My father, Michael Sullivan, did the best that he could when it came to balancing his time between work and family. I was 18 years old the night one of our fellow workers died. Being the oldest girl of two little brothers, my father thought working with him would do me some good. He saw that I wasn't like most girls my age and he knew I could handle the work that he did.

He worked for Mr. John Rooney, a father figure for my dad. He took care of him and loved him very much when he was going through tough times. Mr. Rooney was a bit unsure if I could handle the work that they did. Bootlegging and killing anyone that betrayed us or snitched. We weren't the bad guys, though. My father was a good man.

Having three children during the Depression was a bit rough, but we managed well because my father and I worked very hard. My brothers never knew what we did, however. The middle child, Michael Jr., did get a bit suspicious the night of the funeral.

He stared at everyone as he sat by himself. One man got a little out of control with his speech, and my father had to escort him out of the house, with Mr. Rooney's son's help. Conner, was his name. Conner was a pathetic excuse for a man. He was a coward and an idiot and everyone knew it. Even his father. His father lived mine very much, and everyone knew it. Even Conner.

"Go talk to him." Mr. Rooney said to Conner. "Just talk to him."

He was referring to the gentleman who gave the heavy speech.

"Sure, Pa." Conner said.

"Take Mike with you." Mr. Rooney added.

"No, Pa." Conner said, suddenly. "I can handle-"

"Take Mike with you. And, Annie."

Mr. Rooney looked at me and I gave him a nod. "Yes, sir."

My father wanted to name me 'Annie', after my mother. She was very beautiful and wise. I had her short brown hair and rosy cheeks. Conner gave my father a stare and looked down at me.

"Think you can handle it, Annie?" he asked.

"Stuff it, Conner." I spat, heading into the living room.

I heard him chuckle. God, what a prince. He had a small thing for me, but I always kept my distance. My father joined me at the punch bowl and cleared his throat.

"Mr. Rooney tells me that Conner's got a thing for you." he mumbled.

I glanced up at him. "I didn't need Mr. Rooney to tell me. I already know. I think any idiot knows."

My father side-smiled. "So, you don't like him?"

I nearly choked on my punch. "Does anyone around like him?"

"Mr. Rooney seems to approve of you."

"Of course, he does. If I ever married his idiot of a son, I'd have him straightened out in a week. Do you approve of Conner?"

My father chuckled. "It would be a very helpful financially."

I looked at him. "That's not funny, Pa."

He put a hand on my shoulder and stared into my eyes. "I just want you to be taken care of when I'm no longer here. If anything happens to me, you have to swear that you'll take care of your mother and the boys."

"You know I would take care of them. It's just-"

"Even if you had to marry Conner? Would you do it if it meant helping them financially?"

I lowered my eyes and swallowed. "Yes, sir."

"Good girl. But, as long as I'm here, you don't have to even think about Conner."

I sighed. "Then, I suppose I'll have to watch your back everytime we go out."

He smiled and kissed the top of my head. He walked into the party with his drink in hand. Almost as if by cue, Conner stood by me. His dark blonde hair caught my eyes first. His blue eyes scanned me and he smiled.

"You're looking beautiful this evening. Then again, you always do." he said, drinking some whiskey.

"And, you look as pathetic as you usually do."

He laughed and taking another drink. "Why are you always so mean to me, Annie? You know I really care about you."

"That's exactly why I'm mean to you." I said, turning my back to him.

He stood beside me as the music quieted down. Soft piano music started playing. Everyone quieted down as Mr. Rooney played a small tune. My father joined home at the piano and played along with him. It was a soft and emotional tune and I smiled as I watched.

"They sound good together." Conner said, quietly.

"Yeah, they do." I smiled.

Conner lowered his eyes and frowned. He stirred his drink with his finger and looked at me.

"Want a drink?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I don't drink."

He followed my gaze at Mr. Rooney and Pa. They played well and the song ended. Everyone applauded except for Conner. He stared at them. He smiled, but his eyes didn't match it. They were cold.

I side-smiled at that. "He really loves your father."

"I know he does." he said, coldly. "Excuse me."

He walked away and I felt myself sigh with relief. Pa rejoined me by the punchbowl. His suit was a bit dusty, so I brushed some of it off with my hand.

"How's Conner?" he asked.

"Oh, you know, an idiot. Anything else you want to know?"

He chuckled. "That's my girl."

"Annie? Mommy says we're leaving now."

I turned and saw my youngest brother, Peter. He pulled on my dress and looked at me with puppy eyes. I bent down and hugged him.

"Okay, okay. Come on, let's find Michael." I said.

"I'll start the car." Pa said, grabbing his keys.

"Mommy's over there." Peter pointed, then gasped. "Annie! Are you and pa going to my concert tomorrow night?"

I lowered my eyes, remembering what Mr. Rooney assigned us to do. "Sorry, Peter, no. We've got work."

He put on a sad face. "But, Pa said that-"

"I know what he said, but we jsut got called in at the last minute. We're sorry, but don't worry. I'll make you and Michael some hot chocolate when we get home to make it up to you. That sound okay?"

He gasped and smiled. "More than okay!"


"We're just going to talk to him, right?" Pa asked Conner as we drove the next night.

"Sure. Talk." Conner said, as if it was all a game.

He tossed a box of cigarrettes at me form the front seat. "You smoke, Annie girl? Or does your father forbid you?"

My father just ignored him and kept driving.

"I don't smoke." I said, looking out the window as it rained even harder.

I rolled my eyes. The car stopped and we all got out. I held my handgun in my coat pocket, clutching it tightly.

We're just here to talk...that's it.

We walked into the warehouse and shut the door. The gentleman who gave his speech at the funeral, Van, was seated in a chair and smoking. Conner removed his hat and circled Van, talking aloud.

I stayed by the door as my father walked across the room.

"Don't get me wrong, Van. I feel for you, I do." Conner said, calmly.

I clutched my gun, listening.

"Can't let a thing like that cause you to go mouthing off." Conner said, annoyed.

He sat down and then got back up, pasing. "You know my dad. You and him go back many years. He's just a man, so what do you say?"

He stood behind Van, who was blowing out smoke from his cigar, as if Conner wasn't there.

"Come on. Let's make this easy." Pa said.

Conner leaned into Van's ear. "We can't hear you."

Van raised his chin. "Alright."

Conner looked relieved. "Okay, thank you."

"And, we are sorry." I spoke up. "Sorry for your loss and this misunderstanding."

Conner glanced at me. So did Van.

"And, we're sorry your brother was such a liar." Conner said,

I shut my eyes, wishing he hadn't even opened his big mouth.

Jesus, Conner.

"My brother was not a liar. He never stole form your father." Van said, staring at Conner.

"Excuse me?" Conner asked.

Some of Van's goons stepped up, holding crowbars and guns. I held my breath and Pa kept his eyes on me.

"Please, just calm down." I said, sternly.

"Easy, we're just talking." Van told his goons, calmly. "I'll be quiet to protect my family and keep my job, but don't think I don't know something's going on."

I grimaced and looked at Pa. He seemed confused as well.

Conner's face hardened and he stormed up to Van. "Whoa, what do you-"

"Conner." I scolded.

He froze and looked at me. He took a deep breath and calmed down.

"You tell your father my brother never stole form him. "Van said, as Conner walked behind him. "I've seen the books. He never sold no booze to anyone. All the barrels are accounted for. If he sold it, where's the money?"

Conner turned to looked at him. "Hell should I know? Did you check his mattress?"

"Conner..."I said, quietly."

"Maybe you should check yours." Van spat.

"Whoa, there is something immoral going on here. Don't you think so, Mike?" Conner asked.

Pa stared at him with his dark eyes. Conner continued at Van, "My beloved father gives your little brother the wake of his life and this? This is your 'thank you'? What a hideous world this is."

Conner threw his hands in the air and turned his back to Van.

"You think you're so smart? You think I don't know what this is? You've been spending so much time in Chicago-"

BANG!

Van's body fell onto the floor and his goons began to aim their guns at Conner, who had fired. I pulled my gun out and fired, as Pa fired his machine gun. Bullets clattered onto the floor along with bodies. Everything was quiet as the shooting stopped. Pa, Conner, and I were the only ones alive in the warehouse.

Pa stormed up to Conner. "What was that?"

"We're outta here." Conner said, calmly.

I narrowed my eyes. "Conner, what the hell was that? What were you thinking?"

Conner looked at me and back at Pa. Then, his eyes squinted and he pointed at the wall behind Pa. "What's that?"

We all looked and saw someone's feet running off. I hurried through the front door and into the pouring rain. I heard my feet splash through the water and mud as I saw a small person running to a gate and couldn't get through. They collapsed onto the floor and I heard crying.

My heart stopped when I got closer. "Michael..."

I heard more footsteps from behind as Pa and Conner got closer too.

"Michael...you saw?" Pa asked.

Michael wiped his nose and nodded.

"Jesus..." he breathed. "You are not to speak of this to anyone. Not anyone, you understand?"

I rushed over and helped Michael stand.

"One of yours?" Conner asked.

"He must've been hiding in the car." Pa said.

"Well, can he keep a secret?"

"He's my son."

They stared at each other for a moment and Conner nodded. "Good enough for me."

"We should get home." I said.

"Take him home. Think I'll go for a stroll." Conner said, slightly smiling.

He walked off into the darkness and I could swear he had a spring in his step.


A/N: May or may not continue this since this movie JUST got onto the website and I know it's not a very popular movie. But, we'll see...It's a pretty awesome movie btw More to come...maybe.