Page 63 of Anger

What the hell had happened? The last thing Lanie remembered was being in the park. So how had she ended up here? Alone and frightened.

Mac

“He will kill her!” Mac snarled at the cop. His eyes were focused on the screen where a live video of Lanie being held hostage was playing out. Simon Clare, confirmed lunatic, had somehow managed to hack into a news feed and was showing this live for everyone. The news outlet had scrambled to take it off air, but Simon had done something, and they couldn’t. Millions of people were watching his fiancée be tortured.

“We’re doing everything we can, Mr McIntyre,” the officer soothed.

“Are you? Where? You knew weeks ago there was a target on her and did nothing!” Mac spat. That might have been unfair because Mac and Ranson hadn’t found him either, but that was beside the point. Lanie was being held captive, and Mac couldn’t sense her.

His bond was intact, but it was dulled, and it wasn’t working correctly. Mac guess Lanie was either deep underground or in a shielded room.

“We didn’t have a lot of information to go on, Mr McIntyre,” an inspector said, approaching.

Mac glowered at him. “You have nothing. We were attacked in the park by a rocket launcher, knocked out, and Lanie kidnapped, and yet you claim nobody saw anything? Are you working with him?” Mac hissed.

“Mr McIntyre—”

“Shove it. My cousin is back in hospital with head injuries, and the other guard is dead. And Lanie has been taken, and you don’t even have images of the car she was thrown into!” Mac yelled. “Are you totally incompetent?”

His phone beeped, and Mac looked down.

“That’s quite enough, sir—”

“You’re right. It is. My team have managed to get camera footage and the white van’s registration plate that she was shoved in. If my people can do that, why can’t yours?” Mac hissed.

“How did your people—” the inspector began.

“Ask someone who cares. My people will do your job for you,” Mac started, heading towards the exit.

“Where are you going?” the inspector called.

“To get my woman back. Something you lot can’t do. And this is the best you can offer? You’re jokes. My team had a lead in less time than you did. You still don’t have the licence plate. If I wait for you to get your head out of your ass, Lanie will be dead!”

On that note, Mac headed out. Lanie needed him. He tugged on the cord, hoping for a response, but it was weak and unresponsive. Mac would be rescuing Lanie the old-fashioned way.‘Hang on baby, I’m coming,’he thought at her as he raced out of the police station.

Lanie/Lamia

Lanie sobbed as Simon threw a bucket of water over her. So far, the torture had been mild. A few slaps, punches and kicks, but Lanie was also pregnant, and she was terrified he’d catch her stomach.

“You can make this stop,” Simon cooed. “Just shift.”

“I can’t force my body to do something it’s physically incapable of doing,” Lanie cried.

“Quit lying! Filthy monster,” Simon screamed.

Lanie blinked as a light switched on, and she ducked her head, squeezing her eyes shut. The sudden light hurt them; she had been in darkness for hours. She was also hungry, thirsty, and tired. Lanie had no idea how long she’d been cooped up, but it had been several hours at least.

“I am done with you. You’re so far beyond crazy, it’s insane. No matter what I say, you’ll continue with this delusion I’m something I’m not. Stop talking to me because I’ve nothing to say to you!” Lanie snapped.

She closed her eyes and curled into as tight a ball as possible. What she had seen appalled her. Two large spotlights stood on tripods, blinding her with light, but there were six cameras pointed at her. All flashing with red dots, which meant she was being filmed. Lanie thought it was live as well. Thank God she’d held back from shifting.

She just had to hold on because she knew Mac would be coming for her. He wasn’t dead; their bond was intact but nonresponsive. Lanie suspected because she was being shielded.

Even so, Lanie had faith in Mac. He was her mate; he would come for her. Blows rained down on her back and legs as Simon lost the plot and began beating her. As he came near to her stomach, she flinched and finally cried out.

“I’m pregnant! Stop it!” she screamed.

Simon’s arm froze in mid-air as he looked at her.

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