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𝑇𝑊𝐸𝑁𝑇𝑌 𝐹𝑂𝑈𝑅

The car squealed as Anna stepped into the road, her feet spinning as she was yanked back by Michael's outreached hand. She glanced to him dazed, eyes dripping with fatigue. For the past week, Anna hadn't been able to sleep. The stress of meeting Tommy had been too much to handle, given all she'd heard about her formidable cousin.

Michael sighed- it had been like that since they'd gotten out of the car to walk only three streets over. But Anna wasn't used to the dangerous hustle and bustle of the city, and now it was on show.

London was far too busy and polluted and packed to ever be enjoyable, Anna thought.

The sky was grey, as in any city she'd been in, and covered by a constant black cloud, which she dreaded to think would spill at any moment. It didn't help that it was November, the iciest of months but without the impending excitement of Christmas to distract.The last thing they needed was rain.

For the rest of the walk there, Anna couldn't concentrate on the dull scenery. All she could think of was Thomas Shelby and whatever he could say.

For the rest of the walk there, Michael couldn't concentrate on anything but his sister beside him. It was clear that she was nervous, even if she didn't say anything- refused to say anything in fact.

The large building looked dauntingly in front of them as Anna and Michael stopped at the doorways, glancing around at the decadent gold decorations inside. Her brother nudged his head forward, beckoning her in as they pushed through the heavy doors, slipping quickly up the wide, red carpeted stairs that lead to a restaurant of sorts.

"Morning, Mr Shelby," someone greeted him as the reached the top.

"Have you seen Tommy?"

"On the balcony, sir," the man nodded politely.

"Is he alone."

"Yes, arrive five minutes ago."

"Thank you."

Michael lead them across the hallway toward the balcony that looked over the lower floor, which was as bustling as the streets outside. The noise level was low, dulled to a low, business-like chatter but the air was thick with a choking smoke.

They were heading straight toward the middle of the thin strip that connected either end of the halls. It was lined only by a few thin legged tables, only a single one of them in use. A single crystal, whiskey glass lay on it, a blunt cigarette beside it.

Anna kept her eye on the profile as they walked forward. The man had to be in his late thirties, at least, based on his tired eyes, bags sagging beneath bright blue and covered by circular glasses. His hair wasn't yet greying, but a light brown, scattered with dark flecks in its cropped cut. He looked exactly like the photo her mother refused to look at. The photo she refused to part with.

Michael stopped at the edge of the table, hands resting nervously in his pocket, too heavy for the weight of his small palms.

"Tommy," he said, looking straight forward.

Tommy took the time to finish his drink, settling it safely before he turned, nodding.

"Michael. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He said. "I was supposed to see you Sunday, was I not?"

"Yes, well. I have someone you'd like to meet."

"You do?"

Tommy looked nothing more than slightly amused, as if anything Michael could give him would be less than noteworthy. He nodded for his cousin to hurry, and do Michael stepped to the side, placing a hand to Anna's back, and nudged her forward.

"Meet Anna," he said quietly. "My sister."

Tommy let out a shaking breath, his eyes brows raised. He paused still for a moment, not even his chest moving. It was as if he didn't know how to react. Anna expected him to exclaim his surprise or to at least stutter in response. But she was left without shock, with a reaction much more tame. And she couldn't say she was awfully surprised.

"Polly knows?" He asked, glancing back to Michael.

"I've been staying with her for weeks," Anna said.

"How did you find her?"

She glanced away, hating the stare he'd placed upon her. "I remembered Birmingham. Once I was here, it wasn't that hard to get to the Watery Lane address."

"Amazing isn't it," Michael said, but the enthusiasm was lost in his voice.

"Yes. Amazing," Tommy drawled.

He raised a glass to signal for another drink, all without offering either a seat. Then he gazed straight toward Anna, ready to challenge her. It was as if he didn't believe it was her, as if for some bizarre reason, he didn't believe it was his true cousin standing in front of him. She wanted to know what had happened in his life to leave him with this little trust. Michael had never gone past the basics.

"You see, I was told you died in Australia. From sickness," he said patiently.

Anna shook her head harshly. "I was ill. But I didn't die."

Tommy tilted his head after finishing his drink. He nodded, deciding that for some reason he would take her word as enough.

"I can't imagine Pol ever letting you both here."

Michael sighed in relief as he pulled out the remaining chair and lazily slumped down in it, his hands still tucked into his pockets. Someone appeared behind Anna, slipping a chair for her to sit in, which she took gingerly.

"That's the thing. She doesn't know. Didn't want us to come," Michael said, as he accepted a drink, offering one to his sister.

She shook her head, butting in, "But I want to meet the rest of my family."

Tommy smiled for the first time since she'd seen him. "You're your mother's daughter, alright. Might not see it yet, but we do." He glanced to Michael who mirrored the grin. "Family means a lot to Pol."

"Well, that's why I'd already had a plan to get us all together again. She can't go on like this any longer. But with you're arrival, things are much easier." Anna tilted her head in confusion, silently urging him to go on as he stopped to pause. Tommy nodded. "The minute John and Arthur find out about you, they'll be demanding we have a family meeting. And as soon as you, Anna, find out, Polly won't be able to refuse."

"That means Michael, you will have to take the bullet and spread the news," he added. "I doubt they'll want to speak to me."

"Fine with me," Michael said.

"We'll give Aunt Pol until Christmas, then we go through with it."

"What about Ada?"

"She's coming home for Christmas anyway," Tommy said.

Anna breathed out. It seemed the plan had already been set in place, and spurred on with fire the minute she'd sat down. Not that she could complain. The boys were right: Polly needed her family. Anna had seen firsthand the damage it must have caused her to loose them. But first. She had to know one thing.

"What happened?"

Michael and Tommy's conversation stopped short with a sigh.

"Mum told me that you made a deal. To have them put in prison. Her neck was in a noose." Anna breathed out. "They say you're all bad people. Our mother says it, for heavens sake.

"But bad people don't make deals to get their own put in prison. They don't send their family to hang only to save them seconds later, when they're suddenly free of any charges," she said. "It doesn't make sense. What happened? Before all that."

Tommy stared at her, his face plain and emotionless.

"Business, Anna, that's what this is. And I take responsibility, I do. But it seems like I'm the only one. Michael understands that," he said, eyes dark. "But they're not the only people who have suffered on the way to the top."

"I lost a wife. The mother of my son. I lost things too."

Anna remained silent. He hadn't said anything of what had happened to lead up to what her mother had gone through. But what could you possibly say to a response like his?

Michael cleared his throat and placed a hand on her elbow, tugging her to leave.

"Anna." Tommy called her back. She turned. "Welcome to the business."

Because family was business, she'd learned. And the trouble had only just begun.

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