Page 133 of Divine Obsession

Tony might’ve been just twenty – not even old enough to legally drink – but he was a killer in the ring, undefeated and terrifying. His matches weren’t fights – they were executions.

Trevor wasn’t exactly a stranger to violence, either. Six years older and already the unofficial head of his family. He had built his reputation on being ruthless. A different kind of dangerous.

Tony smirked, a flicker of amusement breaking through his stoic exterior. “She’s here because she wants to be. No one forced her. Least of all me.”

Trevor’s grip tightened, and Tony’s hands flexed in response. The tension crackled like a live wire between them, and I could see the sheer force of will it took for both of them not to throw the first punch.

People were beginning to back off, but before it could escalate further, Trevor’s friend –the owner– stepped between the two, separating them.

Trevor pushed him off, probably still pissed about the situation.

“Whatever,” Kali snapped, rolling her eyes as she brushed past all of us. “I’m getting out of here.”

“No, you’re not.” Trevor’s tone left no room for argument. He took a step, cutting off her exit. “You’re coming with me, Natalia, and Zane to the back.You.” His gaze flicked to Tony, sharp and dismissive. “Get lost.”

“Fuck you, motherfucker,” Tony shot back.

Kali turned to Tony, and her expression softened as she moved to hug him. “Thanks for the help.”

Tony’s arms wrapped around her easily, his broad frame making her look small for the first time all night. “Anytime,” He murmured, his voice just loud enough for me to catch.

Kali pulled back, her eyes meeting his with a warmth that felt almost foreign in this brutal setting. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Tony nodded and stepped back, his expression dangerous as he gave Trevor one last glance. Then, turned and walked away, vanishing into the sea of people like a shadow.

Trevor’s friend, whose name I’d just learned was Zane, tracked Kali the whole interaction, his stare drilling into the back of her head. His expression was carefully blank, but there was something simmering beneath the surface.Anger? Disapproval?I couldn’t tell, but the air around him practically vibrated with unspoken tension.

As soon as Tony was out of sight, he turned to Zane. “I need you for something,” He said bluntly, his voice sharp and all business now, even though his jaw was still clenched tight.

Zane didn’t respond right away, his attention on Kali as she crossed her arms and glared at her brother. “Fine,” He said finally, his tone clipped. “We’ll talk upstairs.”

Trevor’s hand found my wrist again, making sure I wouldn’t get lost through the crowd.

As we headed toward the blacked-out office upstairs, I glanced over my shoulder at Kali. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a flash in her eyes as she glanced at Zane’s back, who was leading the way.

Chapter 35

Present

The next morning, I found myself at the Su Enterprises headquarters, sitting in a large, glass-walled meeting room that overlooked SoHo and Chinatown.

The table was long enough to seat a dozen people on either side, but today, it was only occupied by four. On one end, my father leaned back in his chair, radiating quiet authority in his perfectly tailored suit. On the opposite end, Salvatore Moretti sat stiffly, his dark eyes narrowed as if the weight of the room rested on his glare alone.

Between them, the air was thick with years of unspoken grievances and mutual suspicion.

And then there was Natalia and me, sitting on the same side of the table, dead center. A silent statement.

The fact that we were sitting together hadn’t gone unnoticed. It was a detail too small for either of our fathers to comment on openly, but the glances they exchanged spoke volumes. This wasn’t about us. Not really. But it was a good sign, an implication that maybe their war wouldn’t tear their families apart entirely.

Zane’s resources were beyond anything I could’ve pulled together on short notice. Black market connections, shipping manifests, and client lists – all meticulously tracked, as if he’d been waiting for us to ask.

At first, the digital trail led us to an offshore account linked to the New York Yakuza, but when we looked closer, it was someone trying to make it look like that. Someone who’d attended the original meeting at Salvatore’s penthouse on Natalia’s birthday earlier this year, and who also had access to the Dynasty’s SoHo offices.

I’d just gotten done filling Salvatore and my father in, and to say the atmosphere was tense, was an understatement.

Natalia shifted beside me, pulling me back to the present. She looked perfect as ever, her caramel hair swept over one shoulder, her expression unreadable.

“And why should I believe this?” Salvatore asked, his voice laced with doubt.

---