Page 123 of Uprising

“That’s not true.”

“I tried so hard.” Her voice breaks, finally I hear that hard exterior crack.

“Rose.”

“You weren’t here.” She states. “I woke, and you weren’t here.”

“I’m so sorry.”

She whimpers, those tears streaming down her face. “I kept seeing you. I kept dreaming about you. I thought I was betraying you.”

“You did no such thing.” I say climbing onto the bed taking her into my arms as best I can while she’s still holding onto Lara.

“I thought you were dead. I thought I’d lost you. That we were stuck forever and I didn’t know how to save Lara, how to do any of it without you.”

“I’m so sorry.” I say. “I got shot. I was in a coma. But from the moment I woke all I could think about, all I did was to get you both out.”

She buries her face into my neck. “I couldn’t save Sofia. I tried so hard…”

“It’s okay.” I say, cupping her face with my hand. “And you did save her. You made sure we rescued her.”

“I didn’t realise what they were doing, you have to believe me, if I’d known, if I’d witnessed it sooner…”

“What do you mean by witnessed it sooner?” I ask quietly.

She flinches. “Darius took me there, to that club. I think he did it to prove a point. To show how much power he had and to humiliate us both.”

“Did they…” I trail off unsure how to even ask the question in my head but I have to know. I have to. “Did they do that to you too?”

She shakes her head but she looks so ashamed anyway. “No, but…”

I wipe her tears with my thumb. I can see whatever the hell she’s been through she’s not ready to talk about it.

“I love you Rose.” I say feeling like she needs to hear the words. Like she needs me to confirm it. “I’ve always loved you. And I will never stop loving you.”

She lets out a sob. Her body seems to heave against me.

“Mummy?” Lara whispers looking up half asleep.

“It’s okay baby.” Rose says reassuring her. “You’re safe. Mummy and daddy have you.”

Lara snuggles in, falling back to sleep, and I tighten my hold around Rose as she leans into me.

“Sleep Rose.” I murmur. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you both.”

And she does. Her body seems to relax at those words. She lets out a sigh and she drifts off once more.

Rose

Ican feel arms around me. I blink opening my eyes and the space is so dark.

For a second I think I’m back. In that room. With Ty’s body still there.

And it’s Darius holding me. Darius who has me trapped.

I kick out. A cry escapes my lips but the voice that cuts through my confusion is not the one I’m hearing in my head.

“It’s okay.”