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“Can I get another gift?” Luca whispered into my ear, his hand traveling down my body.

I met his hungry gaze, and I knew what he was talking about.

I wanted nothing more.

Except, I couldn’t have it.

“You’re drunk,” I said. “You don’t know what you want right now.”

“But I do.” He pulled me closer to him. “I want you. You want me too.”

“No.” It was one of the hardest things I’d ever had to say. “If you feel the same once you’re sober, then maybe we can do something about it.”

He groaned, and I stepped away from him.

“We should go home,” I said.

***

GOING HOME TURNED OUTto be a good decision because Luca could barely stand on his feet. I helped him to his room, and he ended up lying on the bed with his head resting on my lap.

“Thank you,” he murmured as I caressed his hair. “I never had that before.”

“You mean alcohol? Yeah, I can tell.” I chuckled.

“No. I mean, yeah. That too.” His eyes briefly met mine. “I never had a birthday party before or any cake.”

“What?” I furrowed my brow.

How was that possible?

“My brothers had parties, but I was never invited to any of them. And I was always in trouble with my father, so I never got to celebrate my birthdays.”

“Luca...”

His eyes were closed, and it looked like he was asleep.

I couldn’t believe this was actually the first time Luca had gotten to celebrate his birthday. That was just crazy.

What could he have possibly done each year to piss his father off so much? And to be banned from his brothers’ birthdays too? Even when he was just a kid?

I couldn’t believe it.

I just couldn’t believe it had entirely been Luca’s fault.

Before, I’d thought Giovanni was just indifferent to him, but now it seemed like he hated his son for some reason. How the hell could he be so cruel?