The Falling Man

Chapter 31

Tommy POV

I was currently on my way to a meeting with Ray, who told me he needed to talk with me, for what reason I am unsure. The Switzer brothers had pulled him from his leading position of the new men we had hired for the expansion, which I suspected to happen. About a week has passed since I ended the partnership with the Switzers and joined instead a partnership with Alfie Solomons. The Squad would still be working closely with us, just no longer directly with me, rather they would be taking orders from Alfie now. When I told them the news it had gone better than I expected, whether they were planning a secret attack against me I was unsure but that would be quite stupid of them as they would still be receiving a shit ton of money from their brother in law with the expansion.

I had made this decision to be done with them for one reason and one reason only. I needed to distance myself from Ethel. Before I met with the Switzer men that day I flipped a coin, whether to pursue a relationship with the woman or to cut ties completely ultimately for her safety. The coin landed and gave me my decision. However, I knew this feat wouldn't be possible if she was showing up to meetings when I would meet with Robert and Fred. If I was in the same room as her I couldn't hold myself back from talking to her, and thinking of kissing her. I decided the easiest route would be to cut the ties which brought us back together in the first place. Alfie Solomon's was more expierenced and a stronger leader compared to the Switzer brothers so it wasn't a loss on the business standpoint.

I arrive to the meeting point where Ray had asked me to meet him and see him standing at the end of the hallway. "You might think this is a curious place for me to suggest a meeting. But the surprises have only just begun." He states to me as I approach him. He turns to open the door beside him, I look him up and down and follow him into the room. I see ahead of me the IRA leaders sitting at a table. "You look a little unsteady, Mr. Shelby." Ray states closing the door behind us, "Take a seat." He continues.

I take a breath and blankly glance at the three people in the room. The Squad had joined with the IRA I suppose. Fucking ridiculous. So they were planning something. This though made no sense. The Switzers were from a town outside of Dublin, everyone in Dublin hated the IRA with a strong passion. And everyone in the IRA hated everyone from Dublin with a strong passion. How on earth they came to some sort of agreement, I had not a clue. I can only imagine through the common enemy of myself. "You're working together. Blowing up the Garrison was their idea. You chose to work for me." I state to Ray scoffing.

I stand there and stare at the man who told me he was working every day to gain my trust, before approaching him, "It's funny, I thought...I thought The Squad had a policy..." "Enough." The woman IRA leader interrupts me from her seat. "...Of not mixing the personal with the business." I continue. "I said enough." The woman states again. "I think I will decide on what is enough." Ray states back to her. "Who's in charge here then, eh? Who's in charge? Wait. Let me understand this...You answer to a man from Dublin." I say pointing at the Northern Irish woman before pointing to Ray.

"Perhaps we can..." Ray starts before I interrupt him, "Very interesting..." I state before he starts again with, "Perhaps we can stick to the agenda." "Whose agenda?" I ask him, my blood boiling. "There is a form of words here..." He states before I once again interrupt the man, "Whose words?" "Arrogant bastard." The man of the IRA speaks up from his seat. I turn my attention to him and stare him down for a moment, "I'm not accustomed to being spoken to like that." "Just come to order." Ray says to me. "I'm here to listen but not to the fucking infantry." I say looking the IRA man up and down. These were the men that never showed up for us in France the bloody Northern Irish men, I will not sit here and listen to a word they want to speak to me. Especially when a man who is supposed to be still working for me and Alfie Solomon's sets it up. Who the bloody fuck do the Switzers think they are pulling a move like this?