Page 27 of Anger

“He’s so full of hate, I dread to think what he would do if he got hold of you,” Callidora worried.

“Stop. He won’t. My security is being tightened and I’m taking a few days off to spend at the holiday villa I visit,” Lanie said.

“That’s good, Mum. But if Alainen becomes too much, burn your identity and flee,” Callidora argued.

“I will do, sweetness, don’t worry. This isn’t my first time around the block,” Lanie reassured her daughter.

“Love you. I’ll come to the villa too, and we’ll spend some time together,” Callidora said.

“That sounds amazing!” Lanie exclaimed.

They said goodbye, and Lanie entered the kitchen in a much better mood.

“A friend?” Mac asked.

“Yes. We’re planning to meet up,” Lanie answered with a smile.

Mac blinked as if her smile stunned him before returning his own blinding grin. “Food won’t be long. As I’m cooking, you can serve drinks,” Mac teased and checked on the food.

Lanie shook her head. Who’d have thought she’d have this hunk of a man cooking for her and bossing her about? Certainly not her.

McIntyre

As he served up their dinner, Dale and Ranson both arrived within minutes of each other. Mac watched carefully at Lanie’s reaction to Dale and realised they did have a sibling relationship. Dale teased Lanie unmercifully, and Lanie snapped at every taunt until she turned it back on him.

Lanie was much more relaxed than he’d ever seen her.

She tensed up a little when Ranson arrived and questioned him mercilessly, but she also listened carefully and took on board what he said.

Mac was concerned that Lanie might be keeping more secrets from them. But then again, he was keeping a huge secret from her. How she’d react to that he was not sure, and it did worry him. Mac wasn’t pleased to hear that arson had been confirmed, as was the sighting of Simon Clare.

Simon Clare was proving to be more than a stalker. Ranson confirmed he’d dealt with the police, and they were aware of what was happening.

Mac knew the danger was amping up. He had to keep Lanie alive. Something told him it was imperative she survive. And weirdly, he thought his own happiness also depended on that.

Lanie/Lamia

She’d gone to the office this morning to assess the damage with the insurance investigator and thanked her lucky stars it was an admin floor that had been affected. The labs and design studios were locked down and therefore unattainable to anyone who didn’t have a code. Once done with him, Lanie asked Ranson to take her to the hospital, where some staff had been hospitalised through smoke inhalation.

Nobody had been hurt, but even so, some had inhaled a great deal of smoke, and twelve of her employees had been kept in.

After visiting them, Lanie went for a walk in a park. She needed to clear her head, and Ranson and Mac followed her.

She rounded the duck pond and came face to face with Simon Clare.

“Bitch!” he seethed as Mac stepped up and shoved her behind him. Lanie glimpsed a gun and clutched Mac’s tee.

“Back away, pal,” Mac threatened.

“You don’t know what type of monster she is. She must be stopped. She carries a disease in her that infects the world,” Simon yelled.

“Mac,” Lanie murmured. Ranson had moved to one side, looking for an opening to take Simon down. Lanie’s heart was in her throat.

Simon’s eyes were clear and full of fear and hate. He wasn’t mad; Alainen had got to him and was using him.

Lanie guessed exactly what Alainen was doing. Should she be killed by Simon and turned out to be an innocent, Alainen could deny having anything to do with her death.

“Dude, you’re either high or insane. Which is it?” Mac retorted.

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