Page 88 of Prodigal Son

The heavens opened, and rain poured down. Vito shouted through the storm, but Cain couldn’t make out his words over his screams and the howling wind. His blood churned wildly as the storm raged. Squalls ripped over the hills, tearing laundry from lines. An all-consuming pressure expanded in his gut, and he snarled through the pain, certain it would tear him in two.

“Shit, man, do you guys get tornadoes out this far?”

Cain couldn’t answer. Ungodly heaviness crushed him down. He flattened his back to the earth and dug his heels into the mud. His hands fisted at his sides and his eyes screwed shut as he shouted through the pain. No man, immortal or not, could live through such agony.

Then, in the span of a breath, the pain and pressure were gone.

The wind eased, and the downpour shifted to a lazy drizzle. The cool, calm stillness felt otherworldly, as if a war had come through and he was a part of the ruins.

Pools of mud puddles freckled the fields, and the sun broke through the clouds. Panting, he took inventory of his body, but found nothing amiss. He was alive.

The shock of what he just suffered slammed into him, and for the first time in his adult life, he let out a sob and broke down in tears.

“Dude?”

What the hell was wrong with him? His body shook, and he couldn’t stop crying. He’d been through hell and back, and he didn’t trust it was over.

Vito patted his back. “See, man, whatever it was, hopefully it’s over now. Probably just some gas.”

Cain looked up at him, unsure if the last of the pain had subsided or if there would be more. “Not even close.”

“I never heard a man scream like that before. I don’t want to see anything like that ever again. We have to get inside and change into dry clothes. Who knows if the storm’s over or if this is just some fucked up calm before a tornado throws a house on us.”

Cain wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t strong enough to stand just yet. “Give me a moment.” He panted.

They sat in silence on the saturated ground, Vito rubbing his back with comforting strokes and Cain blinking cluelessly at the sky. No one would ever believe the pain he’d been through. Maybe that was a good thing, because nothing had ever made him feel so breakable in his life.

CHAPTER 27

“The skies have turned,” Grace said, returning inside with a basket of linen. “The laundry will have to wait.”

Destiny glanced out the window at the hillside where thick, gray clouds rolled in. “Look at that sky. Do you guys usually get bad storms here?” It wasn’t like they had to worry about the power going out.

Gracie tilted her head and frowned. “Something’s happening.”

“What do you mean?”

The woman wrung her hands and paced by the door. “I should gather supplies.”

“Supplies?”

Just then, Dane burst into the house and the wind cut through the room, lifting the curtains and howling against the glass. “Gracie, come quick! Anna’s having the baby!”

“Already?”

“Her water broke and she’s gone to bed. She told me to fetch you and Adam.”

Grace shut her eyes as if praying, then sprang into action. “Her contractions are coming quickly. Dane, meet me at the house. Destiny, you go find Adam.”

Destiny sprung to her feet. “I don’t know what Adam looks like.”

“He looks exactly like Cain, but smarter. He’ll be in the barn. Go and find him.”

“I’ll just get my—” The kitchen was empty. Grace was gone and Dane was running through the rain.

Destiny shoved her feet into her UGGs and bolted into the storm, racing as fast as she could toward the barn. The wind was crazy, whipping through trees and pulling laundry off people’s lines. Gates and shutters swung open, loosening latches and clattering as they slammed shut.

“Adam, Adam, Adam, Adam,” she muttered with each panted breath as she jogged into the shelter of the barn. “Adam?” The sole of her boot slid over the wet hay and she caught her balance awkwardly before busting her ass on the ground.

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