by Ivy Fox
If I want something done right, I have to do it myself.
Three hours later, I’m sitting on Hector’s living room couch doing just that, asking him for the same favor I asked my pops weeks ago.
“You’ve been asking the Kings for a lot of favors recently, Santo. First Maya’s debt and now protection for this rich prick. Are you sure you want to cash in your chips on this guy?”
“He’s my girlfriend’s brother, Hector. The guy practically raised her on his own. I can’t sit back and do nothing,” I repeat firmly, not accepting no for an answer.
“I gotta say that fancy school sure is paying off. Seems like you and Maya are doing very well for yourselves at nabbing some Upper East Side ass. I never took you two for gold-diggers, but if you are, you could do worse.” He chuckles, puffing on his joint.
“I’m not a fucking gold-digger,” I spit out, offended that he’d think so lowly of me.
“Are you sure about that?” He wiggles his brows, blowing gray clouds of smoke in the air.
Instead of giving his question any credence, I ask him about Maya instead and what the hell he meant with that little jab of his.
“Wait? What do you mean about Maya having a rich sidepiece?”
He laughs yet again, finding humor in shit I don’t find funny.
“You didn’t think her folks would stop using just because my brother gave them a scare, did you? The girl used the gifts afforded to her and got shit handled.”
“What Damasio pulled was more than a scare, Hector, and you know it.” I point a menacing finger in his face.
“No, what it was was effective.” He thins his lips. His previously cheerful disposition is long gone, and in its place is the glare of the deadly Kingpin that he is.
Fuck.
“How much do they owe you this time?” I ask instead of pissing him off further.
“Not a dime. It’s all being taken care of.”
“And what does that shit mean?”
“It means Maya is smarter than she looks. Unlike you, she knows how to work her rich boy toy. The white-bread is paying her debts. Has been for a while now.”
So that’s why Maya came back to East River. It always puzzled me why she returned so quickly, and as much as I tried to pry it out of her, she stuck to her guns and didn’t snitch.
“Now, as to your problem,” Hector adds, “your father already called me earlier today and told me what was up. He’s got you covered with the Kings’ approval. You have my word.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Don’t thank me, Santo. I paid my debt to your father when he asked me to keep your nose clean and away from Kings’ business. This little babysitting gig you got him and my soldiers doing, well that only makes your pops indebted to me now. I hope you understand what that means.”
Jesus.
“I never asked for that.”
“No, you didn’t,” he snarls, unimpressed with my naivete. “Out here in the real world, no one does anything if they aren’t getting something in return. Now get the fuck out. I’m tired of looking at your soft ass.”
My jaw ticks as I get up from my seat, his words still burning a hole in my head. It’s only when I’m at the door that I turn around to confirm my suspicions.
“Maya’s guy? He got a name?”
The scowl that was on Hector’s lips disappears at the mention of his new cash cow.
“Sure, does. It’s Reid. Reid Hurst.”
Chapter 19
Elle
“Oh, my God! I’m cumming! I’m cumming!” I shout from the top of my lungs as Saint continues to ravish my pussy with his mouth and fingers.
With my core clenching around his digits, I go momentarily blind with the life-altering orgasm that is currently splitting me in two. It’s only when my eyesight returns that I notice Saint on his knees on top of me, jerking his massive cock. His aim is good and true, spurts of his cum dripping all over my breasts. His black eyes shine wild with intensity, staring at his mark before he falls down on top of me and kisses me stupid.
I engulf his body with mine, my legs keeping him prisoner around the waist while my arms cling to his neck. I let his kiss consume me, waving the white flag and completely surrendering to it. Once we are both panting for air, Saint breaks away, only to pepper tender kisses to my shoulder, neck, and cheeks. I relish in this too, loving this gentle side of him I coax out.
“Another first scratched off the list,” he whispers, falling to his side, his head sharing my pillow.
“God, you’re something else,” I tease breathlessly, shifting my body to face him and playfully punching his shoulder. “I can’t believe you just did that. I’m a mess.”
“Believe it, baby. And I’ve got a whole lot more planned for you. You just wait and see,” he warns, running a finger down my coated chest before parting my lips with it. Without inhibition, I suck his finger, cleaning his essence before releasing it with a loud pop.
“I’m looking forward to it.” I wiggle my brows flirtatiously at him.
A loud growl rips from his throat before he grabs the nape of my neck and kisses me some more, his hard cock starting to stab my stomach, letting me know he’s ready for round two. I can’t help but laugh at his insatiable appetite. If I let him, Saint would have me tied to a bed twenty-four-seven, just so he could have his wicked way with me. Not that I’d complain. I’d love nothing more than to spend my days in our little cocoon, making love and ignoring all our problems. Unfortunately, the real world awaits, and as much as I like sneaking Saint into my bedroom for one of our impromptu sleepovers, the rising dawn tells me that playtime is over.
“Easy there, tiger.” I giggle, pushing him away a bit. “As much as I love your morning wake-up calls, it’s late. The twins and Holland should be awake soon.”
“Is this your way of kicking me out?” He chuckles, nuzzling his nose in the crook of my neck.
“No. It’s my way of saying that I need a shower, and you need to go home to get ready for school.”
“Hmm. Not a fan of that idea, Princess. What if instead we jump in the shower together? Let me clean you up since I was the one who got you dirty in the first place.”
I rub my thighs together, my swollen clit loving that idea.
“Hmm, maybe I can be persuaded,” I croon, dragging my nails down his tattooed chest.
“Keep doing that and I just might dirty you up some more right here on this bed,” he grunts, palming my ass in his hands.
I push him to lie on his back and straddle him, my hands flat on his chest.
“Who says I’ll let you?”
He grips my ass and starts jerking his cock against my wet slit.
“Ah, hellcat, we both know your pretty pink cunt is already soaked and eager for me. All I have to do is take it.”
“Is that a challenge?” I arch a brow, my nails digging into his chest the way he likes it.
“I’m two seconds away from pounding you raw, Princess. Are you sure you want to play this game with me?”
My insides quiver in need at his dirty words alone. Excitedly, I fling half my body to my bedside table and pick up my phone, praying that Saint does, in fact, have enough time to rock my world again. I fall limp on his chest with utter disappointment when I verify that he doesn’t.
“I wish I could, but it’s already six.” I pout, handing him my phone.
He wraps his arms around me and lifts my chin up so we are eye to eye.
“It’s okay, cariño. We got time,” he coos softly, caressing my cheek with his knuckles.
“This tells me we don’t.” I roll my eyes, tapping on my phone screen to drive the point home.
He lets out a laugh that warms my insides as he tightens his hold on me.
“Nah, Princess. I mean we have all the time in the world to be together.” But even as he says it, there is a flicker of sadness in his dark eyes, a melancholy I’ve seen before.
&n
bsp; “Stay. Have breakfast with me instead,” I whisper, too afraid to learn the meaning behind his oscillation.
“You don’t mind if Ash and Ollie see me here? You know that me coming for breakfast will raise all sorts of red flags for them.”
“Honestly, I don’t care. The only reason why I haven’t told them yet about us is because I’m still pissed at them. Granted if they weren’t ditching school so much, the rumor mill about us would have done the job for me.”
“You’re still upset about them not telling you what happened between Holland and your prick of a father?”
“Yes! Of course, I am. Rome shouldn’t have to spend one more night in jail for something he didn’t do. And what really gets on my nerves is that I know Holland feels the same way I do. She wants to go to the police, but Rome and the twins are too bullheaded to hear reason and have forbid her from doing what’s right. Gahhd, I want to kick some sense into them.”
“Is that all you’re upset about?” he questions patiently, his onyx gaze staring deep into my soul.
I worry my lower lip, my head bowed.
“They’ve kept secrets from me. All of them. Rome, the twins, even Holland.”
“They wanted to protect you, cariño. Not make you an accomplice to what happened that night.”
“Not good enough. I hate liars.”
With our talk taking a serious turn about all the lies I’ve suffered recently, it’s no wonder we both summon the image of Chad into our minds.
“You still miss him?” Saint asks, running a finger over my exposed nipple.
I nod, unable to lie to him.
“What about you?”
He doesn’t answer me, but then again, he doesn’t need to. The hole in my chest where Chad used to light up is still cold. And Saint feels the blistering arctic wind just as I do.
He runs the back of his knuckles along my cheek, and I close my eyes, welcoming his comforting caress.
“Am I not enough for you, Princess?” he asks, misery in his words.
“Am I enough for you?” I retort with the same somber tone.
“I want you to be.”
“Wanting something and having it are two very different things.”
He lets out a long exhale, wrapping his arms around me as I cradle my head on his chest.
While Chad filled my existence with lies, Saint is incapable of doing the same. Who would have guessed that out of the two, he would be the most trustworthy? For years I loved Chad, thinking my heart would always be safe in his hands. But he was the one who broke me in the end.
Broke us.
“If I ask you something, will you be honest with me?” Saint asks, running his hand up and down my bare spine.
“Yes.”
“If I told you I loved you, would you believe me?”
I snap to attention, my chin on his chest as I swallow dryly. His truth swims deep in his black eyes, making my own rattle in my ribcage, feeling it thump away erratically.
“You know what? No, don’t answer that.” He shakes his head, hurriedly getting out of bed.
“Saint—”
“It’s late. I have to go. I have to take Maya to school anyway.”
“Saint,” I stammer again, wrapping the bedsheet around my chest, going to my knees on my bed.
“And today you have that big court date, too. You should be focusing on that,” he adds, putting on his long sleeve shirt.
“Santo,” I plea, sitting back on my legs. “Don’t go. Please.”
He freezes, head bowed, staring at his bare feet. I inch closer to him until I’m able to grab the hem of his shirt and pull him to the edge of the bed. I crane my neck up, my heart twisting at how he refuses to look at me.
“The day you tell me you love me, I’ll believe you. With all my heart, I will believe you.”
“Yeah?” he croaks, cupping my chin in his hand.
“Yes.” I widen my eyes so he can see I mean every word. “And when you do,” I say, swallowing nervously and feeling that my heart might combust at any second. “When that day comes… then I’ll tell you how much I love you right back.”
He closes his lids tightly shut, taking a large gulp of air into his lungs before bending down and kissing my temple.
“I’ll hold you to that, cariño.”
“You better.” I slap his chest.
The crack of a smile that crests his lips lifts my spirits and soothes my soul. He pulls me up by the waist, letting the bedsheet fall to my feet. Like this, I’m just a little bit taller than him, my breasts in parallel with his mouth. He places his chin in between them, looking up at me with such utter devotion that it takes my breath away.
“Do you want me to go with you to Rome’s trial?” he asks softly.
I shake my head, running my fingers through his jet-black hair.
“No. If the press gets wind that you’re mine, they’ll have a field day. They’ll hunt you and your mom down, and I really don’t want that to happen. I want her to like me, and I doubt having cameras shoved in her face while she’s working, asking questions about her son’s overprivileged girlfriend, will win me many brownie points.”
“Don’t worry about my mom. She adores you.”
“She does, does she? Even when she finds out that her son didn’t sleep in his bed last night so I could corrupt and defile him?” I tease, gaining a chuckle from him.
“We both know I’m the one who does most of the defiling in this bedroom.”
“That you do.” I sigh, twirling a lock of his hair around my finger, wanting desperately just to stay locked in this room with him instead of having to face the day that awaits.
“Princess?”
“Yeah?”
“Is that what I am to you? Yours?”
I smile and press my temple to his just so I can breathe him in.
“Yes. You’re mine, Santiago García. And I am yours.”
“Good. Then that’s all I need.” He sighs. “Give them hell today, hellcat. Show them all what the fearless Elle Grayson is made of. Don’t let any of those assholes fuck with you.”
I hug him, praying that his words of encouragement will give me the strength I need to face another grueling day of everyone painting my brother as this ruthless killer.
Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done.
The constant clicks of cameras flashing tamper with my vision as we leave the courtroom. Yet, I do everything in my power to keep my head held high and my cold schooled facade in place. All the while, I’m two seconds from blowing up and burning this place to the ground. First, Claire Hurst swore under oath that my father’s last words to her were that Rome tried to kill him, and if that wasn’t enough to keep Rome locked away for good, then the attending nurse who last saw my father alive giving a similar statement sure was. If my father weren’t already burning in hell for his sins, I’d kill him myself for putting Rome through this.
I have had it up to here with this shitshow.
“Let’s get you home.” I hear Ollie utter, tugging Holland protectively to his side, while we watch Asher lay a new one on our lawyers.
“Actually, Ollie, do you mind if Holland and I have a little girl time? I think a distraction will do us good. Some shopping or even a walk around Central Park, what do you say?” I interject, uncharacteristically bubbly for someone whose brother is about to serve a life sentence for murder. Holland’s forehead wrinkles in confusion at my sudden desire to go shopping.
Oh, honey. You know me better than that.
I throw her a discreet wink while Ollie starts poking holes in my plan.
“Hmm, I don’t know. Today was pretty messed up.”
“I think Elle is right. I do need some time away from the house,” Holland says with a sweet smile, hugging on to his forearm. “If anything comes up, I’ll call you. Okay, Ollie? We’ll be fine.”
“Hmm.”
“Oh geez, Ollie. She’s not made of porcelain.
GAHHD! If you haven’t checked, your girlfriend is kick-ass. She won’t break just by spending an afternoon blowing off some steam doing something as frivolous as shopping. She’ll be fine, you big baby!” I blurt out, trying to hide the nervous energy running through my veins.
“Fine,” he says, finally conceding.
“It’s cute that you think you’re giving me permission.”
“I know I’m not. But just humor me, okay? If you need me for anything, call me. I’ll be around, so it will only take a few minutes to get to you,” he replies with concern. “I’m here for you, for whatever you need, okay?”
“I know you are, Ollie,” Holland whispers before my brother gives her a kiss that forces me to look the other way to give them some privacy.
I love my brothers dearly, but I’d rather avoid having front-row seats to their make-out sessions.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Enough of the lovey-dovey crap, you two. I get that enough at home,” I say after it takes what feels like an eternity for them to say their goodbyes. “Come on, Snow. Let’s blow this joint,” I add, pulling her by the arm and physically removing her from my brother’s grasp.
When we come out of the courthouse, there are even more news crews and journalists waiting for us.
Vultures, the lot of them.
“Let’s go,” I say evenly, wrapping my arm around Holland’s, ushering her down the stairs and whistling for the first cab I see.
“Where to, miss?” the cab driver asks.
“Just drive, buddy. There’s a few extra benjamins if you close the partition window to let me and my sister talk in private back here,” I tell him, handing him a few bills over his shoulder.