𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 38

"What are you doing here?" Polly asked Lizzie as she finally entered the den. Florence smoked a cigarette and glanced at her mother. "On Mondays i do the inventory, make sure nobody's dipping their hand." She stated. "Well it's my job now," Polly said. "I'm back. And there's going to be nobody dipping their hand with me here."

To their surprise, Linda entered and offered them a smile. "I said to Arthur while i'm in this fucking place, i want something to keep my mind busy." She said.

"So she swears now?" Florence looked up from the newspapers.

"What, you're gonna take bets?" Polly hummed. "I've always been able to do addition and subtraction without pen and paper, Polly." Linda said. "But i'll need a telephone. Apparently we have special clients who take bets by telephone."

"Linda," Polly said. "This is a betting shop,"

"Look, Arthur said yes, Tommy said yes." She said. Florence chuckled to herself.

The brunette put her feet on the table and took a deep breath. "How would God feel about you working here today, Linda? Do you have his permission— did he say yes?" She tormented. Linda raised a brow. "I'm not partaking in anything illegal so that doesn't matter." She retorted.

"Of course," Florence raised her brows.

"The rule is that door should always remained locked until 9am." Finn said as he walked in. They all looked toward him and almost laughed. "What're you doing here?" Florence asked. Before he could answer, Polly spoke.

"Right boy, where are you going?" she stopped him. "Well, Arthur's not coming in today he's taking the day off, so.."

"So what?"

"So today Tommy said that i'm in charge." he told them. "Sorry you're in charge?" They all looked at each other and Florence stared at him with sympathy. Nobody ever took him seriously.

"Yeah that's what he said."

"Ladies let's give our boss a first day he'll never forget."

"Oh leave him alone." Florence defended.

-

"Florence Gray," Isiah grinned as the girl walked into the Garrison, joining him at the bar. "Hello." she smiled. "Whiskey please Harry."

"Where've you been?" he asked.

"Sorting out Arthur, keeping him alive." she shrugged. "How's everyone holding up, how's Micheal?"

"Michael's fine, still in hospital, Arthur's still grieving. Everyone else seems fine." she shrugged. "And how are you?" he asked, grazing his fingers over her shoulder.

Florence thought for a moment. "I've not killed anyone yet." she said jokingly, shrugging

"Well, that's a first." he teased. She slapped his arm, scowling. "Don't make yourself the one i kill, Siah." She said. Isiah smiled. "You'd never do such a thing. At least not to me." He said. "Well, at least I hope you wouldn't." He grinned.

Florence matched his smile. "No, not to you." She said. "Unless you piss me off." She joked, watching his face fall slightly as he was unable to tell if she was truly joking or not. "Relax. I don't hurt the people close to me." She said. "Not if they haven't betrayed me. I'm not all bad."

"Good. Wouldn't want to meet the end of your gun." Isiah said honestly. "Don't worry, you won't." She assured. "Not yet," she enjoyed tormenting him far too much.

He stared at her blankly.

"I'm kidding." She said again and listened to the breath he had been holding release from his lungs. "Stop with the joking. It ain't funny."

"It is a bit." She offered.