Page 135 of Divine Obsession

“Tony went to buy a pack of cigarettes,” Francesca said, her tone casual as she reached us. “He’ll meet us upstairs.”

“Gìo couldn’t make it?” I drawled, hitting the elevator button harder than necessary. The faint ding sounded as the doors slid open. “What a shame,” I added, my tone laced with sarcasm.

No one really understood why Gìovanni and I didn’t get along – and I sure as hell wasn’t going to explain it now.

We stepped into the elevator, the four of us fitting easily into the sleek, mirrored space. As soon as the doors slid shut, Kali jabbed her elbow into my ribs.Hard. A sharp hiss escaped my lips before I could stop it.

“Be nice,” She muttered, her voice low but pointed.

I shot her a sidelong glance.

“Don’t bother,” Francesca snapped. “Gìovanni’s been a real goddamnstronzolately.”

“What’s new?” I asked, leaning back against the elevator wall with a smirk.

Francesca let out a sharp exhale, running her tongue over her teeth. “He wants to remove me from the family business.”

“No,” Kali said, her voice a mix of disbelief and defiance.

“The fuck?” Zach didn’t even try to hide his shock. Francesca was the mastermind behind half the DeMone operations, the one who had kept their ship steady even through the war with the Russians. If Gìo pushed her out, it wouldn’t just hurt their family – it would hurt all of us too.

All our businesses were intertwined.

A decline in her power was a decline in all our bottom line.

That Gìovanni motherfu–

“Why?” I asked, trying to keep the edge out of my voice but failing.

Francesca’s lip curled, her expression bitter. “He thinks I should do other things. Like, get a hobby. Or worse –married.” The last word dripped with disgust, like it physically pained her to say it.

I understood that look. The sour twist of someone who refused to be told what they could or couldn’t do. Francesca didn’t just want money or respect – she wantedpower.

We were who we were. And we didn’t back down for anyone – not even family.

The elevator let out a soft chime as it reached the top floor, and we stepped out into the fancy hallway. The door to Penthouse 111 opened before we even had the chance to knock.

Natalia.

She stood framed in the doorway, her figure elegant in a pink dress that hugged her in all the right places. Her hair was pulled back just enough to showcase her sharp cheekbones, and her lips curved into a polite smile.

For a split second, her expression faltered when her gaze landed on me, surprise flashing across her features. But she smoothed it out quickly, masking it with that cool, practiced composure she was so good at.

This was supposed to be a dinner party only between the girls. However, after the things Kali pulled last week, I was keeping an eye on her. So when she found out I was coming uninvited, she told Francesca to bring her brother too. Now, Zach on the other hand…

“Hey, guys,” Natalia welcomed politely, though confused as to why Zach or I were here.

Nodding politely, Zach stepped past her and into the penthouse. Inside, I caught the reflection of Maria as she moved around the kitchen island, helping with preparing dinner. Zach’s whole demeanor shifted as he moved towards her, his casual indifference getting replaced by something more purposeful.

Francesca gestured to the wine she’d brought, and Natalia nodded appreciatively, her voice warm as they all fell into small talk in the doorway.

The elevator dinged again, the doors sliding open as Tony stepped out, all swag and nonchalant in Superstars, baggy jeans and a loose white T-shirt. Making a point to ignore me, he threw one arm over his sister’s shoulder and the other over Kali’s, pulling them both into a loose hug. “Well, don’t you two look like trouble.”

“Always,” Kali laughed, while Francesca rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away.

Tony grinned, steering them inside, and saying a politehelloto Natalia on the way in.Maybe he wasn’t a complete idiot.

The only reason I hadn’t clocked him right in the jaw was because Kali had assured me there was nothing going on between them.

---