V. 1919

"Vivian, get up, come on, get ready." Vivian rolled on over, now facing her sister, seeing her sister in a white dress, it was their mother's. Vivian's eyes were sore and still adjusting to the light. She rubbed her eyes, having the feeling they were glued shut.

Ada's bump was showing and every day she got more and more cravings, which meant when Ada was home she'd go through Vivian's secret stash, which was the worst thing about the pregnancy. But she couldn't blame Ada, so she blamed the demon inside her. "Ready for what?" Vivian groaned, still not getting up, despite her sister throwing clothes over her.

"I'm getting married. Today." She spoke, now getting shoes, trying to find a decent pair. Vivian only hoped she wouldn't find the blue high heeled shoes that she had stole from Ada a few months ago. They were stuffed in the back of the wardrobe

"Who you marrying?" Vivian groaned finally pushing herself up, rubbing her eyes. She stretched her arms, feeling the stiffness.

"Freddie, you idiot." She chuckled at her sister. I was too early for this, she thought as she recalled.

"Oh yeah, forgot about that." Vivian said, seeing the dress Ada had picked out for her, and the shoes, God were they uncomfortable. But it was her sister's day, so she must suck it up and get on with it. "Why am I going? And why so early?"

"Stop asking so many bloody questions. You're my sister and I want you to be there . . . and we need like a witness, so come and get ready." Ada then left, leaving the youngest sister to adjust to the early morning light that shone through her window. She stood up, stumbling a bit at first.

Once dressed, she took a minute before she had to go out and start the day. Just breathe but it was no use. She didn't sleep well last night, as her insomnia kept her up all night. She stared at the darkness under her eyes, and then set eyes on her hair. She ran her fingers through her thick hair, but every so often she'd get her finger caught in a knot. She cursed herself for not brushing it before bed. Eventually, she pulled two pieces from the front to the back, out if her face.

And on mornings like these she needed a cure, so she could carry on with her day, Tokyo. But she couldn't be high on her sister's day but she also couldn't be a depressed pile of shit too, and high was better that upsetting Ada, so drugs it was.

"Finally. Come on." Ada grabbed her hand, as she dragged her sister down the lane. Ada now had a veil and a bouquet to finish the wedding look. They ran, mostly Ada and Vivian was being pulled along. The whole way she was smiling, Vivian was happy for her sister. At one point, she thought Ada might pass out, but she didn't stop. She applauded her sister for running in heels, pregnant too. She didn't trip once.

"Ada, what the hell." They heard Freddie say as Ada ran ahead, Vivian slowing down, giving them some space. She didn't listen to them, not wanting to hear some sappy crap this early in the fucking morning, she didn't even know what time it was, but she knew it was too fucking early when there was no one out on the streets.

"I love you" they kissed. It was romantic, but too romantic for Vivian, turning away from the couple, which seemed to be something she did every time she saw them, which was not often. "Still here" Vivian muttered, but the couple did not hear.

"I love you too. The more they try and stop us, the madder I'll be."

She turned back when she heard her name, seeing Freddie looking between his future wife and future sister-in-law. "What's Vivian doing here?" Her future brother-in-law questioned, with a confused impression. The younger sister shrugged, not too bothered as Ada went to answer.

"You said we need a witness, and I wanted it to be Vivian. Someone special like my maid of honour, if she'd like to be." Ada spoke to Freddie before directing the question at her sister, catching Vivian off guard, "if she would like to be my maid of honour?" She smiled, she was happy.

"Of course." The sisters shared a loving look. Vivian always knew Ada wanted a big wedding, celebrating the love she shared for that special someone, with a big dinner, the family all bonding with one another, speeches from her loved ones, a dance in a big room surrounded with people, them admiring the newly-weds, but due the circumstances, she had none of that apart from being with that special someone, which is all that matter. Vivian knew all this, as her older sister consulted with her every since she was a baby with no words.

Vivian knew Ada's dream came true; falling in love

—

"We are gathered here today to join Fredrick Thorne and Ada Shelby in holy matrimony." The priest spoke, looking between the couple, before glancing at Vivian and a comrade of Freddie, there as Fred's witness.

The wedding was held by the edge of Small Heath, away from the busyness. She shifted on her feet with her hands behind her back as she watched the ceremony. The smile on Ada's face never faltered as Fred spoke with loyalty and affection to the love of his life.

"Ada, I promise to cherish you always, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us." She knew the man for most her life as Tom's best mate, and now for the remainder of her life, he'd be Ada's one and only.

"Freddie, I promise to cherish you always, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us." They spoke their vows, knowing they both meant what they were promising each other. The truthfulness warmed Vivian, seeing the love between the two

"With this ring I, Freddie, take you, Ada, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us." Freddie said, placing the ring on Ada's finger.

"With this ring I, Ada, take you, Freddie, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us." Ada smiled, doing the same.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest announced, letting the newly-weds kiss. She heard Freddie's comrade chuckle and whistle beside her as Vivain clapped.

As the couple broke apart, Ada glanced at Vivian with a big grin on her face, happy. She'd never seen her this happy in all her life. Her sister looked dazed, still processing the events, thinking it was too unreal, but her little sister gave her a thumbs up, reassuring her that it was real.

The couple shared a few quiet words together while Vivian and the other witness took a few steps back. They didn't speak to each other, no caring for the stranger beside them, just the love of the day.

The love of Freddie and Ada Throne.

—

   
The Shelby girl was now walking down the road, seeing the drunk men coming out of the Black Swan laughing and stumbling about, grabbing onto whatever they could to stabilise. She laughed at the sight, and thinking about their wives at home, wondering where the fucking their husbands are.

Vivian didn't often come down this part of Small Heath but she just put on foot in front of another and ended up here. She had left her sister with Freddie, her husband. God, it was weird, Mrs Thorne. She didn't want to be around the newly-weds, giving them some space. Ada was happy and from the looks of it, so was Freddie. Something snapped Vivian out of her thoughts, something blonde. Grace?

She was behind a man and when he turned the corner, she followed. What is she up to? Vivian was confused. She was about to followed her, but was stopped when a young girl, maybe six or seven. "Do you have any shillings? For sweeties?" The girl asked, with big doe eyes, so innocent. She had her hands out in a cup shape. Her skirt was covered in mud and her hair was all tangled. She must have been out all morning playing with her friends.

When Vivian was about to answer, a women, who closer in age to Ada than Polly, ran up to the young girl, holding her shoulder, "Im so sorry Ms. Shelby. Come on Beth." Her voice was soft and wary. It must have been her daughter. As the mother took hold of the girl (now known as Beth), Vivian rooted through her pockets stop the lady from walking of with her.

"Here you go, get something good with it, eh?" Vivian told the young girl, pulling out some coins, handing it to the girl. The mother looked surprise, and even more surprised when she realised how much the Shelby girl handed her daughter. She thanked the Shelby and so did the young girl, but Vivian was already looking for the barmaid behind them. The woman and her daughter scurried away, leaving Vivian alone again. She continued down the road following the trail of the blonde.

As she got closer, she walked past a loud dog, barking in distress. She calmly walked over to the creature. The dog became more quieter as she approached slowly. Vivian held out her hand for him. He quieted and sniffed her hand, then taking a few steps back and sitting. 'Băiat bun' she whispered to him. She heard a lot of shuffling close by and followed the sound, assuming it was Grace.

As she turned around the corner, she saw Grace and the man fighting, but at first they were doing it in a alleyway, but it was the complete opposite. Just as Vivian was about to intervene, the shuffling stop and a gunshot replaced it.

Now all she could hear was the heavy breathing of the barmaid, only a few feet away. She heard groans coming from the man, and then a thud. She peaked around the corner, seeing the unknown man laying on the ground, with the barmaid standing over him. After a moment Grace ran from the scene after glancing around for any bystanders. The barmaid didn't see Vivian.

What was she hiding?

Vivian suddenly felt more curious and interested in the barmaid. She never thought of her as a threat, but the more Vivian wondered about her, she that she was definitely hiding some very important, and she had a feeling it had to do with her family.

Vivian knew it was a bad idea, but she had to investigate, so she went down the alleyway, seeing if she recognised the man. The man didn't look familiar, his eyes were staring into her soul, like they were begging for help, but what could she do. She didn't feel guilty, but more confused for the reason of this unknown man's death. He had a bullet in her chest, the blood was spilling out of his body, slowly draining him. She saw the red splatter of blood on the wall.

Vivian knew she had been in the alley too long, when she heard a commotion from the men down the road. She walked out in a calm state, thinking about the barmaid, she trusted, but the trust was fading as many questions came to Vivian. Why would she choose Small Heath to start over? And Harry said she was had her mind set on working in the Garrison, so why was she so desperate for the job, cleaning up after drunk men and dealing with inappropriate comments?

Her mind was racing with questions, but no answers

—

"The victim had been drinking in the Black Swan pub, sir. The pub that you had told me about," the room was silent apart from the footsteps of the Inspector and the wary but stern voice of Moss, " and a neighbour said that she saw a young woman leaving the street where the body was found. A women, sir. I was wondering if there was a connection." Moss was careful with his words, not wanting to start an a disagreement with his boss. Campbell rolled a bullet in his fingers as he is listened to Moss.

"A connection with what, Sergeant?" Chester Campbell inquired, turning to face the man, who had struck a nerve. Before Moss had entered his office, the inspector had gotten an unexpected call from his a woman on the inside. She had called with a strict tone in her voice.

"Sir?" The woman spoke through the phone, catching the inspector off-guard

"Grace? Why are you calling? Any information?" Chester said, wondering why the sudden call. He then heard her heavy breathing in the phone, "Grace? What has happened."

"There was a man and I followed him." She said, trying to calm down, "but he knew I followed and he fought back and- I shot him."

"Who? What man, Grace?" He asked.

"But there was a girl there— Shelby, the younger one, Vivian. She might have seen me." Grace spoke into the phone, ignoring his question. She tried to make sense, still processing what she had just done. "Same time, same place." She finished off, not wanting to speak too long, knowing anyone could be listening.

Campbell was left confused and worried but a bit angry. How could she let this happen? Who was the man? But most of all he thought off the Shelby girl who could've seen Grace. She would ruin it all, the whole mission. "You said that your spy was a woman, sir. I wondered if there was a policy." Moss explained, trying to meet the inspector's eyes, "Shoot to kill, like there was in Belfast."

"The Republicans are famously factional. He was killed by one of his own. It could have been anyone, many young women are out on the streets." Campbell spoke, walking back and forward, before throwing the bullet, harshly, into the fireplace. "That will be all Sergeant."

Moss stood up quickly and headed for the door, but before he left he turned to the voice of the Irish inspector behind him, "And they are not called spies, they are called operatives."

"Operatives sir, right, sir."

As Moss left his office, Campbell's mind was racing. He couldn't let a Peaky Blinder ruin his plan, especially a young girl. The mission would be a failure. How could she let this happen?

The one thing he knew is that he knew, was he had to get rid of the girl. So that night he sent out a private report to officers in the area.

—

    Walking along the cut, after leaving Finn by himself. He was probably still smoking. She couldn't say she didn't care at all because that would be a lie. She didn't want Finn smoking. She didn't want him to start because once you do you never stop. But she knew there was no getting him to stop. She never did.

"Boo!" A male voice yelled, scaring her. It was Ryan. She stumbled back, hitting the water. Her whole body was under water.

After a few seconds, there was no movement. He couldn't see her. No sign of her coming up. He quickly realised she wasn't coming up. He knew she could swim but did she get hurt or was she getting pulled down to the bottom.

"Viv!" he yelled for his best friend, "Vivian!" For the first time, in a very long time, he was scared. It had been years. He took off his blazer and shoes, jumping in close to where she landed. Thirty seconds. Thirty seconds she was under there for. Once he jumped in he started to panic, hitting the water. He went under and immediately felt a hand pushing his head down. He came up to surface, only to see the young Shelby, smirking.

He felt annoyed and relieved at the same time. They were keeping themselves a float in the water, "don't do that again" he said to her angrily. She let out a loud scoff, "you don't do that again. Never push me."

"I didn't push you, you fell."

"You jumped out of nowhere, so your fault"

They were both there annoyed until they both burst out laughing. The two friends started splashing each other. Having a good time. He went from believing he killed his best friend to having a water fight.

After about an hour of swimming and playing games in the cut, they were ringing out the water of their clothes. They were in a private part of the cut. Not many many people came by here because it was dirty and nothing to do, expect for them.

Vivian wore a skirt that fell to her ankles, a dark blue blouse and a even darker blue cardigan. She left her coat in the kitchen before she left. Ryan wore a shirt, trousers, blazer and his long trench coat.

The two had their backs turned to each other. She was only left in her soaking slip and underwear when ringing out her clothes, and Ryan didn't dare taking a look. Her brothers would have his eyes. "No looking now" she reminded him in her thick Brummie accent. "I would never." He said, sarcastically offended.

It was starting to get dark and she had rung out her skirt but her cardigan and blouse were still damp and it was too cold a day to be walking around in the wet clothes, she'd catch her death.

"What time is it?" She asked her best friend.

"Nearly seven. When ya gotta be 'ome at" he answered, still not facing her.

"shit" she whispered, "I only told Finn I was out, shit."

"Well are you dressed yet?" He worried, not wanting to be blinded by her brothers.

"No, only have the skirt. The jumper and blouse are still soaked" she said.

"Take my coat. I threw it off before." He said quickly.

She thought about it for a moment, "give it." she held out her hand to him. He gave her and she slid it on. "You can turn 'round now", buttoning the last button. He turned around looking her up and down. She noticed and gave him a glare.

"If anyone knew you had nothing under that, god help 'em." He said, smirking.

"Oh fuck off, we gotta go." She reminded him, he laughed in response.

—

She walked round the corner onto Waterly Lane. As she walked down the Lane, she saw kids being called in for dinner. Shit, she thought. She completely forgot. She ran the last few feet to number twenty-nine and push open the door. She slammed the door behind her, kicking off her wet boots.

It wasn't soon before she heard the voice of a brother , "Well, look who's here" her oldest brother said. "Where've you been and-"

"Why are you wet?" Her little brother finished his sentence. Her aunt had enter the room, jointing the conversation. Polly looking the girl up and down also noticing that she had nothing underneath. "And where are your clothes"

"Here" Viv answered holding up her soaked cardigan and blouse. "Ryan pushed me in the cut, but I'll get 'im back."

"Ok and who's coat is that, cause this ones yours,eh?" John said walking over to the empty chair to which her coat lay.

"Ryan's" she simply said.

The boys trusted Ryan and knew the two were totally platonic, and his brother was John's best mate and they trusted him too. The boys watched their siblings grow up and become friends. Best friends.

The boys gave up on the conversation, knowing his sister was safe, and just left, probably the Garrison. Polly was placing the dinner on the table and the three sat down and asked, "Did they just stay so they could start an argument." To which her aunt nod. " I told you to tell 'em" she nudged her little brother.

"I was gonna but I wanted you to get in trouble." He smirked at his sister. Which earned him a slap on the head from his aunt. "Ow" he exclaimed, rubbing his head.

"Be nice and eat" pointing at the Shelby boy.

They all sat round the table talking about normal stuff like their family weren't criminals. Vivian didn't bring it up. Ada's wedding or Grace's killing. Polly didn't bring up the older sister, which was a sign she knew.

And it was confirmed when Polly pulled her a side after dinner, "they're married." It was more of a statement than a query, but Vivian nodded anyway.

"Thomas hasn't hear the news as far as I know." She smoked her cigarette. It was as if it didn't matter that Vivian was there, it was more just her aunt telling herself the facts.

"So whether you are here or not, he will know before it becomes the gossip of the town."

NOTES

Heyyy, how is everyone? I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and i hope you like the rest of the book, I have been planning more of the upcoming chapters of act one and i think it will be good.

    Also this hasn't been edited, so sorry. I can't believe that i have been planning this and writing this book for almost a year. I know it is late ( or earlier, wherever you are) but happy Saturday.

    If you want any edits and updates my Tiktok is vvioletneklace.wp and Spotify is vvioletneklace.wp. Anyway I really appreciate comments and any notes. See you next Saturday and have a nice week :)