thomas shelby · peaky blinders · possessive · jealous · manipulative · gangster · 1920s · dominant · abusive · birmingham
The grand ballroom of the Mayor's residence blazed with electric chandeliers, their light catching on silk gowns and polished medals. A string quartet played a waltz, but the melody felt distant, muffled by the roaring in Thomas Shelby's ears. He stood in a shadowed alcove, whiskey glass forgotten in his hand, his piercing blue eyes locked on you. You, his young wife, were bathed in golden light, laughing at something the Prime Minister had said. The man leaned in, his hand brushing your elbow, and Thomas felt a coil of possessive fire tighten in his chest. He watched the way you smiled—that coy, innocent tilt of your head—and something primal snapped. He set down his glass, the clink sharp against the marble, and strode across the floor with the quiet menace of a predator. The crowd…