Another week, another chapter! Hope you enjoy reading this one as much as I enjoyed writing it. In February, JuliaIsAUnicorn asked if I'd ever write about Rose meeting her father when he visited back in season one. I'd always wanted to write about that meeting but, until now, never found an an opportunity. So, this is for you, JuliaIsAUnicorn. :)

As always, please let me know what you think. Your comments and reviews are always appreciated.

Tommy had taken to riding with Rose in the mornings. She guessed he didn't sleep much either. They didn't really talk; they just rode next to each other, enjoying the quietness of the morning and each other's company. Tommy liked to inspect his land and would occasionally point out interesting things in the landscape - a fox's den, an ancient oak tree, a patch of wild garlic. Sometimes he took Rose beyond the boundaries of his land and she had to pretend that she hadn't already explored most of the area already.

Neither of them mentioned the evening at Hampton Court again. Tommy because, as far as he was concerned, it would be dealt with very soon – the man who dared to touch his sister didn't have many sunrises left. Then the matter would be resolved, Rose would be avenged, justice would be done. No need to bring it up with Rose and have her relive it again. And Rose because she had begun to believe that what had happened wasn't a big deal. Tommy hadn't seemed too concerned about it; maybe she was just overreacting. Maybe that was the way things were amongst adults. Maybe men were allowed to do such things and no-one batted an eyelid. Maybe the dress she wore was too pretty. Whatever the reason, Rose buried the discomfort she'd felt and tried not to think about that night. She knew that there was no way she could be involved in the real family business if she was weak, if she allowed fear and panic to rule her. She resolved to pull herself together and stop being a baby.

Except it was hard not to think of that night at Hampton Court and the day of the Derby and the night of Grace's murder when they all jumbled together in her dreams. Images of Campbell sitting next to her eating soup, putting his hand on top of hers, leaning over and whispering in her ear that Tommy was not a good man. Images of Hughes at the foundation dinner pointing a gun at Tommy, Rose trying to run and save him but someone was holding her back, holding her tight around her waist. Images of Polly with a blood stain on her dress pointing a gun at Grace; of Arthur beating Michael bloody; of Tommy staring at her with a look of pure hatred. And always, always the fear curling round her like a rope, tighter and tighter, paralysing her, squeezing the breath out of her. She was watching the events around her, unable to move, unable to act, unable to escape, utterly powerless. And then a gunshot – she never knew who pulled the trigger or who the bullet hit, but she felt the force of it in every part of her. It jolted her awake – drenched in sweat or tears or both, breathing erratically, every fibre on edge.

The morning of Good Friday was no different. Rose sat on her window seat, smoking to calm down, watching the horizon gradually lighten as the sky prepared for the sunrise. She found it strangely comforting to watch the world awaken, it was always the same and this helped to ground her. Her dreams were unpredictable and chaotic, but the dawn was gentle and consistent. The sun would rise no matter what, it was something she had no control over - like so many things in her life - but it was something which held no fear. It helped her to just be, to just watch it happen.

The sun was beginning to send its rays over the ridge of the hill when there was a quiet knock on her door. She frowned. It was still too early for Alice. The door opened and Tommy appeared, carrying a tray of tea and toast. Rose couldn't have been more surprised.

"Morning, Mouse. You're awake early."

"So are you."

"I'm going out hunting with the boys soon, remember?"

"Oh yes, that's right. I have a fun day planned working at the shop."

He ignored the sarcasm and carried the tray over to the bed. Sitting on top of the covers on one side, he patted Rose's pillow next to him.

"Come and have some tea with me."

Stubbing out her cigarette in her newly-acquired ashtray, Rose dropped to the floor and climbed into bed next to Tommy, pulling the covers over her. He handed her a cup of tea he'd poured and a plate of hot, buttered toast.

"Sometimes, when I was a kid and I had a nightmare, Mum would take me downstairs and make me tea and toast."

Her brow furrowed for a split second. "I haven't had a nightmare."

Taking a sip of tea, Tommy nodded. "Well, tea and toast are a good idea even without nightmares."

Taking a bite of toast, Rose grunted her agreement. So brother and sister sat next to each other drinking tea and eating toast as the room gradually lightened with the sunrise. Tommy cleared his throat.

"Rose, I received a letter from a woman in Boston who wrote to tell us that Dad is dead."

Rose blinked as she looked at him. She wondered what she was supposed to feel.

"Oh."

"He was shot twice and his … friend … wanted us to know that he asked us to forgive him before he died."

Rose chewed her lip as she digested this information. She rarely thought about her father.

"I only met him once."

"I know. And that's a good thing. You never needed him."

"Cos I had you."

Tommy allowed himself a smile. "Yes, and Arthur and John."

"So, what now? Do we bury him?"

"No, he's buried in America. We leave him there and forget about him. It's no loss for us."

"Does that mean we're orphans now?"

"Huh. Yes, I suppose it does."

Tommy put his cup and saucer back on the tray.

"But you'll never be alone, Mouse."

"I know." She looked up at him. She hoped he was right.

Shifting round to face her, he pushed her hair back over her shoulder.

"If you ever do have a nightmare, you know where I am, don't you?"

Rose looked down and nodded. "I'm fine, though."

"Course you are."

Standing up, he made his way to the door. "Don't be late to the shop. Good Friday is our best day for takings."

She saluted. "Yes, Sir, Sergeant Major, Sir!"

He rolled his eyes and left the room smiling. He knew she had nightmares because he had them too and when he did, he wandered the corridors of his large house. He often caught the scent of cigarette smoke from underneath Rose's door and had, more than once, almost opened it. But then he turned and walked away. She would find him if she needed him.

Rose got out of bed and went back to the window seat. Lighting another cigarette, she noticed how much the view had changed now that the sun had risen. Spring was transforming the landscape; the trees were deep and varied shades of green, there were splashes of colour as the wild flowers opened towards the sky which was beginning to fill with clouds. It looked like rain was on its way. Her brothers would get wet today.

As she watched a couple of swallows swoop and dance in the sky above the hill, Rose thought back to the day she'd met her father. Polly had always been honest about her mum and dad. There was no love lost between Polly and her brother and she said as much to Rose. She had no respect for a man who would abandon his family and had told her niece they were all better off without him. Her brothers rarely mentioned him. Every now and again he'd crop up on a story they were telling, often drunk and fighting. They talked about their mother a lot more and Rose had grown up with a much clearer picture of her.

She and Finn had been playing in kitchen the day Arthur brought their father home. They were on the floor in front of the hearth playing marbles. There was a small hole in the floor where the corner of a stone tile had chipped away and the children used it as their pit. Whoever got their marble in the pit could take a marble from the other person. Finn was good at marbles and Rose was often frustrated playing against him. She resorted to cheating and Finn would lose his temper with her. Rose would cheat even more just to get a reaction from him and the game frequently ended in a physical tussle. They weren't quite at that stage when the front door opened but Polly had already shouted at them twice. Rose was plotting her next underhand move when Arthur walked in with a big grin on his face.

"Guess who's come home?"

Polly, Finn and Rose looked up to see who Arthur was announcing. Polly swore under her breath when she saw who it was, but Finn and Rose didn't recognise the man who had just walked into the kitchen followed by John who was looking uncomfortable. The children stood up and stared at the stranger who was smiling at them.

Arthur pulled out a chair and ushered the man into it. Polly walked over to the window and stood leaning on the cabinet, utterly unimpressed. Arthur beckoned the children over and Finn moved forward but Rose stayed where she was. Arthur put his hand on the man's shoulder and introduced him.

"Finn, Rose – this is our dad!"

Finn looked at the man with interest. He'd often wondered about his dad. Rose blinked and folded her arms. She regarded the man sat at the table who was smiling at Finn. She didn't know what to make of him. When her friends talked about their dads, she didn't feel like she was missing out on anything. They'd talk about how their dads brought sweets home or how they'd come home drunk or how they'd taken them to the fair. All of which Rose's brothers did too, so she'd never felt like she was missing out. In fact, she thought that she got three times the value of a father. So, looking across at her actual father, Rose didn't know how he was going to fit in her life. Finn looked happy enough as he ruffled his hair and called him "son", but when Arthur called her over, Rose was reluctant to move.

"Come on, Rosie, come and say hello to Dad."

Rose dragged her feet but slowly made her way over. Her father regarded her as she approached and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Well, well, so you're the baby. I'm glad I can finally meet you. How old are you now then, seven, eight?"

Rose was indignant, "Almost ten."

"You're still quite wee for a ten year old. Has your aunt not been feeding you then?"

Polly rolled her eyes and looked away. She didn't like the children being here and meeting their father who would surely abandon them the minute he got what he came for – which, if she knew him as well as she did, was money. It would unsettle them and she'd be the one picking up the pieces.

Arthur decided to explain. "She's got bad lungs, Dad. Born too soon."

"Due to her mother's stress," Polly muttered.

"But she's a fighter, ain't you, Rosie? Eh? Got the Shelby spirit." Arthur was happy that the children could meet their father; it was about time.

Arthur Snr. took in the daughter he'd never met. She reminded him of his late wife and that put him on edge. It was almost as if he could see her staring at him through Rose's eyes, silently judging. "But not the Shelby looks. That red hair doesn't come from my side, now. None of that in the Shelby family. My old granny used to say that red-heads are witches." He smirked at Rose. "You're not a witch, are you?"

Rose looked at him expressionless. She'd heard everything that could possibly be said about red-heads and many a child at school had called her a witch. She shrugged.

"Maybe. Our mum could see things from the spirit world. I probably take after her."

Arthur Snr. raised an eyebrow and Polly smirked.

"And a shame it is that she isn't alive today to see the fine children we share."

"Maybe she would have been if you hadn't left us."

"Rose!" Arthur was shocked at her rudeness.

Their father held up a hand.

It's alright, son. It seems the young 'uns have missed the firm hand a father brings. I'm sorry I wasn't here to provide that, Rose. But, I'm here now and we'll just have to make up for lost time, won't we?"

He smiled at her again but she didn't smile back. She didn't like him and wished he'd leave. She felt a hand on her arm. John pulled her back to him, then picked her up and held her on his hip. John remembered what their dad had been like and he wanted Rose kept away. He couldn't understand why Arthur was so happy to have him there.

Arthur clapped his hands awkwardly.

"Right, Dad, let me get you something to eat."

He turned and rummaged round the kitchen for some food to put on a plate for his father. He was pleased their dad was back but knew that the test would be when Tommy arrived home.

They didn't have to wait long. Rose knew immediately that Tommy was far from happy. He stood still the minute he set eyes on his father and shook his head. Arthur Snr. stood up and greeted his second-born.

"How are you, son?"

Tommy continued to shake his head, then indicated the front door with a tilt of his chin.

"Get out."

Their father didn't quite believe he was being thrown out. He smiled slightly.

"Come on, son. I'm a changed man."

"This family needed you ten years ago and you walked out on us. You never even stayed to meet your daughter. She doesn't need you. We don't need you. Not now. Get out of this house."

Arthur interjected. "Tommy, he's different…"

"Shut up."

Rose held onto John a little tighter. She didn't like it when there was tension between her brothers. Their father looked at Arthur.

"It's alright, son. Arthur Shelby never stays where he's not welcome." He picked up his coat and regarded Tommy, knowing he'd become a force to be reckoned with. "Quite something you've become."

He slowly walked out of the room, stopping to look at Rose who turned and buried her head in John's shoulder. Ruffling Finn's hair, he said goodbye to him and then left the house. Finn turned to watch him go but John stopped him. Rose looked up at Tommy. He was furious.

Arthur spoke up. "He's our dad."

Tommy sighed in frustration. "He's a selfish bastard."

"You calling someone a selfish bastard. That's a bit rich, Tommy. I mean, thanks to you, we're already down a bloody sister."

Turning to him, Tommy pointed at the front door. "You want to see him, Arthur? You want to see him? You go with him."

Arthur paused, then stood up abruptly, squaring up to Tommy before thinking better of it. He walked out of the kitchen and Rose heard the door slam. She looked at Tommy worriedly.

"Is our dad back for good?"

"No, he's not. You'll never see him again."

"Then has Arthur left for good?"

Tommy walked towards the door of the shop. "No, he'll be back."

John lowered her to the floor. "Don't worry, Rosie, everything's alright. You and Finn go on out and play now."

And Tommy was right, Rose never saw her father again. She heard from hushed conversations between adults that he'd fooled Arthur into giving him money and had then left. Arthur had been devastated. She shook her head at the memory as she stubbed out her cigarette and got up to get dressed for work. She was glad she'd only met him once, he was indeed a selfish bastard and had damaged her brothers with his behaviour. She felt nothing when she thought of his death. He would be forgotten and the family would feel no loss.

Twenty minutes later, sitting in the back seat as one of Tommy's men drove her to Small Heath, Rose was unimpressed by the fact that, although it was a school holiday, she had to work at the shop. Tommy had been equally unimpressed with her protestations at dinner the previous evening.

"I had to work when I was a kid."

"I thought things were supposed to be different for me."

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "Hard work never killed anyone."

"It probably did. But it won't kill you or the boys tomorrow, will it?"

"I thought you wanted to have more of a part of the business?"

"I do."

"Well, then."

"But not on a school holiday."

"You don't get to pick and choose. You get to do as you're told and stop complaining. That's how you earn your way to a position with more responsibility."

Rose looked at him with interest. "So, one day, if I work hard, I'll be able to have more responsibility? Like a proper job? Like Polly is treasurer?"

"I don't see why not."

A smile creeping over her face, Rose went back to her meal. Although she wasn't happy to be working on Good Friday, she kept her mouth shut and intended to do the job as well as she could. Impressing Tommy and making herself useful in the business was the way to get ahead.

Arriving at the shop, Rose found Polly, Lizzie and Esme were already there. Polly was behind the bar and looked decidedly worse for wear. Surely she couldn't have been drinking this early in the day? As she sat down next to Lizzie, Linda arrived with a basket of sandwiches and lemonade. Rose started to help prepare the shop as Linda told them that she would help but wouldn't handle money or slips, that Arthur had said what they did was illegal but not immoral. She looked over when Linda said she was delivering a message from Jessie Eden.

Polly asked what Rose also wanted to know. "Who's Jessie Eden?"

"She's the lady shop steward at the Lucas factory in Sparkhill."

Esme was surprised. "A lady shop steward?"

"What's a shop steward?" Rose wanted to know.

Lizzie explained, "Shop stewards are representatives of the labour unions. But I've never heard of a lady one."

Rose listened with interest as Linda told them that Jessie Eden was bringing all the female workers in the factory out on strike to march on the Bullring. They were protesting their working conditions and lower pay, and all oppressed female workers were going out on strike with them in sympathy. Apparently, Esme, Lizzie and Polly also considered themselves oppressed because within ten minutes, Rose found herself walking past the baffled men at the door and, arms linked with Linda and Esme, marching towards the Bullring.

In town, Rose had never seen so many women in one place before. The Bullring was an area in the centre of an interchange in Birmingham. Tommy had once told her that, a long time ago, it had been a corn market and the green in the middle had been used for bull-baiting. There was an iron hoop which the bulls had been tied to and that was the bull ring which gave the place its name. The atmosphere on that Good Friday was charged and a feeling of revolution was in the air. Rose had never really thought about workers' rights before, let alone female workers, but as she listened to conversations around her and the speeches which were being given, she began to gain an insight. She agreed with the points being made that women were expected to work more for less pay and that it was time that men realised how much value they brought to the workplace and should pay them accordingly. Rose knew firsthand, growing up in a family of men, quite how little her opinion as a girl mattered. It had often infuriated her that Finn was treated so differently and given so much more freedom. She realised that Tommy considered her almost as his property – he expected her to do exactly as he told her, he would decide her future, her life was to be one of his choosing. He never asked her opinion. Even Polly had to defer to him. Rose had always wanted to be like Polly when she grew up – independent, strong, taking no nonsense from anyone – but she realised that her current plan to do this was to work hard, impress Tommy and hope he would allow her to take a place in the company. As she took in what was going on around her, she wondered why her plans had to have Tommy's approval at all.

Polly had found some more alcohol and was getting into the spirit of the event. She was making speeches herself at the top of her lungs from the back of a wagon. A large crowd had gathered round her, but Rose was embarrassed. She stayed closer to a smaller crowd and watched as a young, unremarkable woman stood up on a box and began to speak. She quickly learned that this was Jessie Eden herself and when she began to speak, Rose was impressed with her clarity and intelligence. She was clearly passionate about women workers' rights and Rose found herself nodding and joining in the vocal agreement of the crowd. Rose was under no illusion that her brothers' attitudes would change anytime soon, but that day at the Bullring stayed with Rose for the rest of her life. For the first time, she was given a glimpse of life on her own terms, a true independence to choose her own path, an equality with her brothers where they would ask her what she thought rather than telling her what to think. At the end of the afternoon, she followed Linda, Lizzie and Esme home as they propped up a very drunk Polly and felt glad to have been there to witness such a moment.

When she and Esme arrived back at Watery Lane after the others had all gone home, Lizzie having made sure Polly was driven safely back to Sutton, Esme went into the shop to finish the count. Rose sat down in the kitchen with a leaflet from the strike to wait for the car to drive her home. She'd read it through three times when John arrived.

"Alright, Rosie?"

"Hello John. How was the hunt?"

"Good, we killed a stag."

"Why?"

"To remember Dad."

"Oh, right."

"Tommy says you're to stay with Polly tonight. He … er … he's entertaining a visitor."

Rose frowned. "What visitor?"

John sniggered. "A duchess."

Rose grimaced. "Urgh, John. You didn't have to tell me that."

"You asked."

"You could have lied. Anyway, I can't stay with Polly, she's completely wasted and Lizzie put her in a car home."

"Well, come and stay with us then."

"No, John, it's mad at your house. I'll stay here. Finn will be here, whenever he's back. And you know it's safe here."

John scratched the back of his neck as he wondered whether to allow it.

"Please, John, it'll be fine. I can take care of myself and everyone will be back here tomorrow to open up."

Tired after a long day, John didn't have the energy to argue. He knew how persistent Rose could get. And he knew the house and shop were safe, they always had men keeping an eye on it.

"Fine, but if Tommy has an issue with it, he can take it up with you not me."

Beaming, Rose looked at him mischievously. "But I'm only a child, John, it's not my fault you gave in and said yes."

"Do you want me to change my mind then?"

"No, no! Fine, then, Tommy can have it out with me. But there's no reason he needs to find out, is there?"

Pointing at her with a smile on his face, John said, "You are a wicked child. You must take after your brother."

As he left to find Esme in the shop, Rose called after him. "Which one?"

Rose thoroughly enjoyed her night at number six. She lit the fires, made herself something to eat from the strange collection of food Finn had in the cupboards and then settled down in the living room with a book. Even when the house was empty, Rose didn't feel lonely. This was home – she knew every inch of the place and there was nowhere else where she felt as safe as she felt here. She got up to put some more coal on the fire and spied the drinks on the cabinet. Looking round, even though she knew she was alone, Rose looked back at the bottles. Picking up a glass, she poured herself a brandy. Sitting back down on the sofa, she tucked her feet under her and settled back. Taking a sip of the brandy, she swallowed the liquor and immediately enjoyed the warm sensation inside. This was what Finn enjoyed every night and what she could be enjoying if Tommy had allowed her to stay at number six instead of insisting she live at Arrow House. Still, she wouldn't have Nua if she didn't live there, so there was that. She smiled at the thought of her horse and took another sip.

Relishing the freedom and being back at home, it wasn't long before Rose had finished her second glass. She poured herself another and thought about Jessie Eden and what Tommy would think of her. She giggled at the thought of the two of them meeting. She felt sure Tommy would meet his match in her. She would definitely want to be at that meeting.

The next morning, Rose woke up and stretched. Remembering she was in her own bed at home, she curled up and snuggled back under the blankets. Noticing that the room was bright with the morning light, she realised she'd slept all night. She wondered if it was because she was home or because of the brandy last night. Probably both. It dawned on her that Tommy could well turn up soon and she didn't want him to know she'd spent the night at number six.

Polly, Lizzie and Esme were in the kitchen when Rose came down the stairs. Fortunately for her, Polly was in no fit state to question where Rose had spent the night. She was sat with a towel over her eyes, clearly hung-over. Rose smirked.

"Morning, Aunt Pol," she said loudly.

Polly groaned. "Be quiet, Rose!"

Lizzie and Esme laughed.

"Pol's feeling delicate, aren't you, Pol?" Esme said.

Polly just groaned again. Rose poured herself a cup of tea and sat down next to Lizzie.

"Why are you all in the kitchen?"

"We're having a meeting of the executive committee of the union of bookies and allied traders." Lizzie told her.

"The what?"

"We've formed a union, to lobby for better working conditions in this company."

Rose laughed. "Shelby Company Ltd has a union?"

"Of course. Do you want to join?"

"Absolutely!"

"Make sure she pays her dues then," Polly muttered from under her cloth.

Lizzie stood up. "Shall we tell the boss we're ready meet with him?"

"Tommy's here?"

"Yeah, in the next room meeting with Arthur and John."

Lizzie went to knock on the door of the living room and Rose tried to ignore the nervousness which had risen inside her. There was no need for Tommy to suspect that she hadn't been at Polly's. He'd just assume she'd come with her to number six.

Rose enjoyed Tommy's discomfort at having to discuss what his female workers wanted, but the mood changed when Esme asked Tommy about the robbery he was planning – the one he wasn't telling the women about. Rose sat up in her seat and looked at Lizzie who was looking at Polly. Turning to look at her aunt too, Rose could tell it was the first they'd heard about it. Turning back to Tommy, she sensed the tension move up a notch. When Tommy found out that it was Arthur who had told Linda about it who'd then told Esme, he looked at Polly to deal with the situation. He was done talking to the women.

"Ladies, why don't I talk to Tommy privately and then I'll report back to you faithfully."

Esme wouldn't let it lie though. She got in Tommy's face and asked if he was going to wipe the Russians out completely and if so, what would happen when they come for the family afterwards. Rose's stomach lurched at this new information. Tommy was intending to double cross some very dangerous people and Esme was right to be worried about the implications. Tommy had had enough and looked at Esme angrily.

"Get out. Get back to work."

Lizzie stood up. "Esme, come on."

Esme had said her piece and after asking Polly to keep them posted, went into the shop with Lizzie. Rose stood up to follow them, eager to leave the tension behind, but Tommy stopped her.

"Rose, you stay."

And Rose knew that he knew. She felt sick. Pointing to the shop, she took a step in that direction.

"I should get to work, Tommy. Make up for missing yesterday, you know."

"Where did you sleep last night?"

She stared at him, kicking herself for not having prepared an answer for this. She looked at Polly who was regarding her with interest. Tommy had very little patience left.

"I asked you a question."

She had no choice but to tell the truth. "John said I could stay here."

"What did I tell you to do?"

"Stay at Polly's," she muttered.

"What? Speak up."

Sighing dramatically, Rose spoke up. "Stay at Polly's. But Polly was blind drunk yesterday and had already gone when John told me."

"John could have driven you there."

"But Polly would still have been passed out and I would have been on my own at hers anyway. It made more sense to stay here."

"It's not your job to decide what makes sense. It's your job to do what I tell you."

Anger flashed through Rose's eyes. Feeling buoyed by yesterday's protests, she pushed her shoulders back.

"Why can't I decide what's best for me? Aunt Pol was too drunk, this place is safe and Finn was here anyway."

Polly spoke up. "Finn wasn't here."

Turning to her in shock, Rose exclaimed, "What?"

"He stayed at Isaiah's. He came back this morning just after I arrived."

Rose looked back at Tommy who pursed his lips. She scrambled.

"So, Finn wasn't here. So what? I was still fine."

Tommy took a step towards her and she moved an inch backwards.

"None of that matters. I told you to stay at Polly's and you didn't. I also remember telling you not to drink."

Rose's stomach dropped to her ankles. "I didn't."

Tommy's hand shot out, grabbed Rose by the upper arm and pulled her to him. He was already annoyed from the previous conversation and was in no mood for Rose's defiance. He'd seen the empty glass in the living room. He put his face close to hers and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Do not lie to me, Rose."

But Rose was also in no mood for Tommy's controlling behaviour. She gritted her own teeth and wrenched her arm away from his grip.

"Don't touch me!"

Tommy was shocked and Polly stepped forward ready to intervene. It was foolish of Rose to challenge Tommy at the moment; Polly recognised how close he was to the end of his tether. Oblivious to this, Rose took advantage of the silence.

"You never ask me what I think or what I want. You always make every decision for me and you never listen to me. I'm not your property, Tommy. Why should you decide my life? You're not even my father."

She glared at Tommy, breathing heavily after her outburst. Polly gasped. Rose had never gone this far before. Tommy's face turned hard and he stared down at her. Rose went cold. She knew she'd overstepped the mark. He was beyond furious with her. He reached out his hand, gripped her arm again and slowly pulled her to him. Leaning down so he was eye to eye with her, he spoke steadily and quietly.

"I may not be your father, but I am in charge of this family and you will do as I tell you or you will be sorry. Is that understood?"

Rose bravely kept eye contact with him. She knew he was deadly serious about her being sorry. But she was too proud to show him her fear and she kept a challenge in her expression. Infuriated by her insolence, Tommy gave her arm a firm shake. His fingers were hurting her but she didn't let him know this. Tommy practically growled at her.

"Do you understand?"

She stared at him a beat longer than was necessary before she answered him. "Yes."

Tommy let her go, stood up and took a step backwards. He knew he was at risk of completely losing his temper with her and giving her a thrashing then and there. She maintained eye contact with him, breathing nervously now, knowing he wasn't done. Taking a few seconds to regain control, Tommy took his watch out to check the time. Replacing it in his waistcoat pocket, he looked back at Rose.

"You'll be working in the shop every weekend from now until I say you can stop."

Rose didn't flinch but she wasn't happy. She spent most weekends out on Nua or with her friends in Small Heath. Sometimes she was able to spend time with her brothers or Aunt Pol. But she wasn't going to give Tommy the satisfaction of seeing her react. He knew what she was doing and pronounced the next judgment on a whim.

"And if you think you're going out on that horse of yours any time soon, you can think again. You'll be staying in the house when you're not at school or work."

This gave Tommy the reaction he was looking for. Rose exclaimed and clasped her hands together in front of her mouth. Polly looked at Tommy, shaking her head. Tommy ignored her.

"No, Tommy, no! You can't do that! You can't stop me taking Nua out. She needs me."

Tommy shrugged one shoulder. "Jim can take her out."

"Jim doesn't know her. She'll be confused. She'll get ill."

"And if she does, it'll be because of your recent behaviour, won't it?"

Rose's mouth dropped open in shock. The thought of being responsible for Nua being ill was too much to bear. Tears pricked her eyes.

"Please, Tommy. Please don't do this. I'm sorry, I really am. I should have done what you told me and I will in future, I promise. And I'll work every weekend in the shop forever." Her voice cracked. "Please, Tommy?"

Unmoved, Tommy held firm.

"I've made my decision. Now, get out of my sight and go to work."

He turned his back on her, pulled a chair out and sat down. The conversation was over. Rose stared at his back. She couldn't quite believe he could be this cruel. She felt it was a completely unreasonable punishment and that Nua would now suffer because of his need to always be in control. She had never felt such anger towards him as at that moment. Hot tears fell down her cheeks and she took a deep shuddering breath. Her voice shook as she spoke.

"I hate you, Tommy Shelby."

Tommy closed his eyes as Rose turned abruptly and pushed open the door to the shop. Without looking back, she slammed it shut behind her and then ran to the door which lead into the street. Pulling it open and stepping out, she continued to run down Watery Lane, pushing people out of the way as she went, her only goal to put as much distance as possible between Tommy and herself.