Betrayal embrace

The air hung heavy, thick with a dread that squeezed the breath from Scarlett's lungs. Sweat beaded on her forehead, turning icy cold as it trickled down her face. 

Her heart hammered a fierce tattoo against her ribs, a trapped bird desperate to break free. Blood drained from her face, leaving behind a pale mask that reflected the terror gripping her insides. This wasn't part of the plan. Not here, not now.

"Scarlett? Scarlett, are you there?" Carlo's voice, a deep rumble that usually soothed her, now cracked with a raw panic that sent shivers down her spine. It wasn't just fear she heard in his tone, but a crude terror that mirrored her own. 

"Please, anything. Just a sound to let me know that creep isn't hurting you."

His words, laced with a venom she'd never heard before, confirmed her worst nightmare. Liam. The name itself was a curse, a whisper that sent a cold tremor through her.