Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
Hence he drank and drank to the point he couldn’t even recognize his own brothers, not to mention strangers. He knew he would eventually suffer the consequences the next morning and didn’t exactly care. Live in the moment!
Sure enough, when the morning came, his head felt like it was going to explode.
He stirred from his sleep with a groan, finally regretting why he drank so much. But that was the least of his problem because he opened his eyes and discovered that he was not alone. Someone was in bed with him. He was not alone.
Ezra screamed and jumped from the bed, what has he done now? It has been a while since he had one-night stands.
His shout woke the woman on his bed because she lifted her head groggily and when Ezra saw her face, the blood drained from his face.
Oh no.
He was doomed.
“Hello handsome,” Cindy grinned at him and his life was over.
Why her?!
Meanwhile…..
“How do you feel?” Elijah must have been by her side all this while because he was the first thing Adele saw when her eyes opened.
Adele did not answer, rather she looked around the hospital room and panic nearly gripped her when she didn’t see her children beside her, “Where is -“
“In the incubator, they are being taken care of by the nurses. The children are safe, we have three boys and a girl, Adele. You did it.”
That was a huge relief.
For a moment there, Adele thought he had taken away the children and abandoned her now that he’s gotten what he wanted. Although she couldn’t help but notice the pronoun he used in his statement, “We”. It almost sounded like they were a team and for some reason it made her feel good.
Well, they had been a team anyway for the past months before her delivery. After their marriage, they lived together as husband and wife even though they shared different beds. Elijah took good care of her and respected her boundary, there was mutual respect and acceptance between the both of them.
But then, how long would that last? Now that the babies were born, he owed her nothing except to take care of the kids. Was there a chance… no, she would not think of it?
To Adele’s surprise, Elijah drew closer and before she could ask what he was doing, he kissed her on the forehead, his lips lingering there and it felt like he branded her, her heart skipping a beat.
When he pulled back, Elijah looked into her eyes and said, “Thank you, Adele.”
Adele blinked at him. She was left confused and conflicted by the gesture. She couldn’t help but wonder, was there a chance their relationship could develop into something more?
“Trust me, you’re only going to tire yourself out that way,” Victor calmly told Lukas when he wouldn’t stop pacing up and down outside the room.
It was finally time and Rhea was in labor. They had waited in both dreadful and joyful anticipation for this moment. And now that it has finally come, Lukas wished that it was over.
How could he relax especially when another heart-wrenching scream came from Rhea? it took everything in him not to kick down the door and come to her aid. But then, Lukas knew Natalie would not appreciate it if he destroyed her door.
No, she was the very reason why he wasn’t in that room with his wife Rhea right now. Natalie had insisted she didn’t want him there, claiming that he would only be a distraction to her. However, he was beginning to regret that choice.
“You’re making me dizzy, Lukas,” Victor whined.
Lukas turned and shouted,” What is taking them so long?! Mimi’s delivery didn’t even take that wrong! It’s been an hour already!”
Victor told him, “You mean the part where I had to deliver the child myself? Trust me, you don’t want to go through that. That is the most terrifying experience I have ever had.” He shuddered at the memory.
“You were weak!” Lukas snapped at him, intentionally transferring the aggression onto his poor cousin. His eyes were wild and his hair was like a bird’s nest with him having ran his hand through it uncountable times.
But Victor was not offended knowing that Lukas was merely under tension, having been in his shoes months ago. He told him, “You think I was scared of the blood or what? I had my wife right in front of me with the baby’s head already peeking out from between her legs. I had no clue what to do. How to do it? What if I hurt my child or worse, her? I had no experience. At least, you have professionals taking care of Rhea. I’m sure nothing would happen. “
It must be the assurance in Victor’s tone, Lukas eventually stopped pacing and leaned against the wall instead, the worry obviously written on his face. The poor man was under a lot of tension and wouldn’t relax until Rhea safely gave birth and his child was safe. Good thing, Mimi was there. Just like Rhea had been there for her, she asked to be there for her friend as well.
They left baby Caleb to both of their mothers – Hannah and Camille – to take care of and the women competed over who gets to spend the most time with the boy. Both women loved their grandson and Victor couldn’t be happier for their help because his son was a terror.
Caleb Luciano had a terrible habit of sleeping throughout the day when everyone else was awake and working, then staying awake for the rest of the night, depriving him and his wife of their sleep. Mimi should not have bothered with losing weight because she has slimmed down thanks to his troubles – the boy was determined to suck Mimi’s breast dry.
His poor boy ate and ate and ate to the point that they had to support his breastfeeding habit with baby formula at just three months old else Mimi fainted from the stress. Even at that, Caleb was of normal weight, unlike Mimi’s worry that he might gain weight if he kept eating at that rate. Hannah even joked, likening the kid to a glutton, claiming his stomach was a bottomless pit.
Of course, his mother Camille had another opinion, claiming that his son, Caleb completely took after him. In one word, his birth was the toughest one his mother had to go through. Victor couldn’t help but shake his head knowing that it was only a matter of hours before Lukas has his tales to give. Perhaps it was toxic of him to think this, but Victor was glad that Lukas would join him in the sleepless lights.
Another scream came from outside the door and Lukas stiffened, only for a baby’s sharp cry to pierce the air seconds later. At once, the tension left Lukas’s body and he began to laugh hysterically. Rhea did it! The baby was born!
A smile split Victor’s face when he heard the baby’s loud cry and he stood up to pull his cousin into a congratulatory hug. Lukas leaned his chin on his shoulder, tears of joy slipping down his face. He was a father now.
The door snapped open minutes later and Mimi stepped out with the baby in her arms and properly covered. She smiled at him, “Congratulations Lukas, you have a baby girl.”
Lukas let out a sharp breath and for a moment there, his feet were stuck to the ground until Mimi was in his front, urging him to carry his child. He tentatively reached out and took his daughter from her very carefully as if he was afraid of breaking her fragile bone.
He swallowed when he saw her, her skin was very red and her eyes were shut except for fussing lips. The little wisps of red hair was an obvious sign that she had taken after her mother in that aspect. Lukas would have to wait a while to know if she had taken his eyes or Rhea’s green eyes or a mix of both, or perhaps his late mother’s. Above all, she was beautiful and warmth filled his chest; he wanted to cry.
Then he remembered.
“Rhea…?”
“They are cleaning her up and would move her to a room as soon as they are done.”
Lukas was greatly relieved. Rhea was safe and together, they would raise their baby.
After delivering her baby, Rhea was sure of hearing her baby’s cry before she gave in to sleep, exhausted to the bones. It must have been a while when she finally woke and the sight that greeted her was Lukas rocking his child. Their child. Her heart was close to bursting with happiness.
“It’s a girl. A beautiful girl. I won.” Lukas said, having sensed she was awake.
Rhea smiled weakly yet in contentment.
He was not going to win the next time.
She reached and he took his hand in hers, carrying their baby in his other arm. He caressed the top of her palm, he has never been this happy. It was the happiest day of his life.
“What would you name her?” Rhea gave him the chance of naming her since he correctly predicted her sex.
“Are you kidding me?” Lukas grinned at her before glancing down at his sleeping daughter. He said with dotting affection, “Aricel.”