Page 111 of In the Long Run
‘I knew you were perfect for me the first time we met,’ he croons, his thumb digging into the flesh under my jaw.‘But then you met Jailbird, and I had to get you away from him.’
Knox.
God, I wish he was here.
‘He’s always taken the things that are mine.He did it in high school and he tried to do it with you.But you’re mine, Genny,’ Brand says.
He’s still touching me, dragging his horrible hand all over my face, playing with my hair.His lips are too close to mine.
‘I know, I know.You want this too,’ he says.‘I could tell you didn’t want to be with him.I’ve been trying so hard to make him leave.To save you so we could be together again.’
I’m shaking.I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline or fear.Ineedto get away from Brand.There’s a car park.On the main road.I’ll flag someone down.
Get to where the people are.
‘But it’s okay.I’ve got you now.’
‘Brand.’
Why has it taken me so long to speak?I think I’d forgotten I could.
‘Yes, Genny?’He says it like we’re having a totally normal conversation.Like I’ve asked him to pass the salt.Or if he knew who won the football last night.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I manage to get out.
All his teeth appear.He likes it when I apologise.
‘Can you forgive me?’
Brand stands taller, pleased with himself, his gaze focused on my mouth.A sliver of distance appears between us, and hereleases my hands, leaning forward, about to kiss me.I don’t second-guess myself, don’t hesitate.Finding every skerrick of strength and energy I have, I plant my hands in the middle of his chest and shove.Caught off-guard, he lurches to the side.My knee swings up, hitting him right in the groin.As he bows forward, hands clasped over his junk, I crash my elbow down between his shoulder blades.
And then I run like hell.
I crash through the bushes and the trees.Hands pushing off their rough trunks.Fall into the scratchy bark of one I’m not quick enough to dodge.I’m bleeding.
But I keep running.
And I know exactly where I’m going.
Who I need right now.
What I need to do.
37
KNOX
The doors to Get Fit, Get Strom’s weights room burst open and Gen falls through them.There are leaves and twigs in her hair, her top is torn and – holy shit – is that blood on one of the sleeves of her running top?I rush towards her.
‘I don’t want you to go,’ she cries as soon as she sees me.‘I understand that you have to.But I don’t want you to, and I wanted you to know that.I want to find a way to make this work.’
‘What is happening here?’Meredith pokes her head into the room, face paling when she sees the state Gen’s in.
‘Halliday,’ I say slowly, my brain struggling to process what I’m seeing, because Gen’s physically shaking right in front of me, ‘did someone hurt you?’
Gen’s eyes fill with tears.When she raises her hands to wipe them away, I notice how dirty she is.‘And I need you to come with me to the police station.’
‘Bernie!’Meredith yells.
