Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
As much as Rhea was an enthusiastic advocate for true love, what Elijah did to Adele was unforgivable. He played her for a fool and Rhea understood Adele’s anger towards him and the guilt he – Elijah – was feeling as well.
It was like when she betrayed Lukas, although she technically didn’t betray him and had merely kept Elijah’s identity from him because she didn’t want the both of them to kill each other. Well, whatever.
The point is, Elijah was going to have to work hard in gaining Adele’s favor back if he was truly in love with her. He can’t keep on wallowing in self-pity. Regret has never helped anyone move forward. She was only going to help him gain Adele’s trust back when he – Elijah – takes the first step by reconciling with her.
With no other option left, Rhea was already contemplating calling Lukas to know how he was doing. She felt bad cutting the call abruptly on him that morning, but her mother’s message had been pretty startling.
…..
Rhea received a call from an unknown number instead and that set her brows in a frown. Not many people knew about this number because Lukas got it for her. Nonetheless, she picked up the call, her heart pounding as she had a nauseous feeling that it might be Richardo calling to threaten her.
“Hello? Who is this?” She asked, waiting in anticipation for a message.
“Rhea!” Someone wailed into her ears and she had to pull the phone away, startled.
With a deep frown, Rhea stared at the screen again to discover that it was an unknown number. But then, whoever just called knew her personally and the voice sounded oddly familiar. Rhea just couldn’t detect where she heard that voice. It sounded like someone she knew and it was frustrating because the truth was right at her fingertips. She just couldn’t pinpoint it.
So she placed the phone back on her ear and said again, “Hello?”
“Rhea, you have to save me from Lukas.”
And that was it. It hit like a hammer to the head.
“Winters?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Rhea chuckled, “What a surprise and what in the name of the lord are you talking about?”
“It’s Lukas! He’s giving me the silent treatment and Chloe says it’s the worst form of punishment. What am I going to do? I didn’t mean to keep him in the dark but I didn’t know if he was working with Niklaus Spencer and they wanted to take Akim away. It’s selfish of me but I wanted to spend more time together with Akim…!” She said all in one word.
“Alright, slow down. Take a deep breath, honey.” She told her.
“You have to come here Rhea and plead my case for me. Do your charm or whatever you do. You’re the only person he listens to anyway.” She begged him.
“Fine, I’ll be there,” Rhea promised her without thinking much, only to realize the implication of what she just did, but it was too late.
“I’ll be waiting then and thank you so much. Muah!” Winters hung up before Rhea could tell her she was not exactly permitted to go over to Lukas’s place until the conflict between both families had been officially approved.
“What have you done now, Rhea?” She groaned, throwing herself on the bed and tossing around. Fine! She sat up. Rhea knew she had to do something first.
Eric was a cool person and she was sure that he wouldn’t mind her going to Lukas’s place, but the problem was her mother. If anyone had told Rhea years back that there would come a time when she would have to take permission from the mother she thought dead to go see her boyfriend, she would never believe it. Totally Unbelievable.
With her heart beating fast, she typed to her mother.
[Something came up, I need to spend the night at Lukas’s place.] She added, [Just so you know, I’m going even if you say no, I just thought to inform you as my mother and the fact that I’m currently under your roof]
Rhea sent it and waited, tapping her feet restlessly against the floor.
Almost immediately, a reply from her mother came through.
[A night only, be back tomorrow. Use protection.]
Rhea nearly choked on her saliva. Does the woman think her daughter was so horny she would only go to her boyfriend’s place for sex? Do mothers embarrass their daughters like this or was it only her?
She typed back,
[ Just so you know, Lukas has bruised ribs, and can’t perform under such conditions. Have a little faith in your daughter.]
Natalie must have her phone in hand because a response came instantly,
[Of course, I trust my daughter, but it’s her hormones and Lukas that I don’t trust. Men are like animals and they would surely find a way to stick it in no matter the circumstance.]
Alright, too much information! Rhea gave up.
Kiss It Better
Lukas was in pain and he was all alone. He didn’t know which of the two was more annoying. This was not the first time that he had been caught in a shootout and suffered a bullet wound. He used to manage the pain better but for some strange reason, he was very annoyed and grumpy today. He wanted someone by his side to take care of him. Wasn’t he a patient too?
Unfortunately, the nurse he wanted was far away and he couldn’t ask her to come to his place even if he wanted her to. Why was love so hard? The movies and books were all a lie! Lukas thought when you love someone, things become easier and smoother. But now, it seems he and Rhea face the greatest persecution from both of their families.
Lukas moaned once more on the bed. He wanted Rhea. It was so painful. Why must he pretend to be so tough? He wasn’t superman, he was human. Lukas wanted some tender, loving care. Call him a child for throwing such a fuss, he doesn’t care. He wanted Rhea!
God, what has he done? Lukas feared he must have conjured Rhea from his imagination when someone walked into his room. He hadn’t even heard the door to the living room open. Maybe he was slowly losing his mind from missing her too much.
So he watched her intently, his heated gaze never leaving her not even for a sec until she came to sit on the edge of his bed with a smile.
“Wow, I can even feel the dip in the bed, this imagination of mine must be topnotch. Kind of like a 7D hologram technology.” He mused.
Rhea frowned, what was this idiot rambling about?
“You’re even frowning?” He noticed, “It almost seems real.”
“By chance, are you having a fever?” Rhea had no choice but to feel his forehead and it was cool to the touch.
…..
“Your hands….” His brows twitched, “It feels fleshy, warm, and real.” His curious gaze took her in, was she really here? Like here?!
“Jesus Christ, stop scaring me, Lukas!” She hit Lukas on the chest with the back of her hand, forgetting that he was injured.
“Oof!” He felt like the air was knocked out of his lungs as he doubled over in pain. Even the action of bending alone sent twice the pain coursing through him.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” Rhea’s eyes were filled with horror when she realized what she just did. Was she trying to kill him or what?
“I’m so sorry,” She continuously apologized as Lukas coughed before gently pulling him back to the bed, making sure that he was seated upright. If only he hadn’t scared her with his unintelligent numbering.
“You’re real,” Lukas said.