Page 138 of Uprising

“What my mother knows, why Darius wanted her dead.”

“You’re sure?”

She nods. “I asked him, he lied, he tried to pretend but I saw the look on his face.”

I let out a sigh. I promised Hastings he could have Ignatio, how the fuck am I going to explain this? That Rose has murdered someone else.

Will he arrest her for this? Will this be the thing that finally condemns her? I don’t even know how to save her from it, how I could even go about it.

“What?” She says looking at me, tilting her head like she’s ready to fight me.

I frown for a second but she’s slamming her fists into my chest. “What?” She screams.

“Rose.”

“I had to kill him. I had to. After everything he did, everything he put me and Lara through. And you too.”

“I’m not disputing that.” I reply.

“Then why aren’t you saying anything? Why are you just standing there?”

“I promised Hastings.” I say back. “I promised him he could have your father, that he would be put on trial.”

Her jaw drops. “You what? How could you do that?”

“I did it to save you. I did it so that he wouldn’t come after you.”

She blanches, leaning back against the wall. “Why would he come after me?” She half whispers.

“Because you killed Carter.” I state. “They have the footage. Everyone has seen it.”

Her head spins, she folds her arms, but she’s clearly not giving up. “He deserved it.” She spits. “He deserved to die after everything he did.”

“I’m not disputing that.” I say.

“So what, I’m a criminal now, is that it?”

I can’t help but curl my lips at the haughty way she puts it. Fuck even in this moment she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

Her lips curl too. She looks up at my face and starts laughing. “I am a criminal. I’m a murderer.”

“So am I.” I reply.

“Yeah but I’m Verona’s sunshine princess.” She laughs more. “And now I’m a serial killer.”

I don’t know how to respond to that. I guess technically she is, technically we both are.

“Are you angry at me Roman?” She asks more seriously.

“No.” I reply tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear and ignoring the blood that’s tangled up in it. “I’ve never been prouder.”

“You mean that?”

I nod. “Do you feel better for it?”

“Yes.” She doesn’t hesitate. “I had to do something, I had to get some of this anger out.”

“Is there anything I can do, anything else…”