Page 31 of Divine Obsession

I could still feel the rush of life in my veins when I told them.

I want in.

The elevator doors opened, allowing me to step into the lobby. Things might’ve been patched up between us now, and arguably even brought us closer, but I was still in need of someseriousretail therapy.

Especially with my birthday coming up.

The moment I took the corner, I saw her. She was walking back and forth, muttering to herself.

It took her another few moments to notice me frozen in place. When she saw me, she froze too, and we were left to look each other in the eye, exchanging all the words we wanted to say but couldn’t get out.

Finally, Kali explained, “Gìo told me.”

I scoffed, looking away.Should’ve known I couldn’t trust him either.

“I don’t want to see you right now.” I advanced, moving to walk past her.

“Nat, come on, just let me explain.”

“How could you not tell me?” Unexpected emotion escaped me, as I turned around to face her. “This whole time,you knew.”

I didn’t expect her to tell me her family secrets, but she could’ve told me about the Morettis. I’d been affiliated with them for some time now, and every moment that had passed without me knowing, had been another moment risking me my life.

Kali looked at me with those big, dough eyes; unfamiliarly sad with unshed tears. Her voice was barely a whisper, “I didn’t think you’d want to be friends anymore.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because it’s happened before.” She lifted a shoulder in defeat. “More times than I can count. I didn’t want to lose you. But, now I might, anyway.”

I bit down on my back teeth and looked down at the floor. The memory of me saying those almost exact words to Maria in an orphanage hallway in the middle of the night a decade ago, softened my heart.

“I’m sorry, Nat.”

We looked at each other for one more moment before I stepped up and wrapped Kali in a hug. She clung to me, and I realized this was the first time in my life someone had beggedmeto stay. It made me realize the depth of our friendship.

“Don’t be mad at Gìo. He’s just being a good friend.” Her voice muffled in my hair.

I sighed, even though I didn’t like it. “I know.”

When we pulled back, Kali had that glint in her eyes. “Debrief?”

“Yes.”

And so we debriefed the whole situation while trying on thousand-dollar shoes.

Chapter 7

Present

The wind bit at my skin as I descended the stairs of my private jet and got into the SUV awaiting my arrival. More planes, personal and commercial, zoomed through the sky, appearing to be shooting stars in the night.

My trip to Tokyo had been last-minute and unexpected. Father was usually the one who handled business there since that’s where he was born and raised.

However, after I carried drunk Kali to her bedroom after last week’s party, he called me into his office and told me it was now my problem. When I’d asked why, surprised since he’d previously told me I wasn’t ready, he asked sarcastically,Didn’t you say you wanted more responsibility in the family business?

The whole week I’d been negotiating with the Yakuza regarding weapons, prices and distribution.

Now I wasn’t so sure if dad really wanted me to grow, or was trying to kill me.

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