Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
AIDEN
Alex called for a ride home around eight o’clock. Instead of asking Wayne to drive me, I snatched the keys to my grandfather’s Ferrari. I was too lazy to look for the Phantom. Too many cars were in the garage, large enough to fit another mansion.
This was one of the nice perks of being a Wellington. Back in Haven, I couldn’t afford a bus pass, let alone a luxury car. I got my driver’s license, just in case.
I mean, why not?
I figured one day I would get out of my parents’ shithole house. Until Carl showed up like a genie that popped out of a bottle, granting me infinite wishes, I’d planned to run away with Alex once I saved enough money.
Driving from Devil’s Creek and into the North Side of Beacon Bay took fifteen minutes. Ella lived in what looked like a compound, gated and guarded by armed men. We had security at Wellington Manor, but nothing like this. Men dressed in black suits lined the perimeter, packing guns. Two men stood on the second-floor balcony with binoculars.
Jesus .
No wonder why Ella was so afraid of her family. With this much firepower on the premises, I would live in constant fear, too.
I pulled up to the front gate and rolled down the window. “Hey, I’m Aiden Fox. I’m here to pick up my sister, Alex.”
A middle-aged man removed a walkie-talkie from his belt and turned away from me, speaking to the person on the other end.
“Go on,” the man said as the gate slowly opened.
As the car rolled forward, I felt like I was headed toward my death. This place was fucking creepy. Think of a modern version of the mansion from The Addams Family but with an army of men on watch like a military base.
The old Victorian loomed over the massive property, trees lining the driveway and bumping up against the right side of the house. It was more wooded here. Unlike Founders Way, where we had an unobstructed view of the bay. I could see water from any window in my house. But here, it was flat-out depressing, surrounded by trees and gloom.
I parked out front. Two men stood watch by the double doors and glared at me. I wasn’t sure what to do. If I got out of the car, would they shoot me? Should I wait here for Alex or go inside? I didn’t want to make the wrong move and screw up this weekend for Ella.
I checked my phone for new messages.
Nothing.
“Alex, where are you?” I muttered, glancing at the house.
A minute later, Alex and Ella emerged through the double doors, the two of them laughing.
I let out a relieved breath.
Alex climbed into the seat beside me, a smile on her face. She smiled a lot now. At home with our parents, she was always sad. Most days, she cried herself to sleep. Between the hunger pains and our mother’s abuse, we could never catch a break.
Life was simpler now.
We were free.
“I had so much fun tonight.” Alex pulled on the seat belt. “Ella has the coolest art studio. We need to talk Pops into building one for us.”
“Definitely. He owes you that much for pimping you out to the Salvatore brothers.”
“Aid,” she groaned. “Enough about them. Please.”
Ella leaned over Alex and said, “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“She can sleep over,” Alex said with a wink, keeping her voice low.
“I’ll pick you up at noon.” A grin pulled at my lips. “Night, Cinders.”
After spending four hours at Paint It Black, I grabbed dinner with my two favorite girls. We ate at a restaurant overlooking the bay called Cafe Lacroix. I stuffed my face with a big-ass burger and steak fries while Alex and Ella split nachos and sliders.
We arrived at Astor Prep twenty minutes before the game started. I parked the Phantom in the reserved space closest to the field. Of course, our grandfather had a special parking space. He donated more money to this school than most students’ parents combined.
The girls were in the backseat of what was basically a tiny limo. I loved this car, mainly because it was ostentatious. And ridiculous. It said, I have too much fucking money and don’t know what to do with it .
“Close your eyes,” Alex said to me. “We need to change.”
Following my sister’s request, I snapped my eyes shut. I heard them rustle through their bags, giggling as they dressed into football jerseys. Despite my protests, Alex wore one that said SALVATORE on the back.
Luca gave it to her.
And I hated it.
“You can look,” Ella said in a singsong tone. “We’re decent.”
I opened the back door for the girls, sticking to my chauffeur routine, and Ella flew out first. She launched into my arms, dressed in black spandex pants that clung to her ass like plastic wrap. Sonny’s football jersey was rolled up and knotted on her hip, showing some of her flat stomach.
“Baby, you look so fucking hot.” I sucked her bottom lip into my mouth and lifted her, wrapping her legs around my back. “I can’t wait to rip this jersey off you.”
Alex cleared her throat behind us. “You better treat my new friend like a gentleman, Aiden.”
As our lips separate, I laughed. “I don’t know how to treat a lady any other way.”
“Uh-huh.” Alex chuckled. “That’s not what I overheard.”
I stole one more kiss from Ella before setting her feet on the ground and tucking her under my arm. “I treat you right. Tell her, Cinders.”
“He’s the perfect gentleman,” Ella said with a smile aimed at me. “Your brother isn’t like other guys. Well…” She laughed. “He thinks about, you know, guy things… But he’s also really sweet and takes care of me.”
“He better.” Alex elbowed me in the ribs. “I like this one. She’s a keeper. Don’t screw it up.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
On our way to the field, we passed dozens of drunken idiots. Some were still tailgating in the parking lot, hanging out in truck beds and cheering. From a distance, I heard the crowd in the stadium. The band played the school anthem, drowning out some of the noise.
Ella latched onto my right arm, and Alex took the left. As we entered the stadium, I peeked at the back of Ella’s jersey. It said CORMAC in block letters, and I liked seeing Sonny’s last name on our girl.
“I’m meeting Luca, Damian, and Bastian,” Alex said. “They’re saving us seats behind the Warriors bench.”
Heads turned in our direction. Even in a crowd of this size, we were the topic of conversation. People whispered my last name. Then Ella’s. A Doyle wearing a Cormacs jersey was controversial. Knowing Sonny, he did it to piss off his father. He was a rebel and didn't give a shit about anyone’s opinion.
“You don’t have to wear Luca’s jersey,” I said as we walked toward our seats, the eyes of our peers on us. “He doesn’t even play football anymore. And you’re not obligated to sit with them .”
“I want to sit with them.” Alex shrugged. “They’re not that bad, Aid. You have to get to know them.”
“Hard pass,” I shot back. “I’m not wasting a second on those assholes, and neither should you.”
“One day, I will marry one of them. I will be a Salvatore. Might as well get used to the idea.”
She gathered her long, wild curls and tossed them over her shoulder, making it easier to see the last name on her back. I hated that the Salvatore brothers marked her like property.
“They will be your family, too,” she said as if I needed a reminder.
Our conversation ceased when Luca and his brothers spotted Alex. They sat in the front row, directly behind the Warriors’ bench. Luca closed the distance between us, staring at Alex in his usual predatory way.
“We’re over here.” He led Alex to the bleachers with his hands on her shoulders and said, “Damian got you a hot chocolate. Bash ordered you a pizza.”
Who gets a pizza delivered to a football game?
This explained why she ate appetizers for dinner.
She giggled like a little girl. “What did you get me?”
“I’m saving my surprise for the after-party, baby girl.”
His hand hovered over her ass, and I got the urge to break off his fingers one at a time. But I stopped myself. Alex was going to marry him someday. Since I hated Luca the most, she would choose him because I had shitty luck.
Luca gripped Alex by the hips and pulled her onto his lap, sitting between his brothers. Damian handed Alex a cup, which she accepted with an appreciative smile. She sipped the hot chocolate and licked her lips. His hand dropped to her right thigh, and she lit up at the disgusting gesture.
I wanted to puke.
To make matters worse, Bastian was on the other side, touching her knee. It was like each of them needed some form of contact with her.
On Alex’s first day, Luca forced her to kneel in the dining hall. That memory had clearly been long forgotten. Either that or our mother fucked her up so badly that their treatment seemed loving in comparison.
Keeping some distance from Damian, I sat on the bleachers beside him, intentionally putting Ella on my right. Damian gave me the creeps. His good looks fooled some people, but beneath his pretty exterior hid a monster.
“I can’t believe I’m at a football game, “ Ella said, giddy. “This is my first one. I never felt comfortable attending school events… not until I met you.” She glanced down at the jersey and smiled. “And I’m wearing Sonny Cormac’s jersey. Do you have any idea how crazy this is? If anyone told my dad…”
“Just live in the moment, babe.” I slung my arm around her, resting my hand on her hip. “Enjoy this night, okay? Don’t overthink it.”
“Are we really sleeping on Sonny’s yacht?”
I bobbed my head to confirm.
“And in his bed?”
Another nod. “But only if you’re comfortable.”
“I’m excited.” She bit her bottom lip, and I wanted to take it into my mouth and suck. “I’ve never done anything like this before. Tonight, I want to experience as many first as possible.”
I bent down and kissed her hair. “Don’t let Sonny pressure you into doing anything. Promise me you’ll say no if you’re uncomfortable. Sonny is charming and good at getting people to do what he wants. I don’t want him influencing your decisions.”
“I’m completely sober and have already made up my mind.” She pressed a kiss to my lips. “I want you, Aiden. I want Sonny, too. And I know you both want me.”
“More than anything,” I confessed.
The announcer’s voice blasted through the speakers to begin the introductions. Ella cuddled beside me, her head on my chest and teeth chattering. It was too fucking cold to sit outside. But I was from the Midwest and no stranger to the chill in the air.
So I stripped off my leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Put this on. I don’t want you catching a cold.”
“Did you know that’s a misnomer?” Ella slipped her arms into the jacket and pulled it closed. “You can’t catch a cold from the weather.”
“True.” I held her tighter when her limbs shook. “But viruses spread faster in colder temperatures. Don’t argue with me, woman. Just wear the damn jacket.”
Ella laughed. “Oh, I’m not giving it back.” She stuffed her face into the jacket and took a deep breath. “It smells like you. Mmm… I love your scent.” She sniffed. “Charcoal. Clean linen. And cloves. How come I never see you smoke?”
My eyebrows rose. “Because I don’t smoke. It’s a gross habit.”
“I always imagined you smoking clove cigarettes.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I never smoked a day in my life. My mother is a smoker. It repulses me.”
“Then why do you smell like cloves?”
“That would be my soap. It’s some expensive shit Carl got for me. Probably costs a fortune knowing my grandfather.”
She lifted her thigh on top of mine for warmth. “Huh. All this time, I thought you were a closet smoker. But the soap makes more sense.”
Wrapping my arms around Ella, I pulled her onto my lap, drinking in her shampoo. “You smell like tangerines.” I dragged my nose up and down her neck. “And oranges.” I stuck my tongue out and licked her skin. “I could eat you right now.”
I was instantly reminded we were at a football game surrounded by too many people when the players ran onto the field. They darted past us, Sonny and Marcello taking up the rear. The crowd went wild and rose from their seats. I followed their lead, bringing Ella with me, and pressed her back to my chest. Her thick ass felt good against my cock. And after her confession, I couldn’t wait for the game to end.
She wanted to lose her virginity.
To me… and Sonny.
With all the players on the field, I only saw one. Sonny’s eyes found mine, and he rushed toward us, his body looking toned as fuck in tight pants.
Damn, my man is hot.
He bent down in front of Ella. “You’re covering up my jersey with a jacket?” Sonny frowned, slipping his hand beneath the fabric. “I want to see my name on your back.”
Her lips curved up into a grin. “But it’s cold, and Aiden’s jacket smells good.”
He leaned forward and took a whiff, staring at me. “It does, doesn’t it?”
“Mmmhm,” she mumbled.
“I’ll tell you what, El.” He twirled a lock of her hair around his gloved finger. “You can wear my jersey when I bend you over my bed later.”
Ella looked down for a second, and if her cheeks weren’t already flushed, they would have been now. “Sonny…”
“Cormac, get your ass on the field,” a burly man said from behind him, a clipboard in hand. “No more fucking around.”
“My coach is a real hard ass.” He rolled his eyes and glanced over his shoulder. “Be there in a second, Coach.”
“Now,” his coach ordered, teeth gritted.
Undeterred, Sonny grabbed Ella’s face and kissed her lips. “That one is for good luck.” Then he turned his head, parting my lips with his tongue. “And that one is for the win.”