Page 34 of Uprising

Yeah he’s right about that. Look at Darius, look at all the Blumenfelds, the things they’ve done, they things they’ve gotten away with just because they’re rolling in it.

“Let me see the maps.” I say.

He grunts pulling his eyes away, and walks over to where a door is. “We keep the maps in here. Keeps it tidy.”

I smirk. An MC President who likes to be organised? That’s a new one on me though I make a point of keeping that to myself.

The maps are good. More than good. He must have stolen them from somewhere, that or he has an actual cartographer squirrelled away somewhere. I tilt my head seeing how the tunnels beneath line up with the glittering city of Verona Bay above.

From my reckoning we’re right under…

“Liberty Square.” Koen says. “Which is why we have to travel at least a few miles before we come up above ground.

I raise an eyebrow questioningly.

“The Square and everywhere around Parliament are heavily guarded. It’s like a Nazi regime up there.”

“Fucking fantastic.” I mutter.

He pats me on the back. “We can do this. If we follow my plan. If we do this right.”

“Meanwhile my sister and daughter and Rose are enduring god knows what.” I snarl back.

“Yeah?” He says. “Better they are where they are then they’re locked in a cage waiting to have their heart cut out so the cokehead daughter of a multi-millionaire can continue her life party.” He sneers.

My fists clench. I know he’s right. On some level he is. But he’s not the one that has to live with it, to know that they’re suffering and I’m stood here, not doing a damn thing to stop it.

“You get used to it.” He says.

“What?” I ask.

“The guilt.”

I huff. I don’t think I will. Even if I do win this, even if we save them, how the fuck am I going to look them in the eyes?

We walk back out and once again I stare at the screens in front of us.

“Do you have the Governor’s house?” I ask.

Koen gives me a look but they bring up the feed anyway. On the big screen.

It looks like a damned fortress. I can see people inside, figures moving about. Did I think I’d spot her? Did I expect to see Rose stood, staring out the window? I don’t know, but my heart sinks when I realise she isn’t there, she isn’t visible.

Koen goes to say something but I cut across him.

“How about I show you how to hack the feeds?”

“What?” Tia says.

I grin at her. I need to do something. I can’t just stand here, driving myself nuts. I walk over to one of the computers, nudge the guy aside and pull up a screen.

Tia stands over my shoulders and as I start to do it she gasps every now and then.

I can feel Koen staring into my back. Maybe I need to prove a point too. Maybe it’s about time he saw me as more than just a rich pretty boy and someone of substance, someone just as capable, just as ruthless as he is.

Roman

Iknow this is a mistake. That a voice in my head is already screaming at me to turn back. To go back.

---