"Rum is for fun and fuckin', innit, so, whiskey - now that is for business."

Tommy Shelby looked unimpressed by Alfie Solomons proposition, and without the slightest shift in facial expression, murmured, "Let's talk first, eh?"

Setting down the bottle he had just unearthed from his desk on the surface, Alfie brought a hand to his wiry beard, giving Tommy an odd look. The latter merely stared back at him, so unusually still that Alfie wondered if he knew just who he was in a room with. 

Realising the man wasn't joking, Alfie muttered incredulously, "Suit yourself," and returned the bottle to it's drawer. 

He opened his mouth to speak again, but suddenly, a thought popped into his head, and he gave a slight wheezing sound, slapping a hand onto the desk, causing Tommy to start just a little.

"While I remember, Tommy, mate - I'll get onto business in just a moment, promise you - there's someone you best watch out for while you're here," he said, leaning forward onto his desk.

Tommy didn't move. "Sabini is half the reason I'm here, Mr Solomons. I'm aware I should watch out for - "

"No, no, fuck off, I know - this is someone else." Alfie cut over Tommy, waving him off. The latter raised his chin, his bloodshot eye flickering.

Pointing a ringed finger at Tommy, Alfie leaned forwards on his elbow, fixing his hard stare on him. "They're more of a threat than Sabini - name any wop 'round London and they'll top 'em - 'cept me, of course. They're fuckin' ridiculous, mate - they turned up 'bout six, seven years ago now, and just blew up out of fuckin' nowhere. Makin' money left 'n right, putting all us lot to  shame... "

"What's his name?" Tommy asked, only half curious. He missed the way the corner of Alfie's mouth jerked up for a second at his question.

"Well, y'see - " He began, but was cut off when the door of the office swung open, letting the sounds from the 'bakery' leak in, and someone stuck their head around the door. Alfie snapped his head in their direction, and Tommy remained very still, keeping an eye on his potential enemy.

"Someone here for you, Mr Solomons," they called, and Alfie waved a hand in dismissal.

"Yeah, yeah, send 'em in."

Tommy, with his back still to the door, heard footsteps leading into the room, and as the door shut, saw a half-grin form on Solomons' face.

"W-e-l-l, speak of the fuckin' devil," he called.

It took Tommy a moment to realise that the so-called bigger-threat-than-Sabini had entered the room. His throat bobbing a little, he turned his head as they walked towards him  -

And he froze.