𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗

Maeve held onto Ada's hand, watching as she looked at the floor sadly. She soon looked up when Tommy began talking.

"I promised my friend Freddie Thorne, that i'd say a few words over his grave if her were to die before me" he began. "I made this promise, before he became me brother in law" he nodded, "when we were in France, fighting for the king."

"Amen" Arthur said. Maeve shook her head and let out a light breath.

"And in the end, it wasn't war that took Freddie, pestilence took him. But Freddie passed on his soul and his spirit to a new generation," Tommy said, "before he was cruelly taken."

Light chatter began as people placed down flowers, saying their final goodbyes.

"We thought now Freddie's gone, you might come back to Birmingham." he suggested to Ada as they walked away.

"God do you know how funny it is that you've got chauffeurs in uniform." she scoffed.

"Just for the occasion Ada." He looked away. "Do you know how unfair it is that you've got four Bugatti's but half the country are starving?" She retorted.

"So now they've made you ashamed of us?" he questioned, "When i think how i used to be, it makes me embarrassed" she admitted.

"Karl!" Maeve scolded when she saw Karl and one of John's kids taking flowers off another grave. Karl looked up at her with a cheesy grin and offered her the flowers. Maeve lowered her shoulders. "It's hard to be angry at you," she admitted, accepting them and grabbing his hand, dragging him to the grave he'd stolen off.

As she began placing them down, an older man cleared his throat. "I only put them there the other day.." he said angrily.

"Well i'm putting them back, he nicked them. They're all there, perfectly fine." She said bluntly, squeezing Karl's hand to stop herself from swearing at the man.

"Karl's with his cousins," Polly interrupted, joining Ada and Tommy. "Caught them trying to pinch flowers off a grave. Ada," Polly began, "are you coming home."

"I'm going home." Ada said coldly. "It's all right Pol, we make Ada embarrassed." Tommy tormented.

"That's not what i said."

"There's another reason we want you home," he argued, "we're planning on expansion. I'm taking premises in London."

"It's a funeral, business can wait" Polly said. "Polly, if Ada was weeping then i'd stop, but she's not." Tommy argued.
"The expansion means it'll be dangerous for a Shelby in London for a while."

"Yeah" Ada nodded. "Well i'm not a Shelby anymore, and i'm not a Thorne now either" she whispered. "I'm free."

"I've got to get Karl home," she excused herself. Tommy exhaled. "I told you, let me handle it." Polly said. "It's all right, i'll have some men watch her house till the danger passes." They watched as a bike approached.

"Till the danger passes," she repeated. Arthur began walking to them."That'll be the bloody day." she scoffed.

"Dad..dad," Maeve rushed to him, "someone's blew up the Garrison."

-

The Shelby cars drove through Small Heath, toward the Garrison. They all got out, staring at the pub that had been blown up. Their eyes examined the ruins of the pub.

"Who's done this to my pub." Arthur hissed. They all stared at it. Maeve stepped out of the car, staring at the remains of the Garrison.

Polly and Tommy approached the pub. "It happened at exactly 7 am," Moss told them. "Nobody saw anything, our patrols were not in the area, Mr Shelby, do you have any idea who might have done it?"

"I'd say it was something to do with the gas," Tommy shrugged. "It's just been fitted." he said, handing Moss money.

"Madam the structures not yet declared safe." He warned Polly as she walked to the front of the pub, kneeling down. She picked up something, looking at it.

"This is all over the place" she stated, holding green confetti. "You can go," Tommy nodded at Moss. "Who?" Polly asked. "Who did this to us?"

-

Maeve turned her head when she heard small conversation breaking out between John and Polly. "He's gone to the Black Lion," Polly told the boy.

"The Black Lion, on his own?" John frowned. "Tommy does everything on his own," Maeve chimed in. "Well should i go to the Black Lion?" He asked.

Polly frowned, "what?"

"Should I go there and see him?" John repeated. Polly shook her head, "no."

"Where the fuck is Arthur." John huffed. "He's protecting the Garrison's whiskey from the police," Maeve sighed, taking a new pencil and watching John close over the doors, separating him and Polly from the den.

"Maeve," Scudboat said, she hummed and looked up. "Go find ya father, just got a phone call saying he's gotten himself into a bit of trouble. He's in the gym," he patted the girls shoulder.

"For fucks sake..what now?" She muttered, grabbing her cap and shoving it onto her head.

It didn't take long before Maeve arrived at the gym. And when she did, she felt her heart drop and stomach churn. Her father stood, skipping over a rope and staring at the wall blankly.

"Dad?" She asked, he ignored her, counting quietly. "Fucking hell..Dad," she repeated.

"He's just beat the shit out of an apprentice..had to carry half the kid away in buckets." Another man spoke, blowing smoke from a cigarette.

She hadn't even noticed Arthur walk over to the bucket of water and begin washing his hands. "They..er, want you home. Dad, are you listening to me?"

He slowly looked up at her, his eyes cold. Maeve felt shivers climb up her spine as he did so. "I'm gathering you heard me then.." she mumbled, spinning on her heels, "don't have time for your shit, let's get going." She shoved her hand into her pockets and left the gym.

-

Arthur stretched out his hand and him and Maeve watched Finn pace the room. "Sit down, Finn." Arthur said lowly.

"Where the bloody hell is Tommy?" John whispered to Poll who leaned against the door frame. "Right then whilst we're waiting patiently," Arthur stood, grabbing a bottle of Whisky. "Whiskey- left over from the explosion."

Charlie and Curly poured a glass and Esme watched as John did too. "Right, while Tommy gets here I think there's a few things we need to get straight between the rest of us."

Polly scoffed, "you think?"

"Yeah, yeah i do. I want to know when did we all take a vote on this expansion South?" John stared at Polly.

Maeve looked between the two, playing with the metal switch blade in her pocket.

"You have anything to say, you wait for Thomas." Polly crossed her arms. Arthur hummed, "Polly's fucking right."

"Y'know, i see all the books. So does Maeve. Right? Legal and off track, some stuff you don't see. And in the past year, The Shelby Company Limited has been making a hundred and fifty pounds a day." He paused, "right a fucking day." He shouted. "Sometimes more."

Maeve leaned forward. "So what i wanna know is why are we changing things?" John asked.

"He's got a point, why change things when we're doing so well?" Maeve defended him. "

"Polly, look what's happened already. We haven't even stepped foot in London yet." John said angrily. "They've already blown up our fucking pub."

"Who said anything about cockneys?" Arthur grumbled.

"Shut up, dad." Maeve said seriously, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. She really didn't have the patience for his antics.

"Who else?" Esme chimed in. Polly looked over at her, "you know who did it do you?"

"No, she doesn't know who did it." John interrupted. Tommy stepped into the room and Esme looked back at her book, "i'm told only family are allowed to speak."

"Everyone's allowed to speak." Maeve said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let's see what you have to say," Tommy nodded.

John cleared his throat, "i speak for our house hold."

Maeve laughed loudly, covering her mouth. "Shut ya mouth you sound ridiculous."

Tommy raised his hand, stopping her from continuing. "John, this company is a modern enterprise and believes in equal rights for women. On your feet Esme."

The girl slowly stood, holding onto the banister. "I'm not a blood member of this family but perhaps because i am not a member, i can see things in a different light," she said. "So i will get to my point."

"That would be nice." Polly said. "As my husband said, Shelby Company Limited is now very successful, But London, I have kin in Shepherds bush and Portobello," she nodded. "It's more like wars between armies down there and the coppers fight side by side with them. And there are foreigners of every description, and the use of bombs is the least of it."

Maeve looked around carefully, curious as to what everyone's expressions were.

"I have a child," Esme stated, "blessed with the Shelby family good looks. I want John to see him grow up. I want us to someday live somewhere with fresh air and trees," she continued, "and keep chickens or something. But London is just smoke and trouble Thomas."

Maeve, once again, had to bite back her laugh. Chickens? Fucking chickens?

"Thomas?" Polly questioned. "That's all i have to say." Esme sat.

"That was a lot of words," Arthur nodded. "Thank you Esme," Thomas thanked.

"Firstly, the bang in the pub has nothing to do with London. Understood? The bang is something i'm dealing with on my own. Secondly, we have nothing to fear from the business expansion as long as we stick together. After the first few weeks, nine tenths of what we do in London will be legal. The other tenth is in good hands isn't that right Arthur."

"That's right." Arthur nodded.

"Now some of you in this room have expressed your reservations. Fair enough, and any of you who want no part in the future of this company, walk out the door right now. Go raise your chickens."

Silence. "Those of you with ambition, expansion begins tomorrow."

-

"You lot piss me off!" Maeve huffed, stealing her drink back from one of the Peaky Boys that Arthur had sent to look over her.

One of the newest ones, Isiah, grinned widely, taking the cigarette from in between her fingers and placing it between his lips. Well, he wasn't new but he was certainly new to watching over Maeve.

"Isiah, seriously?" She raised her eyebrows. The boy grinned and blew smoke in her face. "I'll have you know that i have a switch blade in my pocket and a gun in my coat." She told him, "carry on and you'll never work another day in your life."

Isiah was one of the first people who wasn't intimidated by Maeve Shelby. And if infuriated her. "I've also got a blade in my cap, sweetheart." He said, his Birmingham accent stronger than any of the other lads. "Let's see who would access theirs first."

"You're repulsive." Maeve huffed, giving up and leaning back in the booth at the back of the Garrison. "No clue why my dad sends people like you to look after me, i'm almost sixteen."

"What d'ya mean, people like me?"

"I mean exactly what you think I mean, Isiah. Now shut up before i throw this glass at your head."

Bingo. He'd gotten to her, just like he had intended to do.

"Anyway, he sends people like me because they're going to London. Said the peaky blinders are going on fucking holiday, and according to Tommy, i'm the only junior peaky lad he can trust."

Maeve scoffed, "alright don't let your ego get too big." She teased.

"Oh i won't." He retorted.

"You two having fun then?" Finn appeared out of no where, "i see youse have met."

"You think?" Maeve asked sarcastically. Finn pulled a face at her and shoved Isiah over to make room, causing the boy to be extremely close to the Shelby girl.

And suddenly he was quiet, no longer cracking jokes. "Oh, you've gone quiet Isiah. How funny." Maeve grinned, swallowing the last of her drink.

"Yeah..hilarious."

-

"NewMarket was profitable," Tommy spoke as Polly sat in front of his desk.

"Arthur told me how you left your message." Polly stood, a stern look on her face. "When i asked him where his medicine was, he said you poured it away!"

"All i poured away was opium and bromide," he sighed.

"That's how it works in London?" she asked, "Every boss has to have a mad dog at his side. Oh that'll be Arthur. Then it will be Maeve, won't it? Somebody who can't be predicted, someone mad in the head."

"Stop fucking fighting me!" He shouted. "Somebody has to," She shouted back.

"That arrived an hour ago. There's no name on it but i came from Camden Town." she ignored him, placing down the Telegraph. Tommy looked at the Telegraph she had handed him. "Well done Thomas, you picked a side now your at war with Sabini." she stormed out.

-

"Uncle Tom," Maeve began, covering her face as rain poured, "i've got no clue why you wanted me at the office tonight, Lizzie literally works for you."

"With the legal stuff Maeve,"

"So you're using me for labour?" Maeve gasped, "i'm reporting you, you're not even paying me!" She complained. "Oh shut up, Maeve. Be lucky i agreed to let you start being involved."

Tommy and Maeve rounded the corner, walking into the garage where his car sat. As he went to open the door a man appeared, gun pointing toward him. Tommy stepped back and held his hands up.

Maeve slowly turned around and reached for her gun.

More men came from the darkness and began throwing fists at him, a fight breaking out. Tommy grunted, trying to fight them off. They threw him to the ground and he shouted in pain.

Maeve didn't hesitate before attempting to help her uncle. "Fuck off!" She shouted, pulling one of them backward from behind and taking her switch blade from her pocket, pressing it up against his neck.

"Fucking hold him!" One of them ordered. It was five on two, completely unfair. Blood had began pouring from Tommy's nose as they kicked him over and over again.

"Stop it or i won't hesitate to kill you all!" Maeve shouted, her voice echoing. They all ignored her.

"Tommy Shelby. I missed you at my club, i was at the races."

"Sabini," Tommy whispered. "Don't say my name, jesus.."

Maeve finally pressed the metal down, hearing the muffled noises coming from the man's mouth as she shoved him to the floor. "I said fuck off!"

Tommy looked over at her groggily.  Sabini grinned and nodded to her.

"Leave her alone," Tommy mumbled, his vision slightly blurry. Sabini looked between the two. "Franco, take my name out of his mouth," Sabini ordered.

And before she knew it, somebody had grabbed her, holding her arms behind her back and forcing her to watch as blood poured from Tommy's mouth.

Sabini returned to where Tommy was, grinning at the blood that was scattered across his face.

"While you're in there do a bit of digging for gold, pay for the petrol." He said. Franco pulled something from Tommy's mouth and Sabini's fist collided with his face, "See how much I know about you? I even know what's in your fucking mouth. Look at me, look at me. You take up with the jews, yeah? You think that's what Londons all about, think you can come down and pick a side. You fucking clown." Sabini aggressively moved Thomas' head around.

Maeve struggled once the man wrapped a hand around her neck, pressing her up against the wall. But nevertheless, she reached for her gun, wasting no time before she sent a bullet into his head.

Sabini snapped his head toward her and Maeve breathed heavily, looking down at the blood that had splattered onto her clothes. "Two down.." she paused, "only three of you to go." She smirked, cocking her gun once more and shooting the man behind Sabini.

The last remaining of his men raised a gun but Sabini stopped him, "no..no don't shoot her-" he turned to Tommy,
"Now your life is over. My face is the last thing you'll ever see on earth, your mistake." He ignored he pleads. "You remember that when you get to hell."

He dropped Tommy's head and placed his hands in his pockets, glancing at Maeve again. "You're smart, clearly not smart enough cause you've not fucking shot me yet!" Sabini shouted, taking his own gun and firing it into Maeve's arm.

"Stop," Tommy whispered, too weak to lift his head. "Fucking leave her alone."

Maeve gasped in pain, falling to the floor and clutching onto her arm. Her gun clashed with the floor and she threw her head back.

"Go on, finish him off." He nodded. Franco cocked his gun and Maeve attempted to grab her gun once more, trying her best to cock it with her good hand. "Stop-"

Before she could finish her sentence, another gun sounded. But Tommy remained alive, Sabini and his men ducking. A police whistle echoed through the air.

"Stay where you are!" A copper shouted.

Tommy was now laying on his back and Maeve scurried over to him, frowning at the sight of his face. His face was stained with blood, his lips parted and his eyes swollen. She placed a hand on his chest, worried by the little movement.

A clicking sound of a cane approached and she kept her eyes on Thomas, her hand on his neck to check for a pulse.

"Suppose we should see if the bastards still alive." A voice spoke. She looked up and locked eyes with Inspector Campbell who had raised his cain to push Tommy.

"Don't." Maeve grabbed the cane and shoved it backward, almost sending Campbell toppling over. "Don't touch him- get an ambulance instead you bastard."

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