Emily's lips parted in even more surprise. She figured out who Arthur Shelby was when the man had stood up on the bar in order to close the pub when it suited him, but she had no idea that this man that had been standing next to him when they entered, was his brother.

He looked…much younger. John Shelby, he said.

They had been standing there for a while now. Jeremiah had long gone, telling her to close up when she finished with the tables. But he never told her what to do in case one of the Shelby brothers showed up and instantly decided that the pub would stay open for him.

She knew that if he were to stay here, she would be forced to stay too…to serve him. She had this job for only a little while. She didn't want to lose it. But she was terribly tired. It had been a really busy day.

The man cocked his head to his side slightly, keeping his small smile plastered on his face, waiting for her response to the situation. Emily felt like she was being tested.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded, picked up her apron and put it on again. John was watching her curiously.

"I assume you would like a drink, Mr. Shelby?" She tried to sound as sweet as possible, under the circumstances.

She was incredibly tired, after all, but she didn't want him to know that. Everything she says and does would without a doubt be reported to his brother.

Letting out a chuckle, John approached her, his smile wider now as he said, "Ah, darlin', forget that. Call me John."

Emily was a bit confused this time too. Should she do as she was asked and risk getting inappropriately friendly with the owner's brother? A Peaky Blinder? Or should she disobey and risk losing her job?

She watched the way John pulled up a chair and sat down, his hand grazing over the mint on the table that she had placed only minutes before. She decided to say nothing. She wouldn't call him in any way. She didn't want to make a mistake.

Clearing her throat, she headed over to the bar and picked up some dark rum, asking him again, "Something to drink?" Looking up at her, his smile somewhat gone, John nodded, "That one, yeah."

With a small smile, Emily took a glass and placed it in front of him on the table, while he was still playing with the mint in his hands. She was happy to comply, to make sure that he understood that she was no threat.

She was desperate to keep her job and would do almost anything to accomplish that. But at the same time, she hoped she didn't show much of that desperation to him. She didn't want people asking questions…asking her why she wanted to stay away from her home so much.

John looked at her face while she poured the rum. Her bow-shaped lips parted in concentration, making him struggle to keep himself in check. He knew what he wanted at that point. He wanted her. In every possible way.

But he also wanted to know more. Who was she really and why was she here? He wanted to make her open up in ways Jeremiah couldn't.

As soon as she finished to pour his drink, she went back to place the rum bottle back, when he called out to her, "Pour yourself one too!"

Once again surprised, Emily turned around with a question almost forming on her lips but then she saw the way he had pulled up another chair…very close next to him.

His eyes were soft but also somewhat challenging when he looked at her. His hat was still in place and her eyes trailed over the razor blades that could be seen in the peak.

She couldn't deny she was scared. He was a Peaky Blinder, and from what she heard, they could get very violent. She didn't want to anger him, so she was taking precautions. Starting with doing what she was told.

Emily poured herself a glass and walked over to the table, gently taking a seat next to him.

She placed the glass on the table, as he finally pulled off his cap and revealed his very clean undercut, the top of his hair pushed back in a very neat way.

Emily tried to contain herself. Her heart started beating rapidly. He looked even more handsome without his cap and she was not expecting that.

He placed the cap on the table and took a huge gulp of his drink, while she only took a small sip. She liked to drink, although she rarely revealed that to people, especially those she barely knew.

He finally glanced over at her. His eyes were studying her, up and down. And Emily suddenly realized what was going on. She knew why he cornered her here after hours. He was interested. But how interested?

He was handsome, yes, but she was not here for this. And she didn't know him. All she knew was that he was one of the dangerous Peaky Blinders and the owner's younger brother.

"You know…um…I told ya my name. What's yours?" John finally spoke up.

"Emily Wright." She responded almost immediately. It was as if she was expecting that question and had memorized the answer beforehand.

"Family?" he asked her, and Emily knew what he wanted to ask her really. "I am not from here." She told him and John nodded once in a way which told her that he already knew that.

He was fishing for more information, and she didn't know if she should tell him.

"Hmm…but from where?" He took another swig of his drink while waiting for her to respond.

When she didn't, he turned to look at her, and there was something about his eyes…something about the way he looked at her. It made her open up a little and tell him something he told no one.

"I am from America."

Somehow, this didn't seem to phase him. It was as if he was expecting that answer.

"And you decided not to tell my brother." John stated, referring to Arthur.

Emily suddenly got up from the table, not wanting to hear any more of this. She was not acting rationally. She could be fired instantly, but somehow the thought of the Shelbys knowing the truth about her was more terrifying.

John did not expect such a reaction and looked at the way she backed up from him, turning around and walking fast towards the exit of the pub.

She heard the screeching of chairs being pulled back and John rushed towards her, his warm hands on her shoulders, turning her around before she could reach the doors and slamming her against the wall.

From all the agitation, her braid started falling apart, but she didn't notice that. All she could do was stare into his deep blue eyes.

She was out of breath from the close proximity, and the way he was looking at her, she realized he was too.

John took a hold of her now semi-braid and freed her hair, touching it gently when it was finally loose. Emily shivered slightly at the contact and closed her eyes.

When she felt his hand cup her cheek, her eyes opened again and she saw how close his face was to her own. He was reading her face and finally asked, "Are you runnin' from someone?"

"Yes." Emily whispered, shocked that John managed to guess her problem.

Continuing to look into her eyes, John told her softly, "You're under the protection…of the Peaky Blinders."

A sense of comfort washed over her at those words. She knew who they were…what they did. But for the moment, she didn't care. All she wanted was their protection, because she didn't know what she would do without it.

His eyes were an icy cold color but his expression was warm. He looked like he really meant what he said, and she could only nod in response, as grateful as she could possibly be.

But something changed after that moment. His eyes wandered down to her lips. No…was he expecting payment for this newfound protection?

That was something she couldn't do. And she pulled away before his lips could touch hers.

"No." was all she said, when she turned her head to her side. John stopped his movements and pulled back.

Emily was expecting him to use some sort of force on her. She wouldn't have been surprised, and she was prepared to put up a fight.

Pulling away from her fully, John looked pissed. His lips were pursed together and he looked like he was trying to keep himself from saying something, but his eyes never left hers.

"Alright." was the only thing he told her and turned around and left the pub, slamming the door behind him.

Emily had her hand pressed against her chest, in shock. She didn't expect him to just walk away after her rejection. These men always got what they wanted.

That was what she thought. She rushed to the door to look out the window into the night. He was walking away in a very fast manner from the Garrison, and she caught the way he placed his cap back on his head, his figure disappearing into the night.

…

"I thought we were going to meet up with the Lee family first." Michael said, trying to catch up with Tommy the very next morning, who was walking with high speed. The two were heading over to Uncle Charlie's yard, where Aberama Gold and his men were waiting.

"Plans change, Michael. For the moment, the Lee family is not a priority. Through John's marriage to Esme, our alliance with them is guaranteed. For now, we've got to negotiate with paid assassins." Tommy explained, pulling out a cigarette, while they were nearing the yard.

But Michael stepped up in front of him and stopped his walk.

"But we can't trust 'em! My mum says…" he started talking, but Tommy cut him off.

"Polly is not in charge of the organization here, Michael. While you are her son, you listen to her. But while you are a Peaky Blinder, you answer to me. Eh?"

Michael eventually nodded, looking back at Aberama Gold, Curly and Charlie Strong waiting for them.

"I think they're gonna try to fuck with us. We need serious men, Tommy. We need loyal men." "Money is useful for buying loyalty. You let me do all the talking. Sit back and observe." Tommy explained, and pushed past Michael, the young man right behind him.

As soon as they entered the yard, Uncle Charlie's protests could be heard. "Tommy! This scum here wants to buy me yard!"

Aberama played with his rifle, while saying, "Not buy it! I was just thinking it might become part of the deal."

Tommy puffed out smoke and whispered, "And you're that confident I will accept?"

"You are the one who contacted me, Mr. Shelby. You need me to kill those Italians. As part of the price, I demand the deed to this piece of land." Aberama responded with a smirk.

Tommy smoked some more, his eyebrows furrowing, his mind working. Michael was looking between them and looked like he might intervene, but Tommy put his hand up towards him, as a motion to stop him from saying anything.

He pulled a coin from his pocket and tossed it at Aberama, the man catching it just in time.

"I'll tell you what! We'll flip that coin. If it's heads, you get to keep the land. If it's tails…I get to fuck your beautiful daughter. Do we have a deal?"

Aberama looked taken aback by Tommy's proposal. He thought he had the upper hand, but Tommy was willing to gamble. As always, he wasn't about to put all his eggs in one basket. He had plenty of allies to choose from.

And he had a backup plan which he may or may not use, a plan he hadn't even told his brothers. For now, he wanted to see what he would have to win and what he would have to lose by hiring them.

"Your call, Mr. Gold." Tommy challenged him, seeing that Aberama was just staring at the coin in his palm. He was no fool. He knew what the consequences were to fuck around with the Peaky Blinders.

Deciding not to risk angering Tommy anymore than he already has, Aberama threw him back the coin, in defeat. He wouldn't risk his own daughter's integrity for this madness either.

Tommy accepted the coin back and pointed a finger at him, "If you wanna do business with me…you never disrespect my friends in front of me again, do you understand?"

Aberama chose to nod silently, which led Tommy to the real business at hand.

"The price for this job is still the same we discussed before?" he asked, expecting some kind of trick. Aberama nodded, but he held up his own finger, adding, "I do have a small request, in addition to the price agreed on, Mr. Shelby."

"What do you want now?" Michael asked, bored, and expecting something like this from him. Tommy threw him a look, which told him to shut up. Michael was a smart young man, but he and Finn had one thing in common: a foolish mouth.

Together, they would fuck up the entire organization if they had their way. Tommy knew that he had to keep the junior Peakys in line and teach them a little something about responsibility.

"Bonnie!" Aberama called out from behind and a young man appeared next to him.

"I present you my son, Bonnie. He wants to be a professional boxer. I want you to help him, Mr. Shelby."

This was the last thing Tommy was expecting as a request. Michael seemed just as surprised as he studied the young man. His physique was in no way near as impressive as one would expect from a boxer.

What game was Aberama playing? But the request was somewhat doable, regardless of whether the boy was any good or not. And the clock was ticking.

Tommy was waiting to hear from Arthur and John on the Italians' position.

"Alright. For the moment, we are a little preoccupied, as you can see. We have a vendetta to handle. But when the matter with the Italians is settled, I can assure you that your boy will be in good hands."

Tommy decided to put his mind at ease, knowing that his son will be well taken care of. Whether he was good or not didn't matter to him. The boy was his key to getting Aberama's clan to kill any members of the Italian Mafia that would dare set foot in Birmingham.

"No…you see…while this is happening, I want my son to be in training, with professionals I know you have on your payroll, Mr. Shelby. You may be an emperor, with all your dealings in London and the New York Mafia, but you are still a very skilled bookkeeper here in Small Heath. I do not want my son to waste a minute of his talent. And when I see him training, my riffle will be prepared to shoot on sight." Aberama explained.

He was trying Tommy's patience but luckily for him, Tommy needed him for at least a little while, before his other alliances were put in place.

Nodding, Tommy turned to Michael and said, "Michael, I am giving you the task of handling Bonnie Gold and connecting him with the right people. You may go on with him now. And tell Curly we're going to need a new cap, with the razors stitched in."

"New cap?" Michael and Bonnie exclaimed simultaneously, confused. Tommy nodded, turning to Bonnie and explained, "You enter in business with us, and you get the cap. Welcome. You are now a Peaky Blinder, son."

Tommy knew he pushed the right button when he saw Aberama Gold smile the way he did. He finally figured out that this is what the charlatans wanted. A way in the organization. And Aberama was using his son in order to do it. But, no matter. Tommy now had what he wanted. Hired assassins who would spill Italian blood when the time was right.

Aberama spit on his palm and handed it out to Tommy, who did the same thing and shook his hand. "I think we'll get along just fine, Mr. Shelby." Aberama said with a smirk.

"I think so too, Mr. Gold. Just keep your end of the deal, and I might have a few peakys to hand out." Tommy replied, catching the annoyance on Michael's face.

The young cousin was not happy about this and Tommy knew that it would only be a matter of time before Polly finds out what he has done. She had always wanted to expand the organization by introducing new members, but she wanted to do it her way.

Before they went off to war, Tommy informed Polly that in no way was she to introduce new members, for her own safety and Ada's. They could trust no one. And Polly had agreed, even though she desperately wanted to make some new nominations.

Unfortunately for her, it was Tommy who was in charge and Tommy making the rules. And now the rules had changed.

Anyone in Birmingham who really wanted it could become a Peaky Blinder, if he proved his allegiance. And Tommy knew well what that proof meant. It meant killing…killing the actual sworn enemies of the Peaky Blinders.

Turning to a somewhat disappointed Michael, Tommy pulled the cigarette from his mouth, dropped it and stepped on it, while whispering, "You go on with that guy, show him around, keep him busy and happy. While his happy, his father is going to kill for us. The deal has been made."

"But the cost is too high!" Michael stubbornly insisted. He didn't want the charlatans to be a part of their organization.

"Not for me it ain't, Michael. Not when I have foreigners arriving, trying to kill my family. Not when I have a woman carrying my unborn child in their grasps. You are on the list of Changretta's intended victims too. Just remember that, eh? And let me do the thinking."

Michael put his hands in his pockets, straightened up and asked, "And where are you going?"

"I have other alliances to establish. And next on the list is Alfie Solomons. I need to figure out his angle…and see how he feels about the Italians. He betrayed me once, siding with Sabini. I need to make sure that if I do enter an alliance with him again, that won't happen again." Tommy explained and patted Michael on the shoulder, coming to whisper in his ear. "Just do what needs to be done and don't fuck this up."

The instructions were clear. Turning around, Tommy nodded at Aberama and said, "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Gold. You know what you need to do!"

He turned around, not waiting for a response and went on his way, hoping that Arthur and John would join him this time.

Even though he knew he lead the family and the organization, the brain needed his two pillars. And in this case, his two pillars were his brothers. Alfie Solomons was difficult to deal with, and Tommy felt that this time, he needed his pillars more than ever.

…

Tommy found himself in Camden Town, right outside the rum distillery that belonged to Alfie Solomons and his gang. As opposed to the situation with Aberama Gold, the Jews had no idea that he would be coming before them again today.

The last time they did business, Tommy ended up giving away 35 % of his business winnings to Alfie Solomons in exchange for help in destroying Darby Sabini.

That situation was similar to the one present. Alfie had no love for these Italians and taking into account that they were foreigners, Tommy was hoping that Alfie would view them as a threat to his own business…enough to want to collaborate again.

And Alfie did owe him for that betrayal. It was the least he could do.

"Oi! Tommy!" John's voice yelled out from afar.

Tommy turned around and smirked at seeing his brothers approaching. John with his usual walk and Arthur with his hands raised above his head.

As soon as they came forth, Tommy bombarded them with questions.

"What did you find out? Where are they?"

"The fuckin' wops left London this morning. Somethin' about being double-crossed. Idiots thought we'd stay there." John replied with a chuckle.

Arthur didn't seem that joyful and with good reason when he added, "They ain't gonna look much longer, Tommy. They know we're here in Birmingham."

"So, they're coming." Tommy whispered, deep in thought but Arthur shook his head. "Nah. They waitin' for more of their lot to join 'em. Heard around ten more are coming from New York."

"Then we have ourselves another advantage. We are going in there and we are going to get Alfie Solomons to side with us in this vendetta. Whether he likes it or not, he is involved. He's been helping us run our business a lot these past years and he was involved in the Russian deal as well. No doubt Changretta is well informed of our relationship. The Jews will be contacted the minute they get here!"

Kicking around some dirt, John looked uncomfortable in that moment, not wanting to enter the rum distillery one bit.

Not that he was scared of the Jews, but because he knew they couldn't be trusted and he saw no point in Tommy's attempted deal with their leader. Arthur felt the same way.

"I ain't headin' inside to see that bastard, Tommy. I'd rather trust those gypsy charlatans." Arthur told him with a shake of his head.

He had been the one to experience the betrayal of Alfie Solomons head on. He was the one who almost ended up killed when Solomons sided with Sabini against them.

When John nodded in agreement, Tommy pointed a finger at them and said sternly, "I have an unborn child in the hands of those fuckin' bastards. Alfie Solomons is one of the few allies we can make right now. We are doing everything my way to get Tatiana here, and I am prepared to deal with the fuckin' devil. Is that clear? Eh?"

He meant what he said, and he tried not to think too much about the brunette held captive by the Italians. This was about the child, he continued to convince himself in his mind.

He would save the child. Tatiana could handle herself afterwards. She wouldn't need him.

"Ya, alright…" John mumbled. "Alright, Tom." Arthur agreed but his face showed the restraint.

"Just as long as we get to kill those wops as soon as they get here." John added, his eye twitching at the thought of the Italian Mafia strutting around Birmingham as if they owned the place.

Easing through the tension that had built up, Arthur let out a hoarse laugh and patted John hard on the back.

"No one hates 'em more than John boy here. He would kill 'em all on his own if he could, eh Tommy?"

Tommy turned his head towards the distillery and told them sternly, "Focus, boys. We're going in."

…

In the darkness of the room, Tatiana's bruises were healing slowly but surely. She hadn't lost her integrity, nor did she lose her resolve. She was planning on getting out of here, one way or another.

Her thoughts had been drifting more and more to Tommy lately. Where was he? If he was a good man like she believed him to be, why was he not here, trying to get his unborn child? If he was trying, why did it take so long?

Tatiana knew that she couldn't count on him. She couldn't count on any man. She had to use her powers of seduction to leave. It was the only way. But it wouldn't work with the big boss. She would have to find someone else.

Luca Changretta had always left two of his best henchmen at the door to guard her during her first days of being held captive.

But recently, since they agreed on the vendetta, Luca started leaving the place with his best men, leaving the youngest and least experienced behind to guard the door. This gave her an advantage.

She started moaning out loud as if in pain, "Please…I need to use…"

The door opened almost immediately and Tatiana could make out only one young man who was standing there. His partner was absent. A smirk played on her lips but she tried not to show it too much.

Without saying much, the young Italian realized that the pregnant woman needed to use the bathroom. She had been kept tied up all day without any chance to move at all. He lit up the room, making her eyes hurt, but she adjusted quickly.

"Please…" Tatiana pleaded with him again, looking up and batting her eyelashes. The boy looked unsure for a moment, until he finally caved.

Little did the young man know that he was falling into one womanly designed trap. Putting his gun down, he leaned forward and started untying her.

The moment her legs were loose, Tatiana wrapped them tightly around the boy's head, using incredible force to slam him against the floor and choke him. The boy gasped and tried to pry her legs off.

Tatiana realized that he had started untying her hands when he was slammed down. Keeping her legs in place, she pulled her hands at the restrains, until they were finally loose as well.

By the time Tatiana freed her hands, the boy had passed out on the floor, and she had seconds to act. Taking his gun from the floor, she pointed it at the door, approaching it with caution.

When she figured out that no one was there, the gun still pointed forwards, knowing well how to shoot when necessary, Tatiana walked out of the room and was shocked to realize that she had been held in a hotel this entire time.

Mumbling curses in Russian, her hand on her swollen belly, she took the time to look at herself in the mirror. She didn't look that bad. Aside from the bruises, she would be able to pass by the hotel staff and all the guests without raising too much suspicion, as long as she kept her hair down...hopefully. She decided to keep the gun close to her, feeling she may need it soon enough.

…

Tatiana had managed to escape, just like Tommy expected she would but do you think she will manage to get somewhere safe before the Italians catch up with her? And what do you think will happen next between John and Emily? What is she hiding?