𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿:
alfie solomons

DAYS WENT BY WITHOUT MAGGIE addressing a single word to Tommy. When he walked in the room, she would ignore or simply walk away. When he would try to ask for her opinion at the Company, she would shrug her shoulders and tell them later to Lizzie, Ada, or Polly. When Charles would ask them both to be in the same room, Margaret would make up a stupid excuse to not spend the evening with him.

Margaret wasn't even sure of how she felt. A mix of emotions. Anger, sadness, hate, love? She didn't even know anymore. The woman found herself smoking a little more, a way to somehow evacuate all the stress she had been receiving. Having bad blood between Tommy and she wasn't probably the best idea right now, considering the situation with the Italians.

Late at night, she would go in the kitchen without making any noise and would drink his stupid gin because women loved gin. And she noticed he would add a bottle as soon as he saw an empty one, somehow making her understand he still wanted to take care of her in his own twisted way.

"Are you fucking serious, Ada?" Exclaimed Maggie.

The women sat in the betting shop as Ada rambled on how Margaret needed to go see Thomas, which left the Kegley woman shocked. Lizzie, Polly, and Linda laughed out loud seeing Margaret's face at Ada's request.

Ada opened her mouth, her arms in the air as she demanded help to the women around her, "Do I look like I'm fucking joking, Maggie? Thomas needs you by his side."

"Or Lady Carleton." Muttered Lizzie earning a bad look from Margaret. "Thought Maggie was going to kill her last week. She even left a check for the Grace Institute."

Polly chuckled, "How much?"

"Left it blank. Filled it for 'er." Mumbled Lizzie smoking.

Margaret laughed, clapping her hands together as she looked over at Lizzie, "How much?"

Polly walked over the desk and grabbed the piece of paper and read it out loud, "Ten thousands? Holy fuck."

Lizzie simply shrugged before grabbing the piece of paper again and put it back on the hard surface.  Margaret looked over at Ada, and for a moment she considered what the Thorne woman had been talking about.

It was as if he heard her thoughts, and she found herself looking up as Thomas Shelby walked in the shop. His cold blue eyes darted towards Margaret and for a second, they softened as she finally stared into his eyes and didn't avoid him.  He cleared his throat, going over to his sister, and taking her on the side as Maggie reconsidered talking to him.

But, just for today.

"Tommy, wait!" Called Ada as he started to walk away, but Margaret grabbed his wrist.

"Why do you need me?" Whispered the woman.

Tommy sighed rolling his cigarette between his lips before lighting it, "Take your coat. Out we go." He told her as she agreed, and took her coat. They reached outside and walked in the dirty streets of Small Heath. "I took the opportunity to invite Alfie Solomons, here."

"The fucking Jewish leader gang?" Maggie had heard about him but never met him. Like most gang leaders who ever tried to defeat Thomas Shelby. "Why me? Why not Ada, Lizzie or I don't know."

Tommy exhaled the smoke, "Word has been spreading around that you're me woman, or at least about to be. And, Alfie Solomons wants to meet you."

"Your woman? For fuck's sake." Muttered Margaret, then her eyes stopped at a man with a hat and a beard. "Is it. . . ?"

"Yup." Mumbled Tommy, he moved closer to the woman as they finally reached Alfie. "Morning, Alfie."

Alfie scoffed, "Yeah, it is. It is. How come everybody is in fucking bed?"

Tommy looked on the side at one of the man, "So this must be Goliath? Right." He said bowing his head towards him. "Let me introduce you to Margaret." The man laid a hand on Maggie's lower back, and pushed her a little towards the man.

"This is ye woman, Tommy?" Queried Alfie as he looked, more like analyzed her. His eyes ranked her up and down, and she felt Tommy's hand moving towards the side of her waist to bring her closer to him again. "Pleasure to meet you. Alfie Solomons." He introduced himself.

Maggie gave him a fake smile and nodded her head, "Margaret Kegley."

Tommy cleared his throat, "All right. Let me introduce you to David. This way, boys." He walked between the men as Alfie remarked something which made her chuckle silently.

The Jewish stood beside Margaret, "I hear you two have got Italians, mate." He said to Thomas then pointed at Maggie. "Women aren't made to be in wars like this."

Margaret rolled her eyes, "Women are made to be where they belong." Uttered the woman. "I'm not afraid, Alfie."

"That I heard too." Spoke the man.

Margaret walked over a bottle of gin and poured herself one as she watched the two men interact. Thomas made his way towards the table, as well pouring a drink and handed it to Alfie who just sniffed it and stated:  The Americans want it sweeter.

"What have you heard, Alfie?"

He faced the bottles of gin, "I heard a cop got shot. Who shot him?"

Thomas sat down next to the woman and gave her a look before answering, "My kestrel." He replied, grabbing a cigarette and offered one to Maggie as she accepted. "What of the Sicilians?"

"I killed one of them." Added Margaret, an amusing smile on her face. "Made a fucking mess in Tommy's kitchen."

The Solomons man chuckled as he looked back at Thomas, "They're still using Sabiny for vehicles and for places to stay."

The two business men continued to talk as Margaret drifted in her own thoughts, the gin went down her throat as well as the smoke making her wince at the taste.  Her head looked down as Tommy's hand laid on her knee, softly rubbing it while they spoke.

"How are you, Margaret?" Asked Alfie as he smiled down at the woman. "How is Small Heath? Different from London?"

Margaret threw her cigarette away exhaling her smoke towards his face, "Alfie, I was born here. Raised with guns, mud, death. This is my town, so you tell Darby Sabini that if the Italians lose, I'll take care of them meself."

Alfie stayed stunned for a second and Thomas wore a proud smile on his face, "She is quite the woman, Tom." Complimented Alfie and Margaret found herself blushing.

Tommy cleared his throat before humming, "Told ye, Alfie." And Margaret felt her heart fluttering at his statement, knowing Tom talked about her when she wasn't here.

Suddenly Finn appeared in the back, looking straight at his brother, "Tommy, there are men approaching."

Thomas' hand left her hot skin as he gestured to Finn to let them pass.  His hand went back down, but to her dismay, it didn't make his way back to her knee.  She sneakily took his hand in hers, and put it on her thigh.  His head softly turned towards the woman as he sent her a soft smile, and to his surprise she returned it.

Aberama Gold with his son appeared, gave Margaret a smile then focused on Thomas, "Mr. Shelby, I've come to talk purse for the fight."

Alfie pointed at the man with his stick, "Your kestrel, huh? Tommy, when a pikey walks in with hair like that, you've got to ask yourself, 'Have I made a mistake?'"

Margaret giggled as Mr. Gold tilted his head, "Who the fuck are you?"

Alfie snapped his way towards the man, offended, "Who the fuck am I?"

"Who the fuck is this?" Asked Aberama as Alfie started to walk towards him.

"I, my friend, I am the uncle, the protector and the promoter of that fucking right there in whose shadow nothing good nor goodly will ever fucking grow." Expressed Solomons, showing at his fighter. "That there, right, is the Southern Counties Welterweight Champion. . ."

Margaret stood up and put herself between the two men, a finger on their chest as she glanced at Bonnie, "Right, time to put the fucking pride aside. Alfie asks what you want, now."

"Will you offer your son?" Articulated the man and Aberama slowly peeked at Bonnie behind him.

Bonnie Gold had an excited smile on his face as he held his flat cap, he stepped on the side so he could see Tommy better, "Name the day, Mr. Shelby."

Margaret's green eyes gaped at Tommy who had a perplexed look on his face. He held his chin as his blue eyes watched between Alfie, Aberama, Alfie's fighter, Bonnie, and lastly Margaret.

It was now around eleven, everyone was gone except for Maggie who sat by Thomas' side.  Both of them drank his gin in a comfortable silence, and Margaret noticed his hand found his way back to her thigh.

He sighed loudly putting his glass down, he checked his clock, "I have to meet Michael at the hospital." He mumbled, part of him wanted to stay but he knew what was supposed to happen on today's afternoon.

"Okay. I can come with you." Stated Margaret.

Thomas was fast to shake his face, refusing to bring her into more of his mess, "No, no, Maggie. You can't."

Margaret let out a short sigh, "Why? Tell me the bloody truth." Warned the woman as he nodded, clearing his throat.

"The Changrettas made a deal with Polly. She gave me up so Michael could stay safe." Admitted Tommy as Margaret hummed. "I need you to go back home, take care of Charles, and wait for me to come home."

She slightly bowed her head, "What if you don't make it back?"

He held his cigarette between his two fingers, "Then you take care of Charles for me, you're the only person he loves the most besides I." Muttered Tommy.

The man stood up and went towards her, he cupped her face and gently smiled.  His eyes took a moment to picture her features, so if something happened he would remember.  Remembered her lips, her cheekbones, her green eyes so mesmerising.  He wanted to remember it all.  He leaned down, his lips went on her forehead as he kissed it in the softest way possible.  He pulled away, and before Margaret could open her eyes again, he was gone.

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AUTHORS NOTE,
ohhh IM BACK (after 5 days🙄)

also also i kinda love this chapter,
even though she didn't say she
wasn't mad anymore— i kinda
like how she accepts to come and
all

OKAY BYE THANK YOU FOR
READING! COMMENTING!
VOTING! MWAH ❤️‼️💞