Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
Natalie couldn’t go back to her family. She had no idea if Edward had left the city with their daughter and couldn’t risk going back to their place and bringing danger to them. The city was already crawling with Daniel’s spies and Natalie knew it was only a matter of time till they caught her.
Once, Natalie was tempted to call on Ruth and get news of her family through her – she seemed like a pretty dependable person. However, Natalie couldn’t trust anybody, nor could she put the woman in danger.
So she hopped from place to place, sleeping in brothels and when her money ran out, Natalie ended up in the street and dragging space with other homeless people. Looking at herself now, Natalie wondered how she got to this point. Her life was so miserable she contemplated committed suicide one of the days.
But the thought of her daughter kept her going.
For two weeks, Natalie successfully evaded Daniel and his men until one fateful night. She was so hungry that she couldn’t help eyeing the bakery store out front. Natalie hadn’t eaten for two days and was so hungry.
As a woman who gave birth, she needed balanced food to replenish the blood she lost during childbirth, but that wasn’t the case for her. Just two weeks under the streets, Natalie looked so frail and sick.
Thanks to Daniel on her heels, she couldn’t stay in the same place the same day, so she couldn’t work exactly or even beg for alms in fear that someone might recognize her – not that anyone would recognize her now looking like a church rat.
So she went to the store and tried to steal the bread out front only for the owner to come out from nowhere and grabbed her arm in the process. Natalie might be a fighter, but she was no thief having been raised in a rich family where she lacked nothing, until now.
“You thief!” The man hollered, “This is why scum like you should be wiped out from this earth! I’ll report you to the police and make sure you rot in there,” He threatened her.
“Fine, take the bread,” Natalie let go of it, “I’ve returned your bread, now let me go. You’re hurting me!” She cried, weak from hunger to defend herself.
However, the man wasn’t listening and placed the phone on his ears, intent on calling the police on her. Annoying thieves!
“If you want to live after this, I’ll advice you to let go of that hand.” A voice said from behind and Natalie’s world come crashing down.
Make The World Safer For Her Baby
“If you want to live after this, I’ll suggest you let go of that hand.”
Although Natalie had seen this moment coming ever since she learned he tracked her down to this city, it still didn’t prepare her for the shock when she recognized that voice.
Natalie didn’t dare to look back, she just stood frozen on the spot, her heart pounding hard like the grooves of a horse. Even without looking, she could feel Daniel close to her with every step he took till he was directly standing behind her and looking down at the man.
The man must have sensed the murderous intent coming from Daniel because he let go of her hand and stepped back cautiously. Her wrist hurt from the pressure of the man’s grip, yet Natalie didn’t dare to ease or rub her wrist. She just let her hand fall to her side, lifelessly.
It was over for her.
Although Daniel didn’t touch her, she could sense his heat and he was standing close enough to her that it was uncomfortable. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking and having Daniel standing so close to her made her realize the dire situation she was in.
Daniel took out his wallet and pulled out a huge amount of money causing the man’s eyes to widen and he licked his lower lips unconsciously. He doesn’t know who the man is and his relationship with the woman, but it seems that he was in luck today.
However, instead of Daniel handing the money to the man, he instead let all of the cash fall to Natalie’s feet to the man’s shock.
He glanced up at Daniel questioningly, wondering if he was serious about making him pick it up.
…..
“Pick it up,” Daniel affirmed his thoughts.
“W-what -“
It must be something in Daniel’s gaze because the man was just about to protest when Daniel’s expression hung and he simply bent and picked up the money. However, as he was rising to his feet, Daniel said to him,
“Apologize to her as well,”
“What?” He glanced up at Natalie with scorn. She was the one who tried to steal from him, why was he the one being blamed? He said, “There’s no way I’m… “
Daniel shifted on his feet and in the process showed the gun that was hidden in his waistband and his eyes grew to the size of the moon instantly.
“I am so sorry…” The man fell to her feet, weeping and begging for mercy while Natalie watched emotionlessly.
She already knew who was responsible for this, Daniel. He must have done something to the man and he was only apologizing because he was scared for his life. So yeah, she understood his plight.
“That’s enough already,” Natalie spoke to Daniel for the first time and turned, hardly taking a step forward when he grabbed her by the arm and stopped her from moving. Just as she thought, she was a prisoner already.
Natalie lifted her face to look at Daniel for the first time in over three years and she had to admit time was quite good to him. He practically looked the same except that he had grown beards that made him look more mature than his former younger and playful self.
However, his expression was harsh now and there was a coldness in his gaze that made her swallow unconsciously. If she thought Daniel had not changed over the years, Natalie just got her answer.
He did not just change.
He changed for the worse.
Natalie wasn’t even sure she knew a thing about the man standing in front of her anymore.
“Let’s go then,” Was all Daniel said before sliding his arm around her waist and pressing her to his side. Natalie stiffened instantly, she didn’t like their nearness. After all these years, he couldn’t just pretend that nothing happened between them and that they were good again. Natalie didn’t like his hands on her, it made her uncomfortable.
It felt strange.
Natalie didn’t protest as he led her to the car waiting for them. Even if she ran, there was no use, Daniel was going to catch her. She might as well take this opportunity to inhale enough of the night air because Natalie had a feeling this was the last time she might be in the open like this.
Once in the car, Natalie sat up straight and didn’t lower her defenses for once. The ride was silent and full of tension between the both, but they kept to themselves. While Natalie kept to her side of her seat, Daniel was busy going through the papers as if she didn’t exist.
The instant they arrived at their destination, Daniel was the first to step out and she didn’t catch sight of him anymore. Natalie sucked in a shaky breath the instant she stepped out of the car, knowing what awaited her.
“Follow me,” ordered one of his subordinates and she obediently went after him.
It was a villa and Natalie wasn’t surprised he had accommodation in the city. Daniel always made sure there was sufficient accommodation on each of his travels. They went through room after room and Natalie made sure to memorize the way.
She planned to kill Daniel and end the ill fate between them. It was a suicide mission and she would likely not survive it, however, Natalie already made up her mind when she sent her daughter away.
If there was something Daniel taught her over the years, it was the fact that when you have nothing to lose, then everything is possible. If Daniel thought he was going to repeat the past by keeping her captive, then he was in for a loss.
She no longer had a family, no Edward and no baby. Her final purpose now was to make the world safer for her baby girl. Her little girl would not go through the same misfortune she went through. People like Daniel were better off this earth.
Have His Way
It wasn’t until Natalie found herself in the shower that she realized just how dirty she was. No wonder the shop owner accused her of being a thief – although she technically did steal – she looked like a beggar.
It wasn’t surprising, Daniel left her all by herself – he wouldn’t see her in her dirty condition. New clothes were made available for her and by the time Natalie was done luxuriating in the bathroom, she was invited down for dinner.