dramas. It seemed every conversation he had with her these days was about her behaviour. He decided reluctantly that he should find out what was going on with her.

"Rose" She stopped in her tracks, head still down, messy red hair falling in front of her face. He waited. She waited. She knew he expected immediate obedience from her, but he was the last person she'd wanted to meet in the house when she got back. She'd been expecting it to be empty as usual and her heart had sunk when she realised that Tommy, of all people, was home. She contemplated what to do. She could continue her way to her room hoping that Tommy was too busy to follow her up there. But she knew that direct disobedience would earn her a guaranteed punishment. She could try and bolt back out of the door and stay away until Tommy left. But she knew that Tommy wasn't one to just let things go and if he had to take the time to come back and speak to her, she'd definitely get a thrashing. But she also knew that telling him what had just happened would end very badly for her. Every option ended with her in trouble. Which made it very difficult to make a decision. So she didn't. She froze to the spot. Tommy cleared his throat and made the decision for her. "Rose, come here."

She turned towards him, eyes still on the floor, and edged her way towards him. He suppressed his impatience as he waited for her to reach him. He knew if he tried to push her too much she'd dig her heels in and the whole thing would take even longer. He wondered once again how it was possible that there was a whole community of grown men who didn't hesitate to obey his orders but that he couldn't get this one eleven-year-old girl to do the same. Polly said that Rose had been given the same dose of stubbornness that he had and he knew she was right. One day it would stand Rose in good stead as it had him, but for now it just served to make his life harder.

Once she'd shuffled her way close enough, he reached out, grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. He kept hold of her arm, aware of her habit of bolting for the exit if things got too uncomfortable for her.

"What's going on, Rose?"

She didn't answer him and kept her head down, pulling slightly against his grip, enough to make sure he knew she wasn't happy about the situation but not enough to be accused of outright resistance. Tommy felt his patience starting to slip. "Rose, I won't ask you twice." His voice held a warning, one she knew all too well. She shifted her feet and shrugged, still with her head down. "Nothing", she offered, "I was just out."

"Just out doing what?"

Another shrug. "Nothing"

Tommy's patience ran out. "Rose, enough! Look at me and give me a proper answer."

Rose hesitated. She knew there was no way out of this for her, but still couldn't bring herself to yield and face what she knew would be unpleasant to say the least.

Tommy, in no mood for hesitations, took her chin, lifted her head up, looked her in the face and gasped. She looked like she'd gone a round with Finn in the boxing ring. Her left eye was practically swollen shut and was ringed with an angry red and purple bruise which was spreading down her cheek and over her nose. There was also a nasty gash on the bottom of her chin from which had trickled a line of blood down her throat staining the collar of her dress. She winced in pain as he gripped her chin but kept her eyes downcast. Tommy reigned in his shock and let go of her chin. "Look at me, Rose". The tone of his voice caused Rose's eyes to look up at his straight away. The time for playing games was over and she knew Tommy would stand for no more nonsense.

"What happened?"

Rose shifted her eyes away from Tommy's as she confessed her crimes to him. "I got into a fight."

"I can see that. Who with?"

"Some boy."

"Which boy? What's his name?"

She contemplated lying to him for a split second, but knew it was pointless. Tommy always found out the truth.

"What will happen if I tell you his name?"

"You should be more worried about what will happen if you don't tell me his name."

Rose looked at Tommy, reflecting on his words. Tommy watched her as she worked out her next step. He knew exactly the way she thought, because he thought in the same way; thinking through all the options and their outcomes before making the choice which worked best in his favour. He let her contemplate, hoping she'd realise that the best outcome for her would only come from doing as he asked.

Rose came to the same conclusion as Tommy as she sighed, looked at the floor again and mumbled, "Amos Goldman".

"Who?"

Rose looked back at him steadily now. The decision was made, no going back, no more need for obfuscation.

"Amos Goldman", she said clearly, steeling herself for his reaction.

He didn't move a muscle, but continued to look at her as he let the silence hang between them. His eyes turned cold and she could practically feel the anger from him as it grew. It was Tommy's turn to work out the next step.

He swore silently as he digested the information. Of all the people she could have got into a fight with, she picked Alfie Solomons' kin. His business "partnership" with Alfie was precarious at best, the last thing he needed was an altercation between two members of their families.

He spoke evenly but with an edge to his voice. "What happened?"

"Amos said nasty things about our mam so I hit him. Well, I stamped on his foot and then I hit him. And then he hit me and I fell on my chin"

Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose. John had taught her that move.

"Why was Amos talking to you about our mam?"

"I don't know! I was just walking past and he said it. He's friends with Maggie Johnson's brother and I know he hates our Finn cos Finn once…."

"Amos was in Small Heath?" Tommy wasn't interested in Rose's complicated school connections to Amos.

Rose paused, "No."

"So, where were you walking past him?"

She shifted her feet nervously. Tommy had his hand ready to grab her in case she suddenly bolted.

"I was …. he was …" She trailed off and bit her lip. Once she told him where she was, she was done for. The moment of reckoning had arrived. Tommy waited.

"I was in the Jewish Quarter." And with those words, her fate was sealed. It was her turn to wait now. She braced herself.

Tommy was furious – not that he let Rose know this yet. He remained quiet, motionless, his cold gaze still on her. Leaving Small Heath and going into potential enemy territory was an incredibly dangerous thing for her to do. Everyone this side of Birmingham knew who the Shelbys were. The Peaky Blinders had gained a massive reputation since Billy Kimber's death and they were hated and feared in the wider Birmingham area. And that meant that every Shelby was a target for anyone with ambitions of climbing the underworld ladder. Rose especially was a target – he'd be at the mercy of anyone who posed a serious threat to her. Rose didn't know all the family business but she knew enough to understand that Tommy had enemies and that she was only safe within Small Heath. She wasn't stupid; she'd known exactly what she was doing when she left Small Heath. And that's what made him so angry. Rose had deliberately put herself and the family in danger. He also knew exactly why. Rose enjoyed the danger as much as he did. Most of the time, he could tell himself that everything he did was for the good of the family and that he did what he did because things sometimes had to get worse before they got better. He told the family that the goal was to legitimise more and more of the business, that the bad side of the business was a necessary evil to get them there. He almost believed it himself. But when confronted with such an accurate reflection of himself in Rose, he knew that the truth was much darker than that. Rose was drawn to rebellion and resistance. The more dangerous it was, the more she wanted to experience it. She, like him, had a compulsion to face and then control the things which scared her. He found it incredibly hard to confront the truth about himself when he recognised it in her. This was part of the reason he spent less and less time at home. The rest of the family were much easier to deal with, even Ada; but Rose was different. The older she got, the more unmistakably she became like him.

Rose watched Tommy warily as he lit a cigarette. She wished he'd just punish her and get it done with. Standing there with his disapproval and anger washing over her in waves, she felt sick. Tommy was the person she loved most in the world and there was no feeling worse than knowing she'd let him down.

"Which of your brothers would you like to see dead, Rose?"

Her mouth dropped open in shock. She wasn't expecting him to say that.

"No, seriously, Rose. Who would you like to see killed, eh? Arthur? John? Me?"

His voice was icy, barely containing the anger he felt.

"Answer me, Rose!"

She jumped as he raised his voice. She was completely taken aback.

"None of you, Tommy. I don't want any of you dead. Why would you say that?"

He ignored the tremble in her voice.

"None of us? Really, Rose? You don't want any of us dead? Because what you did today will probably end up with one of us killed. Did you know that, eh? Rose? Your idiotic decision to go for a stroll in the Jewish Quarter will no doubt mean that one of your brothers will die!"

Rose couldn't move; she stood stock still staring at Tommy, trying to make sense of his words.

"You look surprised, Rose. Let me explain. The boy you got into a fight with today is the son of Alfie Solomons' cousin. Did you know that? No, of course you didn't. You don't know who Alfie Solomons is, do you, eh? Mr. Solomons runs the largest Jewish gang in London. He's a bookmaker like myself and he also makes rum illegally and runs a protection racket. I was in his office just a few days ago making a business deal with him. He hates gypsies, does Alfie Solomons. He pointed a gun at my head, Rose, and threatened to kill me."

Rose went pale. She knew that Tommy was a gangster and she knew her brothers did dangerous things, but she was usually spared the details. Tommy wasn't holding back on the details now though and it was scaring her.

"Alfie Solomons is a very dangerous man, Rose. He hates gypsies, he hates the Peaky Blinders and he particularly hates me. What do you think he's going to do when he finds out that my sister wandered into Jewish territory and punched his kin?"

Rose's legs trembled and she put a hand on the table to steady herself.

"I'll tell you what he's going to do, Rose. He's going to send his toughest, bravest man to Birmingham with a gun in his pocket and he's going to tell him to find a Shelby and to shoot him in the head. Men like Alfie Solomons take family honour very seriously. They can't allow an insult like this to go un-avenged. Wasn't it enough to see me in hospital, Rose? Do you think that my enemies won't think twice before killing me or Arthur or John? You thought it would be an adventure to leave Small Heath and wander into someone else's streets. You thought it would prove to me how tough you are, how brave you are."

He took hold of Rose by her shoulders and could feel her shaking with fear at his words. The tears were running freely down her cheeks now, though she made no sound. He knew he was scaring her, but he also desperately wanted her to learn this lesson. He couldn't keep her safe every second of every day; he needed her to make better choices.

"What you did wasn't tough or brave, Rose, it was stupid and dangerous. When will you realise that I give you rules for a reason? That I know what's best for you, eh? I have enough on my plate at the moment without having to run round after you! When will you learn, eh? When will you start making better choices? At my funeral? Once they've burnt me in my caravan, eh? Is that what it'll take?"

"That's enough, Thomas!" Polly's voice was sharp with disapproval.

Tommy looked up to see that Polly had entered the kitchen. He had no idea how long she'd been there.

"Pol, she needs to know what she's done. She needs to stop this behaviour of hers and do as she's told."

Polly walked briskly over to the table. "I agree with you, Tommy, but you've said enough now. Look at her – don't you think she's learnt her lesson?"

Tommy looked back at Rose. She was so pale that her black eye and grazed chin looked even worse than they had originally. She was staring at him, terrified by what he'd said. Her tear-streaked face clearly showing the impact his words had had. He suddenly felt guilty. He may have gone too far. His own fear of what could happen to her had spilled over into his reprimand and, looking at the fear in Rose's eyes, he knew he couldn't take it back. He knew there was no real danger of Solomons retaliating so severely for what Rose had done to Amos. He'd researched the Birmingham side of Alfie's family when he was thinking about going into business with him, and he knew they were of no consequence. Joseph Goldman was a jeweler and wasn't involved in anything nefarious like his cousin in London. Amos was just about to leave school and go into the family business. None of the Birmingham side of Alfie's family were involved in his London business and Tommy had no reason to be concerned about them. He'd elaborated the truth about Alfie's reaction to Rose in an attempt to scare her enough to keep her in Small Heath and away from danger. The problem was, he'd succeeded a little too well. Still, if the outcome was that Rose stayed out of trouble and closer to home, then it was worth it.

"Mouse," he spoke gently now, "I'll have a word with Alfie and explain what happened. I'll tell him that I'll make sure it never happens again and that you're very sorry. Hopefully, he'll calm down and let it lie this time. But you have to promise me - swear to me - that you'll never do anything like this again. Now that you understand the consequences of your actions, hopefully you'll obey me in future. You're a Shelby and that means you have a responsibility to the whole family to be smart and stay out of trouble. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Tommy," her voice was serious and quiet. She was very much shaken by what Tommy had said. She hadn't realised until now what being a Shelby actually meant. And there and then, a seed of discontent was planted inside of Rose; a tiny root of resentment began to grow in her. Her life wasn't her own, her choices affected so much more than her own future and she felt trapped. Not that she could have expressed all of this that afternoon in the kitchen at number 6 Watery Lane. All she felt was dread and unhappiness.

"I won't give you a thrashing. Goodness knows you deserve one, but it seems Amos landed you a good one and your face will be sore for a while. No need to add a sore backside to it. But you aren't allowed out after school for two weeks unless one of the family is with you. You'll come home straight after school and you'll stay here unless I say otherwise. Got it?"

She nodded. She didn't care what he did to her now. The damage had been done by his words.

Polly came and took Rose's arm. "Come on, let's get you in the bath and get that face cleaned. I hope whatever you did to him was worth it."

She led Rose away and glared at Tommy as she did so. A look he knew meant that they'd be discussing this later. He sighed as he watched them go up the stairs. Why was he able to succeed in his business so well but feel like a failure with his family? Not for the first time, he wished he could leave it all behind. He stood up with a shake of his head, knowing that he could no more leave the power he enjoyed from his business successes than he could that little girl he'd just made cry.

Sitting at his desk in his office, reliving the conversation of that night, Tommy was brought back to the present by Alfie's voice in his ear.

"Tommy? You there? Hello?"

"Can I speak to her?"

"Yes, you can speak to her."

Tommy waited longer than he wanted to before hearing her voice. He was working hard to suppress the panic which was threatening to rise inside of him.

"Hello?" Her voice trembled. Tommy let out an inward sigh of relief upon hearing her voice. He stayed silent for a moment, not wanting to speak in case his own voice betrayed the unwanted emotions which were washing over him

"Are you hurt?"

"No"

"Did you go to there by yourself to see him?"

"Yes"

"Pass the phone back to Mr. Solomons."

Now that he was reassured of her safety and of the fact that Alfie had no malicious intentions towards her, his business head took over. All that was important now was to get her back to Birmingham. He'd deal with everything else later.

"There, you see. I was telling you the truth."

"Alfie, I'm sending two of my men in London to pick her up immediately."

"No, I'm sorry Tommy, that's not going to happen. I am very aware how precious this child is to you and I am not going to run the risk of handing her over to strangers even if they are wearing flat caps. I will hand her over to you and you only. Got that?"

Tommy could barely contain his annoyance.

"It will be hours before I can get there. I want her out of there as soon as possible."

"I know it will be some time before you are here but you have my word that I will take the very best care of your sister. There are many things which are fair game in our line of work, Tommy, but this child isn't one of them, you have my word on that."

And Tommy believed him. He himself would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed and, not for the first time, he sensed a kinship with Alfie, a similarity which he hated to acknowledge.

"I'm leaving now."

"Right then, Treacle, see you soon."

Tommy replaced the receiver, stood up and strode out of the office.

"Lizzie, I'm going to London to get Rose."

Lizzie looked up, shocked. "Rose is in London?"

"Yes. Don't ask me how she got there but she's sat in Alfie Solomon's office as we speak."

Lizzie's jaw dropped. "Is she safe?"

"Yes, she's safe. I'll explain when I get back, but I want you to let Polly and the boys know, and tell Arthur to make sure our boys in London meet me at Solomons' factory when I get there."

"Yes, Tommy."

As he neared Camden Town, Tommy's adrenaline spiked. His fingers touched his gun, its presence reassuring him. He knew that he was willing to do anything to make sure Rose was safe. He'd felt this way ever since he'd first held her in his arms. He remembered everything about that night. His mother screaming for what seemed like hours as she laboured. Polly and the local handywoman who assisted at all the births in the area becoming more and more frantic with each call for hot water and more towels. Seventeen year old Ada looking worried as she cared for baby Finn. John, fifteen, had long since gone out, driven away by the noise and Arthur hadn't put in an appearance since yesterday. He was seldom at home since their father had left.

Tommy, at twenty years of age, felt the responsibility for the family. It burdened him and angered him in equal measure. He hated his father for leaving but he'd hated him for most of his life anyway. He was furious with Arthur for abandoning the family and leaving him to take care of everyone. Deep down, he knew that Arthur wasn't cut out for being head of the family; he was too emotional and needy himself. So, it fell to Tommy and everyone naturally looked to him. He felt trapped and impotent. How was he supposed to carry this family through whatever the future held? He had his own dreams and they didn't include caring for his mother and siblings in lieu of his useless father.

He'd stood up to leave and go to the Garrison, not being able to take the tension any longer, when Polly called for him.

"Thomas! Get up here now."

He ran up the stairs two at a time, realizing his mother had gone silent. His stomach dropped as he opened the door to the bedroom to see his mother lying motionless on the bed. There was blood everywhere on the sheets, dripping onto the floor. He barely had time to take in the sight before Polly pushed a bundle of blankets into his arms. At first, that's all he thought it was – blankets. But when he looked closer, he saw a tiny face in amongst the folds.

"Take care of your sister, Tommy. She's breathing but barely. She's come too soon. Keep her warm and keep her alive."

Tommy looked at Polly in shock. He looked at his mother, still motionless. The handywoman bustling around her legs, trying to soak up the blood.

Polly's voice brought him back. "Thomas, take the baby downstairs by the fire. We'll look after your mam. Go on now!"

Tommy did as he was told. Downstairs in the kitchen, he sat down by the fire and clung onto his newborn sister as if by doing so he could keep her alive by sheer strength of will. He looked down at her. She really was tiny, no bigger than a bag of flour and certainly no heavier. She was asleep, tiny eyelashes brushing her cheeks. He was intrigued to see that she was covered in soft, downy hair, especially on her ears. He carefully touched her cheek with his finger. She stirred slightly, making a tiny squeaking sound as she moved. And all at once, she stole his heart.

"Hello, Little Mouse. Welcome to the family."

The baby settled again and carried on sleeping. Tommy smiled as watched her. He knew that his life would be linked to hers in a way that it wasn't with his other siblings. She was so vulnerable, so fragile. In the absence of their father, she was his to take care of and he knew there was nothing he wouldn't do for her.

Now, as he parked his car near Alfie's factory, he was fully prepared to kill or be killed in order to protect Rose. It had always been this way. And then, when she was safe, he'd kill her himself!