Page 143 of The Donor’s Dilemma

How far she’d come. Or maybe how far she’d returned, back to the woman she’d been before she lost everything, before she learned to keep her mouth shut and do as she was told.

Theo would laugh at that. No, Verity had never done as she was told. Not now, not ever. He didn’t ask her to, only that she let him in on her plans. She’d been taught not to question a vampire, then she’d met one that welcomed it. Who spoke to her as an equal. Who loved his city and loved her.

“Help me up,” she wheezed.

Chloe pulled her to her feet, tears streaking her pretty face though Verity refused to believe they were for her.

“We’re in City Hall,” Verity murmured.

Chloe nodded.

“Petra’s at the front,” Verity said. “Do you know the way?”

“We came in through the back. I’m not sure.”

Verity cracked the door open and looked out. “It’s fine. I know the way.” When she’d first started donating, every corridor looked the same, but months of visits had carved the layout into her mind. The corridor was one she had walked past a hundred times on the way to Theo’s office. The thick carpet swallowed their footsteps as Chloe held her arm, supporting her weight, eyes flicking to each door they passed as Verity kept her breathing quiet through the throb in her ribs.

They reached the top of the stairs. Below, the entrance hall stood empty. Eerily empty.

Chloe helped her to the bannister. Verity turned to her.

“Go to the Golden Fleece. The guy I was with, Adam,” she said. “Tell him to call Sienna. She’ll be with Abe.” At least she hoped so.

Chloe’s eyes dropped to Verity’s ribs in question. The hand she held over them.

“Just go,” Verity insisted. “Tell him. If Abe asks for Mabel, Vivienne will hand her over. Trust him.”

Chloe nodded and darted down the stairs. The moment she hit the marble floor she let out a sharp squeak, eyes flying up to meet Verity’s for half a second before she bolted in the opposite direction, footsteps echoing.

The pain in her side stopped Verity from moving, freezing her in place as more footsteps approached, running towards the entrance hall. Perhaps if she stayed silent, she wouldn’t be noticed. However, she had no such luck as a man sprinted into view, paused at the bottom of the stairs and looked up.

There was no running. All Verity had were her words, but even they abandoned her as she fought back the pain with every wheezing breath. Chloe’s footsteps faded somewhere below, and Verity was almost relieved as Vivienne’s donor kept staring up at her.

Until he reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun.

She’d never seen a gun in real life. Never had one pointed at her.

Her jaw set even as she trembled. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of hearing her beg. What was the point?

His thumb drew back the hammer.

At least she’d tried. At least she’d done what she could. At least she had loved, had been loved, and Theo would fight. He’d fight for Ashhaven, for Cliffhaven, for all of Havenshire.

He’d fight for her.

The thought gave her peace.

A shape in a suit slammed into her attacker from the side, too fast to see, knocking him flat and driving a fist into his face hard enough that Verity heard the crack from one floor up. She let out a small, broken sound as Theo looked up at her, and the world narrowed to nothing but him.

He grabbed the gun off the floor, tucked it into his jacket, and was up the stairs in seconds, dropping to his knees in front of her, hands hovering over the one she pressed to her ribs, not quite daring to touch. Blood coated his knuckles and a cut marred on his cheek, too small to have caused the blood that splattered his once perfect white shirt.

“I’m fine,” she said, voice breaking. “I’ll be fine.”

Theo growled, shaking his head, cupping her face in his hands. She could see the apology already forming, something ridiculous, something that would put the blame squarely on him.

“Petra,” she gasped, before he could say it. “We need to get to Petra. Now.”

He nodded, laying a feather soft kiss to her temple before wrapping an arm around her. Together they made their way down the stairs, ready to find the Rose.