Page 93 of Uprising

She tilts her head running her eyes over me then stares at my broken fingers that I’ve been so careful to keep from view.

“Did he do that?” She says. “Did he hurt you?”

“It’s not me you should concern yourself with.” I say. “I can handle it. But Sofia, Sofia has it so much worse.”

Her eyes widen, she glances across the room to where Otto is stood thankfully with his back to us. Sofia isn’t here. She’s never allowed out. Beyond the funeral and the Cuckoo Club I’ve never seen her in public but I guess I know why now.

“She’s in the same situation.” She guesses.

“Worse.” I say. “So much worse.”

“Give me something, give me something I can use.”

I gulp. Is this it? Is this my chance? I want to believe her but what if she’s a plant? What if this is a test, that Darius has paid her off and right now he’s playing me?

I turn my back, facing the wall. I don’t know what to do. On one hand I have to do something but if I Darius finds out he will make me pay big time.

“Rose…” She murmurs.

“Alright.” I hiss as quietly as I can. I have to take this chance, I have to try. Even if he breaks my bones for it. “He rigged the vote.”

“What?” She replies.

“He fixed it. I don’t know how. I don’t have any evidence beyond him telling me but he cheated to make sure he was re-elected.”

She shakes her head slightly. “I can look into it. It’ll take time though. I’ll need to have proof before I dare print such an accusation.”

“He says he controls the press too.” I state and I see the wince that tells me she knows more about that than I do.

“I can get around it.” She reassures me. “Leave it with me.”

“He’s selling people.” I don’t even know how to explain it. How to explain all the fucked up shit that Darius is up to. “He’s got a compound where he keeps them and he sells their organs.”

She gives me a look like I can’t be serious.

“I’m not lying.” I state. “I think Ro…” I collect myself, not wanting her to know Roman is alive. I don’t know why he’s still pretending to be dead but he must have his reasons. “Someone attacked it. They destroyed it. But I was there. I saw it myself. I saw dozens of people locked in cages.”

“Okay.” She says nodding. “I’ll find out what I can.”

“He sent Lara away.” I add. “He sent her away, can you find out where she is?”

“Lara is your daughter?”

I nod. “She’s at a boarding school somewhere in the city. She’s only six.”

“Leave it with me.” She says before passing over a glass of champagne and her whole expression seems to change. “That sounds like a lovely idea.” She adds simpering to me.

I take the glass in my good hand and she clinks hers against mine.

“Governor.” She says brightly to the man I know is now stood right behind me.

Darius looks between us, in the same sort of fashion he did the last time he caught us talking.

“Rose.” He murmurs wrapping his arm around my waist.

“I hope you don’t mind…”I say leaning into him. “But we agreed to do that article remember, after the wedding, about what it’s like to be First Lady.”

He blinks clearly trying to recall.