Page 21 of Corrupted Lies

Stop it, Jake.

His reminder to himself did little to help when Alannah came back downstairs looking adorable in a simple pair of black leggings and mint green oversized sweater, with her hair in a messy ponytail.

Together they headed outside, and when a scan of the busy little street he lived on didn't reveal any potential threats, they started walking. As they walked, Jake couldn’t quite get out of his mind how Susanna had been attacked after a late night trip to the grocery store. These people were always watching, and once they marked you as a target, they didn't let up.

It was too late to pretend that Alannah wasn't an important part of his life, but maybe he could see if she’d be willing to go with the others to stay with Delta Team until this mess was over. The guys had finally made the decision to send Willow, Susanna, Becca, Essie, and Gabriella away. No one was happy about it, but the Delta Team guys were … something else entirely, and Cassandra was already staying with them. There was literally no safer place in the world right now, no one even knew where those guys lived. Well, he suspected Eagle did, but no one else, and it wasn't like Prey’s CEO and founder was going to tell anyone.

“All right, we’ll be quick. Grab what you need and get out,” he reminded Alannah as they stepped inside the small store. It was about a fifth the size of a supermarket, but it sold pretty mucheverything you’d need, just in smaller quantities and with fewer brand choices.

“Agreed.” Alannah shivered, betraying her nerves.

Even though he’d love to split up to get this done quicker, it was safer to stick with her. So he followed her down the aisles as she grabbed the ingredients she needed to make her lasagna.

“Oh, I forgot the tomato paste,” Alannah announced, quickly spinning around. “It’s just down the other end of the aisle.”

Before he could stop her, she was hurrying back the way they’d just come.

One second she was there, the next, items from the shelves were crashing down around her as flames leapt to life.

October 15th

5:40 P.M.

One second, she was turning to search for the tomato paste on the grocery store shelf, the next, cans were flying off the shelves toward her.

Not just cans and bottles.

Something was on fire.

Alannah felt the searing heat as it brushed against her skin before whatever it was landed on the floor beside her.

People screamed around her, and she could hear footsteps. Most seemed to be moving away from her, but one set drew closer.

Jake.

Somehow, she felt him before she saw him. Before his arms wrapped around her, snatching her off her feet and carrying her away from the small fire already dying out on the linoleum floor.

Three days.

Three fires.

No coincidence.

This one, like the last, seemed to have been aimed solely at her, but she still couldn’t figure out a single person who would want her dead or even suffering. She just didn't make that kind of impact on other people. People liked her, seemed to enjoy her company, but they didn't love her. They didn't become obsessed with her to the point of wanting to destroy her.

If this was about Jake and his family, why did these people think she was the best person in his life to target? She could see targeting Cade’s daughter, that made sense. Even going after Connor’s ex-girlfriend, who he hadn't seen in twelve years, could kind of be explained. But she was just Jake’s friend. Best friend, but still. Then again, these men had targeted Susanna, thinking she was Cole’s girlfriend when in reality they were just neighbors.

So … maybe it made sense?

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Jake’s urgent questions managed to penetrate the thick fog settling over her and because she could hear the thread of worry in his voice, she gave a shake of her head.

Not hurt, just scared.

Terrified really.

When was this going to stop?

Reality was sinking in and Alannah realized the gravity of the situation she found herself in.

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