Storm Warning - By Kadi Dillon Page 0,10
with herself for not holding on tight enough. Even when she’d grown up and realized there was physically nothing she could have done to save her family, she was still angry. Maybe even more so.
“—for anything in the world, huh Tory?” Adam nudged her and brought her out of her trance.
“Hm? What?”
“Are you okay? You look a little pale.” He brought his hand to her forehead. The brotherly gesture amused her more than it annoyed her.
“I’m fine, just hung over.” She straightened in the seat.
“It’s only about a half hour ‘til we reach the hotel. Gabe scored big. This one’s got an indoor pool and fitness center. Seeing as how we’ll be there for a week, I think I’m going to be gaining a new pair of biceps.”
Tory frowned. It wasn’t possible to be happy about a warm, cozy bed versus the hard interior of an SUV—not when she wasn’t the one supplying it. In fact, it irked her so much that she decided she would be just as comfortable in the truck for the next week.
“This storm is going to be good. It didn’t look like much this morning, but look—you can already see some of the clouds.”
“What’s it like seeing a tornado?” Gabe asked as they rolled into town.
“Man, you mean you’ve never seen one? At all?” Adam asked, baffled.
“Nope. Don’t get many in L.A.”
“It’s like nothing else. First, it gets dead silent. Creepy as hell. Then the sky just like—falls down and circles. Half the time, it looks like the ground rises up to meet it and it just goes. It’s insane. A thrill.”
“How about you, Tory? Got any scientific explanations?”
She shrugged and focused her gaze out the window, where it had been the entire trip. She was still angry with him, and she wouldn’t forget it. He made her feel something besides the hatred she had sworn herself too. And he enjoyed every minute of it.
“Tory hates tornadoes.”
“That’s enough, Adam,” she said calmly enough.
“Well, it’s true.”
“You hate them and you chase them?” Gabe asked.
She hated the hint of curiosity in his tone. It was none of his damn business. She worked to keep her tone flat and unemotional. “I don’t hate them.”
“Well, you certainly don’t—”
“God damn it, Adam! I said that’s enough!”
Adam put the car in Park in front of the hotel, met her glare spark for spark, and held it there. Even though her mind knew her brother meant no harm, her heart shuddered with pain. Years, she thought—aching—and the pain still destroyed her. She cursed the tears and fought them back. She already looked like a fool. Crying would only make it worse.
“What’s with you, Tory?”
“Just leave me alone,” she said quietly, her voice radiating the pain. She jumped out of the truck and stomped off, not giving a damn where she was going.
Gabe stayed in his seat, rooted, and watched Tory walk—more like stagger—away. He’d heard about her temper, but didn’t picture it being so intense. Her brother had struck a nerve, and he’d struck it hard. Her voice had been fierce and angry, but her eyes—
Adam sucked in a long breath. “By the way, you may as well get one less room. She won’t stay in one.”
“Then where’s she going to sleep?”
Adam pointed at the passenger seat and stepped out of the truck. Gabe ground his teeth together. She had a knack for pissing him off and he wasn’t sure if he liked it. He took his seatbelt off and left the truck.
“You can’t be serious.” But Gabe knew he was being completely serious.
“She would have slept in there last night except she was passed out.” He laughed a little. “Tory’s the most stubborn, hard-headed person I have ever met. And God, I love her for it, but she needs something.”
A good spanking. “What do you mean?”
Adam gestured to a bench beside the main doors of the hotel. They watched the other two SUV’s pull in and park down by where they had.
“When Tory was little, she was sitting in her backyard, watching our father work in the yard. Her mother was in the kitchen.” Adam sighed. “I’m only telling you this so you’ll understand her. Better not tell her I said anything,” he said. “Tornado came. Our father ran off to get a picture and Tory’s mother was rushing her into the cellar. The twister snatched our father up. Then, her mother ran after him, and it took her too. Right in front of Tory.”
“Jesus Christ.” Gabe closed his eyes. What