Page 99 of Downfall

“Rose…”

“No.” I say not looking back. Not doing anything other than forcing myself to walk, to take one step after another until I’m back at my car and away.

Roman

“That better be a fucking joke.” I growl.

“It’s not.”

I stare at my hands. At where they’re clenched so tightly I think I might just crack my very bones.

“Are you not going to say anything?” Sofia asks, stepping further into the room.

Ben looks between us clearly trying to decide whether he should leave us to it. We were in the middle of planning another strike. Taking out another of their damn money-making enterprises when Sofia stormed in here.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I know she’s not deliberately goading me and yet for weeks now she’s the one pushing me, she’s the one telling me that I should be honest with Rose, like that worked the first time. Like that didn’t end up contributing to all the mess we’re currently in.

“Roman…”

I snarl, picking up my glass and throw it as hard as I can against the wall. The shattering pieces help bring some level of control, as if the physical manifestation of my rage has actually unleashed the monster within myself.

“Tell me what he did.” I say.

She meets my gaze and winces slightly. “I don’t know for sure.”

“Then how do you know he did anything?” Ben asks.

I glare back at him. Sofia is not an idiot. If she says something happened then I believe her. Besides we all know what Darius is like, we all know his true nature. But the thought of him touching Rose, of him laying his hands on her. The image of them, of how intimate they’d been last night flashes through my head. He’s been treating her like she’s his for so long now I doubt he ever stopped to question it.

I’m going to cut his dick off, I’m going to severe his fucking hands for laying them on her, even for just a second.

“You didn’t see her.” Sofia says. “You didn’t see how messed up she was.”

I blink, running my hands over my face. It’s been a long day and this was not how I anticipated it ending.

“Did she say anything to you?” I ask.

Sofia shakes her head. “No. I tried to talk to her, to reason, I told her we could help.”

“And she refused you?” I guess, though it’s not like it’s hard. If she’d agreed we’d all be having an entirely different conversation right now. And she’d be here, in my arms. Safe.

She nods with an apologetic look. “I tried Roman.”

“I know.” I reply gently. Despite her hard exterior Sofia has a heart of gold and I won’t for a minute take out my bitter resentment on her.

“You should go see her.” She says.

“What?” Ben cuts across.

“Go.” Sofia says ignoring him entirely.

I shake my head. I don’t have time for distractions.

“She needs you right now.”

“No she doesn’t.” I state because if she did she would have sought me out. The fact I’ve had to hear this from Sofia proves it.

“For fucksake.” Sofia snaps. “Don’t you see? This is your chance, to prove to her you’re not just here for revenge. To prove that you actually care about her.”

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