Fearless (The Privileged of Pembroke High #5)

by Ivy Fox

  “Friends?” he cocks a menacing brow. “What I just walked into was anything but friendly. I told you I was fine with you living here with one stipulation. No boys.”

  “These aren’t boys, Rome. They are my boyfriends. There’s a difference.”

  Rome’s whole expression turns from angry to lethal.

  “Babe, I think you’re pissing him off more,” Chad interjects. “Maybe I should cut in?”

  “I’ve got this,” Elle rebukes calmly, her amber gaze never wavering from her brother. She inches closer to him, grabbing his hands in hers, the small tenderness making Rome soften.

  “I get why you’re mad, Roman. I do. Your anger is spurred on by fear. You’ve spent most of your life trying to protect me, watching over me, and seeing me grow up must be very scary for you. I get that, and I love you for it. But I am grown up now, big brother. I’m old enough to make my own decisions and choices. You have to have faith in me that I know what I’m doing. You have to have faith in yourself that you raised me up right. That you gave me all the tools and skills that I need to make good decisions. In life and with my heart.”

  Rome hesitantly looks away from his beloved sister and toward us.

  “Are you telling me these jackasses are that important to you?”

  She laughs.

  “I’m telling you that both Chad and Saint have my heart, and they always will. This isn’t a phase, and we’re not playing house if that’s your concern. Our love is real, Rome. Just as yours is for Snow, so is mine for them. Do you understand?” she explains softly, squeezing her brother’s hands in hers.

  “All I want is for you to be happy. That’s all I want, rugrat,” he coos, his golden eyes softening with love for his sister.

  “And I am. For the first time in my life, I truly am happy. But I’d be even happier if I didn’t have to hide this part of my life away from the one brother who I respect most in this world, so he doesn’t worry about me. This is real, Rome. I don’t need your blessing, but I do need you to understand that Chad and Saint are my family.”

  “I’ll always worry about you. That won’t ever change,” he replies lovingly. “But if they are your family, then I’ll accept them as mine too.”

  “Thank you,” she beams, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him to her. “I love you, Rome.”

  “I love you, too,” he stammers, his voice choppy with emotion.

  I stand rooted to my spot, amazed at how such a small, fearless creature can bring an impenetrable man like Roman Grayson to tears. But I guess if anyone could do it, it would be her.

  Once they are done hugging, he pulls Elle to his side, his arm still protectively around her as he focuses his attention on me. My shoulders instantly square, my spine going ramrod straight.

  “So you two are the lucky SOBs my sister has decided to shack up with, huh? Can’t say I’m surprised to see Chad here since he’s been glued to my sister’s hip since kindergarten. You, however, I don’t know from Adam. Although your face is familiar.”

  “You know Saint, Rome. He was the one Trevor assaulted when he tried to hurt Elle last month,” Holland starts to explain as Elle flinches at the sound of Trevor’s name.

  It’s also not exactly the type of memory I want to recall. The only good thing that came out of that clusterfuck is that Trevor will most likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. Aside from the sexual assault charges and aggravated assault when the fucker tried to bash my brains in, the NYPD found all sorts of other incriminating evidence to add attempted murder to his long list of felonies. They found proof that it was Trevor who was the one uploading all those videos of Holland last year that made her the laughing stock of the school, but the police also found the poison that was used on her dress during the Christmas fashion show.

  My gut always told me Trevor had a sick hard-on for Princess, but I never realized to what extent. That he was willing to hurt people she cared about just to watch her squirm. Only time will tell on what other things the police will discover as they continue on with their investigation.

  “Saint is also one of the only friends I made when I started Pembroke last year,” Holland continues on, bringing me back to my current dilemma. “He watched out for me when Addison and her cronies were making my life miserable. He made me feel welcomed and safe when I knew no one. Don’t let Saint’s hard exterior fool you. He’s as good as they come,” she adds, coming to my rescue in a big way.

  Rome pensively rubs his chin as he takes his woman’s opinion of me to heart. I have to hold it together when Holland discreetly throws me a conspiring wink and smile.

  I still remember the day Boy Scout put me on her babysitting duty. At first, I was reluctant at having to spend my time looking over Princess’s new stepsister, thinking she was probably just another brainless heiress. But as time went by, I realized nothing could be further from the truth, and a genuine friendship started to develop between me and the new addition to the Grayson family. And watching Holland go to bat for me now only solidifies it.

  “That’s not where I know you from,” he says after a pregnant pause, my hackles rising, thinking that maybe he’s referring to the time he caught my tongue down his sister’s throat freshman year. That memory will not win me any brownie points, that’s for goddamn sure.

  Knowing that Rome is important to Princess, I swallow dryly and breach the gap between us, extending my hand out.

  “Although we haven’t been officially introduced, and this wasn’t how I intended for us to meet, I’d just like to say that it’s a pleasure finally meeting you. Elle has nothing but good things to say about you, and I know she holds you in high esteem.”

  I pretend not to see Elle roll her eyes at my blatant kiss-ass introduction. But hey, if it will get me in her brother’s good graces, then I don’t mind puckering up. It’s a small sacrifice to pay to ensure that my girl has everything she wants. Family is important to her, so that means her brothers are important to me.

  Rome takes my hand and gives it a hard shake, his brows still pulled together in suspicion.

  “What did you say your name was again?”

  “It’s Santiago,” Chad responds protectively for me, walking to my side and entwining his fingers in mine. “Santiago García.”

  Rome’s gaze falls to our linked hands, the realization of the dynamics of our relationship finally dawning on him. His shoulders relax for a split second, only to tense up the next.

  “Wait. Did you say García?” he questions, his eyes tracing every inch of my face. “I knew you looked familiar. You wouldn’t by any chance be related to Lazaro García?”

  “He’s my father.”

  “I see.” He exhales, stunning me speechless when his mistrustful demeanor evaporates into thin air and is replaced with a warm smile.

  I feel the weight of everyone’s stare on us as Rome places his hand on my shoulder.

  “I haven’t openly talked about my stint in prison with anyone because it’s a part of my life that I would rather put behind me. But one thing I will never forget is the friendships I made in a place where such a thing seemed impossible. I never understood why a man like Lazaro García sought me out in Rikers in the first place. One day he just showed up at my cell and never left my side. He and his men protected me when Vivienne had spent a lot of money trying to make my stay there as uncomfortable as possible. But not only that, Lazaro made sure I kept my sanity. And believe me when I tell you, staying sane in a place like that isn’t easy.”

  The way Rome affectionately refers to my father has a lump forming in my throat.

  “Your father is an extraordinary man. He left a huge impression on me, and I promised him that when his parole hearing was up, I’d get him the best counsel money could buy to make sure he returns to his family. I also want him to come work for me as part of my security team. I know his pride will make him reluctant to take my job offer, but maybe when the time comes, you can help me convince him.”


  “I will,” I reply hurriedly, grateful that Rome will give my pops a way out of the only life he’s ever known.

  “Such a small world, isn’t it? That the son of the man that ensured I returned whole to my family is now dating my baby sister?”

  “The smallest,” I croak.

  Rome smiles at that before he surprises the fuck out of me when he pulls me into an embrace.

  “Thank you,” he whispers in my ear. “I’m alive because of the love you bear my sister. I won’t forget that.”

  He then breaks our hug, feigning ignorance to the three pairs of confused eyes on us.

  “Well, now that that’s settled, how about we eat? Snow and I came over because Henry was worried that you’ve been on a diet of ice cream and junk food, so she sent us here to make sure your fridge was fully stocked with some home cooking,” he explains to his baby sister, pointing to the numerous bags he and Holland must have placed down at the door when they caught us making out.

  “I could eat,” Chad adds beside me, looking more at ease now that the awkward moment has diffused itself.

  “Ooh, did Henry send me her famous chili con carne?” Elle interrogates, already halfway to the bags.

  “She did.” Rome laughs.

  “Then what are we standing here for? Let’s eat!”

  I laugh at her eagerness, helping bring some paper bags to the kitchen and excusing myself to the bedroom so I can put a shirt on. When I get out, I see Holland and Chad setting the table up while Rome and Elle are probably in the kitchen getting everything ready. Thinking my help would be best served by putting the rest of the food away with them, I head toward the kitchen, only to stop when I hear Rome’s firm reprimanding tone again.

  “I heard you’ve been busy lately, rugrat. And I’m not talking about hiding your boyfriends from me.”

  “Busy? I’m not sure what you mean,” Elle replies evenly.

  Even though I’m not in the room and can’t see her face, I know she’s lying through her teeth.

  “Cut the shit, Elle. I know what you did,” Rome snarls under his breath, low enough he thinks no one can hear him.

  “You’re going to have to be a little more precise than that, big brother.”

  “Is that how you’re going to play this? Fine. Have it your way. I would have thought you were smarter than to think that I wouldn’t have been keeping tabs on Vivienne, too.”

  “Why would I keep tabs on the woman who killed our mother? Sorry, Rome, but I’m still not sure what you’re getting at,” she replies with the same aloofness as before.

  “Okay, well, let me enlighten you on the recent information I received earlier today. It seems that Vivienne was unexpectedly transferred to another prison, and when she got there, she didn’t get a very warm welcome. She was stabbed in the heart and lungs seventeen times, and the prognosis is that she won’t survive the week. I expect to get the call of her untimely death any minute now.”

  “Huh? Is that so? Maybe karma does exist after all and finally caught up with her,” Elle states, an edge to her voice.

  “Maybe. Or maybe she just fucked with the wrong Grayson.”

  “I guess we’ll never know.”

  “No. I guess we won’t.”

  Epilogue

  Chad

  Five years later

  I bite down hard on my bottom lip, my fingers digging into Elle’s hips as she keeps riding my cock like her life depends on it. My beautiful dark-eyed love is right at her back, his lips attached to the crook of her neck, marking her with his teeth. I lie there and just admire the view as Elle’s sweet cunt swallows me whole while Saint drives into her from behind with the same unrestrained passion. Words of love and lust mingle through the air around us, the scent of our arousal densely coating each particle.

  When Elle’s pussy starts to clench around me, milking me for all I’m worth, I mercilessly pound into her, making sure she follows me over the precipice, knowing Saint is never far behind.

  Once they’ve cum, both my loves fall on my chest, maneuvering themselves to either side of me on the bed, so I can hold them in my arms. It takes us a minute to gather our bearings, but I’m in no rush since this moment right here is just as perfect as me making love to them both. When Elle and Saint snuggle up against me, and I get to keep them in my embrace, I always whisper a silent prayer thanking whatever deity is out there for my good fortune.

  Life has been good to us.

  Sure, it took us years to get here, but now that we have each other, nothing will ever get in our way again.

  Once we graduated from college, I joined Rome with the Grayson Foundation and carried on with my philanthropist pursuits. Saint took his love of swimming to the next level and won a few Olympic medals for the U.S. team. Luckily, he has Asher as his teammate, so even when he’s away training, I can breathe easy knowing he has family with him.

  Elle, however, isn’t as easy to pin down. She started her own fashion house— Elenora —the name inspired by Saint’s mom and a tribute to her own. Rivaling names like Gucci, Chanel, and Dior, my girl is giving all of them a run for their money with her keen eye and fashion sense. She can be anywhere from Paris, Milan, to New York at any given time, working tirelessly to make a name in her own right.

  But even when life gets busy with everyone pulling you in every direction, demanding our undivided attention, we always make time for each other—we always find our way back home.

  “I think this one was it,” Saint proclaims, running his hand up and down Elle’s stomach.

  “You always say that, and it never is. Besides, even if tonight we do get pregnant, you, my love, weren’t the contributing factor.”

  “Who says? The night’s not over yet, Princess,” he goads, giving her nipple a little squeeze.

  I ignore their bickering banter because even though we’re not in high school anymore, some things never change.

  While others definitely do.

  Since Holland confided in Elle a few days ago that she was expecting, our girl has been whipping us into shape, trying to get pregnant too. She’s determined that our kids grow up with their cousins, and frankly, both Saint and I are all too happy to give our woman whatever her heart desires. I also think that this urgent need of hers to start a family sooner rather than later stems from losing her mother at such a young age. That void has never truly disappeared, leaving a mark on her heart—one that I’m confident will diminish when she becomes a mother herself.

  I pull Elle closer and tip her chin up to me.

  “Like we discussed before, even if we can’t get pregnant, there are other ways that we can increase our little family. I told you how I felt about adoption. It’s something that I feel very passionately about after our experience with Maya. Even if we have one or ten kids of our own, I would still love it if we could also adopt.”

  Elle runs her fingers up and down my chest, her eyes half-mast.

  “I’d like that, too.”

  I kiss her temple and then leave another chaste kiss on her lips. I’m about to also remind her how we only started trying to make a baby a couple of days ago—and that these things take time—when Saint’s phone on the bedside table starts to ring.

  “Speak of the devil,” he jokes before answering his call. “Hey, kid. You’re kind of calling me at a bad time. I’m trying to knock Elle up right now, so make this quick.”

  Whatever Maya says on the other line has Saint’s eyes widening in alarm.

  “Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time. We’ll be down in five,” he grumbles before hanging up the phone.

  “What’s going on?” Elle asks worriedly.

  “What’s going on is that the three of us suck ass. Tonight is Holland’s opening night on Broadway, and we totally forgot. We need to hurry the hell up if we want to get there before the curtain opens.”

  “Shit!” Both Elle and I shout as we scramble out of bed.

  “Damn it. I nee
d to jump in the shower,” Elle grumbles, running toward our ensuite.

  “I’m coming with,” Saint says at her heel.

  I’m about to do the same when I see my phone blow up with worried messages from my folks, asking where we are since, apparently, we planned on picking them up on the drive there.

  “Go ahead on without me. I just need to send my parents a quick text before they have a coronary,” I explain, my fingers already texting away.

  Once that’s taken care of, I run over to our closet and grab two tuxedos and the backless silver dress that makes Elle look like a living, breathing goddess. I then dash back to our bedroom, leaving our clothes sprawled on our bed, hoping a two-minute shower will be enough. However, when I walk inside our bathroom, I see all the guilt of being late to our dearest friend’s big day has gone out the window. I shake my head incredulously when I find Elle pinned up against the wall, Saint grunting and moaning as he thrusts deep inside her drenched pussy.

  “Just need to level the playing field, Boy Scout.” He smiles devilishly over his shoulder at me. “Besides, everyone knows that opening nights always run late.”

  With my cock already up at attention, I step into the shower and walk toward my heart and my soul. I grab Saint’s hair with one hand, pulling his face toward me, while I toy with Elle’s throbbing clit with the other. His lips part for mine while Elle grabs hold of my dick and begins to languidly stroke it from base to tip.

  “We’re going to hell for this,” I moan into his mouth.

  “But what a heavenly way to burn.”

  The End

  The Privileged of Pembroke High

  is coming to a close with the final book in the series - Restless.

  You won’t want to miss Maya and Reid’s love story.

  In a world where lies, secrets, and betrayals are a given,

  can something as pure as love even survive?