Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“Do tell,” Lukas was now interested in whatever she was saying, no, he was interested in whatever would bring Elijah down.
Adele began on, “All this while, we have all been searching for a mercenary called Elijah aka the phantom ghost. What if he’s not a ghost afterall?”
“I still don’t get you,” He was having a hard time connecting the dot.
“How many crime families do we have in this city?” She asked hopefully.
“Five of them – us included,” Lukas gasped, the whole thing beginning to make sense in his head, “Wait a minute, you are trying to say that Elijah might be a member of one of the crime family?”
She merely shrugged, “That’s a guess. But then, isn’t it strange how he’s so good at everything he does and his knowledge of the city? It’s as if he knows every inch of it and the reason why he has been able to hide efficiently from us. An outsider can’t do that, he has to be from one of the crime families. ” Adele stated.
For a minute, Lukas didn’t say a word and finally exclaimed, “God, you are so brilliant. That explains why I don’t have a thing on him. He must be using his family’s influence. So what’s left is to figure out the power of what family he’s welding?”
But that was easier said than done because that would involve an in depth investigation of the four families and just like he wouldn’t take it lightly if someone poked his nose into his family’s affairs, none of them would thank him for poking his nose where it doesn’t belong. This investigation needed to be done as carefully as ever else he might trigger a war with not just one, but all four families.
“This Elijah…” Adele said, her gaze focused, “I’ve been studying everything you have on him and my closest guess is that he’s a lone wolf.”
“What are you trying to say? That’s he estranged from his family?” Lukas looked better now that he has a lead.
“I don’t know about that but he’s definitely far from home,” She instinctively guided the coffee to her lips only to frown in the next seconds. She had forgotten this wasn’t her cup of tea.
This time she placed the coffee on the desk, pushing it far away from her else she forgets and reached for it once again. Lukas noticed the gesture and said nothing, they didn’t know a thing about luxury.
“What about you?” It was time to hear from him, “You called me over, that must mean you have something for me. What is it?”
Lukas peered up at her, “I have this nagging feeling that Elijah has infiltrated my gang.”
Other than the slight widening of her eyes, Adele showed no other reaction other than calmness in this situation, “And?”
“If he loves her as much as the girl claims, then he must be here to rescue her – and fuck with me as well.” Lukas said.
“And?” She asked.
“I want you to look into our latest rescuits. From my findings, he must be using a fake identity and appearance as well – he’s efficient in the use of hyper-realistic masks. And most of all, he’s left-handed.”
Lukas had a serious look when he told her, “What I am trying to say is that you should conduct a secret investigation. Anyone with the slightest alteration on his body, get him to me.”
Bargaining With Her
After the meeting was over, Lukas found himself hovering outside Rhea’s door. This time, he didn’t just want to see her, he needed to discuss something with her but he didn’t know how to approach her.
Would she even want to see his face after the fight last night? Lukas ran his hand through his hair, he shouldn’t have kissed her. At least now, their relationship wouldn’t be this tense.
But then he couldn’t help it. Lukas liked her and when she wouldn’t stop stirring his blood, he lost control. He wanted to pull her to him and kiss the daylight out of her – show her that he could treat her better than her runaway boyfriend. But that was easier said than done.
Lukas knew he couldn’t stand here forever. He had to make a move and take a risk. If she still doesn’t respond to him after this, he’d leave her alone to come around at her own space – and the time it takes to catch Elijah.
So he knocked twice for privacy’s sake before going in. When Lukas came in, he didn’t find her in the room and panicked slightly only to find her seated on the balcony, her back turned to him. That was a huge relief.
He stalked towards her and knew the moment Rhea noticed him because she said, “If you’re here to convince me to have lunch with him, better save your breath. I’m not seeing your precious boss, you better get used to that.”
“I would not get used to that,” Lukas said from behind and she stiffened momentarily before hardening her resolve probably.
“What do you want? What are you doing here?” Rhea asked in a dead tone without looking back and it hurt his feelings. He liked when Rhea looked at him when she spoke, then he could see her beautiful face – and her boldness. Her fearlessness and willingness to solve a herculean task turned him on. Alright, he was not going to head in that area considering that’s the reason they’re in this awkward situation in the first place.
Lukas didn’t answer her, rather he took the seat beside the stoic-faced Rhea and sat down. He had her in mind when he was selecting this room and space was of the essence because of her love of “freedom”. You could think of this place as a peace offering and he sure hoped it fulfilled its purpose because he needed something to appease her anger and win her over.
…..
Lukas watched her and what he saw almost broke him. He didn’t notice it but she had lost a lot of weight from the stress and he couldn’t blame her. Any other woman who went through what she’s encountered would be traumatized for the rest of their life but here she was standing strong. Although she looked tired, Lukas had no doubt she already had a plan of escape in her head if he wasn’t careful.
Rhea looked tired but the glint in her eyes was there and she had never looked more attractive to Lukas than now. He respected her the more – and fell for her harder. This was the kind of woman he wanted by his side, beautiful – both on the inside and outside – brave and strong. If only she could let him show her how much of the world he could give her if she agrees to be his.
“I’m here to offer you a deal,” He said and that roused a reaction out of her apathetic expression yet she wouldn’t look at him still.
“What deal?”
“Stick around here while I find Elijah and I’ll help you find your mother.” He said.
She turned to him shell-shocked, eyes wide and accusing before they turned into one of disbelief and annoyance. At that moment, Lukas knew he had to tread carefully else they start another argument, after all, he was bargaining with her family.
And Lukas knew she was quite sensitive about her family. He means, who wouldn’t be when that was partially the reason for their fight yesterday? But no more fighting – he was tired of it. It seems he was here to wave the white flag.
“How do you know about my mother?” Her voice was thin and cold, as if it was on the verge of breaking so all hell would be let loose.
“Don’t you remember?” Lukas told her, “The day you cuffed me to the wheel, I went after you and came across the news during my search for you,” He subtly explained he threatened her uncle.
Rhea only huffed and looked away, saying, “You can take your deal with you, I’m not interested in it.”
“You don’t want to know about your mother?” Lukas wasn’t judging her knowing the circumstances behind her answer. But he still hoped.
Rhea turned to him, a sneer on her face, “Don’t call her that, she doesn’t deserve that title.”
“Rhea….”
“It’s been twenty-three years. She made me believe that she never existed for twenty-three years of my life, so she stayed that way for the rest of her life. I survived without her, what difference would she make now?” There was so much anger and hurt in her voice and Lukas couldn’t blame her.
If someone came out of nowhere and told him that his own mother whom he thought was dead for years was alive and had only done that to escape his father, he wasn’t sure he would forgive her. That was so much betrayal and disappointment – she abandoned him.
“You don’t even know why she did so? Unless she’s an irresponsible mother, I refuse to believe that she intentionally gave up on her. The fact that your father wants you to find her must mean something.” He tried to convince her but her heart was not even touched at all.
Rhea stood to her feet, towering over Lukas who was seated and for once, enjoyed the feeling of being in control,
“Well, in that case…” She was being sarcastic, “Daddy’s last wish can’t be fulfilled. And if you want to bargain with me next time, Lukas, come with something worth it.”
Second Chance
“Fine,” Lukas gave up on convincing her. If there was anything he noticed about the both of them, it was the fact they were passionately protective of the things they loved.