EXCERPT FROM BETRAYED - A romantic suspense novel | Page 14

MORGAN ST. JAMES

THREE
Remember when life’s path is steep to keep your mind even.
~Horace
When Sherry finally untied the ropes, my arms and legs
screamed in pain. She lifted my head, shoved a glass between
my lips and hissed, “Drink this.” The sweet scent of her
perfume turned my stomach.
Breathe. Breathe.
Cold hazel eyes drilled into mine. “Laurie, if you do what I
say, everything will be fine.” In two quick motions, she jerked
me into a standing position, turned me toward the other side of
the room and pushed—hard. I stumbled and nearly fell. Blades
of pain shot into my arms and legs.
“Am I dr-drunk, Sherry?”
No answer.
I collapsed into a little chair next to a fancy dressing table,
feeling like a puppet with broken strings. Sherry fussed with my
hair and slathered makeup on my face. I tried to focus on the
person in the mirror who looked back at me—the one with
painted ruby-red lips, gobs of mascara, and rouged cheeks.
“Who—who is…”
“What do you mean, who?” she asked. “It’s you, my little
prize, all fixed up for your date tonight.”
I tried to rise, but she pushed me back into the chair, and
said, “Look, do yourself a favor, Laurie. Don’t fight me. If you
don’t do what I say, you’ll wish you never set eyes on me.”
Blackness descended again wrapping around me like a
magician’s cape, and I surrendered myself to the dream.
She floated toward me, holding out her hand. Mama
pointed a finger at her and said, “I’ve cleaned a lot of houses to
pay for these ballet lessons. You take good care of my Laurie.”

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