Too Late To Say Goodbye | Tommy Shelby {1}

67.

The office was dead silent. Her eyes wouldn't leave the letter.

She kept reading it over and over again, hoping every time she blinked it would disappear and this would all just be some terrible nightmare.

She didn't feel real. Everything felt foggy.

"Peach..."

Hearing his voice did it, it brought her back into reality, this was real.
she couldn't breathe. Looking up at him with tears in her wide eyes, gasping for air, everything was fuzzy.

"Bella?" Ada's voice broke through.

Shaking her head, trying to back away "n-n-no, th-this can-can't be. Tommy tell m-me this this isn't re-real" she begged

He felt his heart break watching her struggle. Instantly coming around his desk, Ada looked concerned, never having seen her friend so distraught before.

Bella saw black spots in her vision. Her lungs were burning from lack of air. Feeling frightened as Tommy moved towards her, she tried to step back, wanting to run, but tripped over her feet.

He caught her waist before she could hit the floor. Bringing her close, moving his hand to her face, making her look at him.
This was just like the time she first saw the priest, but something about this one felt worst to Him and he'll do everything to make sure it didn't have the same out come...

"Bella. I need you to breathe."

Her eyes were still wide and scared, she wasn't really here with him, he could feel her whole body shaking.
Placing his forehead on hers,
"Just like you taught me...in and out...in and out, do it with me,...please Bella." He couldn't think, he needed her to be okay.

Trying her best to nod and match her breathing with his. This was Tommy, she thought. Tommy will make things better.

Ada watched with fear and amazement at how Tommy could calm her down. She thought the poor girl was going to give herself a heart attack.

Once she was able to feel the air in her lungs again, she latched her hands onto his shirt. Staring widely into his eyes.

"I'm sorry this is happening Bella...but I need you to be okay so we can get through this, together." He whispered her.

A few more deep breathes, she was back into reality, feeling the silent tears run down her cheeks, "O-okay Tommy. I'm here."

He held her there for another second, needing to make sure she really was.

Nodded at him as he removed himself from her, going back to his desk as Bella went over to Ada.
Who offered her an open arm to which Bella gladly took, resting her head on her friend's shoulder, needing the comfort.

"I'm calling a family meeting, Charlie's Yard, Boxing Day. If we're all separate, they'll pick us off one by one, we need to go somewhere where we know everyone."

"You mean, home?" Ada confirmed, Tommy nodded glancing at Bella, making sure she was still okay.

"And what about Esme and Linda?" Ada asked

"If anyone wants to live to see another Christmas they'll come. And then, when this is all over, we can go our separate ways."

"I already spoke to Arthur, he would come, but John won't leave his house." Ada informed him

Tommy stood in thought for a second before giving her the next order.
"You go to Polly, talk to her. She would've received a letter as well, send Michael to John's to get him to Charlie yard."