Claimed by the Sicilian Tycoon(51)

The reason was ridiculously obvious.

Andros. How she missed him.

Only there would be no babies or marriage for her. Lyra knew that. Andros had made it perfectly clear. Still two for three, she thought, was pretty damn good, better odds than they could ever have hoped for, with two of the three sisters happy. It would be enough. Seeing her sisters glowing with their men would be more than enough to keep Lyra content.

It would!

Lyra stood back up, her heart rate slowing now, the adrenaline subsiding at last, and readied herself for the journey home. Dominic Rimeria’s office was in the city proper and was a good hour away from The Point.

She smiled slightly as she thought of the building that encapsulated all of their hopes and dreams—or at least the hopes and dreams as they had been all those months ago. It was in the middle of a complete makeover, builders swarming all over it, rooms being created before her very eyes. The whole thing intrigued Lyra, and was more than enough to keep her busy. To keep her attention focused.

It was!

She made her way over to the water dispenser and poured herself a cupful, swallowing it down quickly. It soothed her suddenly dry throat and she slung her bag over her shoulder. They’d set out with a clear plan and they’d achieved it, that was the main thing. That was what she had to remind herself of, whenever she started to feel a little down. Apart from the swag they’d managed to get in their individual missions, Sebastian was hugely generous, and they had plenty of money to help those who needed help—what more could she possibly ask for? What more was there?

Her cell vibrated in her bag. Lyra grabbed it quickly. It was one of the contractors, something about a rusting pipe. She dealt with him, before dropping the clunky cell back in her cavernous bag. She missed her iPhone. It had been so sleek and cool, but also far too expensive. She’d sold it not long after leaving the apartment, replacing it instead with a cheap, generic handset that worked just fine and cost very little. Hell, she’d sold practically everything Andros had bought for her. The Mac, the cell, the clothes…even the flashes of fire…and if it had hurt to hand those exquisite pieces over, Lyra would admit that to no one. They were just stones and metal. They didn’t really mean anything in the end. Only the money she’d managed to get counted….it was always about the money….it had to be!

But, God, how she missed him.

“Miss Matthews…Lyra…”

Lyra paused with her on the double doors to see Dominic Rimeria prowling over. Not wanting another confrontation with the man, she glared, before pushing through the doors, and heading off in the direction of the Tube.

“I’ll follow if need be.”

His voice, that accent so like Andros’, halted her, and Lyra swiveled round. Dominic was pushing through the doors and striding over. What Rachel saw in him Lyra did not know. He was far too stern for her taste, and those eyes of his. She frowned as a pair of chocolate brown eyes, full of secrets and desire, immediately replaced them.

Andros’ eyes.

Her heart clenched a little, and she immediately pasted a fake smile on her face, flicking her hair behind her shoulder as she did so.

“What do you want?” she demanded, aware that she was taking her scratchy feelings out on Dominic.

He scowled, glared, and then scowled some more. “I need to know why you told me about the pregnancy. I have to know that before I go to see Rachel.”

“What does it matter?”

“It matters to me,” he said. “So speak.”

God, she hated demanding men. One day, she decided, she’d find herself a nice, biddable man, one who would agree with everything she said and say very little back. One who wouldn’t leave her heartsore and teary eyed.

“Don’t try and boss me around, sweetheart, it only angers me.”

Dominic glared. So did she.

Eventually he gritted his teeth. “Please.”

Lyra sighed, heaved her bag a little higher, and then spoke truthfully—because in this, her sister’s relationship, and the baby she carried—only the truth was good enough. “None of us knew our fathers.”

Dominic scowled, just like he had in his office when she’d explained about Rachel’s upbringing. He did not like realizing he’d been wrong about her motivations. Lyra had enjoyed seeing him squirm. “I see.”

“They were simply….absent figures in our lives,” she continued. “None of us even knows what a father is supposed to be like. And Rachel would have felt that keenly with her baby. She wanted you to know.”

“You’re sure about that?”