Page 77 of The Donor’s Dilemma

He saw Verity, offering her a tight-lipped smile.

“I am so sorry about this,” he offered the five remaining donors, all looking surprised to see the Lord Mayor himself. He nodded to Mike before going on. “This should be your safe place, and I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure it stays that way.”

Safe place indeed. Verity resisted rolling her eyes as she set her glass down and strode for the door.

“You all have a good evening, I’ll talk to you on Monday,” he added for David.

“Yes sir,” David chirped as Theo joined Verity.

Outside was a mess. Broken placards and splashes of red paint covered the stairs as Theo offered Verity a hand, helping her dodge a puddle of crushed eggs. Police swarmed the street, strong-arming the remaining protesters as they screamed, resisting arrest.

She didn’t take the hand, not wanting to give them anything else to yell about as she averted her eyes. It had been bad when she arrived, but all out pandemonium must have erupted soon after.

“Fucking animals,” she muttered reaching Theo’s car. He opened her door before she could stop him.

She couldn’t look at him. This wasn’t his fault, but lingering thoughts nagged at her. Thoughts of fights and donor numbers and Cliffhaven.

He slipped in and pulled away from the Exchange before asking, “Are you okay?”

Was she okay? Physically, she was fine, but…

“Verity?” His hand found hers, a squeeze that she usually found so very reassuring.

“One of the donors is missing,” she said, watching him for a reaction.

A frown, his eyes flicking between her and the road. “Who? How long have they been missing?”

“Georgie. Her dad was one of the protesters, he was asking about her. He… he looked scared. Apparently, her client took her away for Valentine’s, I don’t know if anyone’s seen her since.”

“I’ll look into it.”

“Like you’re looking into the donor numbers?” she countered.

“Yes,” he said, hand leaving hers when she didn’t move to hold his back. “I am looking into it.”

Verity looked out the window, watching the passing street lights behind his reflection. “And Cliffhaven? You looking into that too?”

“What about Cliffhaven?”

“I don’t know, Theo, you tell me.”

His nose scrunched, that face he pulled when she pushed him. When he was pissed off. Well, two could play at that.

“How about we try to enjoy the night?” he asked, words clipped.

“Enjoy the night?” she snapped. “I just told you one of the donors from my group is missing, that her devastated father is looking for her, and you want me to enjoy the night?”

“What do you want me to do, Verity?”

“Find her! I want you to find her!”

“And how the fuck am I meant to do that?”

“I don’t know!”

“Well, neither do I!”

They sat in silence until Verity’s lip began to tremble.