Page 161 of King of Obsession

Nonna chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. ‘Of course you are, dear. I’m just teasing. But you can’t blame an older woman for trying to play matchmaker. I’ve been attempting to match him up for days,’ she complained. ‘Nurses, doctors, physios, all clever women, he doesn’t want any.’

I peeked at Mauri, curious to witness his reaction.

The stoic consigliere was impassive. His arms crossed over his chest as he listened to Nonna’s matchmaking attempts.

Alessio, on the other hand, couldn’t contain his amusement.

He roared with laughter, clutching his stomach as tears formed in the corners of his eyes. ‘Nonna, you’re relentless!’ he managed to say between gasps for air.

But Mauri remained unmoved, his dark eyes fixed on Nonna with exasperation and fondness.

‘The only woman who rules my world is my cat,’ he declared, his deep voice rumbling through the room.

‘And me,’ Nonna Guilia glared.

‘And you,’ Mauri growled, a soft upturn to his lips slipping through.

I smiled at the intimidating consigliere, his care for Nonna, and his feline revealing a side of him I would never have guessed existed, but it made him all the more intriguing.

Nonna, however, wasn’t quite ready to give up her matchmaking efforts.

She fixed Mauri with a stern look, her eyes narrowing as she wagged a finger at him. ‘You mark my words, young man,’ she said, her voice filled with the wisdom of a woman who had seen it all. ‘One day, you’ll find a woman who will turn your world upside down, and not even your cat will be able to compete.’

As we pulled up chairs, I couldn’t help but marvel at the unlikely friendship between these two - my spirited Nonna and the reserved mafioso bodyguard.

Nonna had a way of drawing people into her orbit, no matter who they were.

I settled in to regale her with tales as Mauri gazed on with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

While Alessio and I caught her up on the Contis’ demise, Nonna listened with rapt attention, her eyes sparkling, with ire at first, then triumph.

‘Fucking good riddance.’ she snarled when I was done.

‘I now understand where you get your fire from, mia stella,’ Alessio rasped.

‘It runs in the family,’ Mauri remarked dryly, the corner of his mouth twitching.

I shot him a mock glare. ‘Watch it, consigliere. You’re skating on thin ice.’

He held up his hands in surrender. ‘I wouldn’t dream of crossing either of you formidable women.’

Nonna reached over to pat his arm. ‘Ah, Mauri, you’re learning. Stick with me; I’ll teach you all you need to know about handling the female folk.’

The visit flew by in a blur of laughter and stories; before I knew it, it was time to go.

As I hugged Nonna goodbye, she whispered, ‘You see? Even the toughest men have a soft heart if you know where to look.’

I glanced over at the love of my life, then Mauri, and nodded.

Guilia dug an elbow in my side, and we exchanged smiles.

Leave it to Nonna to find humanity in even the most hardened souls.

Chapter 35

ALESSIO

‘Come, let’s go for a walk on the beach. The salt air will do you good.’

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