very long chapter. I worked so hard on this. 

enjoy

XIII

                                 BLACK STAR DAY. It had arrived. Elizabeth had tossed and turned all night, sweating with anxiety, her mind racing with adrenaline, desperate for time to speed up. She'd been thankful when cracks of light began spilling softly in to her room, letting her know that it was an acceptable time to get up. Looking out of her window upon the streets of Small Heath, it was almost like the world outside was completely clueless to the destruction it would be faced with in only a few hours' time. She supposed she would've liked to be oblivious to what was to come, too. Her mind drifted naturally to Tommy. She wondered how long he had been awake for. Had he even slept? She doubted he had. She could imagine he had spent the past few hours silently running through the plan, making sure he hadn't overlooked anything.

She was right. Tommy had been awake for hours, waiting for the crowing of the roosters outside to signal the beginning of the day. His gut was awash with a toxic combination of determination and anxiety, his mind barely able to comprehend the twist in events over the previous twenty-four hours. He couldn't decide whether Elizabeth could be cunning enough to double cross him, but he was in no position to second guess her motives. As much as it pained him, he was relying on Elizabeth's honesty. All it would take to dismantle his entire empire and cost him his family would be one wrong word from Elizabeth's mouth. Despite the lengths he went to in order to make sure his family was self-sufficient, their entire fate lay in the hands of a woman he'd only known for a few weeks. If the situation wasn't so dire it would have almost been laughable.

Polly had been suspicious about Elizabeth from the offset, so her confession gave even more of a blow to Tommy's ego. Tommy had blown off Polly's worries as foolish, diagnosing her gypsy instincts as nothing more than paranoia, refusing to act on the hunch she had. And now Polly could be smug in the knowledge that once again she was right and Tommy was wrong.

Washed and dressed, Tommy stormed in to the Garrison with heavy, purposeful strides, walking straight in to the back room of the derelict pub. Arthur was strewn across the desk, snoring heavily in a booze-fuelled stupor. The small room stunk of alcohol and an empty bottle of whiskey lay on the floor besides Arthur's foot as evidence of his heavy night. Tommy woke him roughly, sending him home to get bathed and dressed. "Today's the day brother. Go home. Get ready." He ordered. Arthur was still too drunk to fully understand the context of Tommy's words, but he recognised the serious tone and complied quickly. Accidentally kicking the whiskey bottle as he stood, he picked up his coat from the floor and left the pub, unknowingly preparing for battle.

Tommy then rounded the corner, walking straight in to John's house. The youngest brother was also the least security conscious, never bothering with locks. He reckoned anybody dumb enough to stroll in to his house uninvited would be cut to ribbons as punishment, and the devilment inside of him secretly relished the thought. Storming up the stairs and dodging unruly children, Tommy hesitated outside the bedroom door, shouting John's name. When John only offered mumbled responses back, he swung the door open impatiently. "John, I've told you to keep those doors locked. I could have been anyone." He ignored the sight of John and Esme tangled up beneath the sheets, knowing a reaction would only bring a smirk to John's face. "You need to get ready, John. Big day ahead." Tommy ordered, staring blankly at the pair. Esme began to protest, wanting more time alone with John. "Make sure he's done you by nine." Tommy answered smartly, walking away.

Though he didn't want to admit it out loud, or even to himself, the new plan gave him a secure sense of confidence. He now felt as though he was ten steps of the game. And he was ready to unleash Hell upon both Kimber and Inspector Campbell.

Polly stood anxiously in the kitchen, clutching on to her rosary beads with quaking hands. Lost in her own thoughts and fears, she didn't hear the front door open or Tommy's footsteps as they neared. "Dear Lord, make this day pass well. Let none get hurt, and let them who do not Shelbys. Watch John because he has many depending on him. Watch Arthur because he's as likely to hurt himself as anyone else. Watch Thomas - I know how he is, but he does what he does for us, I think. Amen." She crossed herself with her eyes closed, still silently pleading for mercy upon her family. She couldn't bear the thought of any of her kin being ripped away from her. A pain as great as that would surely tear her heart in two. As she regained control of her breathing and opened her eyes, she startled at Tommy's presence in the doorway. Slightly embarrassed to have been caught questioning Tommy's methods, and knowing that since the war Tommy didn't believe in religion of any kind, Polly flushed. "I used to do that every single day when you boys were at war. When you came back, I never thought I'd have to do it again." She explained, her dark eyes swimming with sadness and premature grief.

"This is the last time you'll have to do it." Tommy's attempt at reassurance was touching to Polly, who nodded in gratitude. They both knew that the way their family operated meant they could never be guaranteed safety, but to keep Tommy at ease Polly bit her tongue and headed over to the stove. She took the teapot off the fire, instead opting for something much stronger.

Content in the knowledge that the rest of his family were up and ready, Tommy headed straight for the suit shop. It might have seemed bizarre to anybody else that Tommy's one priority was making sure he was donning an expensive, tailor made suit before fighting a bloody battle. But Tommy felt it made perfect sense. When they returned from war, Tommy had taken pride in spending all of his money on his appearance. They had a shabby house, sure, and maybe they did live off whiskey and cigarettes with very little food, but they always looked the part. In any crowd you could spot a Shelby from a mile off; their suits, their shoes and their hair all tell-tale signs.

He stood waiting for his suit to be brought to him, his mind still running over the finer details of the plan. And then, he sensed it. A gypsy instinct he was sure Polly would be proud of, he felt Inspector Campbell's presence before it had been announced. Reaching for his gun and removing the safety in a flash of controlled movement, he turned slowly.

"I'm unarmed." Inspector Campbell chided him, a smug smile dancing across his face. The day he had waited for was finally here, and he couldn't wait to sit back and watch it all unfold. He definitely had no intentions of shooting Thomas before he could witness the ruin of his empire. "As you know, Mr. Shelby, we found your guns." He bragged. "So, any deal we might have had before this is now off."

"I take it you'll be leaving Birmingham then, Inspector." Tommy answered evenly. "You have what you came for." He stepped toward the shop worker, accepting his suit without a word.

It wasn't often that Chester Campbell felt like he had the upper hand, so he couldn't resist dangling a carrot above Thomas Shelby's head, urging him to take the bait. He wanted the gangster to crack and show a sign of weakness. "You still don't know how we found them, do you?"

"You got lucky." Tommy responded simply. Giving up the guns was a painful part of this newly devised plan, but Tommy knew it was a price he had to pay. He wasn't sure he had ever hated a man the way he hated Campbell. He was an arrogant hypocrite and, to put it mildly, a bastard. To some degree, he reminded Tommy of the Cavalry he and his fellow soldiers had hated so much during the war.

"Lucky indeed," Campbell fumed, loathing Tommy's ability to stay so cool. "My name has been put forward on the new year's honours list, along with some brilliant members of my team. And you," he sneered. "you Peaky Blinders devils, you'll be brought to justice one way or another." He stepped closer to Tommy. "Mark my words." Each word was emphasised with force, his Belfast accent still ringing in Tommy's ears as he walked away.

Despite her brain being fully wired and her body being wide awake, it was taking Elizabeth so long to get ready. Her clothes seemed unnaturally heavy and her limbs felt as though they'd been weighed down with lead. Her body and soul ached for some kind of normality. She wondered what it would be like to wake up each morning and not be filled with dread, anxiety or guilt.

Elizabeth was terrified that there was a detail she had missed, or that Kimber's plan might have changed. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as she began to panic, painful palpitations spreading like wildfire. She took a seat on the edge of her bed, clutching on to her chest and trying to control her breathing.

Polly had done nothing but pray all morning. The Shelby's were not destined for the quiet life, she knew that, but she hoped they had luck and Christ on their side that day. She sat with Ada, gently rocking the tiny babe. "He settles so much better with you." Ada commented, in awe at the lack of wailing.

"He can't smell milk with me, that's why." Polly explained, adoring the baby boy in her arms. "My two were terrors for the tit..." she trailed off, the familiar sting of pain pulsing through her heart. "heart breaks to even think about them." Polly's eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall as she looked between the baby in her arms and Ada. "They took my children because I was weak. They won't take your baby from you, you want to know why? Because Tommy won't let them." Her tone was absolute. She believed with every fibre of her being that Tommy would protect his entire family until his dying breath. "Tommy didn't betray Freddie, Ada. It was Elizabeth who went to the coppers. There's something about today that you need to know, come with me."

Speechless, Ada followed Polly through to the betting den, bouncing her baby on her hip. She had so many questions but she knew better than to push her aunt. With a few moments' patience, she knew that her questions would be answered. She stood outside as Polly walked in to the betting den, greeting the boys with a coy smile. "Can I introduce a new member?" Her flair for dramatics was always something to be admired, Ada thought. Basking in the stunned, confused silence, Polly swung open the betting shop door. Proudly, she linked arms with Ada, dragging her in to the room.

Ada shyly smiled at the sight of her brothers and family, stepping closer to them. Arthur and John rose to their feet, rushing over to greet the baby. "We called him Karl. After Karl Marx." Chortling at the logic, Arthur reached for his cap and placed it on the smiling baby's head. John picked Karl up, allowing Ada to walk over to where Tommy and Polly were stood.

"Welcome home, Ada." Tommy smiled warmly at her. His face was swimming with pride as he observed the family around him. Family was the one thing within his life that he treasured.

"You're forgiven," Ada commented with her usual sass, flushing when she realised her mistake. "Well, Polly said there's nothing to actually forgive you for. I heard it's Elizabeth I should be picking a fight with."

"There will be no picking fights with anyone. Not today." Tommy spoke sternly but quietly, realising the rest of his family still didn't know the plan. "Freddie will be home in a few hours," he ignored Ada's squeal, carrying on as though he hadn't been interrupted. "but until then you go to the Bull Ring, you hear me? You take Karl and you stay there with Pol until one of us comes to get you." It was clear to Ada how desperate Tommy was to protect his family, and she wondered momentarily how she could ever have doubted his intentions.

"How come you haven't had Elizabeth killed yet?" She asked, her childlike curiosity always appearing out of nowhere.

"She was defending her family, the same way we look out for ours. Doesn't mean we have to forgive, but we can understand it, eh?" Tommy answered composedly. It seemed so simple when he said it out loud, but it was like his mind had created concrete barriers, preventing the words from sinking in to his brain. Still, it was convincing enough for Ada who plucked Karl out of John's arms, leaving the betting shop with Polly stood beside her.

Tommy cleared his throat, earning complete silence from everybody in the room in return. "Men, today is the day we take Billy Kimber. We all knew what the plan was, but nobody knew what day it would happen. Today is the day we become official, but first we have to do the dirty work." Roars sounded out through the betting shop, each man gearing himself up, ready for war. "Except," Tommy shouted over the noise, quieting them down again. "the plan has changed." The confusion in the room was palpable, as the men stood waiting for Tommy to explain the new plan.

"Esme and the Lee's are kin," Tommy gestured towards John and Esme with a wave of his hand. "which means we have the help of the Lees. I already spoke with them this morning, and they are on their way to Worcester as planned." Tommy took a breath, knowing the reaction that was to come. "However, Billy Kimber knows about our plan to take the races. He and his men are on their way to Small Heath as we speak. They're bringing the war to us."

Worry and anger spilled over, the men realising that without the Lees' manpower they would surely be outnumbered. "It's going to be a bloody battle. They have men, but we have a Lewis machine gun and some of the best soldiers I have ever worked alongside," Tommy spoke proudly, taking his time to make eye contact with every person in the room. "If anybody objects to taking part, then go. Now. But if you're ready to fight, we meet at the Garrison in fifteen minutes. Make your peace and speak with your families. Now go." Men soon enough flooded out of the betting shop, heading home to either hide from the fight or to offer a potential final goodbye to their families.

"I don't understand, Tom." Arthur spoke solemnly. "How did Kimber know? Even we didn't bloody know." John stood chewing his toothpick, listening in to the conversation. He too was curious to find out how a plan had been ruined that nobody was even aware of.

"Elizabeth," Tommy removed his cap, raking his hand through his dark hair. He knew the scrutiny he was about to recieve. "She was working for Inspector Campbell."

"I've never cut a woman before," John replied, a scowl smeared across his face. "But I will. Just give the order, Tom."

Tommy shook his head. "No. There will be no cutting. She's done us a favour – we're now ten steps ahead of the game, boys. She helped us to orchestrate this. Because Billy Kimber's men will all be here, the Lee's can take Worcester, and as we speak Freddie Thorne is being brought home." John and Arthur jeered in satisfaction. "Right, to the Garrison." Tommy spoke. Altogether they walked down the streets of Small Heath, factory fires casting thick grey smoke in to the air. In France it was easy to be on alert for danger because you could never escape the feeling of being at war. In Small Heath it was different. The cobbled streets they had grown up playing on and corner pubs they spent their teenage years drinking in, didn't look like they belonged in a war. It was surreal to think that in less than an hour's time, the streets of their home town would be a war zone.

"Right, you're all allowed one pint and one chaser on the house. No more than that." Tommy shouted to the crowd of men inside the pub, pleased at the turnout. Since the meeting had dispersed at the betting shop, the number of men had only reduced by one or two. Looking at the faces of his fellow soldiers, he knew he was in the company of good, capable men. Danny Whizbang would be back with Freddie Thorne at his side just before the fighting began. Alongside his brothers, they were two men he trusted implicitly.

Tommy stood at the bar, watching over everyone. As the pub door opened, his head turned instantly. Slowly descending back in to war-mode had made him alert and antsy. He knew he wouldn't sleep well for the considerable future, but it was all going to be worth it. He watched in stunned silence as Elizabeth walked in to the pub, making a beeline towards him. John and Arhur started shouting, their anger at her betrayal coming out in intelligible outbursts.

"Enough, boys." Tommy snapped. "What are you doing here?"

Elizabeth licked her dry lips nervously, awkwardly aware of the attention focused on her. "I came to help you fight Kimber's men." She answered earnestly, anticipating the other Shelby boys to mock her.

"Go home, love." Arthur taunted, walking away from her. "John boy, come 'ere." He dragged John with him, allowing Tommy the privacy he could sense he wanted.

"War isn't something women should get mixed up in." Was Tommy's blunt response. "I thought you'd be long gone by now."

Elizabeth's face dropped. "No, I wanted to make sure things were okay here." The words were bitter in her mouth. She knew she wasn't wanted – she knew Tommy was more than capable of dealing with the situation. But she wanted to be needed. She wanted to help. "I can't leave yet anyway, I'm meeting Campbell this evening. To finish what I started." The words felt distant.

"There's nothing more you can do." Tommy passed her a glass of whisky. The action was civil but everything about his tone was frosty. "To fresh starts." He lifted his glass, proposing a toast. Elizabeth knew he didn't mean a fresh start as in forgiveness. He was telling her to leave, but in true Tommy style he was doing it without using the direct words.

Fighting the tears that threatened to fall, Elizabeth knocked back the liquid, refusing to make eye contact with Tommy. The bar was frantic, full of men trying to gain their courage through the power of alcohol. Elizabeth turned away from Tommy, waltzing behind the bar and chucking on an apron. It was then that she noticed Harry behind the bar, serving the rowdy men. "Harry." She startled, surprised to see him.

"Oh no," he shook his head, sensing her confusion. "I'm just helping out. It's still Arthur's pub." She nodded in understanding, turning to serve one of the men at the bar. Even after the unjust way the Peaky Blinders stole Harry's pub, he was still stood behind the bar helping them out when they needed it. Elizabeth felt the urge to point out Tommy's lack of appreciation to his face, but managed to hold it in.

After a few minutes of steady drinking, Tommy addressed the men in front of him. "Now, men... lots of you were in France. You know that in battles things get fucked up and change all the time. Well, that's the situation we're in now. Except this isn't really a fuck up – this is a planned fuck up. They'll try and come for the pub, break us up for good, and we'll have no help from the law today. But the Garrison belongs to us, right?" Choruses of 'yes' were heard amongst the men, their fighting spirit intensifying under Tommy's influence. "They might have us outnumbered 3:1, but we've got better soldiers and better weapons. They'll be coming down the lane any minute, so let's get ready."

Tommy turned to Curly, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "Curly, if any Shelby man dies here today, you bury us side by side." Curly nodded nervously, dreading the thought of having to bury any of his family. For him, it all seemed far too gruesome and unnecessary. Elizabeth watched the way John and Arthur began to prepare themselves for battle, their postures becoming strong and their faces unwavering. They seemed to embrace danger, Elizabeth thought in awe.

Harry stepped forward, approaching Tommy. "Everybody in this town is afraid of you. Yet everybody wants you to win this war. I think the thing is... you're bad men, but you're our bad men." Elizabeth left the pub, unable to stand in Tommy's presence with the threat of death looming so dangerously close over his head.

The soldier's minute came and went, and then suddenly there were two vehicles making their way down the lane, an army of men leading them. Tommy moved forwards, his brothers flanked by his side. Their guns were slung over their shoulders coolly, their razors glistening in the peaks of their caps.

Elizabeth hid in the tiny alleyway between two houses, allowing the shadows it produced to cover her. She moved so that she had Billy Kimber in her sight, but ensured she could see Tommy. The confrontation led by Billy was chilling, and she desperately tried to search Tommy's face to observe any sign of nerves.

"Just give the order," Arthur mumbled, eyes trained solely on Kimber, yet his body fully tuned in to Tommy.

"If we have to use guns, let's use proper guns." Tommy remarked, smirking at the surprise on Kimber's face. Right on cue, Freddie appeared from the corner with a Lewis machine gun in his hands.

"Sergeant Thorne reporting for duty, sir." The strength of the rivalry the pair had created over time was nothing in comparison to the strength of the bond they felt that day. Freddie Thorne was ready and willing to fight in Tommy's battle, prepared to die for a cause he didn't fully understand.

Both groups of men stood facing each other, fingers lightly dancing over the triggers of their weapons, waiting for their leader to give them the order. It was then that Ada Shelby roughly shoved past the men, barging her way in to the middle of the groups. She was dressed in all black, Karl crying from his position in the pram. Elizabeth felt ice cold fear creep up inside of her as she watched on. "Oh my God," she whispered to herself, grabbing her gun. She sat with wide eyes, monitoring Kimber's men with trepidation. If one of them even made a slight move towards Ada or her baby, she'd pull the trigger instantly.

"I believe you men call this 'No Man's Land'. Most of you were in France," Ada looked between the groups. "so you all know what happens next. I have brothers and a husband here, but you've all got someone at home waiting for you. I'm wearing black in preparation." Karl's cries were escalating, and Elizabeth could feel herself begin to sweat. "I want you to look at me. I want you to all look at me! They'll be wearing black for you. Think about them. Think about them right now. And fight if you want to, but that baby ain't moving nowhere, and neither am I."

For a moment, it was silent. Elizabeth held her breath, hoping that Ada's speech had moved the men as much as it had moved her. Those hopes were dashed when Billy Kimber stepped forward, smirking. "She's right you know, why should all you men die? It should just be the one who's caused it." With a flick of his hand, he lifted his gun and pulled the trigger, hitting Tommy squarely in the chest. Elizabeth's scream is overpowered by the sound of Ada and Danny Whizbang's screams, and John and Arthur's shouting. Elizabeth could barely breathe, everything seemed to be playing in slow motion. Danny moved instantly to cover Tommy, crying out as the second bullet hit him. Freddie screamed at the men not to shoot, terrified for Ada and Karl's safety. He screamed at Ada to move in desperation.

Regaining her composure and trying to see through her blurred vision, Elizabeth raised her gun, not noticing Tommy do the same thing. Together, Tommy and Elizabeth pulled their triggers, their bullets ripping through Kimber's body and killing him instantly.

"Enough!" Tommy roared, distracting the men who were looking for the second shooter. "Kimber and me fought this battle one on one. It's over. Go home to your families." After a second of hesitation, Kimber's men retreated, relieved that they weren't lying as corpses on the cobbled street, lost to their families as Ada had warned them. Ada ran towards Freddie, pulling him in to a passionate kiss, Karl now lying silently in the pram beside them.

Then all of the attention turned towards Tommy, who was starting to struggle with the bullet that lay in his chest. "Get him in to the Garrison." Arthur ordered curtly, grabbing one of Tommy's arms as John grabbed the other. "This is gonna sting brother." Arthur explained, signalling for men to hold either side of Tommy down. Jerimiah grabbed his forceps, expertly manoeuvring the tool around the bullet hole. Tommy screamed and shouted at the pain, trying to push against the force of the bodies holding him back.

"I still have the knack!" Jerimiah exclaimed triumphantly, holding the bullet in his hand. Arthur blindly grabbed a bottle of alcohol, pouring it generously on the wound. Tommy screamed in to Arthur's chest at the burning sensation, his breathing becoming laboured. Elizabeth could hear the shouting from outside the Garrison, but knew the shouting was better than silence. As much as she wanted to step inside and check on Tommy, she knew she was no longer wanted. Choked with emotion, she walked back to Ms. Winters' flat to collect her belongings, praying and wishing for Tommy to be okay.

After regaining composure and drowning himself in enough alcohol to numb the pain, Tommy was back on his feet.

Danny's body was laid out in the snug of the Garrison. Men, women and children gathered around it to pay their respects. "He will be buried properly." John announced, grateful that it was Danny who took the second bullet and not Tommy. To him, Danny was now a hero.

"On a hill," Tommy agreed, "he would like that." A bottle of alcohol was passed from person to person, everyone taking a swig in commemoration. Curly's tears flowed freely, unable to comprehend the loss of life he had just witnessed. "May we all die twice." Tommy looked over at Freddie as he took a drink from the nearly empty bottle, smiling contently at the sight of his brother-in-law being back home. After a moment of respectful silence, the people filled out of the snug in to the main room of the Garrison. In a rare display of affection, Tommy placed a hand on Freddie's back as they exited the snug, giving him a single pat as they separated ways. Alcohol seemed the best way to cope with the strange mixture of victory and sadness, as bottle after bottle was emptied.

"As of today," Tommy spoke loudly, halting all other conversation in the pub. "only the Sabini's and the Solomon's are bigger than us. While Kimber's men were here, the Lee's were able to take their pitches. I think that's something to celebrate, ey?"

As he watched the people around him drowned their sorrows in alcohol, Polly approached him. "She'll be meeting that copper soon."

"I know." He answered calmly.

"She fell for you for real, you know that, don't you?" Polly asked him gently.

Tommy fished a coin from his pocket. "Heads I go after her, tails I don't." He flipped the coin, allowing Polly to see it first. She watched him curiously as he tilted his hand and looked at the result.

Tails.

It wasn't what he was expecting. Perhaps he was hoping the coin would tell him to chase after her, at least then he'd have some form of explanation for doing something so out of character.

Polly looked at Tommy without judgement or malice. "If you're not happy with the result, then that's the answer itself."

"Fuck it." He exhaled, standing up from the bar stool. He wasn't going to sit around and mope.

†

The train station was dark and eerily quiet. Elizabeth briefly recalled the day she arrived in Birmingham and how busy the station had been. She remembered almost running towards the Unic taxi cab, desperate to reach it before one of her fellow passengers. She reflected on the excitement of that night and how little she knew about Small Heath then. She thought about what her life used to be like; a time when she didn't know a Thomas Shelby, or had her heart tainted by him.

She placed her big luggage case on the ground, waiting for Inspector Campbell to show up. Her purse was poised perfectly on her shoulder, her pistol buried within it. She was wearing the elegant outfit she had worn when she arrived to Birmingham. Appearance wise, she was leaving exactly how she had arrived. However, internally she felt like a completely different person.

She was heading to London, desperate to return to the safety of the town she knew. After her experience in Small Heath, she was determined to lead a quiet life, staying well out of the way of gangsters and criminals.

"Ms. Young," Inspector Campbell stood metres away, not allowing himself to get any closer. His face with tight with fury, his eyes ablaze. Elizabeth glanced at the gun that was pointed straight towards her, her eyes widening in surprise. "It seems there has been some miscommunication between us."

"Indeed." She replied, fetching her gun out of her purse. Stalemate. If he pulled his trigger, she would pull hers.

"I know what you did," Campbell snarled. "and I know who you did it with." Elizabeth's face flushed in shame. "And now you've betrayed the Crown, for that wee scoundrel!" his voice echoed throughout the train station, his anger a white-hot heat between them. "For what purpose? Because from what I've been told he has as good as banished you from Birmingham."

"For love," Elizabeth snarled, tears falling from her eyes. "something you would know nothing about. My plan was always to end up here, with a gun to your head." She watched as his eyes widened in shock. "You killed my father, you tortured him to death," Elizabeth screamed, barely able to see through her tears, "I lost my whole family because of you. Fuck," Elizabeth gritted out. "you." She pulled the trigger, loving the echoing of the gun and the sound of Campbell shouting in pain. As evil as it made her feel, in that moment in time it was cathartic. She watched as he grabbed his leg, thick red blood coating his hands. She walked closer, pointing her gun at him again. She ignored the inhumane temptation to sit and watch him suffer. It would be easier to just kill him quickly.

"Don't." A voice sounded from behind her. Elizabeth could have recognised that voice anywhere.

She turned to see Tommy walking towards her. "You can't kill him." He explained calmly, ignoring the Inspector's cries of agony. "He's named you as an operative, which means if he dies you'll be the first suspect. You've got no alibi."

"I don't need an alibi, they'll have to find me first." Elizabeth stared at him blankly. She wondered why he was protecting her when he'd come just to make sure she left. It was confusing and overwhelming, but then again everything about Tommy Shelby was.

Tommy looked at her, hypnotising her with his gorgeous blue eyes. "You won't be hard to find when you're living in Small Heath." She had a thousand questions but after a few seconds of failing to produce one coherently, she stood silently. "But, if you're staying in Small Heath then we need to work on that aim. I take it hitting Billy Kimber was a fluke."

At a loss for words, Elizabeth picked up her bag and followed Tommy away from the train station. She ignored the calls of Chester Campbell, just like he would have ignored her father's.

Her mind flashed to Arthur and John's reaction at the Garrison, grimacing at the thought of coming face to face with them again. "Do you not think everything might be a bit simpler if I just go?"

Tommy stopped, looking at her with a ghost of a smile on his face. It was so faint that Elizabeth couldn't tell whether or not she was imagining it. "Do I look like a man who wants a simple life?"