Page 71 of Never Say Never

When he does, I pivot and raise my knee to his balls with as much force as I can muster.

Alan let’s out a shrill yell, sounding like a wounded animal as he drops to the ground, groaning. He releases my hair, but takes a large chunk with him as I break free.

I make a run for it, leaving everything behind as I scramble to the lift, tripping over my heels. Kicking them off as I go, my bare feet skid to a stop across the slick planks and I press the button over and over, bouncing from one foot to the other, as I watch the numbers slowly climb.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

The doors creep open with a ding and I jump into the metal box, relief flooding through me with a whoosh. It’s short lived, because just as the doors close, Alan’s hand shoots through the opening and pries them back as he climbs inside after me. The doors snap shut, with me trapped inside with this monster.

“No more running Scarlett, now you're finally mine.” He throws himself at me, and I manage to dodge him a couple of times before he grabs me. My shoulder blades ache from the way he's holding my hand gripped behind my back as he slams me up against the lift wall. Pain shoots out through my left elbow and radiates across my chest and back. But I don't give him the satisfaction of a scream.

As long as he keeps his hands on me, he can’t pull the stop lever. So, I fight with everything that I have to keep his hands on me, holding out hope that we reach the lobby soon and that Cohen got my message.

His hands rips at the sheer fabric of my dress.

“Stop!” My voice quivers. “Alan, this is not what you want. You’re going to go back to jail!” I plead with him.

He doesn’t speak, he huffs out in annoyance as he continues tearing at the fabric of my dress.

I remain silent and bite back a scream desperate to keep my composure.

“You owe me. I’ve wanted you since my father first started talking about this stupid deal. It’s the least you owe me after taking my seat away.”

“Alan, it wasn’t my call.” I struggle, knowing I might not have made the decision, but it was the right one.

“But this,” he digs his fingers into my hip, “this is payback for what your little boyfriend did to me.”

“He was only protecting me!” I recall Cohen fighting with him that night at the retreat.

“Not that night, you stupid bitch! He helped those little cunts frame me!” His breath is hot on the nape of my neck and I can feel him pressed up against me as I try to make sense of what he’s saying. I had no idea Cohen had anything to do with that.

“He’s pretty good with computers, but not good enough. But you should know Scarlett, that’s not the only secret he’s keeping.” He laughs into my ear and I choke back vomit as I hear him fumble with his belt. “He left a trail, and now I’m going to make him pay. Make you both pay.”

I watch the numbers as they countdown seven, six, five… I squeezed my eyes tight and I mentally count the seconds in my head. Ding.

Just as the doors start to open, my eyes flash open and connect with his reflection as he reaches for the lever. I panic and shove backwards, my body lurching and knocking him to the ground, his hand wraps around my wrist and tugs, taking me with him. My mouth connects with the ground with a crack and the taste of blood fills my mouth. Get out! Now!

Sheer fabric cuts into my skin as the sleeve of my dress gets tangled. Scrambling, I pull up to my hands and knees, crawling away from him, rejoicing when my fingers hit the cool marble of the lobby floor. I keep crawling, blood dripping and collapse to the floor, when the security guard runs up and draws his weapon. “Hold it right there!”

At precisely the same moment, Alan throws his hands in the air and Cohen comes crashing through the lobby doors.

His eyes find me, where I lay on the ground with a bloodied lip and wide eyes, “Scarlett?”

“I’m okay.” I manage, the words feeling like lead in my mouth as his gaze turns to Alan, those cool blue eyes burning with rage.

“You’re dead.” He whispers as he charges Alan, knocking him backwards into the lift.

“I said don’t move!” The guard yells as the doors slam shut, locking the two men inside the lift.

I’m paralyzed on the cold marble as the lights climb back up, stopping on the seventh floor. Please be okay.

I remain frozen as the security guard crouches beside me asking if I'm all right.

I nod and my body begins to shake.

“I’ve called it in ma'am, help should be here any minute.” He informs me, as I feel the warmth of his jacket engulf my trembling shoulders.

The wail of sirens breaks through the buzz ringing in my ears as the numbers slowly start to descend. Seven, six, five, four, three, two…