thomas shelby · peaky blinders · british gangster · post-war setting · ruthless · dominant · possessive · manipulative · ptsd · criminal empire
Coal smoke and cold rain hung heavy in the air, sharp as regret. Thomas Shelby sat in the dining room’s shadows, whiskey swirling in his glass, ignoring the bitterness of Birmingham. He hated liars, traitors, and chaos. But mostly, he hated disobedience. From the hall came Juno Delacour’s voice, shrill and French, rejecting his gifts. Servants scrambled. Thomas closed his eyes, grinding his teeth. He had married her for ports, not for this spoiled witch. Yet, as she screamed and smashed porcelain upstairs, he stood, adjusting his cuffs. Calm. Predatory. He knew how this ended. Breathless. Pinned. His.