Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“We should leave him here,” Penelope suggested as soon as the man lost consciousness, “He’s unconscious and wouldn’t harm us anymore, let’s leave, please,” She begged her.
But Natalie knew otherwise, she couldn’t leave a dying man on his own, not even one who pressed a gun to her head moments ago. She knew it wasn’t just because of the responsibility that comes with the profession she was studying, it was her nature. The man might be dying and there were chances he might not even survive even if she took out the bullet, however, she held onto that hope. She would be able to sleep better at night knowing that she tried to save his life.
However, if Natalie had known in the future that giving this man a second chance at life would come to bite her in the ass, she would have let him die there. No, she would have finished him off right then and there.
Hence, without a second thought, she drove to a pharmaceutical store and sent Penelope to buy the equipment she needed. Natalie would have gone to purchase them on her own but Daniel’s blood was on her and she couldn’t step out without drawing suspicion.
Removing that bullet from the man’s body had been the most taxing experience Natalie had. First of all, she wasn’t a doctor, merely a student; secondly, the equipment was basic; thirdly, there was limited space in the car and she had to operate with merely a torchlight that Penelope pointed her way with a scrunched expression – her friend always hated blood.
At a point, Natalie came to believe she had no idea what she was doing and was frustrated. However, when she got the two bullets from his stomach and stitched him, a sigh of relief passed through her mouth.
“So, what do we do now?” Penelope asked her, fear evident in her eyes. It was so late and she bet her mother was already going bananas over the delay and must have summoned a search for them already. Unfortunately, they had an unconscious man with his blood staining their car.
…..
“What do you think? We’ve done our part of the deal, it’s all left to his luck now,” Natalie decided before the both of them pulled his heavy ass out of the car and laid him down by the roadside.
Thankfully, Edward had taken her shopping today, hence, she was able to cover him from the cold with a few of her clothes. On the bright side, the man had his phone with him even though the screen was broken, but it was still operational. Natalie called the first number in his history, Carmine by name, she bet it was his girlfriend.
Anyway, amid the woman’s interrogation as soon as she found the phone in her hands, Natalie only informed him of the stranger’s situation and a little bit of their location before ending the call and dumping the phone on his body.
“Let’s hope your luck shines enough,” Natalie muttered under her breath and returned to the car with Penelope. Both of them were shaken by the incident, but they survived – and would keep it a secret from everyone.
However, they couldn’t go home with their car in that state. Natalie changed out of her bloodied clothes while they drove the car to a car wash whom she bribed with enough money to keep his mouth shut about the blood he found inside the car.
Thanks to all those, they returned home quite late and their mother was waiting for them, alongside some officers who had been arguing about making an official search only after twenty-four hours of their disappearance. Nonetheless, after a remorseful apology, the officers were sent away and her mother decided it was time to chide the both of them mercilessly.
They were grounded for two weeks, but Natalie was more relieved that no one searched the car and found out about her bloodied clothes. If her mother even finds an inkling of what happened, she would send her out of this country, never to return and she couldn’t do that, not now she was so close to Edward.
Though she missed seeing Edward and going on dates with him, they communicated more frequently and things were quiet in their family for about two weeks until her father suddenly joined them.
It was quite a shocker to Natalie seeing her father was good at sending them away on trips and never bother to join them, but this one seems to be different. Then she heard something, her father needed to meet some people here that would help with his election.
Natalie didn’t know what meant until one Sunday, her papa came over to announce that he was expecting a victor and needed them to be on their best behavior. To be precise, that warning was targeted at her, Penelope and Dorcas, since their eldest sister did not travel with them. Nonetheless, even if Lyka was here, her parents were confident she wouldn’t cause any problem for them. Yep, the golden child.
The announcement had her Mama all excited and she joined the kitchen to present a sumptuous meal, probably to impress her guest while Natalie was bored out of her mind. All she wanted was to curl up on her bed and speak to Edward all night long instead of playing a good girl to a guest she had no idea about – nor does she care.
Her mother made sure they dressed in the best apparel and like a turkey for Thanksgiving, they all stood ready to receive the guest who arrived right on time – at least, she wouldn’t go hungry for long. Unlike her, Penelope was excited to meet the guest claiming to have heard that he was rich, smart, and handsome. As if. Those descriptions fit entitled jerks.
But the rich, entitled jerk walked through their front door and her jaw dropped to the floor. Natalie was so shocked by his appearance that she forgot the greeting parade their mother made them rehearse. Well, not only her, Penelope too. She could see the same worry in her gaze.
What was her papa doing with a criminal?
Business With Her Father
He was alive, Natalie didn’t know whether to be relieved or be scared by the news. But deep down, the doctor in her was grateful that he survived and she was proud of her skills; she saved a human life. But her rational mind? She’s fucked.
What was he doing here? Like a grim reaper that came to claim souls, did he come to end her? She never mentioned that incident to anybody and she trusted Penelope not to say a thing as well. What happened then, why was he here?
However, that question was answered when her father stepped out, “Daniel, you are here!” her papa welcomed him, wrapping his hand in a handshake and that was when it hit her.
He was indeed the visitor her father was talking about and his name is Daniel. Damn, what is going on here? Does her father know he’s a criminal? What if her father really does know and is determined to go to any extent to win the election? Horror filled Natalie and her stomach recoiled in disgust. What is her father up to? What is he getting himself into?
Does her mother even know what her husband’s up to? She bet not, that one was an airhead and even if she does know, she would only support her husband in the end. Hence, she couldn’t bring it up with her mother.
“Here, this is my children and a family friend,”
Natalie was so lost in her thought that she only snapped back to reality when her father began to introduce them to his guest.
“Shit!” She didn’t have the time to brace herself as her gaze connected with his and a gasp left her lips.
Natalie was not taken aback by his good looks – maybe a little – but by the intensity in his gaze and the reality that he pressed a gun to her head weeks ago. She had nightmares that night and Penelope was still a bit traumatized by the experience.
…..
“You have such lovely daughters,” Daniel said, his eyes still fixed on her and that made her uncomfortable as hell. Her father laughed boisterously, taking that as a compliment, not even realizing there might be an added meaning to those words or the fact she knew he was treading on dangerous territory with this man.
“Thank you for the compliment. Anyway, the food is getting cold, and my wife makes a delicious apple pie I bet you have never tasted in your life,” He flattered him.
“I bet,” Daniel mused, following her father’s lead, but not without glancing one final look her way and a shiver danced down her spine.
Everyone else followed after her papa and his “esteemed” guest except her and Penelope.
Her friend whirled around immediately, “What does he want?” Her brows were creased with worry, “We never told anyone about the incident,”
“I have no idea,” Natalie answered, biting on the inside of her cheeks and she doesn’t like it. She added under her breath, “And I don’t like what’s going on,”
“What are you girls waiting for, come on!” Her mother was the one who returned to see them gawking at space.
Hesitantly, the both of them followed her to the dining and Daniel was seated by his father’s side with her mother took her husband’s right-hand side. On the bright side, her younger sister Dorcas was already seated beside Daniel, creating a demarcation between the both of them thankfully when she sat.
As expected, their conversation was mostly based on politics and though it was boring as hell, Natalie listened, hoping to God that something would give her a clue concerning this unholy allegiance between Daniel and her father, but gave up when she came up with nothing.
Even with one seat away, Natalie was quite aware of Daniel’s presence and she thought over and over again why he was here. Was this merely a coincidence or was he here for something? What was he here for? Just who is he? Although she heard from the conversation that he was a businessman or something, she knew otherwise, he was a criminal that would have ended her life had she not been smart enough.
Unable to take it anymore, Natalie stood up, saying, “I hope to retire early, I’m feeling a bit under the weather,” She hoped to be excused.
“Sure, sure,” Her father waved her off as if she didn’t matter. At that moment, Daniel was all that mattered to him.
Natalie made a sign to Penelope to come and find her after she was done but she didn’t know if the girl was listening because she didn’t look her way. Nonetheless, she returned to her room and waited for her friend patiently. They needed to discuss what was going on.
Not long after, a knock came on her door, and Natalie without thinking, went to open it, forgetting that Penelope doesn’t need to knock because they share the same room – she just barges in. However, before she could realize her mistake, it was too late and she had opened the door for…. Daniel.
She moved quickly to shut it close, but Daniel was faster and had already moved into the room, pushing her against the wall and closing her mouth with her large palm so she doesn’t scream and draw attention.
“Scream and you’d regret it,” He warned her, the threat in his gaze real and she nodded obediently.
Daniel let go of his hand yet he was cautious and ready to make good of his threat if she disobeys him, however, the girl was smart.