Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Secrets Arrangements
LUCAS
I watched nervously as I introduced Sophia to my mother, half-expecting this whole charade to blow up in my face.
I'd tried pulling stunts like this before - bringing random women to meet her, hoping she'd buy into whatever story I'd made.
But my mother had always seen right through my bullshit, calling out my lies before I could even finish my sentences.
This time felt different though. The moment Sophia walked into the room, something changed in my mother's expression. Her face lit up with genuine joy, and I watched in amazement as she practically bounced in her hospital bed.
"Oh my goodness, she's absolutely beautiful!" my mother exclaimed, reaching out to grasp Sophia's hands before I could even finish the introduction.
"Lucas, you didn't tell me she was this stunning."
I glanced at Sophia, who looked as surprised as I felt. She was playing her part well, offering her a shy smile that somehow seemed real despite our arrangement.
"Mrs. Davenport, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you," Sophia said softly, beaming at her as she added.
"Lucas talks about you all the time."
The lie came out of her mouth so naturally that I almost believed it myself.
My mother's eyes were filled with delight, and I felt confusion building up in my chest. This was going too smoothly. Way too smoothly.
"Please, call me Eliza," my mother insisted, patting the space beside her on the bed.
"Come sit with me, dear. I want to hear everything about how you two met."
I tensed up, heading this realizing we hadn't discussed our cover story in detail.
But Sophia moved gracefully to sit beside my mother, and I watched as they started talking, conversation was easy for them.
There was something about the way my mother looked at her - not just approval, but recognition in her eyes as well.. Like she was seeing someone she'd been waiting to meet. But that was something that didn't make any sense to me.
After about twenty minutes of watching them chat like they were old friends, my mother turned to me with that mischief glint in her eye.
"Lucas, sweetheart, would you mind giving us some privacy? I'd like to have a little girl talk with Sophia here."
My stomach dropped, as I processed this words. This was usually when everything fell apart - when my mother would corner whatever poor woman I'd dragged into my lies and expose the truth.
But looking at Sophia, I saw no fear in her eyes, just quiet resignation and determination.
"Of course," I said, trying to keep my voice steady and confident even though I felt like telling her the truth immediately.
"I'll just be outside if you need anything."
As I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me, Luke was waiting for me, his expression grim as he looked upset about something . Whatever relief I'd felt moments ago evaporated in thin air.
"What is it?" I asked, lowering my voice so as to not draw attention towards us.
"We've got problems, boss. Three of our legitimate businesses were hit today - daylight robberies, all of them targeted the cash registers and safe deposits.
Clean jobs, professional. They knew exactly when to strike and how to avoid our security."
I felt my jaw clench as I gritted my teeth in anger. "Casualties?"
"Two of our guys in the hospital, three more with minor injuries. But here's the thing - they left calling cards."
Luke handed me a small black card with a silver serpent that was drawn on it. I didn't need to see the symbol to know who was behind this.
"Nikolai," I muttered, crushing the card in my fist as I felt fury coursing through my body.
"That bastard's getting bold."
Nikolai Petrov had been a thorn in my side for three years now, ever since I'd refused to let him expand his drug operations into my territory.
He had been upset about this and refused to take no for an answer and then he had been testing boundaries, searching around for weaknesses, but this was the first time he'd directly attacked my businesses.
"He's sending a message," Luke continued, pulling me away from my thoughts as he continued speaking .
"Word on the street is he thinks you're distracted, getting soft and someone to not be scared of anymore. Besides with the hospital visits, taking time off work, for personal reasons- he sees an opportunity and he is not wasting time at all."
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of responsibility weighing down on my shoulders.
This was the problem with trying to live two lives , it was difficult to maintain both loves and keep them safe from the other.
"Gather the crew," I said quietly, as I pulled my hand from my hair and dragged my face showing exhaustion.
"I want surveillance on all of Nikolai's known locations. Find out where he's hiding, and I want his people picked up for questioning. But keep it clean - no unnecessary violence, if it's not needed.. We're not animals."
"Already on it," Luke replied. "But there's something else. The pattern of these robberies - he's going for the low class citizens, he is deliberately hurting the people who can least afford it."
That detail hit me harder than I expected. I'd grown up in those neighborhoods before my father's business boomed and took us to the elite grounds where the rich people lived their fancy lives abandoning the poor masses.. I knew what it meant for a family when their local grocery store got robbed, when their source of income was taken from them.
"Make it a priority," I said firmly. "Double security on all businesses in those areas, and make sure our people know - anyone targeting working families gets dealt with personally."
Luke nodded and started to turn away, then paused. "There's one more thing. I've been thinking about your... situation with your mother and the marriage thing."