Forbidden Desires

Part 5

Two hours later, at Arrow House...

Luckily for you, Tommy had left you with his car when leaving the library abruptly last night. It was dark already and, according to Arthur, there was no time to drop you off at your house.

Along with his car, Tommy gave you his address and, after some nagging, you had Linda spell it out to you and give you directions.

His house was outside Birmingham and, when she referred to it as Arrow House, you knew straight away where it was. The house used to belong to a politician who was famous in Birmingham for all the wrong reasons.

He was a criminal just like Tommy himself but, in the end, was poisoned by a very jealous wife.

With that story in mind, you knew your way around and, at around midday, you pulled up in front of the large mansion.

Just as you parked the car and turned off the engine, you were greeted by a woman dressed in black. She was a maid and probably in her late forties.

"May I help you, ma'am" was what the woman said, recognising Tommy's car. You clearly did not look like a threat to her so she approached you without concern.

"I am here to see Thomas Shelby" you told her while stepping towards the front door while she tried hard to hold you back.

"Mr Shelby does not wish to be disturbed today" she then told you while reaching for your shoulder, which was a manoeuvre that frightened you just a little.

"Please don't touch me" you cautioned her gently as, suddenly, you heard a familiar voice.

"It's fine Frances. Let her in, eh" you heard Tommy say from the hallway and, as you walked into the large foyer, you watched him walking down the stairs wearing nothing but black suit pants.

His otherwise naked chest was covered by a large white bandage, wrapping around his right shoulder as well and, just as he spoke to you, he was smoking a cigarette.

"What are you doing here Love? Shouldn't you be at the gambling den?" he asked surprised to see you and whilst you were worried about him having been shot, you did not address it just yet. You were here to confront him and this was what you were determined to do.

'Is it true?" you thus asked instead while your eyes were glued to his chest.

'Is what true?" Tommy asked before reaching for your hand gently, but you pulled away from him with the request not to touch you.

"Alright. No touching" he determined before he asked you to follow him and you nodded in agreement, before doing so quietly, keeping your distance from him until, eventually, he led you to what appeared to be his reading room.

Without saying a word, you sat down on the large red lounge in the middle of the room while Tommy poured you and himself a glass of whiskey.

"Now tell me Love, is what true? Why are you here, eh?" he asked again while handing you the glass and you took a quick sip before placing it on to the small coffee table in front of you.

"Are you just using me to find my stepfather? Is that why you asked me all those questions about him the other day?" you asked almost reluctantly, wanting it to be nothing but a lie.

"What gave you that idea?" Tommy chuckled before taking a seat next to you. He placed his glass on to the coffee table as well and then pushed his cigarette into the ashtray in front of him.

"Linda told me everything" you told Tommy as a few silent tears escaped your eyes.

"I doubt that she told you everything" Tommy chuckled again.