Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
Rhea knew Lukas was handsome but right now, his looks were paralyzing and men, those muscles! What the hell? She caught herself immediately.
However, Rhea still had a hard time drawing her eyes off his taut abs and the droplets of water on his chest playing hide and seek with her as it trailed down only to soak into his towel. Her mouth dried up upon thinking what was beneath there.
She looked away, red in the face. The only man she had seen “half-naked” was Elijah and she had to admit, that was a memory she wasn’t going to forget soon.
Rhea couldn’t compare both men because both were hard and lean in their own ways except while Elijah had a flawless body, Lukas’s was filled with scars.
Most of the deep scars she found were old as if they had been inflicted on him when he was much younger. During her stay at the base, she had heard rumors about Lukas’s childhood that were quite disturbing and his ill relationship with his father. It couldn’t be that he did that to his son, right?
Rhea didn’t know why but she choked on her emotion, how could his father do that to him? Having had a peaceful childhood with her father who played the role of a single parent, she had forgotten that some people weren’t as lucky as her in the choice of a parent.
“Stop looking at me that way,” His deep voice startled her out of her thoughts and she glanced up to meet his unempathetic eyes. How could someone switch on and off his emotion flawlessly?
“W-what?”
“That pity in your eyes, don’t do it. It makes me feel weak like a helpless injured rat after going through hell in the hands of a bigger cat.” He told her, and although his eyes were piercing, his tone was gentle.
“Fine,” Rhea took a deep breath, composing his emotions. She looked straight at him saying, “You know you could have them erased, that is, if you want to,” She merely suggested knowing how sensitive he was to the issue.
Lukas frowned down at her as she suspected, “And why would I do that?”
Rhea shrugged, “Well, who knows? Your future bride might be intimidated by those scars. We, women, place much emphasis on beauty,”
And she had good reason for suggesting that because some of the scars, especially on his back, were a mesh – it was as if whoever did that to him chose that particular spot to inflict his punishment when the previous wounds had not properly healed. Well, good thing Lukas had the sense to draw a tattoo over it else that would be so horrid to look at.
“Then she’s not worthy to be my bride,” He answered, “The scars? They all are part of me and have a story to tell. The fights I’ve won and the ones I’ve lost. The suffering, the death, and the survival,”
His words touched Rhea to the point tears pricked her eyes. God, why was she feeling sympathetic for a man who captured her? This was more reason she can’t get involved with Lukas, she can’t let her future children suffer this kind of life.
Thinking about the bride part, Rhea was tempted to ask him about that mystery woman from yesterday but bit back her words.
From the woman’s dressing alone, Rhea could tell she wasn’t cut off for that kind of lifestyle – she looked like a pampered princess. Well, it was not her business nor her place to tell Lukas the kind of woman that fitted him.
“I think this is the point where you turn around,” Lukas said to her all of a sudden.
“What?”
He dropped the towel.
This Wasn’t Stockholm Syndrome
Lukas stifled his laughter for the umpteenth time as Rhea kept glaring daggers at him. Who knew she was more innocent than she looked? Moreover, it was not his fault anyway, she was the one who didn’t respond on time to his warning. Still, yet, her flushed face was cute to look at.
“Stop laughing!” Rhea said through gritted teeth. She was embarrassed to the core as it was, she didn’t need his reminder.
Her face flushed again when the image of him showed up in her mind; she couldn’t get it out of her head no matter how hard she tried. Although it had been just a flash before she screamed and threw her face the other way when he dropped the towel, the image was deeply imprinted in her head. It was quite frustrating.
Right now, both of them were in the hotel’s restaurant having their breakfast. To her relief, Rhea was wearing fresh clothes that Lukas had gotten her. His efficiency stunned her – he probably made the order while she was asleep – but the fact he knew her size down to the panties bothered her.
It didn’t bother her in a pervy way, rather she was bothered her walls were beginning to crumble thanks to this man next to her. This had to be Stockholm syndrome.
Rhea understood that the syndrome was a psychological response to being held captive. One of the symptoms Is the victim developing positive feelings toward the person holding them captive or abusing them and pushing negative feelings toward police, authority figures, or anyone who might be trying to help them get away from their captor.
However, Rhea would report Lukas the moment in a heartbeat if she gets the chance, hence, she guessed this wasn’t Stockholm syndrome. Sure, she sympathized with Lukas for his tough childhood, but he’s grown up and has the opportunity to make his decision. But he chose to kidnap her, he has to suffer for his crime.
So Rhea made up her mind, she was leaving this hell hole if help is made available, however, she can’t show excitement on her face, or else the observant Lukas will figure out what she was thinking.
“That tattoo on your shoulder,” Rhea brought up the conversation to still her busy mind, “Is the picture of the lion you used to scare me back home, isn’t it?”
…..
She couldn’t forget the way that mighty, ferocious face of the lion covered the majority of his back while the manes spread out to the sides of his stomach and on his shoulder, with none crawling up his neck or arm so you couldn’t tell he was wearing a magnificent tattoo unless he undressed.
Maybe it was better that way, at least women wouldn’t deceive him with the excuse of seeing his tattoo just to have him undress, the dark side of her relished that outcome.
“His name is Samson,”
Her brows raised, “Really? I thought Samson in the Bible killed the lion, why did he become the lion instead in reality,” Rhea dramatically shivered, “I pray you never name your kids,”
Lukas threw his back and laughed heartily enough to draw attention to them, not that Lukas minded. And Rhea had to admit as she poked her food, she did like the fact she made him happy. That laughter was not forced, it was sincere and it warmed her from the inside out.
“I’m sorry you misunderstood the reason for his appearance,” Lukas of all people apologized to her? It was shocking. But she let him go on, “I had him there to keep watch over you while I left to finish on with my assignment.”
At the mention of the assignment, she knew it couldn’t be something good and probably had violence to it. But she didn’t say anything as he continued to tell her about the lion – as if she would make friends with it – yet she listened. That was the least she could do.
Lukas told her how Samson was brought to him as a baby cub and it was his mission to domesticate it. Although he had help from specialists and researchers, most of the bonding and rearing had fallen on him – to prove himself.
Rhea didn’t need to ask who he was trying to prove himself to because it was obvious it was his father. That man really had questionable morals, she would tell him that if they met.
Joking.
Was she crazy? Why would she go near that madman? Someone who could do that to his son, who knows what he would do to her. Even if she didn’t love her life, Rhea wanted a peaceful death.
After minutes of assuring her that she was safe around Samson as long as she didn’t startle him, they were finally ready to leave. By now, her heart was beginning to pound hard in her chest as realization dawned on her, she was returning to the base.
After all of her efforts, it still came down to this – back to level one. It was very annoying and the resentment she had for Lukas returned in full force.
“Even if you call out to the authorities here, they would not do anything, why? Because the hotel belongs to my family,” He told her as they neared the entrance where security stood.
Lukas’s arms were wrapped securely around her waist, so she couldn’t take off even if she wanted to. He was like an irritating octopus! And just like that, she lost an opportunity to be set free, but Rhea didn’t give up on hope.
He guided her into the same jeep from yesterday, the only difference being he was the one driving this time while she was a passenger. The both of them didn’t say a word to each other along the way, the tension was high.
Unfortunately, Lukas ran out of fuel and he had to drive to the next filling station to fill up. While he was still trying to park next to the gas station attendant, Rhea’s eyes met a patrol car that was across the road and her heart leaped in joy.
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Her Saving Grace Was Up