Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“Aricel, my baby.” Rhea cooed, accepting her child from Lukas, but not without directing a glare that told him he had an explanation to do.
Behind them, Victor was going through a similar phase with Mimi, but unlike them, they were already in the kissing stage. His dear cousin Victor was wise enough to expel the fight out of his wife with his expert lips.
“Start.”
It was just one command from Rhea with that furious look in her eyes and he started, “Aricel was missing her cousins.” That was his pathetic excuse.
“Try harder,” Rhea said firmly. Lukas was not so great at lying when he was under tension.
Lukas opened his mouth to cook up another lie but he sighed, knowing that he had an observant wife that would see through all of it in the end.
“I was bored. We decided that it was appropriate that the men meet up as well.” He confessed.
“It’s late and you left with Aricel?”
“I was very careful.”
“She shouldn’t even be up past sleeping time,” Rhea said this time with a deep frown, staring down at her kid whose gaze was as clear as day with no sign of sleep.
“I’m sorry.” Lukas had no choice but to apologize knowing that he was in the wrong. Yes, he was bored, but a deal was a deal. Also, Aricel shouldn’t be up by this time.
He told her, “It wouldn’t happen again, at least not without your knowledge.”
“Good.” She said, “Now, come on.” Rhea tugged him by the shirt and when he was close enough, plastered her lips against him.
The move took Lukas by surprise, but who was he to refuse such a sweet treat? He wrapped one arm around her waist, aware of their kid between them, and moved his lips against hers.
He could have kissed her deeper if it wasn’t for the resistance on his chest and he glanced down to see that it was Aricel shoving against him. Noticing that she finally had her father’s attention, the little girl puckered her lips, wanting her fair share of the kiss as well.
Genuine laughter ripped from Lukas’s chest, so much for trying to be careful around her. Clasping her face with both of his hands, Lukas first pecked her on the forehead, cheeks, no, everywhere. There was not a skin on her face left untouched by the time he was done.
“Yes, I love you too, my baby girl.” He finally pecked her on the lips, his eyes twinkling with joy and amusement. Lukas was happy. He was very happy.
Rhea watched their interaction and while it was cute, she couldn’t help but feel a quick stab of jealousy. If she hadn’t come around, all of that attention would have been on her. Yet, Rhea did not regret it one bit; she just had to get used to her daughter stealing her husband’s attention.
And then she remembered why they were here in the first place, but when she did look ahead, Adele was already wrapped securely in Elijah’s arms.
Rhea shook her head in disbelief, how didn’t they notice it all along when there was more than a spark between the couples?
Nonetheless, she was happy that things worked out for them. Adele has suffered long enough and needed a bit of happiness in her life.
Now, she -Rhea- just had to work hard on getting baby number two in the making before Mimi beats her to it.
For someone mad at Lukas for taking Aricel out for a visit in the middle of the night, she ended up spending more time there instead. By the time they decided to go home, it was already three o’clock in the morning and even their resilient daughter couldn’t fight nature anymore and had fallen asleep.
It happened that Adele ended up revealing the news of her pregnancy publicly instead and that sparked off a celebration. There was a lot of drinking and eating in between light conversations that by the time they were done, Rhea was a hundred percent sure that she was drunk.
Lukas was the daddy of the year because he refused the alcohol knowing that he would have to drive a drunk wife and sleepy daughter instead, even though Luka was available to take up the role of a designated driver.
ραпdα—n?νa| сom And yes, it had taken Lukas quite some time to get used to the fact that his best soldier and friend – he would not admit it – did not betray him, rather he stepped out of line in a bid to save his ass. It was not easy though considering Lukas had trust issues and had him locked up for quite a while until Leon King interfered.
It wasn’t until Leon decided that he wanted to buy Luca’s contract that Lukas realized how much he missed and needed him by his side – even though everything turned out to be a plan between Luca, Victor, and Rhea. Everyone knows for a fact that Lukas could be as stubborn as a mule and hence, he needed a push.
In the end, everything worked out for everyone. Leon didn’t have to come up with pathetic excuses to want to see his lover in his holding cell – even if he wouldn’t admit it. While Victor and Rhea didn’t have to watch Lukas mull over his presence when he could easily release him; he needed Luca.
“Easy,” Lukas muttered softly as he carefully helped Rhea climb into the seat. She was carrying their daughter and when she had sat down on the front seat with Aricel resting on her chest, Lukas put the seat belt on them. He was not taking any chances.
After carrying out the safety procedures, Lukas didn’t leave immediately, rather he hovered over them. Rhea was asleep immediately and judging from the soft snores coming from her lips, he guessed that she was tired. But that didn’t stop him from admiring the scene in front of him and his chest tightened with emotion.
He tugged a lock of her red hair that had fallen over her eye behind her ear. While Aricel might have gotten her mother’s hair, every other resemblance was to him. And now he watched them both with the serene peace on their faces, everything else fading into the background.
Had Aricel opened her eyes at that moment, she would have been stunned by the profound emotions in his eyes. This was everything that Lukas could ever wish for, and the people he lived for. Lukas wondered if Rhea knew that he had a fear of getting married; starting a family and becoming a parent.
Daniel and his environment had not only shaped his perception of marriage, it scarred him greatly as well. To be honest, Lukas wasn’t sure how he turned out to be a decent person or the fact he wouldn’t make a mistake one day with his type of background, after all, people change. But one thing was for sure, he would never raise a hand on Rhea. No matter what she did. That was a promise he made on his mother’s grave and the day he got married to her.
He refused to let Daniel live through him and repeat the pattern over again. His wife was his flesh and just as he wouldn’t knowingly hurt himself, Lukas would not hurt his wife, Rhea. She was a blessing to him anyway. Everything just seems to fall into place with her and even parenting which he thought would be the hardest job was easy with her.
Although time would have to tell for that one because if his daughter Aricel comes close to being anything he was in his teenagehood, that means he has his job cut out for him. Add that to his plans of having a large family and he has his hands full. Nonetheless, he was filled with anticipation and couldn’t wait to see what the future had for them.
Lukas lowered his head and kissed Rhea on the head, his lips lingering and she muttered words that made no sense to him, yet made his lips pull back in a smile. Then he smoothed his hand down his daughter’s red curls as well, careful not to wake her up as he kissed her too on the forehead. Then he closed the door after them, walked over to the driver’s side of the seat, and drove off.
It wasn’t until they hit the road that Lukas realized why Rhea was angry with him. He came this distance with their daughter at night and he too could feel the tiredness creeping into his bones, it had been a long night. Lukas did not bother about the car trailing behind them knowing that it was his men making sure that he was safe.
Contrary to his father’s belief, having a family did not make him weak, rather it made him stronger now that he had a lot to lose. He would rip anyone apart who dares to come close to his family. Gone was the lenient Lukas, just like a mother Hen protecting her chicks, he would devour his enemies. To his family, he was a loving father, but to the outside world, he was as ruthless as he could be.
Once they arrived home, the maid was there to receive Aricel from him and tuck her in for bed while Lukas carried Rhea from the car princess style and walked into the house. With the arrival of Aricel, there has been some renovation to the base, making it “children friendly”, aside from that, it was practically the same.
Lukas carried her to his room which saw some adjustments as well and now it was their matrimonial bed. He carefully carried Rhea to the bed and laid her down. He was just about to stand when arms wrapped around his neck, bringing him down and he was staring into vibrant green eyes.
“You’re awake,” He pointed out, his breath even and his body reacting on a visceral level to her closeness.
“You promised me we would be the first this time,” Rhea muttered, her finger now caressing the nape of his head, trailing further into his hair.
Lukas swallowed, the simple caress stirring up a lot of sensation inside of him. He knew what she was talking about and his pulse quickened. Since when did making a child become a competition? But he did not dare question her. A promise was a promise. But it was too late.
He licked his lips, “Rhea, you’re drunk and it’s….”
However, Rhea obviously did not want to hear any more excuses because she pressed her lips to his, her tongue darting into his mouth immediately, and whatever self-control Lukas held onto snapped at once.
To hell with holding back.
He devoured her.
Ten years later…..
“Mummy? Daddy?” Penelope walked into her parent’s room only to realize that it was as dead as a graveyard. Her parents were nowhere to be seen and she went into a panic.
Penelope was four years old and the third child to be born to Lukas and Rhea. It was obvious that the girl was conceived with love and named after Lukas’s mother whom she bore a bit of resemblance as well.
The young girl had Lukas’s blonde hair and her late grandmother’s blue eyes marking her different from her siblings who had the signature gray eyes of the Luciano family. With Penelope taking up the role of their last child – although that position was likely to change in the future – she was spoiled and treated like a princess and it was not surprising that she burst into tears when she was unable to find her parents.
“Mummy,” She climbed into the bed and began to cry at the top of her lungs knowing that somebody was going to find her anytime soon. Penelope was used to the attention and wanted that right now. She wanted her mummy and daddy.
Just as she expected, a maid heard her cries and came to her rescue.
“Penelope, what are you doing here all by yourself?”
“I want mummy and daddy,” She cried out, the snot in her nose forming a bubble each time she expelled a heavy breath.
The maid first found a tissue and wiped her nose before answering, “I’m so sorry but your mommy and daddy left early this morning while you were fast asleep. They knew you would give them a hard time and prevent them from leaving if you knew what they are up to. But don’t worry, they promised to call a lot and would be back before you know it.”
The maid attempted to coax her but the girl cried out, “No, leave me, I don’t want you!” And then, without warning, she pushed the woman hard.
Because the maid had not anticipated that aggressive move from the young child, she staggered from the force and nearly slipped in the process, her eyes widening from the shock.
“Penelope!”
Someone else shouted before the maid had the chance to scold her for her ill manner. The both of them turned in the direction of the entrance only to discover that it was Honor, her younger brother.
Honor was the second child to Lukas and Rhea and the first male child in the family. He bore an uncanny resemblance to Lukas with his blonde hair and gray eyes unlike his sister Aricel who had taken her mother’s red hair. Honor was hailed as his “father’s true son” due to their close resemblance, not that he thought much about it.
While he might look like his father and equally talented as well, he was so sweet and humble that eveyone around always took an instantaneous liking to him. It was obvious that he took after Rhea’s kind heart and right now, he couldn’t stand his sister’s attitude.
“Honor….” Penelope pouted her lips, tears filling her eyes as she attempted to manipulate him to her side.
However, the young boy had already seen through the act and came over to her side. He said firmly, “Apologize.”
“Nuuh….” Penelope wailed. She was not going to do that. Never!
“Apologize now!” He demanded with his eyes flashing and Penelope flinched from the anger in his tone.
The maid saw that and was uncomfortable with the tension in the room and attempted to convince him that it was not a big deal, “It’s nothing, Honor. Penelope is just a kid and would -“
“Apologize to Mary now or I would not play with you anymore.” He threatened her.
Penelope’s eyes widened and her lips trembled at the thought that her brother would stop playing with her. It terrified her greatly. Her brother was the only one that made out time for her, Aricel was always busy training and too grown up for her. In one word, Honor was the closest to her.
So she reluctantly said to Mary, the maid, “I’m sorry.”
“Say it like you mean it, Penelope.” He was not having that shit.
Mary opened up her mouth again to tell him that it was okay but Penelope had already lowered her head in shame and apologized to her, “I’m so sorry, Mary.”
“Shh, it’s okay, Penelope. It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes.” Mary said, wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. She would have carried her off the bed and comforted her but it was obvious that her brother wanted to do that.