Too Late To Say Goodbye | Tommy Shelby {1}

19.

   The two parked the car right outside the race tracks. The ride was easy, except for a bit of London traffic. But they enjoyed it, they enjoyed each other's company.

Tommy constantly kept sneaking glances over at her, which she pretended not to notice. And when he was watching the road, she would do the same to him. He looked very handsome in his black suit. He looked powerful.

The weather was nice and they were a bit early for the races, so they decided to take a stoll before heading in.

That's what they were currently doing. Tommy had his hands in his pants pockets. As Bella had her right arm hooked into his left. And they walked down the streets.

Tommy looked to his left at her, "how does it feel to be back in London?"

Bella continued to watch her heels as she walked, thinking about his question

"It actually feels kind of nice. I lived here for so long and never really got to say good bye. So it almost feels like I'm going to get a lot of closure"

Tommy looked at her as she spoke. He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. she looked up at him and gave him a smile, he was caught staring.

"What?" She asked softly

He gave her a smirk and shrugged "you're very brave Bell, it's something to admire"

She shook her head with a smile "I'm not brave Tommy. I just live with the cards I've been dealt."

"And that's something to admire"

Bella rested her head on his shoulder as they walked.

She recognized where they were and knew where they were headed. She was nervous but like she said before she wanted closure.

After turning a corner it came in sight. The bridge. The bridge she met Vinny on. The bridge that changed the course of her life.

She froze for half a second to look at it. Tommy noticed this. And as they started to walk across it, he watched her. She knew this place and As they reached about half way across Tommy spoke up.

"This was the bridge, wasn't it?"

Bella's nerves were getting to her, but she nodded "yes"

Tommy felt her tug on his arm, pulling him to the railing on the left side of the bridge. Coming to stop, she removed her arm from his, and stepped closer to the railing, resting her hands on it.

"This is where I met Vinny,....it feels so long ago now" she said quietly

A second later she felt Tommy behind her. He put his arms around her, resting them on the railing too. The closeness was comforting, she leaned back into him a little.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He softly asked her

She didn't say anything for a moment, not knowing if she did. But eventually she spoke,
"From the moment he found me here...he saved my life and ...from then on he became my new protector. He was the first person since me brother's passing that I trusted in that way"

Tommy listened to every word. He thought he would feel jealous of her past lover, but instead he almost wished that he was still here. He wanted to thank him for everything he's for Bella. Without him, she wouldn't be here. Without him, Tommy would've never met Bella.

A few deep breaths later, Bella continued "i dont know if he's alive or not. Part of me is still holding on to the idea of him being alive, but after coming here....-"she looked up at Tommy then "I think I'm ready accept the past and make a life with what I have now"