Page 180 of Uprising

I crouch down beside her. She’s still out. I get the feeling she won’t be conscious anytime soon. God knows how much he dosed her with.

“Is there nothing you can give her?” I ask.

The doctor shakes his head. “It’s safer if she sleeps it off. She’s not in any danger now.”

I scoop her up, ignoring his objections. “If she’s not in any danger then I’m taking her home.” I growl carrying her out, carrying past all those faces, all those people watching us.

I want her home.

I want her to wake up in our bed and know that she’s safe.

That it’s finally over.

Shekilled the bastard.Shedid it.

And as I stare down at her in my arms I couldn’t be any prouder.

Rose

Iknow I’m in my bed. Our bed.

I know it as I roll my head over, as I smell the pillows, as I blink and recognise the bedside lamps.

For a moment I don’t move. I just lay there, in the semi-darkness, warm, content, taking this tiny bit of peace before I have to face the man waiting so patiently for me. Before I have to look him in the eye and face the last of my shame.

He crouches down, brushes the hair from my face and I reluctantly open my eyes.

“How are you feeling?” He asks gently. Lovingly.

And if anything that makes it so much worse.

I wince, sitting up. My body still feels like lead. I have a raging headache as if I drank the entirety of the alcohol cupboard. God, I wish that was what had happened.

“Like shit.” I murmur.

He lets out a snort wrapping his arm around me. “It’s over Rose. He’s dead.”

I look up feeling a mixture of emotions. I expected to feel joy. I expected to be dancing from the rooftops at those words and yet now I feel hollow.

“Did he hurt you?” He asks scanning my face as if he knows my reaction right now is not right.

I shake my head. He did, but it was nothing compared to what he’d done before. Nothing I couldn’t take.

“I fought him off.” I murmur looking away.

He cups my cheek, forcing me to look back at him, and I see something there, something in his eyes that makes me freeze. That makes me feel like I’m back out in the snow, that I’m buried in it.

“You didn’t tell me the truth Rose.” He says. “You lied to me the other day.”

I gulp, trembling, shaking my head, and suddenly my tears are streaming down my face. It’s like a dam breaks, like the last horrors of everything finally hits me.

“I couldn’t.” I gasp.

“You know you can trust me. You know I will always protect you.” He states.

I shove my face into my hands, burying my eyes into my palms. “Not with this.”

“Rose…” He murmurs.

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