All Of Me (Book 3 of Lastor Series)

Chapter 3

I sighed when I saw Georgiana's big stubborn ass sitting in my favorite seat as I entered the jet. I dropped my shopping bags on the table and took the seat across from her.

There was very little I missed from no longer holding a high rank within the family, probably the most I missed was making the insignificant Lastors f**k off at my command. Even at the lowest seat in the council, this brat was still effectively my superior and, lacking any authority over her, all I could do was cuss her out.

"Why the f**k are you still here?" I bit out. "You stupid or some s**t?"

She kept her attention on the window. "I was ordered to observe you under the guise of being your protégé."

I scoffed. "Yeah, no s**t, but I don't want to be your mentor anymore."

"I'm ordering you to continue mentoring me." She turned her head to look at me. "If you want to overturn my order, feel free to make a motion to the Head and, if it's accepted, the council will vote on it."

I chuckled humorlessly, slamming my fist on the table. "Gia, my fiancée isn't here to calm me down so you really need to stop pissing me off."

"If you draw my blood or threaten my life, you will be disowned."

"You f*****g-" I groaned, gritting my teeth to keep myself from screaming. My lungs didn't deserve the suffering.

I pressed my fist to my forehead, taking a deep breath and visualizing how disappointed Rick would be if I beat the s**t out of this brat. He liked Georgiana and thought it was adorable how she followed me around like an obsessed fan girl while acting all high and mighty. But it's been so long. Nearly a year, since I last felt the burning on my knuckles from tearing apart someone's face. It made my hands itch. One hit would be so satisfying, but then I wouldn't be able to play my instruments for a while and I promised Rick I wouldn't let him see me all bruised up ever again.

God f*****g dammit.

"Tell me what you want from me, Gia," I said in resignation. "What can I do for you to stop f*****g with my happiness?"

"Mentor me properly and I'll let you live out the rest of your freedom with not another mention of what's going on back home."

I took a deep breath, letting it out steadily. "Okay." I lowered my fist, looking at her. "But don't tell your Dad."

**********

I always loved Russia, especially its aggressive winters. Whenever I came here, I would feel so at home within its numbing embrace. There was nothing quite like spending an afternoon reading in a boat and finding solace in the cold. Right now, dealing with an active coup, being vigilant of potential assassins, and smoothing out the distress among my ranks, I couldn't appreciate the deadly wonder that was winter in Russia. It was pissing me off.

I felt something touch my arm and I flinched, drawing my wistful gaze from the window and turning to look at the table. Terrified, angry, and drunk Russian men were staring at me, some with clear murderous intent.

"Prostee menya," (Forgive me) I murmured softly, looking back out the window and watching the thick white snow enveloping everything in my sight. "Vasha strana ocharovatelna. Ya razocharovana tem, chto nahozhus v etoy komnate, vmesto togo, chtobi eegrat v cnegu." (Your country is mesmerizing. I'm disappointed that I'm in this room instead of playing in the snow.)

"Ona chto pod kayfom?" I heard one spit out. (Is she high?)

I chuckled, reaching into Katrina's holster and taking her gun as I stood. "Pochemu lyudee wsegda tak dumayut obo mne?" (Why do people always assume that about me?)

I headed to the window, pushing it open and sighing as the fierce winds blew into the room, slicing against every exposed skin on my body. "Zhal, chto nel'zya polnostyu otseneet chto-to, ne buduchee uneezhennim." (It's a shame that one can't appreciate something wholly without being vilified.)

I raised my arm, holding the gun with both hands and taking aim at the rooftop of the building across from us, emptying the clip at the sniper. I turned, going back to my seat just as the sniper's bullet whipped through the window and catching one of the men who was seated by the wall. Everyone dropped to the floor while Sawyer and his team went to the window, returning fire.

"Ya ne ponemayu, zachem v eto delayete." (I don't understand why you're doing this.) I sighed, leaning back in my seat. "Srazhayetyes mezhdu soboy. Paneekuyetye ees-za neznacheetelnih veshshey. Virashsheevaneeye nedovereeya k tovareeshsham." (Fighting amongst yourselves. Panicking over insignificant matters. Nurturing distrust for your comrades.) I went on as the banging of bullets hitting the wall filled the room. "Pitayetyec vzyat moyu zheezn. Vsyo eto tak... melochno." (Attempting to take my life. It's all so... petty.) I glanced at Katrina and she went out of the room, yelling out a series of orders to the team of mercenaries she had gathered. "Esleei ti hochesh ubeet menya eemyey v veedu preeleecheeya, chtobi vstryeteetsya so mnoy leetsom k leetsu." (If you want to kill me, have the decency to face me eye to eye.)

The sound of the gunshots stopped and I stood, rounding up the table. I grabbed the first man I passed, pulling him off the floor.

"Vi zhyelayetye vzyat moyu zheezn, sir?" (Do you wish to take my life, sir?) I asked, tilting my head. He shook his head vehemently. I let him go, going to the next man and holding him by the collar. "A kak naschyot tebya, meeliy?" (How about you, sweetheart?) He shook his head as well. I sighed, reaching for the man beside him and cupping his cheek. "A ti?" (And you?) He shook his head. I stood, dragging my eyes along the pathetic men in front of me. "Togda kto hochet moyey cmertee?" (Then who is it that wants me dead?) I demanded in annoyance. "Ne boytes. S chego bi vam boyatsya? Mongeeye eez vas bilee vibrani za vashee besstrashnye, um ee drugeeye bidayushsheeyesya kachyestva. Yesless vi nye hoteetye, chtobi ya umerla za moye bezrazleecheeye ee nyekompyetyentnost v kachyestvye leedyera, to vi budyetye durakamee. Tak skazheetye mnye. Kto moy ubeeytsa?" (Don't be afraid. Why should you be? The lot of you were chosen for your fearlessness, intelligence, and other outstanding qualities. If you don't want me dead for my indifference and incompetence as a leader, then you'd be fools. So tell me. Who is my killer?)

No one responded. I eyed each individual man intently, catching the culprit eventually. I met eyes with Lev, one of the first people who took a chance on joining me back when I was still just a sniveling brat with a hunger for power. I frowned in dismay while he stared at me, his guilt breaking out of him in cold sweat. When I approached him, he crawled up to his feet and ran for the door but Artie was there, holding a gun at him.

"Why are you running, my friend?" I asked, closing the distance between us. "You want to kill me, don't you?" I took the gun from Artie, holding it out to him. "Here."

"Angel," he whispered, refusing to take the gun. "Please."

I smiled ruefully. "Don't beg now. That's boring." I took his hand, wrapping his fingers around the handle of the gun and holding the barrel to my chest. "I hope you don't mind. I'd like to have an open casket in my funeral."

"I made a mistake," he pleaded, dropping to his knees. "You were gone. I had to do what was right for my people."

"Was Artie not doing right by you?"

"I serve you, not him," he bit out.

I frowned. "Artie is a part of me. Everything he does, all of it is in service to me. As are you." I cupped his jaw, tipping his head back. "You belong to me. To act outside of me is a betrayal that pains me greatly." I caught a stray tear that fell from the corner of his eye with my thumb. "You've broken my heart. What shall I break of yours?"

He didn't respond, just looking at me, fear evident in his eyes. It was no ordinary kind of fear. It was the kind of fear you saw in someone's eyes when they knew they were going to die but didn't want to.

I sighed, letting him go. "Go to your new master. I pray he is more worthy of you than I am."

"No, I can help," he pleaded. "I know what Leonti is planning. Let me-"

I swung my leg, kicking the side of his head. "Don't insult me more than you already have." I spat on him as he laid on the floor. "I have no use for a tainted loyalty." I waved a hand and two of my guards took him, dragging him out of the room. I turned my attention to the others. "Yeslee yest yeshsyo zhelayushsheeye pomenyat vernost, perestante trateet moyo vremya ee uhodeetye. Klyanus, vam nye preecheenyat vreda no doroge v vash noviy dom, no pozvoltye mnye bit predelno yasnim." (If there are any more who wish to change allegiance, stop wasting my time and go. I swear you won't be harmed on your way to your new home but let me be clear.) I pushed my hair off my face, offering them a smirk. "Kak tolko mi posmotreem drug drug v glaza, kak wragee, ya uneechtozhu vas, kaka neekogo drugogo." (Once we face each other as enemies, I will bring you to ruin like no other.) I licked my lips, raking eyes over each one of them. "No yeslee vi resheete ostatsya, ya napomnyu vam, chemu bi otdalee sebya." (But if you choose to stay, I will remind you what you've given yourselves to.)

The uncertainty and panic they've been carrying was lifted as their submission returned. Satisfied that they had found their places once again, I headed to the door.

"Art, work with them for the defense," I said, grabbing my coat from the rack. "I'll take care of the rest."

"Yes, Miss Lastor," he replied.

I snapped my fingers at Georgiana when she remained frozen in her seat. "With me."

**********

Sawyer stopped the car outside Izmailovsky Market and I stepped out, ordering our guards and Katrina to stay behind while dragging along Georgiana. We walked along the market with her carrying my shopping bags while I purchased souvenirs and took pictures as I went through the stalls.

"Were you in that meeting?" Georgiana bit out. "You're at war and your subordinates are clearly entertaining the idea of backstabbing you. Do you really think this is the best time to be shopping for souvenirs?"

"Of course," I replied, surveying a stall's products. "We're just waiting anyway. Might as well indulge in tourist activities."

"What are we waiting for exactly?"

"Who."

"What?"

"Who. We're waiting for someone."

She sighed. "Who is this someone?"

"A friend." I caught sight of a shawarma stall nearby and headed for it. "You want one?"

"Are you serious?" she hissed. "You could be killed any moment!"

"So... no?"

"No," she said through gritted teeth. "Who's your friend and why are you risking your life for them?" I pointed at a poster on the wall. She laughed. "The president?"

"Prime minister," I corrected. "He has to sit out this term. A president can only serve two consecutive terms, it's law."

"Semantics? Really?" she said in disbelief.

"Why were you having a fit?" I fired back, rolling my eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe because I just sat through a gun fight and now I'm walking around unprotected in a public place where we could easily be assassinated," she said hysterically.

I sighed. "You're so dramatic. I swear, it's like having my brother around."

I accepted the shawarma from the vendor, handing him a bill. I took a bite as I walked ahead, moaning in appreciation and ignoring Georgiana's bitching. I was taking pictures of my shawarma when I caught a group of men following us, closing every path but one for us to escape. I took the bait, tugging along Georgiana and walking the open path until we reached a clearing where a solitary SUV was parked. A massively built man was standing beside it and he opened the backseat. I took a bite from my shawarma before climbing inside. The moment the door closed, a thick sack was put over my head.

Georgiana gasped, grabbing onto my arm. "Angel."

I yanked my arm out of her grip. "Stop touching me dammit," I muttered, tucking my hand under the sack to take another bite of my shawarma.

We drove for a while and I followed the turns and routes the driver took, reconciling it with my memory of the map of Moscow. When we eventually stopped nearly an hour later, I concluded we were somewhere around Nekrasovka.

We were dragged out of the car and I felt a man's hands on me, frisking me. Estimating the height of the man, I grabbed him by the arm and yanked him forward as I thrust the heel of my palm into the center of his face. I spun around, twisting his arm and kicking his leg out to drag him to the ground. Stomping on his shoulder, I dislodged his arm from its socket with an audible pop. The man let out a scream of pain and I heard the resounding clicks of guns.

"Angel," Georgiana called frantically. "What's happening?"

"Prosteete. Mnye nye nraveetsya, kogda menya trogayut," I murmured ruefully, holding up my hands and releasing the man. (Pardon me. I don't like being touched.)

"Prosteete moeeh parney," I heard Yefrem Krymov respond. (Excuse my men.) "Onee vozbuzhdayutsya kodga veedyat kraseevoyu zhenshsheenu." (They get excited when they see a beautiful woman.)

I snorted, yanking off the cover from my head. I turned around, finding him sitting on a mono block chair behind me and smoking his cigar. I approached him, ignoring the guns following my movement and bending down to kiss his cheek.

"You've aged well, old friend," I murmured as I brushed my lips along his bearded jaw.

He chuckled. "And you've grown more damning, megera."

I smirked, tilting my head to look him in the eye. "I hope you don't mind I brought along my cousin." I straightened, looking over at Georgiana who was standing still as a group of men held their guns at her. "I'm babysitting."

He muttered a gruff order in his mother tongue and his men lowered their guns. "What is it with that family of yours?" he commented as he appraised Georgiana. "God truly favors you all too much."

I tilted my head, looking at him in dismay. "Are you straying from me now?"

He smiled, bringing his gaze back to me. "Oh, no one can ever take your place."

I snickered, flicking his forehead. "Let's digress." I turned, sitting down on the chair across from him. "Thank you for meeting me."

He shrugged, taking a drag from his cigar. "When the reaper appears, you don't ignore it."

"I detest that title. It makes me so... ghoulish," I said, leaning back and crossing my legs. "I prefer master of souls than reaper."

He smiled, exhaling smoke through his nostrils. "And what does the master bid?"

I sighed, propping an arm on the railing of my chair as I tilted my head to look up at the open ceiling. "I have pesky flies swarmed in my way," I mumbled, wishing for snow from the sky. "It's distracting."

"So I've heard." He paused, taking a drag from his cigar. "I can clear your path, though isn't it a bit... wasteful, to collect from me for this?"

I leveled my head, pushing my hair off my face. "I'm making a point."

He raked his gaze over me, his eyes dark. "You always are." He shifted in his seat, tapping off the ash from his cigar. "I'll be your point then. How do you want me?"

I licked my lips, dragging my gaze along his men as they stood around us. "Bloody... and spectacular."

He chuckled. "I see time away hasn't made you merciful."

I clicked my tongue against my teeth. "I have no mercy for those who waste my time." I stood, looking over to Georgiana. "Get our bags," I ordered before turning back to him. "My associate will be in contact within the hour to brief you."

"Leaving already?" he said in dismay. "But it's been so long. Have dinner with me."

"Sorry," I murmured, holding up the back of my left hand to show him my engagement ring. "I've been claimed."

"Does it matter?" he teased.

I shrugged, giving him a demure smile. "Probably not, but with you, I often find myself succumbing to all my... tendencies."

I tilted my head, biting my lower lip as I raked my gaze over him languidly. He reacted as I intended, though his resistance seemed to have grown since our last meeting. In the past, he'd be pathetically submissive with just enough effort from me. Now, although he was so clearly desperate to be violated, he was more composed and almost defiant. I couldn't help but find it amusing.

"I would rather not relive our glorious affair. I don't think you'd survive it now," I murmured, smiling at the memory of f*****g him into submission every time he came to visit London my senior year of high school. "Besides, it's best to leave precious memories untainted."

He uncrossed his legs, leaning back and showing his evident erection. "And here I thought you were still as vicious," he said daringly.

I clenched my jaw at the challenge and approached him, grasping his neck with one hand. He sucked in a breath, tensing with excitement while his eyes grew soft in compliance. He was practically begging to be torn apart. Oh, how he loved it whenever I unleashed my rage and depravity upon him, and how I loved making him suffer while he screamed for more.

"So insolent, Yefrem. " He swallowed when I wrapped my fingers around his throat, his face showing his arousal as much as the growing bulge on his crotch. "Ah, how I wish I could tear into you." I tightened my grip, choking him. "But alas, I've promised all my rage to one man. Only he can revel in it." I slipped my hand off him, smiling. "You can find satisfaction in knowing you may never have me."

His face grew hard with frustration. "Who's this daring bastard?"

"Oh, just a self-righteous saint," I said with a roll of my eyes.

"The saint and the devil spawn," he commented dryly. "How blasphemous."

I chuckled. "Isn't it?" I leaned down, bringing my lips to his neck and biting hard enough to tear through the skin. He let out a groan, both of pain and pleasure. "In another life, it would be us devils ruling the heavens," I whispered in his ear.

"I will see you there," he rasped, his voice roughened by arousal.

I straightened, going to Georgiana and slinging an arm around her shoulder as I led the way out of the warehouse. "Give me a call when you start your campaign."

He laughed. "I think I'll enjoy my soul for now!"

I looked over my shoulder, smirking. "Always a tease, Mr. President."

When we walked out of the warehouse, I caught sight of our guards parked a block away and we went to them.

"How did you do that?" Georgiana asked as I looted the bags for my electronic cigarette.

"Do what?" I muttered.

"Order the Prime Minister of Russia to do something," she said incredulously.

"Oh, he owes me." I found my electronic cigarette and plugged it in to charge it. "I helped him win the presidency a while back."

"Krymov was elected President in 2004, and again in 2008. You were... what... seventeen and twenty-one in both years?" I shrugged, taking out my camera and going through the pictures I'd taken. "How did you do it?"

"It's confidential."

"How do you even know him?"

I shrugged again. "My father made me seduce him to get him into the family's pocket. We ended up hitting it off and I became his mistress."

"So he's an asset of the family? I didn't know that," she commented thoughtfully.

"He is and he isn't. Technically, I own him. The family's influence over him is less than nothing." I leaned over the front seat, showing Katrina a picture I took from the market. "The tall guy in the brown jacket. Do you know who he is?"

She took the camera, looking at the picture intently. "Yes. An agent under Mr. Jenkins. I grew up with him at the compound. He specializes in recon and undercover."

I glanced at Sawyer. "You wanna tell me why a spy is following me in Russia?"

"I was only informed we were coming to Russia when you told Miss Johnson," he replied.

"And I follow protocol to only notify Mr. Jenkins of our travel itinerary right before a flight," Katrina added.

"Huh." I leaned back, looking out the window. "Ben has agents planted here. Is this guy one of them?"

"No. An implant wouldn't be known to me. The agent you detected is a mainstay to nearly all operations Mr. Jenkins' office runs."

"So he was here before us." I gritted my teeth. "Gia, that thing you tried to tell me in Macau. Does it have anything to do with this?"

"You told me I can't-"

"I know what I said. Answer me with a yes or no," I cut in sharply.

"Then yes."

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "There's a situation here and I'm getting in their way, yes?"

"Yes."

"So you were trying to stop me from coming here."

"Yes."

"How much damage have I caused?"

"I'm not privy to the minute details but I'm guessing it's substantial," she said hesitantly.

"Enough for your grandfather to use it against my brother to launch a successful coup?" She didn't respond and I turned my head, seeing the shocked look on her face as if it's only dawned on her. "Well?"

She swallowed. "I think so. Yes."

I kicked the front seat in frustration, dragging my palms down my face. "Kat, get Ben on the line."

She took out her phone, dialing for a moment before holding it to her ear. "I have Angel Lastor for him." She held the phone out to me. "It's being transferred."

I grabbed the phone, shaking my knee as I waited for him to get on the line. The minute I spent on hold only enraged me.

"Miss Lastor," I heard Ben greet.

"Who's your target?" He didn't respond. "We have a conflict of interest. If you want your operation to be salvaged, tell me who you want. I'm temporarily waiving the agreement for this matter."

"I need a moment to ask for authority to disclose any information," he replied monotonously.

"You have twenty seconds before I lose patience."

The line clicked. I was on hold, again. It took all I had to cling onto my patience for the following seconds.

"Miss Lastor," Ben said when he got back on the line. "The target is Leonti Yusupov."

I sighed. "Seriously?"

"I'm aware of the predicament this puts you in and Mr. Lastor expresses his-"

"Dead or alive?" I cut in.

"Alive, preferably."

"That's gonna be real fuckin' hard," I muttered begrudgingly, pinching the bridge of my nose. "How many agents you put on this?"

"Four. A reinforcement team is en route. We didn't expect we'd be conducting an extraction. They were originally on recon but due the current state of events, we've had to adjust our objective on short notice."

I snorted. "Is that your way of asking if I could back off Leonti?"

"No. It's apparent it would not be possible at this stage."

"Angel, it's me."

The sound of my brother's voice gripped my chest with an unshakeable grief. I took a gasp of breath, screwing my eyes shut.

"You're not obliged to get involved," he said in a voice that almost sounded gentle. "But thank you for being. I won't-"

"No. Stop," I bit out. "Understand, this isn't a reunion. I'm not trying to mend bonds. I don't need to know what this is for and I have no interest in getting involved any further after this operation either. I just don't want my ignorance to be a hindrance, nor do I want Lord Robert to use me to take you down. That's all."

There was a moment of silence but I knew he was hurting because I was too. "I understand," he said in a quiet voice. "I'll leave you to discuss the rest with Mr. Jenkins."

I heard the sound of a door opening and closing before Ben got on the line again. "Miss Lastor."

"I was told he's sick," I bit out. "Why is he still working this?"

He paused briefly in obvious hesitation before he spoke, "There's no one to hand over command to."

"We both know that's not true," I spat.

"There's no one he trusts enough to hand over command to," he corrected.

I gritted my teeth, guilt weighing on my shoulders. "He's being too stubborn."

He sighed. "As are you, Miss Lastor."

I dragged my fingers through my hair. "You gonna lecture me, Ben?"

"No, I'd rather we discuss the logistics of the operation."

I let out a breath, straightening. "I've already implemented an offensive strategy and Art's currently reinstating defenses so your team will need to integrate their operation within mine. We'll be providing access and support for them but once they've infiltrated the target's location, they're on their own up until they get out. I'm not losing people for you."

"Understood."

"When's your reinforcement due?"

"They should be landing within the next two hours."

I reached over Georgiana, taking her arm and checking the time. "If all preparations on both ends are done by morning, we'll initiate the day after tomorrow. Tell your team to establish contact with Georgiana. She'll be your liaison."

Georgiana gasped. "Angel, what are you doing?" she hissed.

I held up a hand to silence her. "I'll contact my asset on the changes and Gia will relay the rest of the details to you. If you have any questions or need anything else, get them through her. Though I insist you keep details abridged and incomplete. I don't want to know anything outside the scope of the operation."

"Yes, Miss Lastor, and thank you."

I let out a breath, rubbing the back of my neck. "Also, don't put spies on me. You know I don't like that."

"Pardon the intrusion. It won't happen again."

I pursed my lips, leaning forward and pressing my forehead against the back of the front seat. "How bad is it?"

"Ma'am?"

"Jude," I whispered. "He's sick, right? How bad?"

"Forgive me, but I can't answer that without Mr. Lastor's consent."

I closed my eyes, clutching my chest as it ached. "You need to take care of him, Ben."

He let out a heavy sigh. "He needs you, little Angel."

"Not yet," I whispered. "I can't just yet. I'm sorry."

"Mr. Joe would hate to see you two this way again."

I pursed my lips, digging my nails into my chest. "Send one of your agents to brief Georgiana. We're staying in Park Hyatt." I cut the call, staring at the floor of the car. "Gia, you'll be the liaison for the family and their operatives. Work with Art in including their interests."

"You mean... be in charge? Of them? But I'm not-"

"You have to be because I can't." I straightened, turning to look at her. "You asked me what's the point of having all of this if it's not used for my brother's benefit. Well, you can have it all at your disposal for this. Use it well."

Her eyes widened. "I can't do what you do, Angel."

I sighed, turning to face the window. "Half the work has been done. If you f**k up the rest, I'll make a motion to be removed as your mentor and you can go learn from your grandfather on how to remain inferior." I tilted my head to look at her. "I have no use for an incompetent coward."

She pursed her lips, staring at her lap. "This is supposed to be your responsibility as your brother's right hand."

"I know." I turned back to face the window. "But there are others who can take my place. It's foolish to continue denying it."

"You want me to take your place?" she said, scoffing.

"As you are now, that would be impossible but you could be a candidate once you've gained experience and influence." I leaned my head against the window, pressing my palm against my chest again as it ached. "You just have to make my brother notice you. That is if you're actually willing to put work behind your eagerness."

She let out a heavy sigh, looking at me with determination. "How much time do I have to work with?"

I managed to smile. "Knowing Yefrem, not much." I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through the pain in my chest. "Better work fast or your target's dead."