22|Hurt Everywhere

Natalie roused to life in total panic when she realised she was in a stationary car, dead sure it was Paul's, and he'd somehow come back for her.

It had to be.

It had the same luxurious interiors and leather car seat smell—a smell she would now associate with the beating she had endured at his hands.

With dread, she turned to the man beside her, expecting to see his cold, pale blue eyes staring back at her.

She trembled with relief when she found Levi focused on his phone.

She was so happy it wasn't Paul, so relieved she was safe— for the moment at least—she said a small prayer of gratitude, sobbing when the memory of Levi holding her so gently after he almost ran her over drifted through her mind.

"You're awake," he said as he peeled his eyes away from his phone and gave her his undivided attention.

Behind the wheel sat the man from earlier, the same one who'd wanted to call an ambulance, and Natalie immediately tensed up, remembering Paul's warning. She had to leave before the ambula