[ON GOING] All Of Me 18+ Only (Book 3 of Lastor series) #Wattys2020

Chapter 26

Damien and his wife were declared missing as a result of a tragic plane crash on their way to a skiing trip to the Swiss Alps this morning. Upon hearing of the true atrocities they endured, Lord Robert called for an audience with Lord Reiner to open discussions of a negotiation, which was Lastor-speak for surrender.

This was the last leg. If I executed the next three moves successfully, all the variables I'd spent the past week developing in an effort to build towards my secondary goal in this war would fall into place and it can all be over. I just needed to hold on for today. One last day of dealing with this never ending nonsense, but I had a feeling I might not last any longer.

Somehow, the little brat knew I was coming and was waiting at the landing strip in White Plains. I ignored her, heading to the parking lot with my guards, Trev, and Artie, with Damien's remains in tow. She just followed us, pushing past Javier to sidle up behind me and keeping up with my pace when I walked faster.

"Will you fúck off?" I snapped, whirling around to face her.

"Stop protecting me!" Georgiana snapped back.

I looked at her in confusion. "Huh?"

"I don't need your protection," she bit out. "What I need is your guidance."

I laughed, clutching my side as my injured ribs contracted. "Kid... I'm not protecting you. Why the fuck would I?" I took a step towards her. "I have a deal with your father. I keep you clean, I can keep using him. You want me to use you instead?" I leaned closer. "Give me more than what he has to offer. Till you can do that, fuck off."

I turned around to walk away but she rushed in front of me, fuming. "I am not a pawn nor a play thing!" she yelled at my face. "I am brilliant, hard working, and if you've just done what you were supposed to do in the beginning, I wouldn't still need to deal with you!" She huffed out a breath, pulling at her blazer. "You owe me an education. I will not be dismissed until you give it."

My sight darkened, both from vertigo and Brobdingnagian fury. I shut my eyes, taking deep breaths as I actively suppressed the instinct for violence surging through my body. But I was so tired and the appeal of senseless murder being so much easier than constant restraint was becoming... irresistible.

I suddenly felt Maria de Rossi's overbearing presence latch onto me, smacking my head with her Bible the way she used to always do whenever I dozed off at church during Mass. And a forgotten reflex took hold of my hand as I made the sign of the cross.

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken," I whispered under my breath the verse Maria used to recite whenever she felt like doing something a devout God fearing Catholic shouldn't do.

"Are... are you... praying?" I heard Georgiana blurt out.

I snapped my eyes open, glaring at her while she and everyone else stared dubiously at me. "Do you know where Rick is?"

Her brows furrowed. "What?"

"He's not here," I answered for her. "The guy who can give me peace when my sanity is unraveling is nowhere near me and you... you're pissing me off. So yeah, I'm praying for the strength to not commit murder." I pushed a hand through my hair, stretching my neck. "But I don't think God cares for either of us. Someone get this brat away from me before I kill her."

She scoffed, pushing aside my guards when they reached for her. "You made a commitment to mentor me," she declared with such gravitas that only further infuriated me. "You don't even have to talk to me. Just let me observe so I can learn for myself."