Page 157 of The Betrayal

“Hello?” I say to the gowned figure, the bottom of his face hidden behind a mask.

“Hello Arizona,” dark eyes shimmer with a glint of uneasiness and my blood runs cold. I have no idea who this man is, but he isn't anyone I have met before.

Panic claws at my throat as I reach for the buzzer, but his hand is on my wrist, stopping me.

“Get off of me,” I shout, before screaming but it doesn't help. He slaps his hand across my mouth and turns me to look at him before he rips his mask off.

And that’s when I recognize the eyes.

His face.

Everything about him.

“Don't make a fucking sound, do you understand me?” his eyes bug, jaw sharp like glass and cheek bones hollowed.

I nod, eyes watering and I try my hardest not to cry in front of him.

“Good girl,” his chilling voice sends shivers up and down my spine. “Now, I am going to lift my hand... you're not going to make a peep, are you?” he asks and I shake my head quickly.

He lifts his hand from my mouth, and I roll my lips. They hurt. He was forceful. My fingers spread on top of the covers to try and feel around for my phone but it's not there.

“Looking for this?” he catches me, and my phone is in his hands.

A whimper leaves me and just when I think he is going to hit me, or kill me, he smothers my mouth with a muslin cloth and it doesn't matter how much I try and fight it, it's useless. My body feels heavy, lungs burning, eyes closing and that's all I remember before my world goes black. Silent. Empty.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

ARIZONA

My eyes finally open after trying continuously, but my head is groggy. I feel sick to my stomach and I have no idea where I am. I blink a couple of times and see I am in a white, sterile room. But it's quiet. There are no machines beeping, no babies’ heartbeats, nothing.

I try to sit up, but I can't. I am strapped down to the bed by my ankles and wrists. Panic blankets me, heart racing frantically.

“Help!” I scream, my voice cracking where my throat is dry. ”Please,” I cry, “someone help me.”

I see the door open, my heart skipping beats and that's when a tall, scrawny, black haired man walks in. Brown eyes seek out mine, an evil grin on his face.

“Well, good morning Arizona,” he is next to me, fingers digging into my cheeks as he turns me to look at him. I have no idea why he chose me. The only link to him is through Dex and Sage.

“Stay away from me,” I grit, but all he does is squeeze tighter.

“Can't do that Vixen.”

And I feel my once warm blood turn to ice instantly, chilling me to my bone.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” he leans closer to me, “I'm Wolfe, or, as you know me Tall Dark and Handsome.”

I laugh. Hysterically laugh which causes him to drop his hand from my cheeks.

“I'm sorry, but you don't suit your chat name; for one, you're not handsome. In the slightest.”

And I feel it. The skin on skin contact as he slaps the back of his hand across my cheek with an almighty blow.

My eyes sting with burning tears, my throat bobs and I struggle to catch my breath.

“Don't you dare, slut.”

A name I have heard more than once, it doesn't sting like it used to.