When vicky awoke, she was immediately bombarded by the bright lights illuminating the room. It didn't take long for vicky to realise she was in hospital. Her head was banging and her back aching from the uncomfortable bed, not to mention the itchy sheets. Subconsciously, she went to tuck her hair behind her ear but there was a force holding her hands down. Handcuffs. Vicky had been connected to the bed so she didn't run away, although she wasn't in a fit state to barely move never mind run. There were a few coppers stood outside her door and no doubt, some outside the window.
"Had me worried sick" why oh why did she have to hear that voice? Tommy leant over to hug his daughter, relief written all over his face. Vicky grimaced at the sight of him, looking away and shrugging him off much to Tommy's disheartening. It didn't take a genius to see the pain in his eyes, but also the guilt. Vicky Didnt care, she wanted him to feel bad, and know that everyone blames him and always will
"Don't touch me" her voice was raspy and dry but she had too much pride to ask Tommy for water
"Vic, I'm sorry love i-"
"No, I am going to speak, and for once you are going to listen" vicky ordered. Tommy looked in shock but agreed, nodding his head and looking down sadly
"Look me in the eyes, I want you to look at me and see how sick I am. How close I was to death because of you" and he does just that, with his eyes welling, Tommy looks at his daughter, truly taking in her features. Her cheek bones were much more prominent, grey faced and her eyes red most likely from the tears threatening to fall
"For years, I have loved and been loved by you. Taken in at my most vulnerable. I was a vile child but you didn't care, because I was your daughter, your flesh and blood, skin and bone. You changed me for the better and I wasn't alone anymore. You meant everything to me Tommy, the reason I didn't follow my mother to the gates of hell. Never, in all my life, have I ever hated a man more than right now. Because its not just some stranger being a dickhead. Its my own father, the man who cared for me and helped raise me, stabbing me and our family in the back. You are a cruel bastard Tommy, I knew that from the beginning. But now, I think you are the most self absorbed, capitalist, disgusting little man and I curse God for making me terminal when you deserve to die more than anyone I know" tears dropped from her cheeks to the bed sheets whilst Tommy's face tried to remain emotionless
"How are you feeling?" Vicky almost laughs at his attempt to avoid the subject
"If I die, I want you to know, it is your fault and will always be your fault"
"You are my daughter vicky, you have every right to hate me but you are my daughter and no one can take that pride away from me" Tommy promises but vicky shakes her head and sobs
"I'm not a shelby, Tommy, im a harlow. Be it cancer or the gallows that kill me, I will die my mother's daughter, and I will leave this world with no connection to you"
"Please don't do this, everything I do is for a reason Victoria-"
"WHAT REASON? PLEASE! IF THERE IS A REASON THEN FUCKING TELL ME!" vicky screams, her eyes now swollen and her cheeks soaked with salty sorrow
"The coppers offered me-" but again, he was interrupted
"Tommy, if you DARE say either money or protection, then I will never speak to you again" vicky looks straight ahead at the wall infront, not having the heart to look him in the eyes. The silence coming from tommy is indication enough that he was in fact offered protection and money
"I'm going to get you out of this vicky, I swear to you"
"Get out" vicky whispers almost in shock. She knew Tommy was a cunt, but deep down, she had hoped that he was threatened or something terrible. This, she couldn't move past, it will always be his wrong doing which has risked and possibly cost her life
Tommy doesn't protest. He stands up, and walks out the door without another word, leaving vicky to breakdown in sobs against her pillow
The next day, vicky is sent back to her cell. Its amazing what money can buy, as when she returned, none other than aunt pol, Arthur, Michael and John were sat down on her mattress. Polly stood up when vicky walked in
"Oh love" polly gasped when vicky hugged her aunt tight, breakdown in tears at the contact
"I think Tommy doesn't love me anymore" she sobs, as polly strokes her hair, sitting her down
"Of course he loves you, has a funny way of showing it" polly mutters the last bit. With teary eyes, vicky looks around at her family. John looks like he's taken a beating and Arthur's hand is cut up probably from punching a door or something
"Tommy is a bastard, but he will always love you vicky" Michael says wrapping his arm around her
"But...I don't think i love him anymore. How could he do such a thing? Hand us over to the coppers for money" vicky asks rhetorically
"Money? He gave us to the coppers for some fucking money?" John yelled angry
"I saw him at the hospital, he said he does everything for a reason. Police offered him protection and money. God, I never thought I could hate him so much"
"You have every right to fucking hate him" Arthur says
"We have been able to offer the coppers things, that's how we are here. Information which they'll soon find out is false, money, empty promises. Wanted to know you were alright" polly tells vicky kissing her head
"But...but when they find out the information isn't true, they'll beat you" vicky gasps
"We're all goners anyway, might aswell make most of short time we have left" Michael chuckles but Arthur hits him round back of the head
"Don't fucking talk like that"
"He's right, Tommy says he'll get us out, but I don't know how he's gonna do it this time. His entire life is a game of luck, everything seems to work in his favour, makes him forget that he's just an ordinary mortal man capable of only doing ordinary mortal things" vicky mutters sadly, spitting venom as she mentions his name
"Tommy is many things, but one of those is smart. He'll get us out. I know he will" John says looking at vicky with hope
"What then? He's ruined the family, things will never be the same. I don't think I'll be able look at him and not kill him" vicky wipes away her tears
"You'll live with me, we don't need tommy in this family, he did this himself and can only blame his own wrong doings" polly says. The door opens and the coppers are outside, waiting to take Arthur Michael John and polly back to their cells
"Move it come on"
"Whatever happens, you remember your prayers and don't talk to anyone. Next time I see you, we'll be under the blue sky, free women" polly says quickly as she's ushered away. Then the door is slammed shut and once again, vicky is alone
YOU ARE READING
Shelby Fire- Completed
FanfictionBefore the war, there was a girl. Her customers knew her as Sapphire, her family knew her as Dotty. After falling pregnant with Thomas Shelby's baby, she runs. No one knows where and Tommy was left believing she had simply grown tired of small heath...
