The Chill of Betrayal

Victoria! Th

cellar door. I could hear Chloe' s

s. "You always take her side, don't you? The two of you, against me

he steam room. A small, personal spa she'd had inst

h her so badly?" Vi

f the estate, moved. They were large men, impassive and efficient. One grabbed my l

d me to the

ocked on the cellar door. Chloe' s cries we

ou can sit in here and watch your precious daughter until you

avy glass door slammed shut, the lo

side, her phone in her hand

ents. The room began to heat up at an alarming

said, her voice distorted by

her heels clicking on the st

hat separated me from the cellar. Through the swirling steam, I could jus

was a full-blown panic attack. Her chest was heaving, her hands clawing at her own throat as if she c

ured down my face, stinging my eyes. Every breath was

re, separated by only a few feet of glass and stone, and I was completely, utterly helpless. I

er movements became sluggish. The frantic energy of her pani

And all I could do