Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
While Rhea wanted to catch up with Chelsea – she needed to know what happened to the Red Giant after she left – seven other women needed her attention as well. Hence, their reunion had to be cut short.
With the help of Lydia, Rhea was able to connect with the other six women and so far they were well behaved. If they were faking their kindness or not, Rhea had no idea, but it seems the fear of Lukas was the beginning of freedom. No one was willing to offend her in fear of incurring his wrath.
Good for them, then, she had no time for women’s drama anyway. Rhea had a lot of issues on her plate and dealing with a troublesome woman was not one of them. She had far better things to do with her time – like finding Elijah and connecting with that mother of hers, all without upsetting her relationship with Lukas. Yeah, tough luck.
…..
By the time they went back into the house, Victor had already set up a bar and they each went to get a drink. Rhea was not a huge fan of drinking, however, she had a feeling that she would need one for the night ahead.
Hence, she grabbed a cocktail, and went to Chelsea who had her own drink in hand as well, and said to her,
“It’s nice to see you, again,”
“You too,” Chelsea admitted, the both of them taking a seat and staring at the people already in a party mood. Even with the DJ slamming numbers that already had people moving to the tune of the music, there was an awkward tension between Rhea and Chelsea.
It has been a long time since the both of them saw each other and had questions for each other. They just had no idea how to ask it. Things have changed and so, have they.
“So, Lukas, huh?” Chelsea was the first to break the silence, taking a sip of her drink.
“So it seems,” Rhea breathed nervously, unconsciously tapping her foot against the floor.
Chelsea said, “At least he’s better than Big Joe or Kenith,” She turned to her for confirmation, “I heard that he treats you well, tell me it’s true.”
Rhea’s heart melted and the nervousness seeped out slowly from her body when she realized Chelsea was merely concerned about her.
“It’s true. Although he was an asshole in the past and all I wanted was to get away from him,” Rhea quickly added when she saw the way Chelsea’s face changed, “Don’t misunderstand me, he didn’t hit me or torture me or anything, but I was a captive and all I wanted was to get away from here. I was a captive in Big Joe’s hands and it was not happening again.”
“And now?” She raised a brow curiously.
Rhea shrugged, “Stuff happened, Chelsea. I fell in love with him, no, we fell in love with each other. And I know, it sounds crazy to you and you would probably conclude it’s Stockholm syndrome, but I know what I feel for Lukas and it’s not a psychological bond with my captor during captivity. I didn’t feel the same for Big Joe or Kenith. Trust me, I know what I feel. “
Chelsea stared at her for a long time and just when Rhea thought she would argue about her feelings for Lukas, she said instead, “If you’re happy with him, who am I to interfere then?”
Rhea boomed at her, “Thank you.” a warm feeling ignited in her heart. Yes, she didn’t need Chelsea’s approval to be with Lukas, but having a familiar friend on her side was comforting.
“It’s nothing,” Chelsea said, taking another sip of her drink, “It’s your life, you live it to the fullest. And if being with Lukas would fulfill you, then you do that without looking back. Life is too short for you to go about seeking people’s validation.” She advised her.
“Duly noted.” Rhea noted and it was her time to ask, “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What happened after Big Joe died? The fact that you are currently working for Lukas, means that you finally got out. So why still choose this kind of life? I thought you would find something better?”
“Something better like what?” She queried and Rhea frowned slightly, feeling that she might have somehow hurt her feelings unintentionally.
She swallowed down her cocktail, the alcohol shooting straight to her brains., “I honestly don’t know, but anything but prostitution, Chelsea. You have a better future now, you know.” Rhea told her.
“I’m sure that you of all people should understand that sometimes we have no control over her lives. Moreover, this is the only life I have ever known.” She told her.
“You can still change it,” She tried to convince. She was better than this.
But Chelsea merely chuckled at her, as if finding her reaction funny and unnecessary.
“You don’t have to worry, Lukas doesn’t let us do that kind of stuff. I’m not trying to praise him or something, but he doesn’t joke with his girls. He treats us better than any other person, ” Chelsea said to Rhea’s relief. She was beginning to see Lukas in a new light. There was more to Lukas than he let’s on and he was all hers.
Chelsea went on to say, “We are merely dancers. If a client wants something extra? it’s on our terms and conditions. And we take it out of his club. Those kinds of stuff attract legal trouble and Lukas likes to make gains, not losses.”
What Has She Done For Him
Oh, Lukas does own a brothel, Rhea found out when Chelsea told her and her hope was dashed.
To be precise, the Luciano family owns it. Lukas might be the head of the clan but he doesn’t run everything and family members took up various spots they could lay their hands on. In one word, the Luciano family does every illegal business one could think of, all except human trafficking and drugs.
The drug business was quite lucrative yet dangerous. You can’t sell what you don’t taste. Most drug families end up miserably and turn on each other in the end thanks to the addiction.
But as evil and competitive as the Luciano family was, they still valued their blood.
Yeah, shocking, right?
And as for trafficking, their conscience comes to play as well.
“What about Ashley and Rose?” Rhea inquired about the two other girls. Three of them had been her companion during her stay with Big Joe.
“Well, Ashley is one lucky bitch, got married to a rich guy and they moved away already. As for Rose, she went down to the countryside to take care of her grandmother. She wants to live a quiet life now.”
“That’s good. At least, they live a better life now, ” Rhea was relieved by the news.
…..
She had never once stopped thinking about the girls since leaving the Red Giant and often wondered if they got out too. Her wedding had been nothing but blood and chaos. Aside from fighting for her life – and killing Cassie and Kenith – she didn’t have time to think about them before she was captured by Lukas, again.
“I should warn you though,” Chelsea suddenly said, surprising her.
“What is it?” Rhea was held in suspense.
“The disaster at the wedding tore the gang apart and there was a fierce power struggle about who would take over with both Big Joe and Kenith gone at the same time. However, I heard rumors that the gang is under new leadership, and though their influence is not as strong as it was in their past, however, you are their number one enemy and they placed a bounty on you. “
“What?!” Rhea shouted so loudly that if it wasn’t for the music blasting from the speakers, everyone would have their eyes on her as a result of her outburst.
Rhea was flustered, “W-what… why would they have a bounty on me?”
“They think you killed Big Joe and Kenith and killing you would bring justice to their late leader.”
“W-what?” Rhea choked, feeling a sudden headache. Were they stupid or what?! Who saw her kill Big Joe?! Everyone had been at the wedding that day and saw the moment his head was blasted by that bullet. She wasn’t even holding any gun in the first place, so how was she the one who killed Big Joe?
But then, it had been Kenith’s initial plan to use and place the blame on her in the end – thanks to Cassie for spilling the whole truth to her before her death. May her rotten soul burn in the eternal flames of hell, Amen.
Hence, it wasn’t surprising if the fool that took their place as the new head decided to use her as the scapegoat. But then, why does everyone want a piece of her? At this rate, she was going to become a celebrity, albeit, an infamous one.