Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
…..
And by wife, she was referring to his daughter Rose. That was what everyone in the family called her because the young girl was more demanding than a nagging wife but the man doted on her nonetheless.
“What do you think? She’s bouncing with her endless energy as usual and no, she’s not at home. She’s out of the country – at her mother’s place. The woman suddenly asked to see her,”
And by woman, Eric meant his baby mama. Rose’s mom had only been his girlfriend by the time she was pregnant with his child and while Eric was willing to settle down with her, Karen realized he wasn’t good enough for her and wanted nothing to do with him.
“Any woman in your life then?” She questioned.
He smirked, “Why are you so interested? Are you an option?”
This fool! Natalie shook her head in amusement, he never changed at all.
“It’s been years since Karen left you, Eric. You’re not getting any older. You need to settle down and start a family. Even your daughter supports that as well, hence, there’s no room for excuses,” She said.
“I’ll get a wife when I’m ready,” Was all he said.
“You’re forty,”
Eric leaned closer, using her words against her, “There’s no age barrier in love,” he winked at her.
Natalie snorted a laugh. He never changed.
Eric tilted his head questioningly, “What about you? You said you were never going to come back. Could it be… you’re here for her?” He asked hesitantly.
Natalie’s eyes slightly widened, even a blind man could sense her discomfort at that sensitive conversation he brought up.
“It’s nothing like that,” She said, without looking him in the eyes.
“It’s not too late to find her,”
“Can we just drop the conversation?” Natalie’s voice was taut and she was close to losing it.
“Fine” Eric dropped the case yet brought up another issue, “But don’t tell me we are not having revenge on that man?”
If Natalie had been annoyed at the earlier conversation, she trembled now.
“There will be nothing like revenge. I just came here to rest and live out the rest of my life with people that matter,” she said to him, vexed by the conversation.
Eric frowned, “So you’re just going to let him go like that?”
“Yes, I’m going to let him go because that’s the right thing to do rather than dwell on the past,” She nodded her head, “He hurt me real bad and that’s a good reason to never set my eyes on him again,” Natalie didn’t even want to think about him.
“And what if he finds you this time? What will you do if he comes to discover you are alive when he believes you are dead?” Eric intentionally asked that question to get her reaction and it didn’t fail his expectations.
Natalie shivered, gulping down a lump in her throat. She suddenly lost appetite for the food in front of her and folded both hands on her lap.
However, even amid the fear, she still lifted her head proudly, “I’m not the same naive woman from years back, Eric. If he tries to get in my way this time, I’ll crush him with everything I have,” Natalie’s gaze was empty yet chilling as she meant every single word she said. She was done running away.
Eric was pleased with that response, that was what he wanted. If that bastard were to find her, she needed even lift a finger, he’d willingly let the world burn for her sake. That was how much he loved her – not that she knew. And he’d keep the secret until the time was right.
They didn’t say much after that conversation and their car arrived in no time. Eric was the first to step out and held the door open with one hand while the other helped her to step out.
“Wow,” Natalie breathed, staring up at the grandiose castle. She had almost forgotten how breathing-taking it could be staring at it from a distance.
“You should see the inside,” Eric came up behind her, almost startling her. Sometimes one needed to tie a bell around that man; he walked stealthily. Natalie had been distracted by the magnificent view, she had almost forgotten him.
“I made renovations that would interest you,” He invited her, hand stretched out towards her.
Natalie smiled, taking his hand in hers as he gave her a tour of the castle that had changed drastically since her last visit. Maybe it wasn’t so bad coming back here.
Having Fun
The ceremony didn’t end there, the recruits were transferred from the safe houses and driven to a private club where they were to have fun.
This batch of recruits was considered lucky because Lance was the one who sponsored the after-party. He wanted them to have the best of fun tonight before they resumed their duties tomorrow.
The club was spacious, luxurious, and exclusively reserved for them tonight. Hence, there was no one around aside from members of the Luciano family and their acquaintances. Party numbers blasted from the speakers as the recruits got wasted and as expected in that setting, there were more than enough women to keep them company.
If only they knew Lance specifically organized this for Aziz but because he didn’t want to create a misunderstanding, he extended the invitation to everyone. As a caporegime, it can’t be found out that he was partial to a member – especially a newbie.
The Mafia was not exactly in support of gay relationships for reasons best known to whoever invented that rule. Once caught, it would result in demotion – or even death. In one word, Lance simply liked Aziz, there was just this aura about him that he couldn’t resist.
“What are you up to?” Someone said from behind and Lance was startled only for a moment because it was no one else but his annoying brother.
His lips formed a thin line and his brows furrowed together knowing his brother was nothing else but trouble.
“None of your business!” He shot back.
“Oh come on,” Arthur draped his arm around his shoulder, a drink in his other hand.
…..
“I said let me go!” Lance went red in the face trying to pull out of his brother’s grasp but the asshole wouldn’t let go of him.
He was intentionally bullying him as usual and Lance was somehow glad the club was lit with led lights and no one was looking their way.
“Is it that newbie?” Arthur smirked cockily, gesturing in Aziz’s direction with the glass in his hand.
Lance looked in his brother’s direction, it seems he wasn’t the one drawn to his graceful and esthetic Aziz.
Even amongst the other recruits, the ladies swarmed around Aziz as if the other recruits – that tried hard to gain their attention – didn’t exist. He didn’t even have to try hard, he naturally commanded attention wherever he went.
Surprisingly, even as they threw themselves on him, Aziz was not even bothered by their actions and seemed to focus on his drink instead. When the ladies had enough of his silence, they either huffed and left or moved on to their next target.
“I have to admit,” Arthur continued, “He’s quite good looking but what’s the worth of a gorgeous face without power in this organization?”
Lance didn’t say anything knowing his brother was right. Elijah might be good-looking but the Mafia was all about brains and brawns and not physical appearance. He might as well go become a superstar or something because he would only remain at the bottom of this food chain in this organization.