Deadly Storm (9 page)

“Or just shut your mouth,” Sophie suggested. “No one cares what you have to say.”

“You know what?”

Sophie ignored her. “I have to get going,” she said, focusing her attention on Mandy. “You shouldn’t stick around too long either. There’s a tornado watch, and the weather forecasters say it could be a really busy night due to a multitude of storms. You should get home before James has a coronary.”

“He’ll be fine,” Mandy said, waving off Sophie’s concern. “I told him my class ended an hour after it’s supposed to tonight. Last week’s class was longer because it was the first one. I didn’t want him to freak out. I’ll be home before he can even work up the energy to worry about me.”

“He always worries about you,” Sophie said. “Still, drive safely. I’ll see you Sunday, right?”

“Definitely,” Mandy said. “With fall almost here, we’re running out of nice days for barbecues.”

“We’ll just have to move them inside,” Sophie said. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Funnel clouds have been reported over M-59,” Grady said, striding into James’ office. “They’re right by the college.”

James glanced up from his computer, frowning. “What time is it?”

“Almost seven.”

“Mandy’s class doesn’t get out for another hour,” James said, getting to his feet. “I need to get out there.”

“You’re going to drive toward the tornado? Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

“I think it’s the only thing I’m going to be able to live with,” James said. “I can’t just sit here and hope she’s okay. I’m going.”

Grady sighed and ran his hand through his shoulder-length dark hair, his brown eyes flashing. “I’ll go with you.”

“What about Sophie?”

“Well, ironically, she was heading out to the college this afternoon, too,” Grady said. “She wanted to question the people in Mandy’s class.”

“Do you think she’s still there?”

“I’m hoping she’s smart enough to take cover with Mandy instead of getting on the road when a storm is barreling down.”

“How sure are you that she would do that?” James asked, serious.

“Not very sure at all,” Grady admitted. “Let’s go. You can drive and I can keep my eyes open for hazards. It’s probably the safest way. Once we’re all together, we’ll feel better.”

“That’s a good idea,” James said. He glanced around the office. “Where is Jake?”

“He left a half hour ago,” Grady said. “He wanted to wrangle Ally and hunker down for the night. There was some bold talk of a candlelit dinner in the basement.”

“Don’t tell me that,” James complained.

“They’re living together. They’re having nonstop sex. They’re just as gross as you and Mandy are. Get over it.”

“She’s still my baby sister.”

“Grow up,” Grady said. “Let’s get moving.”

The two men were halfway across the office when Finn and Emma emerged at the bottom of the staircase. Finn had three pillows and a blanket in his hands, and Emma was clutching a huge laundry basket of food, drinks, and flashlights.

“Do I even want to know?” James asked.

“There are tornadoes,” Emma said, breathless.

“We’re going into the storeroom,” Finn said, shifting from one foot to the other. “Emma isn’t going to relax up there. Not with tornadoes moving across the region. I figured it would just be easier to get settled now. Maybe she’ll take a nap then.”

“I am not overreacting!” Emma was shrill.

“I didn’t say you were, sweetie,” Finn said, widening his eyes when he met his brother’s curious face. “You want to keep our baby safe. You’re the best mother in the world.”

“I am.”

“I know.”

James forced a grim smile for Emma’s benefit. “We’ll lock the front door. We’re leaving now.”

“You should stay with us,” Emma said. “It’s not safe out there.”

James glanced out the front door, where the sun was still shining although storm clouds were looming on the horizon. “I think we’re safe for now. We have to get over to the college.”

“Why?”

“That’s where Mandy and Sophie are,” Grady said. “We have to get to them.”

“They’re probably hiding in the basement there,” Emma said. “You shouldn’t go out on the roads.”

“My wife is out there,” James said, forcing himself to remain calm. “There’s nothing in this world that will stop me from getting to her, and that includes a tornado.”

“Be careful,” Finn said. “I’m not sure the phone lines will stay up, but call me when you’ve got them and everyone is safe.”

“You’ve got it,” James said.

“Good luck,” Emma called to their backs as they purposely strode toward the front door. “If you die out there, Mandy and Sophie will never forgive you.”

“Thanks for the pep talk, Emma,” James said. “Lock yourselves in. It’s going to be a long night.”

“WHERE
is your flashlight?” Jake asked, glancing around the basement. “Everything you brought down here is food and wine.”

Ally held up a furry set of handcuffs. “Not everything.”

Jake smiled. “I’m glad you brought the essentials. We need a flashlight, though. If the power goes out, we’re not going to be able to see when we need to find the stairs.”

“I don’t have a flashlight.”

Jake’s smile tipped down. “Why don’t you have a flashlight?”

Ally shrugged. “I’ve never needed one.”

“Flashlights are basic survival gear, angel,” he said. “Everyone needs one.”

“Well, I don’t have one.”

“How do you suggest we find our way upstairs if the power goes out?”

Ally stuck her tongue out. “Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot,” she said. “I’ve already thought about that.” She rummaged in the box at her feet and triumphantly came back up with candles in her hands. “See.”

“I guess those will work,” Jake grumbled.

“And they’re romantic,” Ally said.

“Only you would turn a tornado into a game of seduction,” Jake said. “What is all this stuff? Is this dinner?”

“It’s sandwiches,” Ally said. “I made them before you got home.”

“What’s with the canned corn?”

“Hey, we might be down here for days.”

Jake grinned. He couldn’t help himself. “So, what, we’re going to cuddle on these blankets, cuff ourselves together, eat canned corn and … ?”

“Have a lot of sex,” Ally said.

Funnily enough, Jake was fine with the suggestion. “I can live with that. What about bottled water?”

Ally pointed to the refrigerator in the corner. “There’s a whole case in there. I bought it last week.”

Jake glanced around the basement again, taking in the scene. There were a few boxes stacked in the corner, all belonging to him. He was mostly unpacked, but there were a few random boxes to deal with. He hadn’t spent a lot of time in the basement. “What are you going to do down here?”

“What do you mean?”

“This is a lot of space you’re not utilizing,” Jake said. “It’s your house, though.”

“It’s our house,” Ally corrected, rolling her eyes. “And, if you must know, I plan on having the basement buffed up so you can have an office.”

Jake stilled. “What?”

“You need some space of your own,” Ally said. “I’m not an idiot. I love living with you. I don’t take you needing a place to call your own as anything other than what it is: a necessity.”

“I’m not sure what you’re saying,” Jake admitted.

“I know you love me,” Ally said. “I also know you’re the type of guy who needs some time to yourself without me hovering … or climbing on your lap … or making you watch
Dancing with the Stars
. It’s okay. I’m not offended. I like to curl up alone to read from time to time, too.”

“You’re really going to build an office down here?”

“Over there,” Ally said, pointing at the far corner. “I thought we could get a better couch for over here, and maybe even a pool table. We can turn it into one of those man caves.”

“Don’t you want something of yours down here?”

“Just you.”

Jake smiled, snagging Ally around the waist and pressing her flush against his chest. “I didn’t think it was possible to love you any more than I already do. I was wrong.”

“I want us to be happy,” Ally said. “I’m aware of my limitations. No matter how much you love me, I’m going to irritate you.”

“I think that’s impossible, angel.” He brushed her wavy hair away from her face. “You’re perfection.”

“Wait until you see me in nothing but candlelight,” Ally said, excited. “I think that’s my best lighting.”

Jake reluctantly released her. “Light the candles. I’ll spread the blanket and pillows out and get the sandwiches ready. As soon as we’re done eating, I have something else we can do to entertain ourselves.”

“Naked hide and seek?” Ally asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Jake considered the offer. “You read my mind, angel.”

“THIS
is rough,” Grady said, leaning forward as he tried to peer out the front window of James’ Explorer.

The rain was coming down in a heavy torrent, pooling on the top of the road and making the heavy vehicle slide occasionally. Traffic was at a crawl in some places and a standstill in others. The smart motorists had pulled over to the side of the road and were hoping to wait out the storm. The closer James and Grady got to the college, though, the more worried they got.

“There are three trees upended over there,” Grady said. “I don’t think a tornado touched down right here, but it was close.”

“I can’t look away from the road,” James said.

“Don’t. I was just talking to … talk.”

“You’ve always been that way.” James was going for levity, but the teasing of his voice didn’t make it to his eyes. Neither one of them was saying it, but they were both frightened. “Have you been able to get Sophie on her phone?”

“No. It goes straight to voice mail.”

“That doesn’t mean anything happened,” James said. “Cell service could just be interrupted.”

“I know.”

“I ... I’m sure she’s fine.”

“It’s okay,” Grady said, his voice soft. “She’s smart. I keep picturing her sitting on the floor of a classroom, her back against a wall and a big smile on her face as she sits and gossips with Mandy.”

“That’s what I’m picturing, too,” James said.

They were silent for a few minutes.

“What are you really thinking?” Grady asked.

“I keep picturing Mandy buried under the roof of a building and calling for me,” James said. “She had a nightmare the other night. She was walking through the school building and someone was after her. She was upset.”

“It was just a dream.”

“It doesn’t feel like that right now,” James said. “She woke up calling for me. I … I need to get to her. I can’t bear the thought of her calling for me.”

“I know how you feel,” Grady said. “I … stop the truck.”

“What?”

“Pull over,” Grady snapped, gesturing to his right. “Here. Here!”

James had no idea what was wrong, but he followed Grady’s instructions and pulled to the side of the road. “What’s going on?”

Grady’s hands were shaking as he tried to unbuckle his seatbelt. “That’s Sophie’s car.”

“Where?” James had no idea what Grady was talking about.

Grady pointed again, and when James concentrated, this time he saw a vehicle turned on its side against a tree. It was mangled. He wouldn’t have recognized it if Grady hadn’t told him what he was looking at.

“Sonovabitch,” James swore, slamming the Explorer into park and killing the engine. “I … .” He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. Grady was already bolting out of the Explorer and racing toward the car.

“Grady!”

“ARE YOU
sure you’re all right, ma’am?”

Sophie pushed her hair away from her face and focused on the fireman as he questioned her. The tornado had come out of nowhere, the winds whipping her small car to the side before she even thought of pulling over. She’d slammed into a tree and then tipped over, momentarily blacking out before waking up to find she was trapped in the vehicle.

After struggling to free herself for almost ten minutes, the sight of flashing lights was so welcome Sophie almost sobbed with relief. It took the firemen a few minutes to extricate her from the car, but now that she was out, all she could think about was calling Grady. He was probably frantic.

“I’m fine,” Sophie said. “I’m sore, but nothing is broken.”

The fireman flashed a light in her eyes. “Did you hit your head? Do you think you should be transported to the hospital?”

“I didn’t hit my head,” Sophie said. “The seatbelt hurt me when I flipped on my side, and the airbag burned me a little on my arm, but I’m fine. It’s all superficial.”

“I’m worried you’re in shock, ma’am.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Sophie!”

Sophie shifted, her gaze falling on Grady as the rain fell in a sheet. For a split second she thought she was hallucinating. Grady’s warm arms and frantic hands told her this wasn’t a dream, though. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” Grady said, kissing her softly. “I … I saw your car. I thought something horrible happened to you.”

“I didn’t even see it,” Sophie admitted. “The wind was strong, and it was raining really hard, but I didn’t realize what was happening until it was already over with. Things could have been worse.”

“You scared me, sugar,” Grady said, pulling her tight against his chest. “You scared me.”

“Is she okay?” James asked, appearing out of the misty gloom.

“I don’t know,” Grady said, shifting his attention to the fireman. “Is she?”

“She claims she’s fine. I don’t think a trip to the hospital would hurt, though. An ambulance is on the way.”