Page 22 of Anger

“Are my staff evacuating?” Lanie asked as they burst through the doors and began heading down.

“Yes. The fire is contained for now, and security is there, trying to stop it from spreading. Everyone is leaving the building, Miss Cross,” McIntyre stated.

“The disabled people?”

“The disabled elevator is the only working, and security has manned it to get them out. They have a list and are going floor to floor where they work,” McIntyre replied.

They’d descended four flights, yet many levels remained. A door opened above them, and Ranson called out.

“Keep heading down. I’ll catch you up,” he shouted at them.

“On it,” McIntyre replied as he kept hold of Lanie’s hand

and moved quickly down the stairs.

“Is anyone hurt?” Lanie demanded.

“No. Not yet. Please keep moving, Miss Cross,” Ranson answered.

“I smell smoke,” Lanie announced a few minutes later. They’d gone down half her building now, and she was becoming winded.

“The fire is near,” Ranson confirmed, sounding closer.

“We need to keep going even if we’re walking,” McIntyre said.

“Okay,” Lanie agreed. Below, she could see smoke and wondered if the staircase was blocked. As they headed downwards, the fumes thickened.

McIntyre stopped and ripped the edge of his tee off. “Cover your mouth with this,” he ordered, handing her the scrap. Lanie nodded and coughed.

Ranson landed beside them.

“The fire is two floors below, but the smoke is getting thicker. We need to move at speed. Miss Cross, if you can’t keep up, we’ll carry you,” he announced and gave her a little push.

Lanie was out of breath, and her feet hurt from being barefoot. It would take more than a fire to kill her, but it could cause her great pain.

With Ranson at her back and McIntyre in front pullingher, they continued. The fumes were a lot thicker now, and Lanie looked frightened. She pulled back and McIntyre turned and slung her over his shoulder and carried on jogging down the stairs. He was coughing and choking, but somehow, he managed to keep going.

McIntyre had slowed down when suddenly the air lightened, and Lanie heaved a sigh of relief. They were through the worst. But her legs felt like jelly, and she wasn’t certain her head was clear.

Hell, Lanie wasn’t even sure that she could stand until McIntyre placed her on her feet.

“Three more floors, Miss Cross. You can do it,” he encouraged. There was soot on his face, and without meaning to, she reached up and wiped it off.

McIntyre’s gaze held hers, and something passed between them. “You can do this,” he murmured, and Lanie nodded.

They began moving again and finally burst into the underground car park.

“Keep Miss Cross here,” Ranson ordered as he raced away from them. McIntyre pushed her behind him, and Lanie sagged against the wall. She planned to have those stairs removed and a blasted slide put in.

Ranson pulled up in the car, and McIntyre moved out with her and shoved her in the back. As soon as he was in, Ranson was moving. Lanie sat and sought to control her breathing. She hated that Ranson and McIntyre barely seemed out of breath.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Lanie demanded, noting how tense they were.

“We’re hearing from the chief of security at the tower block. It was arson, Miss Cross. They have footage of Simon Clare gaining access to the eighth floor and setting the fire,” Ranson explained.

Lanie said a few words that weren’t particularly ladylike. McIntyre raised an eyebrow, but Ranson remained impassive.

“Rhett Stone, who runs the other security company, is coming to meet you,” Lanie said, feeling like she needed to offer Ranson something.

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