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

Chapter 28

My body was brimming with pain and the scent of antiseptic was overwhelming, waking me. I became aware I was being touched and I grabbed at the intruder by instinct. I swung an arm but it was caught before I could land the hit.

"Miss Lastor!" Katrina bit out.

I stared at her, breathing harshly as adrenaline surged through my body. "Stop touching me."

"I'm sorry," she replied, letting me go and sitting back on the chair beside the bed. "Frederick asked me to apply your medicine."

I closed my eyes, groaning when I felt my head swim with nausea from sudden stimulation. "Was I sedated?" I asked, rubbing my forehead.

"Yes."

I sighed, keeping my eyes closed as I tried to focus my senses. "How long was I out?"

"About eight hours."

I groaned again. "What a waste of time."

"Have some water, Miss Lastor."

I opened my eyes, making myself sit up and accepting the straw while she held out the glass of water. I drank until the dryness in my throat was soothed and then leaned back against the headboard, assessing my body. I deduced I was still at least two days away from regaining adequate physical functions but my fever had gone down considerably and only my shoulder and ribs were left to be concerned about. I was starting to have lessened feeling in my right arm as a result of the repeated damage and disruption to the healing, and I knew I needed to be more careful and refrain from using it until the injury was fully healed to avoid further damage to the nerves and joints.

"Get my sling," I ordered, closing my eyes again to suppress the visual stimulation. I listened to Katrina move around and leaned to the side when I sensed her come to me, letting her put the sling around me before slipping my arm through. "Stat rep."

"The last of the hostages has been released and there hasn't been any signs of movement from the council to breach your agreement. The commissioned operatives have been dismissed and only those needed to keep the perimeter of the estate secured remain. Debtors who have fulfilled their orders were released from their commitments with you, and Arthur left for New York to meet with the executives you've chosen to take command of the organization's operations. He's also made contact with the Association's representative to schedule your meeting with their leaders." She paused for a moment, hesitating. "Zac Lastor refuses to leave and Lady Georgiana arrived yesterday evening. She's requested a meeting with you when you're available."

I sighed, pressing the back of my head against the head board before opening my eyes to test my senses and sighing in relief when they were in control. "Send them up, and get me a pad and a pencil."

She got off the bed, going to the desk in the other side of the room and bringing me the pad and pencil before leaving. I started writing down the sequence of movements and variables needed to implement an initial strategy for our offenses and defenses, taking into account all the internal data I had kept of Father. Katrina returned with Georgiana and Zac after a few minutes and I ignored them as I finished manifesting my thoughts, filling the pages of the pad. Katrina came to my side and set a tray of food over my legs, wordlessly piling up the pillows behind me to support my back and then filling a glass of water.

"Zac," I called, keeping my attention focused on my writing.

"Yes?" he promptly replied.

"Wait outside for a minute."

"J-Just me?"

"I need to talk privately with Georgiana." He didn't respond and I didn't hear movement. When I looked up, I saw the angered entitlement on his bruised face. How annoying. "Sweetheart, don't be rude."