Page 126 of Death Wish

Her face burning, Simone stumbled along beside Trevor as they exited the building and walked to the car.

Once again, he opened the passenger side door, shoved her inside, and said, “Scoot over.”

Without arguing, she did as he instructed and strapped on her seatbelt. Once he was inside the vehicle, she started the car and drove back onto the Interstate.

Trevor tore into the sandwich and wolfed it down in minutes along with the chips, then downed his soft drink.

Simone watched him from the corner of her eye and wondered if he would give her the other sub. No way would she beg him for food. She’d rather starve first. Trevor would enjoy her groveling and his ego boost at holding her in his power.

Just like she had expected, Trevor closed the bag of food and set it by his feet. The Jerk was probably going to hold the food for himself, making her go hungry to satisfy his own power trip.

The lack of food didn’t bother her as much as the lack of sleep and water. The next time they stopped, she’d have to get water somehow.

“Aren’t you going to ask me for food?”

“Nope.”

He scowled. “Why not?”

“You bought food for yourself.”

“Think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”

She shrugged, flinching as her shoulder protested the movement. One more thing she needed. Pain meds.

“You’ll eat when I say you can.” Trevor trailed the barrel of the pistol from her cheek down her neck to her side. “And when you beg me on your knees. You’ll only eat from my hand, baby, or you won’t eat at all.”

Oh, yeah. Definitely an ego trip. She didn’t respond. Why bother? She’d never beg for Trevor to feed her.

She focused on driving, following the speed limit and praying her help from Fortress would find her soon. She needed to be by Jesse’s side.

Mile after mile passed with Trevor alternating between taunting or threatening her and popping another pill to keep himself awake.

He couldn’t sit still. One minute he was facing the window. The next he twisted in the seat to stare at Simone.

She much preferred for him to watch the scenery out the window as they passed. When Trevor watched her, he couldn’t keep his hands to himself. He kept touching her leg, her arm, face, and finally sliding his hand under her shirt.

“Knock it off, Trevor,” she snapped. “You’re distracting me.”

He grabbed her side and squeezed hard. “You don’t tell me no. Ever,” he yelled. “Do you understand me, Simone? I’m in charge now, not you. You’re nothing.”

Her watch vibrated twice against her wrist. A warning to cooperate and not tick off her crazy ex-boyfriend? A signal that help was close? She prayed the latter was true.

“Okay, okay. You’re the boss. I’m just reminding you that if you distract me, I could run us off the road. Neither of us wants that.” Especially her.

His fingers gripped her side harder. “Better not or you’ll pay the price.”

Despite her best efforts to contain them, tears trickled down her cheeks.

“That’s better,” he gloated. “I like it when you cry. You’ll be doing a lot of that for the rest of your life, baby.”

Not if she could help it. At the first opportunity, she was gone.

Two hours later, Trevor said, “Take this exit.”

Mindful of Zane listening and watching their progress on his computer, she said, “Exit 52?”

“Yeah. When you get off, turn left.”

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