Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
…..
But Richardo shook his head, “No, that would be what Lukas wants. I was a coward in the past for running away the first time, it isn’t happening again. Moreover…” He fingered the necklace around his neck which was a gift from Macy, “I swore that I would die trying.”
The man swallowed upon hearing his words, it was either they win or die. There was no escape, no looking back. Perhaps, they should have discussed this before turning their back on their late boss, Konstantin. Richardo only wanted to use them to wage war on Lukas without caring about their welfare.
But it was too late to begin to pull out of this. It would only bring about a division in the gang, not to mention that Richardo successfully brainwashed the others. Moreover, Richardo also bought his own help – mercenaries – he might end up digging his own grave instead.
“How is it going?” Richardo asked and he turned to see that he was referring to the druggie hacker.
“Nothing. I think Winters is at it again. I can’t get in no matter how many times I try to hack -“
Unfortunately, that response was a big mistake because the next Alex was yanked off his seat, the laptop slipping from his hand just as Richardo rammed his knee into his guts.
“Even till now, you still can’t win over a child! What use do I have for you?!” Richardo hollered, tossing him aside as if he was nothing but a ragdoll.
He couldn’t even break into Lukas’s security! If he was going to attack the Base, Lukas can’t see them coming else it would be walking into a slaughter. Lukas knew for sure that he was coming, he just doesn’t know when or how. They couldn’t go for a head-on attack, it was not their territory, nor does he know if Lukas would even be in. His main target was Lukas. Others were sacrifices. Unfortunately, the sorry of a hacker he has couldn’t even get them a distraction! Something Winters would have done with a single clink.
“Please, no, don’t kill me!” Alec begged him, crawling away from him. He had seen Richardo reach for his weapon and knew his time was numbered. Killing him wouldn’t bring him any satisfaction but he was currently on edge. Accidents could happen.
However, Richardo ignored him and caught up to him, pressing the gun’s muzzle against his temple while his heart pounded severally.
“I have no use for useless people in here!” He told him, his hand curling around the trigger and he was ready to shoot.
“Boss….” The man called his name cautiously.
Perhaps it must be the tension in the air, Richardo retracted the gun and got off the bastard. It was no use killing the asshole, it would cast low morale on the team and they would perceive that move as a weakness. What’s the possibility he wouldn’t kill them next? They might think. He can’t let that happen. He needed them. He needed them to win.
Once Alex ran out of the room, Richardo turned to him, running his hand through his hair in annoyance. He said, “I have the money, I have the numbers, but I need a sure hit. I need something to give him an edge. The commission would not strike immediately, their formalities would buy enough time for me to be through Lukas.” He was sure of it.
Richardo muttered, “I need a head start.”
The man then said, “There’s something else.”
Richardo’s brows raised interest, “What is it?”
“It’s Daniel, Lukas’s father. The both of them had a falling out and he stripped him of his authority in the family. Now, we both know that Daniel and Lukas have never seen eye to eye until this happened. Daniel is an unconventional man.” He said suggestively.
“In one word, we could strike a deal, Lukas for the power that was taken from him. If Daniel doesn’t agree, I have a very important member of Lukas’s family. Only then, we would be able to know if Lukas loves his father or not.”
A crinkle formed in Richardo’s eyes. He said, “Get me, Daniel Luciano.”
The Flesh Is Weak
To be honest, Angelica had no idea what to expect when she met Daniel face to face. No, she began to have second thoughts as they approached the door that was guarded by two stern-looking men.
What was happening? Just what kind of punishment did Lukas give out to his father and why were they treating him like he was a terrorist?
Well, maybe they had a reason to. She has heard stories about Daniel and it was enough to induce goosebumps on her arm. Perhaps, this was another reason she had to stay away from him. Daniel was not a good person – even though she promised him from the onset to try to see the good in him.
“Who is she?” The guards at the door interrogated her just as they were asked at the entrance. It seems everyone was walking on eggshells around here.
“She’s Daniel’s woman,” Haz said and while Angelica would love to set things straight, she had a feeling that being Daniel’s woman was the only way she could get her to see Daniel.
“How come we are just getting to know that? Moreover, Lukas does not have an idea of this. Our orders were to make sure Daniel doesn’t leave this house. What if this is your ploy to get him out?”
“Really? What’s this frail innocent woman going to do? What do you think she is capable of?” Haz gestured at her and suddenly, there were two curious eyes on her.
It was instinctive, Angelica put on a sweet smile on her face hoping to charm them into letting her in.
“Looks are deceiving.” One of them said and the expression on her face died off. That jerk, she was old enough to be his mother! Okay, maybe that was a bit exaggerated. But she was old enough to be his sister.
…..
“If you think I have a secret weapon or something, you should know I have nothing on me. I just want to see Daniel and then I’m out of your hair.” Angelica prayed that it was convincing enough.
Suddenly, the man was in her space and before Angelica could mutter a word, his hands were on her body. At first, she thought it was molestation until she realized that he was merely searching her body for hidden weapons.
“I’m sorry,” He said respectively, “But there are no women to do the favors which I’m sure you noticed.”
The man then commanded his partner to step aside and Angelica moved to the door. Haz was not going in with her, having fulfilled his mission of bringing her here.
“Don’t make me regret this.” The man warned her just as Angelica opened the door and froze.
It wasn’t hard to find Daniel because he was standing right outside the door. He must have heard their argument and figured out that she was here. The both of them stood still, staring at each other with a little bit of awkwardness hanging in the air.
“When you said we were going to talk, I didn’t realize that it would be in the company of others.” She gestured at the audience around them.
Both men were on high alert evidenced by the tension in their bodies as if expecting that Daniel would pull up a trick or two, but all he did was drag her into the room and shut the door in their faces.
Daniel was pulling her into the room, away from the door where the two guards were probably leaning against and trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Her imagination was not far stretched because his room was spacious enough with a monotonous decoration. It was not like she was expecting the color green on him. Daniel was not exactly a man of color.
“What are you doing? You said you wanted to….” The rest of her words were forever lost as Daniel pulled her into his embrace.
Angelica tried to resist him, but he only hugged her tighter and buried his nose into her neck saying in a broken voice, “I’m so sorry, Angelica. I know that it’s completely selfish of me but I don’t have anyone right now. You are the only one that I can trust and I don’t think I can go through this alone.”
She stiffened, having not expected those words from him. For the first time, Anglica felt Daniel was being completely honest with her like he was baring his soul to her. And it was left to her to do what she wanted with it. Just what has Lukas done to him to leave him this humbled?
There was nothing but silence between them, however, Angelica patted his back, rubbing it like a mother comforting her child. She could not remember how long the both of them stood that way, however, her feet were hurting by the time both of them broke from the hug.
Daniel looked better, like the turmoil inside of him had calmed, but there was also something hungry about his gaze and when he caressed her cheek, her pulse quickened.
“No…” Angelica said weakly. She remembered her promise to Adele and couldn’t break it. She came here to hear him out and then it was over between them.
“Just this once….” Daniel muttered, his hand now trailing down her neck and caressing her collarbone, the hollow of her throat. So beautiful.
She shook her head but her protest was not firm enough and when his thumb brushed across her lower lips, Angelica was a goner. She felt weak in the knees and knew she couldn’t resist this man, not with the ravaging hunger in his eyes. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.
Fine, just this once and it was over. Since this was goodbye, she might as well savor and relish every moment to build resistance the next time he might attempt to seduce her. Angelica was sorry for breaking her promise and being such a weak mother to her daughter, Adele. But then, she was human after all.