XIII. 1921

"Solomons liked you," Thomas said as they walked further and further away from Camden.

"Who doesn't," Vivian smiled to her brother, "bet he liked me better than you," but Vivian was sure that wasn't completely true. She thought there was a similarity between the two business men. Both men were fearless, both men had massive egos. Vivian had a feeling that their partnership would last although it would messy and rough.

Vivian continued, "I don't think Ada will be all that thrilled to see you."

"How long have you been seeing her?" Thomas stared ahead as he asked.

"Not long. When I found out about Freddie health, I needed to see her," Vivian was honest about this because she wasn't going to be honest about other things.

The buildings got whiter and more well kept. Vivian knew this street well. She knew most of London like the back of her hand but this street she knew better than most, she'd walked the route a lot with Ada. For company.

"She should be around here at this time," and he stopped, pulling out a cigarette.

He kept quiet as they waited.

It unsettled her.

He was always quiet but it wasn't the him being quiet part that was unsettling. A person was quiet. Vivian had been surrounded with loud people over the past year and a half. She felt like there was always someone talking to her, or at her.

Before she used to appreciate the silence, especially with her other brothers being to annoying and in-her-space the whole time. Now, she just wanted to fill it, either with light conversation or a loud argument. Neither she'd get out of Thomas.

He watched around quietly as he leaned against the bark.

"Eh!" She grabbed his attention as she saw Ada come up behind them.

And Thomas got her attention as Vivian watched, "Ada!" And Vivian was right.

"How the fuck did you find me?" She wasn't thrilled, "what are you reading Polly's letters?"

"Polly showed me the letters. Look, you think you're safe because you moved flat. But you're not. Polly thinks the same," Thomas pleaded with Ada in the way Thomas s Shelby pleaded with people — not well, "so does Vivian,"

"Vivian?" Ada stared, a bit taken aback.

"I said no such thing, Thomas, take my name out your mouth, before I severely damage your vocal cords," she scowled, not liking the fact she was dragged into something she knew nothing about.

Both siblings stare at her.

"What are you doing here? Together?" Ada retorted, looking back and forth at the two.

Vivian answered sweetly to her sister, "Just bumped into each other."

Ada looked at Thomas and Vivian heard her scoff.

"When will you understand? I just want you all out of my life," Vivian eyed the two before glancing at her watch.

"I've got to go get my car so I'll leave you two. Good seeing you, Thomas," the Shelby girl gave her brother a quick nod and her sister a quick side-hug and a smile, "Good day at work, might call into you and Karl tomorrow."

And she was off before she got a reply.

Vivian sauntered away quickly, almost jogging and once she down the street and around the corner, she slowed down.

—

    He asked, curiously, as he rushed around the room, "what's she like?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything?" Confused, he answered slowly.

"She looks like she hates rabbits."

"Fuck off, Cassandra," he walked out of the room but she could still hear him shouting back at her, "it's a simple question."

She waited patiently in the colourful room until he came back ten seconds later, "You ask if she's pretty or not, I'll tell you to wait and see. You ask if she's smart or not, I'll tell you to wait and see. You ask if she looks good in bed, I won't tell you to wait and see. You know why?"

"Why?" Bruno smirked to himself as he buttoned up his shirt, "'cause you would hate to degrade a woman."

"Well yeah but mainly because you'll never be in bed with her to see."

"You make no sense when you are taking that stuff."

"I promise you she won't fuck you."

"But she'll fuck me, for sure," another man pitched up.

"Shut up Toni. Been here five minutes and already acting like you own the place, embarrassing." Vivian shouted at him despite them being a few feet apart in the small room. Toni glared at the woman in anger, but he shut up.

"Alright, I think it's time for you to leave the men's room, Romano."

"Okay, five minutes— before my pay check gets cut in a half which means yours gets cut in half twice."

She almost skipped out the door passing the man Toni on her way out, patting him on the shoulder.

The sound of laughter and chatter filled each room she passed, and she could practically feel the music under her feet as the beat the band made filled the building's structure.

As she went about her nightly tasks, few colleagues passed on messages from around the town as she made her way up stairs. The wooden stairs creaking would be heard if it was for the loudness.

As she opened the door at the top of the short staircase, the smell of vomit filled her nostrils and she covered half her face with the hand. A young girl, maybe a year or two younger than her (maybe more), sat on a stool with a metal bucket under her nose.

Vivian looked at the man beside her, who should be going on stage in a few minutes, sitting beside the sickly adolescent girl, holding her hair back. It was frazzled and looked matted in some spots. Her hair was a beautiful colour, honey blonde and Vivian could see the thickness of her messy curls in the man's grip. Longer than the latest trend.

The man looked up at the younger woman who stood over them, "Right get a move on, Andy, I'll clean her up." He spoke quietly to the girl before getting up and heading downstairs. But he stopped and reversed. Leaning into Vivian's ear, "be nice, I need to talk to you after," Vivian nodded and he rushed off.

Taking over, Vivian held her hair back, making sure not one strand was in the blonde's face. She sat behind her, looking out onto the stage behind her. The sound of her heaving could easily have been drowned out if Vivian focused enough on the crowd out there.

"I'm sorry," Blondie said as she gripped the metal.

"No need to be sorry, Andy does have a face that makes your stomach churn," Vivian tried to comfort her.

"He was only trying to help," she excused him, "he said he'd help me while I get myself sorted."

"Sorted with what?"

She leaned against the wall, sighing before replying, "sorted here in London, I used to live here but that was years ago."

"Well why are you here?" Vivian said bluntly, aware that I might have came off as blunt.

"He's all I got and I wanted to see the club."

"Well if you wanna see the club, back here isn't the place to be," The two were interrupted as musicians swung the door open, crowding the backstage area.

Vivian sighed as duty called, "you all ready?" They laughed and spoke amongst themselves, some not hearing her, others full of excitement and cocaine.

She rubbed blondie's shoulder before leaving her with her sick filled bucket. Vivian shrugged off her coat and hat and messed with her hair a bit. Looking to Bruno, he gave her a nod after looking her up and down and then she was gone.

Walking across the stage, the band followed, and she stood in the middle of the platform.

"Thank you all for coming here tonight, you are all so very welcome. You have no idea how glad it makes me to look out and see such an attractive crowd." God help me.

"I invite you to please have fun and enjoy the entertainment, and don't be worried when your pockets get lighter because I sure you it is all worth it as we only serve the best for such a wonderful audience." Cheers rang throughout the establishment.

Sabini caught her eyes, as he sat in a booth surrounded by his loyal followers. He grinned at her as she gave him a nod.

After a dramatic pause "now I must announce that later on tonight, when the clock strikes ten o'clock, this grand stage will be graced by one beautiful singer, but until then you must enjoy the refreshments and dance away your troubles." Applauses were heard before the band quickly started loudly and Vivian rushed back stage.

Backstage wasn't as crowded but the young girl sat in the stool remained.

"so what's your name?"

She fidgeted with the bucket on her lap, "Katie."

"I hope you're less of a handful than the last Katie I saw. I'm Casandra," Vivian introduced herself.

"Andy said that he had to speak to a Cass. That's you."

Vivian sighed, sitting back down behind her, "any idea what about?"

"...Yeah,"

"Wanna give me a hint?"

She turned in the stool, with the bucket still in hand, "hoped you could help me out."

"With...?"

"Getting around this city. Not that much useful so he thought it might help if you taught me a few things."

"What age are ya?"

"Almost fifteen," so fourteen, the girl looked nervous as she squeezed her fingers and dug her thumb into her palm hoping it would go right through.

"You look older."

"Th-... okay," She didn't know what to say. Vivian took the bucket from her hands, hoping she was done vomiting.

"I'll speak to him about it later, don't matter at the moment,"

"What age are you?" She asked, still sporting a pale sickly complexion.

"Twenty four. Thought you were closer to my age but I guessed wrong," Vivian grabbed her jacket and shrugged it back on and took her hat too, "come on let's get some nice fresh air, you got a coat or anything?"

"A coat, yeah, down stairs."

"Go, go get it, meet me at the bar, yeah?" The blonde nodded and headed downstairs while Vivian moved herself quickly, to the dance floor, through the crowd and to the bar.

"Angie, get me something," she shouted over the loud music.

"A please would be nice," the woman glanced at Vivian as she tended to another clubber.

"Pretty please, pretty Angie,"

The short haired brunette waited at the bar with her whiskey, listening to the band play, definitely damaging her ear drums. The blonde didn't take long.

She was a good looking girl but Vivian could not stop looking at the mess that was attached to her head. She shoved the hat on the girls head and tucked some hair into her collar, "better for now, come on."

The two walked out the main door, passing the guards at the door who paid attention to them leave as the door had almost slammed into them.

The blonde did not look fourteen whenever Vivian glanced at her.

"Where are we going?"

Vivian asked, "Can you sing?"

The girl beside her let got a loud laugh, "God no, I make people's ears bleed."

"On some level that's better than making people cry," Vivian spoke, mostly to herself, "well since you cant sing, I need to speak to someone who can."

"Who?"

"Don't know yet, whoever we can poach from this place here. If you're gonna be sick again, there's a bathroom over by the bar, just don't mention my name." she replied as the came closer to a three-story building with lights shining out of every window.

"Okay," she said, "wait, so you don't actually know if you are gonna have someone on that stage tonight?"

"Nah."

—

Vivian had gotta used to a night like this instead of drinking in a private snug. The club was much bigger than Garrison and no one was modest about what they were doing.

Vivian sat in a booth, staring at the stage because it was the only place to look, where someone wasn't getting fucked on the bar or against the wall. She had found a man at the club who had a sister who ended up being quite a decent singer. Gwen or Gloria or something like that, the singer, was up singing with the band.

It had taken the Shelby woman a while to get used to the loud music. Her hearing definitely got worse over the two years.

Vivian abandoned her coat somewhere and showed off the short black and gold sparky dress that fell just below her knees. On her feet, she wore black heels with gold straps that were tied to tight on her and gave her blisters but the shoes matched and Ada (as well as her aunt) would be proud with her ability to style beautiful evening attire

Some man had his arms wrapped around a girl's shoulder, kissing her neck. She kept nudging away from the man that sat in a seat beside her; now she was almost on top of Vivian, "I don't want him. You have him." She spoke loudly in Vivian ear, over the music. She obviously didn't care for the man to hear her.

That woman beside her was a sister of Bruno. She'd come to the club every so often. Her and Vivian would talk about the events happening in London, whether that be protest, markets or what happens in the club's private rooms. The woman, Gigi, would also supply Vivian some cocaine when needed.

"My boss is over there, you twat. It would look bad."

Gigi said, "Then don't fuck him here."

"I don't want him." The man could clearly hear the girls as he inched closer to Gigi.

"Well you'll take him, have some fun." She responded.

"You have fun. I don't want that fun" Vivian hissed, loudly, barely hearing their voice though.

"If I wanted to have fun, I'd have a tea party with my niece."

Gigi's eyes went wide, as he ran his hand up her thigh. He didn't see her as she gagged. Her eyes stared into Vivian's soul, pleading with her friend to take him.

Vivian looked past her friend, looking the man up and down. He had dirty blonde hair and dark eyes. He was handsome. He looked tall. He had a small tattoo on his neck. She couldn't make out what it was but the black ink was there.

She had been with a few men since Scott but they were all casual and she had never seen them more than once. Why should this be any different?

Before she could give an answer, Gigi had already answered for her, "I'm actually married but my lovely and very aroused friend here would love to share her bed with you."

"I can't believe that's how you talk." Vivian said into her ear.

Gigi climbed over her friend, "thank you and good luck." She pressed a kiss on her cheek and gave her a wink before making a beeline for the very busy bar.

Vivian felt his arm over her shoulder, pulling her in. She turned her head, looking into his eyes. He had brown eyes.

She didn't waste time as she clambered into his lap. She wasn't bothered with small talk and she didn't think he was that fond of it either, so why not get to the point? The Shelby woman felt his hands rest on her hips as she kissed him feverishly. Vivian goes to pull away for a breath but he doesn't let her, holding her face firmly.

To stop herself from choking him in the middle of the club, her fingers moved up to his hair. She curled his brown hair around her finger.

His hands move back down her neck and to the hem of her dress. He eagerly pulls up her dress, on display for anyone to see. As she feels his hands creep up her thighs, she grips his neck tighter. He continues until she feels her dress ride up too far.

She pulls away, breathing heavily. She heard singing on stage. She had a smooth voice. It helped, it calmed her down in that moment. Before she spent too long thinking about what she was doing, her lips met his again, desperate to clear her own mind.

She moved her hips against his, making him groan into her mouth. She kept going and the kiss deepen until she felt a tap on her shoulder. She pulled back with a sigh, talking a second before turning to see the interrupter.

"Miss, the gentleman over there sent this over." The bartender spoke. He wore his plain attire that most of the staff wore while the rest wore short dresses. He stood straight and unfazed, like he'd done this many times. Vivian had seen him quite a lot since coming to the club.

"Which one?" Vivian asked, still on top of the nameless man.

The bartender pointed to over to a booth. The booth was taken by six people or more as some came and went through the night. That booth was always reserved for the owner Mr. Darby Sabini. She was, of course, familiar with him. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. She saw him with his associates.

Her eyes then landed on the lovely gentleman that bought her the drink. He was watching her as she scanned the table. He had a smug smile on his face, watching the scene as the three of them stared at him. All three with annoyance plastered on his face, but his expression never faltered. He enjoyed it.

"You can go." She said to the bartender, who was delighted to be sent away.

Her arms were still wrapped around his shoulders. She turned back to the man who's lap she was on, "this was nice, but it is over now." She climbed off his legs and fell onto the couch where she was sat before. The drink was on the table in front of her.

Beyond the liquor filled glass, she saw the crowd of clubbers who danced and drank their troubles away. They seemed happy. For now. When reality is the last thing on their mind and don't care for what's beyond the Eden club's doors.

She looked back at the man, who slung his arm around her shoulders again, "I'm Ryan."

Her face scrunched up, turning away from him, "Oh lord." She groaned loudly as another song came to an end, "that was just a great ending to whatever this was. Nice to meet you Ryan but I have a singer to take home soon, so I'll have to send you on your way." Vivian said, with a false smile.

He wasn't that happy about that answer but Vivian ran with a glass. She slipped through the dancing crowd. Ending up at the bar, she ordered a tray of shots.

"Thanks Ang,"

"By the way-" Fuck sake, "the girl went running to the bathroom a while ago and hasn't been out since,"

"How long is a while?"

"I don't fucking know, Cass. How bout you find out what's wrong with her. I'm not her babysitter," Angie snapped back before a drunken couple almost fell over the counter. Vivian ran before all hell broke loose, her shots forgotten about.

—

"Jesus fuck," she sighed looking at the mess in front of her. The bathroom was always a mess to be honest.

Katie sat on the counter beside the sink, three girls standing around her. One girl was using a tissue to wipe Katie's face, while the another rubbed her arm soothingly. The third was snorting cocaine off the back of her hand.

"Fucks going on here?" Why ask? It obviously, she thought to herself

"This girl was just sick, helping her out, y'know," the one with the tissue turned to Vivian, "you know her?"

"Yep."

"She's been here a while," the cocaine one spoke up.

"Okay," Katie still sat there, looking down at her lap, "you still sick?" The girl nodded, "d'ya think you're gonna throw up in the next five minutes," the girl hesitated but shook her head no. "Right then, I'll get Andy and the other woman and meet you outside. You girls take her outside, wait with her?"

"We go out now, we won't be able to get back in, it's too late," the red haired one interjected before her friend opened her mouth.

"I'll get you back in, i know the guards."

The three nodded and Katie's head hung low again.

Andy was no longer needed and the singer was on her last few songs. She was too tired to carry on anymore tonight but she still had to get home and deal with Andy and Katie.

Downstairs, much like upstairs, was buzzing. Some musicians and backup singers who were done for the night sat around a dressing room drinking in the slightly quieter environment, talking without having to shout.

"Cassandra Romano, how are you this lovely night?"

She smiled at his intoxicated state, "I'm very well Bruno. And you? You drunk?"

"Not at all."

"Sounds like it," she turned to Andy who stood looking a bit frazzled with his coat on, ready to go, thank god, "ready to get the girls and go?" He nodded and they said his farewell to the rest.

Someone grabbed her wrist as she was about to head, Bruno. He nodded his head, gesturing for her to come down. She leaned down, waiting for a stupid comment but all she got was a kiss on the cheek.

Bruno was the first of the crew to take her in as part as the backstage family. They'd joke and laugh. Give advice and listen to each other's troubles. Friends.

"Safe journey home, yea?"

"Course," she smiled, "and you too yeah?"

He nodded and then turned to Andy, "and goodnight to you too lover boy." Andy patted the man on the shoulder, smirking and walked over to the door way. Vivian joined him and they finally left.

Slinging his arm around her shoulders, he groaned about his body aching.

The two made their way up the stairs and sat where he and Katie once were,  with her vomiting into a bucket. They waited for the last song to end.

"So wanna tell me about little Katie out there."

He sighed, but straightened up in his stool, "don't be mad, alright, she's a girl and just needs some help to get back on her feet."

"After what? Why is she off her feet?"

Vivian was curious despite her exhaustion. She wanted to hear more.

"Look, my cousin used to babysit Katie when she was much younger and she soon became almost part of the family. Like 'she'd come to Christmas dinner' part of the family," He explained, "her family wants a life for her that she doesn't want. She's only fourteen but has ambitions."

"So a family friend that ran away from her blood to pursue her dreams of being a London girl." She summed up.

"Cass, she didn't have a good upbringing. No father, unstable mother, only child. She was lonely. We were her only family. Her mother moved them away and we hadn't heard from her til last week."

"Okay," Vivian stared into his eyes. His usually sparkling eyes now sad, "and me? What am I in this?"

"She ran from her blood, you don't mention yours. You both want to do something with your life without the need for a man, so does she. You know what it's like to start over, specifically, start over in London." He was compassionate.

"So what?"

Music droned on in the background.

"I live with three other men. My mother's house is packed. Why not live with someone who has been where she is now."

"No, no, no, no," Vivian's head met the table, as she groaned loudly. It was awful timing. Her own family was just starting to creep back into the picture. She didn't need a young girl to look out for. Someone to rat her out.

"I know it's a big ask. But this girl needs someone. She's fourteen and barely lived, barely had a childhood. All she needs is a bed. My family can look out for her and take her out for days but she needs someone like you. Who has been where she is."

Andy seemed shy when they first met. She felt that he was avoiding her at the beginning but they quickly formed a friendship when the two as well as Bruno and Gigi, ended up drinking in the dressing room one Saturday, very early in the morning.

Andy is a talker with those he trusts. He is passionate about whatever he talks about and never wastes time talking about the weather or how fast time passes. It's never boring with him and you may end up learning a few things from him.

He has principles and sticks to them. He only drinks on weekends. Doesn't touch cocaine. Loves his family but can see himself getting married or even having kids, although loving them.

He is kind and Vivian has yet to find his 'dark side' that everyone on earth seems to have.

"I can't. I have plans and it might not be a good situation for a teenager. And plus, my spare room could only fit a crib, it's that small."

"She'll be grateful with a couch," he tried. Vivian could tell he didn't want to say that. He wasn't the pushy type.

She looked up as the last song played.

"Has she left school? Has she got herself a job? I mean how long is this for?"

"She's was in school back home, til she was taken out. She wants to go back. She hasn't worked before." Andy informed her, seeing he was persuaded her a little.

"I'll register her, just tell me where. I'll look out for part time jobs that might suit her. Any particular jobs?"

"St. Mary's, Carlow St., and any job. She can be a bit of a talker."

"Alright," she took note of that in her head.

He pushed some hair out of his face, "I don't know how long. With a job, she'll hopefully be able to buy a flat. Half the time she'll be in school and the other half she'll either be here or with my family. She just needs a home."

Vivian stood up and went over to the curtain. She watched the singer smile at the audience as she curtsied. Everyone clapped, but soon realised the night was almost over.

"Come on, diva, let's get you out of here."