???? ???????? ?????? ??????

⁰⁰³
𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐘 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐒

Finn walked through the living room where Francesca sat beside the fire, a book in her lap. He walked up behind her and snatched it from her. "Finn!" Francesca whined, turning and hitting him lightly.

"I'll tell Aunt Pol you just hit me—" he threatened, running away from her.

"And I'll tell Tommy that you're winding me up!" She fired back, pulling him back by the collar and taking the book from his hands. "Go away." She hissed, walking through to the kitchen to get away from him.

Finn sniggered to himself and Francesca shook her head.

John walked through the kitchen and ruffled Francesca's hair. She groaned and threw her arms up in annoyance. "Stop that!" She exclaimed, using a hand to flatten her hair. John raised a brow and hung his coat on the hook.

"What's up with you, Frances?" He asked genuinely.

She shook her head and looked back at her book. John crossed his arms. "It's fine, John." She dismissed.

John just raised his eyebrows and went back into the betting den, closing the door behind him. Francesca snapped her head toward the living room when hearing Tommy. "Arthur's mad a hell." Finn said.

"What does a ten year old know about hell, eh?" Tommy took the half-used cigarette from the floor and threw it into the fire.

"I'm eleven Sunday!" Finn argued. Tommy patted his head and walked through the kitchen. "Why is Arthur angry, Tom?" Francesca asked. Tommy stopped and turned to her. He said nothing. "Tom?"

"Come and find out." He said, holding back his smile.

Francesca's eyes widened and she slowly stood. "Really? You'll let me into a family meeting?" She inched closer to him. He nodded and she smiled widely, following him inside the betting den.

"What're you bringing the little one in here for?" Polly asked, lighting a cigarette. Francesca looked up at Tommy.

"She's old enough to join in every now and again, Pol." He sighed, leaning agains the wall. John grinned and pulled a chair for his youngest sister to sit on.

"I called this meeting because i've got some very important news." Arthur cleared his throat, "ScudBoat and LoveLock got back from Belfast last night. They were buying a stallion to cover their mares. They were in a pub on Shank Hill Road yesterday and in that pub there was a copper, handing out these,"

He handed a leaflet to Francesca and placed the others on the table. Francesca lifted it from the wood and scanned her eyes over it, John peering over her shoulder.

"If you're over five feet and can fight come to Birmingham."

"Is there going to be another war?" Frances asked with panic. Ada held her hand. "No, Pet. No war." Ada assured her.

"They're recruiting Protestant Irishmen to come over here as Specials." Arthur informed. "To do what?" Ada asked, looking around the table. Francesca began biting the skin around one of her nails.

"To clean up the city, Ada." Tommy interrupted. "He's the chief inspector. The last four years, he's been clearing the IRA out of Belfast." Tommy said.

"How do you know so bloody much?" Arthur frowned.

"Cause i asked the coppers on our payroll." Tommy shrugged. "And why didn't you tell me?" Arthur pressed.