Page 146 of Downfall

“I’ll deal with Roman.” Darius says. “Like I said, it’s in hand, just leave him to me.”

“And what of the others? What of Sofia?”

“Sofia will marry Otto. She’ll be made to see that’s her only option.”

“So the Blumenfelds get the Montague fortune.” My father says almost bitterly.

“Yes but you get a Capulet in the Governor’s bed, keeping him warm at night and ensuring you have my favour.”

“Not a bad trade I guess.” My father states and they both laugh.

I step away, walk as quickly as I dare because I can’t bear to hear any more and I don’t want to get caught here. I don’t want to fall into this trap they’ve set.

It’s happening again though isn’t it? It’s like a literal repeat of six years ago. I’m being sold to a Blumenfeld for the supposed greater good of my family. In this moment it’s so hard not to panic, not to give myself away.

Only, as I turn the corner Carter is there, stepping out of the shadows with that awful grin of his.

“And where are you going princess?” He says.

I shake my head, my fear overriding my senses, but Turner and Mitch spring into action, pulling me back. Mitch pulls a gun and Carter lets out a laugh producing his own.

I look around, at all the people that are in the vicinity of this. If this turned into a fight god knows how many people would get hurt.

“Rose comes with me.” Carter says.

“Not a fucking chance.” I snap back. I’m not doing it, I refuse to. Maybe I am selfish but I won’t sacrifice myself again, I won’t continually fall on my sword for the sake of everyone else.

Carter takes a step forward. Turner points his gun at him and then it’s like it all happens at once.

Someone sees. Some random person realises that this little standoff is happening.

A scream echoes out around the atrium. I recoil further into Mitch’s massive body but as I do I can see we’re out numbered. I can see all the armed men rushing to us.

“No.” I murmur shaking my head. It can’t end like this. It just can’t.

Turner snarls, pointing his gun up in the air and he lets off a round. I don’t know where he hits. I only hear as he shatters the glass.

Half the room drops to the floor. The other half seem to go berserk, in full panic mode. I flinch even further into Mitch and he grabs me, throwing me over his shoulder, and the two of them make a run for it with Carter hot on our heels.

Rose

Somehow we manage to get to the car park. Me still on Mitch’s back and Turner taking strategic shots when necessary.

But they’re hunting us.

Armed men are streaming out of what feels like every damned juncture.

The car is barely a hundred metres from us and yet it might as well be at the ends of the earth. Mitch and Turner are sprinting for their lives. I scrunch my face up, grit my teeth, as my body jolts with every move Mitch makes. They all but toss me inside. I don’t complain, I’ll take a few bruises, hell I’d take broken bones too if that’s what it takes to get away from them.

Turner starts the engine, revs it, as Mitch is yelling into the radio that I know connects to Roman. The tyres screech as we’re pitched back into reverse.

And then suddenly someone is shooting. I duck, burying myself in the footwell as a hail of bullets seem to hit the vehicle.

But Roman put bulletproof glass in so even as the sound is terrifying it has little effect beyond some nasty chinks.

We hurtle out into the main road. Sending a group of our attackers flying. I can hear the beeps, hear the carnage of the other road users as we speed off.

But I can hear Mitch and Turner too.

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