Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
Hearing that response left Daniel dumbfounded. He thought that he knew Lukas well, but it seems he didn’t know him after all. When he ordered that attack, he knew Lukas would be mad and probably throw one or two fusses. Stripping him of his authority in the family? Banishing him? It just didn’t cross his mind. After all, it was a first.
“This video is going directly to the members of the family and don’t think of trying to manipulate anyone to come to your aid, because you already made yourself unlikeable and I’m sure none of them thinks you’re worthy to die for.”
Daniel lunged at his son again, his effort was futile while being held down by both men.
“You’re currently under house arrest, so don’t think of stepping a foot outside. The order is to shoot on sight. Note the word, ‘shoot’ not ‘kill’. If you’re injured, I’ll make sure they prolong your agony just enough to keep you alive until help comes. This should be enough punishment, right?” Lukas smirked at him, relishing his misery.
And then he turned, commanding the soldier next to him, “Replace all of his men and fill them with ours. While they are still my men, their loyalty to no father is stronger and I would not doubt they would try to help him escape.”
“Yes, boss!” The soldier said and began to round Daniel’s men up.
“No, Lukas! You can’t do this to me! Lukas!” Daniel called after him with all of his might but Lukas did not spare him a look and turned his back to him.
This was a mild punishment compared to what he had done. Now, the Draven family was set to war with him all because of his stupid choice. While they said People’s names influence them, Daniel’s case was the opposite. His middle name ‘Cosmo’ means order, decency, and beauty. Yet his father didn’t live up to it and recognizes beauty in chaos instead.
By the time Lukas got outside, Samuel had pulled up already and was by his side in a flash.
“How did it go, boss?” He hinted at Daniel.
“It went how it was supposed to go,” Lukas answered with a hard expression.
Samuel looked at him and asked, “Are you okay, boss?” While Daniel might be a monster to the others – and perhaps to him too – he was still his father.
“How are Mimi and her parents?” Lukas changed the topic instead and Samuel understood the cue not to bring up that question again.
“They are safe in there and Luca would keep an eye on them.”
“Ahh, Luca,” Lukas sighed. He owes him one.
“What’s the next plan, boss?”
“I’m going to see the Draven family.”
“W-what?!” Samuel got in his way and said, “That is not possible, they would shoot you on sight. This is a war, boss!”
“And I can’t let that happen!” Lukas countered, ” I know the risk but I have to take the leap of faith. If I die….” He swallowed uneasily, “So be it.”
Not Good Enough
The war was going to happen, Rhea could tell from the activities going on around her. Never has she seen Draven’s family house this busy until today. For the past hours, many cars drove into the compound, accompanied by unfamiliar men Rhea had never seen until now.
The last she had seen, a cart of weapons was being carried into the house and her heart had never stopped pounding ever since. It dawned on her that this was the weapon that would be used on Lukas and every member of the Luciano family she valued. If she doesn’t do something now, the father of her child is going to vanish from the face of the earth forever.
Thanks to that, Rhea has been looking for Eric in this sea of people. She had to talk to him, convince him that this was a mistake. Violence was not the answer and they would only end up destroying each other. Rhea couldn’t tell who would win in a war between two families, but she couldn’t let that happen.
As much as she wasn’t attached to Eric, he was still her mother’s husband and her mother would be heartbroken over the loss. In one word, Rhea was torn between both sides. She couldn’t lose Eric, Elijah, Ezra, Ephraim, and Elvis that accepted her as part of Draven but she couldn’t Lukas, Victor, Adele, and Luca with the rest of them. All of them were important to them.
If there was anyone that had to be punished, it was Daniel. Everyone knew that this was his fault and he had to pay for what he did. But placing judgment on the entire Luciano family was not the way to do it. They are innocent. Eric should punish only Daniel and leave the rest of them.
Sadly, no matter how hard she searched, Rhea could not find him. Who knows where he was, probably bent over a layout and plotted their attack. However, she did find her mother and she hurried over to her side. Rose, her stepsister, has been sent to stay with her mother Karen and the young girl was kind enough to go with Redhead.
“Mother, I need to speak to Eric,” Rhea demanded, blocking her way.
“Rhea, trust me, this is not the time.” Natalie tried to sidestep her but Rhea was determined and stood her ground.
“Do you even hear yourself? He’s about to go attack Lukas, how could you let that happen?!”
…..
Hearing the accusation in her voice made Natalie snap at her, “You think I haven’t tried?! Do you think that I just folded my hands and watched everything escalate to this point?!”
Rhea’s mouth opened and closed with no answer and her mother continued to fire at her,
“I warned Lukas! Told him that his father would be the death of him yet his sense of duty towards that madman did not let him do the right thing until it got to this point. Moreover….” She lifted her chin defiantly, “What do you expect Eric to do, sit and fold his arms as the Luciano family throws this shit on his face.”
“It’s not the Luciano family, it’s all Daniel’s handwork,” Rhea groaned, desperate to be heard. This had to be stopped before it was too late.
“Daniel is still part of the Luciano family! For crying out loud Rhea, a truce was in place! Eric and Lukas had a deal underway, a means to bring peace to both families and still yet Daniel struck while being aware of that. The Luciano family broke the treaty first, it’s right the Draven family retaliated. Trust me, this is the only way to bring back the respect to the Draven family, or else every other crime family would follow in the same step. If Eric doesn’t do this, his men would take up the case to restore the glory of the family. “
“No, there has to be another way to solve this without the bloodshed. Mother…..” A tear slipped down her face and her voice cracked as she reminded her, “I’m carrying his child. I-I can’t lose Lukas…. I just need to see Eric and maybe… maybe he would understand.”
Rhea wiped her face with the back of her hand while more tears flowed down her face, “Just tell me where he is…” She pleaded with her mother.
It was obvious that Natalie was torn between decisions. She had to keep her husband’s back, but this was her daughter…. and her grandchild. It was a difficult decision to make.
“He’s in the basement along with his brothers,” Natalie told her and Rhea released the breath that she had been holding in.
“Don’t be optimistic though, it’s guarded by enough soldiers to keep people like you from getting into the meeting room,” Natalie informed her.
Just as she thought, Eric was intentionally avoiding her.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Rhea said with determination in her eyes and her fist clenched by her sides, “Thanks for doing your part already.”
With that being said, she turned and intentionally approached the men gathered around the table with many weapons spread out.
“I’m so sorry,” She bumped into one of them, “I think I missed my step.”
“It’s alright,” The man sighed, running his hand through his hair, “You just watch where you’re going.”
“Thank you,” Rhea smiled at him, “You just saved a life.”
“Okie….?” The man was confused by her comment yet didn’t think much about it, focusing his attention back on the group.
Rhea was a woman with purpose as she left to find Eric. She hasn’t stepped into the basement of the house since she arrived here, however, it wasn’t hard to find, and just like her mother said, two men were guiding the door.
She didn’t recognize both men but they obviously knew considering they addressed her by her name.
“Rhea, you’re not supposed to be here.”