Page 121 of Ruthless Beast

“I love you, Lucas. I hope you know that. And I’m so happy that we are going to have a baby together.”

I take a deep breath before I carry on. I’m just as nervous as Lucas. What if he doesn't agree to my terms? I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle that. Thankfully, he doesn’t interrupt me. If he does, I’ll surely lose my nerve.

“Babe, listen. You have to get out of the mafia if you want to be a part of your child’s life. I cannot, in good conscience, expose an innocent to your world.”

“And you? Will I be a part of your life?”

“Yes. We’re a package deal.”

“I don’t know if what you’re asking is even possible, Emily. This is the mafia. You don’t just resign and ride off into the sunset. And how will I provide for you and our baby if I don’t have an income?”

“I don’t care if we have to pick fruit in a field for money, babe. All I want is to live a normal life. I don’t care about the money.”

“That’s a noble idea. But you have no idea what it’s like to scrape by.”

“I have more than enough for both of us, Lucas. David left me plenty. We’ll be fine.”

“I don’t want to live off of my wife.”

Wife? The word sounds so foreign.

“Yes, I plan on making you my wife. If you agree, of course,” he smiles.

“You’ll find a way. I know you will, Lucas. You at what you’ve accomplished already. I have faith in you.”

“What you’re asking me to do isn’t going to be easy, my love.”

“I know.”

Lucas stares off into space. I know his mind is working overtime. I can see it. I keep my silence, as I’ve said what I wanted to say. Now, the ball is in his court.

“Okay,” he says after a very long pause. “Let me see what I can do.”

“Thank you. I mean it.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

* * *

Lucas

“You’re what?”

“I’m going to hand the baton to you, Andreas.”

“Have you lost your mind, Lucas?”

“I must have. But this is what Emily wants, and I cannot say that deep down I haven’t thought about it myself.”

“And how do you propose to get out?”

“That’s where you come in.”

“How so?”

“I need you to help me fake my death.”

“Bloody hell, Lucas. That’s a big ask. And I don’t know if I’m ready to take over from you.”

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