Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
ELLA
After getting the call about Marcello, Sonny was a mess. They were best friends and closer than brothers. So, I comforted Sonny with food and sex, doing my best to take his mind off reality.
Aiden helped, too.
We sucked Sonny’s cock to distract him. Climbed on top of him whenever he started letting his mind wander to all the horrible possibilities. Waiting to hear from Cole Marshall drove all of us crazy.
When Marcello finally called, Sonny snatched the phone from the table. “Cello? You scared the fucking shit out of me.” A slow smile spread across his face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I heard him say, but it sounded like a lie.
He was tortured and nearly killed in that cave.
Sonny rose from the couch and walked into the kitchen. “How about Drake?” He grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and let out a relieved breath. “Good, good. And Tate?” Turning his back to us, he sighed. “Fuck. They killed him.” A pause. “You both had to watch? Shit. How is Drake doing?”
Their conversation continued for another five minutes, with Marcello giving him updates on what had happened in the cave. Sonny had tears in his eyes and scrubbed a hand at his cheeks. But overall, he seemed okay, more relieved than anything.
I sat on the couch with Aiden, curled up on his lap. He enveloped me in his warmth, smothering me with love and kisses. In his arms, I felt safe for the first time in years.
“What was it like living in Ireland?” Aiden asked, nuzzling my ear with his nose.
“My aunt is a nightmare,” I told him. “She runs a crew of men who deal in drugs and guns. She’s just as crazy as my dad. Maybe more ruthless.” I stretched my legs across his lap and rested my head on his shoulder. “My grandparents fucked up their children. None of my aunts and uncles work normal jobs. They’re all part of the family business in some way.”
“Hey, you could’ve had my parents.” Aiden laughed, though I knew that was only a mechanism for how he handled the trauma. “My mom locked Alex in closets. She intentionally didn’t feed or bathe us. That woman is a true psychopath.” He shook his head, and a strand of blond hair fell before his eyes. “Anyone who hurts kids should be condemned to the seventh circle of Hell.”
I pushed the hair off his forehead and kissed him. “I’m just happy to be here with you and Sonny again. I wanted to contact you for years. But I had no way of communicating with anyone. Per my dad’s orders, my aunt wouldn’t allow me internet or cell phone access. I could only call home, which I didn’t want to do.” I rolled my shoulders and sighed. “Not like I had much to say to my dad after he sent me away.”
Aiden wrapped his strong arms around me and kissed my forehead. “That part of your life is over now. We’ll take good care of you.”
Aiden’s phone dinged with a new text message. He lifted the phone from the coffee table and typed out a quick reply. “My sister wants us to come to the Salvatore Estate. Marcello and Drake are arriving soon.”
“Okay, I’ll be here when you get back.”
“No.” He rose from the couch, taking me with him. “You’re one of us now. My family and friends will have to accept our relationship.”
Sonny strolled toward us and dabbed at his red-rimmed blue eyes. “Tate Maxwell is dead.” He sniffed. “Marcello and Drake had to watch him get beaten to death. They’re lucky to be alive.”
Over the past few days, they told me about Drake Battle and Tate Maxwell. I’d never heard of Tate until recently. But Drake was one of Sonny’s oldest friends. Tate was Drake’s head of security and was like his brother.
“Fuck,” Aiden bit out. “Drake must be devastated.”
“Yeah,” Sonny agreed. “He’s pretty messed up physically… and mentally. So is Marcello. Olivia will be there… I can’t imagine telling her that her brother is dead. Drake will never be the same again.”
Olivia Maxwell was Drake’s live-in assistant and his best friend’s sister. According to Sonny, the three of them were like family to each other. Tate and Olivia grew up in foster care and had no one. So, Drake gave them a home and an education. He made sure they stayed off the streets.
Based on their stories about Drake, he was a good man. He cared about people and didn’t mind sharing his wealth. My heart ached for him.
Aiden tapped my ass. “Get dressed. We leave in five.”