Claimed by the Sicilian Tycoon (Criminal Seduction #3)(44)

“What are you up to, Lyra?” he whispered. “What?”

But of course, she wasn’t around to answer. She wouldn’t be around, and he did not intend to go looking for her. He had left London for a reason. Left her for a reason. He could not forget that.





Chapter Twenty-Three



Lyra exited the elevator into the lobby of the skyscraper that was home to one Dominic Rimeria, taking a deep breath as she did so. Her adrenaline was racing, her head spinning, and she knew that what she had just done was going to have repercussions—for both her and her sisters, especially Rachel.

She shuddered slightly as she fell into one of the chairs lining the large window that looked out onto the city street. The whole experience had been far more fraught than she’d expected it to be, and her stomach was roiling with the horrid feeling that always followed a burst of adrenaline. She needed just a moment before she began the walk to the Tube, and why not take it here, in such plush surroundings? Clutching her bag to her, she did just that, legs crossed at the ankles, her heart racing.

Can’t believe you just did that… The thought echoed in her mind and Lyra took a swallowed carefully. She’d had no choice really. Someone had to do something! And as the eldest, it was her job to take care of things. To fix them.

She’d been trying to fix things for the past three months.

She clenched her fists as she replayed the moment the three sisters had met back up. Each had returned to their home successful in their missions, but bruised and heart sore. Penny because she was missing her Greek, Sebastian, Rachel, because she was heartbroken by her Italian, Dominic, and then there was her. Lyra frowned.

She missed her Sicilian, Andros.

There was no denying it. She missed him far more than she’d ever expected to. In fact if Lyra were honest with herself, something she tended to avoid being, she had to add herself into the heartbroken trio. She woke up wondering where he was, fell asleep thinking about him. Dreamed about his hands and mouth on her, his body moving inside of hers.


More than once she’d walked past the apartment building he’d housed her in. Not because she expected him to be there, simply because she wanted to try and recapture some of the feelings she’d felt during that brief time.

It was pathetic.

Lyra knew it. She couldn’t help it.

Work helped a little, was a distraction during the long hours. Building work on The Point was in full swing, and that kept her busy. And now there was the other issue, too, the one that had brought her to Dominic Rimeria’s building.

Lyra gritted her teeth as she considered the situation. Rachel, her perfect, delicate, little sister, had sat her and Penny down and confessed her secret. She was pregnant. The baby belonged to none other than her mark, Dominic Rimeria, the man Lyra had just been to see and apprise of that very fact. Rachel was too scared to. Penny would leave him in the dark forever given the chance, and so Lyra knew it was up to her.

It had always been up to her to sort things out, and it was a job she had always taken very seriously. More so now that there was a niece or nephew in the offing.

Of course, Rachel wasn’t going to be happy to hear that her sister had slapped her shit down—quite literally—on her beau, but then, if things turned out the way Lyra hoped none of it would matter. Rachel would be back in Dominic’s arms, just like Penny was settled in her own husband’s, Sebastian Demetrious.

She laughed slightly, causing the receptionist to give her an odd glance. Only Penny could rob someone then have him marry her, Lyra thought. The Greek was desperately in love with Penny—who could blame him for that—and Rachel, pregnant Rachel—was happily living with them in Sebastian’s London home. She too had been invited to stay with them, but Lyra had declined. She knew her sisters thought it was because she was too proud, but that wasn’t it at all. Lyra just couldn’t bear to be around all that happiness. It didn’t work on her right now at all. Made her feel…funny…

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?