Chaos

by Barbara Huffert

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Alyssa was startled from sleep by the motel phone. Blinking rapidly to make her mind function, she answered.

  “Tornado! Alyssa, get to the storm cellar at the end of the building! Now!” Brian commanded as soon as he heard her voice. “Did you hear me? Move!”

  “On the way.” Alyssa flung herself out of bed, grabbed her light, shoes and camera bag and raced from the room. In passing, she commended herself for wearing her boxers and T-shirt to bed the night before. It wasn’t exactly clothes but she was decently covered.

  Entering the shelter, she relaxed somewhat when she saw the entire group that she had spent the previous weeks travelling with. As the other motel patrons joined them, she clicked on her light, telling the manager to save his batteries.

  “Can you believe this?” Brian stated as they all settled in to wait. “All those days when we couldn’t find a cloud and now, when you’re about to leave us, an F4 comes to us. That’s the weather for you.”

  “Dad, why’s it so loud?” Murray asked as he squirmed his way between his parents.

  “Because, you’re not usually this close.” Seeing his son’s discomfort, he added, “Don’t worry, Murray. This is a good, strong shelter and we’re perfectly safe here.”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to us as long as we stay put until it passes,” Chris said to help soothe him.

  Soon, the wind was roaring, rattling the doors that they had barred once they were all inside. Alyssa felt as if her breath was being sucked right out of her. She had witnessed several tornadoes the past few weeks but none had frightened her like this one did. She could hear things crashing around outside and shuddered, thinking it could easily have been her. Sitting with her camera bag clutched tightly against her, Alyssa realized this was the most scared she ever was in her life. All she could think about was what would have happened if Brian hadn’t woken her. She’d be out there, blowing around with all the debris, most likely dead.

  As she waited, she let her mind drift to Shane. First, he had been shot. She could have lost him. Now even though he didn’t know it yet, she could have been taken from him without any warning. How could she possibly have thought she could want to spend another day of her life without that man? What was wrong with her? She knew she loved him as much as he loved her. It was time to stop denying it and tell him. She didn’t want to continue to merely have fun with him. She wanted it all, sex included. As soon as she got home she would find him and begin their life together.

  “You okay, Alyssa?” Chris asked gently, noticing how pale their photographer looked.

  “Actually, yes.” Alyssa smiled. “I’m going home today and telling Shane yes to everything he insists he wants. I’m scared to death but I’m done running from it.”

  “Amazing what a little tornado will do to you,” Brian muttered. “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear it. I know Chris told you he’s called a few times. Sounds like a good guy.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Chris released Murray to hug Alyssa. “I knew you’d get to this eventually. Sorry you had to be so scared before you realized it.”

  “Last night, I was thinking about how to tell him I wanted to be with him anyway. This storm just made me see that the how isn’t all that important. The telling is all that matters.”

  The next half-hour was spent with the rest of the crew and other motel guests offering congratulations. Alyssa decided that it was a relief to have finally resolved the turmoil in her mind. Suddenly, she was very anxious to get home.

  When it was quiet outside, the group left the shelter to survey the damage. “Well, it pretty much missed us,” Brian declared. “I don’t think the rest of the town is this lucky. Let’s go see if we can help. Alyssa, since the airport’s in the other direction, your flight should be on time. Chris, why don’t you catch up with us after you drop her off?”

  “Wait,” Alyssa cut off Chris’s response. “I’d like to come with you. I can catch a flight tomorrow. I have lots of shots from yesterday so I don’t think I should pass this up.”

  Chris hesitated before she agreed. “We’ll see you in a few minutes after we’re all dressed.”

  * * * * *

  Alyssa wandered slowly, clicking off photos as she went. Once her group explained themselves, they were welcomed into the search, leaving Alyssa mostly on her own. She was overwhelmed by the total destruction of some of the houses. She had witnessed similar damage on a few other instances but this was somehow much worse. She decided it had something to do with the fact that she had just spent an afternoon with the people of this town. One of the destroyed homes could belong to someone she had actually met. How could these people stand to live there, knowing they might have to rebuild several times in their lives?

  An upended swing set balanced on a couch in the middle of a pile of unidentifiable rubble caught Alyssa’s interest. Once she captured the image from all angles, she continued to move around the area where houses had stood a short time earlier. When she noticed a muddy, mutilated doll partially under some mangled siding, Alyssa reached for it without thinking. With a gasp, she realized it could be Dolly.

  “Oh God,” Alyssa said to herself, sinking to the ground. “What street is this?” she yelled to the nearest fireman. When what she was looking at finally registered, Alyssa screamed, bringing several rescuers running toward her. Protruding from the debris near where she had picked up the doll was a small, muddy hand.

  Chris fought to restrain Alyssa as the men worked to extract the child. It seemed to be taking them forever to move the things that the tornado had stacked on top of her. Just as she was freed from the tangled mess that surrounded her, Alyssa broke away from Chris. The last thing she saw before she passed out was Cherlene’s tiny unmoving form.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Shane was lounging comfortably at the kitchen table with Jordan and Kiley. He had stopped to visit them on his way back to his parents’. There had been a hearing the afternoon before that Shane had attended as his last official act before his resignation could be finalized. When Jordan had invited him for dinner on his way by and insisted he spend the night, he couldn’t come up with a good excuse not to. He couldn’t wait for Alyssa to come home so he could tell her and stop hiding Flynn. But, no matter how inconvenient it was, he had to keep his son a secret until she knew about him. It simply wasn’t right to tell anyone else what he’d done until after he had a chance to share the news with Alyssa.

  “McKade.” He rose from the table in case it was Flynn calling.

  “Don’t say my name,” Alyssa said in a rush.

  “Sure, Captain, what can I do for you?” Shane’s mind was racing with possibilities as he tried to sound casual.

  “Where are you?”

  “I stopped over at my brother’s last night, after court. Do you need me for something before I head back to my parents’?” What was wrong?

  “Shane, can you come to my studio? I’m home and I need you.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “No. Yes.” She was crying. “Please come.”

  “Sure, no problem. I’ll be there as soon as I can be.”

  “Don’t drive like a crazy man,” she sobbed. “I’d rather you take longer and get here alive.”

  “Again, no problem. I can leave now so I should be there within the hour.” Shane fought not to run from the room.

  “Thanks,” she sounded somewhat calmer. “Shane? I love you.”

  What the hell happened to her? “Ah, yes. Me too.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have waited…”

  “No, no, that’s perfectly all right. Hold that thought and we’ll discuss it in person as soon as I get back to town. Sit tight, Captain. We’ll figure it out.”

  “Can you leave now?”

  “Yep, see you soon.” Shane listened as Alyssa sighed and disconnected the call. “Change of plans,” he explained to Jordan and Kiley who were openly watching him. “It seems as if I have a little mor
e to do after all. I guess I’d better get it over with right away.”

  Jordan seemed to sense that his brother wasn’t telling them something but surely understood that he must have a good reason. “Fine. Stop back again when you can.”

  “Can’t you at least stay for breakfast?” Kiley asked.

  “I’d better not.” Shane looked to Jordan for help.

  “Let him go, sweet,” he murmured as he caught her to his chest. “I think, since he can’t stay, we should take advantage of the opportunity and let me serve you breakfast in bed.”

  “But…” Kiley protested, not wanting to be rude to her brother-in-law.

  Shane nodded his thanks to Jordan, knowing he owed him an explanation later. “Don’t worry about me, Kiley. I appreciate your hospitality but certainly don’t want to interfere with my brother’s plans for you. Have fun.” He forced a grin and a wink before he slipped out the door.

  As soon as Shane was out of sight of the house, he called Alyssa back. “Alyssa, what’s wrong? Are you all right? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home? I would have met you at the airport.”

  “I couldn’t… I didn’t… Shane, I can’t tell you on the phone.”

  “You’re scaring me.”

  “I know and I’m fine, really. I’m sorry but I want to have this conversation in person. I want you to hold me. I need to hold you and see your face. I should have waited but I meant it when I said I loved you.”

  “I love you, Alyssa. God…”

  “Stop. Please? No more until you’re here. Hang up and drive safely. I’ll be here and now that you’re on the way, I’m okay. There’s something I want you to see so I need to print some photos while I wait.”

  “Okay but call if you want to talk. I’ll be there in no time,” he paused. “Alyssa, I’m glad you’re home, no matter what else you have to tell me.”

  “Me too, Shane. Bye.”

  * * * * *

  Shane let himself into Alyssa’s studio, not knowing what to expect. “Alyssa?” he called, letting her know he was there.

  “In here,” she answered from the back.

  He walked in and saw her curled onto the couch she kept for when she was too involved in a project to bother going to her apartment to sleep. There were tears on her cheeks and she was holding a stack of photos. When he sat next to her and opened his arms, she let them fall around her as she crawled onto his lap.

  Shane held her tightly, hating that he didn’t know the reason behind her tears. “Sh, Lyss, I’m here now. Whatever it is, I’ll help.”

  Finally, he heard her start to laugh through her tears. “I know what you meant now. That night in the hospital, when I used your first name. You’ve been calling me by mine and it’s really weird.”

  “Yeah. You scared me when you called this morning.”

  “I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to see you. That was all I could think about. And I didn’t want Kiley to come with you.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I need to ask you something. That night, when you started telling me how you felt and what you wanted, was it because you realized that you might not have unlimited time to make it happen?”

  “I guess so. I don’t think I really thought that far at the time but I knew I had to tell you. I figured you would attribute it to the drugs they gave me for my leg and you wouldn’t go ballistic on me. Then, I hoped if I said it often enough on the phone, you might not object to me saying it in person once you came home.”

  “I finally get that. I was coming home yesterday morning to surprise you. I wanted to tell you that I wanted to be with you but I wasn’t sure how to say it. I wasn’t sure if I’d really be able to say it because the thought of actually making a commitment scared me more than I knew how to deal with.”

  “Lyss…”

  “Wait, I need to show you this.” She slipped off his lap and collected up the pictures from the floor. After she had them arranged, she settled back next to him. Before she started she looked into his eyes and smiled. “Shane,” she sighed, caressing his face. “I love you. I don’t know how to tell you how much I feel for you.”

  “You don’t have to explain, Lyss. It’s the way I feel about you.” He let her guide his head until their lips touched. Soon, he felt her deepen the kiss, demanding more from him as she scattered her photos again.

  “Shane,” she breathed, her voice full of desire. “Please. I need you. Make me feel alive.” As she spoke, Alyssa tugged frantically at his clothes.

  “Let me help,” Shane brushed aside her hands and quickly stripped both of them. When she pushed him back and straddled his lap, he let her take control.

  “Shane,” she sobbed as she slid onto his cock, burying it deep inside her. Not moving, Alyssa kissed him hungrily, keeping her chest pressed tightly against his. When she finally raised her head she met his eyes. “Thank you for coming. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d said no. I missed you so much. Ever since you were shot, I was terrified that we’d never be like this again.” She started to move on top of him. “I’m sorry to be so demanding like this. I meant to wait until after we talked and do this right but I can’t. I need you.”

  “I’m all yours, Alyssa. However you want me. Whenever you want me.” When she continued to hold his gaze, dictating their movements, he let his hands touch every bit of her that he could. “I missed you too. Thanks for coming home. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”

  “I was,” she admitted as his hand reached between them. When he stroked her clit, she arched without breaking eye contact. “More,” she urged, thrusting her hips against him. “Harder.” She felt his other hand steadying her so he could do as she asked.

  Shane gave her what she needed, arching upward to meet her demanding body. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, holding him tightly, not dropping his gaze the entire time. She could see his emotions in his eyes. All that she was feeling, he was too. How foolish she had been, trying to deny what was between them. How close she had come to losing this incredible man and all they could have together.

  “Shane,” she gasped. “I love you. I’m sorry it took me so long.”

  “Stop it,” he interrupted. “You’re here now. We’re together.” His hands slid to her sides, just beneath her breasts. “I love you too, Alyssa Campini. Forever.”

  “Ooh,” she moaned when his thumbs covered her nipples. “Yes. Forever.” She increased the pace until her movements were nearly frenzied. “God you feel so good. I thought I was making it better in my mind.”

  Shane groaned, lowering his hands to her ass, griping it to help her move. “No, Pix. This is us. This is how we are. How we’ll always be.”

  His cock pounding up into her, filling her was overwhelming. She never wanted it to end yet wanted more than anything for them to share their passion. She shifted, adjusting the angle so his cock stroked her clit When Alyssa started to tremble, knowing she was close, she clenched her pussy, letting him feel how she was pulsing. Soon, Shane was ready to join her. “Shane,” she pleaded, needing him to find his pleasure with her. Later, as she slumped against his chest, she whispered, “I don’t ever want to be apart from you again.”

  “Me either, Pix.” Shane held her, waiting for her to collect herself so she would show him her photos.

  Eventually, Alyssa slid away from him, giving them both the opportunity to get their emotions back under control. When they returned to their seats, she reached for the photos again. “We were in this town for their Fourth of July picnic. I was ready to come home a few days before but Murray was so excited that I decided to wait until after it was over. While I was walking around, this little girl kind of latched on to me.” She handed him the pictures of Cherlene at the picnic. “I ended up spending most of the evening with her and her foster family.”

  “She’s adorable.” Shane smiled. “Did you say foster family?”

  “Yeah, her parents are dead and there was no one else to take care of her so she en
ded up with Sally and Dave.” While Alyssa talked, telling Shane all about the little girl and the people she stayed with, she showed him pictures of each of them. “Sally told me that she didn’t usually go for strangers but she really seemed to like me. Shane, when it was time to say goodbye, I hated it. I didn’t want to let her go. I was so afraid I’d never see her again. Like the Kid…”

  “Oh no…”

  “When Chris picked me up from spending the night in the hospital with you, we stopped and read the paper on the internet. I know he’s dead. That’s why I never asked you about him again. He shot you, didn’t he? I know you would have helped him if you could. It wasn’t your fault. I’m sure you tried everything.”

  “He’s not dead,” Shane finally interrupted her. “I was waiting until you asked to tell you but I promise, he’s not dead.”

  “But the paper said…” She was confused and crying.

  Shane wiped her tears with his thumb. “As you read, we were both shot that night. He was supposed to kill me. He told me and asked me to get him out of there instead. One of the others found us talking and shot, intending to get both of us at once. The Kid was in the hospital while you were there but I didn’t know how he was. Jesse helped me get him away from the city.” Shane decided to wait and take her to Flynn instead of telling her he had adopted him.

  “So he’s in a witness protection program or something?” Alyssa looked stunned.

  “Yep. He’s fine. I’ve seen him and he looks great.”

  “He’s safe!” She was smiling through her tears. “You did it. I guess you had to let them say he was dead so no one would try to find him.”

  “Exactly. You don’t have to worry about him anymore, Pix. He has a decent life now. Damn! I should have told you.”

  “And I should have told you I saw the article and asked about him. I was afraid you’d feel like you’d let me down so I didn’t bring him up. I was waiting until we were together so I could hold onto you.”