“All bets are off” - Chapter 3
Ship: Thomas Shelby x Reader
I’m so sorry for not uploading :/ Had a lot of stress but here we go, it’s a really long chapter, wanted to make two parts out of it but since I haven’t been here in weeks, I guess I owe you one.
As always, I’m not a native speaker, so I just got to tell you all how thankful I am to have @sarcastiphonix for helping me with my grammar troubles!
Prologue (x), Chapter 1 (x), Chapter 2 (x)
"I had business to attend to. I’m sorry“, I said, my thoughts remaining in an entirely different galaxy. "I noticed a man brought you home, who was that?“, Jim asked, concern covering his features.
There was a moments pause before I answered him. "Oh, nobody. Just a colleague who helps at the stables.“
It was resolute in my mind that Jim didn't deserve to be constantly worried about my safety, so I decided he wouldn't be told that I was going to be working for the Royals of Birmingham.
He was just a simple man, with an equally simple job, which he adored.
As part of his heritage he acquired a small law firm from his father which he led in a small office downtown.
Jim was a youthful and determined lawyer who focused on improving himself everyday.
Nothing stood in the way of a bright future and successful career for him, and I intended to keep things that way.
"I’m sorry I worried you, Jim“, I said, rising onto my toes and kissing him softly, "It was a hard day and I need to get up early tomorrow. Do you mind if I just take a bath and go to bed?“
The man in front of me was evidently irritated, and suspicious.
"Wait, you never usually work on Mondays, love.“
I rubbed my eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I—I just got new clients today. I mean, you know how this works, don’t you? You understand how vital clients to me.“
My boyfriend did not seem to believe my story but I was firm in my mission to spend some much needed time alone. No interrogations, just the hot water and me, alone with my thoughts.
"Sure, Babe“, he mumbled, looking a bit disappointed.
I felt almost paralysed as I walked out of the door the next morning.
Outside my house stood John Shelby flashing his classic wide grin at me, his car parked in the street.
"Mornin’!“, he smirked, "A little friendly bonus for you- from me. Thomas wants us to drive directly to the stables, so I thought I'd just pick you up myself from here.“
"Uhm. Thank you“, I stuttered.
We drove for half an hour, right through the city and ended up at the back country of Birmingham. I was slightly unnerved by the fact I had never been there before.
"These are our family stables, the Shelby clan has got about six horses, and you're very lucky because today, you get to ride the newest girl in town!“, John smiled, as if I'd be grateful but I still felt unsure of myself around the Birmingham gang member, as if any slip up would result in a razor blade slipping elsewhere. I had problems keeping up with him because he seemed to sprint toward the stables. His movements gave the impression of a boy younger than himself, it was then that I recognised just how young he was- it had been the war that stripped him of his youth. When we approached two boys were mucking out the stables and beginning to feed the horses. They were quickly dismissed by a wave of John's hand which he then moved as if showcasing a prized possession.
"Here we go, allow me to introduce you to Grace's Secret."
I looked into the deep brown eyes of a grey horse, it's coat reminding me of clear snow which was beginning to thaw.
"Hey girl“, I whispered, resting my hand on her neck, "You're beautiful, you know?" I took a look inside the box and could tell that she was strong, already trained well. However, her back revealed that she'd been ridden the wrong way for two, possibly three years.
"Grace’s Secret“, I mumbled while checking the animal, „"A very unusual name…“ John’s eyes narrowed.
"Oh yeah, it is…“ his voice trailed off.
"And after that reaction, I guess you don't want to tell me the story behind it?“
"What?" John asked, startled.
"Don’t play the fool“, I moaned, "nobody just calls a horse Grace's Secret.“
The crown prince stared at me and seemed to debate how much to reveal. He let out a reluctant sigh.
"Listen, Thomas bought her. And It was Tommy who named her." His answer left me still confused as to what was so special about the name? Who was Grace? And why couldn’t John tell me? Perhaps being direct was the easiest way of finding out. I mean, it wasn't like John would kill me for asking a simple question.
Admittedly, he obviously could have.
"So, it seems like Mr. Shelby is a big mystery to everybody…“, I tried to needle softly. The smile vanished quickly from John's face. A look of sadness masking his joy.
"If you really want an answer—while Thomas might be a mystery to you, he wasn't to Grace, she was his confidant and first love“, he finally said.
I had to gulp, he had made excessive use of the past tense. "I’m sorry for asking.“
Adding up the facts I'd received, I had calculated as much as I could about who Grace had been- an arcane women who had been Thomas Shelby's weakness.
This story smelled like it didn’t had a happy end. It was an easy assumption to make, but I felt like I had asked enough questions for today.
"I don’t feel like this is something I can tell you about when I’m sober.
Come to the Garrison this evening, you can meet the rest of my crazy clan and I can introduce you to everybody, if you like. And maybe, just maybe“,
he smiled for a split second, "I’ll answer your questions, after a few whiskeys. I mean, it's not fair if you get thrown into the cold water without a helping hand.“
I bit my lip so I wouldn’t smile too widely.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Shelby! I'm beginning to think you aren’t as bad as everybody tells me.“ John laid his head to the side and his expression told me that I wasn’t quite right. All the playfulness that had been on his face seemed to slip away as he stared deep into my eyes. It felt like I stood in front of a whole other person.
"Please Alice, don’t ever think that you can believe anyone outside the company regarding what happens inside", he took a deep breath and nearly whispered, "Every thread is pulled deliberately. I’ll help you, not just because I got my orders from Thomas to treat you gentle, but because I execute every fucking order I get. And it's not just me, every single one of us works that way because that's how the Shelby family survives. You’ll learn that principle fast, you’re smart. Just keep in mind that, even though you’re held out of that end of the business, it still exists. And if you ever spread unwarranted word about it, you are our business. And business gets executed, understand?"
"And if I want to know everything? You know, if I don’t want to close my eyes. If I want to be“, I looked to the ground, took a step closer to him, "a fully fledged member of the Peaky Blinders?“
Clearly, I was tired of my life. Otherwise, I'd never have said something so foolish but at that moment in time, it felt like the correct question.
John Shelby grinned suddenly at me.
"You’re already en route, love, no escape anymore“, he smirked, "You know, Tommy told me that you’d fit in here. And that you’d get a taste blood way too soon. But I think even he will be surprised how fast you're trying to jump in.“
"A few days ago I would have been equally shocked", I confessed, "What the hell is happening here, you damn Shelby Brothers…“, I smiled, shaking my head, stunned, still not believing that the King of Birmingham chose me out of thousands of better jockeys.
After a brief moments silence John perked up, "Let's go, come on, you gotta' see what you need to do for your money!“, He exclaimed and he began to show me the rest of the stables.
For the remainder of the day I began to get to know Grace's Secret more.
I decided to just call her Grace after John had left. He had other business to tend to but told me that we’d see each other at the Garrison later.
Later that evening Jim enquired as to where I was going, as I went to leave just after returning from work. I lied, telling him it was a dinner with my new clients and that I wouldn’t come home before midnight.
I thought about what John had said the day before. The proposal Jim wanted to perform seemed to belong to another life. But how the hell did the Shelby boys know more about my fiancé than I did? How long had they been watching me?
I tried to expel the thought of it from my mind, everything would be fine as long as I worked well.
Reflecting, it didn't take long until I couldn’t differentiate the business from any other aspect of my life. Thomas had been right; if I wanted to be part of this company, I had to live with the business at the centre of my focus. And that was what I was determined to do.
After I took my first tentative steps into the Garrison, I was instantly impressed. It was evident that it was a bar under the control of the Peaky Blinders. Everybody here seemed to know each other and every man seemed to were a similar cap. Even though they all were pretty drunk,
they treated each other with a familial attitude.
"Ally!“, I heard a voice screaming. John ran to me, a cigar in his left hand, his drink in the other. It didn't take long to deduce that he was just as drunk as everyone else, "Welcome home!“
It was a strange comment for John to make seeing as I was only new to the franchise, but when he had called the pub my home, it really did feel like it. It was probably because you felt like you’d be accepted here, just as you were. Because they really would take you in as part of the family.
Although, the daggers in the pockets and guns in the holsters of men, spread throughout the room, reminded how they could treat you if you weren't.
"Arthur!“, John called, "Come on ya' fucker!“
"Sorry!“, came the sarcastic cry of a tall smiling man. He turned towards me, "Ah! So, you're the famous jockey then! Heard much about ya'. Welcome to the family! Let’s have a drink, I’ll let you have a good one! 'Arry?!“ As fast as he had appeared he was gone.
The obscurity of their mannerisms forced a laugh from my chest.
John noticed my giddiness and chuckled lightly himself, grabbing my hand like a boy several years younger would have, "I’ll introduce you to the rest, come on luv!“
And as I sat there, slightly drunk, becoming familiar with the close circle, watching the people dancing and laughing, I subconsciously searched for a pair of blue eyes.
Goosebumps pricked at my arms as I found them staring back at me.
He stood still in the door frame, smoking and overseeing the chaos. Thomas recognised that I wasn't nearly as far gone as everyone else in the room, still too sober to put on my dancing shoes. I wasn't sure if it was a mirage but I was sure I could actually see the coldest face of Birmingham smiling at me.
Of course he wasn't exactly joining in the fun himself, but he did partake in light conversation and ordered drinks for those he was close to. Something lifted in my chest to see him happy like this. I was ashamed to admit it but Tommy's appreciation was dizzying. The corners of his lips were like hidden secrets that he turned up rarely, often when he thought no one else was looking. Maybe he had always been that way or perhaps it was part of the act that had to be kept up by the barbaric gangster. But it was more probably that he never found many reasons to smile anymore because he had lost his favourite one.
But as I surveyed him, watching his family have a great time and grinning, I found myself questioning, how could a person like that do such terrible things?' Our gazes met each other again and I found myself grinning at him like an idiot, blood rising to my cheeks. The way he smiled changed. I couldn’t tell what it was, but I had the strange desire to continue exchanging looks for the rest of the night.
But instead, Thomas Shelby nodded and made a sign that I should come closer before taking another deep drag from his cigarette.
My knees were weak and I felt I couldn't trust my feet whilst my heart rate increased rapidly. With trembling legs I made my way towards an audience with the King of Birmingham.
He looked over me again for a few moments before blowing out a cloud of smoke away from my face and spoke,
"Let’s take a walk. I don’t want to have to stay the entire time to keep things in check, just because we are the only ones who aren’t fetching up hell tomorrow.“
Thomas could see I was hesitating. He ended up taking my hand without a word and dragging me outside carefully.
I prayed he didn’t ask himself why my hands were drenched in sweat, the close proximity unnerving me.
It wasn't something I was comfortable asking myself.
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