A/N Slight trigger warning for this chapter.

They danced together for two songs, having completely forgotten about Grace. Dorothy's close proximity to Tommy stirred memories in the back of his mind. Going out before all the horrors of the war had been fun. Every time he'd gone out since coming home, it hadn't been the same. Until tonight. The way they pieced together, the way she anticipated his every move and the way she looked at him was addictive. Her small frame gently rocking and bouncing to the music against his was doing little to help him stay focused on the task at hand, so he began to lead her closer to Kimber's table.

Grace was watching the two of them intently and excused herself from her current dance partner.

"Do you mind?" Grace asked Dorothy.

Before Dorothy could answer, Tommy replied for her, "Not at all."

Tommy placed Dorothy's hand in Grace's and excused himself, "Ladies."

Kimber's full attention was now solely on the two women as Tommy had walked briskly over to the other side of the room.

"Just follow my lead and do as I say, trust me, they'll like it." Dorothy reached out her other hand towards Grace and took the woman's hand in her own. "Dance," Dorothy commanded. The two women twirled together and had the attention of every man in the room. "Smile, Grace. Show them all you're having a good time." Grace followed along and continued to sway her hips in time with Dorothy's. Kimber was transfixed and even Tommy had trouble tearing his eyes away long enough to receive the bags from Arthur.

Tommy approached Kimber and dropped full bags of money onto his table. Grace and Dorothy continued to daze the men around them by dancing together, although, Grace was trying to subtly lead Dorothy towards the men's conversation. Their dancing became less fluid and more forceful and each step Grace took was in Tommy's direction.

"What the hell are you doing?" Dorothy asked through gritted teeth. "We're meant to be a distraction."

Grace simply shrugged her off and Dorothy quickly improvised, calling out to Billy, "Mr Kimber, my friend here would love to have a dance with you."

Kimber mumbled something to the man sat beside him and straightened his tie. "Well I'm not one to disappoint, love," Dorothy winced at the pet name she so loathed, "Let me show you what I've got." Grace looked startled at the new development and Tommy continued to discuss business with Kimber's men while Billy swept Grace away. Dorothy perched close to the bar and took a moment to herself to regroup. Grace was behaving more unusually than normal. The two women were not close, not for the lack of trying on Dorothy's part. Every conversation Dorothy attempted, Grace quickly ended in favour of being closer to the Shelby's, specifically Tommy. Dorothy could slightly sympathise. Thomas Shelby was a very attractive man with a quick wit and a mind for strategy. It was a pity that he also could be so cold and cutting when he wanted to, both verbally and physically. Dorothy couldn't imagine the sort of life that would come with being married to a Shelby but, based on her behaviour, she could tell Grace was eager to try. Grace's desperation was masked by curiosity. It took a woman to see that something else was going on too.

Ripped from her thoughts, a hand extended out to her, "Your turn now, love." Kimber's breath was stale and smelt of cheap cigars. His hair, greasy, and his suit was a cheap imitation of an expensive London style outfit. Every fibre of Dorothy's being wanted to push the repugnant man away from her, but she remained collected.

"Thank you, Mr Kimber, but I fear we would be ill-matched partners, what with my lack of experience," she smiled sweetly, "I wouldn't want to show you up." Dorothy knew the man's ego would mean he took her insult as a compliment but she rested easy in the knowledge that her wordplay went over his head.

Kimber went to re-join the men sat around the table and whispered something into Tommy's ear. Grace reappeared by Dorothy's side and the two watched Shelby and Kimber in silence. Kimber's eyes looked back from his seat to meet Dorothy's and her chest tightened.

Tommy lit a cigarette and walked over to join the ladies. "So listen." Dorothy's heart quickened as Tommy explained how she and Grace were to go back to Kimber's house without him as he finished business. "I'll throw in an extra three quid each, for your extra time."

Dorothy raised her hand to strike his face at his insult to their honour, but Tommy's reflexes caught her arm mid-swing and forcefully lowered it. Dorothy was certain there would be bruises on her arm the next day. Tommy's eyes looked forcefully at the two women and Grace could find no words.

"Of course, Mister Shelby," Dorothy said in as detached a tone as she could muster.

Tommy pulled Dorothy in close and whispered darkly, "You said you wanted to work for me. To do that you have to sharpen up. The deal is, I give him two hours with the two of you. He thinks he's a ladies man. He thinks he can seduce you both. Whenever you want, just kick him in the balls."

"Well, I wouldn't want to ruin your negotiations. I can see you've put a lot into the arrangement," Dorothy said sarcastically. That was how Tommy worked. Arthur collected the money, she and Grace sealed the deal, Tommy kept his hands clean and watched those around him suffer while he sipped a whiskey.

Kimber's home was as tasteless as Dorothy would have imagined it to be. Everything was carefully placed to express how much money the man had and incidentally showed how little style he had too. One of Kimber's men took their coats and Dorothy's purse, but Grace insisted on keeping her's close by.

"Let me show you how to dance, love." Dorothy cringed. "Follow me, this room has more space." Kimber grasped Dorothy's hand tightly and began to pull her from the room. Despite her mind whirring on overdrive, she couldn't think of a reasonable excuse to allow her to stay with Grace. Grace may not have been much but at least she was a woman. At least she was familiar.

"Make yourself at home, Greta," Billy shouted back towards Grace.

The room Dorothy and Kimber entered was just as grand and just as poorly designed as the previous one. Billy let her hand go as he walked towards a gramophone against the wall. Dorothy massaged her hand and tried to think of ways to get out of her current situation. Tommy's advice ran through her head, 'just kick him in the balls'. She took a steadying breath as Kimber approached her again.

"Don't worry, love," she flinched, "I'll go slow." Billy's repulsed her but she forced herself to remain calm. "You'll like it."

That sentiment alone was enough to make Dorothy's stomach flip and again, Tommy's advice played back through her head, 'just kick him in the balls'.

Kimber's hand began to wander from her back to her hip. His breath, hot on her neck. His cologne was suffocating. As Kimber's fingers began to pull the length of her dress up, Dorothy snapped. She refused to allow this to continue. With all her strength, Dorothy pushed against Kimber's chest, forcing him back a few steps.

"Easy there, love," Dorothy squirmed, "We can go somewhere more private if that's what you want." Kimber's suggestive tone sickened her and upon his second approach, Dorothy lashed out and hit him across the face. Billy was momentarily stunned that such a delicate frame could harness so much force behind a movement but quickly regained his senses. In seconds, Kimber had pushed Dorothy against the closest wall, his hand tightening around her neck.

"Listen here, you bitch. I've got two hours with you, and I intend to use 'em."

Small black dots danced on the edge of her vision as his grip squeezed tighter. His other hand made its way down to her left leg and forcefully ripped her stocking. Her nails dug into the hand constricting her throat. Panic had set in and she tried to wriggle free. His lips moved against her cheek forcefully as he pressed her further into the wall with his body. Kimber momentarily lost himself and the grip on her neck loosened just long enough for Dorothy to twist her head sideways and slam down towards Billy's nose.

Kimber fell back in shock, hands flying to his bloodied face and Dorothy took in two deep breaths. She shakily left the room in search of Grace. "Gra-" Dorothy couldn't speak for the agony in her throat. The blonde looked out the doorway to see Dorothy double over coughing up small flecks of blood. As Grace rushed towards Dorothy to help her Kimber stormed from the adjacent room, blood streaming from his nose.

"Leaving," Dorothy choked out. From deeper into the house, the women could hear a commotion growing closer. Dorothy straightened herself in preparation for a second struggle when, much to everyone's surprise, Thomas Shelby walked through the door.

"What are you doin' 'ere? I've got another hour." Kimber yelled.

Tommy approached, placing himself between the women and Kimber. "Just wait. Listen to me. Just listen to me. I was gonna let you go through with it but in the end, my conscience got the better of me. They look good on the outside but… They have the clap."

Kimber paused and stared at the women, who had both turned scarlet red, before he started chuckling. "That's what you get for using cheap whores." Kimber spat. In a burst of rage-filled energy, Dorothy took two steps towards Kimber and swung her foot up to his crotch. Kimber fell to his knees, groaning in pain.

Tommy turned to order the ladies to wait in the car, giving Grace a push for good measure. Dorothy was too exhausted to notice the guilt in his eyes.

Dorothy walked straight to the car and sat in the backseat as Grace sidled up to Tommy as they drove away.

"Start of the day I was Lady Sarah of Connemara," Grace began, "By the end, I was a whore with the clap." Tommy remained silent. "You're a fucking bastard, offering us up like that."

"I don't hear her complainin' about it," Tommy countered.

Dorothy's voice was rough and her throat still tender as she replied, "I wouldn't want to waste my breath."

Tommy drove to Grace's street first and as she wished Tommy a good night, he drove away.

"Where to?" Tommy gruffly asked.

"Anywhere. I'll walk."

"It's not safe out for a lady at night 'round these parts."

Dorothy gave a sick chuckle at Tommy's statement. "Not safe? Why would you give a fuck if I'm not safe? Let me out the damn car now."

Tommy hit the brakes and the car came to a stop. Dorothy gathered her purse and opened the door. She wasn't entirely sure where she was but anything would be better than remaining in the car with him. Her knee's wobbled with each step. The stress of the day had caught up with her and her adrenaline had fallen completely. She stumbled three more steps before falling to the ground in a heap.

"Dorothy!" Tommy called and rushed over to her, gently transferring her weight so she was knelt on the floor leaning against his chest. The wound on her hand that had been healing nicely had reopened and her whole body was shaking. "Dolly, you ok?" Tommy couldn't hide the worry in his voice. He was no fool. Her stockings had been ripped, her dress creased, and her hair knotted. He could see the faint blue marks around her neck and the small splatters of blood down her front. Tommy knew how men like Kimber worked and seeing the quivering woman in his lap, he didn't want to think about what had happened.

Dorothy groaned in response and tried to push off from Tommy into a standing position. As she swayed into an upright position, Tommy scooped her up into his arms and placed her back in the car. He rested her hair on his shoulder and she quickly shifted her weight to rest on the side of the car rather than the man beside her.

"Just take me to The Garrison," Dorothy mumbled.

"You'll stay with us tonight. Pol will check on you."

"No."

"For hell's sake, stop fighting me and just listen, you-"

"No!" Dorothy shouted, surprising even herself with the energy she gathered. "I will never stop fighting men like you and Kimber." Tommy felt bile rise up his throat as she grouped him in with men like Kimber. "Just take me to The damn Garrison and leave me alone."

Tommy inhaled deeply and adjusted his strategy, opting for a softer tone.

"Dorothy, just let me take you to Pol. She can check on you." Dorothy looked as though she was gearing up to deny him once again so he reluctantly added, "Please?"

Dorothy conceded and they arrived shortly after at the Shelby house.

Dorothy walked unsteadily on her own into the house, Tommy close by in case she was to fall again.

"Pol," Tommy shouted.

"Shhh! You'll wake the damn kids!" Polly whispered forcefully before taking note of the fragile woman in front of her.

"What's happened here? Tommy? What the bloody 'ell had happened?"

Tommy couldn't find the words to answer, so Dorothy spoke instead. "I got mixed up with Thomas Shelby."

Polly ordered the girl to stay the night and informed her that the next morning she would visit the apothecary and get something to soothe the bruises on her neck and arms. As Polly was talking, Dorothy could barely keep her eyes open. The second her head hit a pillow that night, she fell into a restless sleep.

A/N Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review, favourite and follow this story - it really means alot!

-QwertyWords