𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫
𝐬𝐢𝐱
♕
𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘵
Birmingham
Small Heath, 1919
It was the day of the races. And Dawn was less then happy to say the least. Hell she wasn't even just a little bit excited and was sure that another woman would be better to fill her role. But she had been chosen, and she wanted to end her favour sooner rather then later, leading her to where she was standing. Awkwardly outside her flat with loose baby blue dress and scowl plastered on her lips.
She knew she was supposed to be wearing red, it's what the money he gave should've gone to, but as a final fuck you she pocketed the money to help fix her flat and buy her groceries, she wasn't about to bill the peaky blinders for more when she could fix the problem right there, otherwise she would be calling in more favours then she could chew. So that morning she had Polly collect Theo and threw herself into the bottom of her drawer, digging out the oldest and unflattering dress she could find- it's not like she cared about her appearance and if Tommy had any complaints then it is his own fault for bringing her along.
Her hooded sea blue eyes darted to the car driving down the street, the crunch of stones underneath its tyres almost made Dawn wish it were her- anything to get out of this upcoming shit show.
Tapping her foot impatiently as the vehicle pulled to a Stop infront of her (in no way was she eager to go, but standing outside as the harsh bitter breeze nipped against her exposed skin was awful) Yet paid no mind to Tommy who had stepped out, eyeing her outfit with an eye roll, "Thought I told you to wear red?"
"Je m'en fiche." She replied.
"What?"
Dawn ignored him as she strolled towards the car, opening the door before he could and sitting herself down on the leather seat. Keeping her gaze forward she felt the shift of the automobile as he got into the drivers side.
"I don't care." Her gaze shifted sideways, eyeing the man, "That's what I said."
She watched on as a rare grin broke out on his face, it lasted only a second if not less but Dawn caught it, and she couldn't help the way her muscle threw one back.
"Of course you don't." Was all he said.
The rest of the drive was silent, though much to Dawns dismay she felt oddly comfortable- not that she'd ever tell him that, but the feel of the movement of the vehicle made her feel like she was flying, full of turbulence, yet still gliding through the long roads as wind hit against them in their own safety bubble.
She couldn't remember the last time she had been in a car, but she could figuratively piece
it together that it was before the war. And she had definitely missed the feeling. Or perhaps she missed who is used to sit next to her in the drivers seat; Elijah, the young brunette man who visited France every summer with his family, residing in the large house across from her own. The first time had been when she was fifteen, Elijah seventeen, they had snuck from the family dinner and plucked the keys from her fathers collection. They had spent the evening driving around the acres of land there families had owned, carefree and young, unaware of the dangers life had in store for them later on.
Smiling to herself at the memory she leaned her head the trembling window, letting her platinum waves to bounce along with the metal framework of the vehicle. Watching as the scenery flashed past her, closing her eyes vaguely picturing the trees and fields through the darkness of closed lids.
Tommy had caught her smile, taking his eyes off the road and peering at the woman sat next to him, holding back his own tug of lips and turning hack to the road coming up to Cheltenham, a part of his stomach digging in on itself though he quickly filled that hole with a clenched jaw and tightening his knuckles on the steering wheel.
When the car came to a stop, Dawn opened her eyes, lifting her head from the window to the seat next to her, confusion wracking her mind when the space was empty. As she went to open the door, a hand already beat her to it, for it had been pulled open, Tommy standing in front of her holding his hand out for her to take. With no other choice- considering he was stood leaving no room for Dawn to actually get out herself (a clever trick on his behalf) she grasped his outstretched limb, a grunt leaving her lips at the force he had pulled her up in, causing her to wobble on her feet and stable onto his suit jacket, leaning slightly to close to his chest for her own comfort.
Tugging his head towards the back entrance, he pulled the woman along, somehow declaring the position of her arm begrudgingly wrapped around his own in a state of respectability and formality.
Weaving their way towards the races, Dawn furrowed her eyebrows, she wasn't all that familiar with the layout of the building but she was sure they were going the wrong way, "We are not going through the entrance, oui?"
Tommy turned to the woman, looking down a bit before speaking, "I prefer to come to the races the back way." Nodding his head before continuing, knowing that she was listening to his every word, "It keeps me out of trouble. Tracks are lawless places, I can't stand petty criminals."
Dawn cracked a grin, shaking her head as he directed them down the hall. Feeling more talkative then usual she peered up at the man humming in question as she tired to muddle her question into simple English, "Do you bet?"
"Nah, gambling's for mugs." He replied.
Directing her down another hall, Dawn once again furrowed her brows in a sarcastic manner- she was sure the have wrinkles after the races. She wasn't familiar with the term 'mug' but she could pick out the humour from his tone.
"Well Mr Shelby, that makes you the biggest 'mug' of them all."
Placing a hand on her lower back he guided them through a door, slightly leaning down to talk into her ear, making sure she understood him perfectly. "Right, your going to be doing the talking."
Shock filled Dawn as her nerves played at her, she went to protest but before she opens her mouth Tommy continued, "Tell security you are Lady Sarah Duggan-" pausing momentarily letting them walk through the door, "-Lady Sarah Duggan of Connemara, you got lost when looking for the boy riding your horse.. Dandy Flower." He stood in front of her looking into her eyes to see is she was following his words, "If they ask about me then tell them I'm Prussian and don't speak a word of English."
Scoffing slightly to the lie, Dawn nodded her head to the irony of it all, telling him that she understood- but that didn't mean she was going to stick to his plan.
Walking forwards to the security man, with Tommy trailing behind her, she swallowed her worry and held her head high, walking with pride like a woman fresh out of Paris, ravished in newly brought gold and jewels. Widening her aqua sea foam eyes into ones of innocent and an equal honest smirk in her lips,
"Ah bon monsieur! je cherche mon cheval! 𝘢𝘩 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘳! 𝘪𝘮 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦! At the sight of his confusion she forced a giggle and staggered forward, "homme idiot je cherche mon cheval, de cette façon oui? 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘮 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘴? Pointing to the door he guarded she pushed forwards who was slightly flustered at the woman, unaware how to deal with the foreign beauty not speaking a word of English, "Viens salaud de cette façon!" 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 Her smile was plastered on her face, laughing cheekily as she brushed past the man, grabbing Tommy's hand and guiding them through the doors that she had opened for them.
Getting past security was easier said then done, man become putty in the hands of pretty woman who giggled and smiled, especially one with a flirty sultry accent twinged in there playful demeanour. Hands still unconsciously linked as they made there way to the balcony,
"Impressive." Was all he said, glancing down at the busy bodies below him, gliding the dance floor to the melodic tunes. He was slightly ticked that she didn't listen to him but he couldn't deny that he was sucked into her beauty in that moment, nor could he deny that he wasn't entranced by her as a whole, he had served with enough French men to know the foreign insults when he heard them.
"Well, your plan was.. what do they call it? Ah a shitshow yes? I simply did you a favour!"
Tommy laughed at this, shaking his head and turning to look at her playful expression, turning back to look down at the spinning bodies enjoying theme mumbling something about the 'Garrioson' which Dawn didn't quite pick up. Though her ears perked up when he tugged her hand still gripped in his own, "Do you dance?"
Gazing up at his eyes, she smirked. "I used to, but most of the men asked properly."
"Dawn Johnson-" He began, matching her smirk as he took small strides towards the stairs, pulling the young French woman with him, "Voulez-vous danser?"𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦?
A look of astonishment passed through her, shocked at his use of her home language- it was no where near perfect and the pronunciation needed improvement, but she could let that go.
"Montrer la voie, monsieur Shelby." 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘣𝘺.
Making there way down, they submerged into the sea of people, swimming in glee in the golden lit room. His hand rested on the small of her back, while the other interlocked into hers, holding it in the air as they quickstepped to the song. Dawns other hand lingered in his grey suit clad shoulder, gripping tightly as they spun.
Eyes found each other, blue delving into blue, like a violent storm crashing two waves together. They were reading each other, looking into each others souls to figure out their next moves, as if written on paper, it's letters stuffed into a glass bottle and thrown into the sea, letting each others vulnerability drift across the ocean between them until crashing onto the shore they called comfort.
The last time she had danced was with her husband, the night before he was sent off to war, spent swaying in each others embrace, tears glistening their skin not wanting to let each other go. But there's she was, dancing with great energy, a ear wide smile playing at her lips matching his own grin as he focused on her, as if she was the only woman in the room.
And perhaps she could've been, but as he spun the last twirl, his stare darkened as he spotted familiar men. Subtlety leading her off of the dance floor, she arched an eyebrow at his movement, as as if to question what he was doing. And to her surprise, Tommy understood the silent questioning, now the both of them walking towards a door hidden amongst the hustle, "I've decided to move up in the world." Pulling her closer as to avoid being bumped into, "Become a legitimate business man."
"Jésus Christ."Dawn muttered back to him, letting herself be guided into the room where two more men and three hefty bags, which rattled when dropped to the floor in what she presumed was money.
While the men conversed between each other, she stuck back taking in their appearance. It was clear they were all brothers, the ink difference being their ages and the blood smeared across one of their cheeks.
"Nice woman you got yourself Tommy, where've you been hidin' her?" The eldest gruffly spoke, while the younger man chuckled from behind him,
"Away from us that's for sure."
"Aye love, you should come by my pub sometime, I'll make much better company then Tommy over here."
The said man rolled his eyes and pointed a glare at his brother, "Buy the boys a drink," pausing slightly and asking, "Anyone hurt?"
"A few cuts and bruises." Arthur casually replied as Tommy nodded his head and patted his brothers shoulder, turning to the blonde woman behind him.
"Right off we go, ma dame." 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘺 sticking out his arm for Dawn to take, a small smile adorning her face at his horrible attempt at French, but taking it anyway and waltzing out the door, listening as the man called Arthur called out about a 'drink at his pub sometime' to which Tommy told her to ignore him.
She was led to bar, but as she was looking around she couldn't help but let worry seep into her. Now she was no gypsy but a bad feeling a crept up her spine, rending her paralysed as she sat on the barstool. Her stomachs churned and her body felt flushed, burning with uncomfortableness as felt eyes boring into her. But they weren't the eyes she was familiar with, they weren't the ones she was used to nor the ones that's she had started into moments prior in an intimate rendezvous on the dance floor.
And that's when Dawn Johnson has cursed herself, silently muttering profanities at herself. She had made a mistake. She had fallen for the trap the devil had set, she was the prey to the predator she was unaware of. She was just waiting game.
♕
𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫