Page 12 of Uprising

“I agree with daddy.” I whisper back before planting a kiss on her head.

She looks up at me and she grins like it’s our secret and I guess in a way it is. We’re fellow conspirators now. Only I have to be careful, because she’s a child, she’s not as astute as me and I won’t let her suffer any of the consequences if this blows up.

“It’s perfect.” Darius says strutting into the room, cutting through our brief moment of peace.

Lara shrinks into herself, stepping back, all but melding into the curtains to avoid his overbearing presence.

I grit my teeth, put on a smile as if I’m happy to see him, and he walks around me obviously taking in my body.

“The skirt should be tighter.” He says.

The seamstress frowns. “Any tighter and she might have difficulty dancing.”

Darius shrugs like he doesn’t care.

I gulp as he reaches out for me, as he pulls my body into his. “Rose has a beautiful body. I want everyone to see it.” He says as he grabs my arse, pushing my hips into him like I’m grinding against his cock, as if my child isn’t right here.

“Darius.” I murmur, trying to sound bashful and not reproachful.

“Governor.” Someone says from the door.

We both turn and I see Ty stood, arms crossed, obviously avoiding my gaze.

“What is it?” Darius says.

“They’re ready for you.” He says.

Darius lets out an annoyed growl. “I’m busy. They can wait.”

Ty looks at me then looks back at Darius. “Ignatio has urgent business he needs to discuss.”

I tense more at the sound of my father’s name. I know Darius can feel it, I know he revels in the fact that I fear my father as much as I do.

He releases me with a smirk.

“Better not keep my father in law waiting.” He says before planting a kiss on my lips and then he struts out of the room without a backward glance.

I turn away, hug myself, forgetting for a brief moment that the seamstress is still here, that I’m still being observed.

“Rose.” Ty murmurs making me jump. Evidently he didn’t follow on after Darius when he left.

“What do you want?” I say.

We haven’t spoken, haven’t said anything since that awful dinner two months ago, since the night everything fell apart and Ty just sat there, watching it, doing nothing.

He looks over at Lara then back at me. I don’t know if he understands who she is, I don’t know if my parents have taken the time to explain that particular part in the story.

He pulls a face looking over at the woman with the pin pot still in her hand. “Take a break.” He says to her.

She hesitates for a second then clearly decides better.

“Rose….” He begins as soon as she’s gone.

“What do you want?” I say more forcefully.

“This wasn’t meant to be like this.” He says. “None of this…”

I screw my face up. “What are you talking about?”