Angel

36

             "Lena, whatever you do stay inside," Tommy's voice said immediately once I'd picked up the phone. "W-Tommy, what's going on?" I asked, looking through the lace curtains. "London coppers. Two truckfulls of 'em. Outside the house right now. Things 've changed, Lena. Stay inside until you hear from me," came his hurried reply and the click signaling he'd ended the call. I placed the phone back on the hook and stepped closer to the window, peering out through the lace. "Who was that Angel?" Alfie asked, his heavy footsteps vibrating through the living room as he reached me. "I-it was Tommy. He said to stay inside, he's got London coppers outside the house in Birmingham. You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?" I asked, turning from the window to face him. Alfie's eyes narrowed in shock and confusion. "Love, I've no idea what the fuckin London coppers are doing in Birmingham," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. I nervously paced the floor in front of him, gazing out the window every few seconds, almost as if waiting for coppers to pull up in front of the house.

            "He said to stay inside until I hear from him," I mumbled. "Angel, I'm sure everythin's gonna be alright," Alfie whispered, taking my upper arm gently in his hand and pulling me into his embrace. "He said everything's changed. What if something's gone wrong? What am I supposed to do without a family?" I whispered, revealing my weak side to Alfie, the only man who'd ever seen it. "Ya won't be without a family, angel. Ya've got me, and Odin, and Cyril, where would three boys like us be without ya, eh?" he whispered, and I chuckled, looking up at him. "Well, you're not wrong," I chuckled, and he smiled gently, pressing his lips to mine. We stayed locked in the embrace for a few golden moments before the phone rang, and I jumped from my fiance's arms to answer it. "Hello?" I asked breathlessly. "Lena, they were after Tommy. He said to tell you and Polly it's Russian business," John's voice echoed. "What about you, and Arthur, and Esme, and Polly and Finn and Michael? Are you all alright?" I asked frantically. "Yeah, yeah everyone's alright, just a bit shaken," he replied, and I sighed in relief, collapsing into the armchair next to the phone as I ran a shaking hand through my hair.

            "One of us will be in touch with you to fill you in once we know more," John said. "Alright, thank you," I sighed and hung up the phone. "Well?" Alfie asked, crossing the floor to take my hands in his. "Everyone's alright, they were after Tommy. It has something to do with the Russian business, but no one knows any specifics yet," I told him, and he nodded. "See angel, I told ya everythin' was gonna be alright," he said softly, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Well, let's not speak too soon," I replied with a short chuckle as I rose from the armchair, "But for now, as it seems we are not in any danger, we need to make sure your suit still fits you." Alfie let out a groan of protest as I took him by the hand, dragging him up the stairs to our shared room. "The charity event is tomorrow, if we don't take care of this today then we can't go," I ordered him, opening the closet and grabbing his best suit out. "Perfect, then we can't go," he mumbled. "I heard that. You knew what you were getting into when you proposed to me. We have to go to events my sister in law throws," I told him. "Oh angel, you are most definitely worth all the torture of having to go to events," he chuckled as he begrudgingly began to undress. "Besides, I bought a new dress for tomorrow night, and I think you'd very much like to see me in it," I chuckled, grinning with my bottom lip pulled between my teeth.

            "I think I'd like it better on the floor, angel," he laughed with a wink. I rolled my eyes as he dressed, and I helped him into his suit. Once it was on, I scanned him up and down making sure everything was perfect. "Alright, it fits like a fuckin' glove, can I take it off now?" Alfie groaned. "What is it with you men and dressing up? All you people do is bitch and moan about it," I mumbled with an annoyed sigh. "If ya let me put my other clothes back on now, ya won't hear a single complaint from me tomorra," Alfie promised, his hand over his heart. "Swear it. Swear it on our future marriage," I chuckled, one finger pointed at him with my eyes playfully narrowed. "I swear it on our future marriage, ya won't hear me complain about dressin' up for the fuckin' thing," he sighed. I clapped my hands together with a smile. "Thank you," I grinned, bouncing across the floor to him. He laughed at my excitement as I brought a hand up to the back of his neck, pressing his lips down to meet mine. "I'm gonna hold you to that promise," I whispered against his lips as we slowly parted. "Oh believe me, angel, I know," he chuckled.