Betrayal: a Gripping Psychological Thriller With a Breathtaking Twist: Paradigm, #4

By Catherine Tramell

"Oh, I remember something peculiar. She was wearing heels, turquoise-colored heels. I thought it was an odd choice. She was also wearing a ring on her right-hand middle finger. It was a birthstone. A small emerald, for May."

 

Victoria finds herself in a hospital room with no prior memories of the fateful nights. All she knows is her pain; all she can think about is her profound sadness.

She finds herself in the middle of a police investigation again, only this time, she is the victim. As soon as she believes herself to be one step closer to the truth, reality jerks her back with its unforgiving hands.

 

She is growing desperate, but she is not the only one. Her assailant is growing desperate as well. And the desperation leads to a slip-up, a slip-up that might give Victoria an only chance to be, for the first time, one step ahead of her assailant.

 

Will Victoria be able to grab that chance, or will she throw it away due to her desperation?

I got up to look with her as she tried to check under the china cabinet. She accidentally pushed the china cabinet ahead while trying to lift it.

I walked over to her to scold her for not being careful when I saw something, which made me stop dead in my tracks.

In the space from where the china cabinet had skidded nestled a pair of shoes: turquoise heels. Sitting there, in perfect shape, were turquoise heels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catherine Tramell
• Release date: Feb 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215259023

Catherine Tramell

Catherine loves reading and writing romance LGBT stories with unexpected twists and unusual twists. She loves seeing her fantasies take shape on the page and sharing her most private thoughts with the world. Her stories are always hot and steamy.Read one of her short stories and she'll become one of your favorite authors!Receive a notification when she publishes a new book by subscribing to her email list:https://www.subscribepage.com/[e-mail] me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathRomanceAuthor

Book preview

BETRAYAL

Paradigm Book 4

By

Catherine Tramell

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Contents

Prologue

Fear

Desperation

Love

Closure

Challenge

Dreams

Bold

How?

About the Author

DECUNSTRUCTION(Preview)

Prologue

The Other Half

Bread and Butter

Prologue

I

jumped down the fire escape and ran as fast as I could. I know heels are not the best choice for running, but I would never let go of these heels. How will I scare them if I let them go? I smirked, remembering her expression when she realized her changed locks did nothing to stop me.

What a silly girl! She would do much better if she used that pretty little head once in a while. I could hear her sobs. They resonated through the silent night air. Good. She should suffer. She should suffer in place of her wretched father. He died before I could do anything to him. I wish I had been the one to kill him. I gritted my teeth at the thought.

This place is starting to feel like home now. Small room, mattress placed on one end with a coffee table, and a desk with a computer on top of it. Simple, no attachments, just the way I like it. Too bad I am going to have to move soon. I put my keys down and moved toward the headset placed beside the computer.

After carefully locking the door, I put on the headset and listened. She is still crying. What is that? What? What does she mean by what is that? Victoria, look, she dropped something. My blood ran cold. What did I drop? I do not carry anything around with me. It’s reflecting. Shit! Oh, God! I dropped my pendant! No. I cannot lose that pendant. No! I got up immediately and slammed the headset on the table.

I ran a hand through my hair. I knew I was going to have to meet her one day. I always knew that. I just did not want that day to come this soon. I have to get that pendant back from her. I felt a sharp pain rise in one of my fingertips. I was biting my nails again. I let out an exasperated sigh. She is tougher than I made her out to be. I killed the people closest to her, yet she still wants to go after me? I did not know whether to call her dumb or brave.

I silently tiptoed into her apartment through her window. She was not home, yet I already knew that. I held the steel bat in my hand and hid in the dining room. The Last Supper. How I hate that painting!  

I felt a sudden surge of anger. Not now, now is not the time to let my thoughts get carried away. I had to stay focused, and I had to stay calm. I could not stop my own thoughts. I heard she was a suspect in a murder case. It is not for sure, though; otherwise, why would she be free? I heard conversations coming from outside the hall. I chuckled. No matter what Victoria did or where she went, she would never be able to escape any of this. It will always follow her around like a shadow. Due to other people’s inconsistencies, she will forever be haunted by her past. Just like I was, because of her father and her mother.

Lost in my own thoughts, I heard her walking in too late. Shit. I had made a mistake. Now all I could do was sit and wait for the right opportunity to get her from behind. I stilled my breath so I could hear her footsteps. Suddenly, her footsteps stopped. What happened? Did she notice something? It can't be. I was careful. That's when I noticed it. A piece of paper lying on the floor.

Shit! She tricked me! I cursed under my breath and sat completely still to avoid raising any more suspicion. I heard her footsteps become slow and deliberate. It will be much harder to blindfold her right now. The only option I had left was to make her unconscious. I did not want it to come down to this, but I do not have any choice now. I gripped the hand tightly and waited. Slow, deliberate movements.

I began to tiptoe toward the dining room door. I had to wait for the perfect moment to sneak up on her; otherwise, I could risk revealing my identity. I counted the seconds. One, a step; two, a step; three, a step; hold. Four, a step; now! I jumped behind her and made a direct hit on her head before she could turn around and attack me. Her eyes immediately drooped, and she fell to the floor, face first. I hit her head lightly once more to make sure she remains unconscious. She should get used to the darkness.

––––––––

Fear

M

y blood ran cold. The letter fell from my hands into my lap. My hands began to shake as my mind entered a state of frenzy. She was here. She sent this