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Thinning my lips, I let my eyes float to the window. “I don't know what you're talking about, I'm just trying to make conversation.”

“Don't play games with me, we both know that's bullshit. You want to try and get to me, you want to try and reach my human side. Do you think I haven't seen it before? Do you really think that you're the first person to try that shit?” Glancing between the mirrors, he changed lanes. “I've got news for you, there isn't a single part of me that's humane, it doesn't exist. I don't care about what you want, or if you think going to the cops is the right thing to do.” I felt him look over at me, the heat off his glare melting me to the seat. “What ever happens after tonight isn't up to me, I can only do so much. But the cops, they can't fucking help you, and they definitely won't help me.”

Fuck you it's not up to you. You have a choice, you always have a choice.

Twisting my face to his, I tilted my head. “Right now itisup to you. You could pull over and let me out, no one would know.”

“I would know.”

“But that's it, just you. You didn't tell that person you called that someone else was with you.”

Flaring his nostrils, he gritted his teeth. “You don't know what they know, you couldn't hear what they were saying.”

“You're right, I don't.” Holding up my hands, I nodded in agreement. “That doesn't mean you have to tell them the truth. You could pretend we never met, you could tell them that I got away, fuck you could even tell them you killed me. No one would know if you were lying or not.”

Letting out a cynical laugh, the man arched his brows. “You don't have a damn clue. Do you really think it's that easy? Do you honestly think that I can just play pretend?” Slamming the steering wheel with a heavy fist, he yelled, “Fuck! Why did this have to happen?! I didn't need this shit! I have enough to worry about, and now I have you.”

Cowering in my seat, I was afraid he might strike me. There was so much anger in that man, a deep dark anger that I had never seen before in anyone else.

My eyes grew big, muscles trembling. I knew he had the power to kill someone, what would stop him from hurting me?

Curling up into a ball, I wrapped my arms around my legs, wishing I could dissolve, wishing I had the ability to transform into air and float away.

The man glanced down at me, his face falling flat and emotionless. “Relax, I'm not going to hit you or something.” Sighing, he looked away, pulling his hands down the wheel. “I might be a monster, but I'm not a complete fucking asshole. I just don't want you expecting a happy ending, I can't promise you that.”

Unfurling, I slid my feet off the seat and placed them on the floor. Fiddling with my fingers in my lap, I looked down. “I don't know what you want me to say. You won't tell me anything. Why don't you tell me what's going on so I know then? Why did that man want to kill you?”

“Trust me, you're better off not knowing. Once we get back, then I can figure out exactly what to do with you.”

“I don't want to die,” I said right back, no pause or thought put into my response.

There wasn't a single portion of my soul that was ready to give up. I wasn't ready to lose my life over something that had nothing to do with me at all. I wasn't connected to the man beside me or the man he killed.

All I wanted was to be freed, to be released back into the world I knew. Why was that so much to ask for? He chose to take me, I didn't ask to be here.

“Yeah, well, unfortunately that's not up to you.”

My lip twitched at the corner as my skin flushed with frustration and anger. “I'm going to have a say in this, I can tell you that. It's my fucking life—mine. No one can take it from me.”

I should have been terrified, I should have been cowering and pleading for my life. But I wasn't going to beg for something that was mine to begin with. And I would be damned if I was going to let this man think he could control me with fear.

“Sweetheart, your control is gone, you have none. So you better make peace with that now.” The car began to slow down as he pulled off the exit. Reading the sign, I made sure to take a mental note of where we were.

Exit seven, Coventry.Repeating the city over and over in my head, I watched for more street signs so I knew how to guide help my way when I had the chance.

“Yeah, we'll see about that.”

His eyes jerked in my direction, lids squinting with curiosity. “You know for someone that has no fucking clue what they're up against, you have balls. You should be fucking scared, this isn't a damn joke.”

“I won't give you that.”

“Give me what?”

“My fear.”

“Even that's not yours anymore. You might lose everything; your past, your name, your very existence.” His lip curved high, cutting into his cheek. “Whatever you thought your future would be, it's all gone if you don't listen to me.”

His smile coated my body like liquid hell, smothering my chest and making it hard to breathe. I thought a smile would be a good thing, but it wasn't. There was pleasure on his lips with a hint of satisfaction.