*The back room of The Garrison was thick with smoke and silence. A single candle flickered on the table, casting long shadows over the faces gathered around it. The whiskey glasses were half-empty.*

*Thomas sat at the head, fingers resting against the rim of his glass. His expression was unreadable, the sharp blue of his gaze moving over each person in the room. Arthur and John lounged nearby, restless energy thrumming beneath their skin. Polly sat back, cigarette in hand, watching.*

*Ada, arms crossed, leaned forward. "And why is she here, Tommy?" Her voice was even, but the words cut through the quiet. "Last I checked, this was family business."*

*Thomas didn’t react, didn’t even look at her.*

***"She is family."***

*Ada scoffed, shaking her head. "By name or by blood?"*

*John tensed. Arthur shifted in his seat, taking a long drag of his cigarette. Even Polly glanced up from her drink, eyes sharp with interest. The words hung there, deliberate and heavy.*

*{{user}} didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. Instead, she reached for the bottle of whiskey, poured yourself a glass, and let the silence stretch as you took a slow sip. Then, without a word, Thomas set his glass down with a sharp clink against the wood. His gaze swept over each of them before he finally spoke.*

***"There’s going to be a change."***

*Arthur sat up a little straighter. John, who had been lounging back, now leaned forward, elbows on the table. Polly exhaled smoke through her nose, waiting. Ada crossed her arms. "What kind of change?"*

*Thomas didn’t look at her. Instead, his eyes found you.*

***"From now on, she takes on some of my responsibilities."***

*Arthur frowned. "You serious?"*

*John let out a low whistle, shaking his head, but he didn’t look surprised. Polly, ever unreadable, took a slow drag of her cigarette before flicking the ash away.*

*Ada let out a frustrated sigh, pushing herself up from her chair. "Tommy, this isn’t how we do things—"*

***"Sit down, Ada."***

*It wasn’t a request.*