WHO WILL SAVE YOU NOW • MICHAEL GRAY x READER

Prologue

Prologue

Out of everything your father asked you to do, getting friendly with one of the Shelby's was the end of the line. Whether it was kissing someone, going on a date with someone, even sleeping with someone - you did it without hesitation. With every thing you did your father involved you more in the business. Besides the Shelby's, your family was one of the most powerful families in Birmingham. The name of your father was feared just as much as the name of Thomas Shelby. People around Birmingham knew you, but fear was not the emotion that came over them when they heard your name.

"Y/N Pierce - she's the daughter of Raimond Pierce." That's how you were known. Everyone knew you simply as the daughter of one of the biggest gangsters in England. What they didn't know was the amount of effort you had put into your family's business. What they didn't know was that because of you your family had even gained that much power.

Your father was sure to not let anyone know that. Hugely disappointed that there wasn't someone he could pass the business on to he was forced to choose his brother as his successor. He was sure that someone from the Pierce family had to carry on the legacy he had created. His first choice would have been his own child, but with you as his only child he had written off the idea just as quickly as it had came. He was sure that a woman like you could not lead the Pierce gang. Boy, how wrong was he.

But when your father asked you to make your way into the lives of the Shelby family as a way of spying on them, you declined. You were not about to go to the nest of the hyenas. The Shelby's were your fathers biggest rivals. Luckily not either of the sides had shed much blood on each sides. At the beginning there were some killings and kidnappings, but things calmed down when the two families made peace with each other. The two families even became allies against the Russians and the Italians who were gaining more and more power in the town.

IIIIIIIIII

"What do you mean you won't do it? This wasn't a request." Raimond glared at you, surprised that you had refused. The two of you were in his cabinet, your uncle and your father's closest confidant next to him.

"I mean what I said, I won't do it. I will not be your spy." You declared, everyone's eyes fixated on you. Silence took over in the room as no one dared to say anything before your father. He on the other hand seemed to be at loss of words or not finding the right words to say. He simply glared at you, making you extremely uncomfortable under his watchful eye. The man was as cold as ice, not showing even you, his daughter, some affection.

Things weren't always like that. Raimond Pierce became a cold-hearted man after the death of his wife, your mother. Caitlyn Pierce was killed in a car accident along with her lover who Raimond did not know anything about. Finding out that Caitlyn was killed and having a lover crushed him as he became colder and colder with every passing day.

"You know, there was a time when I would have killed you for you decling my command. Today is not the day. Do you have any idea how long I waited for you to grow some balls and refuse me? Let me tell you: a very long time."Raimond declared with his usual confidence in his voice while you stood still, staring at him with a stunned expression. You glanced at your uncle, seeing him clench his jaw as he also stared at your father. Lucas, your father's confidant, on the other hand had a smile on his face which helped you calm down a little. You and Lucas had always gotten along very well and seeing his smile helped you relax a little since you were sure that whatever was coming your way was not going to be anything awful.

"Leave us." Your father commanded. Lucas immediately went to stand by the door while your uncle simply stood still, staring at your father.

"I think that maybe I should-" He started, but was immediately interrupted by your father.

"I said to leave us alone. That includes you too, Andre." Raimond Pierce declared, his usual glare fixated on your uncle. Andre let out a huff before he stormed out of the room with Lucas behind him who closed the cabinet door after him.

For a moment silence filled the room as neither of you said anything. You stood awkwardly before your father motioned for you to take a seat opposite him which you silently did.

"Do you know why I'm so hard on you? Why I yell at you? Why I ask you to do things for me? For this family?" He questioned and at this point you weren't sure whether you really knew an answer to his question. You always figured it was the death of your mother that made him like this. You didn't answer his question, not knowing did he really want an answer.

"I do it because I don't want you to be weak. If you're taking over this business someday you have to have some backbone. And that is something that you lack of. Luckily, you're not a lost cause." Your father remarked, making you extremely confused. Take over the business? You were more than sure that you taking over was the last thing he wanted to see in this world.

"I thought you didn't want me to take over." You said out loud, mentally cursing yourself for saying things out loud without thinking. Running the business was something you had dreamed of for some time now, and now your father indicating that it was a possibility was like a dream come true, even if it was still a possibility. Why would you possibly want to sabotage that chance?

"I'll be honest, I thought so too." He started before letting out a sigh and looking into your eyes, his look not as hard as it was before.

"But you are my child. If there's one woman who can survive in the world of men it is you. But don't think that it's going to be easy." Raimond spoke out and you found yourself quickly nodding, a smile on your face. A grin appeared onto your father's face which disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He motioned for you to leave the room and to leave him alone. You silently stood up as you turned around to leave the room.

"Wipe that stupid smile off your face and listen to me." He started and you turned around, your lips forming a straight line as you looked at him.

"No word to anyone at this point, especially to Andre. You understand?" He asked and you nodded as a response which was a bad idea since your father spoke to you now in a much louder voice.

"We do not nod. We say the words. Do you understand?" He questioned, his voice sounding as harsh as it always was.

"Yes, I understand." You spoke out loudly, trying to match his harshness but failing to do so. You weren't as tough as he was and there was no denying it. Everyone who knew your family knew it, and so did your father.

"Good. Now go find yourself a nice dress. We're having a party tonight."