KEEPER OF MY HEART - CHAPTER 2

Well… I survived.

Actually, more than that. I feel at home already. 

I glance over at the clock as the last of the men stumble their way out of the pub. I smile to myself as I hear them singing and laughing with each other, all the way down the street. Happy customers. 

I poured the beer. I made sure there were no fights. Nothing was damaged or broken. I made chatted with the men and women, making them laugh as I tried to make sure I left my best impression on them. Incase the Shelby’s wanted to ask around about what people thought of me. 

I felt like I had found my feet after only one night, but the relief doesn’t last long.

I know I haven’t gotten the job yet. In fact, the Shelby’s could walk in here right now and thank me for my time before sending me on my way. I try to push the thought of homelessness or having to clean peoples houses for a living out of my mind as I count up the last of the till. This is all I know. This is what I’m good at. I need this job.

I sweep and mop the floors, and wipe down all the surfaces, making sure everything is neat and tidy. 

A peace of my heart has fallen in love with the Garrison already. 

Earlier in the night, John Shelby and some of the younger Shelby boys and their friends had stopped in for drinks. It was Saturday night after all. The boys were hitting the town. They had their own private room, and I made sure they were tended to like kings. I was fast and discreet, remembering their orders and topping them up with fresh glasses any time they ran out before they even had to ask. 

My only reassurance, is when John pulled me aside just before 11pm.

“Zoe, right?” He had asked me, as he joined me behind the bar and started helping me pour beers during a busy rush. 

“You’re good at this, you know, like really good” He had smiled at me “Tommy told me to stop by-“

“To make sure I hadn’t burned the place down yet?” I joke, earning a laugh. 

“I’m putting in a good word for you, I just want you to know that” he touches my shoulder reassuringly “Maybe it’s that I’m younger, more with the times than the others, but I think you would be good for the place. Bring some life back in here”

I smile at him warmly, turning my attention away from the beers I was pouring to make sure I have him my full presence. Him doing me this favour means more to me than he could imagine. Everything is riding on this. Ever since I gave up my fathers pub, I’ve felt so lost. Just one night at the Garrison and I feel like I’m back in my element. More than needing money, I think I need this job for my sanity. 

“So you’re the softie of the Shelby’s huh?” I grin, handing him a beer “That means a lot to me John. Thank you” I add sincerely. 

“See you tomorrow then hey” he smiles back, heading back to the others. 

I knew from that moment that John and I would be friends. Similar in age. And he had looked out for me when the rest were ready to dismiss me at first glance. He even reminded me of my own brother. 

Smiling to myself at the thought of the exchange with John, I head over to the front doors to lock them and close up for the night. 

Right as I reach up to close the latch at the top of the door, it suddenly swings open. 

And there he is. Thomas Shelby. 

I take a few steps backwards, moving out of his way. 

Like earlier in the day, he looks me up and down before giving me a firm nod. I guess that was his way of greeting me. So much for “hello”. 

He brushes past me, and begins to make a lap around the empty Pub. It takes me a few seconds to realise he’s examining the place. Checking that nothing is out of order. I clasp my hands behind my back, wringing them tightly. I don’t want him to see my nerves. 

“The till is balanced, place is clean, everyone is gone and safe and everything is prepped for tomorrow” I inform him, but he barely even notices. Despite my reassurance, he makes his way behind the bar to check that the money is all in order. 

“I didn’t steal anything, before you ask” I say, slightly offended that he won’t take my word that I can manage the pub. 

He counts the money in silence, and takes one last look around the Pub before finally turning to me. 

When his eyes meet mine, they’re just as piercing as they were 12 hours ago when we first met. Something about them makes you stand still, frozen. They are crystal clear blue, but it is still impossible to read him. To know what is about to come out of his mouth. 

“Good. You didn’t burn the place down”

Seriously.

Any nerves I had fall away, as I am overcome with frustration. That is all he has to say to me? Is he embarrassed that I proved him wrong?

“Thank you is generally the word that people go with” I retort.

“Thank you” he replies condescendingly, almost mocking me. 

I sigh. I expected a lot of things. But I didn’t expect him to literally send me on my way without even giving me a fair chance. 

“What’s it going to take?” I ask, exasperated. I’m tired. I’ve just worked all night. I’m beyond entertaining this man any longer “Just tell me what I have to do?”

But he doesn’t speak. Of course he doesn’t. He just studies me. It’s like I can see his brain ticking. 

Until I get an idea.

“You know what. Sit down. I’m making you a drink” 

“No,” he interrupts her immediately “I have to go and-“

“Come on,” I cut him off, with nothing left to lose “Appease me” 

He takes a deep breathing, looking up to the ceiling as if he’s trying to gather patience “Fine. One drink” 

I burst into a wide grin, feeling like I have a chance again. With a spring in my step, I make my way around the bar, concocting the same drink I used to make for my father. 

When I place it down in front of him, he examines it, a disapproving look on his face. 

“Oh come on I didn’t poison it”

“Not funny” he shakes his head, before bringing it to his lips hesitantly. 

He takes a sip. And another. And another. 

I got him.

He finishes the drink, and I smirk, waiting for him to admit that it was good. 

“Okay so you can make a drink” I dismisses me, unimpressed. 

This man is something else. I can’t pick him. 

“Alright” I shake my head, giving up “Just tell me what you’re thinking”

He pauses “I don’t know if I trust you”

“I’m not asking to run your business” I reassure him “I’m asking to pour beer so I can afford somewhere to live”

“Well I don’t know anything about you” he retorts “I need to know who I’m letting into this family”

“You haven’t asked me anything” 

He opens his mouth to reply, but closes it again. He knows I’m right. 

“You’ve only jumped to conclusions about me. So go on, what do you want to know? I’m an open book” 

He shakes his head, taking less time in between replying now. Like I’ve gotten him fired up and his normally carefully crafted responses are getting hastier. 

“I don’t want to know your favourite colour, I want to know that you don’t have ulterior motives” He reveals. 

“I do” I reply shortly “Who doesn’t?”

He glares at me.

“I want to live in the country. I want to save my money and buy a place. I want to live comfortably. I want to work and be treated like an equal. This may come as a shock to you, but I have no idea who you are and who your family is. I moved here one week ago. The only jobs going are for nanny’s and maids. I saw the ad. I put my name down because I’m good at this. And I don’t want to clean someone’s house for a living. So there…” I pause, letting my words sink “Not everyone has sinister motives you know”

And for the first time, he’s looking at me like he’s actually listening. Like he doesn’t have anything else to say. I search his face, trying to find some kind of indication. Did I go too far? Did I cross a line? 

“And it’s purple” I add, trying to lighten the mood “My favourite colour is purple”

And all of a sudden, he laughs. Okay, maybe it was more of a scoff. But it is the most emotion I’ve seen on his face all day. 

He shakes is head at me, like he’s astonished that I won’t give up. 

“Lot’s of business goes down here. You do not utter a word of it to anyone” He says seriously, his face turning grave and serious. 

“I get paid to listen, not to talk” I nod.

He nods back, and then, he holds a hand out. 

Oh my god. He’s offering me the job.

I quickly take his hand, shaking it firmly to try and show confidence. 

With that, he heads back towards the doors that he came in.

“See you tomorrow, Boss” I call out to him, unable to contain my excitement.

characters: Polly Gray x daughter!reader

rundown: after Tommy brought Michael home to Polly, he went to find you as well. Once you return home, you spend a wonderful day with your mother, immediately trusting her

warnings: anxiety attack, you might need tissues

word count: 1,7k+

request status: closed

A/n: I know Polly’s daughter was called Anna, but i still decided to make it Pol x reader

“What if she won’t recognize me?” You asked from Tommy Shelby who you met just few days ago. He was a man who came to find you with a really crazy plan. With a plan which was working at the moment.

“Y/n,” Tommy looked at you and you sucked in a sharp breath. “Believe me she will. And what do you think why else would we need your birth certificate?” He asked you back and since you had no good answer to his question, you stayed quiet.

Walking right next to Thomas Shelby you let him lead you to the house you were the most scared of at the moment. Staying quiet you didn’t know what to think about. What should you say when you arrive? Would you recognize the woman? Would she recognize you? You had no idea.

Thomas turned to one of the houses and he looked at you. Searching for something in his coat, he took out one cigarette and then held them all out for you. You shook your head no and looked at the house in front of which you were standing. It looked…. somewhat pretty.

Thomas lit up his cigarette and didn’t say a word. He started smoking, letting you watch the house where the woman who was supposed to be your mother lived.

Once he was finished with the cigarette, he just threw it away without stepping onto it and moved his hand forward.

“After you.”

You kept standing at the same spot as if you had melted there. Without giving Tommy a look, he understood and with a quiet sigh he got in front of you and you followed him up to the doors of the house, where your mother was supposed to live.

Taking a deep breath you closed your eyes. You could feel that something was about to happen. You could feel that something wasn’t really okay.

“Are you coming?” Thomas asked from the doors and you made few quick steps towards him even if you weren’t rushing. Your chest was lifting quickly and heavily and you couldn’t really help it.

Your mother was standing behind those doors. You were sure about that. You took a deep breath to push away the feeling of running away and you really slowly walked over to Thomas.

“One more time- what’s her name?” You asked from Tommg and tried to stop him from entering the house.

“Her name is Pollyanna Shelby Gray,” Thomas answered your question and you didn’t know what else to ask. You gulped loudly and realized that your hands were shaking.

Honestly, you were happy about that Thomas found your mother but something inside of you was worrying. What if she didn’t want you back? What if all of those things you were told when you were little really happened? What if she left you in a middle of the forest and people who you thought were your mother and father found you?

“Y/n?” Thomas asked you and you wiped your sweaty hands in your clothes.

“We can go,” you nodded to him and tried to quietly count to ten. Thomas opened the doors of the house and stepped back a little, letting you walk in as the first.

You stepped inside of her home and smelled candles. Trying not to pay attention to the details, you were searching for the woman. Thomas entered the house right after you and you took a deep breath.

“Pol?” He called for the woman loudly. One time was enough. The answer came.

“In the kitchen Thomas. You should know where it is,” woman’s voice filled the house and you got goosebumps. It was your mother talking. The woman you just heard was your mother.

“Come with me,” Thomas told you and you didn’t even move. Thomas was watching you and when he realized how scared did you look, he put his hand onto your shoulder and squeezed it a little. “Can we?”

“Y-yeah,” you answered and Thomas started walking towards the kitchen. After few steps, you were entering the kitchen and that was when you saw her.

A woman with longer brown hair was standing with her back turned to you. She was cooking something. And it smelled amazing.

“Pol?”

“Yes?” The woman turned around and looked at him. As you saw her eyes, you immediately knew that you were hers and she was yours. Her eyes slowly moved from Thomas onto you and her eyes widened. “Thomas-“

“I would like to introduce you someone,” Thomas said quietly and your heart was beating that fast at the moment you were scared of that it would jump out of your chest.

The woman backed away a little and leant onto the kitchen counter. She covered her mouth with her hands and with teary eyes she kept watching you.

“I would like to introduce you Y/n Anna Gray,” Thomas said and stepped a little away from you. You shook from the adrenaline and you were afraid of that you couldn’t keep standing in your feet.

The woman was still in shock. She had tears in her eyes and let few of them roll down onto her cheeks. She looked over at Thomas and when he nodded to her, she took a careful step to you.

“Y/n?” The woman asked quietly and you started hyperventilating. Thomas immediately stepped to you and took you by your shoulders.

“It’s alright,” he whispered and he kept standing behind you. The woman looked at you and you nodded to her so she knew that she could step even closer to you. She did so and you tried to keep your breathing calm.

“Yes that should be me,” you whispered quietly and the woman laughed a little. She had tears running down on her cheeks and she softly lifted her hand what made you flinch.

“Pol, slowly,” Thomas reminded her and you closed your eyes. The woman pulled her hand away what you could feel and then you opened your eyes again.

“I am sorry-“

“It’s alright,” you said quietly and Polly gasped. That was the first time she heard you talking. You swallowed the ball which had been created in your throat and then you took a deep breath.

Polly looked at Thomas and he pulled out a chair for himself. He sat down and kept watching you and your mother. Both of you were standing at the same spot as before and you gulped.

“Would you like to sit down Y/n?” Polly asked you and you nodded your head. Sitting down right next to Thomas, you put your hands into your lap and you started bonucing your leg. Knowing that you wouldn´t get hurt with Thomas, you tried to calm yourself down, but it didn´t work at all.

“Y/n,” Thomas said your name and you couldn´t look at him. You just bowed your head a little and closed your eyes. When you felt his hand on your thigh, he tried to stop the shaking of your leg. You looked up and took a deep breath. “Pol can I ask for a glass of water for her?”

“Sure,” the woman jumped up and filled you a glass with fresh water. She got back as fast as she could and put it down right in front of you on the table.

“Thank you,” Thomas only said and he took the glass of water and held it out for you. “Take a sip.”

You looked up at Thomas shaking a little and you took the water from him. Trying not to spill it all over the place, you took one sip of the water and then you gave the glass back to Thomas.

“What´s wrong?”

“A-anxiety,” you answered the woman and then you took a deep breath. And then another one. You calmed yourself down slowly and when your breathing was okay, but your stomach was still a little ball of nerves, you tried to ignore it. You needed to look okay from outside and you hoped you did. “I am sorry,” you whispered and didn´t look up at any of them.

“It´s alright,” Thomas said and a question was following.

“You deal with anxiety?” The woman asked you and you looked up at her.

“Since I can remember,” telling her honestly, you watched her face become sadder than it was before and then you decided to finish the glass of water.

“Better?”

“Yes, thank you,” you answered and then took a deeper breath. And then another one.

“So...” Polly started really carefully and you looked up at her. She was- shocked? Scared? Worried? You couldn´t tell. “You are Y/n Anna Gray... my...”

“Daughter,” you finished for her and Polly let out a breath what she seemed to be holding in for seventeen years or so. She relieved and covered her mouth.

“Where- where have you been? Where did they take you?” She asked and asked and you gave her all of the answers she needed.

“I was... All I remember is that I was in Australia. Growing up in a house with kind people I tought were my mother and father. And then Thomas-” you looked up at him and he nodded, “then we got a letter from Thomas. Saying that he wanted to talk to us. So he came, we met him. He explained everything to my mother and father and since then we stayed in touch,” you explained and didn´t even feel guilty for calling those people your parents.

“Thomas you were in touch with my daughter and you didn´t tell me a word,” the woman freezed as she turend to Thomas. He was giving her the same kind of poker face he was giving you when you were asking questions about your family.

“She is here now,” Thomas said only and you looked up at your mother. She was watching him, giving him a stare which had a sign of that if she could she would’ve killed him. Instead of fighting him, she turned to look at you and… the woman changed.

Her eyes shone again. She smiled a little. Her soul returned back into her body when she looked at you and all you could do was let your tear fall.

Isaiah Jesus x Shelby!reader.

Warnings: sensual/sexual themes, swearing.

Summary: The reader is the youngest girl in the Shelby family and is sneaking around with Isaiah. One night they get caught.

Word count: 1,2 K

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"Zaia, what the fuck are you doing here? If my brothers find us they will force you to eat your own eyes." A panicked expression painted y/n's face as she whispered harshly to her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend was currently hanging from the window ledge of the window that led to her room. He had one leg inside the house as the other still dangled outside in the cold night. His eyes had a mischievous glint to them and he grinned goofily at his girlfriend, "You worry to much, love." And he fully climed through the window, landing on the hardwood floor with an inaudible thud, both 17 year olds had perfected the art of sneaking around over the past few months they'd been together.

Isaiah walked towards his girlfriend with the grin still plastered on his face and placed his hands on her waist. Pulling her closer to him he brought one of his hands up to her cheek. She smiled softly and swung her arms around his neck.

Y/n and Isaiah had been sneaking around for a couple of months. Both of them wanted nothing more than to make their relationship public, but with Isaiah working for y/n's older brother who were all fiercely protective over her, that was next to impossible. At least, impossible if they both wanted to stay alive. Which they did, together. So they kept their relationship a secret, meeting up at his house when his dad was out, or at her house when her family was away. It wasn't perfect but both of them loved eachother and that was enough.

But right now, in the room beneath them, the Shebly brothers were having a meeting about one of the race tracks. If one of her family members decided to check up on her and they saw Isaiah in her room, especially in the position he was now in; about to kiss her, they could say goodbye to their relationship.

One time John had caught her holding hands with a boy from het school at the farmers market. Let's just say y/n never heard from that boy again. So when Isaiah kissed her for the first time on her 17th birthday, outside of the Garrison, she didn't want something like that to happen again. She really liked Isaiah and she didn't want to lose him just because her brothers couldn't understand that she was not a little girl anymore.

About two months into their relationship Isaiah had accidentally let it slip that he loved her. Both of them had frozen, Isaiah had squeezed his eyes shut in the fear that y/n did not feel the same. But when she smiled after a couple second and kissed him passionately he knew that he had nothing to worry about. The feeling only grew when she pulled away breathlessly, her eyes full of love and she whispered those four words he so desperately wanted to hear: 'I love you too'.

And now as they stood in the middle of her room, six months into their relationship, happier than ever and hopelessly in love, staring into eachothers eyes, they didn't have a care in the world.

She tilted her head up and fluttered her eyes shut. Isaiah studied at her for a second, admiring to way her pink lips puckered slightly, loving the way her freckles dotted her fair skin like constellations and relishing in the feeling of her arms around him, her torso pressed tightly against his. Then he leaned down and finally met her lips in a loving kiss.

No matter how many times they kissed, everytime their lips met butterflies danced in both of their stomachs. Everytime again their cheeks flushed and their breath caught in their throat. They couldn't get enough of eachother.

His hand caressed her waist as his other softly stroked her cheek. Her arms tightened around his neck and she pulled him even closer to her.

The soft, loving kiss quikly turned into a heated, passionate kiss. Isaiah shuffled closer to the bed, not breaking the kiss. When y/n's knees hit the edge of the bed and they both fell down onto the soft mattress she giggled and he chuckled softly. He crawled ontop of her and started pulling her dress up a bit while she started unbuttoning his shirt.

Isaiah moved from her lips to her neck and started leaving wet kisses all the way down to her collarbones, drawing soft moans and gasps from her lips.

Hearing quiet footsteps y/n put her hands on his chest and sat up. He furrowed his brows, "What's wrong love?" His question was answered when she put her finger to his lips and he finally heard the soft clacking of heels hitting the floor, the sound growing louder with each second.

They looked at eachother with wide eyes before y/n started ushering him to get under the bed. He followed her instruction and quickly crawled underneath her bed, trying to be as quiet as he possibly could. The footsteps were incredibly close now, just infront of her door. Y/n scramled back onto her bed and tried to pull her dress back down, she grabbed a book and opened it on a random page just as there was a knock on the door.

"Yes?" She answered, she knew she could just stay quiet and pretend she was asleep. But she was fairly sure that this was her aunt Polly due to the heeled footsteps. And Polly Gray wouldn't fall for a pretend sleep, especially not if it was her niece, whom she had known her whole life.

The door opened and as she guessed, Polly Gray appeared in the doorway, smiling warmly at her niece. The older woman stepped into the room and looked around, "Hey, just wanted to check in, thought I heard something."

Shit. Maybe y/n had giggled louder than she thought she had. She kept her face neutral, not a trace of lying on her face, and put a soft smile on her lips, "I'm fine, don't know what you heard but it didn't come from here, unless you heard the pages turn." She gestured to her book and chuckled lightly at her own joke.

Polly nodded with a small smirk and started to walk back out of the room, pulling the door with her. Pointing a finger at her niece she spoke sternly, "Good night, don't stay up reading to late."

"Good night, Pol."

Her aunt was now out of the room but the door was still slightly open. She almost sighed in relieve before she heard the voice of her aunt again.

"And tell Isaiah to wait 'till you're alone in the house next time." She closed the door.

Hello anon, you didn’t choose a character so I thought it could be for Polly-

KINKTOBER day 16 | anal play - Polly Gray

Let me use this

warnings: dom!polly, sub!reader, anal!play, use of toys, semi-public sex, etc.

Here it is anon!

KINKTOBER day 11 | knife play - Polly Gray

The surface

warnings: smut, knife!, knife!play, dom!polly, sub!reader, gxg smut, etc.

so basically, I want to request mean mistress Polly:) with some overstimulation, knife kink and bitchy!reader? I think this is it.

thank you so much!

Oh lord- I can say- you have a good taste in smut love-

characters: Polly Gray x fem!reader

rundown: you were pushing Polly’s limits and she shows you who is in charge

warnings: smut!, mean!Polly, mistress!Polly, gxg smut, knife kink, fingering, bondage kink, etc.

request status: opened