All Of Me (Book 3 of Lastor Series)

Chapter 11

I rode on Rick's back, keeping my legs bounded around his waist as I held my hands against his eyes. "Okay, one more step," I said and, gripping the railing of the stairs, he took one hesitant step. "Forward." He walked forward a few steps. "Stop." I pulled my hands away. "Tada!"

He stared at the black and blue Bugatti Chiron, his mouth falling open as a gasp escaped him. "No freaking way," he whispered under his breath.

I hopped off his back, going around him. "See, it's the wallpaper on your computer," I said, making a show of presenting it with my arms.

He looked at me in disbelief. "Baby, you're not giving this to me, are you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Chill. It's just a rental," I muttered wryly, opening the passenger seat and getting in. "Come on. We're late for lunch," I called when he just stood there.

He went around the car, brushing the hood with his fingers as he marveled at it. When he got in the driver's seat, he was laughing to himself.

"What?"

He shook his head, gently grasping the steering wheel. "I feel like a kid on Christmas day."

I snorted. "It's just a car, babe."

"It's a three million dollar work of art, you rich girl," he said incredulously, laughing.

"Pennies," I huffed, bringing my feet up on the dashboard.

"Seriously?" He gestured at my feet. "I don't step on your instruments."

I snickered, shifting and laying my feet on his lap. "There. Better?"

He shook his head in amusement, turning the key in the ignition and looking giddy as the engine roared to life. "Where to?" he asked, grinning.

I leaned back, resting my arms on the open window. "The streets of Monaco," I declared.

He chuckled, shifting the gear and jolting the car into drive. We sped out of the tarmac, surging through the streets and air whipping through the open windows. Rick glanced at me, looking deliriously joyous. I unlatched my seatbelt and pulled my legs back as I crawled up towards him. He sent me a wary look, jumping and stepping on the accelerator when I undid his jeans.

"Angel," he bit out. "What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I murmured, glancing up at him from the corner of my eye as I pulled down his briefs. "I'm going to suck your cock."

"Oh, sweet baby Jesus," he muttered in a breathless voice. "We're going to die."

I snorted. "Worse ways out."

I grasped his c**k, bringing my lips to the head and wetting it with my tongue. He sucked in a sharp breath, keeping his hands on the steering wheel as I licked up his length. I slowly eased him into my mouth, swallowing when the tip of his c**k hit the back of my throat and suctioning my cheeks around his girth as I drew my head back. He let out an elongated groan, placing one hand on the back of my head and fisting at my hair as I went on. I gripped him at the base, sliding my hands up whenever I withdrew, the wet sound of my saliva and the smacking in my mouth intertwining with the mechanical roar of the engine.

"f**k, f**k, s**t, f**k," Rick was muttering, his body twitching. "Slow down."

I went faster, sucked harder, and squeezed tighter. He cursed loudly as he came and I quickly swallowed down, licking him clean before fixing his jeans and settling back in my seat.

He shot me a stunned look, panting. "God, I love you."

I clicked my tongue against my teeth, sending him a wink. "Am I worth the trouble or what?"

He chuckled, pressing on the accelerator. "Oh, so f*****g worth it."

*****

Crowds of photographers were gathered outside Hôtel de Paris, welcoming the arriving guests with flashes from their cameras. Our guards were dressed in impeccable suits as they walked alongside us, their sheer size and menacing aura had people looking twice at them and completely disregarding me. Well, almost.

A group of photographers spotted us and, recognizing me, they turned their cameras towards us and started yelling out my name. Rick tightened his arm around me and I pressed my face against his side as they lunged at us.

"Close it off," I heard Leonardo command.

My guards closed in on us, leaving just enough space for a single step. Finn and Marlon, Jamie's replacement, kept their backs to us and faced outside while Javier and Aran put a hand on our backs respectively. Leonardo manned the front, guiding us along as Rick's guards tried to clear a path for us but they wouldn't give way. The photographers were quickly getting out of hand, holding their cameras over the guys' shoulders in an attempt to snap a picture as they pushed and shoved. The hotel's security were trying to remove them but they weren't listening. I was becoming nauseous from the overstimulation and the panic made my body freeze. When I felt a hand grab my hair, I let out a scream and Rick dragged me to his front. Our guards suddenly went on the offensive, shoving everyone out of our way while Rick carried me into the lobby.

Leonardo was yelling in French, commanding the concierge who approached us to show us to our suite. We walked briskly towards the elevators and Leonardo moved aside, letting us pass and telling Rick's guards to follow in the next elevator. When everyone was inside and the doors slid close, I let out a gasp of breath, going to the corner in the back and lowering myself to the floor. I felt someone touch my back and I jumped, pressing myself further into the wall.

"It's me," I heard Rick say. "Deep breaths."

"Is she injured? Who let them break through?" Leonardo snapped.

"Sir," Marlon replied hesitantly.

"You're fired. When we-"

"Can it," Rick cut in.

I heard a loud ringing and the lift made an abrupt stop. Covering my ears, I went through the process of focusing my senses and subduing the panic, taking it slow and keeping my breathing steady.

"Do not... go gentle... into that... good night," I whispered shakily in between breaths. "Old age... should burn... and rave at... close of... day. Rage... rage... against... the dying... of the light."

I continued on with the poem, my senses gradually coming into sharp focus and the panic abating as I reached the last verse. I took a moment to shake off the lingering nausea before pulling myself up to my feet. Rick held me to him when I staggered slightly, grasping the back of my head and looking at me intently.

"You want to cancel the lunch?" he asked.

I sighed, shaking my head. "No, Grandpapá's waiting." I glanced at the elevator operator. "Vous pouvez démarrer l'ascenseur." (You can start the elevator.)

He pushed a button and we started ascending, stopping at the seventh floor. I leaned on Rick as we walked out and when we entered the suite, I wanted to vomit at the sight of tens of people inside. When they looked our way, my guards moved closer.

"Who the hell are these people?" Rick bit out.

"Rafael, that f*****g brat," I spat in annoyance.

"Should we clear them out, Ma'am?" Leonardo asked over his shoulder.

"I just want the pool," I snapped.

Leonardo called over Rick's guards, telling them to clear and secure the pool area while we waited in the hall. When it was done, we were quickly led up to the second floor and, at the sight of the infinity pool, I slipped out of Rick's hold and headed for it, discarding my clothes and boots along the way.

I dove into the water and swam to the floor, staying until I could no longer withstand the lack of air in my lungs. I swam back up to the surface, gasping for breath. The water was too warm for my liking but I just bore with it as I swam the length of the pool and back before going underwater again. When I resurfaced, I found Rafael standing over the side of the pool.

"Je me demandais pourquoi il y avait un soudain chahut." (I was wondering why there was a sudden ruckus,) he muttered wryly as a cigarette hung between his lips. "Je vois qu’une nymphe vient d’apparaître au milieu de nous." (I see a nymph has appeared in our midst.)

I swam towards him and pulled myself up. Rick came to me, offering me a towel and a robe, helping me into the latter. I wrapped my hair in the towel, squeezing out the water before slipping it off.

"Pourquoi n’ai-je pas été informé qu’il y avait une fête?" (Why wasn't I told there was a party?) I asked irately as I slipped out of my underwear. "Je paie pour cet appartement. Je n’approuve pas ceci." (I'm paying for this suite. I did not approve this.)

Rafael feigned innocence, taking a drag from his cigarette. "C’est Grandpapá qui l’a orchestré. Il s’ennuyait de se prélasser sur Port Hercule." (It was Grandpapá who orchestrated it. He grew bored of lounging about Port Hercule.)

I narrowed my eyes, tightening the belt of my robe. "Putain, tu l’as poussé à faire cela." (You f*****g goaded him into it.)

He held his cigarette between his fingers, looking annoyed. "T’étais si amusant auparavant. Tu es devenu aussi affreux que des petits Judas." (You used to be such fun. You've become as dreadful as little Judas.)

"Oh, excuse-moi." (Oh, excuse me,) I spat, throwing the towel at his face. "Je viens d’être attaqué par une foule de paparazzis endiablés dans la rue. Je ne suis pas d’humeur à jouer l’hôte, Raf." (I was just attacked by a crowd of frenzied paparazzis out in the street. I'm not in the mood to play host, Raf.)

He sighed, holding his hands at either side of my face but not touching me. "C’est horrible. Je suis désolé." (That is a horrible thing. I'm sorry.) He kissed my cheeks, offering a smile. "Mais j’ai déjà informé tous les invités à l’avance de ne pas interagir avec toi à moins que tu ne l’initie et ils ont tous signé un accord de non-divulgation. Tu n’es pas obligé de divertir qui que ce soit. Ignore-les comme tu l’as toujours fait et tout ira bien. Je ne te mettrais jamais en danger. Comment vivrais-je sans ton financement, hm?" (But I already informed all the guests beforehand not to interact with you unless you initiate it and they've all signed an NDA. You don't have to entertain anyone. Just ignore them as you always do and you will be fine. I would never put you in harms way. How will I live without your patronage, hm?" He held my face, tilting my head back slightly to catch the sun. "Ton misérable visage me hantera et je m’écraserai durant la course. Maintenant, souris." (Your miserable face will haunt me and I will crash during the race. Smile now.)

I rolled my eyes, pushing his arms aside. "Je ne suis pas l’une de tes conquêtes. Épargne-moi ton charme." (I'm not one of your conquests. Spare me the charm.)

He laughed and looked over to Rick, smiling. "Encore bonjour, Monsieur l’Amérique." (Hello again, Mr. America.) He pecked his cheeks. "I am glad you came along."

"Glad to be here," Rick replied, raising his arm when I pressed myself to his side and putting it around my shoulder. "Good luck on the qualifying later."

"Ah, I don't rest my laurels on luck. A good f**k and a good wheel is all I need," he quipped, winking as he slapped Rick's abdomen. He paused, arching a brow and lifting Rick's shirt. "My, I've been curious what's made little Angel so smitten. You put to shame Michelangelo's greatest works."

I swatted his hand away, pulling down Rick's shirt. "b***h, I'll cut you."

He snickered. "How is the bullet, by the way?"

Rick chuckled weakly. "Out of me, fortunately."

"What a lovely tragedy it was, to lay dying on the grounds of Château de Versailles while little Angel wailed like an opera singer." He grinned at me. "It was truly a sight like no other." I punched his shoulder and he whined, making a face. "Why do you always resort to violence, Lady Angel?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Stop that," I bit out, punching him again. "Where's the old man?"

"In the terrace downstairs with his mates," he replied flippantly, eyeing my guards with blatant lust. "Tes mastodontes sont toujours aussi appétissants." (Your behemoths are appetizing as ever.) He glanced at me, smirking. "Puis-je?" (May I?)

"N’as-tu pas une course à faire?" (Don't you have a race to get to?) I asked.

He glanced at his watch, shrugging. "Il nous reste encore du temps." (There's still time.)

I scoffed, kicking his shin. "Emmène-moi juste à Grandpapá, pute." (Just take me to Grandpapá, whore.)

He rolled his eyes and turned, leading the way inside. We went downstairs and weaved through the throngs of people crowding the room. Rafael pointed me in Grandpapá's direction before bidding us goodbye to prepare for the race and dragging a pair of brunettes, male and female, off with him.

I surveyed the terrace and found Grandpapá seated amongst the tables. He had his back to me and was regaling his mates with a story of his time during a sailing trip he took in his teens across the European seas. I dismissed my guards, telling them to just watch the room before going to Grandpapá. I grasped his shoulder as I stopped by his side.

"You buying this oaf's bull, gentlemen?"

He snapped his head up, taking his cigar out of his mouth. "You're late, pet."

I rolled my eyes. "I beg your pardon, Your Grace. I had to cross the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean," I muttered dryly before leaning down to kiss peck his cheeks.

He drew his head back, frowning. "Did you swim all the way here?" he asked, taking in my appearance.

"I took a dip in the pool," I said, shrugging.

"What is it with your affinity for bodies of water?" he muttered, shaking his head as he turned to face the table. "Chaps, you know my granddaughter."

They nodded in recognition, smiling a bit too knowingly as their gazes swept over me. I recognized the look in their eyes and knew instantly that at some point, they had hunkered down in their pretty little mansions and watched me f**k my fraud ex-boyfriend who was now dead as far as I was concerned.

I turned my head back, waving Rick over and he walked stiffly towards us, offering his hand to Grandpapá. The oaf looked at him through narrowed eyes before taking his hand, yanking him down.

"When will you make an honest woman out of my granddaughter, lad?" he demanded in a low growl. "Or are you going to keep living in sin?"

"Can a Lastor even be made honest, sir?" Rick retorted, unfazed.

Grandpapá let out a burst of laughter, patting his arm roughly. "Make room, chaps," he said, waving his hand at the table.

A server brought out two chairs for us, placing them beside Grandpapá. The men introduced themselves and Rick shook their hands while I just ignored them, not wanting the bother of remembering them.

"Pray tell, what was wrong with Jude's yacht that you had to impose these wretches upon me?" I asked loudly, shifting in my seat to face Grandpapá and leaning my back against Rick.

He chuckled, glancing at those who looked our way. "Isn't she lovely?" he quipped before bringing his attention on me. "I couldn't happily indulge my cigar because the winds kept devouring it."

"Then smoke indoors," I muttered flatly.

"That would ruin the leather," he said, appalled.

I rolled my eyes. "Where's Grandmaman and Mother anyway?"

"Probably off somewhere terrorizing the Riviera," he muttered flippantly.

I snorted, pulling my hair over one shoulder. "And who else is coming?"

He arched a brow. "Not your brother, if that is your meaning."

"Odd," I intoned. "He's never missed a single Grand Prix since the first time you brought us."

"He skipped last year too. He couldn't get out of the office, apparently," he said, failing to be nonchalant. "Which is understandable. He is single-handedly running an empire, after all."

I sighed, resting the back of my head against Rick's shoulder and tilting my face up. "Are you going to lecture me about duties and honor again?"

He grasped my knee, squeezing lightly. "Maybe later."

I could feel someone's heavy stare on me, unshakeable unlike the others who were simply stealing glances. I turned my head, looking across the terrace and finding an affluent looking man whom I had no recollection of blatantly gawking in my direction from two tables over. Realizing he'd been caught, instead of shamefully hiding himself, he flashed me a dazzling smile. I glanced over to Leonardo, beckoning him with a finger. He came to my side, leaning down to level with me.

I pointed at the audacious intruder. "Get rid of him."

"Yes, Miss Lastor."

Rick turned his attention on me, slipping his arm around my waist and placing his hand on my thigh. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I assured him, twining our fingers together as I watched my guards drag out the man from his table when he protested. "Just getting comfortable."

"Annoyed, are we?" Grandpapá muttered wryly as he reached over the table to the platter of thick fries.

I snatched the piece from his fingers, tossing it in my mouth. "How's your new liver?"

He grunted. "Fine and bloody dandy," he muttered gruffly. "How's your new heart?"

"Pumping away." He took another fry and I snatched it again. "I don't have the capacity to grieve right now," I said, tossing the fry in my mouth. "Have a f*****g salad."

He sighed. "You're worse than my nurse."

I shrugged, looking over to the view of the terrace where Alain was standing wrapped around a pretty little caramel skinned broad. He flashed me a smile and lifted his wine glass. I nodded curtly in return.

"How's Raf looking against the competition?" I asked.

Grandpapá grunted. "One of the favorites this year. I reckon he's got a shot at the podium, that's if he doesn't shag himself to death before the race."

"Yeah, I wouldn't count on that. He just caught two preys." I looked back at him, catching him just as he was shoving a handful of fries in his mouth. I gave him a flat look. "You're impossible."

"Potatoes are vegetables, innit?" he quipped, sniggering when I rolled my eyes.

The large flat screen TV inside the suite showing the happenings on the ground reflected the race teams getting into position along the circuit while the reporter was interviewing a competitor. Grandpapá got up and went to stand by the balustrade. I headed to the buffet table, filling up a plate before joining them and standing between Rick and Grandpapá.

I bit into a mini cheesecake cup topped with strawberry and offered Rick the other half. He took it in his mouth, laughing when I smeared cream over his jaw and cleaning it off with kisses.

"There's cameras, baby," he whispered, covering the side of our face with a hand.

I turned my head, seeing a group of photographers from the street below facing our way with their cameras. I slung an arm around Rick's neck, pulling him into a kiss while he grinned against my lips. He grasped my hips, bringing me closer as he leaned down to deepen the kiss. Someone, most probably Alain, was whistling and clapping to cheer us on. I heard Grandpapá clear his throat loudly, elbowing my side. I drew back, flashing him a lopsided grin while Rick was hiding his face in my hair.

"You'll be in the bloody papers for the rest of the weekend, pet," he muttered in disapproval.

I turned to face the railing, letting Rick embrace me from behind. "They can't chase me in Beirut, can they?"

He grunted, taking a sip of his wine. "And for how long will you be staying there?"

I shrugged. "Till our assignment is over."

"Will you be returning to New York afterwards?"

I tilted my head, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. "We're thinking of taking an assignment in Sierra Leone next."

He pursed his lips, shaking his head. "How pointless. You'd do more good for the world back in New York, running the company with your brother the way you were meant to."

I scoffed. "Who says I'm out to do good for the world? I'm just doing what I want."

He sighed, leaning against the glass balustrade. "We both know you're not meant for a selfish life." He glanced over to Rick before looking at me. "You're wasting away in the desert, my dear. These adventures you're going on won't be enough to distract you from that for much longer."

Rick tightened his arms around me, as if sensing my distress, but remained silent. My body relaxed. "I don't have a place beside Jude anymore," I said in a quiet voice. "I'm just doing what I can to make my pointless existence liveable."

"You can ask for your place to be returned," he suggested. "I've never known that boy to deny you of anything."

I clenched my jaw, squeezing the glass balustrade tightly in both hands. "Grandpapá, I flew all the way here to have a good time with you. Don't ruin it."

He sighed, putting his hand on top of mine. "I don't want to see you the way you were all those years ago again."

I forced a smile, turning my head to look at him. "I won't get that way again." I pointed at Rick. "He won't let me."

He looked at Rick who gave him a nod of reassurance. He patted his shoulder. "Joseph would have liked you." He cupped my cheek, smiling solemnly. "I'm glad I got to see you happy. I finally have something to brag about to that infuriating German when I see him in the next life."

My brows furrowed. "Grandpapá, did we come here to spectate or engage in theatrics?"

He let out a boisterous laugh. "Alright then." He reached into his jacket, taking out a pair of binoculars. "Let's see how our bratty little Raf fares to the competition."