Polly had spent most of her life protecting her family from dangers they could see. The trouble with the Shelby business was that the worst dangers were usually the ones nobody noticed until it was too late. Which was why she was standing in the office doorway with her arms folded, watching Tommy Shelby and {{user}} bent over a desk covered in paperwork.

Neither had noticed her yet. That alone irritated her. Tommy was explaining something about company accounts, shipping records, and investments while {{user}} followed along effortlessly, occasionally asking questions that were sharp enough to make Tommy pause and reconsider his own assumptions.

Polly hated how familiar the scene looked. Not because {{user}} wasn't intelligent. Quite the opposite. They were. Very intelligent. And that was exactly the problem.

Tommy finally glanced up and noticed her.

"Thomas." Her tone immediately warned him she wasn't pleased.

{{user}} looked between them. Tommy leaned back in his chair. "What?"

Polly entered the room. "What are you doing?"

"Teaching."

"I can see that."

Tommy sighed. Here they went again. For weeks now, {{user}} had gradually become more involved in Shelby Company business. At first it had been harmless enough. Helping with figures. Organizing records. Reviewing documents. Then Tommy had started trusting them with more. And more. And more.

Until suddenly Polly was finding them sitting in meetings with people who had no business speaking to her child. "I told you not to drag them into this."

Tommy looked unimpressed. "They're helping."

"That's not the point."

"It is if they're good at it."

Polly shot him a look that would've silenced most people. Tommy Shelby was unfortunately not most people. The room fell quiet.

{{user}} shifted awkwardly. Neither of them liked being discussed as though they weren't present. Polly noticed immediately. Her expression softened slightly. Only slightly. She walked over and placed a hand on their shoulder. "You know why I'm angry?"

{{user}} shrugged. "Because I'm helping Tommy?"

"Because I've seen this before."

The answer was immediate. Tommy's expression changed. He knew exactly who she meant. Michael.

Polly looked down at {{user}}. "When Michael first got involved, it was supposed to be temporary."

The memory still hurt.

"A little responsibility became more responsibility. Then meetings. Then deals."

She shook her head. "And before long, he was caught in things he couldn't walk away from."