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“I’ll protect her with my life, sir. You can count on it.” With one last look at Thorn, I headed outside.
* * *
Dawn
I couldn’t believe I was stuck in the middle of a hurricane, alone and scared. The wind was howling and the rain was pounding down so hard I couldn’t see past the windshield of my stranded car.
The wind tore at the car, battering it harder with each passing second. Sometimes gusts actually shook the car where I sat. I’d never appreciated what it meant for wind to howl, but I got it now. It bent the tops of the limber palm trees as leaves thrashed about in the tops. If this was just the beginning of the storm, I really didn’t want to be here when it struck in full fury.
I shivered. Not from cold but pure, unadulterated terror. I believed my dad when he said he’d get me home safely. I also knew that telling me he’d send someone to get me meant he didn’t think he could get to me in time to save me. My dad never trusted anyone with my, my siblings, and my mother’s safety unless it was impossible for him to get to us himself.
I jumped when my phone trilled. My dad. Thank God!
“Daddy?”
“Are you hanging in there, sweet girl?” My dad had called me sweet girl since he and Mom had first brought me home from the group home where I’d lived. It was comforting to hear his voice and it settled me. Not much but enough I thought I might fight off the panic attack I could feel looming.
“I’m trying. It’s raining really hard and the wind’s picking up.”
“I know. I know. The edge of the storm has reached us. Esther says its momentum is slowing down so it will be longer than they first thought before the worst of the storm reaches us. We’ll get you to safety before it gets too bad.”
“Kinda feels like it’s pretty bad already.” I could feel a whimper trying to work its way up my throat, but I refused to give in and let it escape. I could be brave. For my father. El Diablo. He knew no fear. As his daughter, I tried to adopt his mannerisms, but it was really hard. Like now. I wasn’t brave. I was a fucking mess.
“I know, sweet girl. Now, listen to me carefully. The new president of Bones is coming for you. You’ve met him before. His name’s Cliff. His brothers gave him the name Ice because he’s cool under pressure. He will get you to safety and protect you until I can bring you home. You stay with him. Trust him. Do as he says. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I understand.”
“He’ll be in a Bronco unless something changed since I last talked to him. I’m texting you his number. If you have to leave the vehicle, you let him know where you are so he can find you.”
“I will.”
“I’d stay on the phone with you, but I don’t want to use any more of your battery than strictly necessary. Keep your phone plugged in as long as you can.”
“OK. I will.” I took a shuddering breath, my control slipping as I spoke with my father. Most people never saw the soft side of him, but I could hear the concern and fear in his voice. Nothing could bring El Diablo to his knees faster than knowing his family was in danger. If that danger came in the form of a person, I doubted anyone could protect them. Considering the threat to me was a storm? Well. The fact that he’d gone for help from one of the other clubs he associated with told anyone paying attention all they needed to know. Yet I knew without a doubt my father didn’t care if someone found out he had a weakness. Not if it meant he got me back safely. He’d contain the damage later.
I ended the call and took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. The rain was still pelting down, turning the world outside into a gray, blurry mess. My stomach twisted with anxiety as I wondered how long it would take for Ice to reach me. I was alone in the car, in the middle of a hurricane, with no idea what was going to happen next.
There was a noise different from the sound of the rain or the wind. It was a deep, rumbling sound, growing louder and louder. I peered out through the window, trying to see what it was, but all I could see was a wall of water rushing toward me.
I screamed and covered my head as the wave hit the car, shaking it violently. Instinctively, I gripped the steering wheel even though I knew I had no control over the disabled vehicle. The car was pushed along by the force of the water, skidding across the road and slamming into a tree.
