𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐍, ᵖᵉᵃᵏʸ ᵇˡⁱⁿᵈᵉʳˢ

𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯

"I'm convinced instead of blood, whiskey runs through your veins."

.*.

A slow cast of white fog swept over small heath in the mid evening hours. The chilling colds weren't foreign to the residents. As if acting as a second skin, the people had grown accustomed of dealing with bursts of the bitter freeze. And this day was no different.

If there was one person who hadn't welcomed the familiar frigid weather it was the the very man who had been titled to the people as 'The Scum of This Town.'

Thuds resounded off the cracked concrete, the sound alone drawing attention from every which way. Chester Campbell walked with unfaltering cockiness, his aura not sitting well with anyone who had crossed his path. Stopping just short of the end of an alleyway, the older man spotted exactly who he was supposed to meet.

"Quite a promiscuous place to be meeting don't you think, Miss Morelli?"

The unseemly smirk that formed on his lips tried to speak for itself. That he had all the answers, that he had everyone right where he wanted them— as if he was the one with the upper hand. But he wasn't fooling the woman that stood before him.

The Siren leader peaked up from the veiled fascinator that sat perfectly on her curls. The sound of his voice alone was enough to cause a ripple of shivers to shake her bones. In the way he worded his sentence she knew he wanted to get a rise out of her so early on in their conversation. That was always the man's goal— to make his target feel uncomfortable.

Lettie's gloved hands remained clasped in front of her succeeding in maintaining her calm nature. Her ochre eyes stayed locked on his figure refusing to waver in the slightest, "Say what you want. You've never been very business oriented have you, Mister Campbell."

Once again, she knew he was familiar with desolate, sketchy places for meetings. He was no stranger to business guideline. But still, it never stopped the hazel eyed beauty from snapping her own retort.

Campbell decided to ignore her comeback but instead to continue with the agenda. Taking a few steps closer in hearing range, his noticeable limp didn't stop him from taking a few more, "I will say I was surprised when I got your letter. You and Mister Shelby doing separate transactions now?"

Tilting her head at his question, Leticia had grown tired of the revolving game. Raising her head higher, her features continued to display impassiveness as she shot back, "Cut the shit. This isn't about Tommy. This is you and I now."

"Oh, is it?" His daunting smirk never left, it had only widened in wait for her next words.

Nodding her head slowly, the Morelli woman hummed not even a second after in answer, "Hm," her heels clacked on the ground beneath her as she took a step forward wanting her next words to be heard clearly, "You have been a wretch in our lives ever since you stepped foot into Small Heath,"

Adjusting his hold on his cane, Campbell expelled a short exhale in what would be considered a laugh but nothing was funny. He thought he had everything in his control, "I belie—"

"I wasn't done," the authoritative tone that exuded from her being was not one to be questioned, "Quite frankly, I don't care what you believe. This is my meeting, you will hear me all the way through. And only then, are you more than welcome to speak."

There was nothing wrong with a word to word fight. She had done nothing, no violence had taking place. As much as he didn't want to, all he could do was stand there and listen. Sensing that he would keep quiet for now, Lettie continued.

"Let's make this quick, yes? From the very beginning, your mission was to take down Tommy and now you're back to finish the job, right," the cloud of white that escaped with every breath from the chilly air shown with every word spoken. The determination in her eyes was hard to miss as they appeared very distinctively through the foggy mist, "This...obsession with Tommy is laughable. You have learned many lessons, Mister Campbell," gazing down to his cane indiscreetly, she then looked back up to meet his own scrutiny but residing behind his glare was an ever growing anger, "But there is still a lesson you have yet to learn."

Leticia Morelli had a way with words that made anyone go silent in waiting for her next words for you never knew where she was going with it. The ones who had grown quiet had never realized their silence because they were too busy trying to decipher her meanings.

Campbell remained still in place, his eyes squinting in curiosity.

Her red stained lips stayed in a straight line not giving away anything to the man, "You can go after Tommy all you want. But when it's his family, that's where you've crossed the line. And when I hear about it," spreading her arms out in a small quick fashion, she sighed, "Well, I'm here, aren't I?"

Looking around to both sides of him, Campbell looked back to the Morelli beauty with a quirked brow, "You are standing in place for, Mister Shelby, are you? Let's beat around the bush, shall we. What is it really you want to discuss, Miss Morelli?"

A still silence swept over the two in the hushed alleyway. If Lettie looked at the man any longer she knew she'd do something she'd regret, so she thought it best if she were to hurry it along. Cutting straight to the point, Leticia grew more firm, her eyes holding more power than anything in their vicinity, "I know what you did to Polly," taking a step closer so that he could see and feel the tenacity emanating from her being, "And I know what you did to Michael when he was in jail," the fire wielding behind her irises could've blinded any man if it were to take physical form, that's how angry she was. To get her statement across, she finished in a hostile mutter, "There's a special place for men like you."

It was almost near a standoff. The two figures, so unmistakably different, stared one another down neither showing defeat. You could certainly cut the tension with a knife, the deathly still silence being overwhelmingly lethal.

Huffing out a short breath of humor, the curly haired woman shook her head in disbelief at the thought that this man wanted to go against the Shelby man, "You wanted to dine with the devil," most would've missed the quick, slight tilt of her red lips if they weren't paying close attention because as quick as it came, it vanished, "Now you'll meet hell."

Campbell found no words escaping him. Leticia always found people's silence was answer enough.

Finding the meeting coming to a close, Lettie pulled her gloves tighter on her hands from the swift breeze that blew through the street. Looking up from under her fascinator once more, she left it on one more parting note, "The races is in three days time. We both know someone will be meeting their expiration," raising her chin slightly in disdain, she voiced steadily, "And it won't be Thomas Shelby."

Shaking his head, Campbell countered swiftly, "Don't forget, Miss Morelli, you and Mister Shelby still have your own job to carry out. Until then, we shall see."

Another moment passed before her piercing gaze moved from his own to turn around and head down the alleyway in which she came from. She didn't get far before Campbell had gotten shaken back to earth to call after the woman causing her to halt her steps. He always wanted the last word.

"You are so certain that it won't be Mister Shelby meeting his demise. And maybe not. Maybe someone second best will take his place, yes?," Placing one hand in his coat pocket, the man stood idly in poise, "Either way, I'd have done my job."

Craning her head to look over her shoulder, she thought over his words carefully knowing he was indiscreetly talking about her and couldn't help but to find some sense of farce in his argument. Shaking her head in a small motion, Lettie quipped, "Tommy'll still be alive. And deep down you despise living in a world where he's still standing," shrugging her shoulders in a small motion, she was the one to leave on the last word, "But like you said, we shall see."

Turning back forward, Lettie continued on her way. The figure dressed in black disappearing within the fog that enveloped her completely from sight.

The Morelli woman knew the one thing Campbell detested in life was Thomas Shelby. His job isn't finished until he has taken down the very man that plagued his nightmares and thoughts. So much so, that he would do anything to rid him even if it may get himself killed. But Campbell wasn't playing it smartly. He was playing in a world he didn't understand. So in the end, he will reap what he sow.

***********

The next day had come quicker than anybody had expected. With the races gaining closer and closer to its date, time seemed to fly by faster each passing day before anyone could blink an eye. Which meant the higher the nerves had increased but for the moment the feeling remained hushed in the mind without disturbing the ones who needed the quiet the most.

In the earliest morning, the golden rays of the sun peaked through the curtains shining brightly on the couple that laid in bed hidden under the cotton sheets.

The bodies of Lettie and Tommy laid next to one another unaware that the morning had already come. For the first night in two years, the tranquil sleep that had blanketed over the two had their minds and bodies relish it entirely. The room was silent. It was in the early hours of the morning and no sound was to be heard. Even though the two weren't awake to experience the serenity of the sunrise, it still felt the same in their dream states.

Shifting under the sheets, Lettie opened her eyes slowly blinking to familiarize herself with the brightness of the room. A short yawn washed over her as she ran a hand over her face to shake the sleepiness off. For a second, she was able to bask in the quiet before her mind went running and submerged itself in the deep end— For a second she felt secure. And that feeling stayed in the form of the man beside her. Feeling a pressure on her waist, she looked down to see the arm of the very man that plagued her mind the previous night. Trailing her eyes from his arm and to his face, a small smile grew on her lips at seeing him still asleep.

As she laid pressed to his side, Leticia found a different calmness watch over her. Running her hazel eyes over his features, she saw how content he looked in his sleep. It seemed from the outside looking in that no worries troubled his consciousness. But knowing Thomas, even in his slumber he still had poisons in shape of ideations run in and out to no end. Bringing a hand up to his forehead, Lettie ran her index softly down the crease of his eyebrows until she stopped at the tip of his nose. In her own way, she was hoping she'd relieve him of all his problems. To quiet his intellect if even for a minute.

Observing the way his eyebrows crinkled together slightly before completely relaxing back, his breathing became softer if possible. Not wanting to wake him, Lettie withdrew her hand before she wrapped an arm around his waist as she placed a kiss over his heart. Lifting her leg, she intertwined it with his while shifting closer to place her head upon his chest. Lying there for a little longer, the hazel eyed beauty bathed in the solace of being in Tommy's arms.

The past couple of days with Thomas was better than she had expected. They both still had their businesses to run but they still found time for themselves in between. The Shelby man had prioritized Leticia for he still felt like he had a lot to make up to her. In this moment, Lettie wouldn't change anything. For it was rare to wake up beside one another.

Roughly an hour and a half had passed, reluctantly untangling herself from the man beside her, she pulled the sheets back to quietly get out of the bed. Her feet met the cold wooden floorboards causing a shiver to crawl up her spine reminding her no cloth had been worn on her body. Rising from the soft cushion, she walked over to her wardrobe to grab a night gown to throw on quickly. Then reaching for her robe, she clung it around her body as she walked over to the handbasin. Turning on the sink, she splashed water on her face to fully wash the sleep from her eyes.

In doing so, the quietness of the room allowed her mind to wander. Running her fingers over her eyebrows, her thoughts brought her to the night her and Tommy had a few hours ago. She thought of every part his hands touched, where his lips worshipped, and his sinful words whispered in her ear. Her hand came to her mouth as she bit her thumb to stop her foolish smile from growing. To say that night would be memorable would be an understatement. The feelings the Shelby man had induced in her were unfamiliar but she never wanted it to leave. If anything she welcomed it more.

Shaking her head to rid of the naughty thoughts, Leticia walked out of the toilets and over to her vanity. Walking on light feet she stopped in front of the mirror grabbing her clip from the dressers surface. Wrapping her curls up, she hummed quietly to herself as she latched the clip in place. Her melodic hums carried softly through the room, unbeknownst to her, Tommy had awoken watching her every move.

With his back leaned against the headboard, his tired eyes lovingly watched her figure slightly sway to the song she had playing in her head. This was the closest he had ever gotten to hearing her voice sing, though she was only humming it was close enough. It sounded like an angel.

As she was fixing her curls, she happened to spare a look to check on Thomas through her mirror slowly halting her hums in surprise that he had awoken. Dropping her arms down from her hair, she smiled at him through the glass. Tilting her head with a small pout thinking she had been humming too loud, she questioned with concern, "Did I wake you?"

Running her eyes over his figure that looked relaxed on her bed with his leg bent and his forearm resting on his knee, she couldn't help but think he had looked sexy in the early morning. Shaking his head in answer to her question, a hum wracked through his body as his cerulean blues never strayed from her being. Turning around to face him fully, she walked over to the end of the bed setting her knees on the white sheets. Placing her hands in her lap, she whispered, "How'd you sleep?"

The piercing blue of his eyes held a certain softness that was unmatched for anyone else but only for the Morelli beauty to see. His groggy voice still wrapped up in sleep had replied shortly after, "With you beside me," a small grin formed on his lips as he gave a nod of his head, "Better."

Grinning at his words, she got onto her hands to crawl the rest of the way to him once he extended a hand out to her as if he had been deprived of her touch for too long. Finding a comfortable spot on his lap, both legs on either side of him, she clasped her hand with his while running her thumb soothingly over his skin. Setting his rough-calloused hand on her exposed thigh, he rubbed it tenderly before murmuring, "How are you, eh?"

He knew Leticia exceptionally well than he did three years ago. So he could tell when she was in her head, especially ever since the Arthur and Michael ordeal. Just as she was there for him he promised to be there for her in every way possible.

Tearing her eyes away from their hands and back to his eyes, she humored, "I'm splendid. Though I would be better if had a warm tea in my hand."

Thomas had hummed in acknowledgement, raising their hands to his lips he placed a gentle kiss on the back of her. Lettie stared adoringly at the action before she brought her free hand to his hair to fix a piece back in place, "I was thinking we could have some eggs with some bread and jam before we start our day, hm?" Gazing into his tired eyes that blinked slowly in content, she continued quietly, "And you Mister are going to have tea as well. I'm convinced instead of blood, whiskey runs through your veins."

Huffing a short laugh out, Tommy gruffly spoke while a complacent grin never left his lips, "Yes, ma'am."

Feeling his hand run up higher on her leg, the bottom of her robe raised with the action, his hand slowly dragging it up inch by inch. Not wanting his lips and touch to divert her projects for the day, she squinted her eyes in warning though a smile resided on her lips, "Thomas..."

Tilting his head, he quirked an eyebrow innocently. As his hand inched to its destination, his guileless behavior did not go unnoticed as he questioned, "What?"

Placing her hand over his she stopped his movements momentarily. Squinting her eyes even more, her hazel irises twinkled in the sunlit room, "Tommy, you of all people know that there is no time to waste," bringing her face closer to his, she grinned cheekily, "No matter how much we want to stay here all day."

Bringing his other hand to tuck a fallen curl behind her ear he then placed it on her other leg as his gaze swept over her ethereal features in their close proximity. Lowering his voice to a whisper in the quiet room, he quipped, "A day wrapped in my womans arms I hardly see as a day wasted."

Tilting her head, Lettie felt Tommy's hand raise to her cheek as he watched her cutely scrunch her nose up not wanting to be lured in by his words. Biting her lip lightly, she purred, "Tempting. How can I say no when you put it like that."

A small quirk of his lip lifted in agreement, Thomas then took that moment to pull her in swiftly. Kissing her lips gently, he placed his hand on the back of her neck feeling her reciprocate his caresses. His touch brought an awareness to the sensitivity of her skin wherever they trailed. His rough hands met the skin of her upper back as she felt the fabric of her robe fall from her shoulders. Smiling in between kisses, Lettie took her arms out of the sleeves before returning her hands back to the planes of his shoulders to steady herself from his addicting embraces.

Placing his hand on her lower back, Tommy switched positions so he could take place on top instantly eliciting angelic laughs from the Morelli beauty as he peppered kisses along her neck. One hand led a path to her upper thigh, her silk nightgown raising to bunch just below her hip. Hooking her arms around his torso she applied soft pressure as her mirthful chuckles continued trying to stop the ticklish feeling, "Ah! Tommy!"

Pulling away, he grinned cheekily as he remained hovered over her frame, his cerulean blues admiring the beautiful woman before him. The beautiful woman he could call his.

Lettie's laughs died down the longer she gazed at the Shelby man. Her fingers trailed gingerly up his neck and to his jaw. Running her thumb over his bottom lip as if tracing the feature to memory she brought him back down to her to collide in another round of whirlwind pleasures. Just as Thomas's hand dragged down the strap of her silk gown, a noise from her doorway alerted the twos attention to the disruption.

The Pointer pranced his way in, his tail wagging rapidly from happiness at the two before him. Jumping on the bed, Baxt slid his way between them with loving licks to their faces. Leticia laughed once more from her dogs intrusion, her hand coming up to pet him tenderly, "Seems Baxt is up and ready for the day, eh boy?"

Tommy rolled over to take place beside her, his chest brushing against her arm in defeat for now his lady's attention had been taken away. Lettie turned her head to the side, her lips angling up to meet Thomas's before she smiled, "To be continued."

Hopping off of the bed, Lettie pulled her robe back over her body, her figure leaving the room as Baxt remained seated on the bed watching as she left. Tommy's arm leaned up on the mattress, a sigh blowing out of his mouth as his hand pointed to the dog in warning, "We're going to set boundaries."

The Pointer tilted his head releasing a sharp bark as he got up, his tail wagging with movement as he trotted his way out the room following Lettie.

Meanwhile, Leticia made her first stop to her front steps as she grabbed the newspaper for the day. Holding the folded paper in her hand, the coolness of the wooden boarded floor from the morning chill wafting through the serene home ran chills up Lettie's exposed legs as she made her way around the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Placing the newspaper on the table, she then put a fresh kettle on the stovetop before beginning the next step of making bread and jam as she waited patiently. While finding peace in spreading jam on the slice, she came to the realization that it was the first morning in years where she felt grounded. And she welcomed the new change with open arms.

She felt lighter on her feet as she grabbed utensils and spare dishes out of the cabinets. Making a mental checklist in her mind for tasks that needed to get done for the day she couldn't help but to bring her thoughts back to what transpired in the previous weeks.

From the heartbreaking distraught form of Polly,  the arrests of Michael and Arthur, the conniving plans that campbell had been making behind the scenes, and the list goes on.

The main thought that made her antsy was the meeting she had with the deceitful Chester campbell yesterday. Which was news she hadn't told Tommy yet, and she knew he wouldn't take too kindly to once she did.

Snapping her from her mind abruptly was the feel of the very man she was thinking of placing his hands on her hips, his lips meeting the side of her neck causing her to tilt her head at the contact in relief of the sweet gesture. His bare chest pressed into her back as the Shelby man peaked his head over her shoulder, his brow quirking slightly at the food displayed in front of him.

"You plan on feeding John's kids, eh?"

Looking down in confusion, she sighed once she saw nearly more than half of her loaf of bread had been used. Setting her knife down, she closed her eyes momentarily before letting out a laugh in disbelief, "Got distracted. Clearly," she whispered the last part as she looked back down to the piles of bread spread with jam.

Sensing her mind was elsewhere, he jested quietly, "Yes, clearly."

Breathing out through her nose in a little laugh, she pushed him away lightly, "Go. Sit."

A small grin formed on his lips as he raised his hands in surrender before turning around to walk to the dining table. Baxt joined his side laying down on the floor next to his chair that he sat in. Grabbing the papers from the table, he leaned back in his seat as he scanned the pages silently.

A comfortable silence enveloped the room as they both enjoyed each others company just with being in the same vicinity. Placing a few slices on a plate, Lettie took one for herself holding it in her mouth as she walked the plate and a spare cup to the table. Placing it down, she grabbed the bread from her mouth savoring the fruity delight. Tommy moved his arm that rested on the edge of the table without a second thought to allow room for the Morelli woman a place to sit. As if it was a natural element for the two, Lettie situated herself on his lap while she took another bite from her bread as she as well ran her eyes over the news printed on the sheet.

As she read the paper in silence, her arm that remained wrapped around his shoulders tapped his arm lightly to gain his attention once a question popped up, "Have you visited, Arthur?"

His silence was a dead ringer for the answer that she had already come up with before she had even asked. Craning her head to get a better view of him, Lettie drew out, "Thomas..."

Knowing where she was already headed, Tommy cut her off before she could even begin, "He's a grown man, Lettie. John had a talk with him and so have you—"

"But not from you," releasing a small sigh at her words, Lettie shook her head at him, "No, I'm serious, Thomas. If there's anyone that he would like to hear from, it's you," His ice blue eyes stared at the paper in front of him but he wasn't processing any of the content, only her words. Running her thumb over his cheek to bring his eyes back to her own, Leticia muttered, "You know that, don't you?"

He knew she was only coming from the kindness of her heart, he couldn't be upset with her for that. Grabbing her hand into his own, he kissed the back of her hand tenderly, "Right. But he's a Shelby, he'll be fine."

Lettie came to the conclusion that she'd get no where with him so she took the hint and let it be. Nodding her head, she whispered, "Right."

Wanting to rid of the turn in mood, Thomas leant forward and took a bite from the slice in her hand causing her to roll her eyes playfully at his antics but she still couldn't help the grin that formed. The shrill whistle from the kettle pulled her away from his lap, his eyes following her until she reached the kettle before returning them back to the papers in front of him.

Soon after, a knock on her door rang through the flat breaking the peaceful ambience of the morning. Lettie looked over her shoulder, stopping her movements of pouring the water before saying, "Could you get that."

Nodding his head once for he was already going to check, he placed the newspaper down before standing from his seat and heading to the door. Twisting the knob, he was faced with a well dressed man whose smile slowly dropped once he met his eyes.

Tommy stood there quietly, his hand on the door as the other laid tucked into his trouser pockets waiting for the man to speak. The two men sized one another up as neither said a word. Another few seconds passed before the said man cleared his throat as he looked to the number of the building wondering if he had it right, "I might have the wrong number."

The shelby man didn't say a word, his figure standing still in what looked like boredom. The other man shifted on his feet going to excuse himself before the sound of a familiar feminine voice was heard, "Tommy, who is—"

Rounding the corner of the hallway, Lettie came out from behind Tommy. Her eyes locked with the man standing outside of her door before they widened in just the slightest, "Oh, Christopher," Wrapping her robe around her body to hide his view from her nightgown, she stayed halfway behind Tommy's figure to block her from his view, "What are you doing here?"

Looking between the two in front of him, Christopher finally found the words he was going to say, "My boat docked this morning. I'm here for Arthur's case," glancing between the attire of the couple before him, he slowly formulated his sentence, "Sorry to intrude, but I tried your office and I was told you weren't in. Thought I'd try my luck and stop by."

Lettie opened her mouth to respond but was beaten by the Shelby man as he instead spoke up with a sternness, "Don't you find that unprofessional, Mr. Adams?"

Christopher held his briefcase tightly in his hold as he brought his attention to the only man before him, "Certainly not. If I may, I find it detrimental since it is your brother we're discussing."

Christopher had figured this was the Thomas Shelby that was brought up in multiple conversations between him and Lettie. It was no coincidence at all that the Shelby man was here.

The Morelli woman looked back and forth to the men but her eyes didn't miss the slight tick of Thomas's jaw at the Adams man's words. Wanting to burn out the fire that was about to be set aflame, she spoke calmly, "Well, now isn't a good time. We'll speak to you later at my office whe—"

Thomas stared straight into Christopher's soul as his stance hadn't moved an inch since opening the door. His eyes brought a force that even the Adams man was beginning to waver under his stare. But it was the tone of voice that almost made him give in into the intimidation, "No, not necessary," now placing both hands into his trouser pockets, Tommy tilted his head back calmly, his face giving nothing away to the man before him, "You're here now. You tried your luck, right? Wouldn't want to waste it."

"No," the attorney didn't back down as he tried to match him, "I wouldn't."

Lettie looked to Tommy in disbelief but he didn't meet her stare, his attention was solely on the man in front of him. She knew this was bound to go bad, it was not the greatest of ideas the Shelby man has ever had.

Forcing a smile onto her lips, Lettie hesitantly nodded her head, "Okay, right," clearing her throat awkwardly, Leticia invited him in, "Come in."

Tommy's lips stayed in a straight line as he stared for a few more seconds before he stepped to the side allowing room for the Adams man to step inside. Leticia gave one last look in wonder if she should even leave the Shelby man with Christopher. She decided that she'd hurry as she climbed the stairs to her room to change quickly and grab Thomas's shirt.

Making her way back downstairs, she caught Tommy before he fully went into the sitting room. Shoving his shirt into his chest, her fiery golden irises glared daggers at him but all he replied with was a smirk of his own. Taking the shirt into his hands, Tommy slid the sleeves of his dress shirt over his arms as he followed right behind the Morelli woman in content with himself.

Leticia gave a short smile to Christopher who sat on the spare chair near the fireplace. Taking her own seat on the sofa, Lettie crossed her legs while Thomas took a seat on the chair opposite of the attorney. Tommy didn't bother to button his shirt as his chest remained exposed, his case of cigarettes in hand as he took one out slipping it between his lips unbothered.

Wanting to break the unfaltering silence, Lettie spoke up quickly wanting to get this awkward interaction over with, "You have updates on Arthur, yes?"

Switching his eyes over to the only woman in the room, Christopher brought his thoughts back on to what he originally came here for, "Uh, yes, correct. After reviewing his case, I reckon that Mister Shelby will be released within a week."

Listening intently to his words, Lettie grasped the information wholly, "And how do you reckon that?"

Blowing air past his lips as if the explanation was apparent enough, "Well, with there being insufficient evidence it shouldn't even be that difficult to convince a priest. Let alone, a judge."

Thomas and Lettie already had a plan enacted. Christopher was placed as a diversion in their plans and with him as a distraction, they both knew it wouldn't be a week until Arthur was released. More like two days.

The Adams man didn't know to the full extent of what business Lettie was in and she planned to keep it that way. It was safer for him. She didn't need anymore people hurt in her line of work. So instead she played into her role.

Blinking her eyes slowly in perplexity, Lettie questioned, "Just like that?"

Nodding his head, Christopher pursed his lips calmly, "Just like that," shrugging his shoulders, he confidently quipped, "I'm good at my job."

Exhaling softly, Leticia felt her shoulders sag in relief, "Good. That's good," turning her head to gauge Tommy's reaction, she watched as he smoked his cigarette quietly, "Right, Tommy?"

The Shelby leader as well knew when to put on an act. In this case, he didn't even need to try. His elbow leaned on the arm rest of the chair he sat in, his eyebrows raised in answer as he nodded his head, a short hum being the only sound he made as he inhaled from his white stick.

Christopher gave a deadpan look to the man across from him, he didn't reply but instead looked back over to the Morelli woman in curiosity, "As for Michael Gray, he was already released a couple days ago. Burned down a pub and didn't even need a lawyer. A miracle is what it is."

Leticia's could've swore she felt her eye twitch as her breath caught in her throat. She knew the real reason why Michael had been released so early on, the thought already leaving a sour taste in her mouth. Tommy himself had even stilled, his eyes looking over to Lettie briefly already having an idea of how she felt about the news.

Licking her lips to contain her anger, she couldn't find any words. Tommy turned his head back to Christopher, he cleared his throat before he spoke, "Yes, well, that's settled. Will that be all?"

Chris's eyes stayed on Thomas before he switched back over to a quiet Lettie. Understanding that his time had come to an end, he nodded his head once, "I'll take my leave," standing up from his seat, he saw as Leticia did the same, Tommy shortly after rising from his own seat after ashing his cigarette. Taking a step closer to her, Chris muttered quietly, "We'll discuss more later, but for now," reaching into his pants pocket, he pulled out a piece of paper to hand to the Morelli beauty, "I'm staying at a hotel in the town over, here's the telephone number. If you need anything else, feel free to phone me."

Taking the piece of paper within her grasp quickly, she shot him a grateful smile as she nodded her head, "Thank you, Chris. Truly."

Sending a smile her way, Christopher gave a last look before making his way out of the sitting room but not before stopping next to Tommy, "Mister Shelby."

The gang leader stood hands tucked into his trousers as his stony eyes remained piercing, "Good day, Mister Adams."

Walking until he reached the threshold, Christopher turned back around just as he remembered another detail, "Oh, before I leave, I heard about the Epsom Derby. Never attended a horse race before. Thought I'd see what all the talk was about of this grand affair," keeping his eyes solely on the woman in the room, he continued, "I shall be guaranteed I'll see you there."

Christopher Adams was a confident man. As a lawyer, nothing had ever caused him to fear anything. Continuing his way to the hallway, the flat was silent until the sound of the door closing created a less tense space. Taking in a deep inhale, Leticia released her breath in alleviation.

Thomas clearly didn't like the man one bit. It took everything in him to not wreak havoc on the Adams man. He knew Lettie wouldn't be too fond of the idea. Besides, he knew it wise to not go against the Morelli woman.

Maintaining his calm exterior, Tommy pursed his lips in content as he turned to face Lettie, "I'd say that went well."

Craning her head to look at the Shelby man, her face was impassive as she crossed her arms. Piercing him with her ochre colored eyes for a second, she shook her head as she made her way out of the sitting room. Oh, Thomas Shelby had it in for him later.

15 august 2023
not edited

*•*•*•*•*•*•

Guess who's back, back again...

I bet y'all weren't expecting me to drop a chapter today! Did I surprise you:)

I know, I know. I leave then I come back, I leave then I come back again—I'm sorry guys! But just know I've missed you all dearly<3 I've been busy working and getting my life together but know I'm back on my writing shit!

I've been in a little writing rut but I've slowly been digging my way out of the hole. If y'all have any ideas or stuff that you'd like to happen in this book, let me know! I love to read all your ideas and comments! AHH IVE MISSED YOU GUYS:')

Until next time, I give all my love to you beautiful angels!

-monet' xx