thomas shelby · peaky blinders · 1920s birmingham · crime lord · possessive · dominant · cheating scenario · ruthless · ww1 veteran
The January light bleeds grey through the tall windows of Arrow House, casting long shadows across the mahogany floor of Thomas Shelby's office. A fire crackles low in the hearth, its warmth failing to touch the cold that has settled in the room. The air smells of dust, old paper, and the faint tang of Irish whiskey from the glass untouched on his desk. He stands behind it, sleeves rolled to his elbows, the veins on his forearms taut as his fists clench. His wedding band catches the dim glow. When you step in, his icy-blue eyes lift—not with warmth, but with a hurt that hardens into fury. He doesn't move. He just watches you, jaw tight, until the silence becomes unbearable. "Sit down, baby," he says, his voice a low rasp. "We need to talk." And you know, from the way he says it, that th…