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Roguish Women Part 22

Summary: Kate Rosseau is an American who fled to Paris to escape her past life. Now she's dancing and playing the part of a courtesan at the Moulin Rouge. There she meets Tommy Shelby who thinks she can be useful in expanding his empire. But has he been blinded?

Part 22: Kate thinks she has to say goodbye, Tommy thinks otherwise

Tommy’s blood boiled. Maybe it was because he had assumed his presence in Kate’s life was enough to ward Santo off. He thought his protection was enough. It had been over two years and the man hadn’t tried to approach her at all. Now he appeared out of nowhere and harmed her?

But he couldn’t plan too far ahead as Kate was in tears in front of him.

“I’m so sorry. I never wanted to put this on your family, I should have known better. I should have left sooner.”

“Stop apologizing, s’alright.” Tommy struggled to keep his anger in check. But he knew she didn’t need him to lose his cool. He tried to wrap his arms around her as a comfort but she stepped away from him.

“I have to go.” Her voice broke as she struggled with the words. It was necessary, she knew that, but it was tearing her apart to tell him. “I have to go back to America.”

He frowned. “What? Not with him.” Never in a million years did he think she would willingly go back to the States with Santo.

“I don’t have a choice anymore.” She wiped her tears but it was in vain. Her eye makeup was already smudged there was no hiding her fear.

“Yes, you do. You have a choice to stay here. I won’t let him hurt you, Kate.” He moved toward her, reaching out and cupping her cheek.

“He won’t hurt me.” She hiccupped and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. It was impossible to push him away. She couldn’t help but indulge in his touch. Something that was so fleeting in her life. It was difficult enough knowing that she would never really know what it was like to be loved by him. But perhaps those little touches would be enough.

“Kate-”

“He said he’d kill you. He’d kill your family. He’d kill Alfie. I could never let that happen so I have to leave. I have to-I can’t let him-I can’t-” Kate’s knees went weak.

Tommy enveloped her in his arms, not letting her crumble to the ground. He pressed a hand to the back of her head, letting her bury her face in his chest as she cried. His jaw tensed as he held her upright. He was ready to end this chapter in Kate’s life. No more would she have to worry about Santo. She could be content to live there with him for as long as she pleased. “I love you.”

She sobbed harder against his white button-down. “Tommy, please, don’t. You’ll only make it worse.” She begged.

“I love you, Kate. And I won’t let that bastard do anything. He can’t come into my fucking territory and threaten anyone.” He asserted.

Being held by him, for a moment, Kate could believe him. His arms were so strong and warm. She could hear his heart beating fast against his chest. It felt like a safe haven, a shield. But she had enough sense to know it wouldn’t be enough.

“I need to face facts. I’ve been running too long and I just can’t anymore.” She tried to get a hold of herself but Tommy wasn’t making it any easier on her. She didn’t want him to let go of her even if she knew it had to be done. “I can’t hide anymore. There are just things you won’t understand. Things I can’t tell you.”

“You don’t need to tell me anything.” Tommy wasn’t too keen on letting her go either. He let his fingers slip through her hair, his other hand resting on her back, drawing her flush to him. She felt so much smaller in his arms than she usually seemed. Her personality gave her a larger than life presence. But when Tommy could wrap her up in his arms, she felt more fragile. She shook like a leaf, but there was a warmth to her that made him breathe a bit slower.

“I love you, Tommy.” She looked up at him. “But this isn’t your fight, it’s mine.”

He shook his head. “You’re wrong. He made it my fight when he put his fucking hands on you.”

Kate could see the flash of anger behind his eyes. “But-”

“Let’s get you inside.” He stopped her and reluctantly let go of her. “We can talk more in there.”

~~~~~~~~~~

As Kate sat and listened, Tommy informed his brothers of the situation. John and Arthur kept throwing her small looks of concern but she couldn’t say anything. She was too deep in thought. She hardly even heard Tommy instruct the two on what they were going to do. But she got the general gist of the plan.

Santo would be taking Kate to the port to leave for America. Meanwhile, the Shelbys would step in and get them to a quieter location. There, Tommy could dispose of Santo. Done and done. It sounded simple enough but it relied on knowing if Santo would have any sort of backup on hand and on Kate convincing him that she was going with him willingly.

Once things were detailed out, Tommy sent John and Arthur to go get started on the plot. After they left, he knelt down in front of Kate.

She forced a smile and cautiously let her fingertips graze over his cheek. He leaned into her touch. She let out a choked laugh. “Y’know I think I fell in love with you the second you helped me in Paris.”

The corner of his lips turned upward. “Yeah?”

“I guess I just never recognized it because I’ve never been in love before.” She admitted sheepishly.

He chuckled and rested a hand over hers. “Things will be alright. You trust me, aye?”

Kate swallowed and nodded.

“Good.” He stood up and kissed her forehead. The gesture was so tender that it brought fresh tears to her eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kate returned to Small Heath soon after. It was difficult for Tommy because it felt like he was sending her off to a lion for a feast. Knowing Santo was out there, aware of where she was, it made him extremely uneasy. But she had to play the part in order for their plan to go through.

So, she went back into her flat and began the task of packing her things. She took her time, carefully folding each piece of clothing. Most of it was from Birmingham. There wasn’t much she had brought from Paris all those years ago. The red dress she wore to her first derby when she had to step out in front of Grace to protect her from Billy Kimber. The dress she wore to the reopening of the Garrison when Tommy asked her to burn her past. The dress she wore to Epsom when she thought she truly had lost the only man she ever loved. The dress she wore to Grace and Tommy’s wedding. The dress she wore to the dinner. The dress she wore to the funeral. Each of them carefully packed away in her suitcase.

The sun was set by the time she was done. And when she was finished, she sat at her small kitchen table and began to write a letter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was three days before Santo returned with the tickets. He called several times each day to make sure she hadn’t fled. Each time she heard his voice it filled her with dread. But it was nothing like seeing him at the door. Her stomach dropped when he smiled. He knew he had won.

“Ready?”

Kate nodded and lifted her suitcase.

“Oh, no, allow me.” He picked up the case and brought it to the car that was waiting.

As she walked to the open car door, she happened to meet the eye of someone she didn’t recognize. But they were watching her. And when she reached the car, the man sitting on the stoop of the flat across the street, stood and immediately lit a cigarette. His eyes flitted to the rooftop above her head.

It was no coincidence. It was a signal. The Shelbys had been informed she was leaving.

~~~~~~~~~~

Santo tried to engage her in conversation on the train ride to the docks. But when she refused to answer, he resorted to reading his newspaper. After all, he couldn’t hurt her while they were in public. Kate knew to take advantage of that fact.

She simply looked out the window of the train car as the world passed by so quickly. Her heart was racing and she couldn’t stop fidgeting.

Santo appeared to notice but he only glanced up at her from over his newspaper for a brief moment. She met his eyes but didn’t let anything by as far as her facial expressions. So he frowned and returned to his reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The line to board the ship was long and it would obviously take time to get on. Santo didn’t seem too bothered and even struck up a casual conversation with the man ahead of him about a rugby match or a football match, Kate wasn’t sure. She didn’t care. There were other plans on her mind.

She touched Santo’s arm to get his attention. “I’m just going to ask that officer if he knows how long this will take.”

He looked at her with a bit of distrust. But it seemed that the gesture of showing him some sort of affection was enough to sway him over. “Alright, go ahead.” He nodded.

Kate left her case with him and went to approach the police officer who was managing the line. She pulled out her purse and got his attention.

~~~~~~~~~~~

There was no reason to fan out. Tommy, Arthur, and John could look like they were blending in, no problem. He reckoned it wouldn’t be too difficult to get to Kate and Santo in the line. It was a gamble, however, in trying to get them to another location. Tommy couldn’t analyze a man he’d never met. But he could bargain that Santo wouldn’t cry out for help from the police. Most mafia men didn’t. And Tommy expected that three to one were some good odds. Above all, he was relying on his adrenaline and determination to see him through.

But the three brothers didn’t even make it past the sidewalk. There, five uniformed police officers were waiting. One seemed to recognize him and held out a hand to stop him.

“’Scuse me, sir, need to have a word with you.” The cop said.

Two officers each began to surround John and Arthur, starting to remove their caps and frisk them for weapons.

“What’s the issue?” Tommy asked, not in the mood to deal with the police.

“There’s been a report that three men of your description are in a conspiracy to attack this ship.”

“Bollocks.” John scoffed and rolled his eyes, clearly not pleased with the men going through his pockets.

“Afraid you’re mistaken.” Tommy was tense but tried to keep a cool head. “We’re just here to see some family off.”

“Sir,” One of the officers removed a pistol from Arthur’s holster.

Tommy looked over the man’s shoulder and saw that the line to board the ship was dwindling. Anxious that they were running out of time, or were already too late, he tried to hasten the interaction. “How much will it take for you boys to turn a blind eye, aye? Name your price and let us be on our way.”

“’Fraid that’s not how it works.” The cop in front of him looked angered with the idea of bribery.

Tommy swallowed, his eyes locked on the line of people that was disappearing over the gangplank of the ship. “Fuck…” He whispered under his breath. And in a move that never failed, Tommy faked out the officer and ducked around him to sprint toward the line. “Kate!” He called. There wasn’t enough time to be conspicuous. He had to act now. “Kate!”

But none of the people in line turned. There were less than ten people still waiting. None of them were Kate. She was already on the ship.

Dread dropped to Tommy’s stomach like a large ice cube. He continued running to the railing of the dock overlooking the ocean. “KATE!” He shouted.

The ship's horn sounded loudly over the port. A deafening signal that he was too late.

Moments later, the police officer caught up to him and accosted him, roughly wrenching his arms behind his back.

“Sir, you’re under arrest…”

The words fell on deaf ears. Tommy couldn’t tear his eyes from the ship. He had lost her. Someone knew about their plot and stepped in to stop them. She was gone.

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