She didn’t and she already knew that, but she wanted to pretend she had to think about it. Give her something else to think about that wasn’t her stomach growling or how thirsty she was.

Would she die of dehydration and starvation? How long did it take for that to happen? Monroe hadn’t drunk or eaten anything in over a day, trying to save money for gas. Like that did her much good. She probably could have gotten a bottle of water or something to eat at the last gas station she’d stopped at.

Monroe didn’t know how much gas ten dollars was going to get her in this city. A strangled cry escaped her lips at the thought of the city. She had no clue where she was and that worried her.

Everything was starting to crash down on her. The reality of escaping him and driving to who knows where was settling in. Oh gosh. What was she going to do? How was she going to earn money when she was on the run? She wasn’t cut out for this type of life.

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she tried to ground herself. She needed to get a hold of herself. There was no time for panic attacks or worrying about things. She needed to get moving.

Monroe forcibly relaxed her body and let her arms rest on her lap. She needed to find a gas station, get gas, and ask if anywhere was hiring. Would they hire her with all the bruises or turn her away?

A shiver ran through her body as she let out a shuddering breath. It was so hot. She knew she shouldn’t have worn all this clothing, but she wanted to cover up so no one saw the bruises and called the cops.

Before she could think about the answer, knocking on the window pulled her from her thoughts. Turning her head, she stared at a figure towering over her car. Heart rate picking up, it took her brain a couple of seconds to realize it was a man and he didn’t look happy.

Her eyes quickly scanned his features and took in his short brown hair and beard, dark jeans, and deep red button-down shirt before her reflexes triggered and she scrambled as far away from the door as she could get. Large men with muscles were bad news.

Opening her mouth, she let out an ear-piercing scream and shied even more away from the window. Who was that? Could he have already found her and sent someone after her? To keep her here until he arrived?

Her eyes went wide, and she stopped breathing as she stared at the man on the other side of the window.

CHAPTER TWO

MONROE

Monroe sat frozen in her car, not breathing, her hands starting to shake. Shit. She was about to have a panic attack.

So many things were running through her head as she stared at him. Did he know Jared? Had Jared sent this man to hurt her? Put her in her place and tie her up until Jared got to town and forced her to leave with him?

Black started to cover the corner of her vision and her eyes burned with tears. Everything was getting to be too much.

“Breathe,” the man said.

His voice was surprisingly calm and tender. Why would he be telling her to breathe? Wouldn’t he want her to pass out so he could break into her car and kidnap her? Her eyes went even wider at that thought. Shit. She needed to breathe so she didn’t pass out. She didn’t want to be taken.

“Breathe,” the man said again, but this time it was more of a command.

Her hand flew to her neck and she winced as it connected with a bruise. Monroe’s eyes stayed on his as she started to claw at her neck. She needed to breathe but couldn’t. It was like her brain couldn’t comprehend enough to send a signal for her lungs to breathe.

The man by her window bent down and while it eased some of her worry, at the same time, it sent her into an even worse panic. Was he going to pick her lock and break in?

“Can you focus on my words?” he asked softly as if he was speaking to a child.

Monroe stared into his eyes and took a little gasp of breath, her hand tightening around her neck. Wincing, tears sprung to her eyes as the pain radiated through her neck. She needed to stop doing that, but she couldn’t. She didn’t think she could take her hand off her neck.

“Just listen to my voice and try to calm down. Everything’s okay. You’re okay. Take a deep breath in. Hold it for a second. Let it out now,” he spoke as he walked her through breathing.

Monroe took a deep breath in again but started to cough, which resulted in her breathing picking up again. If she couldn’t breathe in deep, how was she going to breathe at all?

“No, no. Don’t panic. You’re okay,” the man said. “Look at me.”

She couldn’t bring herself to look at him again, instead looking at her other hand that was laying on her lap, shaking.

Waves in her vision started to appear and her head lolled to the side for a second.

“Look back at me,” the man commanded. “That’s it. Good girl. You’re doing great. Now, I want you to take a small breath in. Not too big.”

She tried to take a small breath in, but her lungs seized and she shook her head.