Divine Obsession (GodHood #2)

Chapter 42

22 years old

Closing Natalia’s bedroom door behind me with a soft click, I made my way down the dark hallway, heading back towards Carmen’s birthday party.

I didn’t last five minutes alone at the bar before a voice bothered me.

“What are you doing here, Mr Su?”

I didn’t turn to look, as I drank from my tumbler. “Mr Salvatore… My sister and your daughter are best friends. I’m here as Kali’s guard.”

“That’s all you’re doing here?”

Finally, I looked to the side, meeting his hard face. “Yes, sir.”

He grunted in agreement, though I could tell he was still not buying it. “You’re a smart, young man, Trevor. I’m sure you understand my daughters will marry Italian men, yes?” He watched me sternly, waiting for my reaction.

I bit back on my back teeth, keeping a perfectly neutral face.

“Alright.” Salvatore slapped my shoulder before walking off. “Enjoy the party.”

Pushing my glass away, I stood from the bar stool and headed out towards the terrace. I shouldn’t have known the layout of the penthouse considering tonight was my first time here, yet no one could have expected me not to study my enemy’s home ground before stepping foot on it.

The cold air hit my face as I slid close the glass door behind me, stepping into the outside area. I stopped short for a moment.

A lone figure sat on the stone wall before the tall glass barrister.

“Not enjoying your party?”

Carmen startled, looking at me over her shoulder before laughing. We’d known each other from growing up in the same lifestyle and attending the same private school on the Upper East Side.

“What you thinking about?”

“I can’t believe I’m nineteen.”

I elbowed her, nodding towards the vodka in her hand. “In two years, you’ll be allowed to drink.” She chuckled, though something was obviously on her mind. “What’s wrong?”

“I just feel like life is going by so fast, you know?”

I nodded. “Right. I heard you’re moving to Milan for school. Dance?”

“Yeah, ballet.”

“That’s nice.”

“Yeah,” She sighed, looking out to the city skyline. It was a beautiful night, and from the height we were at, it was actually possible to see the stars.

“Feeling homesick? I get it.”

“That too. But I just feel like everyone’s moving on with their lives… Starting a new chapter. The twins are starting high school, Kim is breaking hearts left and right, Natalia and Gìovanni are in love…”

The record scratched.

“What was that about Natalia?”

Carmen gasped, covering her mouth. “Shit. I’m not supposed to tell anyone.” She dropped her head between her hands, obviously wasted. “Promise you won’t tell anyone. It’s a secret.”

A secret.

“Natalia’s in love with Gìovanni?” She shushed me, but I pressed. “How do you know?”

“Ugh… She’s my sister? She told me.”

Natalia could have said that months ago, before we even met. I suspected that she used to have a crush on Gìovanni – before me .

“Maybe you’re mistaken,” I spoke through gritted teeth

Carmen raised an eyebrow. “She literally just came into my room and told me.”

“So why’s it supposed to be a fucking secret?” I tried to keep my calm the best I could, but my anger was starting to bubble over.

“They can’t be together.” She replied, squeezing the bridge of her nose, and waving her other hand dismissively.

“ Why .”

“His parents are trying to get him to marry some girl from the Camorra in Las Vegas to smooth over a business deal.”

I ran my tongue over my teeth. “You’re sure?”

“ Yes ,” Carmen spit out, dropping her head in her hands again. “Yes…”

Rubbing a hand over my jaw, I made my way back inside, the bass of the music giving me a headache. But instead of heading back to the party, I took a turn down the dark hallway leading to Natalia’s bedroom.

I reached her door, glancing over my shoulder to ensure no one was watching, before easing it open. I slipped inside, closing the door behind me. The room was eerily quiet this far from the festivities, the muffled beat a faint echo.

My eyes fell on her laptop sitting on the sleek glass desk.

I hesitated for a moment.

Leaning over her desk, I opened the laptop. It was password-protected, of course. I took the small gadget out of my suit’s chest pocket and inserted the USB. I was in within seconds.

My stomach tightened as I navigated through folders, tabs, and messages.

I knew exactly what I was looking for.

I just didn’t expect to find it so easily.

A hidden folder. An encrypted file. It took a few tries, but soon enough, it cracked open.

There it was.

Clear evidence linking Natalia to the cyberattack the Moretti’s hit my family’s infrastructure with months ago. The attack that had cost my father’s company millions, destabilized a dozen partnerships.

The attack she’d denied having anything to do with when I confronted her.

My chest tightened, the air thinning around me as I scrolled. I didn’t want to believe it. This was the same girl who looked at me with those big, soft chocolate eyes. The same girl who kissed me like I was the only person who mattered.

The betrayal hit harder than I expected; a sharp, cold pain in my chest. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe through the anger.

“Feeling a little lost, Su? Not enjoying the open bar, so you decided to dig through pantie drawers instead?” The deep voice broke through the quiet, laced with mockery.

I froze for a second before hardening my face, turning slowly.

Cock sucking motherfucker–

Gìovanni leaned casually against the doorframe with an infuriatingly smug smirk. “Funny place to be. Didn’t peg you for the diary-reading type.”

My jaw tightened, but I didn’t respond.

He pushed off the door, entering the room. “If you were looking for more secrets, I’m sure Natalia would’ve lied to your face for free.”

“Leave her out of this.”

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. But tell me,” He picked up a framed picture off a dresser, pretending to care before setting it back down. “How does it feel knowing she played you? All that time, all that effort…”

I didn’t flinch. “You seem awfully invested in my business.”

His laugh was low and patronizing. “Oh, come on. I see how you look at her. Like a lovesick idiot. Now… You’re just an idiot.”

I gritted my teeth, ignoring the way his words twisted the knife already lodged in my chest.

He stepped closer, his tone dropping into something darker, more cutting. “She was never yours, Su. Never. Just accept it. You played, and you lost.”

I smiled, stepping up to him. “That what she told you?” My words carried the insinuation.

She had been mine. Even if that only meant for one night.

He could think whatever the fuck he wanted.

After me, she’d never walk the fucking same .

Straightening my jacket, I brushed past him like his words were meaningless, slapping his shoulder on the way out. “Enjoy the party, DeMone.”

By the time I reached the elevator, my phone was already calling.

My dad’s voice came through. “Trevor?”

“I’ll take the Tokyo job.”