Bancroft - Peaky Blinders Reverse Harem x Reader

Chapter 2

"I believe you spoke to my brother on the phone."

It takes me a moment to connect the dots, between this Shelby and the one from the prank call. But once I do, Thomas's spell breaks, and I remember myself. "This has gone too far," I warn him.

"You're telling me," he mutters. Then, "I'm afraid Arthur Shelby senior has fucked off to Boston. Can't be reached. Which means, you're stuck with us."

"You still expect me to believe that shit?" I ask.

Thomas pulls a document from his pocket, hands it to me. "It's all there, look."

I scan the document quickly. And fuck, he's telling the truth. There it is, in my father's writing. Just as Arthur had said on the phone.

"You could tell me to fuck off," Thomas shrugs. "I'm sure you could convince a judge to throw the requirement out of the will, with enough cash in hand. You're of legal age."

I wait on tenterhooks for the but; I can sense it coming.

"But," he concedes, "for the sake of a couple years, you might be better off just putting up with it. You won't get harassed in Birmingham because of who your father was, not like here."

That alone is tempting enough, I have to admit.

"And you'll be protected," he says. "Only an idiot would try hurt you while you're with the Peaky Blinders."

I inhale deeply. "Should have known this was because of some gang shit my father got himself into."

Thomas gives me an appraising glance. "Maybe it's not a life for a princess like yourself."

"No thrones?" I reply sardonically. "Only two palace courtyards? You're right. Can't think of anything worse."

He considers me for a moment, and I think he might even be amused beneath his mysterious exterior. "It's settled then," he says. "We'll pretend this never happened." His cigarette hisses as it falls to the wet ground. "Unless, that is, you do want to get away from it all. Try live a new life. Be surrounded by people, for a change."

"People?" I ask.

"My brothers," he says. "And my cousin. Work's been so busy, got to a point it was easier just to all live together."

"And now I'll be living there, too?" I ask, the words tumbling from my mouth before I can overthink them.

"Yes," he replies. "You'll be living there too."

I cast a look back at the house, a gloomy castle of white stone against the dark grey sky. This is madness. I should just stay here, in this house I hate, where I can never feel safe, where anyone could break in again...

A small shiver runs through me. I'm soaking wet after hours in this rain, like I've just been drowned. And perhaps it's hypothermia affecting my brain as I meet Thomas Shelby's gaze again, and give him my answer.