𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟎𝟎𝟒

Francesca sat in the betting den, helping Finn with the supposed school work he had been given that nobody else seemed to want to help him with. "Alright?" She heard Tommy as he entered the kitchen. "Are you armed?" Polly asked him.

Francesca continued to work with Finn but listened to what was being spoken about.

"No." Tommy answered.

"Then i'll tell you. Ada and Freddie Thorne were married today— they defied your orders. They haven't left the city." Polly explained. Francesca choked on her saliva and cupped a hand over her mouth.

Finn looked up at her. "What's up, Franny?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Don't you worry about it." She patted his shoulder.

"I'll deal with it." Polly said. "Thomas— I'll deal with it."

"Where are they?" He asked. "Freddie's comrades have safe houses.. why do you want to know?" She questioned. "I want to send them flowers why do ya think?" He spat. Polly sighed. "Would it be so bad if they stayed?" She asked bluntly.

"I promised i'd run Freddie out of town."

"Promised who?"

Tommy looked toward the den and looked at his two siblings — he hesitantly closed the doors. Francesca sighed in frustration and continued to help Finn. "Why do they always have to do that?" He asked.

"Which?" Francesca frowned.

"Be so secret? I feel left out all the time." Finn complained. She tutted. "One day you'll be included too, Finny. You're just too young at the minute." She assured him. "And do you want to know something." She whispered. He nodded. "I can't wait for you to be in the family meetings."

He smiled widely at her. "Really?"

"Really." She confirmed.

—

Francesca walked down the stairs and noticed Tommy sat alone with his gun on the table. "What're you doing with that? You know that Finn likes to take the guns.. he plays with them like they're toys." She hovered at the door.

"How much did you hear?" He ignored her.

"What're ya talking about?" She laughed.

"Earlier today with me and Aunt Pol. How much did you hear?" He asked. She sat opposite him. "Nothing gets said around near without you knowing about it. So don't act like you don't have a clue—"

"I heard enough to know that you'll soon run Ada out of town." She said. "You need to learn that there are bigger things to be worried about than who Ada chooses to be the father of her child." She said. "I know Polly told you— I also know that you went to the theatre whilst Ada was there. I also know that you went after Freddie with a gun after you spoke to Polly." She stared at him. "And if you continue to try and control Ada's life like she's some puppet on strings, we will lose her."

"Don't be ridiculous." He scoffed.

"I think I know our sister the best out of all of us. It was me who spent four years with her whilst you lot were away, fighting in France. I know that if she was given the chance to leave this place, she'd take it in a heartbeat." She told him. "And if you continue to try and murder her fucking husband, she'll leave and we could never hear from her again."

Silence for a few moments.

"And if that's what happens— the blame will fall right into your lap. Everybody will resent you, Thomas. You know that. You know that everybody around here finds an excuse to hold something against you no matter if you're to blame or not. Guilty by association? Your fault. That's how it's been since you became the one in charge."

"What about you? You don't seem to be like everyone else."

"Because i'm not everyone else. I know better than to point the finger at one man when there is more people to blame. But this time— I can't defend you and I simply won't. Ada is our sister. If anybody deserves the chance to be happy, it's her." She spoke.

Tommy tutted and stared into the fire. "It surprises me that you're still in this place. I'd have thought you would have fled years ago." He said.

"It's not my time yet." She said. "Though I hear that London is the place to be at the moment. It sounds like my kind of place." She grinned, wanting to make it less serious after the lecture she had given him.

"You'd fit right in with the cockneys." He matched her expression.

"I'll pretend that you haven't just insulted me as if it were nothing." She smiled. Tommy chuckled and leaned his head back. "I was beginning to think that you hated me, Fran." Tommy sighed.

She crossed her legs. "How could I ever hate you, Tom? You're my big brother and I know better. I know i'm childish but I'm mature enough to realise that people make mistakes." She said. "It was you who held my hand when I began walking, Tommy. It was you who defended me when John and I would fight— whilst everybody else shrugged it off because we were the same age."

Tommy looked at her, hardly remembering the things she was telling him.

"I appriciate you a lot more than you care to realise." Francesca sighed. "You're too busy shooting guns and slicing people up to notice. You know that i'll defend you when I feel it's necessary but you also know that I'll do the exact opposite when I feel you've done wrong. Nobody is perfect— god, look at the family we come from. But, Tommy, you're not the worst of us. You're just easy to blame." She hummed.

Her words surprisingly made sense. He was the easiest to blame because he allowed it to happen.

"Arthur's excuse is that he went mad after the war. Polly sympathises with him. John's excuse is that he's a few years behind— he forgets how old he is. But Polly has no excuse for you. Because you're in charge, you should know better. That's it, right? That's why you get blamed for everything?"

"That's right."

"So stop giving in so easily, Thomas." She said seriously. "You're Tommy Shelby— the people are scared of you. Though I don't know why.. I think you are too big for your boots." She laughed. "But nevertheless, we're supposed to be scared of you. So get up off your arse and be the big, scary Thomas Shelby that people think you are."

Tommy looked at her thankfully. He didn't know she was capable of having such a conversation with anybody. She was a lot more mature than he had cared to see.

He dragged himself up from his chair and patted her shoulder. "Never would I have thought it would have been you, my little sister, giving me advice."

—

Francesca walked through to the pub that she believed Freddie's men usually hung about in. Her heels echoed against the wooden floor and she held her chin up. "I'm looking for Lenny Karlson." She spoke.

A few men turned their heads to her before turning to look at one man — he was ginger and sat with a half empty beer on the table.

She walked over to their table and sat down. "Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind giving us a moment." She said, "i'll be two minutes— if that." She assured with a smile.

They exchanged glances.

"I said go!" She snapped.

They did as she said and walked from the table to the bar, watching their friend with close eyes.

Francesca cleared her throat. "I'm Francesca Shelby," she held out her hand. Lenny hesitantly shook it and nodded once. "Lenny." He greeted.
"I know." Frances shrugged, "you work with Freddie Thorne. I want to know where him and my little sister reside." She said.

He looked at her and said nothing.

"I know you're aware— I know you have safe houses. So tell me where she is." She said, slipping him a ten pound note. "I'll tell nobody where I got the location and I'll tell nobody that I found them." She whispered.

He again said nothing.

Francesca grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in. "Tell me where the fuck Ada Shelby is." She hissed, "or i'll send don't John to cut you a smile." She threatened.

"Pathetic. Threatening me with ya brothers. I ain't scared of Peaky Blinders." He hissed back.

"Fine. Not John— how about Francesca." She pulled her pocket knife from up her sleeve and held it against his cheek. "Tell me where the fuck they are." She said. "Or I swear to the lord above that i'll cut you till your own mother can't recognise her son."

His eyes widened and he swallowed hard, holding her wrist. "The house next to the Richardson's home— you know, the one that you have to go down all those steps to get to? The basement?"

Francesca withdrew the knife and took her money back. "There we go." She stood and smoothed her dress with her hand.

—

Francesca knocked against the old door a few times. "Fuck off." Freddie shouted.

"It's me you bastard." Francesca shouted back. "I've came alone— i've got food and flowers if you'll take them from me. I'm not coming on behalf of Polly or Tommy. I'm coming because I want to see my little sister." She spoke, gripping the basket of food.

She could hear mumbles inside which sounded like pleading.

And, soon enough, the door opened up.

"Oh, Franny." Ada sighed with relief and hugged her. "How did you find us?"

Francesca stepped inside. "I know a few people." She shrugged. "But once I walk away from this place, i'll not utter a single word to anyone about where you reside." She said. She placed the basket and the flowers on the table. "So Freddie." She turned to the man.

He didn't move.

"What were you thinking when you got my little sister pregnant?" Francesca asked seriously. "Did you think it would go down well?"

"I didn't plan it, Francesca." He sighed.

"Well now Ada is trapped in this pathetic basement whilst your child grows inside of her." Francesca looked around with disgust.

"It isn't his fault." Ada tried.

"Is it your fault then, is it?" Francesca raised her brows. Silence. "Ada— I spoke to Thomas and i've told him that if he continues to act in such ways, he'll run you out of the city." She said.

Ada shrugged. "What would you care, anyway? You defend his every move."

"When I believe he hasn't done wrong. This family is far too harsh on him— he's the same as us. He's still human. But, for your information, I told him that if you left because of him, i wouldn't defend him." She explained. "I'm offended that you think I would."

Ada exhaled. "Frances, me and Freddie are leaving." She winced, "we've found a place down in London. It isn't much but it's enough for the three of us. Me, Freddie and the baby." She placed a hand on her bump.

Francesca laughed with pity. "And when did you plan on telling any of us— or were you just going to leave and have us wondering if Freddie had bloody murdered you." She asked.

Freddie shook his head and sat down.

"Francesca, it's not like that. You know it isn't."

"So what is it then? The reason you're here is because your husband and our brother couldn't get over their childish disagreement. So now you want to flee? Leave behind everything you've ever known without saying a word?" She accused.

Ada didn't want to argue.

Francesca pulled out a stack of money and threw it on the table. "Remember who your family is, Ada. Congratulations on the wedding." She stormed out.

Ada stood, playing with her hands as she stared at the door her sister had left out of.

Francesca stormed through Small Heath, frustrated with her sisters decision to disappear. If she hadn't visited, nobody would have ever known. Maybe Polly — but she wouldn't tell a soul.

Francesca had never liked Freddie Thorne. Not since she noticed the way he was looking at her when he was twelve and she was nine. Yes, it was only a three year gap. But at those ages, it was weird. She was still a baby and he was a teenager. That's how Francesca seen it. He had been preying on her ever since they were children.

And in spite of Tommy, decided to continue once the war was finished.

Francesca wasn't one to get involved in anybody's relationship — but when it came to Ada and Freddie, she didn't like to. She felt Freddie was a man of too many secrets.

©-shelbysecret-
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Authors Note:
- bit of a short one
- franny's hatred for freddie is valid i swear
- not proof read
- REMINDED: please don't be a ghost reader. vote if you can, and please consider following my account as you can stay updated on updates and new fics etc

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