EXCERPT FROM BETRAYED - A romantic suspense novel | Page 8

MORGAN ST. JAMES

out of my chest. A tall woman walked to the foot of the bed and
stood there holding a tray. In one graceful move, she turned
and placed it on the dresser, shrugged and came back to the
bed. She bent toward me, blonde hair spilling over her
shoulders like a glistening shawl. “Well, Laurie, I see you’re
finally awake.”
Sherry?
Waves of relief cut through my fear until those familiar
strange gold flecks in her hazel eyes flashed like caution lights.
Full lips, painted brilliant scarlet, drew into a sneer. My
jumbled mind shrieked that something was horribly wrong.
“Aw, look at that. The little ballerina is frightened.” She
shook her head. “You know, you’re really a trusting idiot.”
She reached out and stroked my hair, her long fingers
catching in the mass of tangled black waves. It was her cruel
smile that scared me most. She held my chin in a vise-like grip
and fixed me with a gaze as cold as ice.
“You know, you’re not only trusting, you’re awfully naïve for
someone seventeen years old.” The sound of her high-pitched
laugh raised the hair on my arms.
“You know how you said the Coke tasted funny at lunch
yesterday? Well, that was because I slipped something into it to
knock you out. Honey, you lost your cherry last night.”
Cherry? What was she was talking about?
She tightened her grip and her fingers dug deeper into my
shoulders “Stop that damn crying. You’d better do exactly as I
say or―”
Sherry had always been sweet and caring which was why I
adored her. I didn’t recognize this terrifying stranger hovering
over me.
“Damn you, quit wiggling! Just calm down! Her fingers
traced a line along my cheek, and stopped at the fabric jammed
into my mouth. “I brought you some toast and juice. Here, let
me take that thing out of your mouth for awhile.” She untied
the knot and the gag fell away. My mouth was so dry it felt like

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