Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“Good idea,” Lukas said, while going through the papers scattered around his desk, “Focus on our other businesses for the moment, and don’t give them shit to dig up on us.”
“Yes, boss.”
“About Victor… ” Samuel was the one who raised the issue, “I think we should have him moved. I sent people to watch him in the hospital, however, people from the Draven’s family side are being bothersome. The tension between both sides is high. We are in their territory and I don’t think it’s a good idea to have him in there.”
“You can call back your people, Victor is safe under the Draven family’s watch, and neither do I want you guys causing trouble for them. Right now, I want allies, not enemies.” Lukas told him.
“But boss -“
…..
“Victor nearly died!” Lukas told him firmly, his eyes flashing with the emotions of that night when he nearly lost the only cousin that mattered to him.
He said, “His survival is a miracle that I would not take for granted all because of a petty quibble between both gangs. Victor is in no condition to be moved and until the doctor says it’s safe, his ass would sit there. Do you get me?!” His decision was final.
“Yes, boss,” Samuel acquiesced lowering his head in a show of submission.
Lukas’s jaw was set and his eyes were furious as he stared at Samuel, however, he had to ease the expression on his face knowing that he didn’t mean any harm by the suggestion.
“Now, is there anything else you have for me….” Lukas was still saying when he heard it – two unmistakably gunshots went off – and he froze up.
No one shoots in the base except there was an attack and a need for defense. However, the alarm would have gone off if they were under attack. Then what was that? Lukas was still thinking when it hit him that Rhea was around.
“Oh no….” Panic like no other gripped Lukas and before even Luca or Samuel could stop him, he already dashed out of the room like a madman and went in search of the love of his life.
He didn’t know where they are, hence Lukas kept yelling her name, “Rhea!” hoping that she would answer. The last he had seen her, she had been with Samson and though Lukas trusted the lion would keep her safe, he couldn’t help being worried. Also, Samson wasn’t impervious to bullets, which meant that he could be killed and so was Rhea.
He had heard two bullets, could it be…. No, he refused to believe it. Lukas’s heart was pounding so hard now that he couldn’t hear anything beyond it. The blood rushed to his head and left him reeling.
“Rhea!” He called out for her as if he had lost his mind. Lukas knew that he was supposed to compose himself in front of his men, but what was the use? If anything happened to Rhea, he wasn’t going to ever forgive himself! Had he known, he should have just let her leave when she wanted to, instead of losing her like this. His heart ached.
Where the hell was she?!
Lukas didn’t want to jump to conclusions yet without seeing her body. Who knows, she might be lucky enough to survive like Victor. The shooting had drawn attention, which meant that his men on duty were already heading to the spot and Lukas followed after them. He doubled his footsteps, shoving anyone that got in his way.
His stomach dropped when he realized that the incident happened on the floor that led to Rhea’s room. The first thing Lukas realized when he got there was the blood smeared in various places and the blood drained from his face. Oh no, it can’t be.
And then he heard a roar with the men stepping backward and his eyes shone with hope. Samson. Lukas strode forward, breaking the crowd that blocked his path and then he saw it. Rhea was alive, thank the lord, but she was standing behind Samson who had taken an offensive crouch.
Lukas recognized what was going on, whenever Sansom’s protective instinct was stirred, he viewed anyone else as an enemy and would defend at all courses. His men right now were offering to be free dinner. And speaking of dinner, there was a corpse in front of them and Lukas had no doubt it was Sansom’s hard work. That should explain the blood smeared all over. Whoever was going through a terrible end in the lion’s hands.
“Give him space” Lukas commanded his men who had taken up defense behind him. However, only a few heeded his words and he had to bellow, “Get the fuck out of here!” He added, “Slowly.”
They finally obeyed his words, retreating slowly as Samson was watching them with a predatory look in his eyes. As much as the lion was tamed, his predatory instinct was there, and smelling the fear off his men would only be an invitation to conquer them.
“Don’t take your eyes off him either,” Lukas commanded them. If Samson had a clue they were easy targets, he would have a good time playing and hunting them down. Hence, they left the floor together, looking intimidating with their height and numbers until it was just Lukas there.
His gaze connected with Rhea who still had not made a move and he asked her, “Are you okay?”
There Would Be No Mercy
Rhea was not okay, she was frozen in shock, having watched everything play out right in front of her. She had not only narrowly escaped being killed by bullets but watched Samson devour a woman right in front of her. It was a very traumatic sight and she was covered in sweat.
Her stomach couldn’t help but churn at the bloody scene. As much as the woman had come to take her life, she still didn’t deserve this painful end. She was probably a mother or sister to someone and she was gone just like that.
However, Rhea’s heart hardened in the end, the woman had come to take her life and it was no fault of hers she met a terrible end. Samson had only been doing his job. Rhea wondered if the woman thought about how her action would cause her loved one’s pain before attempting to take away her life. Never take away a life that you can’t give. So no, she refused to feel any more guilt.
“That’s it, buddy,” Lukas was working on calming Samson down and so far the lion had stopped growling which was a good sign.
“You can move now,” He instructed Rhea who carefully left Samson’s side under his ever-watchful gaze, careful enough not to step on the blood and the woman’s bit. Samson had not eaten her, instead, he mauled and decapitated her in the end.
As soon as Rhea was in Lukas’s embrace, she burst into tears. While she had been putting on a brave front, the realization of what almost happened finally dawned on her and it was overwhelming. In a flash, she could have been separated from Lukas forever.
All it took was mere seconds and he would have lost her forever – together with the dreams and future they planned to build together. How fickle was human life? One moment you are there and the next, you aren’t. So many thoughts ran through Rhea’s mind at that moment.
Would Lukas have mourned for her? For how long would he mourn for her? In the end, would he settle down with another woman? In years to come, when the memories had grown faint, he would probably find another woman and start a family with her to continue the lineage, right?
While it was common for humans to move on, Rhea wished he would never forget her. Even if he’s somehow happy with his new life and wife, she wishes to be the one he would love forever. His one and only soul mate. The one that would always have his heart.
…..
What about her mother? Rhea knew deep down that Natalie would mourn and probably blame Lukas for her death, because it had happened in his territory. She would carry the guilt forever and would never forget Lukas till the day she died. Her mother would always regret sending her to the base. The more Rhea thought about it, she realized how loved she was and how much pain those she left behind would have been in.
Speak about Lukas, he embraced Rhea so hard that he didn’t realize he was literally crushing her. His hands were shaking with dread and the reality that he could have lost, not only Rhea but his child. His heart was pounding in his chest and he wouldn’t stop shaking.
All it took was one moment and he could have lost her forever. He would have never seen her smiling face again; her cute look whenever she was angry; the pure bliss on her face whenever they made love. All of it would have been a memory. Lukas hugged her tighter, a tear slipping down her eyes.
He couldn’t even imagine breaking the news to Natalie. What was he going to tell her? That her daughter who was in his care was dead? Like she would believe him. It was undoubtedly going to spark a war between both families and the peace he had fought to maintain went in the twinkle of an eye.
Although to be honest, Lukas wouldn’t mind a war. No, he would prefer it if he died instead because there was no use living if Rhea was dead. He would rather go with her. A world without Rhea was not worth it. How could he lose both the love of his life and his child at the same time? It was the cruelest fate that he could be subjected to. No wonder his father Daniel didn’t want to “feel” because love is a bullet to the brain.
“Lukas…. Lukas….” Rhea began to protest when she couldn’t breathe anymore and Lukas sensing her discomfort, loosened his grip at once. He was simply scared to lose her and that had been a close call. He didn’t let go of her and they remained in that position.
It wasn’t after a while that Lukas felt something nudging him and he looked down to discover that it was no one else but Samson. The lion was rubbing his side as if fishing for a compliment and that was what Lukas did exactly. He let go of Rhea and crouched down to hug the big cat. Lukas had never loved Samson more than now.
While Samson as a baby cub, freshly separated from his mother had been a test given to him by his father to test his bravery and resilience, Lukas never regretted getting to be with him. The lion was more than a pet to him, he was family.
“You did well, buddy,” Lukas rained compliments on him, rubbing and running his hands through his thick mane and not caring he got blood on it. He would treat him later.
Samson strolled away, contented, his tail swishing excitedly. Lukas then turned and carried Rhea off her feet, surprising her. He needed to get her out of here while they cleaned this place up. And then, he would look into this matter and find out who had dared to lay a hand on Rhea.
When he does, he was going to destroy whoever that was. There would be no mercy!
Your Family Won’t Be Excluded
Lukas did a complete sweep of the Base after the attempt on Rhea’s life. He tightened security and had the body taken out and the scene cleaned up while Samson returned safely to his Den.
As for Rhea, he took her to bed after giving her coconut milk to calm her nerves. She had received quite a shock today. Thankfully, she fell asleep, giving Lukas time to sort out the mess.