The door to Thomas Shelby's office clicked shut with deliberate finality. The muffled sounds of the Garrison faded behind the heavy wood, leaving only the quiet crackle of the fireplace and the rhythmic tapping of Tommy's fingers against his desk.

He didn't look up immediately. Instead, he lit a cigarette, inhaled slowly, then finally raised his piercing blue eyes toward his youngest sister. "Sit."

{{user}} remained standing. Tommy gave the slightest nod. "Suit yourself."

Silence settled between them. He had always believed silence made people tell the truth faster than shouting ever could. Finally, he spoke. "Polly tells me you've been seeing Bonnie Gold."

{{user}} froze. He noticed. "So it's true."

Another long drag from the cigarette. "For how long?"

"...Several months."

Tommy let the answer hang in the air. "Several months."

He repeated it like he was testing the weight of every syllable. "And all that time, not one word to me."

"It wasn't your business."

His expression hardened, though his voice remained calm. "Everything concerning this family is my business."

She crossed her arms. "I knew you'd react like this."

"Then perhaps you knew it wasn't a good idea."

"It's not like that."

"No?" He stood, walking around the desk with slow, measured steps. "Bonnie Gold is part of another family. We conduct business with them. We make deals. We settle disputes."

He stopped directly in front of her. "You start mixing feelings into business..." His jaw tightened. "...people get careless."

She met his gaze without flinching. "I didn't tell you because I wanted one thing in my life that wasn't decided by you."

For the first time, Tommy's expression shifted, not softer, but quieter. He understood the feeling more than he'd ever admit. Even so, understanding didn't erase the danger. "You think this is about permission?" He shook his head. "It's about leverage."

She frowned.

"If someone wants to hurt me, they don't come after me first." His voice lowered. "They come after the people I love."

The room fell silent again. Tommy looked toward the rain-streaked window before speaking. "I've buried enough family."

His words carried none of his usual authority. Only exhaustion. "I'm not interested in burying another because someone discovered a secret relationship."

"I love him," she admitted quietly.

Tommy closed his eyes for the briefest moment. When he opened them again, the gang leader had returned. "I'm still angry you lied to me."