Page 159 of Uprising

“She needs calm.” I say quietly back. “She needs us right now as parents.”

“And your mother?”

I smirk. “Does anyone else know she’s here?”

He shakes his head which is what I guessed.

“Then we have time on our side.” I state.

“Meaning?” He asks narrowing his eyes.

“We promised Hastings could have her right? I want information first.”

“What are you planning Rose?”

I smile more. “She’s made my life a misery. I think a few days of doing the same is justified don’t you?”

He tilts his head, his eyes glinting in a way that says he agrees.

I plant a kiss on his lips before whispering, “Trust me.”

“I do trust you.” He replies. “Even if right now I’m unsure whether to be scared of you or turned on.”

My eyes widen but I can’t deny the heat that hits me at his words.

He tucks my hair behind my ear, pulling me in to rest against him. “Watch the movie Rose.” He murmurs. “Before I carry you to our bed and forget we even have a daughter to take care of.”

* * *

We leavemy mother locked in the basement. For two days.

I’m itching to go down there, to start beating the shit out of her and get some answers but I know that’s not the way to play it. She’s the brains of this operation. She was the one behind it all. She’s smarter than I gave her credit for and I’ll be damned if I’ll let my anger rule my head.

I need to weaken her. I need to beat her down mentally and thanks to Darius I’ve got a good idea of how to do that now.

We’ve kept Lara away, kept her distracted. Ben came back hours after he left, telling us that Sofia is in the penthouse suite, that she’s okay and that Koen’s men turned up and are now watching over her.

Roman didn’t seem surprised by that information and, when I questioned him later, he said he was the one he’d called. That he knew Koen would keep her safe.

I decide then not to get involved. It’s none of my business. The only thing I want is Sofia happy and healthy again and if it that means Koen is in her life then so be it. It’s not my decision to make.

We tuck Lara into bed, say goodnight and leave Ben to watch over her in case she wakes up to find us not in our room.

Roman and I walk down the steps into the basement together. We had her locked in what was once a storage room at the far end.

As I go to walk in Roman grabs my arm, yanking me back. “You can’t kill her.” He says.

I roll my eyes at him. “I know that. But I can make sure it still hurts.”

I don’t look for his reaction. I just walk past as my patience finally snaps and my need for revenge takes over.

The room is bright. We’ve kept her here in constant brightness, not allowing her to sleep, not allowing her to sit still. Keeping her awake the entire time.

She looks even more of a wreck than she did outside.

The blood from her broken nose has smeared down her face. She’s got no makeup on and though her face is filled with botox and fillers, nothing can hide the haggard skin.

I smirk before I can stop myself. Sleep deprivation’s a bitch isn’t it?

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