30. I'm Sorry

LYRA POV

I saw Leo walk from behind the shelves while I pack the books a college student brought along with the bill. She placed the package inside her bag and paid the bill amount before recieving the receipt. He came through the narrow way between the shelves and went to Bessie who is mopping the wooden floor. He caught me looking at his actions and raised index finger to his mouth signalling me to be silent. I didn't plan to do anything, and he knows it, so, it's a win for him.

He walked slowly not letting her notice he is behind her. She is so involved in mopping every corner of the wooden floor, that she didn't care about the rest of the world. Leo sneaked behind her bending half way down so that he can easily reach her ankle. His finger silently swinging along with her leg almost in the same rhythm before he made his action. He clawed the soft skin at her ankle with his nails making her shout in fear. She jumped a few centimetres in fear. Adrenaline rush is really a thing. It can make someone old to run a few metres.

"Oh my god!!! Leo!! You scared me!!! Good lord! You're going to be my death one day" Bessie shouted placing her hand on chest gesturing that her heart skipped a beat.

"I thought some snake broke inside,.... you idiot!" She added after taking few deep breaths. "When will you let me work in peace? "

Laughter echoed inside the library filled with only a few people. Leo is proud at himself for scaring her successfully and is laughing out loud. His eyes almost closed due to the cheek muscles and the blood rushed to his face because of short breath. Looking so cute and sweet he walked towards me and sat on the chair dragging it closer to me.

"Did you finish your works?" I ask him curiously as he kept roaming around the library without staying at one place. "I don't really have any works today"

Moving my eyes up and down on his body, I raised a brow placing my chin in my palm. Leaning onto the table, I saw Eline coming out holding a few books in her hand. She arranged them in their relevant shelves before walking to me.

"What happened?" I frowned watching her body language. Its like she is dragging her feet hardly.

"Nothing mam" there's definitely something.

"You look dull" I say hoping she would open up. But,

"I guess so" she said sighing. Its not a guess. She is looking dull. She would say what's wrong immediately if someone asked.

If she don't want to share, I understand. And it's okay. I don't want to force her into answering me forcefully. So, I chose to stay silent.

After sometime, she got normal. She went back to her usual self helping others, finishing her tasks and chatting cheerfully. But she would get silent whenever she came across leo. Did they fight? On the first day they met? That maybe possible because leo argued with her earlier. We spent our day normally after that and when it's time to close the library, i remembered that if I have to stay at the headquarters for the mission, leo would be alone at home.

I decided to ask Bessie to take care of him while I am away. After all the other staff left, I asked Bessie to stay back for moment and got leo into the car. And when I was about to leave, he held my arm to stop me.

"Vivi! Are you going to ask Ms.Bessie to take care of me?" He asked in a low voice sitting in his seat, while I am standing next to him outside the car.

"Yeah why?" I relaxed my muscles and got closer to him.

"I don't want to go there. I will stay in our house" he looked at my palm he is holding with his other hand.

"Why bubs? Is she hurting you?" Concern grew inside my chest but faded away when he answered,"She would never". His lips forming a small smile.

" Then why?" I tilt my head a little to the right.

Looking at my hand again, he hesitated for a moment " I just want to get used to be alone"

I slip my hand out of his grip and cup his cheeks " No no you can't be alone. You should stay with her. I will not be gone for too long. I'll return in just few days bubs. Okay? Just stay with her"

Leo placed his palm on my hands that are cupping his cheeks and removed my hands from his face shaking his head " No Vivi..I am not that nine years old kid you knew. I'm 19 now. This is the time I learn to be alone don't you think?"

" No....you will always be my little brother. So keep quiet and stay with her just for a few days. For my sake. Okay? I want to keep you safe. That's all I want. One day when I quit all these things, when I feel you are safe wherever we are, when I know that I don't need to protect you from evil you can stay alone. Now let me go to her to inform about your arrival" I said as I raised my hand and tapped on his cheek gently and turned to walk away.

" You never listen to me" leo sighed as I walked away from the car. I shouted after I am in a good distance from him "And I never will!!" Turned my head slightly back to see him smiling at my direction.

I continued walking towards the library from the parking lot to where Bessie is waiting for me.

She is resting on the chair near the reception area as I opened the doors and entered inside.

"You're here Ms. Marino"

"Has everyone left?"

" Yes..I guess they are all busy running around the globe" she chuckled a bit and looked at me in question. " What is it you wanted to ask?"

" I am going on a work again"

" I guessed it. You never ask for my help except for the situations like this. And I am very happy to help you. I'll take care of him. Don't worry"

" Thankyou so much Bessie. I promise I won't be away for long" I held her hands as a gesture of grateful and she placed her free right hand on my head and smiled.

" My help is not even that big compared to your heart. You raised him as your own brother. He is so perfect, just like you always wanted him to be. I know the struggles and hardships you faced in raising him. You made him stronger even when your world is crumbling down to earth. If I have to say one thing to you, it's thankyou. For your efforts in making leo a person this world needs. He could heal this broken tainted world with his pure heart. Dont worry about him"

I couldn't say anything. She took care of him a lot of times before. Back when I was a newbie spy, I had to go on a lot of missions that I was away from house for a few days to few weeks. Bessie made sure that he is alright and she is a gem of a woman. She had no one left in her family. Her grandson who died a few years back is around Leo's age.

Sending leo to her helps both of us. She can care for Leo like she does for her dearest grandson and I can be worry free as he is safe with her. I cannot ask more of her. This...is enough. And I am ready to take any measures to keep him safe. Soon, I would stop being so worried about his safety. The moment I kill his aunt, is the moment I determine leo is safe.

"Okay Bessie. I'll drop you and leo at your house now. Is that okay? "

" Yeah that's okay. He is a lovely boy who will reject him? He will be a great companion in watching our favourite shows"

" Okay. Let's go" i lock the library doors after making sure all the switches are off. We walk along the road to reach the car and she got inside. I started the engine after getting in and drove towards the country street to Bessie's house with Bessie beside me and leo sitting on the backseat.

A small cozy neighborhood came into view after I turn right from the Scottdale highway and Argin Town road. The town is seated in the north right corner of Scottdale. It is said to be the most cozy and warm place in entire Scottdale city. The humid atmosphere, trees filled with ripe leaves foliage, the roads wet with rain water. The slight drizzling is giving the 'winter vacation at grandmother's house' vibes.

AUTHOR POV

Lyra drove slowly through the calm neighborhood as she didn't want to disturb the peace. Few children were playing in the roadside while their gaurdians watch them play as they chitchatted among themselves. Laughter bursting every now and then from a group of old men sitting at the rest benches. They look like they're talking about their day and sharing jokes.

She stopped before a sky-blue painted house and took off her seatbelt. Bessie got down the car slowly as to not hurt her aching back. Leo stayed inside the car watching his sister through the rear view mirror puffing his cheeks. She sighed looking at him and turned around to face him twisting in her seat.

"Bubs..what did I tell you earlier?"

He just rolled his eyes not wanting to answer her with the obvious answer. He couldn't stay alone until she makes sure he is safe.

"Next time you're going on a mission, I am coming with you"

Lyra panicked at first that Bessie might hear him. She looked outside the window and closed her eyes sighing when she saw bessie is almost entering inside the house. She opened her eyes and locked them on leo.

" Bubs, we are lucky that she decided to give us a moment. She could have heard you " she frowned.

" Next time you're going on a mission, I am coming with you" leo said in a determined voice.

" What rubbish are you saying? Do you know what happens when I am on it? Don't speak without thinking bubs. Stay with Bessie for a few days"

" I won't leave the car until you say yes to my request" leo lowered his head looking at his hands frowning.

" Bubs!!! You don't know what you're wishing for. And don't ever dare to say that you will come with me" Lyra shot her eyes up immediately when she heard him. Her heart beat getting faster as to think what he might say next.

Leo looked up into her eyes and said strongly, " You are so afraid that I might get hurt if I come with you. But what if I am getting hurt if you're not around me?"

" What?"

" Yes. Do you know how afraid I will be when you say you're going on a mission? Last time you went on a serious mission, you came with a ruptured bone in your arm. I keep having nightmares about you leaving me forever while you're on a mission. I am serious Vivi! Do you know how scared I was when you came two days late from your killing streak? You don't even be in contact with me. I always walk around the university thinking and hoping you would be okay. Its so hard to do that when I clearly know that you're dealing with guns, bombs, criminals and mafia. I really would appreciate if you quit l this, if you think about my safety" his eyes filled with tears as he looked down to his hands in his lap again.

Lyra couldn't speak a word. Her voice struck inside her throat after hearing to his speech. She just blinked a few times before saying "I'm sorry I never thought you would be this scared"

Leo realised what he had done after she spoke. He looked at her with teary eyes and cried "I'm sorry Vivi...I think I got too emotional. My body refuses to accept that you will be away for a few days"

" I will be back as soon as possible. Okay? And I promise you that I will end this soon"

" I didn't mean it. Im sorry"

" My baby brother is crying? My heart will break if he cries more " she tried to melt him with a straight face.

" I won't let that happen" leo said smiling through his cries and added "And please don't whine with your stoic face. It looks wierd "

She looked at him for a moment. " I will be back soon. Stay positive until then okay?" Lyra said softly and held his hand between her finger as she reached and kissed his palm. He looked at her adoringly and chuckled at her silly gestures to make him feel better.

" I will be waiting for you" and with that, Leo took his bag and got out of the car running towards the house. He ran to the front door and turned around to see his sister.