Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“So Victor is not really a businessman but is a consigliere to Lukas, who is the leader of the family and the family business is dealing with arms.” Mimi’s mother, Hannah, was still trying to wrap her head around everything.
“Well, one of them. They practically dabble in everything illegal, gambling, labor racketeering, loan sharking, tax fraud schemes, and stock manipulation schemes, I mean, that’s what makes them the Mafia. Isn’t it?” Mimi was still talking when she saw the way her mother’s eyes widened in terror and she realized that it was the thing she said.
“Well, everything except drugs, and trafficking. Doing drugs is lucrative but there are many dangers, including addiction. The government would crack down on them faster. I’m not trying to say they are innocent but compared to the others, they do operate with a moral code.” Mimi said, swallowing nervously.
While she would still be together with Victor, even if her mother doesn’t approve of him anymore, she still didn’t want it to come to that point. Her mother doesn’t have to understand why she chose him out of the billions of men out there in the world, she needed her to accept it.
“Why h-him?” Hannah asked, her voice cracking at the end. She went on to say,
“We gave you everything that you could ever want, Mimi. We gave you the best life, sent you to the best school, and even supported you when you didn’t want to take over the company and didn’t know what to do with your life, I understood that as your mother. So why him? You could have many far better men and not him. Do you realize what this means for you? For him? You can’t outrun the law forever. One day, they would come for him and you’d be left all alone. Even without that, look around you, and see what’s happening. Is this the kind of life you want?”
Mimi was not able to speak for over a minute knowing that her mother was right. Her future with Victor was not certain. He could die or get arrested. Worse, she could also die. She would never be safe with him. None of them would be safe. But then, that was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
“I failed you.” was all Mimi said. She shook her head, “But I can’t stop now. There’s no turning back now, mother. I love Victor and I’m having his baby. Everyone knows about us now and I’m sorry, but there’s nowhere that I can go that I would be safe, if not beside him.”
“She’s right, Hannah. Our daughter is most safe with the Luciano family now.”
“You say that, but what do you really know about them or all of this?! You are just a businessman!” The woman lashed out at her husband.
Roger didn’t answer, rather he looked at his daughter, and an understanding passed between the both of them. Unfortunately, Hannah saw the interaction and something hit her.
She narrowed her gaze at her husband, “Is there something you’re not telling me as well?”
Roger swallowed his gaze meeting with Mimi and held.
“For sure, you have. How then, would you have held onto her secret?” Hannah looked at her husband, “Let it out now while I’m still being nice.”
Roger let out a deep breath, using his tongue to wet his lower lips. He confessed, “I’m a businessman, Hannah. That means I have done one or two things that would mark me guilty in the face of the law. I’m not innocent, Hannah.”
“Dear God,” The woman gasped, running her hand through her hair. There were just so many confessions that it sent her head reeling.
“I think I need some air.”
“Mom….” Mimi called, tears glistening in her ears. She tried to reach for her mother, but Roger grabbed her and shook his head when she looked up. She had to let her go.
Without even looking back, Hannah left the room and that scene broke Mimi’s heart so she burst into tears.
“I think she hates me now.” Mimi cried out hard, “I have failed her.”
But her father pulled her into him, comforting her.
“Your mother doesn’t and would never hate you. This is all new to her and she needs the space. We all lied to her and couldn’t change her view in one day. Give your mother time, Mimi.”
If I Die….
Daniel was supposed to have a peaceful sleep that night but it was disrupted by his son’s arrival. And yes, he had been expecting Lukas’s visit, but what he never imagined was for Lukas to come into his place with an entourage of soldiers.
No, his men should have never allowed him entry in the first place, but he finally understood why when his second in command was tossed to his feet like a ragged doll. Haz was beaten black and blue and it was no doubt Lukas’s handwork.
“What is the meaning of this, Lukas!” He growled at him, fist clenched to his sides. Daniel did not feel sorry for Haz’s condition, after all, violence was part of their lifestyle. However, it was the fact that Lukas had the guts to beat up his second in command and dumped him on his feet. It was the highest form of disrespect, especially in front of all these people. Lukas just insulted his pride.
However, Lukas did not answer, rather he stepped forward till he was standing face to face with his father, Haz doing well to stay out of the way. His face was hard and expressionless, except for the tick in his jaw that was a symbol of his fury.
“You know….” Lukas began, his voice a drawl, but tensed, “While on my way here, I thought of many ways that I could deal with you. At first, I thought of going after my second cousin Gabriel and teaching him a lesson for abetting you in the attack. But then, I changed my mind…. I mean, why go after the small fish when the big fish is the master manipulator? I should first deal with you. “
“Oh, I’m scared.” Daniel as usual didn’t take him seriously and goaded him, “So what are you going to do? Beat me up? You are quite good at that for someone who thought of me as a monster for disciplining his mother. Isn’t it a crime hitting your father too or doesn’t your moral compass include that?”
Lukas’s fist shook by his side with great anger. He knew that his father was trying to mess with him by getting into his head. He couldn’t let that happen.
He acknowledged it,” I’m not going to lie, I did think of that. I thought of ending your pathetic life and saving everyone else the trouble, but then, what’s the gain? Death is a huge mercy for someone like you. And what is beating you? No, you’re too resilient to pain that I would be teasing you instead.”
His voice became graver as he said,” I needed to think of something that would hurt you enough to beg on your knees, and of which, mercy wouldn’t come anyway. I needed to take away something that you valued so much, that made you the man you are! ” His voice was raised at the end.
…..
Then Lukas smiled wickedly, “And then it came into my mind suddenly. I need to strip you of your great honor.”
And with those words being said, Lukas gestured his head and two of his men from behind went over and held Daniel from both sides.
“You! What are you doing?!” Although Daniel had no clue what his son was up to, his tone somehow made him uncomfortable. For Lukas to be this comfortable meant that he had found a suitable way to torture him and for some reason, he had a feeling it would hurt.
He struggled with both men, but they were stronger and he couldn’t set himself free. While this was happening, a third man stepped in and began to search him thoroughly, taking away every weapon that he could find on him.
“Check his knees as well, he doesn’t lack hiding spots,” Lukas instructed the man on where to search while Daniel gritted his teeth and braved through the harassment. If Lukas planned to break his spirit, then he was in for a loss. He was Daniel Luciano, nothing could faze him anymore.
“He’s clean,” The third man announced, stepping away while the other two still held onto him.
“Good,” Lukas said and gestured to another man who stepped out and brought up his phone to record the scene. This stupid son of his!
Daniel suddenly lunged forward, but the man kept a strong hold of him so he was only able to groan and jerk. Who knew Lukas was going to send the video? He was really set on humiliating him! Daniel swore to deal with him after this was over. He was going to ruin his reputation over a small incident?!
“Are you ready?” Lukas asked the man with the phone.
“Ready, boss.”
“Good.”
Lukas then announced, “With the power vested on me as the Don of this family, I, Lukas Xavier Luciano IV strip Daniel Cosmo Luciano of his operating powers in this family….”
“No, no, no….!” Daniel screamed at him when he realized what he was doing.
However Lukas continued nonetheless, “He shall no longer have any authority or power to command any subject, rather he shall be under the subjection of others. He would be nothing but a mere member of this family until the order is refuted otherwise. Any attempt to go against this order shall be met with death!” He declared with authority.
What other way to deal with Daniel than to hurt him where it hurts the most? By taking away the one thing he values the most, power. Without it, he couldn’t do anything. He is nothing. Without that power, his reputation would crumble.
“No, you bastard! What have you done?! How could you do this to me? I’m your father!” He roared “I gave you everything! Make you who you are and you dare to stab me in the back!” Daniel’s eyes were red and full of embarrassing fury. He didn’t deserve to be treated this way. Not after everything he has done for this family! For his disgrace of a son.
But Lukas told him, “You should be grateful, that is exactly why I didn’t banish you from the family.”