Page 82 of The Dark Stranger
"Well, well, well," Jenna purrs, stepping fully into the room and letting the door swing shut behind her. "Look who's awake."
She moves slowly, circling the bed like a predator sizing up prey. Her eyes—visible through the mask—are bright with something that looks like satisfaction. Like she's been waiting for thismoment.
I straighten as much as I can, gripping the wall for support. My head is still spinning, but I force myself to meet her gaze.
"What the fuck is going on?" I demand, my voice hoarse. "Where's Inez?"
Jenna's smile widens. She stops at the foot of the bed, one hand trailing along the silk sheets.
"Oh, don't worry about your little friend," she says sweetly. "She's not around. Daddies got something planned for her."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
My stomach turns violently. I fight the bile rising in my throat.
"What the fuck do you mean she's gone?" I snap, taking a step toward her. "What did you—"
The slap comes fast.
Her palm cracks across my face so hard my head whips to the side. Pain explodes across my cheek, sharp and immediate. I stagger, catching myself on the bedpost.
"You don't ask the questions here!" Jenna hisses, her voice sharp now, all sweetness gone. "I do!"
I press my hand to my face, tasting blood on my lip. The room spins again, but I force myself to look up at her.
She's standing over me now, her chest heaving, her eyes wild behind the mask.
I laugh.
It's bitter. Hollow. But I laugh anyway.
"So, what, bitch?" I say, my voice strained but steady. "What's your plan? You gonna fuck me to death?"
I tilt my head, smirking despite the pain.
"You could've at least bought me dinner first."
Another blow.
This one harder.
My head snaps back and I taste more blood. My vision blurs, but I don't fall. I grip the bedpost tighter, refusing to go down.
Jenna leans in close, her breath hot against my ear.
"You wish you could have all of this," she hisses. "But guess what? It belongs to Izzy. Remember him? The whole reason you're here?"
She grabs my chin, forcing me to look at her.
"You thought because you were a 'somebody' you could keep him? Well, I wanted him. And what I want in this world, I get."
Another slap.
My ears ring.
"Izzy?" I whisper, my voicecracking.
The name feels foreign in my mouth. Like it belongs to someone else's life.
