"Alfie............." Ollie said nervously, as he followed the baker to his office.

"Alfie................"

"What.........?" Alfie growled, as he turned to look at the younger man.

"Um............"

"Fuckin spit it out, yeah......................"

"There..........there's someone in your office. I tried to stop................." Ollie began, shutting his mouth as Alfie grabbed him by the collar, giving him a terrifying look and then throwing him to the floor, before turning and quickly making his way through the bakery. The big man throwing open the door, ready to show whoever it was, that you don't fuck with Alfie Solomons.

"Ah. Captain Solomons. So glad that you could join me." A woman said from his usual seat behind the desk. Her eyes looking up from his paperwork.

"I hope you don't mind, but I helped myself to some of your better liquor. I know that it is a little early, but I had heard some favourable rumours about your.........bread." The woman continued, as she picked up her glass and sat back in his chair.

"Yes I do fuckin mind! Who tha fuck d'ya think ya are. I'll fuckin kill ya................"

"Please Captain Solomons, your threats and attempts at intimidation don't scare me. I'm very well protected. You see, there are men, all around your building, whom, if I don't appear after a certain amount of time, will come into this building, kill anyone that gets in their way, and then burn this shit hole to the ground. So, if you have finished with the 'fuckin this' and the 'fuckin that'. I believe that it would pay you to take a seat and listen to me.

"And why the fuck should I do that...........?" Alfie growled, not able to believe the balls on this woman.

"Because..........I said so..................." The woman replied in an extremely calm manner, as she produced a gun from under the desk and pointed it at him.

"Oh, I won't use this unless I have to. But believe me, if I have to, I will. And I assure you that I am an excellent markswoman. Now, please............." She added, as she gestured towards the chair that Alfie would normally make others sit in when he held court in his office.

Slowly Alfie closed the door behind him, before making his way to the chair, and took a seat. Internally, he was seething. This woman was not only taking the piss by just walking into his fuckin office without a by your leave, helping herself to his best stuff, before looking through his paperwork. But then........then just to put the tin hat on it, she was now threatening him. Alfie not really used to that. Not sure whether he liked it or not. Though he had to admit, having an attractive woman making him do things, was oddly arousing.

"Isn't that better? We can have a nice little conversation now Captain............"

"I ain't a captain.................."

"Yes, but you were...............Actually, according to your file, you were a very good officer, despite yourself. A good leader, and by all accounts, you were popular with your men. Though you did get into a number of fights with soldiers from other regiments, usual over anything that you considered a slur. But thankfully your superiors though better than to take away your commission................ despite protests from others............"

"How tha fuck d'ya know that................?"

"I know lots of things about you, Captain Solomons. I know that you went from being a brave and decorated officer, to being little more than a petty thug, who makes the majority of his money through the racetrack, this rum distillery, a jewellery business and protection rackets in Camden Town. I know that you stay in the position that you are, through threats, intimidation and murder. But I also know that someone wishes to usurp the king..............though I think that that is something that I might be able to help with..........."

Alfie didn't know whether to be angry or intrigued. He still wasn't sure who the fuck this woman thought she was. Yet the way that her dark eyes were peering at him, as if they were looking into his very soul and reading his mind, was making him think. The baker having the strangest feeling that he had met her before. That he had seen those eyes looking at him before.

"Help me............who tha fuck are ya.................?"

"Ah, the big question.................." The woman smiled, as she got to her feet and moved over to refill her glass.

"Lets call me..............(Y/n). I work for a bureau that is missioned with gathering of intelligence, both military and civilian, about certain people and countries that could be of a threat to this nation. And since the end of the war, we have seen that an increasing number of these threats are coming from within our own borders. And that is where you come in.........Captain Solomons..........." (Y/n) explained, as she retook her seat.

That was it.........now he knew..........he had met her, or at least seen her before. He had managed to wrangle himself a weekend pass and had gone to Paris; and somehow, more by luck than charm he had to admit, he had found himself at a rather fancy party in the newly liberated capital. His breath quite leaving his body, as he had seen her walk down a long staircase. Alfie sure that one of those fancy statues of goddesses from the museum, must have somehow come to life. The captain wide eyed as he heard murmurs from the crowd.

"Ya work fa tha secret service.................."

"You could say something like that............."

"How tha fuck can I help ya.............and why tha fuck would I want ta..........?"

"Another excellent question, Captain Solomons................We know that you have known Charles Sabini since you were at school. That that relationship has often been strained. We also know that Mister Sabini is threatening your power, and as I said, I think that is something that we can help you with............."

"How..........................?"

"Well.............despite the outward signs of peace, there are still grumblings on the continent. And we want to know whether these grumblings could bring with them future conflicts. We are looking at people like Mister Sabini and others coming from America, that still might have connections to the old country. We want to know if anything is being said. If they get information from families about possible uprisings or political movements. That, and my bureau, and others, do not really like the idea of the Italians taking over. They have seen the trouble that the Americans are having over there with the Italian and Sicilian crime gangs. So, I have come with an offer..............."

"Offer.............?" Alfie sniffed. Not sure that he liked the sound of that. Not sure that he wanted to play this game with a woman that he was sure was well versed in smoke and mirrors.

"Yes.........we would like any information that you have currently, or will gain in the future, about the dealings of not only Charles Sabini but also Vincente Changretta and their little gangs. Any mentions of anything from Italy, or new ventures in this country, are to be passed to an agent.................."

"And what da I get fa all that, apart from tha fuckin Italians wanting ta put a bullet through my head...............?" Alfie questioned, as he leaned forward. The gangster finding her sudden smile, quite disarming.

"In exchange............you will get our protection, Captain Solomons. We will ensure that you can run your little rackets from any racecourse you like. We will guarantee that the Italians stay away from your other business dealings, and that the police leave you alone. I think that is a fair deal given the trouble that you are having at this moment in time." (Y/n) explained, before finishing her drink and placing the empty glass on the desktop.

"And if I tell ya ta fuck off.................."

"Then, captain, we will find someone else that will help, and ensure that your life is made an absolute misery; that the police never leave you alone and that your little kingdom falls down around your ears............So, do we have a deal...........?" The agent enquired, as she got to her feet and straightened out her skirt. A smile coming to her lips, as Alfie just nodded. His eyes never leaving her form as she made her way over to get her coat. Pulling it around her shoulders before turning to look at him again.

"Wise choice, captain. Oh, but please don't think about trying to double cross us, like you do so many others. Like you do with the Shelby's. We have a very long reach, captain. A very long reach..............." (Y/n) added, before making her way to the door.

"Though just to keep you honest, we will be having an operative working with you from tomorrow. Any information you have, you will pass to this new...........assistant." She told him, as she slowly opened the ingress. Chuckling to herself as the "baker" gave out a small huff.

"But please don't think that we will be sending someone that you can threaten or charm. No. This agent will not succumb to either of those." She told him. as she made her way through the door.

"How d'ya know................?" Alfie called out, as he quickly got to his feet and stood in the doorway.

"Because it will be me..................." Came the reply. Alfie unable to do anything but watch as her figure disappeared through the bakery.