Page 1 of Betrayed

Chapter 1

Blake

The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I entered the campus coffee shop. It wasn’t the first time I’d had a feeling I was being watched. I paused and looked around, expecting to see some creeper watching me, but everyone looked normal. No one fit the movie-inspired image of a scary stalker I’d built up in my head.

Glancing over my shoulder as the door closed behind me, I noticed a guy staring. His attention made my skin crawl, but I forced myself to dismiss the feeling.He's not looking at me. Itwas the week before mid-terms and stress levels were high.I’m imagining it.

“Blake, over here!” Paige, my best friend and roommate, yelled, drawing my attention to the table she shared with Danny.

I waved and got in line to order a skinny latte with an extra shot.

“Can you believe how much reading we have to do this weekend?” Paige asked as soon as I sat down.

“It’s not so bad,” I replied. I liked reading case studies and looked forward to graduating in May. I couldn’t wait to join a not-for-profit organization and help make the world a better place.

“That’s because you love reading,” Danny said, his voice thick with sarcasm.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I replied.

“You like it a lot more than I do,” he said.

“I love learning.”

“Blake!” The barista called my name.

When I got up to grab my coffee, I looked for the staring guy. He wasn’t there anymore, so I pushed it out of my mind and rejoined my friends. Our weekly Friday meetups helped us unwind before I headed home for the weekend. Unlike my friends, I had to go home on the weekends. Not that I minded. I loved my father, and weekends were the only time I got to see him.

“Are you coming to the party tonight?” Danny asked.

“No, my parents are hosting a dinner party and I promised my dad I'd go.”

“Bummer, I’ll have a shot or two for you.” Paige laughed, knowing I wasn’t a big party goer.

“She’ll be sipping her fancy drink while we chug from a keg,” he said, then turned to me. “Need a date?”

I wouldn’t mind having a friend there, but I’d never ask Danny. It hadn't gone well last time, besides, it was too late. My step-mother would have a fit if she had to re-arrange the seating chart.

“Thanks, but you know how Cilla is.” Cilla was the nickname I gave Priscilla shortly after she married my dad, when her sweet demeanor turned rude and selfish. She married him for his money and status, and didn’t give two shits about me.

“Yeah, the Wicked Witch of Texas,” Paige said while rolling her eyes.

We all laughed. They’d met her, they knew. She was closer to my age than my father's and saw me as competition for his affection. I didn’t expect Priscilla to poison my food or hire someone to kill me, but she wasn’t interested in being my friend, either.

I clasped the gaudy diamond necklace around my neck. It wasn’t my style, but Cilla wanted to show off the family’s wealth. My mom had never forced me to wear anything I didn't like, but Priscilla would be unbearable if I didn't wear it. Besides, it was a simple thing to do to make her happy, and that made Daddy happy.

God, I miss my mom.She'd made this house a home; now it felt like a stranger’s.

“It looks like a tiara on my neck.” I shook my head, using the mirror to verify the pink streak in my shoulder-length blond hair was hidden. I refused to give Priscilla a reason to gripe at me.

I might not be a fan of frat parties, but I was sure Paige and Danny would have more fun than me tonight.Unless there’s a nice, smart guy my age I can talk to.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts.

“Are you decent?” My dad’s voice came through the door.

“Come in, Daddy.” I turned to greet him, holding my arms out so he could see the new gown he’d insisted I needed despite the closet full of fancy, once-worn dresses.

He took my wrist in his hand, towering over me at only five-foot-ten, and spun me around. “You’re a vision, Princess.”

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