Page 32 of Divine Obsession

Luckily, Zane helped me settle the deal. He was already in Japan for business when I called.

Zane Takashi, a highly sought-after assassin, had not only been my friend for years, but also a loyal connection to my family, with ties to other trusted criminal organizations.

The SUV left the Teterboro Airport behind and headed towards my family’s mansion in Queens. After an hour of New York traffic, I was finally home.

I’d left last week, the same night of the party, and hadn’t had the chance to talk to Kali since she’d been passed out drunk.

However, now I had more than enough time.

I headed straight for her room and banged on the door.

“Come in!Jeez.” The moment I stepped inside, Kali gave me an annoyed look from where she was hibernating in her bed, covered by a thousand fluffy blankets and pillows. “You’re in a good mood.”

“Don’t think you’re off the hook just because I’ve been gone a week. What thehellwere you thinking bringing Natalia to that party?”

The party I’d caught them at last week, was not just any party. It was one of Antonio DeMone’s parties. That meant every parent’s nightmare multiplied by a thousand. Only those from other organized crime groups were welcomed.

Like with all five families, Tony and I went way back; so did my sister. But just because Kali was allowed to be there, didn’t mean she should’ve been.

She made a frustrated, strangled noise. “Why do you care?”

WhydidI care?

“She’s not one of us.” Not the reason, but not necessarily untrue either.

“Seriously?”

“You can’t just bring anybody to those parties. You’re lucky no one asked questions.” They must’ve all been too drunk or high to notice an outsider.

“Why? She’s a Moretti.”

I paused. “What did you just say?”

Kali scoffed. “Aren’t you supposed to be the smart one? I thought you would’ve figured it out by now.”

“Are you telling me she’s actually related to the Morettis?”

Our families hadn’t gotten along for generations. Salvatore and my father would even go as far as to call each other rivals. No one knew why, but that didn’t stop the feud.

“You making friends with the enemy now?”Kali just always had to rebel.

“For the record, she had no idea when we met. She only found out after the Christmas Charity Gala.”

I ran a hand over my face.

Of course, the possibility had crossed my mind even back then, the moment I heard her name, but I crossed it off as a coincidence.

“Whatever. I’m hungry.” With that, Kali threw the covers off and stormed out of the room, heading towards the kitchen like a ‘hangry’ gremlin.

My eyes landed on her nightstand. Walking over, I picked up the pink envelope.

You’ve been invited to celebrate Natalia Moretti’s 19thbirthday.

I wasn’t the stalker type.

If I had a problem, it was clear.

My presence was always known. Always feared. And if they were smart – always avoided.