Page 61 of Heir of Darkness

He grinned, pulling her closer. “Best birthday by far.”

She laughed. “We haven’t even gotten to the cabin yet.”

“I know, but I’m finally getting to spend it with you.”

Warmth filled her. Before she could reply, he helped her into the waiting car. It wasn’t his usual sports car. This time, he brought a SUV with him. Still ridiculously nice and expensive, but it just wasn’t him.

“What happened to your car?” she asked.

“This is my car,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “The one you always drive me in.”

“Dante smoked in it, and I can’t stand the smell,” he said. “So I’m getting it detailed and fumigated.”

“I can’t stand the smell either,” she told him. They began driving, this time taking their time unlike how he usually drove. “This car is nice too.”

“You like the other one more?” he asked.

“It’s just the one we always use,” she said. “Now, tell me what you did for your birthday today.”

“I was just preparing the cabin. They’ve been setting up all day at the house, so it’s like a circus,” Valerio told her. His hand found her thigh, holding onto it while he drove.

She set her hand on top of it, sinking into the leather seat. “Everyone seems excited for the party tomorrow. Why don’t you?”

He sighed. “It’s not my thing. I’ve never been the type of person who wanted to be celebrated,” he said.

Luna frowned. “Why not?”

“I don’t know. The more powerful you get, you realize people just want to party with you for status, not because they actually give a shit about you. When I was in Italy, I made myself a nicedinner, went to whatever party Dante threw for me for a couple of minutes, and then ducked out.”

“You should enjoy the little moments, which means even the annoying parties,” Luna said. “Working so much will lead to burn out.”

“I know that now. I just felt like I always had so much to prove being my father’s firstborn. Too much responsibility comes with it and I had to dedicate my time to getting everything perfect, making sure the business was flourishing and everything was in order.”

Valerio was young, but he lived his life like he had already experienced everything it had to offer. Luna couldn’t imagine the pressure he was under, but she also knew that type of life wasn’t sustainable. She was thankful she had her best friends that forced her to enjoy life and the little moments instead of the responsibilities that came with being her parents’ only daughter. Without them, she would have sunk into her misery long ago.

Valerio needed that person too.

“Well, now you get to enjoy all these moments, including the stupid parties we’re forced to attend,” she said, giving him a smile.

He returned it, squeezing her thigh. “I do and believe me, I’m thankful for it.” His eyes drifted down to the ring on her finger that shined under the bright setting sun’s light.

The drive felt longer when Luna wasn’t forced to go to the cabin. In fact, the drive and his presence were pleasant. They talked about random things, letting Luna tell him all about her birthdays over the years. On her fourteenth, her father gave her a diamond necklace, on her fifteenth he bruised her cheek for staying out late with the girls, and on her sixteenth, he set up an arranged marriage.

“How long has he been putting his hands on you?” Valerio asked. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his voice eerily calm.

“Since I could remember.” It was hard to remember when it exactly started, but once it started it never stopped. “He kept it at slaps and minor punishments for me, but Finn always had the brunt of it. He took the heat off of me and placed it on himself so I never get it worse.”

“Maybe there is something redeemable about Finn Kingsley.”

“He’s not a terrible person. He’s misunderstood. I think a lot of you are,” she said, looking up at him.

He was silent for a moment. “My father always went worse on Dante, finding any and all excuses to beat him. I always wondered if it was because I was the heir, but the older we get the more I realize just how much he looks like our mom. The eyes, the nose, the hair—identical. I think our father hates him for it, the constant reminder Dante serves,” Valerio said. “Like your nightmare looking you in your eyes repeatedly.”

Luna swallowed harshly. She never knew just how similar her and Valerio’s lives were; how both their fathers made their lives hell. Even Dante, though she hardly tolerated him after what happened in the car that day when he threatened her, but she could understand now. Valerio was all he had.

“Maybe this is cruel, but I’m happy your father is tortured by Dante,” she said. “Neither of you has ever deserved to be harmed by him.”

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