𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟒

Maeve opened her eyes, automatically covering them with her hands when the sun shined brightly through the gap in the curtains. She could feel
a heavy weight on her and she squinted, scoffing at the sight of a shirtless Isiah sprawled across her.

"Get off me you heffalump!" She groaned, trying her best to shove him away. Isiah didn't move, didn't even stir slightly. "Isiah Jesus get off me right now!"

Isiah mumbled a few things that were completely inaudible and she threw her head back in frustration. "Isiah i'm not joking- move yourself." She said sternly, growing slightly claustrophobic underneath him.

Isiah finally rolled onto his back and hissed at the brightness in the room. "What time is it?" He croaked, leaning up on his elbows and looking around, "and where the fuck are we?"

"Tommys house you idiot." Maeve said, climbing over him and getting off the bed, the only thing that covered her lower half was Isiah's dress shirt that was ridiculously long on her.

Isiah leaned on his side and watched her from behind as she walked. Maeve could sense his gaze and bit back her smile, "stop staring, Siah." Maeve taunted, looking in the large mirror and running a hand through her hair.

Isiah gave her a large grin and shook his head.

"You make me sick," she shook her head, taking out a cigarette from her pack and placing it between her lips but not lighting it.

Her eyes landed on the light red and purple marks scattered across her chest and necks she he gasped. "What've you done to me!" She practically squealed, inspecting the bruise like marks.

Isiah let out a breathy laugh and dragged a hand across his face. "Your fault for letting me stay in the same room as ya." He tormented. Maeve rolled her eyes.

He sat up straight against the headboard, the thin white sheet draped over his lower half. Maeve walked back  to him, climbing back over him to grab the lighter from the drawers before swinging her leg over where it had been previously and sitting in his lap.

Isiah's hands hovered on her sides as he watched her light the cigarette, taking a puff before she took it from her mouth and placed it in his.

"Shouldn't we go downstairs? Wouldn't want anybody thinking the wrong thing- y'know cause we aren't together."

She clicked her tongue and snatched the cigarette from him. "It's not like we're doing anything," she shrugged. A laugh fell from his lips, "Maeve, i did you last night." His accent was thick and he watched her mouth fall open.

"You're disgusting, completely disgusting," she attempted to move from her position, only to be held in place by him. "Isiah in all seriousness, i need to go make sure my dad is alive. Please let me get up."

"It's fine, Linda will look after him."

Maeve gagged and dragged her hands across her face the same way he had done just moments before, "fucking hate that woman. Honestly, what's her deal with forcing religion on my dad, he gave up that shit when he was twelve!"

Isiah snaked his arms under hers and lifted her slightly so he could sit upright. "Don't think i've ever heard you say something nice about that woman." He said, pushing her hair over her shoulders and inspecting what he'd done to her skin.

Maeve huffed. "I haven't."

Isiah shook his head, resting his hands on her knees and kissing her gently. Maeve carefully held her cigarette in between her fingers as her arms draped around the back of his neck.

His lips travelled down the her jaw and she allowed him to continue for a few seconds before pulling away. "You've done enough, can't be having my dad see them." She said, placing a peck on the boys lips and swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

Isiah groaned and grabbed her hand as she tried walking away. "It's only-" he paused and glanced at the clock, "ten in the morning."

Maeve shrugged, "Isiah i need to go see where my dad is." She told him.

"Five more minutes?" He pleaded, tilting his head. Maeve relaxed her shoulders and shook her head. "I'll see you this week anyway, then you'll have me all to yourself."

"Fucking good." She said, getting out of the bed and pulling his suit pants onto his legs and doing up the button.

-

"The fuck av you been?" Arthur grumbled as she finally entered the dining room of Tommy's house. Maeve looked over her shoulder at Isiah who was trying his best to sneak past the open door.

She quickly kicked it closed with her foot and flashed Arthur a smile. "Sleeping, father. What about you?" She asked, pulling a chair and sitting beside him.

"I was sitting there," Linda hummed, turning away from the window with a cup of tea in her hand.

"Not anymore you're not," Maeve gave her a sarcastic smile before turning back to Arthur. "How ya feeling, dad?

Arthur looked up from his drink, sighing, "tired." He said, swirling the whiskey around in his glass. "Bit early to be drinking that isn't it?" She observed, leaning her chin on her hands. Arthur shrugged, "it's five o'clock somewhere."

"Have you taken your medicine, Maeve?" Linda spoke, looking out at the window.

Maeve bit her lip and looked at Arthur, letting out a breath of frustration. He slowly shook his head at her, knowing exactly what was going through her head.

"No, Linda. I have not, thank you for reminding me you absolute angel!" Maeve flapped her hands around, an extreme sarcastic tone lacing her voice.

Linda returned the smile and turned back to the window, looking out at the front of Tommy's home.

"How do you put up with her?" Maeve whispered, staring Arthur dead in the eye. Arthur placed his glass down, "Maeve don't be like that-" he said calmly, running a hand over his hair.

Maeve looked about the nicely decorated dining room, a portrait of Tommy, Grace and Charles sat on the wall. "Do you ever think about lighting something on fire?" She asked, staring right at the wall.

Arthur and Linda shared a glance. "Er..not particularly." Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"What would happen if I lit uncle Tom's house on fire?" She added, looking at Arthur. Arthur looked at Linda, unsure what to say and shrugged.

"Well I think-" Linda began. "I wasn't talking to you," Maeve cut her off, holding her hand up to stop Linda from talking.

"Maeve don't be rude."

"Sorry. Linda I am not talking to you, please do not get involved in my fucking conversation. Amen." Maeve nodded.

Confusion was plastered all over his face. "Amen? Fucking Amen- Maeve what're you on about?"

"Ask the lord, he'll know." Maeve continued rambling, pushing her chair away from the table and walking to the door.

Linda had a frown on her face due to the girls behaviour. "Im not sure she likes me, Arthur." Linda spoke, finally taking her seat again. Arthur sat straight, "no..no i'm sure she does. She just..she's like that sometimes."

-

"So what is it that we're here to do?" Maeve asked, throwing her cigarette down onto the floor and standing it. John pulled a chair for her and sniffed, "Tommy wants us to speak to the Changretta lads."

Her eyes widened, "you're takin the piss. Tell me he's takin the piss," Maeve looked at Arthur then back at John. "He's not takin the piss, is he?" She winced. "Well you're fucking mad, can i go home?"

"No you cannot go home," Arthur dragged her back by her coat and pulled her down into the seat.

"Why exactly am I needed here anyway?"

"Because nobody expects a girl to act the way you do." John shrugged, pulling his cap over his head and nodding toward Finn and Isiah who were currently searching two men over the bridge.

"You asked for a meeting out in the open," Arthur nodded. "Fresh air and the fine aroma of shit. Neutral ground you said." Arthur smirked.

"This is hardly neutral ground." the man, Vincent, spoke. "Well, it's what you've got." Arthur argued. "So, por favor," he smiled sarcastically causing Maeve to snort in laughter. "Sit down." John pointed his head down, laughing at Arthur. "Where is Thomas?" Vincent asked. "He got called away." John said.

"He'd said he'd be here." the man shook his head.

"I just told you he got called away. What do you want?" John asked. "Alright, what's your name- Vincent? Anyway, all that matters is that he ain't here yeah? You've got us instead, if you know what's good for ya, you won't ask questions." Maeve chimed in, earning a harsh glare from the man.

The men remained standing, looking about. "There has been a peace between the Peaky Blinders and the Changretta family for two years now." Vincent began. John and Arthur looked at each other.

"Do you want some tea or not?" John interrupted. "Here, Finn, pour the Italians some English tea. Go on."

Finn leaned forward, grabbing the pot.

"We don't want fucking tea!" he shouted, his accent strong. "We want an explanation!" Finn retracted his hand and placed it back down.

"Watch how you're speaking to him, he's only little." Maeve pointed a finger at him, ignoring the anger Finn gave her through his eyes. "Don't let me tell ya again, Vincent." She spoke to him like a child.

"Well i'll have fucking tea." Arthur shrugged, pouring himself a cup. "Explanation for what?" John asked, "The little Venice Restaurant on Forge Street was burnt down." the man said.

"No, no, couldn't have been us, we was at a wedding." John said. "You burnt it down to stop my son from being at that same wedding."

"And why would we do that?" Maeve asked.

"Yeah, he wasn't missed," Arthur looked down into his cup of tea, ignoring the sniggers that left John's mouth.

"You are such big boys now. But once you borrowed clothes from us to look like men."

"How's the tea, dad- is it.." Maeve cut him off. Arthur poured the liquid onto the floor and sighed, "it's cold." He said plainly.

John continued laughing, causing Maeve to laugh and hit him on the arm. "John, stop." She whispered.

"Please tell Tommy that we pay him whatever he asks us to pay. We stay out of the city and off the tracks. But you tell him from me-"

"Want me to write this down?" Maeve tilted her head.

Vincent took a deep breath. "You tell him from me that my son will walk with whatever women in this city. Any woman he chooses, even if that woman works for the emperor Thomas Shelby. My son is in love-"

John burst out laughing and Maeve almost fell off her chair, trying her best to keep it in. "Sorry..sorry." John replied. "What fuckin woman is he on about?" Maeve asked as if he weren't there.

"Lizzie."

That made her laugh more to the point she was red in the face. "Do excuse me. Carry on."

"And if he wishes he will walk with the woman he loves." Vincent continued. "Okay." John sniffed, looking away to avoid laughing again.

"You know.." Maeve leaned forward, taking the tea pot and pouring a glass, "it'd be hard for your son to walk anywhere with a bullet in each knee. Wouldn't it?" She asked.

John slowly looked up at her, his heart dropping. Arthur also looked at her, a breath leaving his mouth.

"Too much..you said too much my friend. Sabini says suck and swallow but no- too much. I spit." He spat onto the floor, taking a chair and smashing it up.

"Oh..okay..bit strong." John taunted, scratching the side of his head and laughing. "Fucking hell."

"Isiah, put two men on our pubs in Nechells." Arthur mumbled.

John snapped his head toward Arthur. "We're not scared of fucking Wops." John hissed, screwing up his face. Finn stood with a blank expression. "Clean this shit up and don't tell Tommy about the chair," Arthur pointed at Finn.

"Dad the fuck you talking about? We aren't scared of fucking Italians!" Maeve shouted as he walked off.

"You've only gone and done it now, Maeve." John stated. She looked at him, afraid he'd react badly but instead he grinned, "I raised you well." He smirked, patting her shoulder. "Raised you fucking well."

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝