Mrs Gray

four.

four.
to build a home

John went on the smoke, his funeral fire contributing to the ever growing smog that filled the Birmingham air. No one shed a tear, the shock was still too new for anyone to feel emotion aside from anger.

Anna stood with Louis beside Isiah who gently rubbed her back as she leaned slightly into him. The exhaustion she felt was overwhelming. Despite the bed set up in Michael's room, Anna rarely slept more than two hours a night. When she did, she had one hand on a gun while the other rested on her husband.

"Here." Isiah whispered to Anna. "Let me take him." Anna handed her sleeping son to the man next to her, immediately feeling better for not having the extra weight on her hip.

As she turned back to John's resting place, shots rang out from the distance. Some blinders ducked, including Isiah who was aiming to protect a now awake and screaming Louis. Others, like Anna, reached for their guns.

"At ease." Tommy yelled out to those who had sprung into action. "Do not return fire. I repeat, do not return fire. The men doing the firing are on our side."

Anna scoffed and rolled her eyes. Once again, she had been dragged away from her dying husband for business. Walking over to where Isiah was stood, she took her son from him. "I'm not staying here for this." She told him in a low voice.

"Anna wait." Isiah called after her, attracting the attention of Tommy.

"Anna." He called after her.

"What now Tommy, eh?" She stopped, turning back frustrated.

"It's too dangerous for you to go back there alone, they'll use you and Louis." Tommy walked towards Anna to prevent their conversation being broadcast to the whole family.

"Tommy I'm taking my son to see his father before he fucking dies."

"It's not safe, they know where Michael is."

"Tom." Isiah walked over to the man. "I'll go with her, I'll keep her safe."

Tommy's attention turned to the man in front of him. Grabbing him by the collar of his jacket, he pointed a finger in his face. "Anything happens to her and I'll fucking cut you."

"You really think I'd let anything happen to her?" Isiah looked at Tommy slightly disgusted at his lack of trust.

"For fuck's sake, are you coming or not Isiah?" Anna called out, sick of the two's bickering.

"Yeah, I'll bring the car around." Isiah rushed off, leaving Anna and Tommy face to face.

"You'll be at Charlie's yard later, yeah?"

"Family or business?"

"Family, the business will be sorted by then. I want a proper Christmas."

"Then I'll be there." Anna turned on her heels, heading towards where she could see Isiah's car.

*

Once inside Michael's room, Anna was horrified to find the two soldiers supposed to be standing guard were both passed out in their chairs. Kicking his leg, one of the men woke up.

"On your feet." The man who appeared double Anna's size quickly scrambled to stand before her. She opened his jacket to find exactly what she suspected, a half empty bottle of whiskey. Isiah did the same to the other man the best he could with Louis balanced on his hip.

"Wait outside." Anna instructed the men, finally turning her attention to her husband.

"Anna." She froze as she heard his voice for the first time in days.

"Daddy." Louis beamed when he saw his dad.

"Louis." Michael smiled, finally opening his eyes properly.

"I'll wait outside." Isiah handed Anna her son before leaving and closing the doors behind him.

"I didn't think you'd be awake." Anna walked over and sat in the chair beside his bed, placing Louis on the edge of the bed. She leaned in, kissing his lips which were dry and damaged. Their son immediately turned, attempting to climb on his dad.

"No Louis, be careful, daddy's hurt."

"He's alright." Michael smiled, turning his head to face his wife and reaching out to hold her hand. "What have the doctors said?"

"You took four bullets. One was live, one was ricochet, two already spent." Anna practically whispered the the last part.

"Two passed through John. The last thing I remember was his face. Esme was howling by his side as he died. All I could think was that I wouldn't get to see you again."

"Don't worry about that now." Anna coughed to try hold back the tears.

"Where's Tommy?"

"He's back, we're all back."

"I need a cigarette." Anna removed her hand from his, lighting him a cigarette while Louis moved to lay in the crook of Michael's arm.

"The doctors say you'll be up and walking in five weeks."

"Tell Tommy I need to see him."

"I don't want him coming here."

"Listen An, I'm going to get better. Tommy needs you more than I do, without you he falls apart and without him they'll take us all. You have to get us through this."

Anna nodded slightly, not wanting to argue with him. She was so grateful that he was alive that she would've done anything he asked. Michael turned his attention to his son who had reached up and was touching his dad's face.

"What you doing, eh?" Michael asked his son, joking with him the best he could with his limited movement.

Anna observed her little family. Everything she needed was right here. Once Michael was better, she planned to take them both far away from here, she needed them both safe away from the shit that the Shelbys carried around with them.