Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“Exactly? The both of them slept in different rooms. Nothing happened, Lukas. They didn’t violate your home and you’re really in no condition to be running around.” Rhea reminded him of his injury.
“It’s the truth, brother.” Chloe supported, but unlike the others running around the table, she was more engaged with her delicious pancakes.
“All of you are in cahoots,” It dawned on Lukas and the fight left his body. Everyone had kept him in the dark, although he faintly remembered telling Winter to do whatever she wanted last night. Wonderful, he brought this upon himself.
Closing his eyes, Lukas let out a deep down and when he opened them, it was to command him, “Sit down,”
“Huh?” Akim wondered if he was speaking to him
“Finish your breakfast.” He shouldn’t be stingy about that at least, Lukas thought as he took his seat in the dining. However, his eyes flashed when he saw the boy still standing.
“Do I need to spell it out for you now?”
“O-of course not,” Akim stammered, forcing his ass back down and it wasn’t until Winters was sure that he had no ulterior motives did she reluctantly sit with him.
This family was definitely weird, one moment Lukas wanted to end his life, and the next, they were having breakfast like one happy family. Goosebumps filled his arm. Sadly, that was not the end because when Akim glanced down at the table, he discovered that he was in a new position and his food was beside Lukas.
His morning keeps getting better.
Akim swallowed, not knowing what to do. Should he return to his seat and directly face the devil or should he fast while the others ate? He wasn’t really sure Lukas would appreciate the latter. Thankfully, Chloe, bless her, reached out and took his plate and utensils, passing them over to him.
He gave her a grateful smile but when Lukas caught him beaming at his sister, the expression faded away and Akim faced his front. Why were there death traps everywhere in this family? It was as if he had to watch his feet before taking a step else he was toast. Does he have to be cautious of the water as well?
With Lukas and Rhea joining them, Beatrice had to come to serve them and it became the most awkward breakfast they ever had.
“So you slept the night over at my place?” Lukas raised the issue out of nowhere and Akim nearly choked on his food. It was hard enough he was having problems swallowing down, now they had to continue the conversation from where they stopped.
Before Akim had the chance to say something, Winters answered in his place, “Niklaus wants to send him back to Lincolnshire, however, he barely escaped on time to inform you that I was kidnapped. Ever since then, he has been hiding from his family and doesn’t have a place to stay. Your place is kind of the only place he’s safe at the moment. “
“I didn’t ask you, but him,” Lukas told her, pointing his fork at Akim. He looked him in the eyes saying, “It’s only a matter of time before Niklaus discovers you’re here and demands your return. It’s quite sad that I don’t involve myself in other people’s business.” He hinted at the fact he would send him packing if Niklaus comes knocking on his door.
“Lukas….” Rhea tried to interfere but he put up his hand and she knew it was her cue not to interfere. This conversation was between the both of them – he and Akim.
Lukas asked him, “What’s your plan, Akim? How do you intend to fight for your love?”
845?Marry Me, Winters
“You’re right,” Akim finally acknowledged his responsibility, “I can’t keep running from my family forever. Even if you offer me protection from them, I still owe a responsibility to my kingdom and that is a position I can’t avoid.”
He continued, “I believe that my family is biased towards Winters because they don’t know her as much as I know her. Sure, her past isn’t clean but what matters is the future and we love each other enough to move on and that is why…..”
Akim turned towards Winters and took her hand in his, squeezing them affectionately. With a smile on her face, he asked her,
“Would you marry me, Winters? “
…..
Bam!
The fork slipped from Lukas’s hand and fell to the ground with a clatter. Chloe’s jaw dropped to the ground while Rhea was unlucky enough to be sipping from a glass of water at that moment, choking on it and entering a coughing fit. What the fuck?! None of them saw that coming.
Winters sat in her seat, frozen and unable to believe what was happening. Seeing her reaction, Akim let out nervous laughter as he said,
“Yeah, I know that it’s a little shocking but it’s the best alternative we have at the moment. My parents would have no choice but to approve of our relationship when they hear that we are getting engaged. And then, we would move to Lincolnshire and there, you would spend time with them and before you know it, they would come to love you. Not only that, we would plan our future together, you would learn Lincolnshire culture as my fiancée and when we get older, we would settle down as husband and wife. You would make a beautiful queen of Lincolnshire, Winters.” It was a foolproof plan but the same couldn’t be said for Winters.
Dear God, she couldn’t breathe. Winters was suddenly feeling claustrophobic and Akim’s hand holding hers suddenly felt like bondage. Everything was going too fast and the look on Lukas’s face suggested the same. However, when Winters saw the hopeful look on Akim’s face, her heart clenched and she couldn’t disappoint him.
“Yes, I would marry you, Akim. Let’s go ahead with the plan.” Winters said, but deep down, there was a voice screaming inside of her that this was a bad idea. She would make Akim happy, but what about her? Would she be happy as well?
She glanced up and saw Lukas’s expression. There has always been this understanding between her and Lukas and right now, he didn’t approve of this arrangement.
As if everyone finally woke up from the shock, Rhea clapped her hands together, “I don’t know how this is going to work out, but congratulations guys on your engagement.” Even she had her doubts.
“Congratulations Winters and Akim!” Chloe was the happiest of them. Since she was younger, she couldn’t comprehend the subtle tension in the air and was excited by the good news.
“Congratulations,” Lukas said, holding her gaze.
“Thank you,” Winters responded nervously. She has stayed enough with Lukas to know that compliment was not sincere.
Akim said to Lukas, “I know that you’re not related to Winters biologically, but she holds you in high regard and in a way, you’re like family to her… and that is why I would want your blessings.”
Lukas lifted his gaze and looked at the young man. For a moment there, Rhea thought he was going to strike at him or something, which was why she placed her hand on his back, coaxing him. Instead, Lukas grumbled, “The both of you do whatever you want,” and went back to having his breakfast.
Silence descended once again and this time, the tension in the room pulled and pulsed between them. Even Chloe who had been ignorant at first finally noticed it and kept shut. Her brother was not happy.
It wasn’t long when one of Lukas’s men approached him and whispered something in his ears. Winters’ stomach dropped when she saw the way Lukas’s gaze flickered to her momentarily while listening to the guard. He nodded his head and she knew undoubtedly that the moment she dreaded had come. Niklaus was here for Akim.
A cold sweat washed over her and her hands suddenly became clammy. It was a good thing Akim was not holding her anymore else he would have felt her nervousness. Everything else passed in a blur but Winters heard Lukas say, clearly,
“The moment that we have been waiting for is here. Niklaus is here to take you. I guess it’s time to drop the marriage surprise on him too.” He smiled, revealing those teeth of his that gleamed like those of a shark.
She turned to look at Akim who looked like the blood had drained from his face, but he was quick to push the emotion and put on a brave mask. When he turned to her, she too put on her mask, smiling at him brightly even when her stomach churned violently and she felt like throwing up.
No, Winters felt like running away, to a place where no one could find her and then she could erase the voices of everyone in her head telling her what to do and what not to do. And yet when Akim said, “Let’s go,” she put her hand in his and let him take her to her death.
Winters was like a zombie, her body was moving and yet she wasn’t really in charge. She felt like a puppet under the control of a puppet master. Nothing she was about to do was of her free will. And just before they got outside, Akim stopped to assure her,
“You don’t have to do anything, just leave it all to me.” She nodded her head obediently like the good puppet she was.
It wasn’t until they got outside that Winters recalled those words, “She was young and there were plenty of chances for love.”
For the first time, Winters searched deep inside of her and she realized that she didn’t want this. She needed to make her future, not one planned and handed down to her. That was what her heart wanted.
Freedom.
Even at the cost of her love.
Let’s Break Up