𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 29

Florence walked from the Garrison, hugging her clothes to her body as the cold air burnt her skin. She looked up at the dark sky, sighing. Florence walked on the darker side of the path, watching her steps. There was something about walking alone that she liked. She liked the silence of the night and the way the cold air nipped at her skin, making her skin burn ever so slightly. She liked the slight moment of peace she got when being alone. It wasn't often she felt at peace — not anymore.

"Oi," someone shouted. She turned hesitantly, looking at a boy who stood on the wall. "Who are you?" she asked. Florence observed him carefully.

"Was about to ask you the same thing." he said, throwing his cigarette on the floor and standing on it. "What's it to you?" she frowned whilst looking him up and down. "Well i think you're gorgeous."

"I'm flattered." she said sarcastically, going to turn away but stopping when he grabbed her wrist. She looked up, trying to take a deep breath. "Let go." she looked at him.

"I only want to talk."

"Yeah, well, i don't want to talk to you." Florence squinted. He laughed at her, pushing her up against the wall. "I'm giving you five seconds to let go of me." She warned. "Or what, eh?" he asked. "Or i'll hand Thomas Shelby a bullet with your name engraved on it." she whispered.

"Tommy Shelby doesn't scare me," he mocked.

Florence nodded slowly, reaching carefully for the knife she had tucked in her waist band. His hand grabbed it first, placing it on her face. "No," he laughed. "Don't—" he hissed.

"See, you Shelby's think you run the city." he began. "We do." she said cockily. "And i'm not a Shelby, i'm a Gray." she corrected.
"Polly's daughter." he nodded. "Well, one day you are all going to burn to the ground, with this hell of a city."

"I'm certain we will," She agreed. "Now are you going to use that knife or?"

The boy slowly pointed it toward her stomach, pressing lightly. "Go on, do it, don't be a coward." she taunted. In reality, she didn't care if the boy did stab her, she wanted to see him do it. Florence wasn't scared.

"You can't do it, can you?" she asked. "I can." he stuttered.

"Go on." she teased. "Fucking do it. You'd be doing me a favour."

The boy cringed as he pressed harder, slowly piercing her skin. She gasped, looking up. He pushed it further, his eyes wide when blood began pouring.

"Well done, Joseph." she whispered. "How do you know my name?" he asked, stepping back.

"Does that really matter? You've just stabbed me, you won't live till Friday."

The boy scurried off and she gasped again, placing her hand around the skin and walking as quick as she could to the den, picking up the phone. 

She dialled Tommys number.

"Hello?" he asked. "Tom, i've ran into some trouble." she winced as the sat on the chair. "I need your help, i'm in the betting den."

"What's happened?"

"Tommy don't ask questions just come help me!"

"I'm with Isiah, we'll be there." he said before the line went dead.

She grabbed a bottle of booze that sat on the table, chugging it. Tommy and Isiah soon burst through the door.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Isiah asked, looking at her clothes which were slowly becoming blood soaked.

She scoffed. "I don't like stupid questions."

Tommy kneeled down. "Who?" he asked. "Joseph Roberts, lives on Garrison lane." she said, wincing as he pulled her shirt up slightly.

He quickly grabbed a cloth from the kitchen, taking the booze and soaking it. "Right, this is going to hurt, Isiah, hold her down." he looked at the boy. Isiah stood behind the chair, wrapping his arms around the front of her shoulders.

Tommy carefully pulled the small knife from her stomach and she screamed in pain, grabbing Isiah's arms. The boy cringed, closing his eyes.

Tommy then held the cloth over the wound and she hissed, covering her mouth. "Mum and Micheal can not know about this" she told the two. "And i mean it, they can not know."