Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
[Once you hear the car come to a stop, slowly and quietly slip out of the car while I keep Ezra distracted. Also, turn off the volume of your phone.]
With her heart pounding in her chest, Mimi pressed send and not less than a minute later, two different ring tones were heard and Mimi wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
“What was that?” Ezra was quick to notice.
“I got a message,” Elijah said, picking up his phone and waving it for him to see, without exposing the content of the message.
From the way Ezra’s lips were pressed together in thought, Mimi knew he sensed something. Although Rhea’s ringtone had been faint thanks to being closed away in the boot and she did cut off the tone the instant it rang. However, they were seated in the backseat and if Mimi heard it, Ezra did as well. And the fact that he didn’t speak about it concluded her fear that his suspicion was growing.
“You sent him a message?” Ezra asked her all of a sudden, startling her.
“Yes, I did. Any problem with that?”
“What was it about?” He pried further.
“Why are you so interested in what I text your brother or are you suspicious I have a thing for him instead?” Both of them bantered.
Hearing that comment, Ezra burst into laughter. He then moved so close to Mimi that she had no choice but to lean back as he said,
“Don’t kid yourself, Mimi, we both know that Elijah can’t give you the wild and sizzling romance I know you want deep down, he’s quite restrained.”
Mimi stared back at him from her uncomfortable position. She began, “You know, I like wild and sizzling romance,” she added with emphasis, “Just not with you.”
Mimi pushed him back to his position as Ezra burst into laughter, shaking his head. She was just so funny and he couldn’t get enough of her company.
But that was the moment Elijah pulled up at the side and turned to announce, “We are here,”
The both of them became anxious as they wondered if Rhea had gotten the signal already. It was time for her to move.
So help them, God.
Ezra looked out through the window, “You have arrived? Didn’t you say you were taking her home? This is a hotel.” He noticed.
“When I said home, I didn’t exactly specify my house. The fiancé you are so interested in knowing is waiting for me inside.” Mimi lied through her teeth. Lukas and Rhea were the ones meeting in the hotel since Elijah prohibited her from returning to the base – it was the only condition under which he agreed to help her.
Mimi saw the moment Rhea slipped out of the car through the rearview mirror and Ezra must have noticed it as well because he tried to turn and Mimi improvised immediately. She quickly cupped his face and shouted,
“Look into my eyes!” Mimi demanded, focusing his gaze on him firmly while Rhea made a clean escape. They worked hard for this, she could not let it fail at the last minute.
Ezra blinked at her, surprised at the sudden change in attitude. She was even touching him? Mimi was a strange woman to understand.
He chuckled, “Okay, I don’t know why you want me to stare into your eyes, not that it isn’t pretty, no offense, but….” Unfortunately, for Mimi, Ezra caught Rhea sneaking away through the side mirror, “It’s a distraction!” He realized.
Without a second thought, the furious Ezra climbed out of the car and tried to go after Rhea who made it to the hotel’s entrance but Elijah held on to him. He turned and punched his brother right in the face, “You bastard! How could you do something like this?! You just broke Natalie’s trust!”
Elijah saw stars from the impact of the punch, his brother had not held back and he was not prepared. Sadly for them, Ezra was determined to bring Rhea back by all means. Natalie assigned this job to him, he couldn’t fail her.
But the moment Ezra turned, he ended up bumping into Mimi instead, knocking her to the ground hard and she screamed bloody murder, holding onto her stomach.
Play His Games
She was forever indebted to Mimi, that was the thought Rhea had in mind when she successfully made it inside the hotel. The fact that Ezra did not pursue her again meant that either Elijah or Mimi or both of them had taken care of the situation.
Even Elijah of all people fought hard for her to see Lukas, Rhea was not going to waste his effort. She would make their sacrifice worth it! Rhea promised mentally. She would make it up to them in one way or the other someday.
“What’s the room again?” Rhea pulled out the phone to check the hotel number Mimi sent to her. Left for her alone, Rhea would have preferred meeting Lukas at the base, it would have been much better for the both of them to talk comfortably.
But then, half a loaf is better than none. Elijah had promised to only help her as long as she doesn’t return to the base with Lukas. It had taken him a lot to get her out of there and even sacrificed his identity in the process. Natalie would never forgive him if he goes as far as sending her back to Lukas’s residence.
Well, she did give Elijah her word and would not go back on it. Moreover, the fact that Lukas agreed to meet her here showed that he had no intention of taking her to the base either. They would just talk here and get back together – she hoped. No, Rhea made up her mind, it was time to get back her man.
She would think about what would happen later, that is if they do get back together, considering the tension between both families at the moment and the fact that her mother would be highly disappointed in her when she learns of this news.
But for now, Rhea had to focus on conquering Lukas’s heart back. She had broken his trust in her and had to gain it back knowing Lukas hated betrayal the most. It was not going to be easy for her.
The moment Rhea found the hotel room and came to stand in front of the door, her heart began to pound loudly in her chest and her palms were clammy. She was suddenly nervous and her confidence free fell like the act of gravity acting on a mass. Just weeks ago, she had been having the time of her life with Lukas, and today, she was so scared to even be in the same room with him.
But she couldn’t stand outside the door forever. Rhea wanted the chance to speak with him and here it was. It was now or never. Would she be brave enough to own up to her actions or she would run away like a coward?
…..
She would take her chances.
May God save her soul tonight.
With a deep breath, Rhea swiped the key card she had with her at the reader, and the hotel door opened with a click. She pushed the door open and Rhea mentally psyched herself before stepping into the room and stopped.
Baby steps, one at a time.
Rhea slowly shut the door behind her and walked through the small passage that led into the spacious sitting room. It was a luxurious suite which wasn’t surprising since Lukas picked the room himself and she of all people knew how much he loved fine things.
There was no sign of Lukas in the room but Rhea knew that he was here somewhere. She could feel it. More like, smell it. His familiar perfume infiltrated her nostril and brought back the memories. However, Rhea controlled her emotions, this was not the time to get affected.
Rhea bet her money that Lukas was somewhere stalking out surroundings. He was probably ensuring that she came alone and that this wasn’t a trap or something – which has never happened before. At least with both of them. However, Rhea couldn’t blame him, trust was easy to break but difficult to grow.
“I’m here Lukas and it’s just me, no one else. I just want to talk to you and sort out this misunderstanding between us.” She said, still looking for him.
However, there was still no response from him and Rhea was becoming wary of his stalking game. The window to the balcony was open, allowing in a cool night breeze that made the curtains flutter, and Rhea was fairly certain that he was hiding there.
Rhea sighed, what does Lukas even expect from her? For her to play his game and find him, was that her punishment? Does he even realize how childish – and arousing – it was – Rhea has always found a bit of mystery thrilling. Fine, she would play his game if that would get him to speak to him.
So Rhea started towards the balcony, but when she got there, there was no sign of him and that made her brows furrow in confusion. She had been hundred percent sure that he was there. Nonetheless, he just roused her fighting spirit and she was determined to win by all means.
However, the instant Rhea took a step forward, the light went out and she stiffened. She wasn’t exactly a huge fan of darkness, especially not now Lukas was playing mind games with her and she was standing right outside the balcony. Rhea began to have negative thoughts.
What if she underestimated Lukas’s anger and he decides that he was way better without her in his life and tosses her over the balcony having lost his mind? No, that was impossible. But then, a trickle of fear climbed down her spine, after all, he was Daniel’s son.
“Are you scared?”