Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
There was a shift in Adele’s expression and the mask she put on cracked, revealing the pain that ate her up from the inside.
Rhea told her, “Perhaps, that’s why Lukas works so hard to be the perfect father to his daughter. Also, I think the both of you should talk to each other since you’re going through the same pain and seem to understand each other so well. I think he might open up to you. “
“I’ll consider that,” She said, her voice low and husky from the raw emotion stirring in her chest.
“Your mother… ” Mimi probed carefully, “Has she initiated any form of contact with you since she left?”
“She wrote me an untraceable letter.”
“A letter.” Rhea’s brow lifted in interest, this was the first time that she was hearing such a thing.
“Yes,” Adele smiled mirthlessly, “She explained that it was for my own good. She could not be a burden to me and Daniel promised he was going to get her to walk once again. To be honest, I was angry at first. Angelica was weak, pathetic, and a coward when it came to raising her daughter. She always made the wrong choice when it comes to choosing men. I swore I would have nothing to do with her ever again. She already made her decision and I should accept that. But…” Her voice caught at that end, Rhea and Mimi’s eyes met at that point knowing how hard it was for Adele to open up to them like this.
Rhea reached out from across the table and covered her palm with hers while Mimi placed her hand on her shoulder and squeezed soothingly.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she confessed, “I should leave her, it’s not worth it, but I feel so god damn alone. You don’t know how jealous I feel when I see the both of you with your mothers, ” She pointed at both Rhea and Mimi “I want something like that, is that too much to ask? She’s the only family I have left. Why do bad things keep happening to me? I feel like I’m cursed or something.” Adele broke down in more tears.
“Shhh, it’s okay.” Mimi was the one comforting her now since she was seated so close to her and Adele buried her face into her. She knew how weak this made her seem right now, but she was so sick and tired of always being in control! Of always getting her acts together.
“And you are not cursed,” Mimi said.
“Also, your mother is not the only family you have, Adele.” Rhea was up on her feet and went over to the opposite side of the table where she wrapped her arms around her.
“You have us now. Me. Lukas. Mimi. Victor. Elijah, your triplets, and even the Draven family, ” She kissed her on the forehead and embraced her tighter.
“You are not alone, Adele Draven.”
And Adele wept hard.
Adele was so embarrassed by her breakdown that she didn’t dare to look any of them in the eyes and she was extra grateful when the food arrived. Now, she had a reason to not look up, burying her face in her food instead. As if they understood her, Rhea and Mimi did not bother her and let her be.
Perhaps, this was the reason she preferred their company rather than being completely alone – aside from the fact that both of them were the only people relatively close to the word “friends” in her life.
They respected each other’s boundaries – most times, she thinks – and didn’t push their buttons. Also, Adele felt better, lighter, like this huge load in her chest had been taken off. Who knew talking was therapeutic?
“So….” Mimi started up another conversation, which wasn’t surprising. She must hate the silence or something. “What’s Lukas’s plans towards Aricel?”
The question was obviously directed at Rhea.
“What do you mean by that?” Rhea looked down, absent-mindedly rolling the spaghetti in her fork with her gaze trained on her friend.
“I mean, you and Lukas are going for a second child. What if it turns out to be a boy? What would happen to Aricel? Would she take her father’s position in the future or would Lukas be forced to make her brother the heir because she’s a woman?”
Rhea lowered her fork this time, saying, ” Isn’t this conversation a little bit too early considering Aricel is just two and I would love for her to enjoy her childhood before being faced with the responsibility? Also, my daughter would do whatever she wants to. If she wants to take up her father’s business, why not? If she hates the violence and wants a normal life, no problem. I’m all in support of her choice.”
“What’s the problem with her being a girl anyway?” Adele joined in the conversation and Rhea was not surprised. She was a badass and a feminist at heart – and Mimi is about to get chewed out.
“I mean…” Mimi shrugged, “It’s just that from what I have heard, most Mafia families don’t acknowledge female leaders and I’m curious as to know if Lukas would follow the old tradition or shake things up a little?” She said.
Adele stated firmly as if she could already see the future ahead,” Aricel is going to be her father’s successor as the queen she is, I would make sure of that at all costs.”
Rhea breathed, “That doesn’t sound foreboding at all. “
“If she’s fit to lead the family to the next level, I’ll make sure that change happens. It’s long enough our gender has been suppressed and our voice unheard all because of this perception of being weak. I advise you as a mother, Rhea, you let Aricel roar because I see a lot of fire in her. You got a handful, that one.”
“Oh, you do not tell me.” Rhea concurred with her on that one. Her daughter had her father’s temper and was a fast learner. She just wished Aricel have the chance of living a normal life before seeing this brutal and cutthroat world as it was.
“I’m curious about something then,” Mimi said, her attention now on Adele, “How is it going between you and Elijah? Do you not plan to have more children with him or do both of you still share different beds?”
Adele choked on her saliva and Rhea glared at Mimi. That question was too personal.
“I was just curious if they maintain the facade in front of the kids or if things are going well between them? I mean they have been together for two years now as a husband and wife. Even if she hates his ass for his betrayal years back, they had once loved each other. There should be even the slightest spark. “
“That’s enough, Mimi,” Rhea warned her.
“Fine,” She muttered to Adele, “I’m sorry I cared enough to ask. I guess I forgot that Rhea and I are the only ones being straightforward here. I thought this was a meeting to discuss just anything, but I was wrong, obviously.” She said in a huff, her words having a sting to them.
Adele said, “No, it’s okay -“
“No, it’s not okay -” Rhea cut her off, frowning at Mimi, “You have known me for half your life, but not Adele. She’s not comfortable enough to reveal certain aspects of her life and we can’t push her just because we are liberal enough.”
There was remorse in Mimi’s eyes and she bit the inside of her lips in shame before her gaze darted to Adele and apologized to her, “I shouldn’t have delved too deep into your private life and made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay -” Adele was about to say when nausea assaulted her and she lifted a hand to her mouth, her eyes going wide.
“What’s wrong?” The both of them were quick to notice her discomfort but Rhea was the one who asked.
Adele opened her mouth to speak only to retch once again, Rhea and Mimi’s eyes connected and held. They made read the situation and their mouth dropped open. It was impossible! Adele and Elijah doesn’t even share the same bed or had been all this while…..
“No way,” Rhea breathed, “Tell me it’s bad food or the alcohol and not what I’m thinking?” But she knew deep down that it was not the food. She ate the food and it was not bad at all.
“Unbelievable! You and Elijah have been having sex?!” Mimi squeaked, the shock apparent on her face.
“You can’t be pregnant already! Lukas and I planned to be the first this time!” Rhea cried out.
However, Adele ignored the two women and palming her mouth, jumped out of the seat to go find the restroom. Mimi and Rhea followed after her, now discussing their discovery.
It was shocking.
Adele might have another baby. And to think that she hated Elijah.
Guess the word “hating” and “shagging” were not too far from each other.
“Daddy! Daddy! carry me!”
“Daddy! Me too!”
“Daddy! Liam pinched me!”
“Daddy! Look, I’m a dinosaur! Roar!!!”
Such was the condition Lukas and Victor found Elijah in when they arrived at his place. The cousin had not come together, but somehow they met in the driveway and thus, came in at the same time only to see this disaster.
“And I thought I had problems.” Victor hinted at his son trying to wriggle out of his arms.
“I second that,” Lukas said, glancing down at his daughter Aricel who was trying to reach for her cousin Caleb, both of their hands touching but not exactly reaching.
“No, Leo! Don’t touch the vase!” Elijah was already reaching for the boy but the deed had already been done because the vase fell to the ground and shattered.
At this point, Elijah stood helplessly staring at the twin who lifted his hand to his mouth and giggled shyly,
“Daddy, sorry.”
“God, no,” Elijah lifted his hand and rubbed his temple where he could feel a throbbing headache. He thought that he could handle this but the reverse was the case. The quadruplets seem to obey their mother’s instructions more than his. Who was he kidding? They feared her and whenever Adele was around, they were well-behaved soldiers.
Don’t get him wrong, Adele was not harsh on the children and loved them fiercely, however, she was stern and disciplined unlike him who spoiled them and it has come to bite him in the ass.
The children should be asleep by now, no, he thought they were. That was the only condition Adele had to fulfill before she left. But as soon as Leo was up, he woke up his identical twin Liam, who in turn woke the fraternal twins Liam and Leah. And together, they decided to make his life a living hell.
“Uncle Malsy,” His only daughter and girl among the quadruplets recognized him – even though she badly pronounced his name – hurried over to her uncle with her tiny legs.
Unfortunately, Aricel, whom Lukas had already lowered to her feet, stood in her way and spread out her arms in a bid to turn her away. No one was coming near her daddy, he was all hers. To get to Lukas, she would have to go through her first.
At first, it had been comical because Leah was determined and tried to sidestep her, but Aricel stood her ground. Leah turned the other way, Aricel blocked her.
“Since when did you become a hot commodity? And damn, those moves, what have you been teaching your daughter, Lukas?” Victor asked with amusement glinting in his eyes until he feigned a hurt expression, “What about me though? Why is no one fighting over me, you smug bastard?” He was jealous.
“What moves, the both of them are about to tear each other apart?” Lukas huffed before crouching down and getting in between the girls now glaring at each other.
“Shh, that’s enough Aricel, Leah is your cousin, you know.” Lukas said and reached for the girl, “Come here, you adorable little version of Adele.” He cooed.
Leah happily strutted over to Lukas and he carried her off her feet as she giggled delightfully. On the other hand, there was a look of utter betrayal on Aricel’s face. How dare she? That pretender just stole a fraction of her father’s love for her! She didn’t want that! She wanted her daddy all to herself.
Hence, little Aricel used her tested and confirmed weapon in the name of a tantrum. She shrieked so loudly that even her male cousins had no choice but to stop their activities and watch her.
“Jesus Christ, women are all the same,” Lukas commented, stooping down to pick up Aricel at once. In one word, he carried both girls on his waist, his strong arms securing them to his sides.
“Shh, now don’t cry anymore, my love. Leah is also family, alright?”
Although Aricel stopped crying, the long look she gave Leah was enough proof that this battle was far from over. And thus, it was told that both women were strong contenders from when they were young to when they grew up.
“You guys are finally here.” Elijah practically threw himself on Victor, relief washing over him. He was so close to crying while handling his impish kids.
While Victor and Lukas had not exactly liked Elijah in the past, things changed in two years. With Adele married to him, it was inevitable that they became close in the end.