Page 121 of Tempting My Mafia Monster

She sat alone, staring vacantly at the water feature, as if she couldn’t remember why she had come outside. All the life and charisma she had worn minutes earlier had vanished beneath a cloud of uncertainty.

I took the seat next to her again. “Hi, Cecilia. I’m Maddox.”

She turned to look at me blankly. She gave me a soft smile, yet there was no recognition in her eyes. “Hello, darling.”

“Do you mind if I sit with you?”

“Not at all,” she said, looking back at the water. We sat in silence for a few minutes, and for the first time, it didn’t feel so lonely. I glanced at the book she was holding tightly on her lap.

“What are you readin’?”

She looked down as if she had only just realised it was there. “I don’t know.” She opened it and stared at the pages. “I can’t read it any more.”

I licked my lips, peering down at it. It was in Italian. “I can’t either.”

She lifted her gaze to me, relief washing over her face. “That makes me feel better.”

I found myself smiling back. She studied me for a long moment before reaching over and brushing a loose strand of hair from my forehead. The gesture caught me off guard. I froze. My chest tightened so much I couldn’t breathe. There was no fear in touching me. No hesitation. Just… a motherly affection.

“You look tired, darling,” she murmured, slumping back in her chair.

I swallowed.

“I am.”

“Me too. I think I should go to bed soon.”

Who I had now guessed was a nurse appeared at that exact moment. When Cecilia struggled to her feet, I stood and held her arm while the nurse took her other side, helping her to stand. When she was steady, she grabbed my forearm and looked at me.

“Grazie…” Her brow furrowed.

“Maddox.”

“Maddox,” she repeated slowly, as if she were trying to make the name stick. “That’s a good, strong name.”

Then she reached up and kissed my cheek. She rested her hand against the side of my face and said, “My handsome boy.”

The nurse guided her down the path before she could see how the three words had landed. I stood rooted to the spot, staring after her long after she’d disappeared.

Even though it was clear she was losing herself, she had somehow managed to give me back a piece of myself.

She’d made me feel like someone’s son again.

Little Miss Rebellious

Thanks to my rebellious older sister, Elenora, teaching me all the blind spots on the estate when I was younger, I knew the stretch of wall the camera couldn’t see and the shortcut to the pool the soldiers overlooked. I’d never had to use them before, but I’d definitely need to thank her now.

Crouched behind a flowery bush outside the fenced pool area, I wrapped my towel more tightly around my chest and waited for Lili to play her part.

Sneaking around was exhilarating. Maybe missing out on my teenage rebellious years was a mistake. The risk of being caught and causing problems never felt worth it to me. Look how the first time I snuck around behind my family’s back ended. But sitting there, in the skimpiest pink thong bikini with tiny strawberries all over it, my heart thrumming wildly, I realised the old Soraya was dead and buried.

Lili appeared, effortlessly elegant in her heels and a yellow sundress. Her dazzling smile was directed towards the soldier standing guard outside the fence leading to the pool and the house behind it. Poor Ricci didn’t stand a chance.

“Good evening, Ricci!” she called brightly. “Have you seen the moon tonight? It’s huge.” She pointed to the sky. He looked up and nodded. She pulled out her phone and took a picture of the moon, then turned towards Ricci, toying with an idea.

“Ricci,” she sang his name like a songbird.

“Si, Signorina.”