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They were quiet for several miles. Veronica decided not to waste her energy fighting him right now. Taking her across state lines was bad, but he’d have to stop for gas or a bathroom break at some point. If she just waited, she’d have her opportunity, assuming she could move like this or find something to cut through the ropes.
“Do you have family?” he asked.
“No.”
“Dead?”
“That’s rude.”
“I learned it from you.”
She sighed. “My mom is overseas. I don’t even have her phone number. My dad left.”
“When?”
“A long time ago.”
Veronica sat perfectly still, reviewing the past few minutes of conversation. In her attempt to seem human, she’d made it clear what easy prey she was. No family. No friends. No one to miss her. She’d just given him everything he needed. Now he could do whatever he wanted with her and no one would make a call. No one would file a missing person report. No one would be looking for her.
“You should have had savings,” he said. “With what you were probably making, there’s no excuse for—”
“Hey! I don’t have to listen to this shit. You’re breaking the law, and you’re probably going to kill me, so on top of that I don’t have to listen to your stupid bullshit. My business is my business. You got it?” The shot of bravery was stupid.
He pulled the car over on the shoulder, and leaned in so close that when he spoke, his warm breath feathered out against her face. “Princess, you have to listen to whatever I say you have to listen to. I took you because I wanted you. All right? Sheer want. I rode up and rescued your ass, and when I’m finished with you, you’ll politely thank me for it.”
Veronica reeled back like she’d been slapped again. “Fine. I fucking hate men. Sandy called it. You bully. You shove your weight around. I never feel safe anywhere I go alone because I might come across a man like you. And even if I’m not around a man like you, I have to worry that maybe that’s what I’ve stumbled upon. I can never feel safe walking through a park at night, or on an elevator with a man alone, or in a parking garage...”
“Who hurt you?”
“Besides you?”
“Oh, I haven’t hurt you, yet.”
Theyethung on the air, the darkest threat of the night so far.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
“Answer my question.”
“No one.”
He eased back and she could finally breathe again, then he turned the key in the ignition and pulled back onto the road.
* * *
Veronica wokewith a jolt when the car door slammed. The clock on the dashboard indicated it was close to midnight.
“You fell asleep, princess.”
“Stop calling me that.”
The gas station he’d stopped at was deserted, with only one flickering light over the gas pump. The night clerk looked like he’d done his fair share of felony, so no help there.
“Are you hungry?”
She’d been hungry since Luke had found her in the park hours ago. She watched him, afraid to look any weaker than she already looked.
“I got you chips and a drink. You’ll eat better when we get home.” He opened both the chips and soda and passed them to her.
