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

Chapter 4

Katrina was relaying to me the current status of the rest of the organization along with confirmation on the arrangements I had ordered for the operation. I tried to care enough to pay attention to what she was saying but I saw no purpose in any of it. So what if we would win? So what if we might lose? It was all pointless anyway. The strategy I had laid out sought the complete annihilation of my enemies and subsequent acquisition of their properties, but there was no reason. I didn't want it. I didn't care for it. It was just easier to win than lose but if, maybe, they somehow could derail all my plans and destroy everything I built, I wouldn't really mind. Honestly, I might even thank them. Keeping things running smoothly, ensuring we always turned a profit every quarter, and expanding my network was such a hassle anyway. I could spend more time with Rick instead. Being with him was the only thing that's been able to distract me from the emptiness of my life in the absence of a purpose.

I smiled to myself. "Kat, do you think he can win?"

"Ma'am?"

"Leonti." I got off the floor, sitting beside her on the couch. "He's quite powerful, isn't he? And he's decently intelligent too."

Her brows furrowed. "Yes, I suppose."

I leaned towards her, gripping my fingers. "Then he has a chance to beat me, yeah? He might even be able to take everything from me." I paused, my smile growing wider. "Oh, what if he could see through our plans and find a flaw that can turn everything against us? There are nine flaws in my strategy, you know. I could only implement a proper counter for six of them. If he finds the three that I couldn't counter, everything would fall apart and I'll have to yield control over operations here to him. Or maybe he'll find something that I missed and use it to destroy me completely." I leaned closer, tilting my head. "Do you think he's capable of that?"

She glanced at Sawyer as he stood by the door and they shared a look. A look I had become so familiar with over the months we'd spent living together. It was the look they had whenever they were considering to get Rick so he could hold me together whenever I was about to break again but Rick wasn't here and they knew what that meant.

"Miss Lastor," Katrina began, meeting my eyes with a hard glare. "May I?"

I smiled through pursed lips. "Okay."

"Pardon me." She slapped me hard, the force making my head whip to the side and my neck crack audibly. "Focus, Miss Lastor."

I swallowed the blood that filled my mouth, sighing in relief as the pain dulled my mind for a brief moment. "Thank you," I murmured, tilting my head to look at her. "And I'm sorry."

She nodded, pressing a handkerchief to my broken lip. "We're almost done now," she assured me. "And then you can go back to Rick."

"Yeah," I mumbled, forcing a smile. "It's almost Sunday. I have to go back."

Her phone rang and she stood, excusing herself as she answered it. I went to the window, opening it and letting the chilling breeze ease me. I heard Sawyer's familiar footsteps approach me, stopping behind me.

"Miss Lastor, it's too dangerous for you to stand here," he insisted lightly.

I tilted my head, sweeping my gaze along the building across from us and spotting a dark figure behind a curtained window. I pointed at it, glancing at him. "It's not shooting though."

He flinched, pushing me behind him as he spoke into his radio and relayed the sniper's position to the other teams. He relaxed slightly, turning to face me.

"It's with us," he said in relief.

"Then there's no danger." He pursed his lips, evidently frustrated. I chuckled. "Relax, Sawyer. I won't let myself die unless it's for Rick."