Page 28 of Uprising

“Because our Governor has a lot to answer for and you’re gonna help us with that.” A man growls from the doorway.

My head spins. I turn looking at him, taking him in. He’s covered in tattoos. His body is practically made of ink. His long hair is pulled back into a top knot. I can see he’s wearing the infamous leather jacket that all his biker gang wear but on him it looks less like a jacket and more like a form of armour. He grins at me and I see it, that famous golden tooth.

“You’re Koen?” I say.

He nods.

I guess it’s hard to mistake him for anyone else. He’s younger than I imagined. I don’t know why but with all the rumours swirling about him I always thought he’d have more years on me. But he barely looks a decade older than I am.

“Tell me then, why would you help us?” I ask.

He stalks in, putting his hands on the end of the bed frame. Even his fingers are inked. “I heard you were taking out the factories. I heard you were stopping the organ trade.”

I nod.

“Let’s just say we have a similar objective.” He states.

I narrow my eyes. Like fuck I’ll take that as an answer.

“You think it’s just street kids their selling?” He growls.

“They took someone important to you.” I guess.

He nods. “My sister.”

“What does it matter?” Ben says. “Darius has a chokehold on this city. If any of us want to actually survive here we have to cut the vipers head off.”

“I thought that was what I did when I killed Calvin.” I state.

Koen’s eyebrows raise. “You killed Calvin?”

I shrug. “Someone had to.” I state. “So tell me, what are we going to do? How the fuck are we going to bring him down now?”

Koen grins. “All in good time pretty boy. For the moment you need rest.”

“Fuck that.” I reply.

“He’s right.” Ben says. “You can’t just wake up from a coma and go all guns blazing.”

“Coma?” I say looking between them. “What the fuck?”

Ben takes a deep breath, all but pushing me onto the bed and I don’t fight, I let him because in truth I’m in very real danger of collapsing.

“You’ve been out for over two months.” He says.

“What?” I gasp.

“You nearly drowned. They put a bullet through your chest. I had to drag you out of the wreck, had to get you far enough away that they wouldn’t spot us.”

I remember it now. I remember that. I remember being on the phone to Rose too. Her saying how scared she was, telling me to take care of our daughter, effectively saying goodbye.

“Rose.” I murmur. “Where the fuck is Rose?”

Koen tilts his head. “She’s not your Rose anymore mate. She’s the Governor’s wife now.”

It’s like a dagger to my heart. Like someone has just buried it so deep they’ve hacked at my soul. She married him? Why the fuck would she do that?

I shake my head not believing it.

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