Page 80 of Benjamin and the Thief

“You have to act now,” Ryder said from beside him.

He looked up, his heart breaking. “It’s too late to heal her. She’s dying.”

“I know that. That’s why you have to turn her,” Ryder said.

He knew. He pulled Catalina’s head into his lap. “Forgive me for what I have to do.”

He bit into his wrist, opening his vein. Then he pressed it to her lips to let his life-giving vampire blood drip into her mouth.

“Drink, my love. Stay with me.”

He spoke soothing words to her, words she couldn’t hear, while she existed between life and death, between human and vampire, between the past and the future. Her existence hung in limbo now as his blood spread in her body to bind her soul to it so she wouldn’t leave this plane, so she could awaken with a stronger body, a body that would defy this injury and heal itself—but only if her human body accepted this transformation. He prayed for it, prayed that she would awaken to a new life. A life he hoped she could accept. But what if she couldn’t forgive him for what he’d done? For the decision he’d made without her consent? He would throw himself at her mercy and accept her punishment. But she had to live, no matter in which form. Because a world without her wasn’t a world he wanted to live in.

While he held her as she went completely motionless in his arms, without a heartbeat, without a breath, the sounds around him that he’d shut out reached him again. His friends had removed the Prestons from the salon so they couldn’t witness that he’d given Catalina his blood. He also heard the garage door now. Moments later, more footsteps came closer, and he saw from the open door that Damian and Lydia had apprehended Judge Norton before he had a chance to escape. He was trying to shake off Damian’s hand, but his twin brother was stronger.

Anita entered the salon now, her weapon back in its holster.

“Buffy is about five minutes out with the ambulance.”

He nodded, concentrating on the practicalities of the situation. He couldn’t lose his head now.

“And forensics?”

“Ethan is taking care of it. We’ll be bagging James Preston’s hands to preserve gunshot residue before he’s transported to the station. We need the bullet.”

“It’s still inside her.”

“Okay,” Anita said with a look at Catalina. “Buffy can get it out at the clinic. We need it for ballistics.”

“I know.” Then he looked up at Anita. “We need to get the Prestons and Judge Norton for murder and conspiracy to commit murder.”

Anita gasped, her eyes widening. “Are you saying she’s not gonna make it?”

“She’ll make it,” he said. I hope, he thought to himself. “But her human life is over. They took that from her. They killed her. Do you understand?”

Slowly, Anita nodded. “I got it. But since we can’t leave her here, we’ll have to say that she died on the way to the hospital. I’ll inform Donnelly. He’ll get us a signature on the death certificate when it’s time.”

“Thank you. They’ll pay for this.”

He stroked his fingers along Catalina’s face. Her skin was still warm, but she looked pale. There was no sign of her transformation yet. It would take hours before he could know for sure that she would make it. But he had to believe in it. She was strong. She was a fighter.

“I’ll make sure they pay for what they did to you and Santiago. I promise you, Catalina.”

35

Benjamin lifted Catalina onto the gurney, while Buffy and Ryder rolled it down the hallway to lift it into the Scanguards-owned ambulance. While he wanted to ride back to headquarters with Catalina, he knew it was more important that he stayed here, where he was useful. At the clinic, Buffy and Maya would make sure that Catalina had everything she needed to make it through the transformation. He would join her there soon.

Anita stood in front of the door to the dining room.

“Where are you holding them?” he asked.

“The Prestons are in the dining room, the judge is in the kitchen with your brother and Lydia.”

He opened the door to the dining room and entered. Sebastian and Ethan stood near the door, while James and Elizabeth Preston sat on chairs, handcuffed behind their backs.

They snapped their gazes to him.

“This is outrageous,” James yelled. “I demand you uncuff us! We’re the victims here! That woman broke into our house and tried to kill us! I had every right to defend myself and my wife!”