Polly's Boys

Family Gathering

Family Gathering

Devlin knocked on the door. They'd been standing there for several minutes in the gloom. At least it had stopped raining. Cold and bitter like his growing mood he checked the address to the number plate on the door. Both men were very aware of all the stares they were getting. Devlin hated it. He wasn't much for people anyway but he was the gangster out of the two. If he got recognized it could cause a misunderstanding both here and in London. He didn't need people questioning his loyalties. He tugged his hat down further allowing the brim to shade his face.

"Ugh, it stinks here." David commented, covering his face with his wife handkerchief.

"It stinks in London too, you're just not used to the different smells." Devlin said. He preferred London. It was cleaner and the smells were mostly food and so on. This was pure industry. They had been surprised by the horse manure in the streets. Birmingham hadn't caught up yet.

"She's not home, come on, let's head back." David's impatience was getting the better of him. He was just cranky and tired. Three kids under 5, a wife and trying to run a business was taking its toll on him. Everyone told Devlin that David looked older by ten years. They were twins, not identical but he could see what they were saying. David looked like the older brother.

"No, Ada said she would be here." He bit back, not bothering to turn around. He just knew Ada had done what she said. He wasn't sure how, he was trusting someone he didn't really know or remember. I Didn't like him at all. He pounded on the door again. His nerves were getting shot. He'd seen a pub somewhere around. He needed a drink. He spun around to see a dark haired woman standing behind him with a key out. He wasn't sure if she was going to stab them or what. He had to stop himself from reaching into his vest and grabbing his knife.

"Well you don't look Italian and you aren't a Blinder so who are you?" She gestured at them with an extended key. They both smiled as they realized who she was. Her oversized coat only showed her large and beautiful brown eyes. Dark hair and curls. She looked like an old photo they had stolen from the orphanage file. Polly Gray.

"What, why are you looking at me like that?" She glanced around the street. "I'll scream!" Devlin and David held up their hands. David slid his wallet over to her. She snatched up and quickly backed up. Her eyes darted all over the street, to them and the id card. Devlin swelled with pride. She was street smart. He knew where he got it from.

"Oh, oh." She started to shake. David and Devlin exchanged a look and grinned. Devlin steadied himself as she crashed into them hugging tightly.

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Devlin sat with his back to the wall. The table was in the middle of the room. He could see the window and door. All he cared about was an escape route if needed. His mother was watching him specifically. Why not? David was relaxed and reclined in the chair fiddling with his fingers on the table. Devlin slammed his hand down over his brothers, god he hated fidgeting.

"Knock it off." He ordered. His mother smirked. She was watching him to closely.

Both men sat at the little round table in front of the fire waiting for someone to speak. The silence was almost uncomfortable. Too many questions and everyone is afraid to ask for the answers.

They hadn't touched their tea. She must have noticed because she got up and fetched an amber bottle from the windowsill and two glasses.

"Like your father huh?" She smiled warmly. She poured glasses of Whiskey. Both men smiled and downed the drinks and nodded in thanks.

"So...." Polly began but faltered quickly. She took a deep breath. This was so uncomfortable. " What happened to Michael and Anna?" She leaned in, desperate for news. The two men exchanged sympathetic looks and shrugged. After a few minutes of agonizing silence Devlin took the lead as usual. He fiddled with his empty glass, right.

"They were younger, and went to an orphanage for younger kids that would be easier to adopt. We fought being taken away so naturally we were considered...difficult." He said offhandedly. Honesty, he hated talking about it. He prided himself on not having much emotion. Made it easier to do his jobs and function day to day. This was excruciating for him. Polly looked down. He could tell she was trying not to cry. He couldn't do this. He stood up abruptly. David looked startled and sat up ready to go. He knew that if Devlin was jumpy, the visit was over. Footsteps descended on the stairs to her apartment. Devlin reached into his jacket.

"At ease, it's just your cousins." She said, Then the door busted open. Three men came rambling in strutting like peacocks joking and laughing. The silence was palpable once all the men settled on each other.

"Devlin, hand out your vest, please?" John and Devlin were face to face both grabbing for guns. The standoff was intensifying and both men hardened their faces. David shifted uncomfortably behind him,

"You were a soldier, I can tell by your stance." Tommy was his name, Devlin remembered him. He looked so different now. Dead behind the eyes.

"Yes, I was." They looked each other up and down. Delvin's hand was removed but she clasped his hands in front of him. He wasn't moving as if he were protecting his two people behind him.

"And now, now you're a gangster." It was a settled statement, one that would have bothered Devlin if he weren't honest with himself. He knew they could see the tattoo's. He didn't hide them. Hard to honestly. He was tattooed from his neck down to his toes.

His girl loved to trace every single one when they had quiet moments alone. He knew who he was, he knew who they were.

"I'm an independent contractor." He said gruffly. He was getting bored. Both he and Tommy shifted and pulled out cigarette cases. Tommy lit his first and offered Devlin a match which he refused. He had a lighter with her name engraved on it.

"Wynter huh?" Tommy looked confused. Devlin slipped it into his breast pocket. Too much sharing too soon. He turned and sat back down facing his concerned mother.

He was really beginning to regret coming.

"And you, you look like a businessman." The older man sat down next to him. Watching him.

"Tommy, get off of it." She asked sternly. Glaring at her nephew. She could see the wheels turning in the other man's head. He'd definitely taken after her on the observation side of things.

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