Page 96 of Uprising

He looks tired. He actually for once looks like he’s had to do something.

He leans back in his chair. “I had work to do.” He states.

“Are you all done now?” I reply.

He gets up out of his chair and the leather squeaks but his phone rings right at the same time. “Give me a second.” He says picking it up, turning his back to me.

I take the moment, stepping forward, casting my eyes over his desk. He’s always been messy. He’s always had papers strewn everywhere and I seize the opportunity to get something, anything that might help us, help Roman.

When I spot the scrawled note I want to smile so badly.

Only I don’t.

Instead I take a step back. Silently. Returning to the same spot I was stood in and make sure my eyes are dropped to the floor. I don’t want him to get any inkling of what I’m up to. I don’t want him to have a clue.

He grunts into the phone. Then shouts out about wanting the bloody job done already before he hangs up.

When he turns back to look at me I take a millisecond longer than I need to lift my gaze, to ensure that he sees I’ve not snooped.

“You sound stressed.” I say.

He snorts. “I’m Governor of this city of course I’m fucking stressed.”

I hate myself for the words I speak, hate myself for the acts of betrayal I’m about to commit but it’s necessary. All of this is necessary.

So I step closer, wrap my arms around his neck and murmur. “Maybe you should let me help you destress then.”

He frowns with a ghost of smile on his lips. I take his hand and he lets me lead him out of the office, up to our room, to our ensuite where I’ve already made sure to have a hot bath waiting.

His eyebrows raise when he sees it.

“You need to relax more.” I say moving to undo the buttons on his shirt.

He stands there, watching me undress him, watching every move I make before I motion for him to get in.

And then I pass him a glass of bourbon, with one cube of ice, just the way he always asks for it.

“I’m liking this.” He says.

“Liking what?” I ask as I move to knead his shoulders, easing out the muscles, and all the while I’m imagining what it would look like to drive a blade into his back.

“You. Being nice.”

I plant a kiss on his skin. “I can be nice.” I say.

He groans again before sipping his drink. “Keep this up and I might just give you a reward.”

“I don’t need rewards.” I reply. I’m not going to ask for anything. I want him to believe that just this peace between us is enough now.

“Not even seeing your daughter?” He murmurs.

I freeze for a millisecond. The temptation to say yes is so great. But I won’t do it. I know if he takes me to her he’ll turn it into some sort of test. He certainly won’t leave me alone with Lara. And I don’t want to have to pretend, to see the hurt and the pain and the look of betrayal on her face when she sees how I am now. When she believes it too.

No, I won’t do that to her. I won’t betray her in such a way. I’d rather not see her at all and spare us both that pain.

“No, just, promise me you won’t hurt me anymore.” I say instead.

He lets out a low breath. “Don’t give me a reason too.”