Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Tommy didn’t realize he was practically skipping around the practice field the next day until Jonny called him out on it.
“Something put a little jump in your step, there, Tom?” He asked with a wicked gleam in his eye and a smirk on his lips.
“Just a beautiful day, Jonny, is all,” Tommy said, placing his hands in his pockets and whistling as he walked toward him.
“A good night with the missus?”
“Something like that,” Tommy said with a laugh. “But I don’t kiss and tell.”
He saw Colin and Rhys across the field, deep in conversation as they pointed around them, likely about some play they were planning.
“Feel like playing a little game, Jonny?”
“Isn’t that what we always do?”
“Yeah, but this one is more about having a little fun.”
Jonny caught his eye, understanding that there was more to it than just a bit of football.
“I could be persuaded.”
“Rhys is going to describe a play to all of us once we all gather round.”
“Likely.”
“When he gives us all direction, do the exact opposite of what he says. If he tells you to go right, go left. If he says pass forward, then pass backward. Help me tell all the other men — except Colin, as he’s become too serious about all of this lately.”
Jonny looked at him with laughter in his eyes.
“You are diabolical.”
“I know. It’s part of my charm.”
Tommy and Jonny began circulating through the players, trying to tell them as surreptitiously as possible what they were doing.
They all wore expressions of innocence when they lined up and listened to Rhys explain the play.
Tommy noticed Hardy and Felix almost break into grins, but he gave them a small shake of his head to discourage them.
“All right, men, let’s practice this,” Rhys said, and they spread out into their positions.
When Rhys put his fingers into his mouth and blew out a whistle, they all started running forward, opposite to where Rhys had told them.
Tommy took a quick look behind him to see Rhys standing in the middle of the field with the ball, Colin on the opposite end near the goal.
They wore matching expressions of confusion as they stared at the field before them.
Rhys finally shook his head, blowing out a whistle again.
“Everybody in!” he called out, and they all slowly ran toward him. “Hustle up!” he encouraged them until they were all standing in a semi-circle.
“Did no one listen to instructions?” he said, pacing back and forth, arms behind his back and brow furrowed. “You were all going backwards!”
“We were all doing what you told us to, Rhys,” Tommy said, scratching his forehead as though confused.
“That is not what I said,” Rhys replied, his brow furrowing even deeper.
“Pretty sure you did,” Jonny said. “Right, Felix?”
“Yep,” Felix said, although when trying to disguise his laugh, he let out a noise that was half-cough, half-hiccup.
Rhys was no dummy and picked up on it, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at them all, one at a time, waiting for one of them to break. Colin, having known Tommy for years, was already looking at him, shaking his head.
“Do you all think this is funny?” Rhys asked through tight lips.
“Not sure what you mean, Rhys,” Tommy said, but it was too late. Some of the men were already beginning to crack.
Felix’s cough was no longer disguising his laughter, and Mickey’s lips had turned up into a full-on grin while Joey was bent over, trying to hide his face.
“You think it’s funny, don’t you?”
“Yes, Rhys,” Hardy said, laughing. “It is pretty funny.”
“How funny will it be when you’re running from one end of the field to another?”
That had them all groaning.
“Come on, Rhys,” Tommy said, lifting his hands. “It was just a bit of fun.”
“Let me guess, Tommy,” he said. “This was your idea?”
“It was,” he admitted. “And if there’s blame to be had, I’ll take it.”
“No, no,” Rhys said, shaking his finger back and forth. “You were all in on this. Come on. Five times. From one end of the field to the other. Then we’ll run the play again. Hope you remember what I actually told you.”
Tommy let out a sigh as they began, and Jonny caught his eye.
“Sorry,” Tommy muttered to the group, but Jonny shook his head.
“Completely worth it, Tommy,” he said. “Every moment.”
They were nearly spent by the time they had finished, but they were all focused as they ran the play — until Tommy noticed the man standing on the sideline again, watching, his eyes on Tommy.
Tommy wasn’t surprised that Rhys picked up on it as well. After they ran the correct play, when the rest of them walked off the field, damp with sweat, Rhys made his way toward Tommy.
“Your friend is back.”
“I see that.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Follow through on our plan,” Tommy said as Colin and Jonny joined them. “I’m going to talk to him. Try to get more information.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Colin asked, but Tommy shrugged.
“What other choice do we have? I have the ledgers, and we have enough to provide some information to the police, but I would feel better if we had more evidence. Perhaps I can get something from him.”
“Just be careful,” Rhys warned, and Tommy nodded as he went to speak with the mysterious figure, while the rest of the team filed into the bathhouse.
The man’s expression was wary, but then, so was Tommy’s.
“Can I help you?” Tommy asked as he approached, careful not to come too close.
“Just here to remind you of what’s at stake,” he said.
Tommy's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly do you mean by that?”
The man smirked. "Your pretty little wife and her safety, for one. Wouldn't want anything to happen to her, now, would you?"
A cold fist of fear clenched in Tommy's gut, but he kept his expression neutral. "Leave my wife out of this. If you've got a problem, you take it up with me."
The man chuckled darkly. "Oh, but she is the problem, isn't she? Draper promised her to my employer. He doesn't take kindly to broken deals. Interesting how this has all come together.”
Tommy stepped closer, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Minnie is not a piece of property to be bartered. She's my wife, and I'll protect her with my life if I have to."
"Brave words," the man sneered. "But can you protect her from everything? From everyone?" He leaned in, his rancid breath hot on Tommy's face. "Maybe I'll pay her a little visit while you're off playing your silly games. Show her what a real man can do."
Red tinged the edges of Tommy's vision. He grabbed the man by the collar, slamming him against the wall of the bathhouse. "You lay one finger on her, and I swear I'll—"
"You'll what?" the man taunted. "Go crying to the police? Ah, you were, weren’t you? They're all in Blackwood's pocket. Face it, Ward. You're out of your depth here. Just throw the match like a good lad, and maybe Blackwood will let you keep your wife. For a while, at least."
Tommy's grip tightened, his knuckles turning white. The pieces were falling into place now – the smuggling, the match fixing, Blackwood's hold over Minnie's father. It was all connected, a web of corruption and deceit with Blackwood at the center, pulling the strings.
The man pushed Tommy off him, his lips curling into a sneer.
“And then there’s your livelihood. Blackwood hasn’t visited your employer yet, but he’s planning on doing so — very soon. He has eyes and ears everywhere, and he knows about your little investigation.”
Tommy's heart hammered in his chest, but he kept his expression neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb, Ward. We know you have the ledgers. And we know you're trying to connect Blackwood to the business at the docks."
Tommy's mind raced. How had they found out? He and Minnie had been so careful. Unless... Blackwood had men planted in Minnie's father's company, men who knew much more than they had realized. They'd been watching their every move.
"You're in over your head, Ward," the man continued, taking a step closer. "Hand over the ledgers and throw the game. This is your last warning."
Tommy stood his ground, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'm not giving you anything. And I'm not throwing any matches. You can tell Blackwood that."
The man's face darkened, his hand slipping beneath his coat. Tommy tensed, preparing for a fight. But before either of them could make a move, a feminine voice rang out across the field.
"Tommy! There you are!"
Tommy's head whipped around to see Minnie hurrying toward them, Lily and Emmaline in tow. His heart leapt into his throat. What were they doing here?
Minnie reached his side, looping her arm through his and pressing a kiss to his cheek. She turned to the man with a bright, open smile. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met. Are you a friend of Tommy's?"
The man blinked, clearly thrown by Minnie's sudden appearance. He glanced between her and Tommy, his hand still hidden beneath his coat.
"Just a fan," he grunted. "Wanted to wish Ward luck in the next match."
"How kind of you," Minnie gushed. "Tommy works so hard. I'm sure your support means the world to him. Doesn't it, darling?"
She gazed up at Tommy with adoring eyes, and despite the danger of the moment, his heart swelled. She was putting on an act, creating a distraction. Giving him an out.
He forced a smile, patting her hand. "Of course, luv. Always happy to chat with a fan."
The man's jaw clenched, but with Minnie and her friends present, he couldn't make a move. He gave Tommy a pointed look. "I'll be watching the match closely, Ward. Don't disappoint. Think about what I said. For her sake."
With that, he slunk away, disappearing into the shadows.
Minnie threaded her fingers through Tommy’s as they watched the man walk away. "Who was that? What did he want?"
That was just it. Tommy still didn’t even know his name.
Tommy drew Minnie close, pressing a kiss to her hair. He wanted nothing more than to hold her as tightly as he could and never let go, to make sure that no one could ever touch her or take her away from him. He took a breath to calm his racing heartbeat.
"Blackwood's man. He threatened you, Min. Said Blackwood is angry about your father's broken promise."
Minnie paled but lifted her chin. "There’s no way for him to take me any longer. Not now that I’m your wife."
His heart swelled at her faith in him, even if he wasn’t sure that it would be enough.
Yes, they were married, but from what he had heard, there were men out there who wouldn’t care that she wore another man’s ring on her finger.
He would, however, do all he could to keep her safe. Of that, he was certain.
"I know, luv. And I won't let anything happen to you. But there's more. He all but admitted that Blackwood is the one behind the smuggling scheme and the match fixing. It’s all part of his scheme to have the city under his thumb. He’s making the city’s richest men desperate.
Forcing them to place sure bets, only for them to lose everything to him. ”
“He’s not just bribing you anymore,” she noted with a furrowed brow.
“No,” he agreed, shaking his head with a grimace. “He’s now threatened you.”
“I’m worried about your family. Your sister…”
Tommy sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Between what I have been able to give them and what my parents have saved, they are able to get the medication she needs for a week at a time, but at some point, it will run out. We have some time to determine just what to do about that.”
“I was happy to meet them last week.”
“And they loved you,” he said, smiling at the memory.
It had been amazing just how well Minnie had fit in with his family.
He had been uncertain about bringing her to their Wednesday dinner, but his mother had insisted, of course.
She had only been displeased that they had wedded in secret, without the rest of them present.
Perhaps one day he would rectify that. If there were a someday for them, not just a today.
One thing at a time.