𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 40

Tommy was cautious as he watched the Italians come from the van, one by one. Each of them holding a gun. He looked up at Florence who stood on the floor above. She gave him a nod and he began firing his own gun, managing to send two to the floor and the others behind the van to hide.

"Come on," Luca whispered to his men, urging them to come from hiding. They began shooting . Tommy kneeled down before running into the apartment, grabbing the gun from above the shelf and loading it.

The men inched up the staircases, their guns at the ready, following the same path they had seen Tommy take.

Tommy walked up the metal fire escape, moving quickly as bullets were fired, bouncing off any surface they came into contact with. He ran through bedsheets that had been hung outside to dry, avoiding any shot that was fired his way.

"Florence, go!" he urged. The girl turned and stepped through the smashed window, running down the stairs and staying put.
He walked into another room. "Get always from the window, right, stay inside and stay down—" he warned the people. "Everyone stay indoors! Stay down! By order of the peaky blinders!" Tommys voice echoed through the building and Luca stood, looking around.

Tommy contineud running.

Luca and his men scanned the area, slowly and quietly creeping around corners. They halted when seeing a young boy stood by a covered window. Florence breathed heavily as she watched the boy walk away from where she'd been hiding and toward Luca.

"Come here," Luca hissed, pulling out coins. He grabbed the boy. "Which way, which way did they go?" he asked. The boy pointed down — lying, of course.

Luca let go of the boy, handing him the money. He sent two men upstairs and one with him.

The boy returned to Florence and she patted his shoulder, slipping two more coins into his hand. "Thank you," she whispered, leaving through the fire exit and cautiously climbing the stairs.Tommy stood around the corner, quietly loading the gun, heading the voices approach. He ran into the next room and outside the fire escape.

He looked out at the man walking alone, shooting him as he turned.

"Luca let's get out of here—" one of the Italian's spoke. "No he knows the streets we don't. We have him cornered, we've got him."

Tommy went to examine one of the men he had shot and, just to be sure, shot him a second time. This time in the head. And to his surprise, Luca ran from a corner and began firing his way.

Florence leaned her gun onto the wall, firing down at Luca, resulting in him hiding behind a wall. He looked up at her and she smiled sarcastically. "Always hiding— always fucking taking cover! Coward!" She teased.

"I know you own the cops in this dirty fucking town, but you'll be dead before they get here. Come on, you and me Tommy!" he dropped his gun.

Tommy stepped out, looking at him. "Luca i sent that girl up there once glance and she will shoot your head off," Tommy said, his hat covering his face.

A gunshot fired behind Luca and Police emerged, shouting. "Stop what you're doing!"

-

Tommy watched as Charles played with his toys and Polly kept her eyes on Tommy.
"Do you know, i remember the very first time you head butted a police officer?" she spoke. "But after you got your OBE from the king i didn't think there'd be a next time."

He took the glass from her hand that held a freshly poured whiskey.

"What do you think you're gonna tell Arthur?" She asked, standing at the window.

"I will tell him the truth." He said honestly.
"They're here—" she said, watching the car outside. The door opened and then closed. Footsteps were carried over the wooden floor. "So, what the fuck happened today, Tom?" Arthur asked, sitting at the table. "We all heard. Shooting in Artillery Square."

"Yeah, There was. Today i killed three men Florence injured one. Now our enemies are down to eight." Tommy explained. Arthur looked up. "I suppose they, er, i suppose they took you by surprise did they?"

"No, i knew they were coming."

"Just after Christmas i received a letter," Polly interrupted. "From Luca Changretta offering to spare my son if i gave up Tommy. And i gave Tommy up."

"Because that was the plan that Polly and I agreed on. I knew that Luca would want to pull the trigger himself. So i used the set up as bait to bring him in." Tommy added. Florence face dropped when she realised that must of meant that Micheal knew they were going to kill Tommy, but said nothing.

"You are a fucking idiot Tom."

"Look, i didn't get Luca but i got three. All right? That's it. That's what happened," he looked at Charles who had walked in. "Come here you—" he sighed, picking the boy up.

"Aye, but he's right, I thought you'd gone soft." Johnny laughs. "So you got three?"

"Yeah i got three."

"Well i drink to you, Tom, you mad bastard." Charlie spoke.

Polly slammed her glass on the table. "And what have i told you about going around trying to get your head blown off?" Polly shouted at the girl. She looked up at her mother, not phased.

"It's my job, mum, it's what i do." Florence sighed.

"Not anymore it's fucking not!" she hissed. Florence leaned back, rolling her eyes. "Polly, Florence is a necessary part of my business," he spoke. "When i need her, she's there. She doesn't second guess me or herself, and she does as she's told."

"So what? You want to get my daughter arrested for killing people?"

"No, Pol, cause if i wanted to do that, i would of got her arrested when i got the rest of the family arrested, wouldn't i?" he licked his lips.

A smug grin sat on Florence's face.

"I can't have that girl sat in a cell." he told Polly. "We all need her."