Sidelines (Wounded Hearts #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

into?
    “This way.” Just as we finish descending the narrow steps, the lights cut out and then the real fear settles in. A second before I can start hyperventilating, Logan clicks on a flashlight. “It’s alright. Here take this one.”
    He hands me the flashlight and I try to get my bearings by shining it around the passageway. When the light bounces off a glassy door, I can’t stop the gasp. I’ve seen too many detective shows to have my mind fabricate the worst possible ideas. Logan finally clicks on his own flashlight and follows my gaze.
    “We can’t get any wine right now. With the power out, the cellar locks up. Something about preserving the integrity of the wine or something. Come on. There’s a shelter down here where we can ride this out.”
    A wine cellar. Well that’s a reasonable explanation for a random glass door in your basement. Much better than a room full of cryogenic pods with human bodies from the sixties.
    I really need to stop watching movies with Walt.
    I turn and find that Logan isn’t standing where he was a second ago and I momentarily freeze up again until I hear Logan’s impatient voice.
    “Allie, come on. Even though we’re in the basement, it’s actually safer in here. Please hurry.” I let the light of my flashlight flood the pathway before me and find that it’s a direct shot to the metal door that Logan is holding open. “Here we go.”
    He pushes the door closed behind me, and searching the room I find a camping cot, complete with a hand-stitched quilt and a small pillow laying along one wall. A couple of bagged lawn chairs sit in another corner with a huge Rubbermaid container next to them. I sense Logan moving behind me and finally see his light following mine to the chairs and bin.
    “Would you like some water?” He hands me a chair and turns back around to open the mini fridge I missed next to the door. He pulls out a couple of bottles of water and starts to hand me one, but I’m still standing there like an idiot with the bagged chair in my hands. “Do you need help with that?” 
    I shake the light along with my head, accidentally flashing my light in his eyes. He winces back and I mutter my apologies as he takes the light from me.
    “I’m sorry. I…I’ve never been in a tornado before.” And it has me all sorts of rattled.
    “Well, I don’t think we’re in an actual tornado, but I can honestly say that should one form, you’re probably in the best place to ride it out. Here.” He takes the light from me and props it on its handle so the beam goes straight up toward the ceiling, illuminating more of our space. Then he takes the chair from me and sets it up. I think I see an amused smile on his face when he hands me a water, but with the shadows of the room, I could be wrong.
    As he makes himself comfortable his phone rings and I realize I have no way of checking in with anyone. He checks the screen before he answers and makes his way to the farthest corner of the room away from me.
    “Hey… No, we’re in the basement… Yep, she’s here. What about you guys?… Where is she?…Of course, she is. Is she at least somewhere safe?…Yep. I  saw the wall cloud, but it didn’t look like it was going to head this way. They’re unpredictable though, so promise me you’ll stay safe…Okay. Love you too.”
    He hangs up his phone and turns to me, finding me watching him and this time I can’t miss the hardening of his jaw.
    “Everyone okay?” I ask, genuinely concerned.
    “Yep.”
    That’s it. That’s all I get. This is going to be a long three weeks.
    “Do you guys get tornadoes often?”
    “Not really.”
    I sigh. I can’t help it. “Listen, Logan.—” I’m cut off with the sound of his phone ringing again.
    He holds up a finger and answers. “Did you get all the horses in?… And everyone’s in the shelter?…Good. Let me know when they give the all clear…Will do. You guys too.”
    He hangs the phone up and gives me another deadpan