All Chapters of Hidden Obsessions: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

MEL POVThe gasp of shock from Mama Agness scares me more than Dante’s words.“Me?” I look up from Nick’s shivering body to Dante’s smiling face. “It’s meant for me?”“So, it says.” Dante answers. “Let me just say this, welcome to the Mafia life.” He winks at me.“Don’t be ridiculous.” Rio snatches the paper from him, a frown creasing his forehead as he reads through its contents. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He murmurs.“Rio…” I whisper, but he doesn’t look at me.“Is someone going to read what it says out?” Reign asks.Rio hands him the open letter and slumps on a nearby sofa.“‘It wasn’t meant to be like this.’” Reign reads aloud. “‘You should have stayed away.’” He looks up from the paper. “This does not necessary mean it’s for her. It could be for anyone.”“You really should consider getting those glasses, Dad.” Dante baits him, taking a seat next to Rio.“Is this the time for jokes, Dante?” Mama Agness scolds him.“He clearly can’t see without it.” He returns.“Read the bottom left,

MEL POV“I didn’t realize how much I would miss Nonna’s nagging in the morning.” Dante whines. “I have gotten so used to her voice that this feels different, doesn’t it, Mel?”“Huh?” I murmur, startled by the fact that he called my name, instead of something annoying.“It’s weird not having Nonna for breakfast, right?”“Yes, it is.” I say shyly and shift in my seat.He was right, but Nonna being away isn’t the only weird thing about this morning.Mr. Reign has been sending me little sorrow filled glances since I joined them for breakfast, and Dante has been acting… nice.As for Rio, he is missing in action as usual. I haven’t seen him since I woke up. At least one thing was normal.“The hospital called earlier.” Reign announces, not looking up from his plate. “Nick is doing fine. He is even wanting to come home today. But Agness insists he stays a day more.”“He must be pissed.” I grin, imagining how frustrated Nick must be feeling now. “Maybe I could drop by and see them. I even pic

MEL POV“Mel!” Mama Agness walks into the room. Nick and I stand up to greet her. “And you, young man, back in your bed.” She turns to me and immediately envelops me in a warm hug. “Oh, my darling. You look so tired. I was thinking of you all night.”“Nonna.” I hug her tight, holding onto the comfort she gives me, as I feel the tension leaving my body. “I missed you, Nonna.” I breathe in her scent.“Have you eaten? Those monsters didn’t feed you right?” She pulls back, turns me around to check my body.“I’m fine Nonna.” I laugh. “How are you? How did you sleep?”“Good enough for a hospital. Drop that phone, young man.” She scolds Nick. “You spend too much time on your screen and it has affected your eye. That’s why you couldn’t see the bullet coming your way.”“Nonna! That’s not fair.” Nick pouts. “Besides, you know I don’t like looking at the TV. If I was back in the estate, at least I will busy in the garden or working in the stables.”“Oh, don’t you even think about it.” She pulls

RIO POVSecurity footage?There isn’t supposed to be a security footage. I had made certain of that.After concluding my meeting with Signor Temples, I had met up with some associates who would handle the planting of the drugs, and altering of the cameras to avoid any evidence or anyway of linking this back to me or anyone at all.“We all know that the security cameras in the loading docks were going to be altered,” Signor Andre says. “But our culprit forgot a little detail. The light house just across the dock. I was able to get this footage from them.”Shit. The damn light house. How could I have missed that?“Nice work, Mr. Andre.” I say, trying to conceal my annoyance. “I work hard for my money.” He answers. “It’s only natural I protect where it goes.” He presses play on the remote and the screen goes dark. In the next second, a man walks into the frame and heads to the already locked container, carrying a small bag with him. He unlocks the container, breaks the seal on the boxe

RIO POV“Sir.”I look up from my computer to see my secretary standing ay my door. “Yes?”“I’m leaving for the day.”“What?” I glance at the wall clock beside me. It is already 6;25 pm. I had not realized the time had gone way past the closing hour of 4pm. “Do you usually stay this long?”“No, sir. I had to finish up some stuff ahead of Monday. It’s the weekend tomorrow.”“Oh, right. Well then, goodnight.”“Good night, sir. See you on Monday.”It’s been a while since I have stayed this long at the company and its best, I get used to it as it will become my reality once I am named CEO. I finish up on my system, pull my table drawer open to store some files when I notice the file I had taken from my mother’s old office a few days ago.I have completely forgotten about it.I scan through the details of the first page. There are serial numbers about a shipment contract between Shamz holding and our company. The contents of the shipment are marked as undisclosed but tagged as delicate. The