Page 188 of Divine Obsession

Natalia tightened her grip on Maria’s shoulders. “He’s going to be okay. What did you call him, remember?”

Maria’s smile was wobbly. “Persistent.”

“He’s not going anywhere.”

She nodded, but the fear in her eyes didn’t waver.

I cleared my throat, trying to steady the tension in the room. “Did the doctors say anything?”

“That he’s stable,” Maria whispered. “But the surgery’s complicated. Internal bleeding.”

“He’s in good hands. Lenox Hill’s the best,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. But even as I said it, I couldn’t shake the unease settling in my chest.

A loud bang came from the other side of the doors, down the hallway. My hand hovered over the gun in my waistband before relaxing.

Matteo rushed in. “Where the fuck is he?”

“Surgery. He’s fine–”

His eyes darkened when he looked past me, at the girls. “If my brother dies because of you–”

“Hey.” Natalia’s tone was final, wrapping a protective arm around Maria. “Everyone’s scared. If you’re angry, take it outside. Come back when you’ve calmed down.”

Matteo’s jaw clicked with tension, his eyes still glaring at Maria who was wiping away her tears, not looking at him.

“Come on, man.” I squeezed Matteo’s shoulder, redirecting him so we could get some fresh air.

I couldn’t blame him. That was his little brother – the only family he had left – close to dying on the operation table.

Matteo shook me off, instead walking to one of the doctors that had just walked out of the hallway leading to Zach’s surgery room.

“I’m sorry, Em.” I heard Natalia speak softly. “He’s just worried.”

Maria shook her head, wiping away more tears. “No. He’s right. That’s his family. Of course, he’s angry. It is my fault.”

“Em,” Natalia began, rubbing Maria’s hand.

Her face cracked. “What if I never get to tell him that I love him too?”

I caught Natalia breathe in a sharp breath. “He’s going to befine.”

At five in the morning, the doors at the far end of the hallway swung open, and the doctor emerged, still in scrubs, her face unreadable. Everyone froze, the room going utterly still as he walked toward us.

Matteo stepped in front of the doctor. “How is he?”

The doctor pulled down her mask, exhaling. “The surgery went as well as we could have hoped. He’s stable.”

Maria let out a shaky breath, her arms clutching around her knees like a lifeline.

“But?” Matteo snapped, his voice tight.

The doctor’s gaze softened. “Zachary hasn’t woken up yet. We’ll continue to monitor him, but… There’s nothing more we can do for now. It’s up to him.”

It felt like the floor dropped out from under us. I saw Matteo’s shoulders tighten, his fists clenching at his sides. Maria’s hand trembled as she clutched her cross necklace, her eyes still closed. Natalia slipped an arm around her, pulling her close.

“Can we see him?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“One at a time,” The doctor replied. “He needs rest.”

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