Drake Sisters 04 - Dangerous Tides

she ran toward her sister, Elle lifted her arms, her face a mask of fury. Wind tore down the corridor ahead of her, strong and vicious, whirling like a minitornado, slamming into Irene with such force it nearly lifted the distraught woman off the ground.

    Irene screamed and covered her face as the wind whipped around her faster and faster, holding her prisoner. Her carefully styled hair stood straight up and her clothes twisted on her body. Even her Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    earrings pulled out of her ears and hit the partition hard enough to pit the glass.

    "Elle." Jackson Deveau inserted his large, stocky frame between the youngest Drake and Irene. "Stop it." His voice was very low, but carried the hard whip of command. The wind seemed to wash over the hard angles and planes of his face, whipping his hair into a turbulent frenzy, but he stood rock solid in the face of her wrath.

    Elle's eyes glittered with anger. "Tell her to stop it. She assaulted my sister and you just stood there.
    Arrest her for battery. You're supposed to be the law."

    No one argued with the deputy, not even when they were drunk out of their minds. Jackson was just too dangerous. He was always quiet and rarely spoke, but when he told someone what to do, they did it. His eyes were bleak and cold, as cold as ice. Scars ran along his face and neck and disappeared into his shirt. His dark hair was thick and unruly, his features honed by violent times. Beside Jackson, Elle looked small and fragile, her body half the size of the deputy's, but she didn't back up a step. Neither did Jackson , not even when the wild wind began to tug at his clothes.

    Jonas pushed past Elle and knelt beside Libby. "Knock it off, Elle," he interrupted curtly. He'd come in with Jackson and caught the tail end of Irene's attack on Libby. "You're not helping anything. Libby's going to kick your ass when she comes out of this." He switched his furious gaze to Irene. "Libby's hurt bad. She's unconscious. Irene, damn you, what the hell did you do?" he demanded. There was blood around Libby's mouth and nose.

    Irene wept hysterically. "I don't know. I just went crazy. Did I kill her?" She remained huddled against the wall, her clothes askew and her hair a tangled mess. "I didn't mean to hurt her." Her sobs increased and she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, legs outspread, clutching her purse to her as she cried.

    Elle sank to her knees beside Jonas, her palm skimming just above Libby's body. She cried out and snatched her hand away, cradling her arm to her chest, turning slightly to glance at Tyson looking at them through the glass.

    "She needs to go home to the others. I'll call them in and have them waiting for her. She's in bad shape.
    Can you carry her to the car, Jonas?"

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    "Maybe she should be seen by a doctor," Jonas ventured. "I've seen you all in various states of collapse, but not like this. This seems too real."

    "She needs to be home. We can take care of her," Elle repeated and this time there was a definite order in her tone.

    Jackson's gaze narrowed on Elle's face. "You're giving her your strength." He towered over her, reaching down to brush fiery red strands from her face. "You're already trembling, Elle."

    Elle pushed his hand away. "She's my sister. Whatever she needs. She gives to everyone all the time."
    She glanced at Irene, censure plain on her face. "No one is more compassionate or caring than Libby.
    She gives and gives until she's exhausted."

    "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Irene made an effort to get herself under control, blowing her nose loudly.

    "Not at the risk of your own life. She wouldn't want that.” Jackson reached down, his fingers wrapping around Elle's wrist. "Back the hell off, Drake."

    It was impossible for Elle to remove the deputy's hand and she allowed him to pull her up without a struggle, but she kept her gaze fixed on her sister as Jonas lifted Libby into his arms. Libby's dark hair spilled from the knot and cascaded down Jonas's arm. Her face was stark white, eyes closed, dark red blood dripping slowly down her face. Jonas exchanged a long look with Jackson .

    "I don't have a choice, Jackson ." Elle made it a statement. "I feel what she's feeling and I can't disconnect. She's not going to make it without my support. Hannah's already with us and the others will be here soon.