Page 157 of Uprising

No. He’s not. And while that plays on my mind, that Darius is out there, that he is almost certainly planning something, I don’t voice it. I won’t put anymore fear and anxiety into my child’s head.

I bend down, feeling the cold sink in through my jeans and to my skin. “We’re going to let everyone know Lara.” I say. “Me and your daddy. We’re going to tell the world we’re together and that we have you.”

“Will that help?” She asks.

“It will.” I say. “It will mean there are no more lies. No more pretending.”

She nods but I’m not sure she really understands it.

I glance back at the house. We’ve not heard a peep since we got out here. In truth I’m not sure if we even would. It’s too big, and we’re too far. But my fingers are getting numb and I’m starting to shake despite my best efforts not to.

“Shall we go back inside?” I say. “We can get a hot chocolate and warm up by the fire.”

“Well doesn’t that sound idyllic.”

My whole body seems to react to that voice. I spin around, my heart suddenly stopping as I lay eyes on her.What the fuck?

“What a picture perfect life you’ve gotten yourself Rose.” My mother spits.

I grab Lara pulling her behind me, protecting her.

She’s got a knife in her hand. She looks half manic. Her usually immaculate hair has twigs and knots and god knows what else in it. She’s shaking and I can’t tell if it’s from the cold or from her own anger. She looks like a rabid dog about to attack.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

She glances down and I know she’s staring at my daughter, staring at Lara who’s peeping out from behind me.

“What do you think Rose?” She says taking a step towards me. “You really thought that it would all just end? That you could simply walk away and we’d let you?”

“It is over.” I state. “Darius is gone.”

She tilts her head and that manic smile spreads. “You were never good enough for him.” She says. “I told him that. I told him over and over but he wouldn’t listen.”

“If you’re just going to…”

She launches herself at me. Only I’m quicker. I push Lara out of the way, grabbing my mother’s wrist where that knife is pointed so dangerously.

She’s screaming, snarling. She really is rabid.

I kick up, kneeing her in the groin and she bends over double but she’s still not relinquishing the knife.

“You stupid bitch.” She says. “You could have had everything. You could have had it all.”

I slam my body sideways into her and we fall, both of us into the snow.

She starts thrusting the blade, it’s so close to my eye, so close to blinding me. I jerk my head back only she’s got my hair holding me in place.

“Mummy.” Lara screams.

I don’t look at her. I don’t dare too. Instead I curl my fist and slam into her face. Her noses crunches. She howls and I snatch the blade, scrambling to my feet.

Lara runs to me and I grab her pulling her once more behind me as the sound of running feet hits my ears.

My mother tries to get up and I step onto her, forcing her back into the freezing ground, pointing the knife right in her throat. By the look of it I broke her nose, again.

“Rose.”

I smirk at Roman as he comes to a stop. Half the security are here now. I step back as they haul her to her feet, kicking and screaming.