The Gangsta's Wife (Part 8)
DESCRIPTION: Whilst you're husband is away for business reasons you have an unexpected (and unwelcome) guest.
WORD COUNT: 3087
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WARNINGS: pregnancy, knife, knife violence, injury, injury detail, fight, blood, Thomas calls reader 'love', drinking, drinking whilst pregnant (brief), swearing
DISCLAIMERS
This is fiction. Please always talk to your partner before doing anything and make sure they are ok with what you are doing beforehand
This story does not follow the timeline of the show
It had been a couple of weeks since that night. Your husband was near London on business matters. He'd recently purchased a race horse so he was minding that over the past few days. You were taking this time of bliss to have a small nap. Your fatigue having increased over the past few days. Knowing you had caught up on the housework you decided to allow yourself a restful afternoon. You were going to read however sleep soon had other ideas.
You jump awake as you hear a knock on the front door. You let out a soft grumble as you wipe your eyes. Another knock. You mumble under your breath. Annoyed about your disrupted nap. Pushing yourself up. Your hand instinctively going to your belly as you walk over to the door. Unlocking it. Assuming it was one of your in-laws, or one of your sisters who'd forgotten their key. Possibly even your husband. Your wide smile to greet your guest being stunned as you see a man waiting outside. One you don't recognise. Not even as one of the Peaky men.
"Mrs Shelby?" Your scan over their frame. The smile fading completely when you see the knife he flashes at you hidden in his coat. You go and shut the door on him. His hand coming out and stopping it. You turn quickly. Making your way upstairs. Just as the door swings open.
Someone grabbing the lower half of you leg. Tripping you. The air from your lungs being forced out. You turn your body. You bring your free leg up. Kicking him. He grabs at the flesh of your lower leg. Yanking you down a few stairs. Able to straddle you. You struggle as he grabs the knife out. Holding the knife up to go in for a swipe. Bringing your hands up as a means to protect yourself. One over your face, the other near your stomach.
It goes through your palm. You scream out as he removes the item. Going in for another swing. Bringing your knee up and kicking them in the crotch. He grunts out. Hand going to his injury. You clench your good hand. Bringing it back and hitting it into his face. Hearing his nose crunch under your fist. He fumbles on the stairs. Nearly falling down them. Him moving off from over you. You bring your foot up, placing it onto his chest as you kick him. Him falling down the length of the stairs. Giving you enough time to turn back around. Scrambling up the stairs as you regain your footing.
Pain going through your body as you get upstairs. Running to your bedroom and shutting the door. Holding your wounded hand by your torso. Heavy breathing as you asses the room. You run over to the window. Lifting the glass panel up. You weigh up the option of climbing out. But the fall being too high. Plus you weren't overly agile or slim in the best of times. Especially not with a 6 month pregnancy belly. You bite at your bottom lip as you go to plan B.
You look for a place to hide. Noticing small blood spots on the floor from your injury. You take your hand. Then rubbing it over the edge of the window frame. Thinking of where you would grab if you escaped through here. Biting your lip to dull any sounds of pain as silent tears stain your face. Hearing footsteps out the hallway. You drop to the floor. Hiding behind the full length mirror you have standing in the room as you hear the slow turn of the door handle.
The door opens. Seeing two feet walk into your room. You bite at your lips. Shutting your eyes, every ounce of you willing yourself to not make any noise. You hold your wounded hand near your chest. Your other hand coming up and covering your mouth as you become aware of how heavily you are breathing.
The attacker goes over to the window. Presumably looking out of it. You watch from under the mirror. Seeing his shadow. He carefully and quietly wonders around the room. Obviously having the same thoughts of you of your practicality of getting out the small space in such a rush. You see him look under the bed. In the wardrobe. Then he comes over to the mirror. You stay as silent as you can. Practically holding your breath.
Watching as his feet walk out of the room. Hearing them make their way downstairs. You wait a few moments before you start assessing the situation. First of all: your injury. You look at your hand. Trying not to gag as you see the wound. You go to the bottom of your skirt. Hand shaking as you tear the end of it. Using it as you wrap it around your injury. Gritting your teeth as you finish. Holding it close to you.
Resting against the wall as your eyes remain fixed on the door. You will yourself to not pass out. Trying to focus on something. Anything. You sit for what must've been a few hours. Waiting behind the mirror. Scared that if you move you'll pass out. Or get found. So you stay still. As much as you can given that your entire body is shaking. Tears still falling down your cheeks as you watch the doorway. You become alert again as you hear noise downstairs.
Looking around you for anything that could be used as a weapon. Biting your lip as you're met with nothing of use to you. Not without moving from your hiding spot and potentially getting caught in the process.
Then an idea. You bring your good hand down. Taking off your high healed shoe. Unbuckling the straps of them both. Quietly resting one down onto the floor as you bring the other one up. Holding the top of it. Heal outwards. Gripping around the sole. You take in a breath. Moving out from behind the mirror. Over to the doorway. Just around the corner so you can remain hidden. Giving you the advantage. Your hand slowly bleeding onto your shirt as you keep it close to your chest. Holding the shoe up. Getting ready to attack.
Your whole body shaking as the person cautiously step into the room. You bring the shoe up. Aiming for their head. They turn quickly. Grabbing your wrist to prevent you from harming them. Going to reach for his gun but stopping as he meets your eyes.
"Tommy". You say his name. A small sob coming out. Dropping the shoe you held as you wrap your arm around him. Your wounded hand still clutched to yourself. You hide your head into his shoulder. His arms coming up and holding you. Your entire body shaking.
"Are you hurt?" You remain silent. Focusing on his warmth and scent as to not spiral into panic. He takes your silence as a bad sign. He unwraps his arms. Moving away slightly as he holds your face. Forcing you to look at him. "Florence are you hurt?" So much adrenaline coursing through your body that you take a while to think of the answer. Too long. He's already giving you a once over visually. Seeing the blood stain on your shirt and hand.
His eyes going to your injured hand. He goes to take it. But you keep it clutched to yourself. Shaking your head at him. "Let me look". His voice is calm. Stern but calm. You blink a few times. Letting him take your reluctant hand in his. Gently holding the wrist of it as he unwraps the cloth you used. You grip at your skirt. Looking away as you clench your teeth. Body still intensely shaking.
"You're ok love. I've got you". He gently moves you to sit on the bed. Shutting your eyes as you feel queasy. You're hand going to your stomach as you take in a few deep breaths. John and Esme coming up the stairs.
"Thomas?"
"She's been stabbed. She has a sewing kit somewhere in here" you hear them fumbling about. Unable to work out which one announces they've found it. Your husband sits next to you on the bed. Gripping your good hand with his. His arm going around to hold you close to him. You feel someone grabbing your arm. Holding it out. Opening your eyes you see John is sat the other side of you. Gripping your lower arm and wrist.
Esme using a match, putting the needle into it before placing it into a drink of you presume alcohol or water. You go to move away. Shaking your head as she kneels in front of you. Tommy and Johns grip tightening around you. "The wound needs stitches". She speaks. Her eyes filled with sympathy. "Its going to hurt but I'll be quick, ok?".
She takes your hand. Starting to sew your hand up. Not giving you time to protest. You cry out. Tommy holding your good hand as you go to push her away. John holding your arm out so you can't retract it. Your husband shushing you comfortingly as you cry. His arms keeping your body pressed against his as both the Shelby men keep you still.
She kept her word. Although it seemed like hours, the procedure was done in less then a minute. Taking the glass she had used for the needle and pouring it over the wound. Causing you to cry out again. Scrunching your eyes shut as you grip the hand of your husband. Fresh tears falling down your cheeks as you feel John lets go of you. Thomas kisses your temple, stroking your hair.
"Well done love. It's over". Moving the hand from your hair. Feeling him move from behind you. Your body weight resting against him. Feeling something cold hit your lips. Jumping as you open your eyes. A whiskey bottle. "Drink. It'll help dull the pain". You shake your head.
"Where are Liz and Mary?" You whisper. Going to stand up. Thomas's arm still wrapped around you. Tightening at your movement. Keeping you sat on the bed. Esme speaks next to you.
"Both safe and next door". You nod. Letting Thomas lift the bottle. Letting your drink a large quantity of it before removing it. Placing it back on the side. You breath heavily. Shutting your eyes again as you try and focus on your husband. His warm arm around you. The smell of tobacco and an undertone of whiskey.
"They got Arthur and Michael too". John says. Tommy nodding in response. "I thought you said that we were safe".
"I thought we were too..." He says. Voice quiet as he holds you close to him. Your eyes remaining shut as your breathing becomes steady. You hear commotion from downstairs. You flinch. Eyes widening as you go closer to your husband. Body must still be on high alert from the chaos as you back away slightly. Thomas grips your hand slightly tighter as you watch the doorway. John cautiously going and seeing what the noise was.
"They took my son". You hear Polly say as she storms into the room. The Shelby boys and Esme relaxing slightly. "Thomas they took my fucking son". She says again. "You promised that he'd be safe. You said-"
"Polly". He tries to calm her.
"No. They took Michael. They took my boy". She shakes her head. Obviously trying not to break down fully. "You need to get my son back. Thomas get my so-"
"Enough." He cuts her off. The tone sharp and precise. Sending chills down your spine. "Family meeting next door. Now. John get Finn". The younger brother nods. Going out, shortly followed by his wife. You see Polly's eyes frantic as they look at her nephew.
"Thomas". She says. Sternness in her voice that you can only put down as a Shelby tone.
"I said go next door. I will talk to you there". She clenches her jaw. Borderline stropping out the room as she leaves. Hearing her footsteps loud on the stairs. Slamming the door shut. He moves from behind you. Kneeling in front of you as he rests a hand on your cheek. His other hand still holding onto yours.
"I'm sorry Mr Shelby... I tried keeping the baby safe..." Trying to steady your breathing. Eyes trying to read him. Feeling a couple of tears fall down your cheek. His lips slightly parted as he watches you.
"I'm going to change your out of these clothes, ok?" He speaks softly to you. You nod your head. Feeling him start to undo the buttons of your shirt. You wince as he pulls the sleeve over your arm and hand. More ease on the other, less injured one. Throwing your blood soaked garment onto the floor. You hear him stand up. Opening your eyes you watch as he gets a damp cloth. Coming over he cleans up some of the dried blood on your arm and torso.
Where you'd been holding it so tightly against yourself you'd managed to bleed through your shirt. Tossing the cloth aside he gently places a new shirt over your frame. He kneels in front of you. Watching his eyes scanning your features. As you look down at him.
"I'm going to call the midwife and get her to come and check you and the baby over. I can't see any wounds near the child but I think its best if we check, ey?" You nod. "I need to go next door and have this meeting. Find out exactly what happened and why". You shake your head. Your good hand coming out. Taking his in yours as you plead with him.
"Please don't leave me..." A feeble whisper comes past your lips. He looks at you. Nodding slightly before standing. You keep your eyes on his as he pulls you up by your good hand. One arm holding your hand still as the other goes to the lower part of your back. Letting you gain your balance. Your body still shaking.
"I'm going to find the man that did this to you". He speaks in a low, hushed voice. "I'm going to make him pay. For harming you. For harming our child". You meet his eyes again. Cold. The stare making your breath hitch. You look downwards. Keeping a hold of his hand as he leads you next door. Sitting you down onto a chair before the family meeting ensues.
The midwife came round less then 24 hours later. Checking over you and the baby and confirming that you were both fine. Although your body had gone into shock it doesn't seem to have affected the pregnancy. Once Thomas had heard this news you didn't see him for a long time. Not that he'd left you unprotected. You made note of the various Blinders patrolling outside your house.
It was midday during the weekend. You were playing a game with your sisters when you hear the front door open. You turn quickly. Standing up - mind you a little wobbly - but quickly to see your husband walk into the living room.
Your eyes scanning over his features as you look at him. Lifting his head up to look at you. "I need you and your sisters to come with me".
"Why?"
"Go pack a bag each. I'll wait here". He says. Eyes drifting to your sisters who look at him then at you. "Go". His voice sterner this time. Your sisters having better judgement then you stand up. Scurrying past you and Thomas. Hearing their footsteps on the wooden flooring upstairs. Your eyes dart between his two blue orbs. His stay steady and fixated on yours. "Go". He repeats. You shake your head.
"I want you to answer my question".
"I'll answer your questions when we get in the car and start driving".
"No. No you can't do that. You can't just expect to leave us alone for days. With no contact. No say as to where you've gone. Then turn up expecting me to get into a car with you without asking any questions. No". Reaching up he takes his cap off. Your eyes glancing at the small piece of metal that glints in the light of the room. Watching as he puts it onto the cabinet near the door.
You try to read him. His posture. Placing his hands in front of him as his eyes become steady on yours once again. You keep your ground under his menacing stare. Making a point by folding your arms over your torso. Feeling your hands shaking as you clench them against you.
"I want answers". Your voice a whisper. He takes in a breath through his nose. Exhaling as he speaks.
"Did Detective Campbell try and fuck you?" The sudden question shocking you. Taking you a while to come up with a response.
"Excuse me?"
"Did he try and fuck you?" You flit your eyes between his.
"He may have... suggested such notions... But I refused him. I wouldn't cheat on you".
"You should've told me".
"I didn't see it being necessary".
"I'd like to know when my enemy tries to fuck my wife. I believe that is the reason he hired that man to attack you".
"Because I refused to have sex with him?"
"And to enforce his argument of how dangerous this life is. That this world is filled with blood and violence". You bring your hand to your stomach. Holding it. Rubbing a thumb over the swell of your belly.
"Why do you want me to pack a bag?"
"I'm going to move you and your sisters to a safe house. One that only I and a handful of my most trusted men know about".
"How long will we be there for?"
"Until I have dealt with the current threat and it is safe for you to come back home".
"Who will be with us at the safe house?"
"It'll be you and your sisters. I'll have a man guarding the perimeter who will change periodically. Plus someone else to deliver you food. The midwife will see you when she is needed but she is to come alone and be searched every time she comes". Your hands rest under your stomach. Breaking eye contact with him as you look down. He stays quiet as you process his answers. Nodding slightly before looking back up at him. "Good. Go pack a bag".
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