Sullivan wasn't late. Her brother was.

When the Shelbys parked in front of her house, Carlisle was barely awake, still eating his breakfast. Tommy had told her to be well-dressed since it was a big event. Sullivan had forced her brother into one of his best suit while she had put on a black dress and her favorite high-heels, the dress almost touching the ground beneath her when she wasn't wearing her heels.

"Carlisle, you're worst than me!" Sully shouted, running down the stairs, her curled hair falling on her shoulders and down the small of her back.

He lifted from his toast, his unimpressed face still sleepy. "Are they here?" Sullivan widened her eyes in disbelief, already hearing Arthur's loud footsteps towards the front door, which he opened without knocking.

"Blondie, if you're late again, I swear I'll rip your fucking head off," Arthur exclaimed just as Sully was stepping out of the kitchen, one of her hand on her hip as she motioned for the kitchen.

The male groaned, stepping into the kitchen while Sullivan grabbed a coat, swinging it on her shoulders and stepping into the fresh Birmingham air. She hummed under her breath, her hands rising the bottom of her dress slightly. John whistled when he watched her, which made her blush slightly. "I feel bloody underdressed," he cursed.

"Maybe you are," Sully joked, approaching him carefully, trying to keep her balance. "Jesus!" she exclaimed, putting her hand on the car to catch herself.

"You'd better hold your man's arm tightly," John commented.

Sullivan stuck out her tongue, slapping his arm playfully. "Speaking of the devil, where's he?"

"In the front," Tommy's raspy voice called, making her grin. She walked carefully and stopped when she reached the open window of the car, where he was smocking, looking her from top to toe. "I wonder how you'll dress for the Derby."

"Oh, because I'm coming?" she asked, raising a surprised eyebrow.

"Unless you don't want to," he retorted quickly, though he knew she wouldn't miss it. Sullivan hummed, turning to her house where she could hear Carl and Arthur argue.

"Where am I sitting?" she demanded, still focusing on the house where Arthur was dragging Carlisle outside.

"With the boys," Tommy stated, his hand reaching down for a long lock of her hair, playing with it gently. Sullivan nodded in agreement, whistling to catch her brother's attention.

"We're already late, Polly can change your mind if we give her too much time to think about it!" she shouted, glaring at her sibling. "Just hurry your ass up or I'll do it for you."

Carlisle mumbled something that made Arthur laugh, finally locking the front door and dragging his feet towards the car. Arthur helped Sully into the car, then walked towards the front of the car, where he took the driver's seat. "I hate auctions," Carlisle commented when he jumped into the back, quickly followed by John.

"Why are you lying?" the blonde's voice asked, raising an amused eyebrow to her brother. She crossed her legs, her hands resting on her lap.

"There'll be women," John stated while nudging Carl's ribs, playfully glancing at Sullivan.

"I don't need women," Carlisle snapped, not amused with the Shelby's words. "What I do need is fucking sleep."

Sullivan gasped, smacking her brother's forearm. "I knew it," she whispered, her hand placed in front of her mouth. "Birmingham's life too hard on you, brother."

John laughed as the car took a sharp turn, moving all of them harshly. "Arthur!" Sully giggled, hearing the man's laugh from the front. When the car came to a rough stop, Arthur profusely honking to signaled their arrival, Sully thought it would be the final tone for Michael's trip. John grabbed the blonde's hand, letting her jump out of the truck to prove she was really accompanying them, which didn't soothe Polly.

"I'm still thinking I'm doing a big mistake," the brunette exclaimed, hugging her son tightly against her one more second and watching him go, joining Sully's side. She smiled kindly, waving goodbye at Polly, whom of which screamed something about how her neighborhood was respectable.

"You're traveling with us," Michael stated as the blonde took back her seat, John laughing at the boy's statement.

"You thought she wouldn't?" Arthur mocked from the front, elbowing Tommy slightly. "He doesn't stay with her enough."

Sullivan laughed, turning towards the Gray boy. "First of all, if I wasn't really coming, your mother would've lock you up for good," she explained, which didn't seem to surprise Michael. "And I have nothing else to add."

"She loves us too much to let us go alone," John joked, earning himself an eye roll from the blonde. "She won't admit this though."

Sullivan nodded in agreement while Arthur speeded the car, probably heading to pick up Charlie and Curly, the only persons left before they could go for the auction. When they had picked up the men, they hit the road, Arthur speaking loudly to cover the engine noise and being heard by everyone. She laughed with John and Michael until the came to a stop, opening the doors for everyone to enjoy the fresh air.

Sully jumped out of the car, walking around for a minute, outstretching her long legs. "Doesn't it remind you of the country roads?" Carlisle demanded, approaching his sister slowly.

The blonde lifted, crossing her arms over her chest, looking around her. "Kinda," she admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "Country roads, take me home," she sang, observing Carl's reaction.

"To the place I belong," Carlisle's strong voice continued, the both of them laughing as they walked back to the car.

Sullivan heard laughs coming from the car, where Michael was harassed by the boys' continual questions. "What the bloody is that?" John asked, motioning for something resting next to Polly's son.

Sully reached Tommy's side, sliding her hand on his upper arm gently. "Sandwiches, ham I think," Michael answered, his innocent tone amusing the boys even more. "We've got shrimp paste, too. There's tea, but we'll have to take turns cos there's only one cup."

Sully shared an impressed look with Tommy while John kept making fun of Polly. "Polly made bloody sandwiches?" he repeated, turning to his brothers and friends.

"The end of the fucking world's near, brothers," Sully dramatically spoke, her arm leaving Tommy's as she approached Michael too.

"Alright," Tommy cut them, trying to stop them from harassing their cousin. "We will drink the tea and we will eat the sandwiches and then we will drive on. Aright? No crumbs, Charlie."

Sullivan shot an amused glance to Tommy's uncle, whom of which rolled his eyes while the boys were almost tearing the food apart. "Hand them over," Arthur required loudly, passing some food to the rest of the travelers.

"Herd them up, Arth, you fat bastard," John exclaimed.

Sullivan grabbed a sandwich happily, squealing when she bit into it. Tommy looked down at her weirdly. "What? I was starving," she explained.

Tommy scoffed, swallowing his own food while Sully came back to the back of the car, taking a place next to Michael. "Since when are you running with the wolves?" Michael asked, referring to the Shelbys.

"Twelve years," she responded, widening her eyes when she counted the years. "Oh my God, Tommy, I'm old."

John scoffed, smacking her shoulder playfully. "I know," Tommy answered with a smile. Sullivan laughed, rolling her eyes.

Arthur appeared on their side, leaning against the car. "She'll turn thirty bloody one in November."

"Alright, thank you, Arthur, how old are you again?" Sully asked, raising an amused eyebrow.

Arthur raised his hands in surrender, winking to the blonde. "I didn't say anything, love."

"I'm dating an old woman," Tommy stated, laughing along with John.

Sullivan nudged Michael, her eyes traveling from face to face. "Did you hear that? I'll call you if one day he asks for something," the blonde playfully explained. "You'll tell him exactly what he told me, my precious witness."

Michael laughed, nodding in agreement to the deal while Tommy walked to his girl, kissing her lips softly. "Let's just move," he offered, motioning for them all to go back to the car and hit the road again.

The rest of the journey went by quickly, since they were all joking and chatting around. When the car came to a stop again, the boys turned agitated, all of them moving like one. Charlie outstretched her hand for Sullivan, and as she jumped out of the car, looking around her, Tommy slid his hand in his, the other one in his pocket, dragging her with the others.

"We're late, aren't we?" the blonde asked, looking around the desert parking lot.

Tommy looked down at her, a cigarette hanging in the corner of his lips. "We don't need to be on time when we know what we're coming for."

Sullivan nodded. "Fair enough," she responded, which made the man smile, quickly erasing it to explain the plan to his family.

"All right, lads, this is a respectable event and we will all behave accordingly," Tommy spoke up, the boys climbing the wooden stairs faster to hear what he was saying. "No weapons, no drinking. John, we will stay together," the said man nodded. "When the horse comes up, I will do the bidding. I've already registered my interest with the auctioneer so he knows to expect my bids."

Curly reached Sully's side, his eyes focused on Tommy. "Do I get to run a hand over her, Tommy?"

Tom seemed to think about it for a second before looking back at his friend. "We'll have a vet's report, Curly," he responded. "But keep an eye open when she walks."

Curly was nervously fiddling his fingers, his eyes traveling from Tommy's face to Sullivan's. "I've got a feeling, Tommy," the man spoke, his voice shaky as he spilled the words. "Something isn't right."

Tommy looked down at his friend, his grip tightening on Sullivan's hand as he bumped into her slightly, avoiding a man walking into him. "It's all right, Curly," Tommy repeated, his ocean eyes scanning the crowd of people. "You're just in an unfamiliar place, we all are."

When the blonde took sight of the few ladies standing by their men in the crowd, her attitude shifted. She stood taller, one of her fingers brushing a strand of hair behind her shoulder like she had seen her mother do a long time ago. Carl reached her side, his shoulder bumping into hers. "The fuck are you doing?" he asked, noticing her behavior.

Sully bit her lower lip, her hand traveling from Thomas's to his forearm. "Look at them," she only answered while they stepped into a balcony which was overlooking a little riding hall.

A horse was already walking around when they stopped in an empty place, Tommy's eyes focused on the animal below. "Is it the one we're coming for?" Sullivan asked, her light eyes scanning the people in front of them.

"No," Tommy responded in a low tone, blowing his smoke in front of him as he spoke, his eyes never leaving the horse. "I think you'll like her."

Sully squeezed his hand gently, her temple resting on his shoulder fondly. She listened to the people shouting amount of money for the horse until the auctioneer shouted a "Sold!". Sully clapped her hands excitedly when she heard his loud voice from below. "I always dreamt to shout this," she revealed in a low tone, sharing a glance with her brother.

"I would totally see you into this," Carlisle laughed, elbowing John.

John laughed, mimicking Sullivan in a funny manner. "She'll scream bloody murder," he added, slapping the blonde's arm playfully.

Sullivan smiled, looking down at the people who of which were opening a door. "All right, Tommy, this is her," Charlie spoke, catching his nephew's attention.

Sully's eyes glowed as she watched the graceful movements of the horse. The large muscles moving under his dark skin, marching around the blockers. It trotted graciously around the riding hall; when it jumped over a barrier, Sullivan's finger tightened around Tommy's muscled arm, her breath caught in her throat. She barely heard the men screaming their prices until Tommy's hand was put on her waist, his face showing how content he was to win. Always win.

When she lifted her face to look at him, she couldn't help but notice the way his eyes were locked with a woman in front of them, and so she felt discomfort rising in her chest. She turned around before everyone, hiding her anger behind a fake smile, escaping Tom's grip harshly. Arthur followed after her quickly, knowing she wouldn't know where to go next, his large hand catching her forearm easily. Sullivan stayed outside while Tommy was completing his acquisition, only to be cut off by the said woman as her lover exited the auctioneer's office.

"You beat us to it!" her soft voice echoed through the corridor as Sully felt her hands curled up into fists by her side, the only thing holding her from answering herself being Arthur's hand on her shoulder, wisely keeping her next to him to avoid any drama.

"This is why I never fucking come," she spoke, her voice low as she lifted her head to catch John's amused grin.

"Everybody's bloody know you're the fucking boss, y'know," he said, trying his best to soothe the blonde even though he wanted to annoy her even more.

"Thomas Shelby from where?" the woman asked, her eyes drifting slightly to the tensed woman behind Tommy's large frame.

"From Birmingham," he answered, his tone neutral, showing his quick disinterest for the woman.

Sullivan took a deep breath as Thomas turned around, offering her his best smile. "May Carleton," the woman introduced herself. "I breed racehorses and train them."

Sullivan decided to stop listening to their conversation, feeling her anger raising and raising in her chest. How come he didn't see how flirty that woman was? What a prick. She hated herself for even thinking it would go without any drama, and she regretted to come. She would've been better with Polly, drinking tea and getting drunk without any reason because this was there favorite thing to do. Sully felt the urge to feel the fresh air on her face, but held it back. Instead, she stood tall and proud to be the only woman in Thomas Shelby's life, even if it was clear he wasn't paying any attention to her, giving it to another woman for the moment.

Once they had agreed on Tommy considering the woman as a trainer, he reached for Sully's side, who escaped his outstretched hand to slid her own on her brother's forearm, walking side by side with him, not sparing a glance at the man she loved neither to his laughing brothers. Because they were the Shelby, a woman coming to take Thomas away from her couldn't be enough, and suddenly, everything went South again. They heard Tommy's name being shouted before gunshots whistled in their ears from everywhere.

Sullivan didn't waste a minute to step in front of a terrified Micheal, holding the gun Tommy had given to her before the auction in front of her firmly, her hands not even shaking as she spotted a man behind Arthur. She shot him without thinking, instantly turning away to see if anyone else was in danger. With a wave of her hand, Sully was silently asking Micheal to stay behind her, where she knew there wouldn't be any room for someone to hurt him. When their enemies were all on the ground, Sullivan spotted Thomas and his brothers beating a man to death, while her brother was still holding his gun in front of him defensively, holding the very same position as his sister.

The blonde turned on her heels, facing a shocked Micheal. "Are you alright? Did anyone shoot you?"

Micheal cleared his throat, trying to keep his composure up but failing a bit. "No, I'm alright," he responded with a little and weak smile.

"Can't you just keep your fucking enemies away when I'm supposed to fucking babysit Micheal?" Sullivan exclaimed as Arthur chuckled, running his hand through his hair as he threw one last punch the almost dead man.

Thomas turned around, staring at his girlfriend, whom of which was staring at the gun in her hands, then lifting her eyes to meet her brother's. "Are you alright?" Tommy demanded. Sullivan gave him a thumb up as an answer, her eyes not drifting from her brother one second.

Finally, she turned around, her blue eyes darkened by anger. "It's the last fucking time you drag me into your fucking deathly business, alright?"