THREE MONTHS LATER.
''I TOLD HIM THAT I'LL DO IT,ATHENA.''MICHAEL Gray said to his wife as she looked up from the numbers that she was writing down,raising a brow at her husband.Over the last three months,it was crazy what motherhood had done to her.Only twenty one and she seemed far more mature for her age.
But in reality both Michael and her knew that motherhood wasn't the only source for that outcome.Getting deeper with the Peaky business,that's what made her more mature.
''What are you on now,Michael?''She asked him,letting her pencil down before she folded her arms over her chest.Michael took a deep breath and closed the door of his office behind him,walking to his desk before he sat down on the expesive leather chair.
''Tommy.He has recovered from the attack,I told him that I will kill Father Hughes myself.''He admitted to his wife,making her hands fall to her sides and her eyes widen,''Michael,what?''She whispered.Michael controlled the legal business,and she was very proud of him.Sure he did cocaine and drank a whole factory of whiskey,but he never got his hands dirty with blood.
''Look,love.You know what I've been through,you know what that man did to me and my sister,the one that I've never fucking met.I want to kill that bastard myself,I made my decision.''He said,Athena taking a deep breath at that answer.She,in fact,knew what her poor husband went through,all the pain caused by that fucking man that wants to be holy but instead will end up at the depths of hell.
So,she didn't argue with him.She has been through similar pain herself,by the hands of her own brother,and he was killed.And she knew that if the Shelby brothers didn't kill him,she would end up doing the dirty work herself.
''Alright,you are right,baby.''She whispered,getting up from the desk that was exactly on the opposite side of Michael's,walking towards his.Sitting on his lap carefully,he smiled at her,a hand over her bare thigh,right under her skirt.
Athena wrapped her arms around his neck,sharing a sweet kiss with him.''You know now that Tommy has recovered,Russian Business is a priority.''He said to her,making her sigh at that,''Yeah,I know.''She whispered,making her husband frown.
''Love,''He whispered,making her look at his beautiful eyes that both of their girls had inherited.''If you don't feel okay,you should inform Tommy.You shouldn't be pressured to do that.''He whispered,gently placing her hair to the side,revealing the soft flesh of her neck.Placing a sweet kiss right under her ear,she smiled softly at him.
''I..I will do it,John will be there,Arthur too.Thomas promised that they will protect me if something goes wrong.I trust them,I really do.''She whispered,Michael rubbing her back gently,''There's nothing to be afraid of,darling.Just make sure that you don't fall in love with that Russian Duchess,alright?''He teased her,making her giggle;his favourite sound ever.
''Never,only with you.''
THE ROMANOV MANOR.
''Right,boys,my lady,''Tommy smiled softly at Athena,kissing her hand gently which made her raise a brow but the gesture was quickly done,Tommy putting his cigarette between his lips while all four of them stared at the huge manor in front of them,
''Just remember,they are fucking insane,and dangerous..and drunk on stuff that we've never heard of,and they are worse than us for spirits and ghosts''Tommy puffed his cigarette,''And today,they are going to test us.''He finished as all of them started walking towards the duchess,at least twenty Cossacks on both sides as they went.
''Fuck 'em.''Arthur groaned,looking around.
Tatiana smiled as she saw the three brothers walking towards her but her eyes had a new shine once she noticed Athena.
''Bingo,''John smirked as he noticed Tatiana smiling at Athena,clearly pleased with the fact that their plan worked,but it made the young woman even more worried than before.
''Mr.Shelby,Welcome''Tatiana shot her one million dollar smile at the man,''How is my car?''She asked him,keeping her eyes on him.
''I think I am in love with it.''
''And I yours.Should we keep what we love,yes?''She asked him as they both started walking towards the entrance,the rest of the group following right behind them.
''And excuse the reception,whenever we open the tresury,the Cossacks are on guard,''She informed the Shelby brothers and Athena,keeping her stare on the young woman that had yet to speak.Tatiana bit her lip and shook her head,showing all four of them the room that the tattoos would be examined.
She closed the door once she noticed that her aunt was in there as well,Tommy gathering his brothers and Athena so he could explain what was about to go down,''So,in Russia,men on the other side of the law decorate their body with tattoos.''He explained,doing hand gestures with the hand that was holding his cigarette.
''Nice.''John muttered,nodding his head.
''Now, some of these tattoos are proof of allegiance to underground organisations, which are the sworn enemies of the royal household.''Thomas explained to his brothers,keeping Athena out of it,''So it is customary in Russian royal households to check for such tattoos before engaging a man in business. And as we approach the allotted day these ladies here would like to make sure that you are not assassins or infiltrators, so...''He said with a soft tone,making Arthur shake his head,
''No,we are good,''Arthur muttered.
''So they'd like to check your skin.''Thomas continued,ignoring his brother.''They want to check our skin?''John said,nodding his head as he tried to process what these Russian chicks wanted.
''Yeah,now my body has already been checked,even though at the time I didn't know that was the reason,''Tommy chuckled which made Athena roll her eyes and fold her arms over her chest,''So,now it's your turn.''He finished,making both of his brothers stare at him.
''Oh,Mr Shelby,women should be checked as well.''Tatiana protested which made Athena wake up from zoning out,her eyes wide.''What the fuck did she say now?''Athena muttered to Tommy which made him nod his head,''Mrs.Petrovna,you explained to me that only men need to be checked out.''Tommy disagreed,which made Tatiana shake her head,''She needs to be as well.That's final.''She demanded,making the young woman shake her head.
''We promise you,we won't check out shit.''Tommy rubbed Athena's back as she sighed out,''Yeah we won't because we won't get naked either,''Arthur mumbled and that's what made Izabella talk for the first time since she stepped in the room.
''Obey,''She demanded,making the three of the group scoff,''The fuck is this bitch on,''Athena mumbled,making the older woman come right in front of her,''I said,obey!''She said once more,emphasizing her words.
''Heard you the first time,chill.''Athena sighed,''Nope,won't obey anyone,''Arthur shook his head,almost ready to walk out of the room,thank God John kept him in place.
The three of them shoot a look at one another,soon removing their clothes.John was very confident about it,Arthur hated that he was alive at the moment and Athena Gray swore that she would shoot Thomas Shelby after they left this shit show.
''Knew that you had a nice pair of tits,''John mumbled at Athena,making her give him a smack at the back of his head,''Jesus,m'sorry woman.''He scoffed,rubbing the back of his head as he was standing up in all of his glory.
''Oh,what a tight body.''Tatiana whispered at the sight of Athena all naked,Thomas had to agree,she snapped back very quickly from giving birth to two whole human beings.
''Are you a mother?''Tatiana asked her softly,touching Athena's body gently which made the woman clench her jaw,''Yes.''Her reply was short,she wanted this to be over now.
''Knew it,those babies are so heavy,''She muttered,a hand grabbing one tit,which made Athena hiss.They were very tender since she was nursing her daughters,but she hated the fact that Tatiana was touching her like this,
''That's enough,Tatiana.''Thomas said sternly,noticing how uncomfortable the girl was becoming.''And you have to be under twenty five,am I right,missus?''Tatiana smirked,looking right in Athena's eyes as her hands trailed down to her waist.
''M' twenty one.''
''I said that's enough,you checked them out,Athena more than enough.''Thomas said once again,making Tatiana smirk at him before looked once more at Athena,''Seems to me that Mr.Shelby doesn't like other people touching you,darling.''She whispered in her ear,daring to kiss it softly before she let out a low moan,making John,that stood next to Athena, look at her like she was fucking crazy.
And she was,and that was just a small taste of how fucking insane they were,Tommy was right.