Page 48 of Downfall

I nod. I know. The sirens are getting louder and louder. We can’t stay.

For a fleeting moment I think of taking her with me. Of carrying her to my car and stealing her away. But I can’t. Not like this. Despite what I feel, despite what we had, there are too many questions still lingering. Too many unanswered wounds.

I have to leave her here. I have to leave her again.

Ben grabs my arm and I let him pull me to the car.

He yells at the driver and I stare out, watching, as her form gets smaller and smaller before it disappears entirely as we make a turn.

Roman

“It’s done. As far as anyone knows it was simply an accident.”

Darius’s voice is quiet. Muted.

There’s none of the overconfidence he has in public. It feels good to hear it. It feels really good.

I nod. Darius is my pet now or as good as. Today has all but ensured it.

“Paris is dead.”

I don’t react. It’s not like I don’t know it. I put the bullet in his brain myself.

“My nephew is dead.” Darius says louder.

I turn at that. “What did you expect?” I reply. The arrogant prick thought he could rock the boat? He sends his nephew off to play silly buggers, what did he think was going to happen? That I’d let them get away with it, that I’d let them undermine me?

“You really think you can just sweep in here and takeover?” He asks. I can hear the contempt in his voice but he’s the one jumping when I say, so really all the shame is on him.

“Yes.” I reply simply. That’s exactly what I’ve done. I’m taking everything now. “You will call the Capulets to a meeting. Sofia and I will be there. You will tell them that after my father’s death and the death of Paris there will be unity. Healing. You will tell them I have been granted a pardon.”

He glares at me, his fists clenching but there’s fuck all he can do right now.

“My nephew is dead.” He states, like he cared for the man, like Paris was anything but a convenient pawn for Darius when he needed him. “I want a funeral first. I want an appropriate time for mourning.”

“Fine.” I say. No need to be hasty. I’ve waited long enough. I can wait a little longer. And besides I want Rose there. I want her to hear the words. I don’t know how injured she is, Sofia is trying to find out, but I know she’s still in the hospital. “You have two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” He splutters.

“Two weeks.” I repeat. “So you’d better make it count.”

He half stalks away muttering under his breath and as he reaches for the door I call after him with a little reminder.

“Don’t do anything stupid Darius.”

He meets my gaze. His eyes flash but he’s smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

“We wouldn’t want your secrets to get out now would we?” I add.

His shoulders slump and he wrenches the door open letting it slam behind him. The last vestiges of his pride no doubt shattering with the sound.

Rose

It’s a party. Not mine. Not anyone I know really. But I’m here, lurking on the peripheries.

I know Roman is here too. I didn’t think about the consequences of us being seen together I just had to see him.

When I spot him my heart leaps and then it’s like I’m thrown in the ocean with my ankles tied around an anchor and it’s pulling me down, deeper and deeper.

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