Page 121 of Uprising

“And until then?” I ask.

He lets out a sigh. “Until then she can remain where she is. Wherever that is. As long as it’s within the confines of this city.”

“Thank you.” I murmur.

He inclines his head. “I’m sweeping through the city. We’re arresting anyone we find who is out beyond the curfew, looting, or breaking the peace.”

“Noted.” Koen says.

“Make sure we don’t find your people because I will not be lenient if I do.” Hastings says.

“You’re, you’re letting them go?” Ambrose splutters.

“I have the entire country in uproar. I have a man on the run who by all accounts was not only trafficking people but selling their organs. And best of all, half the rich of this city seem to have been in on it, seemed to have profited from it. I have a city on the verge of collapse, I have very little electricity and even more limited water and food, and the President wants this all fixed in the next week.”

For the first time I see Hastings lose his cool just a little.

“If you wish to remain Chief of Police then you will do exactly what I tell you. You will focus on what I tell you. And right now, your focus is law and order. Returning these streets to calm.”

Ambrose shakes his head but he doesn’t argue further.

And I take that as my cue to leave. To get back to the Tunnels. Back to my family.

Only Hastings pulls me aside, right as I walk out the door.

“I heard a rumour.” He says quietly. “That you have a certain Ignatio Capulet in your possession.”

I meet those brown eyes, not showing anything, not revealing my hand.

“I want him. Unlike his daughter he will be held responsible for his actions.” He states. “Give me Ignatio and all of Rose’s sins will be forgiven.”

I pull my arm free, hearing clear message that if I don’t play ball, if I don’t give him this he will change his mind of the whole ‘Rose only being a witness’ thing.

“I’ll see what I can do.” I murmur.

His lip curls a tiny bit. “I’ll be waiting then.”

Roman

Islip into the room.

It’s still dark.

With no windows and no lights on, only the strips from the hallway illuminate the space through the curtains, making it feel otherworldly.

I can’t tell if they’re awake.

For a moment I just stand there, frozen, listening. I can hear Bella snoring softly. I can hear someone breathing slowly. It could be Rose. It could be Lara.

As quietly as I can I sink into the chair. I don’t want to disturb them. I don’t want to wake them. And most importantly I don’t want to alarm Rose.

The drive back to the tunnels was awkward to say the least. I wanted to speak to Koen, to ask him what the hell his deal was with Sofia, but when I broached the subject he told me under no uncertain terms to leave it alone.

I checked on Sofia first. Checked she was okay but she was fast asleep so I left her to it.

And now I’m here, practically paralysed as I watch my family because I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to fix this.

So instead I sit here, in silence, praying that maybe it’s just sleep they need, that maybe everything will just sort itself. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking.