1 01 - Heir by birth

(September, 2004)

{kenmare, Ireland}

Words were burning her throat, she felt as if her feet touched red coal. She never imagined, she would ever stand in these shoes. She was ashamed. Never in her fifty-five years, had she felt this dejected. What made it worse was that he wasn't here to face this with her.

"She doesn't sound a'ight, son."Maeve finally spoke.

James Lanyon barely looked at his mother and continued rubbing his wife's hands. His glare on her belly could cut diamonds.

He loved her, perhaps, Maeve thought.

Nevertheless, she was disappointed in her son for bringing an innocent girl in this chaos. Well, as innocent as a mafia leader can be.

He very well knew what would happen if his child was not strong enough to take his position, but still she hoped, for the unborn child's sake that not they were not strong enough. Because if they were, they would be in for a long time of pain, torture and isolation and no matter how much she denied it, Maeve loved the unborn child too much to let that happen.

But bad things are bound to happen.

The lot were seated inside the Lanyon castle infirmary. The worry lines were evident on their faces.

Rosa Jorgen was grunting continuously worrying poor old Maeve. She was pregnant with, Maeve's son, James' child.

"argh"Rosa moaned in pain.

"Push my dear, push hard."a nurse tried to ease the laboring woman's pain.

"It's almost there, the head's out"

"Rosa darling, you're almost there"James cooed to her.

Cussing in a language foreign to all those present,og she let out an ear piercing scream.

A baby's cry followed her.

James hugged his lover and Maeve rushed forward to see her grandchild.

A pure Lanyon baby. Maeve knew that as soon as she saw its big, wide, open green eyes and the red stubble on its head. She was swooning with joy but a joy short-lived, her face fell as her eyes traveled downhill.

James looked at his mother then at the beautiful blonde unconscious in his arms. He would cry if he could, he knew what was to come. He glanced at the baby, in his mother's arms and all he felt was bitter hate.

The ex-mafia boss glanced at the nurses who'd tended to Rosa. They wanted to run for the hills as soon as her eyes landed on her because she knew what was to happen too. She'd taken the pledge.

Maeve could read her eyes, she was going to betray them all the more reason for her to become forever silent.

"James."

The nurse lunged for the door but it was too late. The loud gunshot echoed through the room, the only one who was taken aback was Jörgen, then wide awake.

None of the Lanyons flinched, neither James nor Maeve, not even the minutes old baby.

The mother-son duo seemed to notice that and grinned in delight. So very proud.

"What's she to be called?" Rosa asked, trying to get a hold of the baby.

Maeve glared at the woman and took a step back.

"Janice. Janice Lanyon."

Maeve spoke up and then walked to the door where the nurses' corpses was blocking her away.

"James! How many times do I have to remind you? You must clean after yourself."

"I'll clean it up in a bit mother."

"James !"

The man huffed and called a servant to clean the mess. While the proud new grandmother walked out, to the bottom of the castle, where the newborn wasto be marked and christened altogether.

James and Rosa followed shortly after her, their hands intertwined. Love was evident in their eyes as they tried to make the best of their last moments together.

Rosa flinched as she took a step. James took a note.

He turned around and crouched to pick up her in his arms.

"You look beautiful, my love."He pressed his lips to her forehead.

James walked ahead as his ladylove snuggled closer to his chest.

under the Lanyon castle was a chamber, closed since James' birth. Maeve felt a tug at her heart as she entered it, the soul of those gone and buried still managed to linger in there.

She placed baby Janice inside a wooden crib.

She, then, walked towards a drawer placed on the other side of the chamber. She pulled out a compartment and produced a thick, old book.

At the gate of the Chamber was James carrying Rosa in his arms.

"You may put the woman down now, James."

"Jorgen! come hither"

Rosa walked to the crib, looking suspiciously at the elderly lady.

Maeve smiled tightly at her,"Jorgen, since you have given birth to a pure Lanyon baby, but you aren't" she paused as if to find the right words,"stable enough to be a good mother. You're to pledge to the Code of Conduct of the Lanyons."

Rosa Jorgen was no civil lady, she was the leader of the Scottish mafia and was not the least bit sorry for the misconduct.

"And if I refuse?"replied Rosa. James, who was still standing at the entrance, observed her. He was somewhat proud of her. But also scared and concerned, for he was well aware that his mother would do anything to keep her word.

"You would be banned from the Gang World."

"You can't do that."

Maeve laughed,"Yes I can. Can't I, James ?"

Rosa's eyes were glassy and resembled the death with her pale and sickly appearance. Her eyes bore holes into James's as if asking, why this injustice?

She was to choose, either the gang life or her baby. James knew that too but to him the choice was one-sided, after all, why would she choose that unfortunate baby?