EXCERPT FROM BETRAYED - A romantic suspense novel | Page 18

MORGAN ST. JAMES FOUR There is no little enemy. ~Benjamin Franklin While Tommy went outside for a smoke, Sherry stepped into the massive living room. She headed toward two gorgeous young women. The one called Angela wore a sexy, deep green satin gown molded around her curvaceous figure like a second skin. An emerald necklace nestled just above a very impressive cleavage and highlighted her long auburn hair. She was in deep conversation with a cute blonde named Sonia who perched upon a plush purple velvet sofa. Tonight Sherry had no patience for the blonde who always griped nonstop about her money problems. She cut the perpetual whiner off in mid-sentence with an acid edge to her voice. “You’ve got it better than any of us. How come you never do anything but complain?” Angela patted the place next to her on the matching loveseat. “Calm down, honey. You seem nervous. Everything okay?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You know, I have this creepy feeling, like something strange is going on. Do you feel it, too?” Sherry shrugged off the question and joined the discussion with one eye on the silver clock atop the marble mantel. Just a little before seven. Tommy was still outside, but the gentlemen guests would start arriving soon. As stupid as it was, they always pretended it was a social event until each of the ladies took their “date” to one of the many bedrooms. The strains of Johnny Ray’s “Just Walkin’ in the Rain,” played softly in the background. No need to be nervous. Sherry tried to convince herself no one would be able to see or hear Laurie. Surely Angela couldn’t really know anything. After all, the girl was tucked away in a third floor room, all the way on the other side of the mansion. Sal’s booming baritone rang out. She tensed. The other 12