Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
A furrow appeared on Richardo’s face as he thought about it and then it hit him hard, “Rhea….”
Daniel’s grin widened, “I don’t need Lukas because I have one I can groom already to my taste.”
One might ask, how had Daniel known about Rhea’s pregnancy? Natalie had told him. That had been her only condition to come to rescue Angelica. She wanted him as far away from her daughter as possible because she was now with a child. He would bring nothing but bad luck to them. So he agreed to go away, but then Richardo’s people got to him first before he could think of fulfilling the agreement. It was definitely not his fault, people.
Richardo informed him, “Sadly, I need Rhea. She’s the only way I can reach Lukas. The only one that I can use hurt him the same way he had done to me!”
“And yet the only one that you can’t lay your hand on. Eric would tear you from limb to limb before you even get the chance to lay a hand on his stepdaughter. And I as well, am not interested in that deal if it involves hurting my daughter-in-law. She’s carrying my legacy in her womb. “
“If that’s the case, I have no use for you then.” Richardo pulled him forward by the collar, pressing the gun’s muzzle beneath his jaw, his eyes blazing with anger.
“Sure, sure, go ahead.” Daniel said in a sing song, “You would only be doing Lukas a big favor. Do you know how close he’s come to killing me in the past but couldn’t because of his weakness? Good riddance, he would think when you release my body to him.”
“Shut up!” Richardo shouted at him, pressing the gun deeper into his skin, and yet the man didn’t even flinch. Perhaps, the rumors were true; he was a monster. Daniel was not capable of feeling. How was he so calm even in the face of death?
And yes, the man really has a disregard for his life because he went ahead to provoke Richardo more by saying,
“You have the number and the weapon and yet you haven’t made a move because you lack direction. That’s why you need me, isn’t it? You are like a child with too much power with no idea how to use and control it.”
“I am not a child!” Richardo hissed through gritted teeth. But he knew deep down that was close to the truth.
He spat at Daniel, “Do you know I thought of bombing the entire base and though that would be difficult considering Lukas’s tightened security, it’s not impossible. But then, what’s the satisfaction? Lukas could very well survive the attack and all my efforts would be a waste. I want him delivered in my hands so I can exact my revenge directly. I want to scrap the skin off his body and make him suffer so much that he would have no choice but to beg me for mercy to the hour of his death,”
There was nothing but darkness and the feral taste for revenge in his eyes and Daniel saw that and took advantage of it.
“I’ll bring Lukas to you then and there will be no bombing. You get Lukas while I’m set free to rule the family that would be left behind. It would be a win-win for both of us.”
Richardo sneered, “You think Lukas doesn’t know that I have you? He would be a fool to come to you.”
“Who said he has to come to me?” Daniel smirked, his eyes glinting with a delicious idea, “I told you I would have him delivered to you. Unlike you who wasted your contact by trying to kill Rhea, my own contact would play wisely.”
Before Richardo could recover from the suggestion, Daniel had already snatched the gun from him with lightning speed and pointed it at him. His men in the room reacted just as timely and pointed the gun at him. However, Daniel laughed before lowering the gun and thrusting out his hand.
“Do we have a deal?”
Richardo eyed his hand before glancing back at him. Having been betrayed once, his instincts warned him not to trust easily. Not to mention Daniel was wild and uncontrollable. But then, birds of a feather flock together.
He took his hand in a handshake.
“Deal.”
Two days went back in a blur and it was the most difficult time of Lukas’s life. There was still no sign of Daniel and if Richardo had killed him, his body didn’t show up. But then, who was he deceiving? If Richardo killed Daniel, there is no way that he would be quiet about it. He would put his head on a spike and dismay it all around the city. Not that Richardo was going to do that openly, of course, this was the twenty-fourth century, not ancient Rome.
He would probably send him his severed head in a box just to agitate him and rub his victory all over his face. Ironically, Daniel’s death would be a huge relief because Lukas felt a whole lot of unease – the fear that his power-hungry father might have joined forces with his enemy. He has watched Daniel over the years and that man was hard to kill. No matter what dangerous situation he was in, he always found a way to emerge alive, especially at the expense of another. Another like Angelica.
As expected of him as a leader, Lukas has gone to visit the woman but Adele was not speaking to him. He understood her anger, of course, Daniel was the reason her mother was in that pitiful condition – unable to walk for the rest of her life. His bastard father knew how dangerous it was at the moment, everyone had gone into hiding thanks to the threat hanging over them, and yet he had the nerve to invite an innocent woman to his place?!
If Lukas thought Daniel was redeemable, the hope was doused now. Daniel could not be saved. He was selfish and would always put himself before others. Natalie was right, his father should not be around them. He was like a weed that looked innocent at first only to choke the life out of the others.
Hence he couldn’t call Adele for duty even though he needed all hands on deck especially those close to him – people he could trust. She had enough on her plate already and he was sure his face was the last thing she wanted to see. Daniel has his father’s eyes and he could guess how that constant reminder would haunt her.
Lukas was alone in the meeting. These days, he hardly spends time on his bed, always here thinking and plotting his move. They got Intel on Richardo’s location. But while Lukas might have charged into battle blindly, he had to consider the possibility that Richardo and Daniel were working together now and this may as well be a trap. He would not send his people into a slaughter.
He sat astride the sofa, his leg dangling from the armrest while his head was thrown back, his arm draped carelessly over his face. A sigh escaped his lips when he realized the weight of the situation. He had sent the news of Daniel’s disappearance and possible to cahoot with Richardo to Eric and begged him to tighten the security around Rhea.
Had Lukas known this would happen, he would have sent Rhea out of the country on time. It would have been much safer and he wouldn’t have her return until she gave birth successfully and he has erased every form of threat to her life.
He missed her. It was so lonely here and with the weight of everything. It was just too much. However, it was for her safety. Surely, his father wasn’t so cruel that he would agree to murder the woman he loves, right?
Lukas let out a deeper sigh this time, putting down his hand. He has sent out men to scout the location and if Richardo was indeed there, they would attack the latest tomorrow. Lukas hated the waiting. The more time they wasted, the opportunity given to his father to carry out whatever crazy plot he had in his head no doubt.
What if he’s been held, hostage? The thought crossed Lukas’s mind, but he shook it away. He knew Daniel thoroughly and the man would surely cut a deal with Richardo. That was how much he loved his life. He would never change.
So his lovely father would end his life then? His death is the only way Richardo’s anger would be appeased. Lukas laughed mirthfully at the turnout. He always pointed out the fact Daniel would be the death of him, now it was happening.
His attention turned to the door when he felt the knob turn and his senses went on high alert, already reaching for his gun by his side. These days, Lukas wasn’t so trusting anymore. Dealing with Richardo might have been a piece of cake, but his father in question might have moles amongst his people. He was very much aware of that possibility.
But then he had no reason to worry because it was Luka and he calmed down. If there was anyone that he trusted with his life, it was him.
“What is it?” He asked, already sitting straight.
“It’s Victor.”
The instant Lukas heard that, his heart nearly flew out of his chest thinking that Richardo might have gotten to him. He was the second person he treasured after Rhea – and Daniel knew that.
His voice was tensed now when he asked, “What about him?”
“He wants to leave the hospital,” Luka revealed and Lukas released a deep breath. There was no reason to worry aside from his cousin throwing a tantrum.
“He wants to help out, but doesn’t understand that he’s in no state to fight. It would help if you called him because he’s giving Eric’s people keeping him safe a reason to tie him up and they keep calling me instead.”
“Damn it, Victor.” Lukas cursed just as he dragged his body off the seat with a groan as he walked to the desk where he dropped his phone.
And the greatest mistake he committed was to turn his back to Luka, because the next thing Lukas knew, a needle was jabbed in his throat and he yelped in pain before reaching out to pull it from his neck.
Lukas turned to Luka with wide eyes, “H-how…?” His closest soldier was Daniel’s mole. It didn’t make any sense.
But it was too late.
His vision swam and his world went dark.
Angelica stirred from her sleep and Adele rose to her feet, leaning over her mother as her face distorted, slowly waking up.
“M-mom…?” She asked, waiting patiently for her eyes to open, and only then would she be relieved. It has been two days since the surgery and Adele had feared she slipped into a coma, well, until now.
Angelica finally opened her eyes, wincing slightly as the light attacked her senses. Everything was too much. Not to mention her throat was too dry and her mouth felt sour. Just what in the name of the lord was happening here?
“Adele…?” Her sight finally adjusted and she managed to see her daughter hovering over her. What was going on? The last thing she remembered was …