usand whi

iello estate. I knew because I had counted the bundles myself, my fin

he florists, my voice raspy from dehydratio

for a maid," a voic

at cost more than my father's medical practice used to make in a month. She desce

me so she could look down. "Dante will propose right

chest like a shield. The LVAD pump hummed against my ribs, a constan

. But I'm also impatient. I don't want to wait for y

s darted to the security camera

amsel in distres

eact, she threw

iling theatrically as she tumbled down the last six marble steps. She lande

ed, clutching her ankle

He took in the scene instantly: Sofia weeping on the floor, me s

pened. He didn't look

truc

blow knocking me into the floral arch. The structure coll

if she were made of glass. "If she has a scratch o

l lights we

rmrest. My cheek throbbed where he had hit me, but the pain

om. He rolled up his sleeves, his

he lost blood from a gash on her leg.

," I sai

He signaled to a nu

can't. My heart condition... I'm anemic. If you

his voice cold and flat. "You can spare a pin

e woman, begging her with my eyes to check my chart, to see the LVAD

vy outline of the gun in his holster, and

edle s

my life leaving me, flowing out to s

ession unreadable. He didn't look at

ots danced in my vision, and the hum of my pum

te said. "N

an't," I

He dragged me into Sofia's room. She was sitting up in bed

said, shoving me towar

l to stay upright. Sofia smir

rry," I

He placed a hand on the back of my

ute. I was the donor, the savior, the victim,

said, my voice breaking

esh bruise on my cheek, then on the bandage on my arm where he had stolen my blood

aned. "Dante,

me instantly. "I'm h

ed out of the room. Neither of them watched