Page 118 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
I looked at the limo. Why wasn’t Donnelley doing something? He was supposed to be protecting both of us. Why was he letting this happen?
“Answer me,” Isabella said. She lifted the gun a little higher.
“Yes, this is just like home.” That was the answer she wanted right? “Because I’m garbage.” I didn’t believe the words I was speaking, but saying them out loud made me feel so small.
“Rotten. Disgusting. Hideous. Pathetic. Oh my God, are you crying?” She laughed.
I reached up to touch my cheek. I didn’t realize I was crying. But the moisture on my cheeks proved otherwise.
“This is even better than I imagined. Now take it off.”
I stared at her. “Take off what?”
“This isn’t the time for sass, Sissy. Take it off.”
I was pretty sure she was staring at the top of my head. The tiara. Of course that’s what she wanted me to take off. My hands shook as I reached up to unpin it from my hair.
“Now!” she screamed, her voice echoing around the empty parking lot.
My fingers were still shaking, making it impossible to unpin fast enough. So I pulled the tiara, and did my best to stifle my scream as it tore out some hair with it.
“So much better. But I mean all of it.”
I was clutching the crown in my hand. “What?”
“The dress. Take it off.”
“Isabella…”
“It’s as hideous as you. I’m doing you a favor.” She took a step forward. “Or would you rather I kill you?”
I pushed the straps off my shoulders. And when she kept the gun pointed at my face, I reached around and tugged at the zipper. The dress fell to the ground, pooling at my ankles. I was standing there in my underwear, bra, and sneakers. The cold fall air bit at my exposed skin.
“Oh my God. Get rid of the shoes too.”
My body was shaking. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the cold or because I was terrified. Maybe it was both. But I couldn’t take off my Keds. I couldn’t let her take the last thing my mom had gifted me. “Please, Isabella.”
“Take them off and maybe I’ll let you live.”
I swallowed hard. Isabella could destroy physical things. But she’d never be able to take away my memories. Unless she killed me. I slowly kicked my shoes off.
“Much better. Now do you want the good news or the bad news?”
I didn’t want anything from her. I just stared at her.
“You’re no fun.” She backed up and tapped on the limo window.
Donnelley slowly climbed out of the car. He was holding a large cardboard box in his hands.
“Donnelley!” I said and took a step toward him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Isabella said. “Donnelley is on my side. Not yours. Isn’t that right Donnelly?”
He didn’t say a word. But he looked miserable. And so freaking guilty. I could tell he wasn’t coming to my rescue tonight. Especially since he was looking at the ground instead of at me.
“So which is it, Sissy? The good news or the bad news?”
Elite - Chapter 37
