Page 41 of Dirty Heirs

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.”

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