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‘You said you wished Nash was more like me.’
‘Did I?’
‘Yes!’ Anger flashed in his eyes. ‘Don’t make out you don’t remember, Rori, because I just don’t believe you.’ He made the frustrated growling sound in his throat and I froze. ‘I’ve done somuchfor you, Rori. I’ve done things I never thought I would. I’veput myself indangerfor you. But I didn’t care about myself. I just did it so we could be together. Like we were always meant to be. And now you’re telling me it was all fornothing?’
‘Indanger?’ A feeling of dread was growing inside. ‘What do you mean, Lance?’
He laughed. ‘Well, I got rid of your sister for starters.’
‘You gotridof her? What... what are you talking about?’
‘Well, do you really think that photographer, Gerry somebody, would have found out where Skye had run to if it hadn’t been for me tipping him off?’
‘What? Buthow... oh, God, I mentioned his name to you and Janey after art class that time.’
‘You did. And I knew it was a sign, that you wanted me to handle it. He was very easy to track down and you got your place to yourself again when Skye left to stay at Ada’s.’ He turned. ‘You should bethankingme instead of making it seem like I’m some kind of villain.’ His tone was suddenly loaded with resentment and I recoiled.
‘Look, can we just go back to the car and talk?’ I begged. ‘Please? I’m getting really cold sitting here. And... and you’re supposed to be my protector.’
‘Are you cold?’ His tone changed in an instant. He sounded anxious, shrugging off his jacket. ‘Sorry. Here you are. That’ll keep you warm.’ He draped it over my shoulders and I just let him do it, knowing I had no choice. Whatever I said, Lance was in charge. He would do what he wanted and there wasn’t a thing I could do, except wait to find out what he had planned for me...
I stared miserably into the darkness, listening to the water gushing down and wondering how I was ever going to get away from this man, who was clearly living life in his imagination. My phone was burning a hole in my pocket, but I’d never be able to use it while he was sitting so close.
‘You know, I never meant to destroy your paintings.’ He turned to me. ‘Is that what you think? Is that why you’re being so cold and aloof with me? Because you think I did it deliberately?’
‘What paintings, Lance?’ I turned to him. ‘What paintings did you destroy?’
‘Your watercolours, of course. The ones you had hanging in the summerhouse. All up in flames. Poof!’
I stared at him, my mind reeling. What was he saying?
‘Nash didn’t deserve you. I always knew that. But I also knew you’d never have the strength to leave him, and that’s why I came up with a plan to split you up for good.’
‘A plan?’ I felt nauseous.What had he done?
‘Yes, the fire. Mind you, at first I thought it hadn’t worked because you actuallywent back to him, even though I know you suspected Nash had started the fire deliberately.’ He turned to me with a disapproving shake of the head. ‘You really were pathetically weak back then, weren’t you, Rori?’
‘But the fire, Lance?’ The feeling of nausea was intensifying. ‘I mean... are you actually telling me thatyou started it?’
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
He nodded and the pride I saw in his face – that he’d committed arson for me – sent shivers of horror down my spine.
‘Oh my God, you wanted me tothinkit was Nash so that I’d end the relationship?’
‘Yeah.’ He shrugged. ‘I thought if I set fire to your summerhouse with all your paintings inside, you’d think Nash had done it out of spite because you’d threatened to leave him that night. But pathetically, you actuallybelievedhim when he said he must have left a cigarette burning in there by mistake but he hadn’t done it deliberately.’
‘I wasn’t sure what to believe at the time. But now I know I should have trusted that Nash was telling the truth. It wasyouwho set fire to the place. Nash did nothing wrong.’
‘Nothing wrong? You wereterrifiedof him.’
‘I was terrified of his angry outbursts, yes. But he’s getting counselling now.’
‘Hold on, are you saying you’d actually go back to him if he wanted you?’ He gripped my arm. ‘Is that what you’re saying?
‘No!’
‘Are you sure? Because I wouldn’t put it past you.’ He put on a high, girlish voice.‘Oh, Nash is having counselling, so he’ll get better and we’ll live happily ever after now!’
