A girl is wide awake.

Caterina
___________

The sun had barely begun to rise over the hills whenever my eyes reluctantly pried themselves open in time to witness the room fill itself with an ominous grey light.

For a long while I just laid there, mindlessly tracing the cracks in the ceiling and listening to the steady rise and fall of Thomas's chest beside me. It took a while for my memory to recall the events of last night as I carefully shifted my weight onto my elbows to better see the half-naked Shelby man before me.

Much like Alfie, Thomas also appeared to be years younger while he slept; but judging by the dark circles beneath his eyes, wasn't very often.

A sigh escaped my lips at the thought, causing Thomas to shuffle slightly in his sleep. I half smiled.

Last night, I was so exhausted from yesterdays events that by the time we had arrived at his flat, I simply passed out in his arms. And being the gentleman that he was, Thomas only held me the entire night before sleep too, took him under. Now that I thought hard and clear about it, a big part of me was glad nothing happened between us. Actually sleeping with Thomas would only make things more complicated than they already were between Alfie and I; and I needed to sort that situation out first before anything. Even if it took every ounce of self control I had left against Thomas.

Not wanting to wake the sleeping beauty of a man, I gingerly slid off the foot of the bed with the covers still wrapped firmly around my torso. Despite everything, Thomas was still cheeky enough to undress me down to nothing but my undergarments; but to be fair, my dress wasn't exactly sleeping material. The sequence material would've only scratched the both of us as we slept, which made for a valid point. Still, my cheeks turned a deep red because of it.

I took advantage of the stillness of the room and took a few turns around it, skimming over the books that sat wide open on top his desk. They were mostly inventory, with only a few being actual works of literature that most likely were left neglected long enough to collect as much dust as they had. I ran a finger over the leather bindings and scrunched my nose as a result of the dust that accumulated on the pad of my finger, and wiped it along the bed sheets I wore.

Thomas definitely needed a maid, or two.

Eventually I let the covers drop in a ring at my feet as I located the twinkling blue dress I had on last night. As swiftly and quietly as I could, I stepped into the heavy material and shimmied it up my body, not bothering to zip the back together. Instead, I opted for shrugging on my long coat in hopes to cover the fact I spent the night over at Thomas's place. The last thing I needed right now was for Alfred to get the wrong idea if someone were to see me leave another man's flat at such a suspicious hour.

Without much thought, I quickly scribbled a note for Thomas using whatever paper and pen he had lying around his desk explaining my absence, and that I'd meet him at the Garrison later today.

Once I signed the crumpled piece of paper, I positioned it on top his inventory books and slipped out with a chaste kiss goodbye. Only this time, Thomas didn't stir.

⚜️

It was almost noon by the time I emerged from the warm confines of the bath I had prepared for myself upon my arrival home- when the phone began to ring.

Heavy droplets of water plopped along the way towards the drawing room as I tightened the silk band around my waist to secure the thin robe I wore. Whoever it was, had impeccable timing.

I picked up the phone, "hello?"

There was a slight pause before a familiar silvery voice could be heard on the other line.

"Rina," Ada breathed, "I wasn't expecting an answer to tell the truth."

I shook my head, if Ada saw me leave with Thomas last night, it was only a matter of time before  the whole city would start to talk.

"Nothing happened between your brother and I, if that's what you meant." I said, holding back.

The last thing I needed right now was another argument between a friend. Especially one as important as Ada.

She clicked her tongue, "You and I both know I would never judge you, Rina. I'm just warning you to be prepared for any whispers you might hear, that's all."

My shoulders instantly relaxed, "I know Ada, I know."

"Good. Now, when will you pay Karl and I a visit, hmm?"

I chuckled into the phone, "how does tomorrow sound?"

"Perfect, I'll see you tomorrow then." Ada agreed, and then hung up the phone with a soft click.

I set the phone back down onto the receiver and stood still for a while, thinking. I raked my brain for anything suspicious that might have indicated Alfie had me followed last night when it suddenly struck me- there was a car on the far edge of the street when I left Thomas's flat that sped off the moment I got into my car. My blood chilled.

It had to be one of Alfred's men, it just had to be. Which only meant one thing- Alfred must've believed the worst, too.

⚜️  

I arrived at the Garrison a little while after my initial conversation with Ada ended, and made a bee line past Finn towards the Shelby private room. I pushed past the doors half expecting Thomas to be alone, but when there were three pairs of blue eyes that met mine, I knew I'd be in for it.

"Rina!" The other two Shelby men sang, raising their glasses high.

I nodded once in greeting and unraveled my scarf in the process, shooting Thomas an annoyed glare. He only shrugged.

John motioned me to sit beside him, but when I didn't, he smirked suggestively.

"So," John began, "how was he?"

Arthur let out a heckling laugh when I narrowed my eyes at the youngest of the three Shelby men and warned, "don't start with me, John. You both know nothing happened last night, between Thomas and I, at least."

We all knew how crazy John could get with his wife, Esme.

John's grin only grew more wicked, "fair enough," he said.

To my surprise, Arthur kept his comments to himself as he and John eventually shared a look and started out the room. Not without one last wink from John, of course.

Once the doors clicked shut, I turned to Thomas who sat with a glass between his hands.

I placed my hands on my hips and looked at him expectantly. "So... how did you sleep?"

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards as he took another swig of his drink before responding, "I slept better than I have in a long time."

Thomas set down the glass on the round table and moved to stand before me, shoving his hands into the pockets of his trousers.

I swallowed hard as he took another step towards me, closing whatever gap there was between us and took my hand in his own. His breath fanned my face as he grazed his lips against the shell of my ear, causing my knees to tremble slightly.

Thomas chuckled lightly, "and how did you sleep, Rina?"

I blinked back my daze and pulled back enough to meet his burning blue eyes. It seemed as if he was undressing me right then and there, as if he hadn't already done so before.

"I slept like a baby." I nodded, clearing my throat.

He was far too close for my liking, for it was like my body disconnected itself from my mind entirely.  

There was a slight pause in his purposeful movements, as if my reply was already well expected. I frowned whenever he took a step back and sighed.

"You know, even when I had you in my bed last night, I didn't. No matter what happened, I never had you, not even in my own two arms."

His words hit me hard, like a freight train running at full speed. It seemed to me that one gangster wouldn't admit he loved me, while the other did. Only I couldn't stop thinking about the emotionally mute one, nor would I ever.

And that realization, hit me even harder.

"Thomas-" I began, but he cut me off.

Surprisingly however, there was not a hint of animosity in his hoarse voice when he spoke.

"There's business, and there's love."

I tried not to notice his subtle jab at the relationship between my father and Alfred, and instead shook my head.

"Is there? With you gangsters?"

There was a ghost of a smile on his face as Thomas leaned in to tuck a loose strand of blonde hair behind my ear and said, "I never mix business and pleasure, you know that."

And with that, Thomas stepped around me and left the room; leaving me stunned and alone. He had told me the same thing the night after we first met, and I didn't believe him.

I do now.

It didn't take long for me to race out of the room and catch up to Thomas outside on the muddy streets, where I tried not to notice the cold mud that had already begun to seep into my expensive shoes.

I planted myself firmly in front of Thomas and jabbed him in the chest a few times with my index finger. His grin only grew as I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, but I was interrupted by a vaguely familiar voice.

"Tommy, I need to use the telephone. Polly said you had one in the pub."

My eyes followed the source of the voice to see none other than Michael Gray standing awkwardly before us, hands in his coat pockets.

I felt a hand snake up my neck and gently close my mouth for me, as I was too busy gaping at the boy whose adoptive mother we made cry last week. I honestly didn't believe I'd ever see him again and yet, here he was.

That boy had Shelby blood in him, all right.

I turned back to Thomas despite Michael's presence and whispered, "we will continue this conversation later."

With that, Thomas nodded curtly and turned on his heel in the direction of the pub, with the both us hot on his heels. It was only when I fell into step with him and we entered the Garrison that he spoke.

"All right. Be quick. I have business." He informed Michael.

I frowned, I almost forgot that we were meeting Alfie in Camden Town today.

Behind us, Michael added, "Polly said you own this place."

Although Thomas didn't bother to look back, I peered over my shoulder at him, to see the boy weaving through the guests and employees. I offered a small smile, which he returned graciously. It was then that I realized he shared the Shelby good looks too.

"You call her Polly or Mum?" Thomas deadpanned, pushing open the door to his office for me and the boy.

"I can't get used to calling her Mum yet." Michael admitted.

Thomas closed the door behind us and sighed. I took to leaning against the desk as I watched the two men get acquainted with each other with my arms crossed.

This ought to be good, I thought sheepishly.

"Who are you calling?" Thomas asked.

"My Mother. I mean..."

"I know what you mean." Thomas said, "what are you going to tell her?"

Michael moved to sit in a nearby chair and removed his cap, "I'm going to tell her where I am."

"And now you're going to tell her you're going home." Thomas said- no, he told him.

I eyed Thomas carefully. Why did he want Polly's son gone?

Michael didn't blink, "Polly said I could stay for a few days."

"You want to stay?"

"I have only just arrived." Michael pressed.

Thomas turned to me for a brief moment before reaching for his pack of smokes. I had already pulled out my lighter for him to use when I faced Michael and asked, "what age are you, Michael?"

"Seventeen."

I nodded knowingly. The boy didn't exactly look like a man, yet. The moment Michael was to be accepted into the family, he'd be a boy no more.

Thomas exhaled and leaned back, "seventeen." He repeated, "which means it's not up to you, right?"

"I'm eighteen in a few weeks," said Michael, "I make up my own mind."

"You smoke?" Thomas asked.

"No."

He took another drag of his cigarette, "drink?"

Michael shook his head.

For a while Thomas just stared back at the boy, before reaching out to offer me a smoke. I took it without much thought, ignoring the way Michael eyed us both.

Instead, Thomas made his earlier request clearer.

"You're going to call your mother. You're gonna tell her you're getting on the next train home. And when you get there, you're going to write a letter to Polly saying when you're eighteen you'll come back here and sort things out."

"I just told you..." Michael leveled, "I make up my own mind."

I exhaled and raised my brows at the boy. He had guts, I'd give him that.

Thomas blinked, "do you know what we do, Michael? We... Shelbys?"

I huffed in response but the boy only scratched the back of his head and said matter-of-factly, "yes. I think I know what you do."

"Yeah. you've got smart eyes." Thomas inquired, "but you're young, so you think what we do is all right."

Thomas shook his head, "it's not all right. People get hurt."

I nodded along in agreement. For I knew first hand what it was like growing up in the 'family business', and it's not as glamorous as it may seem on the outside looking in. I was living proof of that, we all were.

"Now call your mother. And I will drive you to the station."

"No."

There was another long pause as the two men stared back at one another, refusing to be the first to back down.

I was about to break the silence when Michael lifted his head.

"In my village, there's this little wishing well. It's made of white bricks, right in the middle of the village green. Everybody says how pretty it is."

My breathing ceased as I leaned in, bringing my hand over my chest to listened in for what came next.

"But I swear to God, if I spend another day in that village, I'm going to blow it up with dynamite." His eyes were steady and his voice calm as he continued, "probably blow my hands off with it, but it will be worth it. Just to see all those pretty white bricks spread over the pretty village green."

Michael's unwillingness to cower earned a chuckle from Thomas. Only I didn't know if it was out of respect or anger.

I watched as Thomas leaned forward to put out the cigarette, and noticed the corners of his mouth curl slightly.

"Yep." He finally determined, "you're Polly's son all right."

___________
VOTE , COMMENT, & FOLLOW

bet y'all had no faith in Rina huh ??