Page 8 of Dirty Heirs

“That sounds like something Luca would do.” She nibbled on her bottom lip as we approached the dining hall. “He’s gotten students kicked out of his classes and a few times even got them expelled. You get on his bad side, and he unleashes his fury.”

“He can’t do shit to me.” I opened the door so Ella could slip under my arm and enter the room. “My grandfather controls the Salvatores.”

Ella clung to my side, nervously adjusting the strap on her shoulder. “I usually sit in the corner by myself.”

“Then that’s where we’ll sit.” I gripped her elbow. “Lead the way, Cinders.”

“Seriously, Aiden.” She guided me to the right side of the room. “You don’t have to sit with me. I don’t want people to treat you differently.”

Her words stung, striking a chord with me. I knew what it was like to be nothing and no one. Last week, I was Aiden Fox. Alex and I were the poorest kids at our public school, and that was saying a lot. We never had nice clothes. All of our shit was used and from thrift stores, torn in various places.

“I’m right where I want to be. Keep walking, Cinders. I’m hungry.”

Sighing, she guided me to a circular table in the corner. It was small enough to seat four people and gave us plenty of room to stretch out.

“I’m good with this.” I plopped my bag into an open chair and sat beside her. “I prefer privacy so I can sketch.”

A grin pulled at her pretty lips. “Me too.”

We left our bags on the chairs and headed over to the line forming at the front of the dining hall. A massive buffet was at the center of the room, where dozens of students lined up with trays. My stomach rumbled at the scent of garlic and herbs.

I grabbed two trays and passed one to Ella. Considering this school’s cost, I was surprised they didn’t serve us tableside. One year of tuition at Astor Prep was more expensive than Harvard University.

“I’m not sure what you’re used to,” Ella said, “but we do things differently at Astor Prep. It’s Monday. Pasta bar day. And you get three courses.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Are you for real?”

She grabbed two plates, handed one to me, and nodded.

“Alex will be in her glory.”

After going to bed hungry more than I could count, I was excited about the pasta bar. I snatched a plate from the stack and wondered what my twin chose since she had the lunch period before mine. We would have killed to eat food like this on the regular. It would have helped to stave off the hunger pains at night when our parents conveniently forgot to feed us.

I added sausage lasagna, a handful of Italian bread, and Caesar salad to my plate. Ella’s plate was barely filled, with only a tiny scoop of rigatoni and one slice of garlic bread.

“You don’t eat much, huh?”

She shook her head. “Not this early in the day.”

Students whispered Ella’s name, and the word freak followed. My head snapped toward the hushed tones, and I found three pretty girls behind me. Their faces were caked with makeup. Their hair was styled, not a strand out of place. Of course, their uniforms were perfectly pressed. Although, the skirts were a little too short and barely covered their underwear. All the girls at this school tried too hard to look older.

“Don’t talk shit about my girl,” I said to the group, venom dripping from my tone. “And if I hear you repeat Ella’s name, you won’t like what happens.”

“Um,” the short brunette blurted out, stumbling on her words. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Yeah, me neither,” the blonde with too much blush on her cheeks whispered.

I glanced at the third girl, a tall redhead with a dusting of freckles on her pale cheeks. “I guess that leaves you, Red. I better not hear Ella’s name come out of your mouth again.”

I was more of a lover than a fighter. But fuck these girls. They talked shit about Ella because she was easy prey.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Please don’t tell your grandfather. My dad…” She trembled at the threat of my grandfather contacting her father. “He’ll kill me.”

My grandfather was like a god in Devil’s Creek. The Founders of this town looked down on the residents from their mega mansions on Founders Way. I knew the adults feared them, but I had no idea even the students trembled at their power. Good to know. Because if any of these assholes disrespected my girl again, I would make it hurt.

Ella was mine.

She just didn’t know it yet.

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