Page 57 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“Yeah, sorry,” Verity said, turning her attention back to her friend. “Just thirsty.”

“I’ll go get us some drinks,” he said, standing. She tried to protest but Adam insisted. “Have that if you want,” he said, pushing his near-finished drink towards her. “I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared into the crowd, and Verity took the drink. It was sweet and fruity and far more Verity’s speed than champagne. The moisture instantly made her feel better. That was, until Sienna sat beside her.

The Queen-Bee looked radiant in a lacy black jumpsuit, skin-tight and high-necked, showing off every perfect curve. Her near-black hair cascaded over one shoulder from her high ponytail, immaculate as always.

Glancing around, Harris was nowhere to be seen, and Verity breathed a sigh of relief.

“Adam said you were thirsty,” Sienna said, setting a couple of glasses on the table and pouring them both a drink — more bloody champagne. “How are things with you and Theo?” she asked with a sickly sweet smile.

“Fine,” Verity replied, taking a sip. “How’s Harris?”

“He’s good. Just stressing about work, donor numbers being what they are and everything. You know?”

“Oh yeah?” she asked, searching the crowd for Theo.

“Lowest in a century he says,” Sienna went on, watching as Verity took another sip. “What’s Theo said about it?”

Verity shrugged. It was the first she’d heard about it and Phoenar knew why Sienna was asking her.

“Theo doesn’t talk to you about work?” she asked. “That’s sweet, that he doesn’t want to worry you.”

The lights on the dance floor spun, making the dancing mass ripple and pulse. Gods, she was hot. She took another sip, mind tilting as she tried to pay attention to the words falling from Sienna's painted lips.

“Sometimes I wonder if Harris is the only one who really cares about humans,” she went on. “But I guess you wouldn’t be with Theo if he didn’t care, what with your history and everything.”

Verity cocked an eyebrow. Her history? What did Sienna know? Why would...

“Why were you in trouble?” Sienna asked.

“What?” Verity asked. The word felt thick on her tongue. Lips loose.

“After group the other week, you said you were in trouble with Theo?”

Ice cold pin pricks spread across her skin as Verity gripped the edge of the table. Spinning. Shaking. Her hair felt like cobwebs, sticking to her clammy skin as she took a deep shuddering breath.

“Verity?”

Sienna was talking, questioning, saying something about other donors not being so lucky; but the words were white noise, merging with the thrum of blood in her ears.

“I… I don’t…” she tried, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Adam,” Sienna snapped and Verity looked up to see him sat across from her, face pale and eyes wide. When had he gotten back? “Go get Chapel.”

Then he vanished, the chair sat empty again, as cool hands combed through her hair.

“What the fuck happened?” came a snarl. She would have trembled with fear if that fury came from anyone other than Theo.

She whimpered when her chair disappeared from beneath her and she was lifted into strong arms. Her head lolled, too heavy to hold up, as heavy as her eyelids that begged her to sleep.

Growling. Clicking. The closing of a door.

Leather and pine enveloped Verity as her stomach lurched. Movement and…

“Stop!” She called, leaning forward and scrambling with her seat belt.

“We’re nearly there, angel. Just hold on a couple more minutes.”