Page 187 of Divine Obsession

Since Natalia hadn’t told anyone about us, I couldn’t even text her in case Maria was on her phone or something.

I liked Maria, and I understoodwhyshe needed her sister now more than ever…

But I needed Natalia too.

And I wasn’t used to not seeing her every day, let alone not sleeping with her in my arms.

I wanted to just tell everyone already that we were seeing each other, but she didn’t think it was appropriate with Maria and Zach’s wholesituation.

And I’d promised Natalia to do this on her own timing.

Maria was still at Natalia’s place. Meanwhile, for the past week, Natalia was sleeping over at my condo in SoHo. Either sneaking out, or lying about going to her parents. Maria was too busy to pick up on the lies, but I was glad.

Because that meant I could keep Natalia right where she was. Next to me. Sleeping peacefully in my arms.

The city outside was silent except for the occasional hum of a passing car. We’d fallen asleep earlier, after a long, slow evening ofmissed yousex – naked and tangled in the sheets. A window was open, letting in the warm breeze of late summer night.

My hand was in her hair, wrapped in those soft, caramel strands. Her pillowy lips parted slightly, the smallest frown between her brows. I raised my hand and softly relaxed her expression, my hands cupping the side of her face.

Closing my eyes, I raised my chin, Natalia’s face pressed into the crook of my neck. Her perfume clouded my mind, and it wasn’t long before sleep took over me again.

The sharp ring of a phone cut through the dark. I groaned, half-asleep, as she rolled over to grab her cell from the nightstand.

“It’s Maria,” She mumbled, before answering. “Hey, is everything–”

Undecipherable cries came through the line.

Natalia straightened. “Shot? Where are you?”

I immediately sat up.

“On my way.” Natalia ended the call and jumped out of bed, already putting her clothes on. “Zach’s in surgery. He’s the one that got hit. Maria’s alone, waiting for him.”

“Where?” I asked, doing the same.

“Lenox Hill.”

A minute later, I was locking the condo’s door behind us.

The car ride to the hospital felt endless, even though it was barely twenty minutes; the roads clear at past one in the morning.

Natalia was silent beside me.

It wasn’t the first time we were in these circumstances. We’d been in a hauntingly similar situation four years ago with my sister.

We found Maria in the waiting salon, her face buried in her hands. She looked up as we approached, her eyes red and makeup running down.

Natalia rushed to her, pulling her in an impossibly tight, yet assuring hug. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Maria pulled back slightly, shaking her head as more tears fell down. “He saved my life.”

“What?”

“They meant to shoot me. Not him. But he pushed me out of the way.” She broke off, her voice hitching. “There’s so much blood, Nat.”

“Did you see who did this?”

Maria’s eyes darkened, meeting mine over Natalia’s shoulder and I knew, without a doubt, Ruiz was dead.But at what cost?

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