CHAPTER FIFTEEN — laying low

' Who would've thought, eh? '

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Thomas is beyond worried about Charlotte. Everything he's been doing lately, all of his business, is taking a toll on her more than himself. It's obvious to see, and because it's effecting her, it's tearing him apart.

When he returned home with her in his arms, Joshua was the first to shout at him, then it was John and eventually everyone had their fair share of the screaming. But, after a while, the family finally calmed down and he was able to sit beside Charlotte's bed in peace. It didn't take long for her to wake up, and shortly after, she was inviting him to sleep next to her and he gladly accepted.

The next day, Charlotte's head is banging. Every now again she has to take a seat behind the bar in Garrison to stop herself from collapsing due to dizziness. By rights, she should mention this to Thomas, but he's worried enough about everything else.

Harry slides across the bar, stopping in front of Charlotte and Grace, while throwing a towel over his shoulders, "My brother in Drigbeth just says the police are coming down from Deritend, in numbers," Harry whispers, eyes flicking over to Charlie, "Asking for Tommy Shelby by name." His head whips behind him when the door is opened, causing his expression to drop, "Shit."

Charlotte knows who the person is, recognising his footsteps and the way the whole pub falls silent at his entry. She raises her head from the sticky bar, smiling when Thomas opens the back room door for her, inviting her inside.

He closes the door behind them before turning towards Charlotte, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I killed someone and nearly cracked my skull open in the process," She smirks, her face dropping when he doesn't return the gesture, "I'm fine, Tommy."

"Good," He nods, "Look, I'm going to have to lie low for a while."

Her face screws up in confusion, "Why?"

"I lost my bargaining power," He says, "This copper, it's just me and him now."

She tilts her head, "Harry just said that the police are already in Digbeth."

He hums, "That's right."

"Then why the fuck are you here?" She raises an eyebrow, "This isn't the safest place to be, or the smartest."

He opens his mouth to respond, but Finn throws the door open, "The police are in the lane, Tommy!" He exclaims.

Charlotte rolls her jaw, taking Thomas' hand, and beginning to drag him out, "Come with me."

❦

Charlotte shoves open the slightly broken front door of her old house, letting Thomas step into the hallway before closing it.

His eyebrows furrow and he walks further into the house, his eyes looking all over the furnished walls, "Had a makeover, eh? When did you find the time to do this?"

She shakes her head, ushering him upstairs, "I didn't do anything. Joshua did it all. He was going to finish it off, but now he's got himself running around with John and Arthur."

Thomas chuckles, "He fits in perfectly. A lot like you."

Charlotte steps into her bedroom, using matches to light candles. The house's electricity had been ruined by the break in all those months ago. And that's something a young boy can't fix without professional help.

She glances over her shoulder, noticing Thomas looking around the room, "Stop judging, will ya? It was ransacked a couple months ago. I haven't had time to refurbish properly yet."

He raises his hands in a surrender, laughing gently, "I wasn't judging."

"Sure looked like it," She turns to the small kitchen in the corner of her room, "Let me guess, you don't want any tea?"

"Tea?" He raises an eyebrow as if it was a stupid question, "No."

She stares at him, "Well, what do you want? The only other option is rum. So, Thomas, rum or tea? Please choose quickly before my legs get too tired."

"Fine, fine." He smirks, "I'll have tea."

She rolls her eyes, "Do you want a biscuit too?" She pouts jokingly.

He leans against the fireplace, "Yes."

She begins to make the tea, shrugging carelessly, "Too bad. Don't have any. They attract bloody mice."

He watches her carefully as she moves away from the small stove and peers out of the window at the rainy Birmingham street.

"When the trouble dies down, we can go back to my home," He says, "Where it's slightly more—"

She whirls around, jabbing a finger at him, ignoring his wide smile, "I knew you were fucking judging," She shakes her head, "When will it die down, do you think? Because I've never partially enjoyed staying here that much."

He tilts his head, "Late, I would say."

Charlotte knows what he's doing just judging by the tone of his voice and his facial expressions. She's known this man long enough to recognise when he's flirting for something.

"So, not until morning?" She enquires.

"Yes." He nods, meeting her gaze, "I'd say I'll be here till morning."

Small smiles work their way onto their face, and Charlotte is the first to turn away, dealing with the tea. Thomas' eyes follow her every move, the smile on his face never depleting.

"You have a gramophone." He states, noticing the object placed on the mini table beside her bed.

She shakes her head, turning to face him, "It's broken, obviously. Like everything else in this bloody house."

He shrugs, "We could still dance."

Charlotte doesn't even bother replying and moves closer to him, and steps forward, letting their lips connect while her hands fly straight to her waist coat and shirt buttons. They both strip each other, their lips not parting once until both are topless.

Smirking, Charlotte slowly falls back onto the bed, letting him hover over her, "Who would've thought, eh?" She kisses him again.

He returns it, before slowly moving done her body, his eyes never leaving hers, "Everyone apparently."

❦

Light shines through the small gap in the curtains, causing Charlotte's newly opened eyes to squint. She raises her head slightly, her eyes landing on a peacefully sleeping Thomas Shelby. His arms are wrapped around her naked body, while she rests her head on his chest, the covers draping their bodies.

Slowly, the man's eyes flutter open, and he shifts slightly under her, tightening his grip, "You're awake before me."

"It would seem so," She smirks, leaning forward to plant a kiss on his lips.

But, before she has a chance, a round of knocks vibrate the front door, causing Thomas and Charlotte to pause, faces dropping.

"Stay there," Charlotte orders, throwing on her nightgown, and heading for the door, "And get changed incase it is the police." She turns to face him, "It'd be embarrassing if your arrested while being naked."

He rolls his eyes, waving her away, "Go see who it is, will ya?"

She laughs, before quickly jogging down the stairs and slowly pulling open the front door, revealing a slightly tired looking Polly Shelby.

"Poll?" Charlotte's sighs in relief.

"Thomas is here, I'm presuming," Polly makes her way into the house, plating herself at the bottom of the stairs, "THOMAS!"

While they're waiting for the man, Charlotte's head tilts in confusion, "What's happened? Why do you look so disheveled?"

Poll chuckles, sarcastically replying, "Nice to see you're as lovely as ever, Charlotte."

Finally, Thomas comes running down the slightly destroyed stairs, still pulling on his trench coat. He lands beside Charlotte, eyebrows furrowed.

"What is it, Polly?" He questions.

"It's Arthur," She hisses, "He tried to hang himself last night. The rope snapped before he died, thank the lord, but he's struggling, Tommy."

Charlotte a mouth drops open in horror and beside her Thomas sighs heavily, his chin dropping to his chest.

"He's at the house right now," She begins to walk out of the Charlotte's house, leaving the door open for them to follow, "He's refused to sleep."

Thomas stares down at Charlotte when they step onto the street, his eyes running up and down her nightgown. She notices his gaze, and wraps her arms around her chest, but he shrugs his large coat off, offering it to her.

"Put it on," He directs as the three of them begin to walk down the street, and she does as told, throwing on the black trench coat. It nearly hits the floor, and the sleeves are far too long, but she doesn't bother complaining. It will do.

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authors note.
god it's been ages since i've updated this
yes you were robbed 😘😘😘
there will be smut at some point in this book, just idk when

word count: 1435