Bancroft - Peaky Blinders Reverse Harem x Reader

Chapter 28

There are two Trojan condoms beside my glass of water and fresh flowers the next morning. Two. I scowl, throwing them both into the bin. I'll be having words with John later. Assuming it is him leaving them.

But John's still asleep, as is everyone except for Michael, waiting with car keys in his hand.

He's perfectly pleasant on the drive to Polly's, as though nothing out of the ordinary occurred the night before. The wind tears my hair from my face. I wonder if I need to get a headscarf for drives.

"You're running the job with us tonight?" Michael asks.

I nod. "Will you be there?"

"I'll be out of the action, I'm afraid," he says somewhat glumly. "Mum's rules. Tommy won't push her too far."

"At least you have a mum that cares about you." I don't realise how thin my voice is until I've said it.

"My childhood was less than loving. I can assure you of that," he says.

He pulls into the driveway of a clean house with a slightly unkempt garden. There's a car already parked, black and shiny.

"Ah look, Ada's here," Michael says.

My brows pinch together. "Tommy's sister? I thought she lived in London."

"She does," he says. "Comes to see Mum sometimes, though."

Polly answers the door when we arrive, pulling her son into a hug and kissing him on the cheek. He ducks his head, but I can see a part of him appreciates it. Polly rounds on me next, hugging me warmly.

"Do you know," she says as she leads us into the dining room and pours glasses of wine, "I had a dream that you were coming to live with Michael and my nephews. I knew you were coming before even they did."

I take the glass of wine she pushes into my hand. "Really?"

She nods. "Sixteenth of May. I remember it clear as a bell."

I'm genuinely shocked. "That's... that's the day my father died."

She gives a small, mysterious smile before turning to light a cigarette. "'Now. Have you met Ada?"

I glance at the Shelby sister. She has the dark hair and bright eyes of her brothers, and though her smile is friendly enough, I can see a guarded expression in her eyes.

"You must be the bravest person I know," she says brightly, breaking the ice as she takes my hand in greeting. "Putting up with my brothers. Sometimes all at once!"

I choke on my wine. "Yes," I say, eyes watering as I cough. "Yes, it's... something."

"And how are you liking Small Heath?" She asks. "I can imagine it's different to what you're used to. I'm in London myself, these days."

"It's not so bad," I say. "I never lived in the city, so Small Heath is busier than I'm used to."

"I hope you lot are treating her well," Polly says to Michael. "God knows you can be animals at times."

Michael smirks. "Don't worry, Mum. We're all taking good care of her. Especially John and Arthur."

My eyes narrow at Michael. "Don't be so modest," I say. "You've been a great friend to me too, Michael. Just last night you were showing me your private collection."

Polly turns to her son, eyebrows raised. "What's this?"

Michael's jaw clenches, a look of oh shit spreading across his face.

"Hasn't he told you?" I say to Polly and Ada. I pause for a moment as they look at me expectantly, allowing Michael to sweat just a little longer before relieving him. "Michael collects models of planes."

He shoots me a look. I shrug back at him, as if to say, you started this.

"That's right," he says flatly. "War planes. Can't get enough of them."

"Amazing pieces of engineering," Ada says. "Freddie always liked them. He might have even had a couple himself... I could look through the attic boxes for you."

"Well I'm glad you're keeping out of trouble at any rate," Polly says. "And that goes for you too," she directs at me. "Don't let my nephews corrupt you into any of their darker business dealings."

"Leave off, Pol," Ada says, rolling her eyes. "Just what does that make you as their accountant, eh?"

Polly shakes her head. "I'm beyond saving, Ada. But there's still hope for these two, yet."

I turn her words over in my mind. Suddenly all the anxiety about taking over my father's business re-emerges, and my throat tightens in response. There's still hope for these two yet. I can still walk away. Surely someone must be running things since my father died. Maybe they could just keep going, and I could leave. Never be a part of this world again.

Never see the Shelby's again.

"Are you alright?" Ada asks me in a whisper, as Polly starts fussing over Michael that he needs a haircut.

I try to compose myself. I nod, forcing a smile.

But she's not buying it. "Meet me at the Garrison later," she says. "We can talk openly."

I shoot a quick glance in Polly's direction, but she's still distracted. "I can't," I say. "I'm... I have plans."

"Well, assuming you survive these plans, meet me there tomorrow," she says.

I swallow. "How did you know?"

"Because I know my brothers." She takes a breath. "And I know about the Will. I've seen it."

"There's not much to hide," I start to say, but Polly interrupts by slamming down a plate of sandwiches between us.

"Ham and mustard," she says proudly. "Now, eat up."

I take a bite, wondering once more if I've done the right thing by coming here.

And after tonight, I'll be an accomplice to their crimes.