Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“Give me the report,” Lukas said, seated down and wouldn’t stop tapping his feet anxiously against the floor.
He refused to leave Rhea’s side, which means they were gathered in his living room while she slept soundly in his room. He left her hours ago and she nearly died. Lukas was not repeating the same mistake, at least until he knows what he was dealing with here.
Luca told him, “The woman was one of the staff.”
“Staff? Housekeeping? Who hired her?” Lukas asked in anger, anxious to deal with the mastermind of the attack. He has stayed long enough in the business to know that there was a motive for every attack or a sponsor. If that woman was among the staff, he could already guess that she was sponsored.
Luca and Samuel shared a look and looked hesitant to reply to him.
“I asked a question!” Lukas demanded, the veins in his head bulging.
With a sigh, Luca said, “It’s Mrs. Beatrice.”
…..
At once, Lukas’s expression blanched, never expecting that Beatrice would betray him until something crossed his mind and he asked, “Who did the screening?”
And at that question, Luca and Samuel looked at each other.
“Stop staring at each other and answer me!” Lukas hated the wordless conversation that he wasn’t a part of. Both of them definitely know something he doesn’t know.
“The thing is boss ….” Samuel was the one that stepped out to answer, “Beatrice has become so good with hiring the staff that we didn’t look much into it.” He swallowed uneasily by the time he was done knowing that Lukas was about to go berserk.
“So….” Lukas started, rubbing his throbbing headache, “You’re trying to tell me that you didn’t screen the staff that you have been letting into my place, all because you trusted Beatrice’s judgment and thanks to your lovely mistake, almost cost me, Rhea and my kid -” He intentionally let out his secret in a fit of anger.
“K-Kid? ” Luca said, looking at Lukas with confusion before his gaze strolled to the room where Rhea was sleeping and it dawned on him. Rhea was pregnant.
“Oh no,” A feeling of guilt washed over Luca. He failed Rhea and his boss. He was deeply ashamed.
“If that news gets out without my approval, you’re dead,” Lukas warned him. He was still furious, but then he couldn’t wake Rhea sleeping in the other room.
“Of course, boss.” The both of them said in unison, knowing they were dead meat otherwise. Right now, they were losing merits in front of Lukas and needed to gain his trust back.
Samuel’s phone beeped with a message and he glanced down at it before informing Lukas, “The Draven Brothers are here.”
“Let them in,” Lukas said, running his hand through his hair and ruffling it. God, he was so tired mentally and all he wanted to do was to climb into bed with Rhea and feel her warm, soft body – proof that she was still alive. But then, he needed to do this. He needed to create a safe space for her – and their unborn child.
Lukas had no choice but to call Natalie and inform her about the attack. Of course, the woman didn’t take the news nicely considering the attack occurred on his territory – he shouldn’t have invited Rhea over if his place wasn’t safe. Lukas saw the scolding coming anyway and didn’t argue with her. In the end, she demanded Rhea be sent.
The only problem is that Lukas had a feeling he wouldn’t see much of Rhea after this incident. Natalie would keep a close eye on her – and he couldn’t blame her. What parent wouldn’t want to keep her only child safe?
Not long after, Ephraim and his huge brother, Elvis stepped into the room. And though it was just the both of them, they seem to swallow all the space in the room with their presence. Of course, Natalie had to send the toughest brothers. Honestly, Lukas couldn’t tell whether he liked or loathed that woman. Her motherly love is tough. At least, both brothers were strong and would keep Rhea safe, that was for sure.
“Where is she?” Ephraim asked, his gaze already settling on the closed door, figuring out she was in there.
“She’s asleep at the moment.” Lukas said, standing in the way, “It was traumatic, keep her time to calm her nerves.”
Ephraim’s face connected to his brother’s and an understanding passed between the both of them. He then said, “We’ll wait.”
Just like that, the both of them took a seat and faced him, an awkward tension in the air.
Lukas said after a while, “Natalie shouldn’t have sent the both of you, I was planning on sending her home when she wakes anyway.”
“Sorry, but she trusted us to keep her safer. She’s not taking any chances, not with yesterday’s incident.” Elvis said.
“Yesterday’s incident?” Lukas was curious.
“You probably don’t know yet but …” Ephraim looked hesitant to share the news at first but he went on, “The Basil family was gunned down yesterday, the only survivor was his wife and children who had been away. Sources claim it was the handwork of the Bratva, however, Konstantin was killed in the same witching hour. No one seems to know the mastermind but the Basil family’s offshore accounts were hacked and now, we have no idea what the new player plans to do with all that money. However, Eric thinks whoever that is, is buying resources to probably conquer the rest of the five families. “
Ephraim added, “You might not be in the commission, but you’re one of the ruling families in this city, and if war is coming, your family won’t be excluded.”
Lukas tried not to show emotions but the news had taken him by surprise and a shiver ran down his spine. Unlike before, he had a lot of people to protect. And now that he thought about it, it can’t be a coincidence that the Basil family was wiped out yesterday and Rhea was attacked today – the one he loved the most. If anyone wanted to get to him, it was through Rhea. This was a perfectly thought-out plan and the woman had only been a tool.
The realization hit him at the same time Luca glanced at him. Both of them have the same thought.
“It’s all Richardo’s plan, why can’t you adults see that.” Someone said from nowhere, drawing all of their attention.
Wipes You All Off
It was no one else but Winters making a dramatic entrance and all eyes turned in her direction. Lukas’s jaw nearly dropped in shock when he saw her, he thought that she would be bawling her eyes out over the breakup. But then, if he could look closely, there was a hint of puffiness around her eyes carefully covered with makeup.
Pride surged inside of Lukas, although she went through a painful break-up today, the girl didn’t let it beak her. There weren’t many women who could do that. He was extremely proud of her.
“Who is….?” Elvis asked in surprise while Ephraim’s eyes were intent on Winters, regarding her slowly as if he could sense something special about her.
As usual, Winters ignored them and came in with her laptop, setting it on the center table in the room and sat beside it with her legs crossed, saying,
“There have been a lot of activities on the dark web and news is going around that someone is buying mercenaries.”
“What?” All of the men in the room were dumbfounded by the news. They looked at one another, anxiety on the rise.
Ephraim said to her, “I’m guessing that you’re a hacker and honestly, I’m impressed by your age and gender.”
And to that comment, Winters rolled her eyes exaggeratedly as a response. What’s with people underestimating her all because she’s a girl? This was beginning to irk her. She wanted to be praised, not underestimated.
Ephraim must have sensed her annoyance because he added immediately, “I don’t mean to offend you, I’m just honestly surprised. However, if I’m to ask, how are you so sure of what you’re saying? I’m not trying to underestimate your ability or something, but if I’m going to report this back to the commission, I need evidence, not a thesis. “
…..
Perhaps because this was their first time meeting, Winters forgave him for doubting her. And so she went ahead to explain, ” When I was held hostage by Richardo – “
“Who’s Richardo?” Ephraim asked, and this time, not only Winters but Lukas’s head whipped in his direction.
Dumbfounded by the question, Lukas asked him, “Why do you think Victor is in the hospital? Who do you think is responsible for that? How is it possible you don’t know about him after the incident?”
But Ephraim answered, “Your family gets into all kinds of trouble and we, the Draven family, make it our business not to get involved in your business. You only interfere in a matter when you know about it. Ignorance is bliss.” He concluded.
And that matter offended Lukas because he sneered, “And your brother calls himself the head of the commission. No wonder Richardo was able to hold ground in the city while you guys sat in your polished position with your head held high. Well, give your brother this message and tell him that while he was being posh, a powerless kitten was able to become a devouring Tiger and what happened to the Basil family is on him!”