Page 147 of Downfall

I can hear from the way their talking that their concerned.

“They’re following.” Mitch says.

“We’ve got this.” Turner replies. “If we get to the interstate we can lose them there.”

I pull my phone, dialling Roman’s number as quickly as I can. I know it’s silly, I know right now he’s doing everything he can to help but I need to hear his voice. It’s like my life depends upon it in this moment.

He picks it up immediately. I can hear he’s in a car, in a vehicle. He must be coming to me.

“Roman…” I gasp as my voice chokes up, as I start to really panic.

“It’s okay.” He says. “You’re going to be fine. We’re coming to you now, we’re on our way.”

“They’re following us.” I reply. “It’s Darius and my father. They made a deal…”

“Rose, listen to me, they’re not going to win. You’re going to get away.”

I gulp, feeling the tears start to stream. “I don’t want to lose you.” I whisper it. “I don’t want to lose Lara, not now, not when everything is finally going right.”

“You’re not going to.” He growls back. “You’re not going anywhere. Just hang on Rose. Just hang on five more minutes.”

I sob harder. I shouldn’t have come. This was such a stupid fucking thing to have done. To have fallen into their trap.

More bullets ring out. I duck again. It feels like they don’t even care if they kill me, just as long as Roman doesn’t get me back.

“Rose?” Roman says.

“Yes.” I whisper back.

“I love you. I love you so much. Nothing is ever going to happen to you, do you hear me?”

“I love you too.” I cry. “I love you so much I can’t even…”

A bang makes the whole car shake, we swerve, spinning around and I have to clutch the seat in front to stop myself from being slammed into it. We pitch forward, as if the vehicle is no longer on four wheels but somehow, miraculously we pitch back, landing with a thud. When we finally come to a stop it feels like everything is silent and yet there’s a ringing in my ears so high-pitched it makes me wince.

The air is thick with smoke. I start to choke but after a moment it clears and I realise it’s not actually smoke, it’s just the airbags.

I hear Mitch groan. I peer up over the seat and he’s there, covered in blood, with the airbag deflated and splattered too.

“Rose?”

I grab the phone, my hands are shaking so much it’s hard to even hold it.

“Roman.”

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know. I think we crashed.” I murmur.

“Don’t get out of the car.” He says. “Do you hear me? Don’t get out of the car.”

But even as the words leave him I can hear it, they’re cutting the damned door off. I scream as the sparks seem to go flying, as they rip through the very metal, and then all too soon someone’s hands are grabbing me, hauling me out.

I want to grab the phone. I want to tell Roman that I love him, I want to tell him to tell Lara that I love her too. That I want her to be happy, that whatever happens, whatever the consequence of this, he has to take care of her, he has to ensure she’s protected now.

But as I’m dragged from the wreckage I can’t even do that.

I can’t even say goodbye.

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