Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
Lukas didn’t know how to feel, was he supposed to get mad at Natalie and push her away? Should he blame her for never coming back for his mother when she had help from the Draven family and perhaps, things would have gone differently? Or should he just forgive her and move on as if nothing happened?
How was he supposed to react to this confession? Because right now he was numb. The emotions and the manner he should behave warred inside of him and he didn’t know what to do. Lukas was just on the spot and staring at nothing until Rhea came into his sight and it didn’t matter anymore.
It was all in the past and knowing his mother’s humble spirit, Penelope wouldn’t want her friend to suffer this much. It was up to him to break away from this cycle of hate caused by Daniel before it consumed everyone and everything in his path. Not to mention that he had Rhea, his revenge on Natalie would be to love her daughter all the days of his life.
So Lukas wrapped his once reluctant arms around the woman and let her cry out her heart on his shoulder.
It was okay.
Everyone makes mistakes.
Three Protective Brothers
Perhaps, Rhea should consider this meeting between her mother and Lukas a blessing because the interaction between the both of them changed for the better. They both chatted away like two estranged friends who finally got back together after a while and she was happy about the sudden turn of events. Although their conversations revolved around Penelope, she didn’t mind.
However, there was a tiny little problem in the name of Ephraim, Elvis, and Ezra with no Elijah – she has no seen him since the night he helped her meet up with Lukas.
But then, the presence of all three of them was making Lukas uncomfortable even though he wasn’t showing it. Why wouldn’t Lukas feel discomfort when they were glaring at him so intently they could have bored a hole in his head by now.
Rhea slapped her hand down on the armrest in annoyance and said to Eric, who was quietly sipping his tea and pretending to be oblivious to his brother’s shenanigans,
“Should I say it or are you going to say it?”
Eric lowered his cup and asked innocently, “Say what?”
Rhea closed her eyes with a sigh, were they going to play this game?
“You. You. And you. What are you really doing here?” She pointed at all three of them.
While Ezra and Elvis merely shrugged, Ephraim the tricky one answered her, “We heard that our little Rhea brought a boy home. What do you think we are here to do if not to welcome him?” He gave her a wide smile.
…..
“Well, you guys have been doing enough of that welcome for over fifteen minutes and you’re not even the host,” The host Eric was busy drinking tea and staying on neutral ground. She retorted, “Isn’t it high time you guys left already, or don’t you have something to do?”
“Exactly, we don’t have anything to do, which is why we have come to show our support to you, our precious sister-in-law,” Ezra chipped in this time and Rhea could not even answer back. The level of their shamelessness left her speechless.
“Eric, do something,” Rhea almost whined like a baby. They were clearly here to bully Lukas, not help him.
At this point, even Rhea and Natalie could not continue their conversation any more thanks to their distraction. Not that Lukas had been paying full attention to the conversation with Natalie anyway – he heard everything Rhea and the Draven brothers were talking about.
“What is it?” Natalie finally realized something was wrong.
Knowing her mother would be on her side, Rhea opened her mouth to speak but Ephraim beat her to it, saying “Dear sister-in-law, Natalie, we are here to scan and access Rhea’s boyfriend as caring and responsible relatives that we are. However, she is making a huge deal and wants us to leave which I find highly suspicious. Why does it feel like she has another motive in mind which is why she wants us as far as possible?”
His words were ambiguous and Rhea threw up blood mentally. It was confirmed, they were here to ruin her time with Lukas. She should have known that Eric’s brothers were not going to accept Lukas that easily. But then, who needs their approval?!
“Even if she has another motive in mind, aren’t both of them adults and capable of taking responsibility for their actions, or are you merely nosy relatives?” Victor came to her defense and she smirked victoriously at them.
Beat that.
Ezra answered him, “This is our house and it is our responsibility to look out for her as family, ensuring that she made the right choice. “
“Oh, so the house is the problem?” Victor snorted, “Even though it’s your father’s house. Aren’t you ashamed to say that?”
Now everyone had their eyes on Ezra and Victor, sensing the hostility between both men. They could sense something was up but just couldn’t figure it out, except Rhea and Lukas who knew the bone of contention between Ezra and Victor.
Mimi.
Right now they were trying to prove who was the better man.
Fools.
“At least it’s my father’s house, and you are nothing but an intruder.” Ezra narrowed her gaze at Victor, electricity crackling between them when their eyes met.
“That’s enough,” Eric said, putting down his cup, done with his tea. Instant silence saturated the room while his gaze took in everyone in the room.
“Lukas is a reputable guest here, respect him.” He declared and it was final.
There was an awkward silence for a while until Elvis suddenly stood up and walked over to Lukas while everyone watched, curious about what he was up to. The man had a huge frame so when he stood in front of Lukas who was seated beside Natalie, he completely towered over him.
Rhea watched the scene with her heart in her throat and her eyes wide, hoping that he was not about to do something stupid amid Eric’s instructions. So when he suddenly thrust his hand in front of Lukas’s face, Rhea nearly screamed out of terror thinking that he was about to hit him or something.
But he only said,
“Nice to meet you, I’m Elvis “
His hand was out only for a handshake and not to hit him as she had thought. Damn, that was quite a scare, Rhea tried to calm her racing heart. This family would be the end of her one day.
Lukas was flustered too and it had taken him a lot of control to not react when Elvis suddenly moved in front of him. He could tell the man had done it on purpose to scare and test him at the same time.
Nonetheless, Lukas put on a bright expression as he stood up to his feet since he couldn’t shake his hands while sitting.
“Nice to meet you too, I’m Elvis.” He shook his hands firmly.
Without warning, the man suddenly tugged him forward and Lukas fell into his arms, stunned. Elvis laughed loudly and patted him on the chest and when no one was looking, he said to Lukas in a low voice,
“Elijah deserved what came his way. However, hurt Rhea and I would break every single bone in your body.” He threatened him.
Lukas swallowed, breaking apart from Elvis with a smile that didn’t touch his eyes. And just like that, the two other brothers welcomed him and with a very graphic warning in the end that involved Rhea. And he did not doubt that they meant it.
Instead of brothers-in-law, it almost seemed to Lukas that Rhea gained three protective brothers instead.
Lukas Was Obsessed With Her
Men were so weird, Rhea decided as she stood watching the men who were prepared to tear each other apart minutes ago as they drank cheerfully. Everything happened so quickly and it all started with Elvis asking Lukas if he could hold his liquor.
She just couldn’t understand how men’s egos worked at all because instead of Lukas turning down the offer, he agreed right away just to make an impression on them and prove he was man enough to carry on the task. Rhea didn’t need her damned brothers-in-law’s permission to date him, but then Lukas was just insistent and thorough in whatever he did.