Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
She went on, “Even my daddy says I’m very smart for my age and how I’m special. I can spell all of my names, and I have all of my father’s numbers and the housekeeper’s in my head in case I get lost. My dad told me that in case I miss my way. Then I shouldn’t wander in lonely, but public places where bad people can’t get me easily.
“Then, I can identify a police station or a phone booth and call him or simply charm a kind stranger into lending me his or her phone that I can use for the call. I know my house address and can read the multiplication table offhand from one to ten times. Am I not smart?” She asked, her free hand on her chest while the other carried Rooney.
Young Lukas wanted to burst into laughter, he just found this incredibly funny, however, he was able to control himself. He simply told her, “There’s a huge difference between being smart and intelligent. But you’re too dumb to know that, and I’ll call you ‘Dummy’ from now on!”
“And I’ll call you ‘Stray’ as well!” She announced.
“Huh? Stray?” His brows furrowed. That didn’t make sense at all. Well, it didn’t make sense by calling her dummy as well when she was acting her age. She was just too cute and he liked ruffling her feathers.
“Yeah,” She nodded, “Just like Rooney who lost his way earlier, you look lost as well. So Stray would be the perfect name for you!”
“Whatever,” Lukas rolled his eyes, he couldn’t be provoked by her childish tactics. His father taught him to be in control of his emotions all the time.
“So tell me,” The pretty yet annoying girl was tugging at the sleeve of his shirt that had dirtied from spending the night here. Wasn’t she even repelled by his sight? He looked dirty.
“Would you be my boyfriend?”
Lukas looked at her, stunned. Why does she like him that much? Thanks to that, he couldn’t help but ask her, “Why do you want me to be your boyfriend? What do you even see in me?” He wasn’t even worth it. Lukas wondered if she would still hold him in the same light when she learns who he was.
“Well….” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, “First of all, you’re kind. You helped me find Rooney.”
But Lukas countered that statement in his head. He didn’t find the dog, it came to him and neither was his kind. He has done bad things – things she wouldn’t even be able to imagine.
“Secondly, you’re brave! Rooney likes to bark and bite at strangers, but you completely tamed him!” She said it like she was going to give him an award for that.
No, he wasn’t brave else he wouldn’t have run away from home. Also, why did that weird dog like him? He didn’t do anything special.
“Also, you’re handsome!” She announced coquettishly, looking away as a blush stained her cheeks.
Lukas blushed as well but he was quick to compose himself. The girl was really bold and this was the first love confession he was getting from a girl. A young, pretty, dumb girl.
“So come on, be my boyfriend already!” She grabbed his hand and surprisingly, he didn’t jerk back and actually liked it.
“You don’t have to love me immediately, Stray. You look like you’re lost, but don’t worry, I’ll help you find your parents and there’s an empty house down the street where you can stay for the moment. I would have taken you to mine but my father doesn’t like strangers and sends them away. But don’t worry, I’ll sneak out of the house with lots of food and other goodies to keep you company. What do you think?”
And just like that, Young Lukas agreed to the relationship because of food and shelter.
Know About The Girl
Lukas woke up with a startle, looking around his environment to discover that he was still in the car and they hadn’t reached their destination yet. He let out an annoyed sigh having been caught off guard by the dream. Only that this wasn’t a dream.
He could remember it now, how had this particular memory slipped into his subconscious? It happened when he was young and he had forgotten all about it until he dreamt of it today.
That was the period his mother had died and he had been so appalled by the thought of living with his father alone that he ran away from home. He had planned for a long time to run away with his mother anyway, but the woman took off first before him. She went to a much better place and Lukas was so jealous of that.
However, he couldn’t be the only one left behind, so Lukas flawlessly planned his escape and just never expected that Victor would interfere. His cousin found out about his escape plans and wanted him to take him along.
“Two is better one. We would run away together and just as promised, leave happily ever after!” The boy had a fool’s dream.
Lukas knew Victor suggested following him out of loyalty and not because his family abused him. No, he had always been jealous of Victor for having a loving and perfect family unlike his. Victor’s family was normal and his father didn’t beat his wife. They were peaceful. So peaceful that he was envious.
Thanks to that, Lukas knew he couldn’t bring Victor along, that would only break aunty Carmine’s heart and Victor was her only beloved son. She couldn’t afford to lose him. He had to go alone, Lukas decided upon that in his heart.
Unfortunately, Victor was too instinctive and annoying. As if sensing he would leave him behind, the boy offered to hold onto the money bag. That bag contained all the money Lukas had saved up as he had promised his mother just so they could leave here.
Lukas told Victor to wait so he could check out their escape route and his cousin stubbornly held onto the money as a guarantee that he would be back knowing that he wouldn’t be able to escape without resources.
…..
However, Victor underestimated Lukas’s craziness and burning desire to escape his father. He took off without the money. His father had taught him how to survive in a desert, he would surely survive in a foreign place without money. The cash his young self had on him was only enough to send him out of the city and from thenceforth, rummaged in the dirt for food until he met her.
Lukas scoffed at the memory, his brows drawing together intensely as he tried to remember what he looked like. All he could remember was her red hair. Now he thought about it, seems like he had a thing for redheads since he was young. He just didn’t realize it until now.
Just as the little girl had promised, she provided him with a place to stay. It was an old, abandoned house and people hardly visited there because they thought it was haunted. Apparently, the family who once lived there happily had been murdered in their sleep by their eldest son. All of them died except the youngest sister who had been with the aunt for the holiday.
What would drive a child to kill his own parents and siblings. The town folks had claimed that a demon who lived underneath the house must have possessed the boy and made him commit those abominable crimes. And so, everyone avoided the house saying that it was cursed.
But then, that brave little girl made the house that the whole town avoided, her sanctuary. The house was her playing ground and she temporarily took up residence. That was when Lukas began to respect her. She never failed any of her promises and brought him food, drinks, and delicious snacks as she promised.
She even stole her father’s clothes and used scissors to cut them to his size so he could wear them after he had washed up. The hip area of the pants was enormously loose on him, so he used the torn piece and made them serve as a belt.
The young girl treated him so well that it hadn’t been hard for him to agree to the marriage. To thank her for her help and make her happy as well, Lukas picked up a bread tie and formed it into a ring, “With this ring, I declare you mine. You are not to love other boys, but me alone till we grow up and get married for real.” He said.
He remembered the way her eyes had lit over the ring. It might have not been made from silver or gold, but it was genuine and she wore it throughout the day happily.
Because she had not given him a ring, the girl had promised to introduce him to her father the next day. Since they were now engaged, he was no longer a stranger and her father deserved to know about his son-in-law. How cute.
But then, Lukas didn’t get to meet his would have been father-in-law because his father’s people found him and took him away before he could say goodbye. He didn’t even get to know her name because he called her “Dummy” the whole time while he remained “Stray” to her. Perhaps, the universe knew their time with each other was short and let it be that way.
Although it was in the part, Lukas couldn’t help but wonder how she was doing now. She was probably married now having forgotten her engagement to him. How childish! They were dreamers then. Unfortunately, adulthood didn’t offer such luxury, no wonder he forgot all about it.
Moreover, the decision to leave he made that day cost Victor and he didn’t like to remember the events surrounding that period. So it wasn’t surprising he doesn’t remember what the girl looks like anymore. Moreover, it was years already.
Even at that, Lukas couldn’t help but want to know about that girl? Was she living well? Does her husband know she promised marriage to another when she was younger? He smiled inwardly.
One thing was for sure though, If they do meet again, they both would have a good laugh over this memory.
Tired Of Her Questions
“We’re here,”
Lukas finally stepped out of the car and walked up to the diner restaurant in front. His people had already reserved the place to have this negotiation.
One of the soldiers guarding the entrance bowed at him and opened the door to let him in. Vintage movie posters, lunch boxes, and other tchotchkes adorned the walls, while hearty made-from-scratch dishes adorn the menu. The small town’s extra-friendly vibe and the smell of mouth-watering foods made Lukas relax a bit, assuring himself that there wouldn’t be a bloodbath tonight.
However, the peace was shattered when a sharp cry pierced the air and he looked ahead to see Adele failing miserably to calm the girl. She probably didn’t have enough experience with children knowing that she was treated like an outcast throughout her life by her own family. Moreover, all she was interested in was working hard and getting promoted.
Lukas somehow understood why she wanted to succeed badly, so she wouldn’t be looked down upon by the others. Once she had power, she would be respected. However, having power doesn’t guarantee happiness. Look at him, even in his position of power, his family was still plotting to have him removed. Hopefully, she learns to love herself first.