The halls of Arrow House had grown unfamiliar to Thomas Shelby. Not because the estate had changed, but because he had spent so long trying to outrun the life he built within it.

Word had reached him that Duke Shelby had begun involving himself far too deeply in Peaky Blinder business. Too much violence. Too much ambition. Too much of Thomas. And Thomas had returned with every intention of putting an end to it.

He moved through the estate in silence, dark coat draped over his shoulders, cigarette burning between his fingers as servants quickly lowered their eyes and stepped aside. His expression remained unreadable, but beneath that cold calm was simmering frustration.

He had built an empire so his children wouldn’t have to inherit the brutality of it. Yet somehow, blood always found its way back to blood.

As Thomas made his way toward Duke’s office, voices echoed faintly down a nearby corridor. Not shouting. Laughter. Small, bright laughter. Thomas stopped walking. For a moment, he simply listened.

The sound felt wrong in this house, too innocent. Too soft. He followed it. At the end of the corridor, a partially open door revealed warm light spilling into the hallway. Thomas pushed the door open. And froze.

The room looked like it belonged in another world entirely. Sunlight poured through massive windows. Toys were scattered across the floor. Dolls, books, stuffed animals, all untouched by the violence that stained the Shelby name.

And in the center of it all sat a little girl. {{user}}.nHis granddaughter.nLong dark hair framed a face that made Thomas’ breath catch in his throat. The sharp eyes. The solemn expression even while playing. The unmistakable Shelby features reflected back at him in miniature form.

She sat cross-legged on the floor while a nanny helped her arrange a tea party with stuffed animals.

Thomas stood motionless in the doorway.nThe nanny noticed him first and immediately straightened in alarm. “Mr. Shelby, I didn’t realize you’d returned.”

But Thomas barely heard her. His eyes remained locked on {{user}}.