three - a taboo

November 24, 1934

It was an odd, bitter meeting. Tommy was gone, which meant a new leader was to be in place. I was sad more than anything. Unwilling to allow another person to take his spot in the family business. It's just too soon.

He's always mentioned the day he dies. I mean, with him begin such a target to so many men and women across the globe! It's expected that such a man might just go poof, but damn it. I never thought this day would come.

It hasn't even been a full bloody day before I see the whole lot of them. Polly, Arthur, Michael, Finn and Marcus, the family lawyer all pooled into our home. Well, I guess it's my home now.

Pol held the will, sad but awfully gity. They all kind of were. I could see the excitement in their eyes, who was going to be crowned the next leader?

Apart from the warm hug that I got from Finn, the rest of them seemed stoic. Especially Polly, who didn't even shed a tear. I'm most surprised by her lack of emotions, Tommy cherished his aunt more than the rest of them. And yet she shows me different.

My stomach twisted as they circled around my dining room table, under the large portrait of Tommy and I that laid up against the wall above the fireplace.

I was going to get one of the maids to offer them tea but they were already ready to start things up. Just like that.

Polly rolls back the paper and begins reading it in her head. The family lawyer sat down at the end of the table, he knew Tommy's will like the back of his hand. He was in charge of all of this, a dear friend to us as well.

Arthur stands on the opposite side of me, and Finn leans against the wall, it's clear he doesn't want to be here. Michael stands behind his mum, reading it over her shoulder.Their eyes get wider and wider, I almost peer over too, wondering what the hell they're enchanted by.

"I want to say something before we begin," Arthur clears his throat, dragging the back of his hand over his swollen eyes. "Whoever my brother has decided to make the leader of the Blinders," He swallows, "I want them to know, they're still family. We accept Tommy's decision, after all I'm sure me brother had good intentions behind his-"

"It's you." Pol is curt , looking at the piece of paper Tommy's left for us. She raises her gaze, fixing her dark eyes on me. "You're the new leader of the Peaky's."

I kind of look around, wondering who she is talking to. But I quickly realize that there is no one around me.

"What?!" I shreik, pushing past them. "Me?"

Unable to control myself, I yank the piece of paper from Polly and read it out loud. "If anything's to happen to me, I, Thomas Shelby, wish to put all order belonging to Shelby Company Limited, and the Peaky Blinders with my wife Misty-Marie Shelby. I also want to allocate all of my assets, earnings and finances to my wife." My shoulders drop as my eyes follow to his signature, dating the day we got married. That's me. "Holy hell."

The entire room shifts, as his brothers, aunt and nephew look at me with complete hatred in their eyes.

Damn you, Tommy Shelby.

"Well, I don't want the bloody position!" I almost argue at the paper. Throwing it down in a rage. I fold my arms over my chest. I don't claim it, therefore I must be able to veto my newly granted position. Right. Right??

"For fuck sakes." Arthur puts his hands on his hair, and in a frustrated shout, his hands come down on the table before us, startling me.

Michael looks faint, Finn looks confused, Polly looks livid. And Marcus the lawyer slowly sucks on his smoke, watching all of us go mad.

"You can't give the title of leader away." Polly sighs, exhausted. "It's a bloody taboo."

"Taboo on whose fucking terms?!" I bark, she's so annoyed with me. This I can see. But I'm just as annoyed if not more.

She looks me in the eyes, takes a seat and reaches for her smokes. "On gypsy fuckin' terms."

"This makes no sense," I turn to the lawyer. He must understand. "I-Marcus, I don't partake in any of the illegal business, nor do I-"

"If you wish to pursue legal action, you may, but this won't go anywhere. Misty, you were appointed leader."

"Perhaps my husband made a mistake."

"He's got his fookin' screws loose!" Arthur snaps. Sitting beside his aunt who lights up her cigarette.

"Arthur," I turn towards him, "Don't you dare curse him. Don't you dare." I grit my teeth.

"Hang on!" Michael raises his hands, looking at Marcus. "Giving away all of his finances to Misty, what does that mean for us?"

Marcus says what I did not want him to say. "All of your shared bank accounts, the money, the cash orders. It's all been frozen, you can't access the money. None of youse. It's all Mrs. Shelby's now."

"What?!" Michael barks.

"Jesus." Polly says.

"Fuckin' what?!" Arthur shouts.

I nearly fall off of my feet, so I pull back my chair and sit down. I need a drink. Why did Tommy do this? Why on earth would he do this?

"Why would he do this?" Finn asks, pushing himself off the wall. "This is so unlike him..."

I look up at Finn. I agree with him wholeheartedly. It doesn't make sense. Everyone around the table looks disappointed, including me.

"Because he's a prick." Michael pulls out his smokes and begins to smoke them. "He's a selfish-"

"Michael!" Polly interrupts her arrogant son.

I roll my neck, feeling incredibly uncomfortable. I'm not one to say anything to the crazy Shelby's. I really hold back, but hearing a boy who literally kissed Tommy's arse now call him a prick is absolutely fucking hilarious.

"That's rich coming from you, Michael," I cross my legs, leaning my shoulders back.

"What did you say?" He hisses.

"Michael," Polly warns him again.

"I said that's rich coming from you. Jesus, he's dead and all you care about is the money?!" My voice raises and before I can think about my actions, I point towards the door. I push myself up to stand. "I want all of you to leave. Now."

They look up at me, as if they had misheard me. "Are you fucking hard of hearing!" I snap, "I want all of you gone! Now!"

Like puppies, they follow orders and leave my home. But I ask Marcus to stay, he's the only one I can trust. And the only one who isn't losing anything from being around me.