Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ELLA
Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw blood. So much fucking blood it painted the floor crimson, soaking the walls. I heard the tortured pleas of my mother and the gasping sounds of her last breaths.
In my dreams, I got a do-over.
This time, I ignored my mother’s request to hide in the closet. Instead of running away, I found the courage to fight off the men attacking her. I wasn’t scared but empowered and blew their brains out with my father’s shotgun.
But dreams were not real.
I woke up screaming for my mom, a strong arm curled around me. Looking around the dimly lit room, I was so confused. I didn’t recognize any of the paintings. Clothes were scattered across the floor. Even a shirt was tossed onto the lampshade.
A few seconds passed before I remembered I was on Sonny’s yacht. We had sex last night—the three of us.
You’re safe.
It’s okay.
Every morning, I had to tell myself this. It was the only way I could get through each day, praying the men who killed my mother wouldn't come back for me.
“Ella, wake up.” The bed shifted beside me from Sonny’s weight, and his fingers brushed mine. “We can’t stay here.”
“Huh?” I glanced out the window and saw it was still dark outside. “What do you mean we have to leave?”
“Yeah, what are you talking about?” Aiden sat up, taking me with him.
He hadn’t stopped touching me all night. Even in sleep, Aiden latched onto me.
“My dad called his cop friends to break up the party. They’re being real ballbusters about us sleeping on the boat.” Sonny slid off the bed. “Some shit about how this marina isn’t zoned for residential something or other.”
“You sleep here all the time.” Aiden ran his fingers through his messy blond hair. “Why does your dad suddenly care?”
“He’s pissed about the company I’m keeping. Get dressed. We’ll find someplace to go.”
He extended his hand and helped me off the bed, yanking me to my feet. I hooked one arm around him to catch my balance and drank in the scent of his cologne—bergamot and tangerines—and tried to stay in the moment for a second longer. Deep down, I knew this was the beginning of the end.
“Your dad doesn’t want you hanging out with me, does he?”
He nodded. “I told him to fuck off.”
“Sonny…” I bit my lip, unsure what to say. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, El. My dad doesn’t own me. He may think he does…” His gaze drifted to the wall of windows overlooking the bay. “Fuck him.”
After Sonny cleared out the yacht, Aiden drove us to a hotel in his grandfather’s Rolls-Royce Phantom. I was getting a taste for their wealth and not hating it. I lost my virginity on a super yacht… and now I was riding in a car that cost more than most people made in ten years.
We headed into the lobby with our arms interlocked, catching a funny stare from the woman on duty. Her gaze dropped to our hands, and her nose wrinkled in disgust. Some people were so closed-minded.
“Hello,” Aiden said to the middle-aged woman with short brown hair cropped to her chin. “We’d like a room for the night.”
“The Waterford is not that kind of hotel.” She glared at me before returning her resting-bitch face to Aiden. “We don’t rent rooms by the hour.”
Annoyed, Aiden shook his head. “I want a room for the night, not the hour.”
The woman settled behind the computer, her fingers on the keyboard, and sneered. “How many rooms would you like?”
Aiden leaned his elbow on the counter and said, “One.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Hmmm… Have you stayed with us before?”
Aiden gritted his teeth. “No.”
Her frown deepened. “Just a moment.” She typed on the keyboard and then held out her palm. “Can I see your license?”
Aiden pulled out his wallet and laid the card in her hand.
Sonny reached into his pocket and tossed his credit card onto the counter before her. He was equally irritated about how this woman treated us. After getting kicked off his boat, Sonny was in rare form, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his jaw.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she said to Sonny and handed over his credit card. “Your card has been declined.”
He forced out a laugh. “Not likely. There must be an issue with your card reader.”
She swiped it again and sighed. “Declined.”
“Do you know who I am?” Sonny snapped. “Try it again.”
Aiden threw out his arm in front of Sonny to stop him from making a scene. “Don’t worry about it. The room is on me.”
“No,” Sonny hissed, offended by his offer. “That’s a Black Card. It doesn’t have a limit to max out.”
“Your dad cut you off,” Aiden said.
Sonny pulled at the ends of his hair and stared at his feet. “I can’t believe he’s doing this to me.”
My chest ached when I looked at his handsome face and noted the pain in his eyes. Did he regret having sex with me? Did he wish we never met? He would still be living the dream life if not for me. Nothing I said would comfort him. So I remained quiet, playing with the seam of my shirt to still my shaking hand.
Aiden took the keycards from the clerk, and we walked toward the elevators, no longer joined at the hip. Sonny was a good five feet from us, hands shoved into his pockets and sulking. Brooding over his father’s betrayal, Sonny hopped into the elevator with us, eyes on the floor. He hadn’t looked at either of us since his card was declined.
“We will figure this out,” Aiden promised, but it was empty. “Your dad is just trying to show you he’s the boss.”
Sonny balled his hand into a fist and bit down on it. His cheeks were bright red, the color spreading down to his neck. Usually, he was calm and collected, on top of the world. But he was hurting because of me, so I felt compelled to say something.
“I didn’t mean to cause you…” My voice cracked as I spoke. “I wish I could do something to help you.”
“Stop it, El.” Sonny lifted his head, his eyes glassy. “Just stop fucking talking and let me think.”
“Knock it off.” Aiden slapped Sonny’s arm and got in his face, but Sonny wouldn’t look at him. “Don’t take this out on Ella. I told you not to flaunt our relationship in front of everyone. You chose to give Ella your jersey. And you fucking chose to kiss her in front of the entire school. That’s on you.”
“I know it’s my fault.” Sonny leaned back against the mirrored wall and sighed. “My dad warned me to stay away from Ella after the game, and I didn’t listen. I didn’t care.” Sonny put his face in his hands and groaned. “And now…”
A rich boy like Sonny wouldn’t do well without his family’s money and protection. He never had to work a day in his privileged life.
The doors opened on the tenth floor. We scrambled out of the elevator in search of our suite. Of course, Aiden booked the penthouse. The Wellingtons never did anything half-assed.
My family had money, but it paled in comparison to the founders of Devil’s Creek. People like Sonny and Aiden could afford to buy an island. Maybe they already owned one.
Aiden jammed the keycard into the slot and guided me inside the tiled foyer. A vase of roses sat on a circular table in front of us. The suite was decorated in white and cream, tasteful and classy but also dull and uppity. I was sure the Wellingtons owned this hotel, though Aiden hadn’t mentioned it.
We passed by the dining area, living room, and hall bathroom and went straight into the bedroom. It was after six o’clock in the morning. The thick curtains cloaked the room in darkness, and I was thankful. My body throbbed from head to toe, especially between my legs. And after getting pulled out of bed after only an hour of sleep, I wanted to crawl into the bed and pass out.
Sonny stripped down to his boxer briefs and sat on the edge of the mattress. Running his fingers through his hair, he glanced at the carpet, still not speaking.
I got on my knees between his spread thighs. “Sonny, let me make you feel better.”
He looked at me. “How?”
I leaned forward and gripped the waistband of his boxers. “I can think of a few ways.”
Licking my lips, I inched his underwear down his thighs and fisted his shaft. Within seconds, he was semi-hard and growing in my hand. Aiden discarded his clothes and flashed a mischievous smile that reached his eyes right before he bent down and licked Sonny’s dick with me. The two of us worked so well as a team.
When I was with them, I was whole.
Complete.
Aiden flattened his tongue against Sonny’s shaft, and I followed his lead, mimicking every movement. A sharp hiss escaped from Sonny’s mouth.
“Fuck, you two are so good at this.” Sonny palmed the backs of our heads, yanking on our hair. “Suck my cock. Stop playing with me.”
I gave him a few more licks before letting Aiden take the lead. He sucked Sonny into his mouth, rewarded by an appreciative grunt. Sonny thrust his hips, forcing Aiden to take more of his impressive length until he choked on him.
Aiden gaged, attempting to come up for air, and Sonny laughed. “Not so fast, Sunshine. Take this cock like a good boy.” He stroked the hair on Aiden’s neck and smirked. “You always suck me like you mean it.”
While Aiden worked his magic, I climbed onto the bed and kissed Sonny’s chest. Rolling my tongue over each nipple, I give each bud a few bites. He grunted each time my tongue made contact, his fingers weaving through my hair.
Sonny’s legs shook like a tremor ran through him. “Your mouth feels so good. I’m going to come… Swallow my cum down your pretty throat.”
Sonny moaned the second he exploded on Aiden’s tongue, slowly releasing his hold on Aiden’s head. He dropped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, and blew out a deep breath. A minute passed, and no one spoke until Sonny broke the silence.
“Come here.” He raised his index finger. “I need to fuck both of you.”