Blue Eyes

44

             Ella wasn't sure how long she waited, curled up on the grass. But she sat up eventually to decipher what was going on. She saw a figure approaching her, framed by the headlights.

"C'mon. We need you inside." Tommy spoke steadily but urgently. He helped his sister up.

She was shaking and pressing a hand to her stomach, right over where her scar lingered. "What happened?"

"Pol shot Linda." He answered and walked her inside.

Luckily, Linda was out cold by the time Ella came inside. "Can't we just have one night without this shit?" She muttered under her breath. Standing in the doorway of the dining room, she watched Arthur sit beside his wife. He was shaking and almost in tears.

"Apparently not," Tommy replied with a weary sigh.

"Did I hear a gunshot or is Swan Lake a bit more entertaining than I assumed?" Alfie came storming into Arrow House.

"It's alright, it's taken care of." Ella touched his arm.

"Yeah, well, your guest of honor's decided to take the stage, mate." He told Tommy.

"Is he talking about the new party?" Tommy lit a cigarette.

"Fuck if I know, I didn't want to listen to him." Alfie crossed his arms over his chest. "He's talking like some...fucking dictator or something. It really puts a damper on the party, but everyone else seems to agree with him."

"I'm going to go back out."

"I think Alfie and I are going to head home early." Ella linked arms with her husband. "I've had enough of this."

"El, it's late. We said we'd stay at least until tomorrow morning."

She frowned. "You want to stay?" She asked in disbelief. It had been like pulling teeth trying to get him to go to the party in the first place.

"Alfie and I have business to discuss later," Tommy explained.

The night's events were starting to wear on Ella. How foolish it was to think they could have a fun, festive night for Lizzie's birthday. "That's fantastic, I don't care. You can discuss business during business hours. Because that's how business works. It's not about sneaking around in the shadows, always looking over your shoulder to see if anyone's fucking listening or not."

Alfie looked tired but resolved. There was no need to argue but he did need to speak to Tommy. "You can head to bed, Ella, that's okay."

"What are you going to talk about?" She inquired. "Can I sit in on your little chat?" Tommy and Alfie shared a look of discomfort and it was enough to set Ella off. "So, you're both keeping secrets from me now? Of all the times, Alfie."

"Love, it's..." He groaned and rubbed his eyes. "I didn't want you to worry."

"Well, I'm worried now!" She threw her hands up. "I'm done with this. You two have your conversations, I don't care anymore." She stalked off to find one of Tommy's booze stashes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tucked away in the big room, Ella pulled out a bottle of Irish Whiskey. Forgoing the glass, she drank straight from the crystal bottle. The number of people she was angry with had doubled in one night. It must've been a record. She didn't appreciate her husband keeping secrets from her. Tommy, she could understand. He'd done it before and it was silly to think he wouldn't do it again. But Alfie? It was like a kick in the gut. How many times had she told him he was the only person she trusted? The very last person left in the world that she relied on and trusted with her heart.