Free The Travelers: Book Two by Sennah Tate Page B

“but I’m not going to let him keep killing innocent women. Reddy Francis should not have died. This ends now.”
    Izzy looked at her brother, her eyes shining with wetness, “You can’t.”
    “Izzy’s right,” said Gemma.
    “It’s way too dangerous,” added Aaron.
    “You’re going to get hurt if you go.”
    “So, Gemma will heal me,” Carson said.
    Gemma looked offended, “I thought you didn’t like me using my magic.”
    “Gemma, he’s holding hostages and calling me out.”
    “Don’t you think that’s a little suspicious?” asked Aaron. “Have you considered it might be a trap?”
    “Carson, I’m serious; if you go to that warehouse, something really bad is going to happen to you,” Izzy said, hoping her older brother could hear her sincerity.
    “Please,” Gemma said, resting a hand on his arm, “Izzy’s feelings have been really accurate lately. Don’t discount her.”
    Carson sighed and dropped his head into his hands.
    “All right. Fine, you all win. But we have to devise a plan to get those women out,” he said.
    Most everyone decided to go back to sleep after the meeting. Sleep came in short unpredictable bursts these days and they learned to snatch a few minutes whenever they could.
    Carson couldn’t though. He knew that Preston Waters meant that video for him. He felt like the bastard was talking directly to him through the screen.
    He watched the video again.
    And again.
    And again.
    He watched the video until he had it memorized. He knew every word, every inflection, and every deranged laugh.
    He didn’t know what he expected to see in the video. He wanted a clue… something to tell him how to get in past Waters’ goons.
    He hoped there would be something revealing Preston’s weakness. So he watched it again.
    He watched the light drain out of Reddy’s eyes. He pinpointed the exact moment she died. He saw the disgusting shadows feasting on her pure white shimmer until they’d drained it completely.
    It made him sick to his stomach. But Carson couldn’t give into that reaction. He had to find something. Anything.
    Gemma’s hands slipped over his shoulders from behind, traveling down to his chest, she gave him a kiss on the neck.
    “Are you coming to bed?”
    She finally looked at the computer screen and her hands froze.
    “Why are you torturing yourself with this?” she asked, unable to look at the gruesome image.
    “I just… I keep thinking… Could I have saved her? What about the next Reddy? Can I save her? Is there something in this video that will help me do it?”
    Gemma smiled sadly and rubbed his shoulders with gentle hands.
    “There’s nothing you could have done to save her.”
    “I could have beat him last time,” Carson said, starting the video again.
    “How can you say that? You were out-numbered, out-gunned and on their home turf. You all made it out alive. I’m grateful for that,” she said.
    “But Reddy Francis didn’t make it out of there alive.”
    Gemma sighed.
    “You can’t save everyone, sweetheart,” she said.
    His bloodshot eyes darted to meet her gaze.
    “But it’s up to me to try.”
    She rested her hands on his shoulders and squeezed. She couldn’t win this argument. He wasn’t going to give up.
    “Okay. I’m heading to bed. Join me when you’re ready,” she said, stooping down to give him a kiss.
    Carson watched her leave and wished he could follow her.
    Every time he closed his eyes he saw Reddy’s face. He watched the light drain from her; heard the whispering death that came with the shadows; he saw the satisfied gleam in Preston’s crazed eyes. He couldn’t let this continue. This needed to end.
    He turned back to the computer and resumed his study of the gruesome video.

Chapter Nine
    Izzy awoke to the sound of Aaron’s snoring next to her. His body radiated an enveloping warmth that pulled her in closer. She couldn’t resist him. He groaned and his hand slid over the swell of her hip, around her waist to pull