Rough and Ready [Men for Hire 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jane Jamison

  Kane raked a hand over the stubble on his jaw. “Yeah, I guess I am. I’d do anything to keep her. Even if that means dealing with you every day.”

  “Will you two fuckheads knock it off?”

  Jeff was as dumbfounded as Kane looked at Gabriel’s outburst. “Man, you’d better watch what you’re saying. You’ve got no call to rag on him or on me.”

  “He’s right, Cortez. Where do you get off calling us that? We won’t take that kind of shit even from you.”

  A big grin split the scowl on Gabriel’s face. “See? There it is.”

  “There what is?” First Alex hadn’t made sense and now Gabriel. Jeff wasn’t sure if it was them or if he’d lost a marble somewhere.

  “You big apes don’t even realize it, but you stick up for each other whenever someone else tries to hound on you. I’ve seen it while you’re working and I’ve seen it in the bars. And you just did it again.”

  Realization struck Jeff in his core. Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Granted, he liked dogging on Kane, but when push came to shove, he’d have the man’s back. “I hate like hell to admit it, but I think Gabriel’s onto something.”

  Kane’s jaw worked as though saying the words was hard to do. “Yeah. He just might be.”

  “So are we agreed? We can do this, right? We can have a life with her? The both of us?”

  Kane frowned, then shrugged. “Well, if we’re telling the truth, I have to admit that I do enjoy watching you with her.” He glanced at Gabriel and lowered his voice. “If you know what I mean.”

  “Hell, Kane, everyone knows what you mean.” Jeff laughed and stuck out his hand. He was relieved that they were no longer at each other and even more relieved that it meant they wouldn’t lose the woman they loved. “So we’re good?”

  Kane took it. “We’re good.”

  “If you two are finished hugging it out, I’d suggest you get your asses in a pickup and go after her.” Gabriel jerked his head to the storm. Heavy drops of rain started falling. “And get her somewhere safe before this storm hits.”

  * * * *

  The storm’s getting worse.

  The heavy drops of rain that had started just after she’d hit the main road had intensified into a wall of water that made it difficult to see the road ahead of her. Every word she’d ever told another person about being prepared for a storm ran through her head. She’d done exactly what she’d warned others not to do. Driving down a country road in the middle of a downpour was just asking for trouble.

  Crying about Jeff and Kane didn’t help matters, either.

  She wiped the tears away and concentrated on keeping the car from hydroplaning. The sky was a dark gray, but that wasn’t what concerned her the most. Off to the west, the sky had grown to a green-black, a color she knew meant that conditions were favorable for a tornado. She flipped on her radio and tuned it into a Tulsa station that carried weather information.

  “…tornado warning for the following towns, Bixby, Coweta, Destiny, Wagoner…”

  The tension in the announcer’s voice didn’t help. Not that she was listening much after hearing that Destiny was in the watch area. She gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white.

  “Shit, shit, shit.”

  She drove a mile or so farther until, all at once, the sheet of rain that had obscured her vision lightened. A farmhouse was off to the right, and she considered turning into the drive and asking to sit out the storm. If the owners were anything like the rest of the people of Destiny, they’d welcome her with no problem.

  She’d just started to relax when darkness blanketed the world around her. The rain stopped and her heart almost stopped with it.

  It’s the calm before the storm.

  She craned her head to the side and saw it. “Oh, God.” The large funnel of the tornado, at least a mile wide, swirled directly for her and the farmhouse.

  She whipped her car onto the narrow driveway that led to the farmhouse and gave up a quick prayer of thanks that they hadn’t had a gate to block her way. Laying on her horn, she slammed on her brakes, skidding her car to a stop in front of the house. She threw open her door, forgetting about her purse, and raced toward the porch and the green front door. Mud clawed at her feet, slowing her down.

  “Help! Please, is anyone home?” She stomped up the steps and pounded on the door. The sound of the storm’s approach grew louder as the wind picked up. Even if the tornado didn’t hit the house—and that was a huge if she didn’t want to count on—flying debris could injure or kill her.

  She screamed louder, aware that the sound of the whirlwind had almost drowned out her voice. Using both hands, she pounded harder.

  The door came open and Alex almost fell forward. She managed to stay on her feet as she gaped at the young blonde girl standing in front of her. She couldn’t have been older than ten as she clutched a doll in one hand and chewed a fingernail on the other. Fear oozed from the girl as her wide blue eyes fixed on Alex.

  Alex didn’t wait for permission. She pushed the girl back and stepped inside. “Where are your parents, honey?”

  “They’re at the neighbor’s house.”

  Oh, shit.

  The little girl’s eyes grew even bigger as she looked past Alex. Alex whirled, saw how close the tornado was, then slammed the door shut. “What’s your name?”

  “Cindy.”

  “Cindy, do you know where to go when there’s a tornado coming?”

  To her relief, Cindy nodded. Still, Alex’s patience was at its lowest point. “Take me there, Cindy. We have to get ready for the storm.”

  She took Cindy’s hand and waited for her to show her the way. “Where do we go, Cindy?” If she didn’t answer soon, she’d drag her someplace safe, like a hallway closet or a bathroom. “Honey, please, we don’t have much time.”

  Cindy squeezed her hand and pulled her to a door under the stairs. “Momma always told me to get in the cellar.”

  “Great. Then let’s go.” Alex took the lead and pulled the door open. Reaching around the side of the door, she flipped on the light switch. A brilliant white filled the area, showing the way down the steps. “Come on, honey.”

  But Cindy dug in her heels and refused to budge. Alex drew in a steadying breath and bent over so she could look her in the eye. “Honey, please, we have to get to safety.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I can’t go without my brother. Momma told me to never leave him.”

  Horror filled Alex as she straightened up and scanned the interior of the home. “Where is he?”

  Cindy pointed to a swinging door a few feet away. “Johnny’s in the kitchen eating a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. I wasn’t supposed to let him have one, but he put up a fit so—”

  “It’s okay. Listen to me. I want you to go into the cellar. I’ll get Johnny and bring him to you, okay?”

  The girl nodded as Alex helped her start down the stairs. “Don’t come out until I say it’s all right, okay? Promise?”

  Cindy crossed her chest. “Uh-huh.”

  “Good.” Alex closed the door and ran toward the kitchen. She hit the swinging door at a hard run, knocking it against the wall on the other side.

  Oh, my God. Where is he?

  The empty kitchen taunted her.

  She dashed around the small kitchen as though she had to have missed him. But he was nowhere to be found.

  The open back door banged shut, drawing her attention.

  He’s outside.

  Yanking the door open, she darted into the backyard. A boy around five years old stood staring at the horrendous mountain of whirling darkness as it moved its way toward them. Peanut butter and jelly made a colorful circle around his mouth and a small brown-and-white puppy squirmed in his arms.

  “Johnny!”

  Johnny turned, losing control of the puppy as he did. The puppy jumped out of his arms and raced toward the small red barn a few yards away. Johnny stared at her a moment, a
petulant expression pouting his lips, then rushed after his dog.

  “I swear I’m never having kids.” Alex raced after Johnny.

  * * * *

  “Drive faster, Kane.”

  Kane gritted his teeth. “I’m going as fast as I can without spinning out. Just keep your eyes peeled for her.”

  The rain had gotten worse, but he could handle driving through it. He’d driven through worse. But when the rain suddenly stopped, he couldn’t help but glance around.

  “Shit. There it is.”

  At first, Kane thought Jeff meant Alex. Yet when he followed Jeff’s gaze, he saw the tornado instead. “Aw, hell.”

  “Keep going. I don’t care if we have to drive straight through the son of a bitch to get to her.”

  Kane pushed harder on the accelerator. “She knows what to do in a storm, even if she gets caught out in a car.”

  “Tell that to the twister.”

  They drove on for another half mile before Jeff pointed to his right. “There’s her car in front of the Mason’s house.”

  Kane wanted to look, but his attention was focused on the sudden burst of rain and wind. Debris filled with tree limbs, leaves, and unrecognizable items pummeled the pickup. The strength of the wind was too much for him, and he struggled with the steering wheel. A roaring noise soon blocked out all other sounds. He couldn’t see the hood of the truck.

  “Are you ready? It’s going to be a rough ride. Hang—”

  It was the last thing Kane said before he blacked out.

  Chapter Ten

  Kane groaned and twisted to the side. Or at least he tried to turn, but the seat belt kept him in place. Pain seared through his arm, bringing him to an abrupt stop. Maybe if he didn’t move, it wouldn’t hurt.

  “Kane, are you okay?”

  “Yeah. I think so. Or at least, I will be.”

  He didn’t want to even glance sideways at Jeff. Not while his body ached. But he had to. If Jeff was hurt, he had to know. He turned to look at his friend, and luckily, found that the pain he’d gotten a moment ago was gone. Jeff looked as shaken up as he did, but he didn’t see any signs that he was injured.

  Only now did Kane realize that the truck had been picked up and tossed into a nearby field. But they’d gotten lucky when the funnel had dropped the truck right side up.

  Rain splattered against the cracked windshield, but that didn’t bother Kane. What had him freezing in alarm was watching the huge mass of whirling wind head straight for the farmhouse and Alex’s car.

  “Holy hell. It’s going to hit.”

  Unbuckling, Kane tore out of the truck only half-aware that Jeff was soon by his side. They ran toward the house, dodging flying bits of wood, limbs, and even a child’s wagon. He held his arms up to shield his face and kept on going.

  Kane’s heart was in his throat as he yelled Alex’s name. Jeff’s shouts mixed with his, but it was no use. No one could’ve heard them over the growl of the tornado.

  The twister struck, first picking up Alex’s car and sending it spinning skyward. It disappeared into the center of the tornado.

  “Get down!” Jeff grabbed his arm just as the monster of a storm cloud whirled its way through the house. The house seemed to explode, flailing everything inside outward. He fought against Jeff’s tug, but in the end, he had no other option but to fall flat to the ground on his stomach.

  The noise was deafening as Kane covered his head and closed his eyes. Something hit him on the back, sending a stabbing pain into him, but it was gone with the force of the wind. A moan, louder than anything he’d ever heard, swept over him.

  Although it had to have been only a couple of minutes, they lay on the ground for what felt like an eternity. His mind raced with worry for Alex, but there was nothing either of them could do. They couldn’t fight the pounding of the wind and to stand up would mean certain injury from the things flying around them.

  He waited and prayed.

  All at once, the wind stopped.

  Kane opened his eyes and saw Jeff staring at him. They stayed that way, side by side, getting their breath back. Jeff gave him a reassuring nod as both of them scrambled to their feet. But that reassurance was gone in the next second.

  “God, no.”

  Jeff spoke for both of them. The house was gone. In its place was a pile of rubble, boards, tree limbs, and household furniture wrenched together to form one massive tangle. The only part of the house that had remained standing was the staircase. But it was now a staircase that led upward into nothingness. The second story of the house was gone.

  Kane was off and running with Jeff at his side. “Alex!”

  “Alex!” Jeff’s voice was coarse and low, filled with despair.

  Jeff took to the right while Kane ran into the left of the contorted mess and started grabbing anything he could get his hands on. He’d find her if he had to move it all by himself.

  “Alex! Where are you? Can you hear me?” Kane paused, gaping at the blasted remains of the home. A photograph of the Mason family, Shirley and Rob Mason along with their two children, Cindy and Johnny, smiled up at him. Had the family been home when the twister hit? But where was Alex?

  Kane dug into the debris again, careless that it was cutting into his hands. “Keep looking. She has to be here.”

  Yet at the same time, he prayed that she wasn’t. He doubted anyone could’ve survived the tornado’s deadly assault. Maybe, just maybe she’d gotten someplace safe.

  He kept calling her name as he worked his way through the rumble. When he heard someone call out, he almost didn’t believe his ears.

  “Jeff, I hear someone.”

  They both stood stock still and listened. And then he heard it again.

  Racing toward the stairs, Kane started pulling a pile of boards and furniture away from it. Jeff joined him, and working together, they yanked part of a heavy sectional sofa standing on its end away from the staircase. It fell with a loud bang, but what it revealed made Kane drag in a quick breath.

  The sound of crying came from the other side of the door. Kane and Jeff attacked the remaining refuse that blocked the door.

  Please, God. Let it be Alex.

  Kane didn’t dare to hope that it was her cries he heard. He clutched the doorknob and tugged the door open.

  Cindy Mason stood on the top of the steps that led down into a cellar. Tear streaks stained her face and her big blue moisture-filled eyes stared up at him. “I want my momma.”

  Jeff pulled her into his arms. “Where is your mommy, sweetie? Is she downstairs?”

  “Is there anyone else down there with you?” Without waiting for her answer, Kane went down the first couple of steps, then grasped the railing so that he could lean down and peer into the tiny cellar. A single overhead light was enough to show him that the cellar was empty. He turned back to Jeff and the young girl.

  She shook her hand and clutched the doll she held tightly to her chest. “Uh-uh. Momma and Daddy went visiting.” Her lower lip trembled. “But they’re ’sposed to come right back.” A fresh flood of tears filled her eyes.

  Kane was back by her side and trying to act like he was calm. If she saw how worried he was, she’d get more upset and be of less help to them. “Honey, did you see a lady? A pretty dark-haired lady?”

  To both his joy and alarm, she nodded.

  “Where is she, sweetie?” Jeff’s voice was level and calm, but Kane knew it was all for the girl’s sake.

  “She went after Johnny.”

  Aw, shit. Johnny.

  Kane exchanged a worried look with Jeff. “Where did Johnny go?”

  * * * *

  Alex couldn’t move. Something heavy rested against her back. Dust clogged her nose and her mouth felt like it had a pound of dirt shoved inside it. Yet other than the weight on her back, she didn’t hurt. That had to be a good sign.

  She blinked and told herself to remain calm. Johnny lay underneath her and had the whimpering puppy in his arms. She’d thrown her body on top
of his, using it to shield him from harm.

  “Johnny, baby, it’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  He’d remained quiet, his huge eyes stuck on her, until she’d spoken. His face scrunched up, and as though her voice had taken him out of a trance, he began to wail.

  “Mommy! Mommy! I want my mommy!”

  She could move only one arm and with that, she stroked his face, trying to soothe him. “It’s okay, sweetie. I’m sure your mommy’s going to come for you real soon.”

  Please, let someone come.

  She dragged in a breath then coughed. They were alive and they’d get out from under the debris. Once Cindy and others realized they were missing, they’d send help.

  “Baby, let’s play a game, okay? It’s the opposite of the Quiet Game. It’s called the Noisy Game. You have to be as loud as you can. Whoever yells the loudest wins. Okay?”

  But Johnny had decided to sullen up. He shook his head and clung tighter to the squirming puppy.

  “Come on, baby. It’ll be fun.” She smiled, trying to coax him into joining her. “I’ll go first, okay? But you can start yelling any time you want.”

  His lower lip trembled again. She didn’t want him to cry. Crying wasn’t as loud as yelling.

  “Here I go. Ready?” She drew in as large a breath as she could with the weight on her back and let out a yell. “Hey! Someone! We’re in the barn! Hey!”

  She didn’t use the word help. She thought that might frighten Johnny even more. “Come on. You’re a big boy. I bet you can yell really loud.”

  She smiled and shouted again. “Hey! We’re in the barn! Johnny and I are in the barn!”

  Johnny opened his mouth and started mimicking her. “Hey! We in da barn. Johnny in da barn!”

  “That’s it, baby. Keep on yelling. You’re a good yeller.”

  Even the puppy got into the act and starting yelping.

  As they continued to call out for help, Alex tried to crane her neck around toward the slice of light filtering through the boards above her. “Hey! We’re in the barn. Find us!”