The Blood War, Peaky Blinders

𝟎𝟓𝟐 I didn't opt in to be your 'odd man out'

The blood war
chapter fifty two, I didn't opt in to be your 'odd man out'
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-1929
Birmingham, England

As James was actually sober enough to be left on his own, Paige phoned him a taxi and he left. Paige was then sat by the fireplace, reading letters she found. "What have you got there?" A voice asked from the doorway, it was Arthur who had gotten back from the Garrison. "I've written a letter" Paige said. "Jesus, first time in forever" Arthur said, "Who for?" "For you" Paige said. Arthur's eyes widened. "Milly's written one for Tommy too" Paige said. "Well... can I read it?" Arthur asked, a slight smile.

"It isn't finished yet" Paige said, "I'm getting rid of the parts I wrote when I was drunk." "Well look at you, Paige Adelaide Shelby with a drink of wine in her hand, writing letters" Arthur smirked. "I've stopped drinking... cut down on the snow... when I'm drunk, I'm too hard on you... it's not your fault" Paige said. Arthur sat up in the sofa, kind of shocked with what was leaving Paige's mouth. "So... That letter's about me is it?" He asked. "Yeah" Paige nodded, "And about me... about the future, about the company. Milly and I-" "Sat here and made things worse the last few hours, huh?" Arthur asked. "Yeah and we've come up with a plan" Paige scoffed, sitting back in her chair as Arthur came over to her.

"Oh you've come up with a plan, eh? Because it's you and Milly against the fucking world, hm?" Arthur asked, his tone becoming aggressive. "Milly said Tommy won't live two more years if he carries on like this. He's gone too far" Paige said. "Is that what Milly said?" Arthur asked, "Really now?" Paige's breathing hitched as Arthur passed around the armchair she was sat in. "Well how far has he gone, Paige, hm?" Arthur shouts. "He's lost all legitimate money in America." Paige said. "No, no" Arthur denies, "That was Michael."

"He's fixing races, fixing football" Paige said. "Following the financial crisis, the Shelby Company Limited has to find other sources of cash income" Arthur said, getting down into her face as their noses touch. "Tommy went into Chinatown. He's selling communists to the British Intelligence... And all the time, everyday, he gets more and more famous" Paige said, getting up and grabbing a newspaper, "But that's okay. Because if anyone puts two and two together..." Paige fired the newspaper onto the coffee table with the headline "Shock assassination of Birmingham Journalist".

"That wasn't us" Arthur said. "Yeah, well people will think it was!" Paige shouts. "It's not fucking us!" Arthur shouts. "It's going to blow up Arthur!" Paige yells, "It can't sustain! And you fucking know it too!" "Oh yeah? And what do you know, huh?!" Arthur asked, his frustration rising, "You've worked this all out, hm?! You and fucking Milly, eh?! Got it all planned out, is that right?!" Arthur throws the newspaper into the fire, turning sharply back to Paige who was sinking back into the armchair again.

"And I tell you, all you're going to do is be a good fucking wife and wait for your fucking throne!" Arthur yells, grabbing her neck and stroking her face, "Like the perfect couple, we'll go upstairs, hm?" He begins to kiss her lips and takes his hand off her neck, "We'll go upstairs, yeah? Make love, hm?" Arthur then backs away from her and stands in front of the fireplace and she stands up from the chair. "I spent my day writing two letters and deciding which one to give. Looks like I'll have to give the other one. The one that isn't like the ones I used to fucking write you." Paige said. "What other one?" Arthur asked but it was too late because Paige had already left the room. "What fucking other one?!" Arthur yells as he sees his wife wasn't in the room, "Paige get back here!"

Paige walked up the stairs at a fast pace, slamming their bedroom door. The only thing was, Artemis had woken up and heard the whole thing between his parents, silent tears falling down his cheeks as he heard the shouting between Paige and Arthur and the slams that came from Arthur downstairs.