EXCERPT FROM BETRAYED - A romantic suspense novel | Page 38

MORGAN ST. JAMES

EIGHT
Cruelty is fed, not weakened by tears.
~Publilius Syrus, Maxims
Sherry’s face slowly came into focus.
“Okay, Primadonna, get up. It’s Showtime!” She reached
under my arms, and yanked me off the bed, then smoothed my
hair and checked my makeup.
Afraid. Breathe. Breathe.
“You’re going to meet a very important man in a few
minutes, Laurie. He loves pretty teenage girls, so we want you
to be very nice to him. Do you understand? Don’t even think
about trying anything, because we’ll be right outside this room
listening.” She glanced over at Tommy and winked. He laughed
in that goofy way of his, rubbed his hands together, and they
eased out of the room.
Click.
The door locked. I was overcome with dizziness, but forced
myself to walk around the strange room. At first I staggered,
then got my balance. Just as I felt steadier, the sound of a key
rattled in the door. It creaked open.
A strange man stood in the doorway, flashing a pleasant,
fatherly smile. I held my breath, afraid to say anything.
Something about him struck fear in my heart. Maybe it was the
crazy way his eyes glittered. There was a wicked undertone to
his smile, too. I backed toward the wall. He moved too.
Everything about him was gray or silver except his skin. His
suit jacket, gray with skinny stripes, wrapped his chunky body
without as much as a wrinkle. His thick, wavy hair was almost
the same shade of gray. Even his shirt and tie were gray. His
glasses, resting on a rather large nose, had silver frames.
He inched closer, talking like those rich people you see in
the movies. “Don’t look so afraid of me, my dear. Laurel, isn’t
it? You know, you’re far more beautiful than your picture. Such

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