Page 178 of Uprising

Hastings grunts at them to sort it and I crouch there, waiting, clicking the safety on and off, slowly losing my mind.

But when they announce it’s safe I don’t hesitate. I spring up, I slam my body into the door not caring who is following me, not caring if this is Hastings plan.

The door crashes into the wall. Warm air hits my face.

I scan the room desperate for any sign of her and when I see her my heart lurches.

She’s under him, she’s in her bra and he’s clearly in the midst of ripping her trousers off. I can see where he’s hit her, where her cheek is blackening with a bruise. Darius turns his head. One of his eyes is bloodied like it’s been half gouged out, whatever the fuck has happened it’s clear he can’t see out of it.

But he grins at me. The bastard actually grins.

“We were just about to get started.” He says. “Want to watch me fuck her? I know how much you Montagues enjoy sharing.”

Any self-control I have left dies. Hastings says something behind me but I don’t hear it. I don’t hear anything. I throw myself at him, slamming my body into his.

Rose collapses, dragging herself out the way as Darius and I fight.

I slam his head into the floor. His hands wrap around my throat, trying to choke me. I push my thumb into his good eye and he howls kicking out, jerking, trying to throw me off.

“You fucking bastard.” I yell.

He can’t reply. He’s too busy fighting me to get any words out.

I throw one punch and then another. But he swings right back at me and we fall back onto the floor, rolling on top of one another, delivering blow after blow.

He manages to get on top of me and he pins me down, choking me once more.

I snarl trying to throw him off. I’m not going down like this. I’m not losing like this. This bastard stole my fiancée, he stole my daughter, and he raped my sister.

As I curl my fist once more he freezes.

His whole body stiffens.

And then blood starts pouring out of his mouth.

His hands release their grip, he slumps just enough to tell me I can beat him now. That whatever fight he has is gone.

I kick him off and he falls onto his side with a knife buried into the back of his neck.

I look across and Rose is there, on her knees, covered in his blood.

She’s trembling, she looks like she doesn’t have full control of herself. I move to grab her and she collapses into my arms.

“Rose.”

“GHB.” She mumbles the letters but I know what’s she saying. That he drugged her.

My gut twists. I shout out, screaming for a medic. Screaming for a doctor. But as I look around I can see other men, shooting, fighting Hastings’ men. Where they came from I don’t know but I drag her out the way, drag her into a corner where I can keep her safe.

It takes barely more than a minute before it’s over. Before the guns stop and silence finally rings out.

A man rushes to us, pulling Rose free from me, lying her down, checking her vitals.

“Tell me she’s okay.” I say.

He looks up at me and nods. “She’s breathing.”

I shake my head, feeling my fear ease a little. But just because she’s breathing doesn’t mean she’s going to make it.

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