𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 41

Florence sat with Isiah's arms round her, clapping as Bonnie walked out, men surrounding him. People cheered as he entered the ring. Tommy soon walked out, joining them as the fight started.

"Hit him Bonnie!" Arthur shouted. "Come on Bonnie!" Florence shouted, watching as the other boy fell down."Bonnie, Bonnie—" Aberama smiled. "Your okay. It's under control."

"I'll take it to the fourth—" Bonnie nodded.

"Where's Solomons?" Alfie asked Tommy. "Apparently he doesn't watch." Tommy sighed. "Look at that corner, look." Arthur pointed to beside Bonnie. "Them men there, they don't know fighters."

Tommy looked over. "I don't like it. You feel it though, Tom, don't you?"

"I feel it, we're alright. We're surrounded by soldiers, Arthur, Alfie's men were strip searched." Bonnie stood again for round two, sending punches toward the other boy.

"Excuse me," Florence sighed, excusing herself to go to the lavatory. "Hello, mum." she greeted, standing in front of the mirror to fix her lipstick. Polly nodded, walking into a stall. "So, Lizzie, what did Tommy say when you told him?" she asked. "He said i'd get a weekly allowance." Lizzie sighed.

"Oh he can be romantic." Polly jokes.

Florence stood confused.

"Of course as company treasurer, i shall be questioning that expense."

"He said something like 'we've had enough death let's have some life." she quoted.

"Pol," Ada said, joining them. "This fight is fixed isn't it?" she asked. "Poor gypsy boy is getting battered out there. Right, you said you have news." she asked, sitting on the counter.

"Lizzie has some news—"

Florence and Ada looked at her. "Polly," Lizzie turned. "Well, tell them, now." Polly lit a cigarette. "While the men are screaming for blood."

Polly passed Ada a bottle. "Have a swig, you're gonna need it."

"I'm up the duff." Lizzie said. Ada swigged the bottle, wide eyed. "That's amazing, Lizzie, congratulations." Florence smiled, hugging the girl.

"And it's Tommys."

"How far gone are you?" Ada asked. "If i were going to London, i'd be in Coventry." Lizzie said. "And are you carrying on past coventry?" She asked.

"All the way to Piccadilly Circus." She sighed. "You found out if she's having a boy or girl, Pol?" Ada asked.

"No.

"Go on then."

Polly stepped forward, feeling Lizzie's breasts, causing them all to laugh. "It's a girl. Call her Ruby, Ruby Shelby, she'll be a star in a Hollywood movie." Polly smiled.

Ada wrapped her arms around Lizzie.

-

The girls took their seats again, watching the fight as the crowd cheered. Bonnie grinned, stepping away as the bell rang.

"Look at the men in his corner, look, they don't know fighters. They don't know the fucking ropes." Arthur looked. "It's the pills and the booze spooking you, Arthur." Tommy said.

The bell rang again and the two boys stood.

"Tom-" Florence whispered as she stood behind him. Arthur and Tommy looked at her. "Somethings off." she told him. "See, she knows, our Florence knows." Arthur shouted.

"Ah look at them, they don't stand right, they don't move right," Arthur observed as the men whispered to each other. "They don't even care if he fucking wins." he shouted.

"It's the fucking pills brother, all right?"

"No, Tom he's right, i can feel it."

"Go on Bonnie!" Lizzie and Polly shouted. "Hit him Bonnie!" Ada joined in, clapping her hands.

"Fuck are they laughing at?" Tommy referred to the women.

"It's a new batch, too strong." Arthur said, referring to the alcohol they were drinking. "Come on Bonnie!" Polly urged. Arthur watched as the man across the room, stood up, walking off. Arthur got on his feet. "Arthur leave it," Tommy shouted. "Where is he going?" Arthur asked, following after. "Sit down and watch the fight, eh, Arthur?"

He ignored him and kept walking. "Let me do my fucking job."

Florence sighed. "You need to go after him, Tom." she said. "Or i will." he shook his head, pushing her to her seat and following him.

Arthur walked up the dark hallway and into the blue light, sniffing. He heard noise coming from the changing room and he took his gun from his pocket, looking around. He slowly stepped into the room, "right.." he whispered.

He walked through, his gun at the ready. He placed a hand on the wall, exhaling.

Tommy left his seat, following after. "Arthur?" he shouted, walking down the hall.

The man came from behind, pressing the knife into Arthur's neck and Arthur's gun fired. Tommy grabbed his own gun and ran down the hall.

Blood poured from Arthur's neck as he threw him down to the floor.

The man picked up the gun, pointing it to Arthur's head. But as he went to fire it, Tommy had shot the man.

Polly stopped at the end of the hall, hearing the shot.

"Arthur!" Tommy shouted, kneeling beside his brother and pulling him up to his chest.

Tommy leaned back, looking at Arthur and placing two fingers on his neck. He placed his head on Arthur's chest, his eyes wide.

"Tommy!" She shouted.

Tommy walked out of the room, freezing when he saw the two girl. "Arthur's dead." He said. "No—" Polly whispered. "Fuck off no—" she shouted, attempting to push past him but he kept a hold of her. Tommy and Polly ran back out to the ring where people were celebrating Bonnie's win.

"Tommy what's happened?" Lizzie asked. "Arthur's dead, he's dead." he whispered.

Lizzie eyes widened. They saw Polly return, "Arthur's dead." She whispered to Florence and Linda. Her eyes widened and she walked to Tommy, tears in her eyes. There was a sharp pain in her chest. "Tom." she croaked.

"Come here, come on," he whispered, pulling her in cradling her head whilst Lizzie and Polly approached Linda.

"Where's Isiah?" she whispered. "He's went with Finn." Tommy took the girl back the where she'd previously been where Finn and Isiah stood in front of a man. "Tommy, we have the other wop." Isiah spoke, his face softened when he saw the girl.

"Cunt had a wire in his pocket."

Finn had a gun pointed at the man's head.

Tommy punched the man, sending him to the floor. "Go on, Finn, take his eyes, for Arthur." Finn hesitated but grabbed his cap and sliced the man's eyes.Florence shook her head, anger and upset filling her, she pushed the man to the floor and pressed her hands into his neck. "You bastard!" she whispered. "Florence." Tommy said, grabbing her. Florence glanced at his holster and pulled his gun, pointing it at the man's head and firing.

Her hands began shaking as she dropped the metal to the floor.

Tommy went back to the ring, climbing onto it. He fired shots into the air. "Close the doors!" he shouted over the screams. "No one fucking leaves!" He fired again. "My brother is dead, you hear me? My brother is dead!" he shouted.

Finn supported Florence body as her legs grew weak. She clung into his sleeve, covering her mouth.