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xxblackballoonxx · 2 years

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Electric: Chapter 17

Modern John Shelby AU

This fic is being posted simultaneously on FanFiction.net and Ao3. Classy smut warning beginning with Chapter 5.

The way in which I would do anything for that man, especially looking like he does in the photo above ... dear Lord. Heavy inspiration for the final part of this chapter. @holidaywishes - all I can say is neck and hand content. Neck. And. Hand. Content. 😭😭😭

Chapter 16 J&Gem Chats 14 J&Gem Chats 15 Chapter 18

Electric Masterlist

Electric

Chapter 17: Betrayal

Tommy arrived at Ada's doorstep at nine the following morning, after a sleepless night, pacing his office floor. He'd seen Charlie off to school and then immediately headed out. Grace had watched him leave the apartment, a cold silence seeping across the penthouse as he turned to look at her while he closed the door. His eyes had gone to ice, and it seemed like everything he'd ever felt for her had vanished in an instant.

"Tommy? Are you alright?" Ada asked as she opened the door and ushered him inside.

"We need to talk. Where are Arthur and Finn?" Tommy responded, standing awkwardly in the foyer. He hadn't spent enough time at Ada's, and he knew it.

"Arthur's in the kitchen, I think Finn's still asleep. I'll go get him." Ada replied, starting for the stairs.

"I'll do it, you wait with Arthur. Karl's off to school, yeah?"

"Yes. Tommy, what is going on?"

"Just wait in the kitchen, we need Finn for this."

"He's on the third floor, first door on the left."

Tommy headed up the stairs and Ada watched him for a moment, every warning bell going off in her head. He seemed unhinged, but holding himself together, which made him seem even more unstable somehow. She headed towards the kitchen at the back of the ground floor, knowing that the day was about to blow up.

Tommy stepped into Finn's room, finding his youngest sibling indeed still asleep. Memories from years before popped into his head, the weekends he'd sober up enough to stay with John and Finn, making Finn breakfast in the morning to give John a break. When had he stopped taking care of his own brothers and sister?

"Finn, it's Tommy. I need you to wake up." Tommy said in a calm voice, shaking Finn's shoulder.

"Tommy? What's going on?" Finn mumbled as he opened his eyes to find Tommy staring down at him.

"I need your help. Get dressed and meet us down in the kitchen, ok?"

Finn nodded, fear rising in the back of his mind as he watched Tommy smile at him wanly, and then exit the room. Tommy's behavior was highly unusual, and it threw Finn off so much that he got right up and started pulling clothes out the dresser.

He walked into the kitchen to find Ada and Arthur sitting at the table, each giving Finn an uneasy look. Tommy was propped against the glass door that led out to the back garden, his back to the room, a cup of coffee in his hand. Finn quietly took a seat and stared at Arthur, who shrugged back at him.

"Finn's here, Tom. Time to tell us what's going on. You're scaring me." Ada spoke, trying to keep her voice level.

"My mind's being going a million miles a minute, since Saturday night. The fact that John thought that I might have ... anyway. It's all I've been thinking about, going over the possible options of who did it, who invited Martha, and why. The first idea that popped into my head, I thought it couldn't be, why would they do that? But it turns out I was right." Tommy said, turning towards the table.

The Shelbys seated at the table watched as Tommy placed a small piece of paper in the middle of the table and then stepped back, as if the paper were a contagious disease. Ada picked it up and then looked up at Tommy in surprise.

"See, the only way I could figure it, John, too, was that whoever invited Martha either did it intentionally to hurt John or to break him and Gemma up. It didn't seem like the small list of suspects would have any reason to just hurt him, so I went to option two. What would someone gain, or put an end to, if they split those two up? I couldn't quite figure it out, but it seemed like the ultimate goal was to hurt me in the end."

'Tommy, do you really think - " Arthur began and then closed his mouth when Tommy shook his head.

"The pieces were there in front of me, I just had to put them together. I found that in Grace's jewelry box." Tommy said quietly, looking at out the garden once again, ashamed to meet any of his siblings’ gaze.

Ada covered her mouth in shock while Arthur picked up the piece of paper to see what it said.

"What is it?" Finn asked.

"An address. For M.C." Arthur responded, the pieces falling into place.

"I had it confirmed by our security head. That address is the London flat rented by Martha Connolly, formerly of Birmingham." Tommy replied, his voice detached.

"What the fuck?" Finn whispered to himself.

The siblings sat in silence after Tommy gave them the full story, Arthur retrieving a bottle of whiskey from the front parlor. They each took a shot, Tommy a double, and then waited for him to speak again.

"I need to tell John myself, in person. Finn, will you come with me?" Tommy asked.

For the first time since speaking what had happened, Tommy looked Finn in the eye, and Finn could see the hurt and guilt that Tommy carried. No one had ever quite understood how exactly Tommy had gotten so cold and removed, but Finn was starting to understand now. Grace.

"Yeah, of course I'll go with you. They should be at the hotel, I think he planned to be there until that meeting you two have this afternoon at the Eden." Finn responded.

Tommy nodded and stood, looking down for a moment into the empty whiskey glass. Every choice he'd made in the nearly nine years he'd been with Grace felt like a mistake. Except for Charlie.

"I know I haven't been ... well, I haven't been the best brother. Or a good friend. To any of you. But I think I failed most with you, Finn. You and John." Tommy said quietly, looking up to find his siblings looking back.

"You're doing the right thing now, Tom. Let's get through this first, and we can talk about the past later. Alright?" Arthur replied, rising from his seat and putting a hand on Tommy's shoulder.

Tommy nodded and walked towards the front door, Finn following behind. He turned to look at Ada, who nodded and smiled in reassurance.

************************************************************************

John lay half on top of Gemma, his head against her stomach, arm wrapped under her waist. It was the kind of morning John had fantasized about in the ten years prior. Quiet, slow, the air heavy with need and desire, all the time to satisfy his craving. He had just needed the right person to have that kind of morning with. Gemma ran her hand through his hair, pulling gently as he kissed her skin, down to the edge of her underwear.

A buzzing and blinking light interrupting her haze, Gemma looked over to John's nightstand and saw that his phone was lit up with an incoming call.

"J, your phone's ringing."

"We're busy." John replied with a smirk as he looked up at her.

Gemma grinned back and John continued what he was doing, one hand running across her ribcage before trailing back down. Gemma could see his phone light up again, and John groaned in frustration as he heard the buzzing.

"Can't I get more than one day alone with my girl in this family? For fuck's sake." He mumbled into her side.

Gemma reached for the phone, barely grasping it in her fingertips, looked at the screen and sighed.

"Babe, it's Finn. He's called three times. I think you have to answer."

John held up his hand for the phone and turned so that the side of his face was against her hip, putting the phone to his free ear.

"Finn, what's going on?" John asked, trying not to sound annoyed.

Gemma ran her fingers over the side of the shaved part of his head, listening vaguely to the conversation. She knew something was up, just based on the time of morning alone, Finn was rarely up and out this early. But she wanted to ignore it, to stay in this moment, to let John have her however he wanted. Because he always knew exactly what she wanted, too.

John hung up the phone and hugged Gemma to him, closing his eyes in frustration. Finn had said that Tommy needed to talk, and as irritated as John was with the interruption, he also had to assume it was something major. Because, realistically, the Tommy of the past several years never went out of his way for anyone.

"Tommy needs to talk, him and Finn will be here in twenty." John said as looked up at Gemma again.

"Promise me we'll continue this later?" Gemma responded with a pout.

"Oh I promise, love. This will be on my mind all day, swear to that." John replied, kissing her hip before getting up.

************************************************************************

Twenty five minutes later, John opened the suite door to a somber Tommy and a nervous Finn. He led them into the living area, where Gemma sat on the couch.

"John, have a seat, would you?" Tommy said, trying to remain casual.

Gemma raised an eyebrow to Finn, who shook his head and widened his eyes to communicate that the situation was indeed not good. Tommy watched John sit next to Gemma, and she turned towards him a bit, as John put his arm around her shoulder. She was wearing lounge shorts and what was clearly John's hoodie, and Tommy thought vaguely to himself that they'd likely still been in bed when Finn called.

Wordlessly, Tommy took the chair closest to John and handed over the small piece of paper. John looked it at, Gemma leaning over to see, and they both looked up at Tommy at the same time.

"I'm assuming this is Martha's address. Where did this come from, Tommy?" John asked, the rage that had cooled down starting to simmer again.

Tommy looked at Finn who looked back at him in terror.

"Tommy. You better tell me where you found this." John said, his voice hitting the eerie calm before the rage storm.

"In Grace's jewelry box." Tommy finally replied, the words hurting as he spoke them.

John sat back as Gemma put a hand on his thigh and he pulled her closer into him. He'd never trusted Grace, not from the moment he met her, but he'd pushed it aside because Tommy seemed happy. And then Charlie came along, and he felt stuck, unable to say anything about the mother of his nephew, who was so attached to him.

"What in the actual fuck is going on, Tommy?" John said, forcing his brother to meet his eye.

"What have you done, Grace? What the fuck have you done?" Tommy asked.

Grace looked back at him, her fear now tamped down by a cold confidence. Tommy could see it as it took over.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Thomas." Grace replied.

"I found this in your jewelry box. An address, with the initials M.C. Seems a little close to the name Martha Connolly, doesn't it?"

"You think I invited her?"

"There's no other option. I've thought through every scenario I can come up with. The only people with that much access to the office are my brothers, Ada, Anna, Lizzie, Esme, Alison, Aunt Poll, our two office assistants, and you. The ones who even know who Martha is brings that list down. The depths of damage that could be caused? We're looking at Shelby family members, Lizzie, and maybe Esme.

But who gains from this? Who gains from bringing up a tragedy of that degree? Either someone who wants to just hurt John, or someone who wants to break up John and Gemma. That eliminates every person on that list with solid reason, one would think. But something made me keep coming back to you as the culprit, Grace. I know I'm right. I just don't know why."

"Do you not trust me, Tommy? Why would I do that? Lizzie had feelings for John, maybe she's jealous that he's in a serious relationship again. Or Esme, perhaps she likes him."

"All fair points, except the address is in your jewelry box."

"Well I didn't put it there, and how do you know it's her address for sure?"

"I've had it verified by Scudboat. Who also spent all of today with his team checking the security cameras at the office. It's Martha's address. And the only person who's been in the office long enough to do this, who isn't an employee, is you. I've already asked Francis to check the visitor list for the building, neither Lizzie or Esme have been here in months. So tell me, Grace, why did you do it?"

"What did you think was going to happen, Tommy? It's just a matter of time before Gemma convinces John to return to music. And then what? He convinces you to get the band back together? I did this for us. So that you wouldn't have to do that."

Tommy looked at Grace for the longest moment of his life. What she was saying made no sense and all the sense. They had met just over a year after the accident, a year into the Peaky Blinders hiatus. At the time, he'd found her encouragement to do something outside of music to be positive and helpful. But now, looking back, he could see it all for what it really was.

"You used me. You saw an opportunity to control someone for your own gain, and you used me to do that. You never wanted me to go back to music, because you didn't think it was good enough, that I was good enough for you if I was a musician. All you saw was means to a very wealthy end."

Grace's silence was Tommy's confirmation that he was right. She saw that he had the mind for business, to build something from the ground up, something that she could take advantage of. Show off to her family and friends that her husband was an up and coming leader in London. Complete with a penthouse at the top of a glass tower to house her cold, cold heart.

"I'm right, then. You used me, and you used the worst night of my brother's life, not to mention my own, to manipulate the situation to stay in your favor. For a reason that isn't even real. If John wants to return to music, that's his choice. Gemma's feelings for him are genuine, I don't doubt that. And on top of it all, you hurt the one person your son is closest to in this family."

Tommy walked to the bedroom door, turning one last time to look at Grace. The look in her eyes was one he'd never seen. A look of betrayal that he could never have imagined.

John leaned back against the sofa, closing his eyes as Tommy finished the tale. Bloody hell.

He could feel rage pulsing through him, not just for himself, and for Martha, but for Tommy and Charlie as well. This woman had rolled into Tommy's life, seen an opportunity, and took full advantage. Even at the expense of her own son's feelings.

"What are you going to do?" John asked as he lifted his head back up to look at Tommy.

"I can't stay with her. It's unforgivable. There's a small apartment a few buildings over I recently bought as an investment property, I'll stay there for now I guess."

John nodded and Tommy turned to look at Gemma, who was sitting quietly with a shocked expression.

"Gemma, may I speak with you privately?" Tommy asked.

Gemma nodded and stood up, kissing John's cheek before she followed Tommy out onto the terrace.

"I am truly sorry for you being involved in this. What Grace did was directed at you as well, and I wish I had seen it far sooner."

"She's responsible for her own actions, Tommy. I don't blame you for what happened. She saw someone in pain and took advantage of that back when you first met. I know John wants to talk to you about music, and you returning to it or not is your choice. But really think hard about it. Is there a part of you that would be denied? You suffered a great loss as well, and maybe for you, the music went with it. Just be sure you're being honest with yourself."

"I understand what Aunt Poll means about you. You see people, what they want, what they need. I know you aren't out to manipulate my brother." Tommy said, the realization hitting him.

Gemma nodded with a small smile, letting Tommy look her in the eye. She saw his pain, his grief, a brilliant man with a misguided notion of how to run from that pain and grief. Tommy let his intuition read her, and only saw loyalty and love for his brother, for the Shelby family. A strength within her they did not know they needed, that would prop John up when his own pain became too much sometimes. Tommy saw it all clicking into place now.

They went back inside to find John and Finn sitting in silence, mulling over what had just happened.

"There's some things I need to take care of right away. John, can you take the meeting with the council inspector this afternoon?" Tommy said as he reached for his keys.

"Sure, no problem. We're just finalizing the personal licence for the bar, right? Finn can come with me."

"Yes. I'll be in touch later. Thanks."

John walked Tommy to the door and hugged him on impulse. Tommy stiffened and then gave in to his brother's hug, knowing this was just the beginning of a huge upheaval in his life. The only thing he knew how to do was work, and there was work to be done now, to dismantle his marriage.

"I'm really sorry, Tommy. I wish it hadn't been Grace." John said quietly as he held the door open.

"I know. I'll be in touch, brother." Tommy replied, patting John's shoulder.

John watched Tommy walk down the hall, shoulders slumped down, head hung low. It wasn't until Tommy entered the elevator and turned around that John saw his brother's strength rise up, as he lifted his head, stood tall, and nodded in a silent response that he was on a mission.

************************************************************************

Gemma smiled to herself at the thought of continuing what John had started this morning. After a very subdued attempt to eat lunch following Tommy's visit, John and Finn had headed over to the Eden.

Gemma had agreed to sit on in a call with a band she'd worked with previously in the US, who were being scouted by the sister label to Church Street Records. The distraction had been welcome, and now she felt she was able to process what happened with a clearer mind.

John had made a reservation for that evening at a restaurant nearby that the family frequented a lot. They both knew that just sitting and dwelling on what Grace had done wasn't going to help either of them, so Gemma was glad to see that John was still interested in going.

As he walked back to The Gibson from the Eden, having seen Finn off in a car back to Ada’s, John’s mind wandered. He still couldn’t believe that Grace had been the one to invite Martha. It was one thing to have some fear that Tommy would go back to the Blinders (even if that fear seemed ridiculous), but to invite Martha, knowing it would cause not only John pain, but Martha, Tommy, Arthur, and Freddie as well? It was cruel.

Ten minutes later he opened the door to the hotel suite, finding Gemma lounging on the terrace, late afternoon sun breaking through the clouds. She seemed to be deep in thought, staring out into the distance while absentmindedly sipping from a straw.

“I’m back, love.” John said as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind and kissed her cheek.

“How did it go?” Gemma asked, putting a hand on his forearm.

“Good, everything is set for the opening. What are you thinking about?”

“Looks like I’ll be going to New York next month, just for a few days. Represent this band I used to work with.” Gemma replied, tilting her head back against his.

“It’ll be fine, I’m sure. I think right now, you and I should take advantage of the very large shower in our very large hotel bathroom, so we can get ready for our evening. Thoughts?”

John stood and held a hand out as Gemma smiled in response and took his hand, letting him lead her inside. She sat on the edge of the tub, watching as he gathered towels and turned on the shower water. John caught her eye with a small smirk as he pulled off his shirt, letting Gemma stare before slowly moving to undo his belt. She walked over and moved his hands, unbuckling the belt herself and then his jeans, letting them fall to the floor.

Somehow he managed to kiss her and undress her at the same time, stepping backwards into the large glass shower, pulling her forwards into him. Steam rose as they stood under the dual shower heads, not breaking eye contact. It was only then that John let down his guard, let the emotions from the day come out, dropping his head against Gemma's shoulder as he held her.

“We’re ok, J. Tommy and Charlie will be, too.” Gemma said in his ear, holding onto the back of his neck.

John nodded and let the water rush over him, listening to Gemma speak to him softly. Her hand against his neck, the other running up and down his spine. He pressed his lips against her cheek, holding her body against his with one hand as he moved the other slowly down her side.

“I don’t want this to ever change, Gem.” John said out loud, somehow feeling safer in the sound of the water falling.

“It won’t.” Gemma replied, moving her head to look up into the grey blue that seemed endless.

That night at dinner, Gemma could barely keep her eyes (and hands) off John as they sat in a private booth. She’d nearly fallen back on to the bed in their room as he’d come out of the bathroom in all black - black pants, black belt, black shirt loosely unbuttoned at the top. His hair was slicked back into it’s usual style, shirtsleeves rolled up.

“Are you trying to kill me, Mr. Shelby?” Gemma asked, hand to her chest as she regained air.

“Just making sure you’re ready for later, darlin’.” John murmured in her ear, holding his hands behind his back, his breath sending shivers down her neck.

Gemma stood still as he reached out one hand, carefully running his finger over the strap of her top, taking note of the color of the bra strap beneath, then slowly across her collarbone, and down, ending at the top of her jeans.

“Oh I’ll be ready.” She’d breathed out.

Now, John’s hand was sliding up her leg, over her jeans, and she could barely focus on finishing the plate in front of her. Every person in the dining room had watched as they’d passed, John’s confidence and charisma oozing off of him as he swaggered between tables, a hand on Gemma’s lower back. She could feel the jealous stares, and she had to admit it was a little fun to be on the arm of John Shelby. Scratch that. The most fun.

John was completely aware of what he was doing to her, watching her take a bite of her food, her eyes glancing at his bare neck, then back up to his face, flushing as she realized he’d seen. It was completely adorable to him. She didn’t seem to realize that she did the same thing to him. The way he could just see the edge of her bra under her top, her collarbone highlighted by several chains. The way he could feel how much she wanted him.

He leaned over, sliding his hand further up her leg as he did, Gemma watching the tendons in his neck flex against his skin, slightly flushed.

“All I can think about is you being naked in our bed and my fingers inside you.” John whispered in her ear, ghosting his lips over her neck.

“You better get the bill soon, then.” Gemma managed to reply, her face flushing red.

Anyone who looked in their direction would see how much they wanted each other. Pupils wide, little space between them. John’s hand disappearing under the table, Gemma’s million glances towards his open shirt collar. It was palpable.

John quickly signaled the waiter for the check, paying in record speed. They managed to walk back to The Gibson, Gemma laughing as she linked her arm through John’s. The loaded gaze he gave her as they waited to cross an intersection was enough to make her want him then and there in a back alley.

John slid his arm down and gripped her hip while they rode the elevator up to their floor, turning her into towards him. Gemma reached up to touch the exposed skin where his shirt was opened, the contact sending electricity through his body.

He flung the suite door closed, picking Gemma up at the same time. She kissed his neck and then down to his collarbone, sliding her hand underneath his shirt. John leaned against the entry wall, head back.

“Gemma … fuck … “ he moaned quietly, holding her up around his hips.

Gemma found herself being carried into the living area, John setting her up on a side counter. In seconds he had her down to her bra and underwear, and she took the opportunity to unbutton his shirt completely, putting her lips to each new place that a button revealed.

She looked up at John, his eyes molten blue as he looked back down at her. He picked her up once more, kissing her with such intensity Gemma felt like she would never breathe again, but it felt so good she didn’t care.

John propped her against the wall by the bedroom, and ran his hand down, pushing aside her underwear. He slid one of his fingers into her easily, the foreplay of the evening helping things along. He heard Gemma moan his name as he slid in a second, the need to be completely consumed by her taking over.

Gemma reached down and undid his belt buckle and pants, pushing them down with her feet. He was rock hard against her inner thigh and all she could think about was him being inside her, shirt open, pounding into her against the wall. She reached down again to touch him and John caught the look in her eye, the look that was asking for him to be rough.

Before she could even make a move, he pushed up into her so quickly it made her gasp, head back against the wall, looking up at the shadows the chandelier made. John put a hand next to her head and she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. She could feel the last barrier in him still up, the part of him that wanted to go harder and faster, to break through all the anger and hurt that had built up in the past few days. And yet, she’d never feel safer with anyone else.

“It’s ok, baby,” she whispered in his ear, “let go.”

John moaned at the words, pushing into Gemma so far she saw stars. But her fingers running through the back of his hair and her lips against his jawline were a signal that she felt safe. So he continued, trying to replace every stain of rage with how it felt to be with the girl he loved, the image of her against the wall, the bright lace of her bra against freckled skin, the sound of her breathing, the way she looked at him in complete and total lust.

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