Woken again from a nightmare Ayla was used to waking up in sweats turning and laying on her back she stared at the stripped ceiling of her bedroom. She felt sticky from sweat under her thin bed sheets. Her eyes darted across the room looking at the long red dress she had hung up the night before.she knew tommy would be here soon so she needed to make a move.Washing her face with cold water and changing into the beautiful gown she had desired to wear since she was a child. Putting on her beautiful accessories and letting her long hair fall in natural curls. She made quite an effort which wasn't something she normally did.
A beep outside the door made her nervous. she didn't know why she was going with Tommy. she didn't know what she was trying to prove she certainly wasn't doing it for the money she already had enough to live by. Ayla felt a funny way around him, she had never felt anything like it before. Her heels clicking below her as she walked towards the door. Taking a deep breath and opening the door. Tommy tried to keep a straight face, he wanted to tell her stunning she looked and how much he wanted her but he couldn't a Shelby could never show weakness.Helping herself into the car sitting beside him she desperately wanted to hear his opinion on her look.
"Is it just us going to the races?" she asked
"Something like that" he didn't bother looking over at her, he didn't want to make his feelings obvious. The car started again roaring to life and speeding down the road.
When we arrived they didn't use the front entrance which made Ayla slightly suspicious.He kept his hand on her lower back protectively as they walked.
"Are you sure we're allowed in here?" Tommy felt himself bumping into her a few times as they walked
"Well, I prefer to come to the races the back way. It keeps me out of trouble.Tracks are lawless places.I can't stand petty criminals...This way." they turned right. He obviously knew where he was going Ayla could see that he had been her before many times.
"Will we get to lay a bet?" she asked. Uneducated by what Tommy did for a living. She had never gambled in her short life
"No - gambling is for mugs." he smirked at her confused expression which he found adorable "This way You're lucky you're with me or you'd be wasting your money on fixed races." he admitted
"I always wondered, how do you fix a race?" she tried to keep up with him
"How should I know? OK, you do the talking." he said as the sight of a security guard at the other end of the corridor sent her into a state of anxiety
"What?" she whispered/shouted the panic was apparent in her voice
"Tell security you are Lady Sarah Duggan, Lady Sarah Duggan of Connemara.You got lost when you went to look for the boy riding your horse - Dandy Flower.If they ask about me, say I'm Prussian and don't speak a word of English." he said which he had obviously payed a lot of thought into.she furrowed my eyebrows at him
"Come on, posh girl.Earn your three quid." he smirked pulling her towards the security guard.
Ayla had done what Tommy told her to do, the security guard had let them in without a problem. They made their way to the balcony watching over the musicians and dancers, standing close too each other Tommy wouldn't let her out of his sight. Ayla was fascinated at the amount of happiness in one room, she wished she had seen things like this before. The clouds of tommy's cigarette dance around her. Tommy noticed the smile forming on her lips.
"I still prefer the Garrison." Tommy said knocking her out of her gaze. She smiled at him weakly
"Do you dance?" he asked which stunned her. She never thought a man like Thomas Shelby the gangster or Birmingham would dance with a girl of her sorts.
"I've never been asked, well to be frankly honest I've never tried" she admitted
"Finally some honesty" he said which made her laugh a little
"Lady Sarah of Connemara, will you dance with me?" he asked letting the butterflies in her stomach fly. Tommy lead her to the middle of the dance floor holding her closely.
"Don't let go and just follow my lead" he smiled. She nodded. His footsteps were little trots which lined up too the music. The more they danced the easier it became. Ayla found herself enjoying it. Sometimes they would even share a smile or glance together. Tommy was distracted by the sight of Billy Kimber sitting with his men over at a small table. Ayla slowly noticed. He finally checked his pocket watch, his face became more serious, he started pulling Ayla across the dance floor in a hurry.She wasn't stupid. She caught on
"Either your left leg is stronger than your right or we're making a getaway" She finally free's herself from the dance position .
"Neither." Tommy simply replies and heads towards an exit
"I hope this doesn't involve razor blades." she referred to his hat
"I've decided to move up in the world.Become a legitimate businessman." she looked at him as his eyes bore into hers
"My gosh.if only you were serious." she rolled her eyes
"I'm always serious." he smirked at her before opening the exit door when the door opens Arthur dropped a few bags on the floor which made a thud
"We chased the Lees across the track, right the way down the Devon road.We got every penny back." I looked at the bags which obviously had money in them
"Nice dress.You can wear that to my pub." Arthur winked at Ayla which made her giggle
"Buy the boys a drink.Anybody hurt?" Tommy asked him
"A few cuts and bruises." a streak of blood on the side of his face which obviously didn't belong to him
"Off we go, Lady Sarah." Tommy smiled at her carrying all the bags towards Billy Kimber
"Your money, Mr Kimber.Rescued from the Lee brothers and returned to you with a request for a fair hearing." Tommy poured a bag on the table. The look of astonishment plastered on Mr Kimbers face. Ayla stood at the bar a few inches away eaves dropping on their conversation while she lit a cigarette.
"Your own protection is failing, Mr Kimber.Your boys are taking cuts.I want to suggest that from now on, you contract out your racetrack security to the Peaky Blinders.We would be saving you a lot of money, Mr Kimber.A lot of money.In return, you give us 5% of the take and three legal betting pitches at every race meeting north of the River Severn, rising to six after one year if we are all satisfied with the service." Tommy stopped. Kimber's face didn't change until he laid eyes on Ayla. She tried not to look at him.
"What do you say, Mr Kimber?" Tommy tried to bring back his attention
"I say you talk business to my accountant. I want to dance." Billy Kimber stood up buttoning his jacket. Thomas instantly knew he was after Ayla and he wasn't happy about it but nothing could be done. He had promised to keep her safe and he would do anything if necessary
"Your man said it was all right for me to have this dance." Ayla was knocked out of her thoughts when approached by the tall man with the red handkerchief. She didn't fear him. she didn't fear anyone but she had a funny feeling about him. Ayla kindly took the offer hesitantly as Tommy watched carefully. Her and Billy danced too a slow song where they were very intimate. The whole time his eyes stayed on her face but Ayla kept her eyes elsewhere. It seemed to go on forever when the song ended Billy said he was going to talk some business with Tommy and that she should wait at the bar. she did as she was told for once. A few minutes after a hand on her lower back startling her but she was glad to see it was Tommy. Another cigarette in his hand she feared the news he brung. Inches apart once again Tommy spoke close to a whisper.
"So, listen we're going to go for dinner at Kimber's house he has a place a couple of miles away.I have some business to settle first with his accountant, so You go on ahead, with Kimber." he said with regret. He honestly didn't want to leave her alone with him for five minutes
"Just me and him?" her heart started to beat faster
"Yeah until I'm done here.Is that all right? I'll throw in an extra three quid for your extra time." He said which bothered her tremendously
"You think I'm a whore? you promised you wouldn't parade me like a toy Tommy!" Tommy felt extremely guilty but he needed her to do this for him.
"Everybody's a whore, Ayla.We just sell different parts of ourselves.You said you wanted to work for me.To do that, you have to sharpen up.The deal is I give him two hours with you.He thinks he's a ladies' man.He thinks he can seduce you.Whenever you want, just kick him in the balls you and I both know you could cut him into little pieces with the knives tucked in your stockings".
"Miss" Billy took her hand leading her towards the car.Her heart beating faster than ever from sheer nerves. She did't want to be with Billy Kimber she wanted to be around Tommy. Even though she would never admit it.