Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
Lukas’s heart skipped a beat, he couldn’t help but worry. He had this feeling Rhea wasn’t the one shot – she was brave and strong. If anything, she would be the one…
Lukas’s eyes widened at once and as if confirming his fears, he saw that glint in Victor’s eyes that told him he was having fun.
Oh shit.
————
Rhea could tell the moment her back fell on the bed because her consciousness returned. Perhaps, because she had slept the entire night or her stubborn will to survive, sleep released its clutches much faster than usual.
She knew Lukas wasn’t the one in charge of her anymore, had known the entire moment this new caretaker had her over his shoulder and walked down the endless hallways. Just how large was this place?
Maybe it was the endless jostling along the way that woke her – that position was not romantic at all. With every move, his hard shoulder blade dug into her stomach – and he wasn’t gentle at all. Well, big fat thanks to him, the sleep’s over.
Rhea considered striking now that he was ignorant of her being conscious, but she shoved the idea away. If she falls from his shoulder, the height would hurt her gladly. She needed every strength she could summon.
So she pretended to be asleep until the moment he was leaning over her, cuffing her right to the headboard, she struck.
The moment she rose, he instantly tried to reach for his belt but she already had his gun in her hand. Perks of being a thief, skills could come in handy anytime. So their fight began.
Truthfully, Rhea didn’t mean to shoot him but she was currently at a great disadvantage with her right hand cuffed to the bed. So she fired at him, the bullet going cleanly through his shoulder. She couldn’t forget the shock on his face when the bullet seared through his flesh.
Samuel stumbled back, falling to the ground, his hand on the shoulder with a grunt and grimace of pain. Well, on the bright side, he wasn’t dying anytime soon. Neither was she going to be merciful till she was out of here.
Pressing down on his injury so he has no chance of retaliating, Rhea snatched the key from his pocket and freed her hand . She cuffed both of his hands instead and forced him up to his feet using his body as a shield.
Having learned from her previous “failures”, Rhea knew she was not getting out of here – this place was a fortress – so it was time for negotiation. Let’s see how much Lukas treasures his people.
What Games Are We Playing?
Lukas was supposed to be furious, seething with anger as he headed to that room, but he was thrilled instead – intrigued by her challenge. Having been raised from young by his psychopathic father Daniel, Lukas had been trained to revel in danger. While others were running for their lives, he was embracing the pain along with its darkness.
Like an addict, his hands itched, and he flexed them, releasing a deep breath that had nothing to do with anxiety but rather anticipation. So the moment he came into the room, the whole world could as well vanish because she was the only thing he could see. There she was in her fucking furious glory, holding a gun to his third in command. Mi amore, she was beautiful.
Like a hawk, Rhea watched them intently for when they would strike. She had expected them to arrive at the sound of that gunshot, so she was not surprised when his underlings filled the room, guns fixed on her. And that was why she had avoided standing close to the window – she had no doubt Lukas had his snipers.
So she used Samuel’s body as a shield while waiting for Lukas to arrive and God! He was taking his sweet time. Does he think she was kidding this time?
But Rhea didn’t have to wait for long because the instant she saw the men create a path, she instinctively knew it was Lukas. He was still dressed in those clothes when he captured her earlier on but unlike before when they were running a marathon, she now had the time to appreciate him.
As much as it pissed her, Rhea had to admit that Lukas had superb genes. His hair was tousled and had that just-rolled-out-of-bed vibe and it was sexy. He was wearing a designer shirt perfected to his shape that didn’t fail to hint at the muscles beneath and her mouth watered upon thinking about what he would look like beneath.
She hadn’t gotten a chance to see him bare because the few chances they got intimate, he was always the one dominating her and God! Why was she even thinking of him that way?! This was the man who captured her and made her life miserable. She was supposed to be attacking him not appreciating him.
However, from the corner of her eyes, Rhea saw a woman lean into Lukas’s side which made her brows furrow instantly. Call it women’s instinct but even without knowing who she was, Rhea decided she didn’t like her. And it seems the feelings were mutual because the woman frowned at her.
But Rhea tore her gaze away from her and focused on Lukas’s instead; she had no business with the mystery woman. But then, her heart hammered in her chest when she met Lukas’s gaze, and the dark glint she saw in there made her second guess this plan of hers. Lukas looked at her like she was delectable prey when in reality, she was the one with the upper hand.
…..
“I leave you for a minute….” He drawled with his deep, husky voice, “And you already created this havoc? Your creativity is indeed admiring,”
Rhea couldn’t tell if he was taunting her or complimenting her. She would choose the first.
“I’m not here for word games, Lukas,” Rhea said, her voice cold and flat to prove to him she was not kidding. He tends to take her opinion for granted.
“Then what are we doing, huh? This game of ours is getting interesting, don’t you think so?” he was enjoying their bickering. How could a simple argument turn him on? She must be a f*cking siren.
However, the woman from earlier butt into the conversation,” Wait, what game are we talking about here? “
But the response she got from Lukas was an arctic cold, murderous gaze that was enough to send even the bravest of men scurrying away from him.
The woman didn’t run away but she read the signs and shut her mouth immediately. She would think twice about interrupting Lukas the next time and Rhea couldn’t even tell why she took satisfaction in her humiliation.
Yet, she didn’t let all of those emotions show on her face and went on with her negotiation.
“No one is playing a game here, Lukas,” She told him sternly, “I’m here for business and you are going to listen to me else I would blast this bullet into his head,” She pushed the gun’s muzzle against his head to prove her point.
Before Lukas could talk, she added, “And don’t think I’m joking, I already shot him once. I’m not as innocent as you think,”
Lukas watched her, his little bunny negotiating with him. He bet if she knew how he goes about his negotiations, she would know this was the worst idea. No one negotiates with him at gunpoint and gets out alive.
If it was someone else, he would be dead already. Samuel might be injured but not incapacitated, all he needed was the signal from him – Lukas- and he made his move while countless bullets rocked her body. But like the tamed Samson, he gave his order, Rhea was not to be hurt. She was his.
Lukas would like to see how long this drama played out. It was entertaining; it was not every day he got to have fun.
“I never thought you were joking, little bunny,” He chuckled.
Little bunny? Rhea’s heart rate increased. He thought this was a joke. So without warning, Rhea fired to the ground twice and that made a statement because all of them took a step back, all except Lukas. Does that mad guy think he was made of steel?
Lukas might not have backed off but his face was steel this time; he was no longer smiling.
“What do you want?” Lukas asked with no emotion.
It honestly scared Rhea, but it was good for business. So she didn’t cower when she announced, “You are going to provide me a safe way out of here else you’d watch him die helplessly right in front of you. What kind of leader does that?”
A Willing Hostage
The girl had guts, Lukas had to give her that. However, Rhea just crossed a line she shouldn’t, no one threatens his people in front of him. It hints at his incompetence. And he hated showing weakness.
It wasn’t enough that his men didn’t have a good view of her, now they would think the only reason he kept her around was to scratch his itch. If only they knew she hadn’t gotten close to an inch of scratching it.
His jaw clenched at her request, get her out of here? Was she kidding him? Hand her on a platter of gold to Elijah? That was over his dead body. That was never happening, but he wouldn’t tell her that. She needed to be taught a lesson, this time.
Rhea knew Lukas was not going to grant her that but she was not giving him a choice. So it wasn’t surprising when he said, “And what makes you think I care about his life?”
“Ouch!” Rhea said, then turned to Samuel pointedly, “You hear that? The man you work and lay down your life for doesn’t give a fuck about you? How does it feel?”
But Samuel didn’t respond, his expression passive. Either the man was blindly loyal to Lukas or he was good at hiding his emotion like the rest of them.