— 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 —
⁰⁰⁴

Cecilia sat in a booth with Peter and a box of cigarettes before her. "Jesus, Cecilia. What's this about?" He laughed. She hummed in amusement. "I'm in need of information." She said. "I want you to help me out."

Peter's eyes filled with interest and he laughed slightly.

"Well— lucky for you, I did hear something earlier." He leaned in, careful that nobody heard him. "After the trouble they caused in the Eden Club, Thomas Shelby was attacked by Sabini and his men. They went after the sister too."

Cecilia hummed. "I've heard rumours these past few days that he's working with Solomon's. Do you know anything about that?"

"The rumours are true." He nodded. Pausing, Peter took a breath. "There was an Inspector that was sniffing around their business a few years ago. Something about missing goods. Supposedly he's back."

"Sounds like they're busy." She joked. "I've been offered protection." She said. Cecilia made sure not to go into too much detail. "I'll have your name put into that contract too. You work for me, Peter. You're a good man."

Peter smiled gratefully. "I appreciate that, Cecilia."

"Miss Abbott—" one of the barmen called for her. "Theres a phone call for you."

She took a deep breath and stood, leaving Peter's side and going to answer the call. "Who's speaking?" She asked, leaning against the wall. "Cecilia, ya brother is home." Rafael spoke. She stood straight. "But before you leave there's a man sat at a table alone. He sits beside the door. Goes by the name of Bobby McCarthy. Get him gone, kid."

And then the line was cut. A grin crept onto her face. It had been a while since she was given that job.

Cecilia walked over to the table confidently, sitting down opposite the man without asking. "Enjoying your evening?" She spoke softly.

—

Cecilia entered the house with bloodied hands. Reggie and her father sat at the kitchen table with a bottle of whiskey. Reggie stood almost automatically. "Cecilia." He whispered.

She looked at him with hopeful eyes and he wrapped his arms around her. She closed her eyes and kept her hands off him, careful not to get blood on him. He pulled back and looked at her hands. "Are you hurt?"

"It ain't my blood, Reg." She breathed, turning toward the sink and running the water.

Reggie frowned and looked between his sister and father with confusion. "Whose blood is it?" He asked, unsure if he wanted the answer.

The red on her hands matched the red on her lips. Except it was turning darker by the moment. Cecilia watched as it mixed with the warm water, swirling down the drain. "Robert— Bobby.. I don't fuckin' know." She shrugged.

"Don't worry 'bout it, son." Rafael spoke.

"It's nothin' new for me." She added. "Just another bullet spent." She said. "Relax, Reggie. It's my job. I kill the men that do wrong." Cecilia wiped her hands on the towel before taking a seat. "How are ya— after what happened to mum."

Reggie shrugged and sat back in his chair. "It happened suddenly. I've not had time to process it."

"I was waiting for it to happen." She said truthfully.

"Cecilia." Rafael scolded. She snapped her head toward him. "What? I'm just telling the truth." She said with a shrug. "It's alright, dad." Reggie stopped him.

Growing up, the two sibling's had been very close. Even when being separated, they remained close even if the only way to contact one another was by phone. Reggie was the sensitive one. Good for business but had a soft mind. This made Cecilia always feel the need to protect him. That's also why Rafael took Cecilia to London instead of him.

"Did he tell you we have agreed to start business with the Peaky Blinders?" Cecilia spoke. Reggie furrowed his brows together. "The blinders? Really?"

"They're tryna go legitimate or some shit. He offered us the deal of expanding our liquor business and I couldn't say no. He offered protection for ya sister too." Rafael pointed his glass toward her.

"Protection from what?" Reggie asked.

"Well— the club she works in is right next to what is classed as our competition's territory." He began.

"And the Blinders have been stirring up some trouble with that same competition and their clubs. If things were to go south and Sabini realised our business with the Blinders, i'd be the first person they went after."

Reggie nodded in understanding. "And do you trust them?"

"I have a gun with bullets in it. Tommy Shelby has already received my threats prior to the agreement. Im sure he isn't stupid enough to betray us." She said.

"Now that we're on the topic," Rafael interrupted. Cecilia braced herself. "I've invited the brothers to your mother's funeral—"

"Of course ya fuckin' did." Cecilia leaned back.

"What? I told the man i'd introduce him to ya brother so that's exactly what i'll do. Tommy Shelby might be a bad man but he's still a man of some respect." He excused.

"Yeah, sure." She tapped her fingers on the table.

—

The next day, the family stood on the field as a priest spoke some words from the bible. Cecilia held onto Reggie's arm, knowing he was trying his best to stay strong.

She could see people approaching from her left and she looked over. The wind played with her hair and her eyes landed on the three Shelby brothers. She didn't look at them for long. She wasn't interested.

"Amen." The priest stepped backward.

Cecilia and Reggie were the first to drop the red roses down onto the casket where their mother lay. It was a small funeral. It mainly consisted of the three Abbott's, their gang of men and now the three Shelby's.

Cecilia stepped away from her brother and to the Shelby's. "I suppose i'm to thank you for coming although I can't help but think you came on behalf of business." She said, pushing her hair over her shoulder.

"You'd be correct. But, of course, we are here to pay our respects to your late mother." Tommy said truthfully.

"There aren't many respects to give, really. She wasn't a woman who deserved respect." Cecilia admitted. John raised his eyebrows at her bluntness and stared at his feet.

"I have something I wish to add into our agreement." Cecilia said. Tommy nodded. "And what would that be?" He asked, taking out a box of cigarettes and offering her once. She accepted and let him light it before speaking again. "You said you'd give me protection. There's a man who works at the club— Peter Dunne. The protection includes him too."

"As you wish." Tommy accepted.

Cecilia was surprised at his acceptance. "Thank you." She said.

Peter Dunne was Cecilia's closest friend — the only person she considered a friend. Though he worked for her, she trusted him with her life. He knew of her connection to the club which most people did not. One thing about him though was that he wasn't interested in woman.. any women for that matter — but instead he was interested in men. And not everybody accepted that — it was something that made him fear walking out on the streets despite people not knowing. Cecilia was the only person who knew of this. And she vowed to keep it a secret. So now that she was being offered protection, she wanted Peter to have protection too. She wanted to do whatever she could to keep that boy safe — unharmed.

"There's a party tonight at the Garrison. You should come." Tommy said before she could walk away. "What?" Arthur mumbled to him. "I can have a car bring you down to Small Heath."

"I'll check my schedule." She told him. Cecilia wasn't busy at all. She wasn't working tonight. But she wasn't going to give Tommy the satisfaction of thinking he had her wrapped around his finger. Because he didn't.

"Sorry about your mum." John spoke as she turned on her heels.

She offered him a smile. "Thank you, John."

Reggie had watched the whole interaction and when Cecilia returned to his side, he didn't take his eyes from Tommy. "I don't like the way he looks at ya."

"Don't be ridiculous." She hissed. "There's not a thought behind those eyes of his." She insulted.

—

Cecilia stared at herself in the mirror, dabbing the lipstick onto her lips like she did every night. "You off somewhere?" Reggie asked whilst leaning against the doorframe and watching her.

"I'm spending the night in Small Heath." She answered, spraying perfume on her neck.

"Any reason?" Reggie crossed his arms. She hummed. "I've been invited to a party by Thomas." She said plainly. "Tell dad i'll be back tomorrow evening, yeah?" She leaned up and placed a sisterly kiss on his cheek.

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. "You be careful around those fuckers. I know how they work and I ain't letting them take you as a whore."

"I'll be fine, brother. I think you forget where I work— how I do my job. I know how to handle myself." She assured him with a soft smile. Reggie let go of her wrist and let her go down the stairs.

Cecilia stepped outside and, as he had promised, a car waited for her. A young lad with a peaky cap leaned against it, holding the door open for her. "Thank you," she said, sitting in the back seat.

—

The car came to a halt and the lad that had drove her stepped out to open the door for her again. He offered Cecilia his hand and she took it, stepping out onto the cobble.

He led her inside the pub and it was busy. Not as busy as the night of the reopening but still busy.

"Who is that?" Finn nudged John and John looked up. "Oi— Tom, your lady is here." He teased. Cecilia laughed. "I'm not anybody's lady, John." She corrected him.

Tommy grinned at his brother's childish behaviour and handed her a drink. She was surprised at the fact she didn't need to ask.

"Yeah— Tommy wishes though, don't ya?" Arthur teased.

Tommy tutted and shook his head. "Shut up, Artha." He scolded. "Please." He nodded at Cecilia, "sit." He said. Cecilia sat on the chair at the end of the table and looked up as an older woman and a younger boy entered.

"Here he is, look." Arthur said. The room erupted into cheers and Tommy stood to shake the young boy's hand. "Happy birthday, Micheal." He said.

"Eighteen years old." Arthur clapped. "You're a man today, give him a drink John boy—" he said. "Here you go, lad." John handed him the glass. "And after that, we will go find you a lady of the night." Arthur teased.

"Arthur." Polly scolded.

Cecilia chuckled out of amusement and stood up. "Happy birthday," she said to him, holding out her hand. Polly gave her a once over, feeling like she recognised the girl. "Thank you—" he shook her hand, waiting for her to tell him her name.

"Cecilia."

"Thank you, Cecilia." He smiled softly. Polly's eyes widened. "Ay up, maybe Cecilia can be your lady of the night." Arthur teased. Cecilia snapped her head toward him and so did Polly. "Excuse me?"

"He's only playing." Tommy excused quickly, not wanting a confrontation. He took a breath. "Micheal." He handed the boy a box.

"What's that?"

"So you're never late to work," Tommy told him as Micheal looked down at the golden watch. Micheal smiled and hugged Polly.

"Welcome to the business, Micheal."

Cecilia smiled at the interaction and took a seat once more. Tommy sat beside her and leaned in. "Are you armed?" He whispered. She looked at him. "I'm always fuckin' armed." She said with a playful grin. "Well don't be using that on anybody. Not tonight." He said.

"I don't make promises, Mr Shelby." She tormented.

Tommy let out a breathy laugh and leaned back in his chair.

"Right come on, let's get him drunk!" John pulled the boy in. "Get him whiskey." Arthur instructed. "No— no whiskey. Only dark mild. He's got work tomorrow." Tommy pointed. He held his glass in the air. "A toast to Micheal."

"To Micheal."

After people got going, Tommy stood and gently tapped Cecilia's arm, nodding toward the door. With confusion, she followed him out and into the back room of the Garrison where he went into a cupboard and got a bottle of whiskey.

"What is the meaning of this?" She asked when taking a seat. Tommy placed a glass before her and filled it half way. "Taste it."

"Will it kill me?" She inspected the glass. He laughed. "No, it won't bloody kill you. Just drink it. Tell me what you think." He nodded. With a raised brow, Cecilia threw back the amber liquid and thought for a moment. "Too nice for the Garrison." She said. "Why?"

"That is part of an export drive. I have a secure warehouse in Camden Town and secure passage to the Poplar Docks." He told her. "So you're working with Solomon's?" She saw right through his lack of detail. He didn't physically confirm her question but his eyes did.

"So on Monday morning, we will be sending out our first export crate. A crate full of Riley Car spares bound for halifax, Nova Scotia."

"Where there is prohibition.." she nodded. Tommy grinned. "Where there is prohibition." He agreed.

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked.

"Because I want you to trust me." He said honestly, staring right at her. The corners of her lips turned upward and she stifled a laugh. "You'll have to do more than that to get me to trust you, Thomas." She said.

"Let me take you out." He said calmly.

Her eyes widened slightly. "Sorry— I think I may have misheard you." She frowned. "You want to take me out?" She asked.

Tommy nodded. "You heard correctly. I want to take you out." He confirmed.

Cecilia began laughing and Tommy just watched with furrowed brows. "Sorry, do excuse me.. it's just— why?" She asked seriously. Tommy tutted. "Well, I want to have your trust. I'm hoping that by taking you out, I can earn it." He told her.

"Will you let a lady sleep on it?" She asked.

Tommy nodded. "You can sleep on it."

After Midnight
Chapter 004
[gracessecretshelby]