The Protective Storm Chaser - Page 3

I pull up the radar, looking for the blob of purple. That’s my destination.

Chapter 3

Nate

To my disappointment, the storm turns out to be a bit of a dud. There’s a ton of rain, a band of hail, and even some powerful straight-line winds. But no tornado.

With all the rain this system is dumping, there will be a ton of flash flooding. But I don’t fuck around with floods. A shiver rolls through my body. Water’s a killer, taking far more lives than tornadoes. But it’s too efficient. Nearly impossible to outrun once its licking at your heels.

As a S.E.A.L., I’ve the survive the toughest training in the world. The hardest lessons were the drowning exercises. I have zero desire to go to my Maker with a river in my lungs.

Speaking of which…

The river running parallel to the road is about to jump its bank. I press the gas pedal to the metal, speeding past the river and into the Narrows—a treacherous pass through the mountain which turns into a goddamn waterfall during torrential downpours. With steep rock faces on both sides of the road, there’s nowhere for water to go but down the hill—and into the flooded creek.

Thank God for my trusty truck. I wouldn’t want to speed through the Narrows in this kind of weather in anything else.

In the rearview, I see the creek jump the bank and spill across the road. Dodged that in the nick of time!

When I glance at the road in front of me again, I see something flashing in the distance. Caution lights? Why in the hell would someone be parked in the middle of the Narrows? I slam on my brakes, sliding to a stop a few feet from the car.

With a sigh, I fling open my door and climb into the rain. I hold my jacket over my head to block some of the water from pelting into my face. A rushing stream of water runs down the road, making it hard to walk.

I lean down to peer into the driver’s window, but the glass is fogged over. So, someone must be in there, filling the car with hot air as they breathe.

I knock on the window. A startled yelp responds.

I yell into the window. “Are you okay?”

There’s another yelp. Does someone in there need help?

I grab the door handle to open the door. I open it slowly, filled with a sense of foreboding.

A woman sits in the driver’s seat with her eyes squeezed closed. In her arms is a little, black dog. It barks, and I realize this creature is responsible for the yelping I’d heard.

The woman looks up at me with giant eyes. The wind is knocked out of me. I’ve never seen this woman before, but I feel a connection. If I believed in love at first sight, I’d say it’s that. But I don’t. Of course, I don’t. Men like me don’t believe in fairytales.

Conditions are getting dangerous. Water is filling the Narrows and pouring downhill. It’s up to my shins and running fast. This is becoming a treacherous situation, and while that was fine for me, it’s not fine for her. I need to get her into my truck and get us the hell out of here. Now.

A nearby tree snaps with a loud crack. Startled, the dog leaps from the woman’s arms and out of the car, landing at my feet. I only have time to watch in horror as it’s whisked away by the rushing water.

“No,” the woman screams, leaping out of the car. She runs after the dog, and within seconds, is knocked off her feet. Without thinking, I lift her up and carry her to my truck, depositing her into the passenger seat. She sobs uncontrollably, repeating the word “Pepper” over and over. Presumably the dog’s name.

“We’ll get Pepper,” I tell her, before dashing to the driver’s seat. I throw the car into reverse, bracing my arm on the back of her seat to turn to see where I’m driving.

When we’re close to the flood waters, I stop. “Stay here,” I command. “I’ll find the dog.”

I just hope she’s still alive.

Chapter 4

Edie

“I told you to stay in the truck,” the sexy strangers roars.

I stare at the rushing river of water. My sweet Pepper is in there?

I clutch a hand to my mouth to hold back a sob. She’s dead. I know she’s dead. There’s no way my little dog can survive in that.