Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
It was stupid to think that Rhea would run off with him in the first place. There was no way on earth he would leave the Luciano clan for a few hours or days of pleasure with her, however, the thought still flattered him. Sadly, Rhea would never escape with him.
Rhea just wanted him to take a breather. They were not fleeing to some utopia or whatever. Even if she were, she would never consider him, it was Elijah for her. Lukas was even surprised she was being this gracious to him after what he did to her – and would do.
Her idea of running was hilarious yet it helped. The cool night breeze stinging his face as he ran made his head clearer and he had to concentrate on his breathing so it didn’t give him the time to think about other things like his problems. It was a good distraction.
At first, Lukas had fallen in line beside Rhea, matching her pace even though he was much faster. But he felt a surge of excitement and wanted to drive himself to the edge, plus the fact he was tactically testing Rhea’s stamina.
So he went ahead of her, running with all of his might knowing he would tire out easily. But that was what Lukas wanted, the burnout. The point where there is nothing inside of him, just emptiness.
His mansion was a sprawling estate so Lukas didn’t have to worry about space and pushed himself harder.
If anything, this run allowed Rhea to tour around the premises; she had been held hostage for the past two days.
She had not been to the outside, just confined in Lukas’s little room and she came to discover that Lukas’s house was not the only building here but it was the biggest and grandest so far. There were few others, mostly carriage houses and she didn’t need to guess what was being done or who lived there.
…..
However, if there’s anything Rhea discovered from the run, it was that escaping here would need thoroughly thought planning and accomplice. She can’t do this alone; she needed someone from the inside who knew how to get in and out easily.
Rhea returned to the present when she found that Lukas had run so far ahead, his view became indistinct.
“Damn it!” She cursed out.
She brought him out here to get some air, not for him to subject her to this kind of torture. She wasn’t out of shape for crying out loud.
But then, a sudden thought came into her head, since Lukas was far away, why don’t she snoop around? More like, escape?
Rhea gulped, this was a good idea that would lead to her death. Sooner or later, Lukas would discover that she wasn’t with him and would hunt her down.
But there was no prize without a risk. As much as there were a lot of guards, most of them were dead ass drunk from the party while the rest were you know, doing it with their dates – and they weren’t even secretive about that.
Rhea heard moans coming from a corner when she and Lukas were running past there earlier. Even at that, the men now liked her, stunned by her performance tonight. Moreover, she was still in her costume, who would think she wanted to escape?
With her heart pounding, Rhea knew her freedom was worth the risk. She had to take it.
The night was cold and with the speed he ran at, the breeze tossed his hair. Lukas heaved and wheezed as he ran further until he came to a sudden halt as if he remembered something.
Lukas turned around sharply and noticed the stillness in the air. He was far away from his mansion hence the music from the party couldn’t be heard. But what annoyed Lukas the most was that he couldn’t catch a sign of Rhea.
“Damn it!” She tricked him!
Lukas turned around, running back with great speed. Rhea was trying to escape and it was all his fault.
He laid his guard down and she took advantage of it. The first time he showed her his vulnerable side, she manipulated it to her advantage.
Lukas laughed coldly, Rhea needed to be applauded. She was a great actress and manipulator. Funny enough, he was the one crowned with the title of a manipulator. The great manipulator Lukas fell victim to the novice manipulator, Rhea. Victor would be thrilled to hear this.
His lungs burned but Lukas didn’t slow down one bit, all that filled his head was the thought of Rhea vanishing and never to be seen again. It frightened him.
Security was lax today thanks to Victor’s party and Rhea must know that since she was the one who drove them high with her stunning performance.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
The panic grew inside of Lukas. So far he doesn’t know what Elijah looks like, what if he’s sneaked in among his men and somehow the both of them planned this. What if right now he’s gotten to Rhea and the both couples made it to the exit?
Damn it!
So many “What if” filled Lukas’s head and he ran faster with the amount of adrenaline coursing through him. It pushed him further even though his legs were beginning to protest. He ran a record-breaking speed the world genius records would have been proud of if they were here to see.
And there she was.
Lukas came to a stop when he saw her in front of the Meadow. She was crouched down, taking a sniff of a flower when she turned upon sensing his presence.
She attempted to escape.
Lukas could see that through the brief panic that flashed in her eyes. Right now Rhea looked like a trapped animal and trapped prey had the best of survival instincts.
Lukas was sure Rhea changed her mind at the last minute.
Good for her.
Rhea ran the fastest she had ever done in her life, pushing away shrubs in her path and standing up each time she tripped over roots.
She needed to get away from Lukas, but was it worth it? The question suddenly hit her and she stopped.
Looking down, she was dressed in the costume that made her look no different than a hooker. Even if she escaped from here, she didn’t know the neighborhood at all, and anyone who attempted to help her could in the end be working for Lukas and drag her back to this hell hole.
Aside from that, how would she survive the cold with this flimsy material on her body? In her haste to escape, she might die on the streets, her dreams forever gone and short-lived.
Finally, let’s say she successfully escaped, what life does she have left? She can’t go back to her uncle’s family. They would chase her out and willingly hand her over to Big Joe before he even comes to capture her.
Mimi would hide her – without a doubt – but that would put her in danger and she can’t afford to put her best friend into this.
For the first time, Rhea realized she was alone. Even Elijah left her, what more can she hold on to? Her life? What was its worth?
To her chagrin, the closest thing to a family, no, a companion, was Lukas and his underbelly of corruption. He put a roof over her head, food to eat – speaking of food, she hadn’t taken anything throughout today.
Although she loathed him, Lukas was the only beacon of light she had now. And she can’t lose that – especially when he comes back and discovers she’s gone.
…..
“Oh no,” Rhea gasped and retraced her steps immediately.
Lukas can’t know she tried to escape else the little bit of trust she had managed to build between them this night would vanish to nothing and their relationship returns to level zero. Back to the first stage when they couldn’t stand the sight of each other.
Rhea didn’t know how deep into the Meadow she had marched on till now. She kept praying that somehow Lukas doesn’t realize she was missing until she makes it out on time.
Her lungs burnt and she thirst for water, Rhea didn’t give up. Her life was on the line here. How stupid could she have been to think that she could leave here safely without internal or external help?