Page 37 of Dirty Heirs

She slipped her fingers between his, and he twirled Ella again, gazing at her like she was the center of his universe. I’d only ever seen him look at one other person this way.

He cared about Ella.

This wasn’t another hookup for him.

“My dad owns jet boats,” she told Aiden. “But nothing like this.” Her eyes wandered around the deck in awe. “We can’t afford a floating hotel.” She laughed like it was a ridiculous concept to own a yacht. “He’d have to sell a lot more guns and drugs to…” Ella stopped herself, realizing her mistake, and cleared her throat. “I mean…” She scrubbed a hand across her face and sighed. “Shit.”

“We know how your dad makes his money.” I moved beside her and rested my hand on her hip. “It’s not much of a secret, El.”

“Right.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m just so used to hiding it.”

“You don’t have to hide from us.” Aiden dug his fingers into her side, the three of us so close my skin was on fire. “Isn’t that right, Pretty Boy?”

I nodded, tugging Ella toward the center of the boat. “Your secrets are safe with us.”

We entered the saloon, and Ella gasped. Alex and Aiden had the same reaction. To me, this was just one of many boats my family owned.

Another possession.

It was nothing special.

The room had windows on three sides, with a shiny bamboo floor you could see your reflection in, a massive sitting area that accommodated forty people, and a bar long that spanned half the wall.

My parents hosted local events on the yacht. But, otherwise, they never came to the marina. This was my safe space, my usual hangout to escape the house. Most weekends, I slept here. Sometimes, Marcello or my teammates joined me. On occasion, I brought guys here to hook up since my dad hated it when I flaunted my sexuality at home. He didn’t like my group sleepovers.

“If you like this boat,” I said on my way to the bar, “you’ll love the one we dock at the Port of Málaga. It’s twice the size.” I stepped behind the bar and looked at them. “So, what are you drinking?”

“Just water for me,” Ella said. “I can’t go home smelling like alcohol.”

I leaned forward, elbows on the wooden countertop. “Have you ever gotten drunk, El?”

She shook her head. “I don’t have any friends.” Her cheeks flushed as she said this, and she turned her head to avoid me. “Who would I drink with?”

We could have been nicer to Ella. But it was easier to avoid her altogether than to get involved with the Doyles.

“I’m going to fix that.”

Her head snapped to me. “How?”

“You’re coming to the after-party with me this weekend. As my date.”

Ella bit her lip, clearly bothered by my invitation. Most girls jumped at the chance to be my date.

But not Ella.

She looked miserable.

“What’s the problem, babe? You got somewhere else to be?”

“No.” She sat on a stool before me, our fingers almost touching as she tapped on the wood. “It’s just… You don’t know my dad.”

“Unfortunately, I do.”

Aiden sat on the stool beside her and patted her thigh. “It’s okay, Cinders. I can take you home after the game if this is too much. You don’t have to come to the after-party.”

“But…” She shifted awkwardly on the chair. “I want to go. You don’t get it. My dad will get suspicious if I ask him to stay out all day and night. After what happened…” She sighed. “You know about my mom, right?”

We both nodded.

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