Page 6 of Ravage God

I didn’t think Elio had told Valentino about my confession that night, though it was hard to tell. Valentino wouldn’t have said anything to me if he knew. And he could probably tell that I had a crush on his friend about the same moment I realized it when I was sixteen, but he didn’t say anything to me, hoping it would go away.

It had been seven years, and it still hadn’t gone anywhere.

Valentino led me to Elio and clasped his shoulder in greeting. “Hey, man. Sorry, there was some traffic. You didn’t wait long, did you?”

Elio shook his head. “Not at all. I just got here.”

Elio turned to me, and even if I told myself to brace for it, the magnetic force of his honey-brown eyes still had enough power to make my heart stall and my breath catch at the same time.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” he said softly.

“Thank you,” I said, looking down at the floor.

No one said anything for a moment. Then Valentino broke the silence by calling the hostess over to bring us to our table.

We were quiet as we made our way to the table. Elio and Valentino were well-known in Las Vegas, especially Elio,considering he was a De Luca. The name was synonymous with Las Vegas royalty.

I worked hard not to give away my nervousness as all eyes turned toward us, and whispers started. It was no secret that today was my birthday. It was also very apparent that the only two people I had around to celebrate it were my brother and…hisfriend.

I looked down at the floor while I walked, feeling my cheeks getting hot from the thought. I never made friends easily, but at least I had some in high school and college.

But after that… I lost contact with all my friends, and I didn’t know how that had happened or how I had become so isolated.

Actually, I did know. I wasn’t allowed out often. Dad would have seen that as me becoming corrupt. I missed that time in my life. At least while I was in school, I had the chance to socialize with people my age.

Now…

I had no friends.

Valentino might be the closest thing I had to a best friend, but it wasn’t the same.

And Elio…

Well, unrequited love sucks.

I tried to put on a happy face through dinner. It was hard to do when I knew both men could see through the front. It sucked that my brother knew, but Valentino was Valentino. If I couldn’t be vulnerable with him, who else could I be that with?

But it was different with Elio.

I hated that he saw me like this. I hated it even more that my heart hurt every time I looked at him.

The time passed by both quickly and slowly, all at once, and I just wanted to find a spot on the ground and just… be.

Before long, the cake came by, a single lit candle on top. I was thankful that both men knew I didn’t want to make a big deal out of this. They were silent as they watched me.

“Make a wish, sweetheart,” Valentino said. The look in his eyes told me he wanted more than anything to help make my wish come true.

But there were things even he couldn’t control.

I smiled sadly at him, my eyes straying to Elio, like they always did whenever he was nearby.

I closed my eyes and thought of my wish over and over again. And for the first time in years, I didn’t wish for the same things. I wished for something different.

I wish to fall out of love with Elio De Luca.

I blew out the candle and opened my eyes to see both Valentino and Elio smiling brightly at me. I took in my brother before turning to Elio and keeping my gaze on him.

Perhaps God would take mercy on me and make this wish come true.