Maude stood with her brothers and Anna, watching as Tommy went to talk with his sister and explain how dangerous it was for her to be alone back in London with the baby since Tommy was planning to expand into the territory and most likely rile the gangs up there. Maude shoved her hands into her black coat pockets, eyebrows furrowing. "Do you think Ada will come back to Birmingham now?" She asked softly as she glanced between her brothers.
"No, she is stubborn that one." Henry insisted as he shook his head, pulling a cigarette and lighter from his pocket and lighting himself a smoke.
"I can't imagine having to raise a little one on your own," Anna said softly, wrapping her arms around herself as Daniel slung his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close to his side.
"Ada's a strong woman," Maude replied as she glanced at Anna, slowly shaking her head. "Besides, she won't be on her own, even when she's so far." She insisted and Anna hummed in agreement as she nodded her head.
"What does Tommy say?" Daniel asked as he glanced at his sister with raised eyebrows.
"He does not either believe she will return, but still he will try and talk with her," Maude replied as she sighed heavily while looking at her brother, giving him a shrug of her shoulder. She looked back towards Tommy and Ada, seeing the dark-haired man staring directly at her as he made his way over. "Excuse me." She said to the three standing with her and walked away, meeting Tommy halfway. "Did you talk with her?" She asked as she laid a hand on his upper arm.
"Yes." He replied as he lowered his head, a sigh so heavy slipping from his lips that it told Maude that the conversation with Ada was unsuccessful. "She will stay in London." He informed Maude as he lifted his head and looked at her, a hint of frustration and annoyance in his deep blue eyes.
"With the expantion, it won't be safe for her," Maude muttered as a frown tugged and her lips and she shook her head while looking at Tommy. "Not if she's alone with a baby." She insisted.
"Well send a few men to London to watch her," Tommy assured as his hand reached out to rest against Maude's hip, giving her a soft squeeze.
Maude raised her eyebrows as she stared at Tommy, crossing her arms over her chest. "She's going to need more than that if you are planning on involving yourself in the war between the Jews and the Italians." She muttered as she gave him a knowing look.
"I'll figure something out, but for now it will be enough." He insisted as his hand slipped from his waist and his arm fell down by his sides, his eyes catching Arthur walking towards them with a deep frown and furrowed eyebrows on his face.
"Tommy, you have to come with me, now," Arthur instructed his brother as he beckoned him close with a wave of his hand before pointing a finger to the cars where Tommy and Maude's family waited with mixtures of worried and angry looks on their faces.
Tommy's eyebrows furrowed, sharing a confused look with Maude before he turned to his brother. "What happened?" He asked, knowing something was up.
Arthur inhaled sharply, taking a deep breath before he delivered the bad news to Tommy. "Someone blew up the Garrison." He informed the two and a soft gasp slipped from Maude's lips as she immediately looked over at Tommy with wide eyes.
The two followed Arthur back to the cars where the rest of the family was gathered, everyone piling into two separate cars and driving down to Garrison Lane to see their pub. The streets were crowded, everyone wanting to have a look at what happened.
Maude's heart sank and her eyes widened when the cars came to a stop in front of the pub. The building was completely torn down by the explosion, nearly unrecognisable as the place she and Tommy had gone to for a drink just mere days ago.