Page 18 of Mafia Wars

Luna flushes, a soft pink blooming on her cheeks. “Thank you,” she murmurs, her voice small but sincere. For the first time, I catch a glimpse of a real, unguarded smile from her—a soft, genuine curve of her lips that makes her look even more beautiful.

Nan releases Luna’s hands then, leaning back in her chair with a tilt of her head, her sharp gaze darting between us. “So,” she begins, mischief sparkling in her eyes, “how did you two meet?”

I answer before Luna has a chance to overthink it. “At a restaurant,” I say easily, letting the lie roll off my tongue like second nature. “One look, and I knew I had to have her.”

Nan laughs a delighted, warm sound that echoes through the room. “You always go after whatever you want, Cian,” she says, reaching across the table to pat my cheek. Her hand lingers for a moment, and her expression softens. “That’s why I love you.”

“Because I’m your favorite grandson,” I tease, smirking at her.

She chuckles, shaking her head slightly, but her eyes betray her. It’s true, even if she’d never say it out loud. Niall and Tadgh don’t visit her much—not like I do. They’re too busy, too wrapped up in their own lives. But Nan has always held a special place in my heart, and I like to think I’ve done the same for her.

Her gaze lingers on me for a moment longer before she turns back to Luna, a sly smile playing on her lips. “You’ve got your hands full with this one, my dear,” she says, her voice warm but teasing.

Luna glances at me, and for a moment, there’s something in her expression—something almost amused, almost...content. She doesn’t answer Nan, but that soft smile lingers.

“Let’s play cards.” I declare picking up the deck and shuffling them like Nan taught me.

We sit down, and for the next hour, the three of us play cards. Nan is as sharp as ever, laughing at our missteps and offering Luna tips with the kind of warmth only she can manage. Luna, for her part, is a quick study, her competitive streak coming out in a way that makes Nan laugh even harder. I mostly watch, enjoying the rare sight of two women getting along so effortlessly.

After a while, a staff member comes by with a tray of tea and a plate of tiny, sugar-dusted rose-shaped pastries. Gran insists we try them, and I’m reminded again why I made sure she ended up in a place like this. Every detail, down to the food, is perfect.

Luna bites into one, her eyes widening in delight. “These are incredible.”

“Only the best here,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “That’s why I thought of you.”

She blinks, confused. “Me?”

“You’d make a great nurse here. It’s well-paid, low-pressure. Every staff member gets plenty of time with their patients. None of that assembly-line care you’ve told me about. You’d fit right in.”

Luna stares at me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I think she’s going to laugh or brush it off, but instead, she sets her teacup down carefully.

“You…you’d help me get a job here?” Her voice is quiet, as if she’s afraid to hope.

“Of course,” I say, meeting her gaze. “If you want it, it’s yours. You deserve better than what you’ve got now, Luna.”

She looks down at her hands, twisting them together. I can see the wheels turning in her head, the way she’s trying to reconcile this offer with whatever doubts she carries. Finally, she looks up, her eyes a little too bright.

“I…I’ll think about it,” she says, her voice trembling slightly.

“That’s all I ask,” I reply, keeping my tone light even as relief floods through me. I don’t want to push her, but I hope she sees what I see: a chance for something better.

Nan claps her hands, breaking the moment. “Enough serious talk. Let’s see if Luna can beat me one more time before you two leave.”

Luna laughs, and just like that, the heaviness lifts. We dive back into the game, but my mind lingers on her expression, the way her guard slipped just enough for me to see the vulnerability beneath. She’ll think about it, she said. I’ll make sure she knows she’s worth saying yes.

CHAPTER NINE

CIAN

JESSIE ARRIVES IN the room, and as always, takes the flowers I bought and places them in a fresh vase, she watches us playingcards as she moves around the room. Time slips by, and I know it’s time to go.

I hate leaving, but I know it’s Nan’s nap time. The last thing I want is to exhaust her. Brushing a kiss against her forehead, I whisper, “I’ll see you next Thursday.”

She smiles warmly, her gaze shifting to Luna. “I hope you come by again.”

Luna leans in, her smile soft and fond. “I promise I will.”

Before I can step away, Nan pulls Luna into a hug, surprising both of us. “I might see a lot more of you if you take that job Cian offered,” she says, a twinkle in her eye as she winks at me. Always the matchmaker, my nan.

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