Free Storm (Blood Haze: Book Two) A Paranormal Romance by Tara Shuler Page B

her.
    “What? Why?” she asked.
    “Please,” I begged. “Just do it.”
    She closed her eyes, and within seconds, I
    could feel a strange pulling sensation. It was
    much stronger than my connection to Max’s
    father. Perhaps it was because I knew Will
    personally, or because he was my brother, or
    even because he was nearby. I wasn’t sure.
    “I feel him,” I whispered.
    “You… feel him?” Jamie asked skeptically.
    “It’s hard to explain,” I told her. “Come with
    me. We’re going to find him.”
    We got into the taxi just as Max was taking
    the last of the bags out. “I’m coming with you,”
    he said.
    “Get in,” I told him.
    “Be careful,” called my mother. “Bring your
    brother back safely!”
    “I will, Mother,” I promised her.
    The taxi driver must have thought I was
    insane, because I kept sending him in circles and
    telling him to make quick turns out of the blue. It
    was hard to tell exactly where to go, because all I
    could feel was a pulling sensation that reached
    out from my torso and led me faintly into a
    specific direction. I had to hold Jamie’s hand to
    keep the connection. She squeezed my hand
    tightly, and I could almost feel her love for my
    brother flowing through her skin.
    “Wait! Turn right! Right there” I shouted at
    the driver, pointing down a dark street.
    “Are you sure?” he asked. “There’s nothing
    down there but an old warehouse that’s been
    closed for years.”
    “Yes, I’m sure,” I said.
    “Can I just stop here?” the driver pleaded. “I
    think that’s private property.”
    “How much?” I asked.
    “Thirty-two dollars,” he said.
    I tossed him a fifty-dollar bill – the last of my
    money.
    “Keep the change,” I said quickly.
    Max, Jamie, and I got out of the taxi, and it
    pulled away immediately. The driver was
    obviously freaked out by our strange behavior
    and just wanted to get away as quickly as
    possible.
    “This way,” I said, still clinging to Jamie’s
    hand.
    The alley was barely illuminated by the gray-
    blue light of the moon. It passed behind the
    clouds every few seconds and made it difficult
    for Jamie to see. I clutched her hand and helped
    her stumble along.
    At the end of the alley, which was situated
    between two newer warehouses, a parking lot
    opened up. At the opposite end of the lot, a high
    chain link fence surrounded a dilapidated old
    building. The front doors were chained and
    padlocked, and most of the windows were
    broken, but covered with bars.
    At the far right end of the fence, it had been
    cut and was partially pulled back. I led Jamie to
    that spot and held the fence back while she went
    through, and then Max and I followed her.
    Since the front doors were padlocked, I
    guessed there must be another way in. I shivered
    in the chilly night air, and a sudden feeling of
    dread washed over me. I froze.
    “Something’s wrong,” I whispered.
    “What?” Jamie and Max asked in unison.
    “This warehouse… it’s kind of like the one
    we were held at in Georgia,” I answered. “And I
    get this feeling of… evil… lurking in the
    shadows.”
    “Evil?” Jamie breathed.
    “I don’t know how to explain it. Not evil,
    exactly, but… unfriendly, maybe,” I said. “I just
    feel it. Max, I’d feel better if you got Jamie out
    of here.”
    “I’m not going anywhere without Will!”
    Jamie hissed.
    “And I’m not leaving you, Alice,” Max said.
    I sighed. It was a good feeling to have people
    who loved me so much, but both of them were
    physically weaker than I. Of course, I had been
    feeling extremely drained since the incident with
    Alexi in the clearing.
    “Problem,” I noted. “I haven’t fed in a while. I
    might not be able to defend you both.”
    “Use me,” Jamie offered.
    “What… you mean… no, no!” I stammered. “I
    don’t… well, I don’t do that to women,
    especially friends.”
    “Will’s already explained it to me,” she said.
    “He said it doesn’t hurt, and I