𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟑
𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬

The car was completely silent. Finn's chest was pounding against his ribs and he was holding his breath as they approached the supposed house that Aurora believed John was residing at. Once stopping the car, he just stared. "I don't know if I can go in.." he mumbled. "If he's not there it'll just make it worse."

Rory pursed her lips together and placed a hand on his arm. "You don't have to come with me but if John is in there.. you'll want to see him."

Finn exhaled and nodded, getting out of the car.

The pair stared up at the home for a few moments.

Rory was the first to begin walking toward it. Finn followed behind hesitantly, still unsure. Her hands trembled slightly as she knocked against the wooden door.

No response.

They exchanged a glance and Rory decided to gently twist the door handle and, to their surprise, the door was unlocked. It opened slowly but not without a creak and they stepped inside.

"This doesn't feel right.." Finn whispered to her.

She hushed him and slowly walked down the hallway.

And, suddenly, somebody came from around the corner, a gun pointed. A scream left Rory's mouth and she stepped backward. Her eyes widened.

"Fucking hell— I almost killed you!" John spoke.

Both Finn and Rory were frozen in place. Yes, part of them expected John to be alive but now that he stood before them, they couldn't believe it. John stood with a blank face and looked between them. "What? You didn't think I was actually dead did you?" He joked.

"John.. I watched you bleed out." Rory whispered, her brows furrowed.

He grinned and placed the gun against the wall. "Yeah, well. It'll take more than that to get rid of me." He said, pulling her in for a hug.

After a few moments, John looked over to his brother who remained in place. Finn's lip was trembling and his eyes were watering at the sight. John tutted and walked to him. "Come here, soft lad." He teased, hugging his brother tightly.

"Shut up.." Finn laughed, holding John just as tight.

Rory smiled slightly from where she was standing. Part of her couldn't believe it. The other part was ever so relieved to see him stood there.

Once Finn finally pulled away, they looked at each other. "Why are you here?" Rory asked him as she played with her hands. John blinked a few times and inhaled deeply. "It's all a part of Tommy's plan. He says if Luca thinks i'm dead, they'll think they're winning."

"Tommy's plan.." She mocked. "When has his plan ever gotten us anything good?" She asked them both. Neither of them could give her an answer. Silence fell over them but it didn't last for long. "And where do we go once this is all over? How do we tell people that you were never really dead?"

"That's something Tommy can figure out. I don't give a shit," John laughed. "How did you find me anyway?"

"Cause she's crazy." Finn joked.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "I noticed an outlier in some of the records. I was curious." She explained in simple
terms. "I have so many questions.." Finn interrupted. John ruffled his hair. "Once this is over, I can answer all of them, little brother." He promised.

-

Everybody had gathered around the table in Polly's home on Watery Lane when Tommy walked in with a blank expression. "So. What the fuck happened today Tom? We all heard,.. a shooting in Artillery Square." Arthur spoke whilst pouring out some cocaine onto the table.

"Yep— it was. Today I killed three men. Now our enemies are out to act."

"I suppose they took you by surprise?" Arthur suggested.

"Nope— I knew they were coming." Tommy corrected.

Rory looked around with slight confusion and Finn shrugged. Polly took a deep breath. "Just after Christmas I received a letter from Luca Changretta offering to spare my son if I gave up Tommy. And I gave Tommy up."

Both Rory and Finn shot a glance toward Polly and Aurora opened her mouth to begin scolding the woman of her foolishness but Tommy stopped her.

"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 setup as bait to bring him here."

"You're a fucking idiot Tom." Arthur scolded.

Aurora shrunk in her seat. All this mention of her father and his actions made her sick. But she knew that he wasn't entirely wrong. All that Luca had done was get justice for his father and brother. Any of the Shelby men would do the same. Aurora just didn't like that it was the people she loved involved in it all.

"Look I didn't get Luca but I got three, alright? That's it, that's what happened." He said angrily. Little Charles walked in, a cheeky grin on his face and Tommy picked him up.

"Ay, he's right. I mean I thought you'd gone soft." Johnny laughed. "So you got three?"

"Yeah, I got three." Tommy confirmed.

"Well, i'll drink to you, Tom. You mad bastard." Charlie said. Rory lowered her head and played with the hem of her sleeve. Finn laughed and agreed, pouring himself a drink.

"Pretty soon, you're gonna get the shakes when your blood cools down. Let's go get a drink." Arthur spoke.

Charles looked up at his father. "Dad, you got three what?"

Everyone laughed.

"I got three shillings for a two shilling horse. You come with us, eh?" He said, walking out with everyone.

Finn stood and paused to look down at Aurora. She dismissed him with a nod. "You can go." She said, "i'll stay here." She breathed. Finn nodded and walked off, leaving Aurora with Lizzie.

Once she heard the doors closed, Aurora turned to the woman. "What's wrong, Lizzie?" Aurora offered a smile of sympathy, sitting upright. Lizzie shook her head and stared down into her cup of tea. "I've been to the doctors.." she began, "they say i'm going to have a baby."

Rory's eyes widened. "Tommy's?"

She nodded. "And i'm going to keep it. No matter what he says, i'm not getting rid of it." Her voice trembled. Rory reached for her hand and sighed. "He isn't the type of man to force you to do something. He'll most likely suggest it.. maybe assume that what you want but you need to tell him it isn't. He isn't the type of man to get up and leave.. not if you've got his child growing inside of you."

Her words assured the worried woman in some way. But she knew it wasn't completely true. There would be a complete downside to carrying Thomas Shelby's child and Lizzie was yet to figure that out.

—

Finn stumbled in, drunk, greeting Rory with the slam of the door. She rolled her eyes as she lay in bed and waited for him to enter the bedroom before speaking. "I'm home." He slurred his words, gripping onto the door handle.

"I heard." She said sarcastically, sitting up. "How much did you drink?"

"Enough." He laughed, sitting down and putting his head in his hands.

Rory took a deep breath. "Lizzie is pregnant with Tom's kid." She blurted out, unable to keep it to herself completely. Finn's eyes widened and he began laughing hysterically. "Tell me you're joking."

"I'm serious."

"Oh my days.. Tommy with another kid? He hardly looks after Charles." Finn sighed, rubbing his eyes. Rory pursed her lips together. Finn's truth was a sad one but not a wrong one. It wasn't often Charles saw his father properly.

"There's a boxing match on Monday— Bonnie and one of Alfie Solomons' boys." He said, taking off his shoes.

"Are we going?" She asked.

Finn nodded. "It'll be great. I hear Bonnie's good in the ring." He laughed. Aurora hummed. "If nobody is actively trying to kill us, yes it'll be great." She reminded him, lying back down as he climbed into the bed beside her.

"It'll soon be over." He tried to convince her, "and then it'll just be me you and the baby."

"I hope so."

gracessecretshelby

short chapter. i'm bored