She groaned in pain. The first time that she had woken, her eyes had opened to find that she was in a dimly lit, empty, but for her and the chair that she was tied to, room. (Y/n) struggling and screaming; shouting out in hopes that someone might hear her and help her. Pulling as best she could against the ropes that bound her, ignoring the sting as the rough flax bit into her flesh.

The last thing that she could remember, she was making her way to pay a bill at one of the local merchants that supplied the bakery; she only having left the shop a short time before. But then there had been the man........the tall, dark-haired, slender man, dressed in a nice suit. The man that had asked her name, if she owned the Lion's Bakery; the man that had offered her his hand to shake.....and she had foolishly done just that. Her eyes widening as he had told her that someone else would like to meet her. And then......he had called her by her real name; he had called her Miss Shelby. She suddenly finding herself grabbed from behind, and then she couldn't breathe properly; there a strange smell filling her sense, as something was held over her nose and mouth. And then......then there was nothing. Nothing until she had woken in this room.

"Fuckin pikkie slut, got blood on my shirt.........." The man growled, as he roughly grabbed her face and forced her to look at him.

This had been going on for a day..........or more, she wasn't sure; there no window in the room to allow her to see the passing of time. In truth, it could have been just hours, or maybe even weeks. All she knew for sure was that they wanted her to admit who she really was. To tell them anything she knew about her brothers.......and Alfie. But she had always been a stubborn thing, she not about to admit a damn thing. She was Mary Donovan.....that was all she would tell them; that she knew nothing of the Shelby's or a man called Solomons. That they had the wrong person; and her story had not changed even when they had begun to hit her, when they had begun to punch her. When they had threatened her life, telling her that if she didn't tell them what she wanted to know, the last thing that she would see, was that small room. Her body thrown into a shallow pit or dumped somewhere for the likes of foxes to pick over. No one knowing that she was gone, no one caring............

No one caring.......that was always the thing wasn't it.......she had a family that pushed her away. That for years sent her to one boarding school or another. The first time that she had seen any of them in years, when her brothers had stormed into Alfie's office that fateful morning. And then there was Alfie himself......a man that had claimed he cared, that he loved her; but in the end it had all been a lie. Yet no matter that, at this moment she would give anything to see any of them again. She would love to see Arthur kick open the door and shoot the fucker that was hitting her, right between the eyes; to have her aunt Pol take her into her arms and tell her everything would be alright, just as she would when Arthur, Tommy and John were away at war, and (Y/n) would cry because she missed them. But she knew that none of that would happen; that it was just her against these men, whoever they were. And although Tommy and Alfie didn't deserve her loyalty; Alfie didn't deserve for her to keep her mouth shut about his business; she would do it anyway. For despite everything, despite all the hurt, the feeling of abandonment and not being wanted, she still loved them.......loved them all, especially Alfie; and she would protect them with her life.

"My name is Mary Elizabeth Donovan, you stupid fucking cunt......how many more times do I have to tell you that before it sinks into your obviously tiny mind of yours. I have no idea who (Y/n) Shelby is....no idea who the Shelby's are, or this Alfie Solomons.......you have the wrong woman........" (Y/n) hissed disdainfully, before spitting blood into the thug's face. Her actions earning her a punch that sent her, and the chair she was tied to, to the floor.

"That's enough.........." A voice came. The man that had been hurting her, turning to look at the door.

"We don't want to make the lady unrecognisable do we.........sit her up........" The man continued. (Y/n) suddenly finding herself, chair and all, hauled up from the floor and set back up straight. Her stomach sinking as she looked up at the man. His thin smile making her shudder, before he snapped his fingers, and a little man rushed into the room with another chair, setting it down just across from her, before scurrying back out of the room.

"Do you know who I am.............?" The man, that in (Y/n)'s eyes looked like a rat with a moustache, asked, as he slowly pulled his gloves from his hands.

"I neither know nor give a shit, as to who you are. I have no idea what this fucking idiot here has been talking about. Whoever you think I am, you are wrong........so let me the fuck go............." She spat back; doing her best to not appear as scared as she was.

"I will give you bastard pikkies one thing, you're loyal to one another, despite everything. Tough too.......and, if I may say, really quite beautiful. Its no wonder Alfie wanted you.......if you weren't a gypsy, I would even be interested in you, myself.........." He told her, as he reached out and took some of her hair between his fingers.

"Nothing like having a beautiful, soon to be rather wealthy woman on your arm...........Oh, didn't you know.........." The man smiling as (Y/n)'s brows furrowed at the remark.

"Thomas set up a trust fund for you........at your next birthday, you will have quite the sum of money to your name; probably trying to appease his guilt. You see, no matter how many times you deny it, I know exactly who you are (Y/n) Shelby, I make it my business to know these things; especially when it can be used against the likes of your brothers and Alfie Solomons. And I am going to use you. Alfie is going to give me everything I want, because the fool is in love with you. He will give his entire business to have you back. But if for some reason he refuses, then I am sure that Thomas might be persuaded, to give me what I want, instead. Though for now........Douglas.........." The man explained, before calling out; the little man from before, making his way back into the room.

"Here we are Mister Sabini, sir............." (Y/n) trying to move back in her chair, as Douglas placed a pair of scissors in this Sabini's hand. The breath catching in her throat, as the scissors got closer. Her eyes closing until she heard a sharp snip. Her lids flying open to see some of her hair in Sabini's hand.

"Deliver this to Solomon's, along with the letter........" Sabini continued, handing over the hair and scissors. The thin man then getting to his feet; clicking his fingers again, before she once more felt something cover her mouth and nose. The same odour, as in Edinburgh, all she could smell, all she could taste, before everything around her, went dark.