Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“I’m very sorry for your loss, ma’am, your son was a nice man,”
Clara already had those words burned into her head. This was the fourth home she visited alongside Lukas to console the families of the victims who lost their sons in the incident.
To say that she was bored was an understatement, Clara hated all of this. Most of the houses they visited were located in the rundown section of the city and It was safe to say that this was the most terrible day of her life.
Although her mother Diana was a well-known philanthropist, Clara didn’t share the same passion. While her mother would be out there caring for the needy – that never ceased – she would rather have a tea party with friends that were on the same social ladder with her or work on her designs.
Clara was a fashion designer and though she wasn’t world-famous yet, her brands were doing well. She had the connection and resources, all she needed was the right inspiration and in a matter of time, da-da! She would become a global sensation.
Thanks to that, Clara was used to runways, cameras, and dinners with executives, not a dirty, smelly, cramped house that her living room as a whole was bigger than. How could people even survive here? She would die here if she were to stay more than an hour. Hence, she began to pray for Lukas to finish up much quicker.
“I know nothing can replace your son but I want you to know that he’d be forever cherished in our hearts,” Lukas consoled the family of the victim while trying not to be distracted by Clara’s squirming on the sofa.
“For his boss, you are a very kind person,” The mother of the victim said, holding Lukas’s hands. She was middle-aged and her hands were already showing signs of wrinkles yet he didn’t mind and squeezed it gently in response.
Lukas shook his head in denial, “No, I’m not kind. If your son hadn’t gone to that gathering he would still be with you.”He took the blame for the incident even though all of that had been Victor’s idea.
…..
However, Lukas was a leader and a good leader takes responsibility for problems, crises, and missteps, and did not shirk from decisions. He then makes a plan to fix it, execute that plan, and move on.
He was the one who gave Victor the order to organize the party and as well gave the other members a day out to have fun. Unfortunately, that day out had turned out to be a disaster and marked some of their deaths.
“You shouldn’t blame yourself for what happened. God knows why he took my son this early,” The mother of the deceased said to him.
Unlike the other families they visited, this particular one already lost their father and the son that died was the breadwinner of the family. It was a family of five – three boys and two girls – that had been reduced to four with the death of their brother.
Some of the families out there don’t even know what their sons do for a living except the fact it’s a lucrative job. However, aside from controlling several underground enterprises, the Luciano family ran several successful legitimate businesses. How do you think they keep the public eye from them and cover up their nefarious activities?
Hence, just like this woman who thought her son had been an ordinary bodyguard who died in an accident after a work gathering, most of the other families were in the same situation because each member of the gang swore to secrecy.
Lukas was just about to reply to the woman when the younger sister to the deceased suddenly spoke up and the question was directed to Clara.
“Miss, are you alright?” The young girl asked and that was when Lukas knew that Clara’s fidgeting around had been found out.
God, no.
“Nothing!” Clara shouted louder than usual, she was startled at being discovered. She added instead, “I just need a word with Lukas,”
At that comment, Lukas turned around with a confused look, wondering what Clara was about to talk about.
But Clara beckoned him to come closer and when he did, hesitantly, she drew close and whispered into her ears, “I don’t think I can take it anymore, the stench of this house is killing my olfactory system,” She hinted that the place was smelling.
At once, Lukas’s face changed into a cold fury, was she kidding him? But for the sake of the people with them, he buried his anger and whispered back to Clara,” If you can’t take it, get the hell out of here!” He hissed through gritted teeth.
“Thank God,” Clara was more than relieved when he said that. Not caring about his reputation nor the people she might hurt with that gesture, Clara pinched her nose to limit the smell.
“No, don’t do -” Lukas was still whispering when Clara stood up and hurried out of the place as if the devil was on her heels. And he was sure as hell that everyone had seen that.
He was the stupid one to have brought Clara with him, he should have directly sent her to the funeral while he ran this errand alone. For once, he thought she would be useful to his cause.
Lukas swallowed down a lump of shame and then turned to the family with a nervous smile, “Don’t put much thought into her action, she had a recent surgery on the nose due to an infection and hasn’t fully recovered,” He lied through his teeth just to save his face and that of the family.
Whether the family believed him or not, they didn’t show it and continued with the conversation from where they stopped.
Lukas would have left earlier but because of Clara’s actions, he stayed much longer so it doesn’t look like he thought that their place smelled. Honestly speaking, the place didn’t smell as Clara exaggerated, hygiene was just not the best but Lukas could live through it.
Finally, after Lukas offered them an envelope full of money and promised to support their son’s burial, he took his leave but the woman insisted on seeing him out.
And it was when they reached the entrance that the woman suddenly stopped and said, “You do know you deserve someone better,”
Lukas’s gaze lifted and their eyes connected. She knew.
A Bunch Of Lowlives
“What took you so long? I’ve been practically waiting here for hours!” Clara whirled upon Lukas as soon as he made it into the street. Her face was flush and she was boiling with anger.
Her heels were beginning to hurt her for going around in it and standing for a long time. Clara would have gone back to the car if she could, however, it was packed quite far from here due to the unpleasant nature of the road.
The roads here are crumbling because they are poorly maintained and in a state of disrepair. Thanks to that, the potholes are numerous, leading drivers to swerve around them, putting themselves and those in other vehicles at risk. No, some of the section have deteriorated so badly they are impassable
Gosh, people that live here must be animals! A normal person wouldn’t be able to endure this level of hardship, claimed Clara, the princess.
Note the sarcasm.
However, that was not even why Clara was angry in the first place. While Lukas had been away, she was left all alone outside and was treated to the scrutinizing eyes of the strangers in this slum.
Clara finally was able to sense that she had overdressed for this kind of place because anyone that saw her turned to look at her even for the fourth time, admiration plus envy on their faces. They knew she was rich.
At first, Clara had wallowed in the attention, standing with her spine straight and her head lifted to show her dominance but the onlookers perceived that as arrogance, and the bold ones in the street – aka jobless women in her view – started to talk about her with their friends while passing by.
…..
Yet that didn’t move Clara, they were all jealous of her and she didn’t give a damn. It was not her fault that they were born poor. They should have asked God to send them to a better family while in the womb.
But Clara’s pomposity reduced drastically when a group of young men passed her by. Their leering stares made her skin crawl and she suddenly wished she had come with pepper spray to teach them a lesson. But she didn’t – because Lukas was expected to protect her. Unfortunately, Lukas was nowhere to be found. That asshole!
“Damn, she’s hot,” One of them whistled and looked her over in such a way that made her want to shield her body even though her clothes were intact.
Because they were standing in front of her in the narrow street, others in the neighborhood were interested in the drama instead of helping her out. She even saw one person pull out her phone to video her as if they were expecting some kind of drama to happen. What kind of place was this?
There was no doubt that the video would go viral if such a thing were to happen and she needed to protect her reputation. She couldn’t allow any drama of any sort.
So Clara said to the one who made the pass at her, “How much would it take for you to mind your business and pretend you never saw me?”
“Ooh,” another jeered from behind, “Bitch must have some spine,”
Clara wondered what was funny because they all burst into a chorus of laughter. And that laughter was meant to mock her but Clara had a thick skin and would not let a bunch of lowlives have the best of her.