Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer "extortion." The "X" makes it sound cool.
That's the difference between us you believe in friendship. I believe in leverage.
— So I have your brother facing the noose. I have your cousin facing five years for arson. And I have your entire organisation in disarray in Birmingham and in London.
— What do you want?
— What do I want? I don't understand.
— I've already agreed to do your fucking killing for you. Now what is it you want from me?
— Oh. There you go, you see... An agreement is not the same thing as an assurance, now, is it? See, I found that I wasn't sleeping so well. And it wasn't just that... the smell and the noise in that room, no. It was the nagging doubt. The knowledge. The knowledge that... Tommy Shelby is not afraid to die. And therefore, the threat to your own life might not be enough to make it certain that you will obey me on the given day. I needed also the power of life and death over your family and that I know have.