Shadow-Land - Heather Parsons (bill gates book recommendations TXT) 📗

what's wrong?" She heard his voice but it wasn't calming. It echoed in her mind and she had no answer. Sierra felt his arms reach for her but she didn't want to be soothed. She pulled him off of her and fought to be free of everyone else. She walked as far as the stairs and sat down. Curling up in a ball and praying she was dead.

"Dad what happened?" She heard Travis' voice. It held a lot of concern and his footsteps were more pronounced. Sierra didn't want to hear the answer again, covering her ears and humming loudly in her head. It just happened to be a song her mother used to sing to her, the only song that's ever stuck in her head. Hearing the song brought on another wave of screams and a lot of tearless crying. Shaking her head, Sierra wanted the song out but it just kept on repeating itself over and over again. She was sure she was losing her mind.

Standing up, she ran back into the room and into the arms of Travis. He tightened his hold and she knew that this is where she was supposed to be. In his arms forever. He was her protector and the only one who would ever understand just what she has been through. She couldn't run away from him without losing herself completely.

"Miss. Michael you lied to me. You were in that house and you looked me in the eyes and lied." Chief Rollins yelled at her, walking her way and standing in front of Travis. "I'm going to have to take you to the station for more questions. Come with me." He reached out to grab her hand but Officer Marx stopped him.

"You can't be serious. Do you not understand what she's been through? She's in shock and you can't expect her to remember everything." Officer Marx looked at her with compassion in his eyes. Sierra knew all he was trying to do was protect her but she also didn't want him to loss his job over this.

Feeling a range of emotions seep through her, she stood up on her own with Travis' arms around her waist and looked the chief in the eyes. "You asked me if I was with Travis in the house and I said no." She sucked in a deep breath ready to continue but Travis could sense what she was going to say and spoke before her.

"I came home and she overheard me talking about what I'd seen, that's how she knows. She wasn't there." He looked down at her and she couldn't explain why but she believed every word he'd said. Cringing to his side as she remembered everything again. Sierra felt her knees give out and his arms wrap themselves around her, carrying her away.

♥`♥`♥

WHEN Sierra collapsed in front of him, he carried her up the stairs and back into the room. Her eyes were still wide with shock but he kept his eyes focused in front of him, and only saw this out the corner of his eye. Upset with himself for falling asleep and letting her slip out of his hold. Travis tried everything to keep her from seeing this.

As he laid her back down on the bed, he watched from where he stood. Unsure of what she would do next. He knew this day would come, he just didn't know when. Travis tried sitting beside her and giving her the space she needed but he guessed she had other plans. Pulling him closer to her and wrapping her arms around his neck. He could see the distance in her eyes as she starred directly into his. She was only here with him in body form but her heart and soul were miles away. The woman he fell in love with wasn't sitting in front of him and that made him more determined than ever to help her but he knew he wouldn't be able to do it alone.

Her arms became limp around his neck and he laid her head back down on the pillows. Watching her curl up against them and fall asleep. Her breathing was ragged as she fell deeper into sleep. Slowly Travis slid off the bed, reaching into his jacket from his phone. He dialed home first just in case their friends were there. After the second ring, someone picked up.

"Travis, what's wrong?" Teri's voice was full of worry, probably sensing something wasn't right for him to be calling.

"Teri, I need for you and Carmen to come here as quick as possible to take care of Sierra. Something happened today that she witnessed and she's taking it really bad." His voice started out strong and ended in a whisper. Talking about Sierra was taking a toll on him and not being able to fix the problem was worse. Travis could hear her breathing in the phone and trying to control herself but he also knew she was crying. "Teri are the guys there with you?" Hearing her sigh and then Dean's voice on the line.

"Hey bro, is Sierra too much to handle? Do you need my help with it?" He joked and normally Travis would be laughing but right now he couldn't even crack a smile. Looking back over to her laying on the bed, shaking. Brought tears to his eyes.

"Dean I need to tell you something and I need you not to say anything until I finish. Okay?" Travis waited for him to stop laughing and hoped that what he had said Dean would take seriously. "Sierra found Simon body this morning and now Jake is hurt as well. I think whoever is doing this, is going to come after her next. I need to know from you, how long it will take you to get here?" He stood outside the door while saying this because he didn't want her to hear him talking about Simon or mentioning his name. This would only upset her more. With the door cracked so he could look in on her, Travis stood there and waited for an answer.

"We're leaving now, bro and will be there in the morning." Dean's tone was nothing but serious now. Travis could hear everyone in the background running around trying to get everything together to leave. "Travis, we've been waiting for your call. Teri had us pack everything and have it waiting by the door. I'll call you when we are halfway there. Oh yeah I'm driving my jeep and Teri is driving her car. So we'll have two vehicles to get around in." He hung up shortly after that as did Travis.

He sighed a sign of relief knowing that he wouldn't be alone in this anymore. He didn't know how much more he could take of seeing Sierra's heart break before his own would and he would end up in a rage. Going after whomever is hurting her. She is a part of him now and he will not let anyone get in between that. If he has to go as far as to kill someone for her, he was willing too.

He walked back into the room and laid down beside her. Pulling her into his embrace and kissing her hair. Her warm body against his felt like a perfect match. And he still couldn't believe it took him this long to experience it.

Looking out the window as the moon shinned it's brightest he dreamed of the day he would ask this beautiful woman in his arms, to be his wife. He already had the perfect place picked out to propose to her. And it only takes second place to her beauty.

Travis dug in his pocket and brought out the box. The black velvet box was soft to the touch and inside held his heart. Opening it up, he looked once again at the cluster of blue diamonds surrounding the red heart shaped one in the middle. With the moonlight shinning off it, it looked better than when he first saw it in the store.

While he held it in his hand, his love stirred in his arms. Afraid she would see it now, he tucked it away in the nightstand drawer. Smiling at himself for being so clumsy and almost ruining the moment.

Glancing at the floor, he noticed the note that Simon wrote. Reaching out to grab it and holding it in his hands, Travis needed to show this to Dean and Joseph and get their opinion on it. Rereading it over again, it didn't look like something Simon would write. But then again he might be wrong. After he had started using drugs and drinking a lot, he changed and became aggressive and prone to fits of rage.

Travis pushed the thoughts of Simon far away and thought of more pleasant things. Like having Sierra safe in his arms, feeling her body against his. Breathing in deeply as she softly brushed against his chest. Snuggling closer into her and pulling the blankets over the both of them. He wanted nothing more right now than her. But his eyes were starting to feel heavy and finally they closed, falling into a peaceful slumber.

NINETEEN:

Road Trip

GETTING Carmen and all the bags into the jeep was a chore in itself. She has packed enough things to last her a couple of months at the most, if not longer. But Dean was not in the mood to argue with her right now.

"Um..I would suggest a hotel room for you two but we don't have time." He laughed watching Teri trying to pry information out of Joseph. Dean hadn't told him anything of what Travis had said and wasn't planning on it until they all arrived there.

"Dean stay out of it!" Teri screamed at him and all he could do it laugh at her attempts. Looking between Joseph and her, he couldn't agree more with her.

"Oh I'm scared, by the way we're wasting time standing around. I'm leaving, so if you are coming then lets go." Dean took one last look back then climbed into his jeep and started the engine. Reviving the gas a little as he waited, impatiently.

He had half expect Carmen to ride with him but when he saw Joseph climb in, all he could do was smile. "Joseph why so sad? Come on be happy, I'll make this ride exciting and you know it." Dean winked at him then turned his body around so he could see the girls in the car before taking off.

"It's not funny Dean. I was planning on riding with Teri but her and Carmen ganged up on me and you, you left me. Why won't you tell them what's really going on?" Joseph looked at him questioning his motives. By now they were already driving so, he guessed it was a good enough time to tell him exactly what was going on or maybe not.

Dean had to