Page 74 of Uprising

Poison seemed like a good back up plan. Nothing too insidious mind. Just enough to cause sickness, diarrhoea, the kind of things to make it undrinkable.

And ensure Verona’s water supply will barely last the month.

“I’ll see you back at base.” I say.

We’ve got more planning to do. This is just the first act. The first melee.

Tomorrow night, tomorrow, we’re going to really hit Darius where it hurts.

Roman

Maybe I’m an addict. Maybe I’m as fucked up as Darius is but watching it play out, seeing all the drama on the TV and for once Darius isn’t able to hide from it, to control it, to spin it into something positive.

It took the six hours to get the electricity back and even then it’s not restored the entire city. Only the hospitals, police, and government buildings have full services. Everywhere else is either still in darkness or it’s being rationed.

The footage their showing is from earlier but they’ve got it on replay like it’s the damned president on a tour.

He looks tired. He looks worn out.

I stare at his face seeing every wrinkle, every grey streak of hair. That’s what Rose sees when she opens her eyes. Every day she has to look at that and smile, and pretend, and I honestly don’t know how she does it.

She’s got more strength than me. More resilience.

She’s warrior fighting a battle that no one else seems to even notice.

She’s stood beside him, holding his hand, with a look of concern that matches his.

I knew he’d parade her out. I knew he’d dust her down and flaunt her for every ounce of goodwill she can bring.

But as I watch her movements I can see she’s injured. Tiny tells, tiny minuscule shifts that tell me under that beautiful cloak she’s bruised and beaten.

And as she turns, I see her hand, the one clasping his, while the other is tucked out of view. Her fingers are in a cast. Two of them strapped together, leaving only her thumb and index finger free so she has to grip his hand with just them.

Did he do that? Did he break her fingers?

I guess it’s telling that no one is commenting on it, that no reporters or gossip sights are even mentioning that she’s injured. Clearly Darius has full control of the press now, though I expected nothing less.

I let out a snarl. Lara is beside me, staring at the screen, as if she could will Rose to walk through the glass and escape.

Maybe I shouldn’t have let her watch, maybe I should have kept this from her but I didn’t want to say no, besides I don’t know how soon I can get to Rose, this maybe the only way Lara sees her mother over the next few months. I won’t deny her this. I won’t deny her anything.

She takes me hand, squeezing it as if I’m the one who needs comfort.

“Mummy looks beautiful doesn’t she?” I murmur.

Lara tilts her head. “She looks sad.”

I wince at that but it’s true. I can see it, in her eyes, in her face, under that heavy makeup she has on to no doubt hide bruises, she does look sad. She looks heartbroken.

“Rose.” I murmur her name, feeling once more like the ghost Darius made me.

I can do this. I can beat Darius. I just have to keep my control and hold my nerve. As I let out a deep sigh I see Koen stood watching us both from my peripheries.

“It’s time Sweetpea.” I say.

Lara nods. She doesn’t even pull a face, but she gets to her feet and gives me a hug. “Good night daddy. Cuddle me when you’re back.”

“I will.” I say planting a kiss on her head and Tia is the one who takes her hand to lead her back, to watch over her while we’re out causing more shit.

---