Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
At that question, Rhea took her eyes off the wide screen of the television – at least Big Joe had it subscribed to Netflix. Something to keep her attention while cooped up in the room all day.
“What?” She asked Cassie, giving her all of the attention and noticing for the first time, how sensitive the young woman was to her mood changes.
“I don’t know but you seem kind of different?… ” Her brows knitted together as she tried to find the words, “Kind of better? You look like someone whose load was taken off her shoulder,” She hit the point.
Well, Rhea did feel like a load was finally taken off her shoulder, not that she was going to tell Cassie that. As much as Cassie has been helpful throughout her stay here, she was one of Kenith’s people and she can’t entrust that revelation to her. Elijah’s life and her survival were on the line here. So she decided to play the evasive game with her.
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Yes. it. is,” Cassie said one after the other, getting into bed with her, “I’m just curious what brought on the changes or if I should be concerned about -“
“I won’t try to commit suicide anymore, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Rhea cut her off after getting her point. The thought alone that she had attempted suicide shamed her.
Had she died, she probably wouldn’t have known that Elijah was battling to get her out. She shouldn’t have given up that easily.
“I’ve seen people who went through such phases and after their unexpected burst of happiness, decided on taking their life the next day,” Cassie was concerned.
“Like I said,” Rhea’s voice was serious this time, “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine. You asked why I looked relieved? Because I stopped caring. I’ve made peace with whatever happens next,” She finalized.
“Okay,” Cassie gave up on the issue when she discovered how uncomfortable it was becoming.
The both of them just lay on the bed staring at the movie playing until Cassie announced, “Your designer would be here tomorrow. You have to choose a wedding dress,”
“Wonderful,” Rhea murmured.
“A good or a bad ‘wonderful’?”
“Both?” Rhea turned to her with a lopsided grin, “At least it would be fun, wouldn’t it?”
Cassie folded her arm and laid her head on it, facing Rhea with an arched brow, “Are you offering I be your chief bridesmaid?” There was slight humor in her tone.
But that wasn’t funny to Rhea because she just remembered her promise to Mimi that she would be the chief bridesmaid at her wedding.
“Yes,” Rhea agreed, contrary to her wishes.
She was sorry to Mimi for breaking that promise but she was better off without her. She can’t drag Mimi into danger all because of a wedding she wasn’t even interested in – and doubted would even hold. Elijah would rescue her for sure.
“Oh my God!” Cassie squealed and engulfed her in a hug that almost crushed her lungs, “Thank you so much. I’m so happy,”
“Yeah, it’s nothing. Now, you can let go of my lungs,” Rhea was finally able to breathe after she let go.
Seeing the smile on Cassie’s face made her feel fulfilled, at least she made someone happy. All she had done to Mimi lately was to bring her sorrows and put her in danger. Rhea hoped for the sake of whatever they shared that Lukas kept her safe. That was her last wish for Mimi, her friend that was worth more than a sister.
Yes, Rhea and Cassie laid down on the bed watching whatever was playing on the screen but she couldn’t help but feel a slight tension between them and she knew it was because of Kenith. It was obvious that Cassie needed an answer that she denied her days ago.
With a deep sigh, Rhea finally said, “Look, about Kenith -“
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Cassie took the words out of her mouth without hearing what she had to say. Perhaps, if she heard Rhea’s side of the story, she would have been able to spot the truth from the lies her boyfriend fed her and the deadly event in the future wouldn’t have occurred.
“What’s already done is done and he’s stupid to have forced himself on you,” She said for comfort’s sake because the truth was that Cassie had already made up her mind to eliminate Rhea. As long as Rhea remained here, she would always be a threat to her happiness. She had to remove the weed now before it choked up the plants.
“Thank you,” Rhea said without suspecting a thing.
Needed Back Home
In a dimly lit room, a certain man sat, looking over a game of chess that he played all by himself. There was a calculating look in the man’s gaze as he knocked down the opponent’s Rook before he leaned back to coordinate his next move. And that was when he sensed it, the slight ripple in the air.
Quick as lightning, he pulled out the gun no one noticed he had by his side until he was pointing it at the figure that had infiltrated his place.
“Your highness,” the intruder said, his hands raised in surrender to prove he wasn’t a threat.
The man holding the gun was no other than Elijah and at the mention of “your highness,” the cold look in his blue eyes turned into one of annoyance.
“How did you find me?” His tone was guttural as he hid the gun in his waistband for easy access. As much as he was familiar with this uninvited guest, you never know when you might need it.
“I would always find you,” He evaded his question and that was annoying as hell.
Everyone in the organization was like that time and he didn’t need to guess who they learned from. At this rate, he would have to check if there was a tracker in his body he wasn’t aware of.
“What do you want? I’m sure you didn’t come all the way here for a pleasant pastime,” Elijah said, heading to the bar where he poured himself a glass of whisky neat.
Elijah gestured with his glass, asking if he needed one until he saw the way the man was geared up like he was on a mission, a mask covering his face, “I guess not,” he gobbled down his drink. Alone.
…..
“You’re needed back home,” The man announced.
“Nope. Hard pass,” Elijah rejected the offer without blinking an eye. He expected it anyway, with the way he was all dressed up – he was here to drag him back.
“It’s not a request,” The man said firmly, “An irrevocable order from the head,”
Elijah smiled down at his drink, “I guess brother dearest is bored already. Isn’t his precious wife giving him enough love and attention, what does he want with me?”
“That is a question you would have to ask him when you get there,” The man said, taking a step just as Elijah warned him.
“Don’t take a step forward else you would have to take me out of here dead,”
“Don’t worry,” He grinned, a dark glint in his eyes, “Your brother says that works as well,” his stance poised for a fight. It’s been a long time since they spared. He wondered if his skills improved over time or if the prince simply lazed around all this while.
Elijah understood the threat lingering in the air and did his best to dispel it, “I can’t leave now, I have a lot of things to do here,”
“He knew you would say that but it doesn’t matter,” he dismissed his claim.
“Of course, typical of my brother to think my work here is child’s play,” Elijah clicked his tongue and just without warning, pulled out his gun and fired at the man.
But his brother’s right-hand man was with great moves as well and dodged the bullets as quickly as he fired, taking cover behind the couch.
“We don’t have to do this!” Elijah said, hiding in a corner. This was not in his plans and was a major interruption if not handled properly.