Between Two Rourkes

Chapter 14

Lyra's POV

“Mother!” Eleanor yelled as her eyes met mine. I smiled weakly as she hugged me. I stood on the doorstep for a while before shutting the door and walked inside, holding her.

My mother was in the kitchen, I could hear her making something. “Lyra, you have finally returned. How was your- oh, why do you look so tired?” she asked as I walked into the kitchen.

I rested my back on the wall, “My boss was one of the worst people I've met in my life. It's just my first day and he was desperately trying to find flaws in me.”

She chuckled and continued cooking, allowing me to rant all I want.

“The place was filled with so many weirdos. And just when I thought my day couldn't get worse, I managed to get on the nerves of the only person who spoke normally to me!”

“Did you? You're so clumsy.” She said and chuckled.

I folded my arms. For some weird reason, she was not taking me serious at all.

I sighed and walked to the dinning room, Eleanor rushed to me and started ranting about how her day went. I was so tired that I didn't hear a single thing she said.

My mother joined us on the table and started serving our meal. She noticed how Eleanor was speaking and I was barely paying any attention to her.

“You are really tired, aren't you?” She asked.

“Of course, I spent my whole day trying to fix the mess I created. They do not seem to even care it's my first day at work, absolutely ridiculous!” I blurted.

Eleanor paused and stared at me in confusion, she had never not seen me so upset. “Mommy, did something happen?” I smiled faintly.

“Nothing happened, little one. Your mother just had a long day at work. She'll be fine. Come, it's time to eat.” My mother said and lifted her up, carrying her to the next room.

She joined me shortly afterwards and sat down too. I was slowly eating. Even though the food tasted good, I was struggling to eat it.

My mother sat down and gracefully ate, She drank a cup of water and paused. “You should already be used to things like this, Lyra. I find it odd you're struggling to cope with a few challenges.”

I stared at her in silence, she didn't need to say more before I agreed she was actually right. Compared to things I had faced bravely in the past. It wasn't the new job bothering me, there was something else..

“I need to tell you something.” I muttered.

“Of course, I am all ears.”

I cleared my throat, instantly regretting that I had brought it up. “So, remember I have a new tenant? He is actually not a stranger...he is Cassian's younger brother.”

My mother nearly coughed out the water she was drinking, “Did you say his younger brother? Is that really a coincidence or they're up to something again. We cannot let them have what they want. Wait, this means he already knows about Eleanor!”

“Wait, Wait. That is not even what I wanted to say to begin with.”

Her eyes widened, “Are you saying there is something worse than what I already heard? Just what have you gotten yourself into this time? That explains why you are struggling to cope at work.”

I sighed deeply, maybe I really shouldn't have brought it up.

Now there was no way out of this, perhaps. “Talk to me, Lyra. What did you do?” She asked again, moving closer. I could see the desperation in her eyes, there was surely no way I'd tell her about it.

It was just a contract marriage that would be over soon too, there was no need to enlighten her on it. “Well, the good is the younger brother has nothing to do with them. He is Cassian's half brother anyways, they hate each other.”

“But does that not mean you'll be in the middle of two brothers that hate each other?”

Yet again, she found a way to make what I said look bad. She was always like this, not really the most optimistic person in the room. She always looked forward to something going wrong, which I always found odd.

“This is nothing like that. Luca just wants a place to stay and Cassian... he wants Eleanor.” I muttered.

She clenched her fist, “Of course he does. That disgraceful cunt, he thinks he can just show up again and take whatever he wants?”

“That will never happen, he is not her father and will never be.” I replied.

She sighed deeply, I could tell how worried she had turned. This was expected, as we're dealing with the famous Rourke family. They are well known to always get what they want.

“What will you do? He will not lay down for long, if he already knows about Eleanor, all he'll be aiming for now is gaining custody. There will be so many Court appearances.” She asked.

I smirked, “There will be none. You have to trust me on this one, I will handle Cassian myself.”

She sighed, I could tell she wasn't reassured but there was no point in trying to convince her. Her doubts would always still remain, I just have to make sure things don't get out of hand.

Eleanor walked into the dinning room, holding a spoon. She had finished eating and chose to roam around now. “When will we head home? I wan to play with the mister again.” She suddenly asked.

I coughed out the water I was drinking, I wiped my mouth to see my mother intensely staring at me, waiting for answers.

“ It's just the brother. She surprisingly takes a liking to him and has hanged around him since he arrived. Nothing much.” I said with an awkward chuckle.

She nodded slightly, still staring at me suspiciously. “You must keep her safe from the jaws of the wild beasts. If anything happens to her, I'll snap your neck myself.”

I gulped and nodded, her words sounded more like a threat than an advice. If there was anything my mother cherished the most, it was her granddaughter.