Drake Sisters 05 - Safe Harbor

upset her. He could see she was becoming agitated and he forced air through his lungs in an effort to try to calm her down. "Relax, baby, nothing is going to happen to Joley. I've got round-the-clock guards on her. She's too upset about you to be mad at me, either, so that's a plus."
    Hannah closed her eyes, already weak and worn out, her voice still that husky thread.
    "Strong." It was too much trouble to talk out loud so she switched back. His magic is strong and ancient. He knows the old ways, the traditional ways .
    Jonas smoothed back her wild, springy curls. "Go to sleep, honey. Prakenskii kept you alive so I don't care if he's the devil right now. We'll deal with all that later."
    Tenderness. Who would have thought he was so capable of such deep emotion? And he was beginning to worry about the fact that she couldn't talk. The knife had slashed across her throat. Was there even more damage than the doctor had first thought?
    Probably. Most likely. Even with the Drakes coming together to heal her, they were trying to keep her alive, not worry about the little things yet.
    Jonas. Don't leave me alone here. I want to go home. I don't feel safe here.
    He smiled around her fingertips. "You don't have to worry about me leaving you alone, Hannah. I'm going to lock you up in a room at home." He felt her shudder, but it was more in his mind than anything else and he frowned. "You don't like the idea."
    There was a small silence. He thought she might not answer him.
    If I was outside, no one could have done this to me. I have little power indoors. I feel safe outside.
    Jonas frowned. "Hannah, I don't think I'm understanding what you're saying."
    That's all right. I don't know what I was saying.
    Her voice was fading again as exhaustion took over, but Jonas wasn't so willing to let her go. She was lying. She knew what she was saying and it was important. "You can control the elements outside," he said. "And that makes you feel safe."
    She didn't respond, but he felt her assent in his mind.

    Jonas shook his head. "Hannah, are you telling me you don't feel safe indoors? Here?
    In the hospital?" He felt that same tightening in his gut right before his alarms shrieked at him. She'd asked him to go to New York . He hadn't listened then but he was damn sure going to listen now.
    When you're with me.
    "Do you still feel you're in danger?" They got the couple. The kid couldn't pose a threat. She was under sedation at the eating disorder clinic. It was natural, he reassured himself, for her to be fearful. She'd gone through a brutal, life-altering attack. Being afraid was simply that—not precognition. Still, his mouth had gone dry and his heart had accelerated.
    What do you mean — couple ?
    Jonas swore under his breath. What kind of idiot was he? An amateur? She turned her head back toward him and opened her eyes. He felt the impact of that blue gaze all the way through his body, like an electrical jolt. She was not happy with him. She'd caught his thought just as if he'd spoken it out loud. He knew better around her, especially when she was speaking telepathically. He mentally kicked himself.
    Jonas. What couple?
    He kissed her fingers again, wishing he could scoop her up onto his lap and hold her close. "The man's wife tried to inject Beuthanasia into your IV." Her gaze never wavered. It was impossible to look away.
    Did she say why she wanted me dead?
    "She didn't say anything." At least it wasn't a lie. She'd know he was lying, she always knew. Hannah continued staring at him. "For God's sake," he snapped, exasperated.
    "It isn't important right now. I'm taking care of things."
    She did blink then. Long lashes sweeping down, giving his body another jolt. Geez.
    She did it so easily to him. She always had. Even wrapped up like a mummy, she could make every cell in his body zing.
    I'm hurt, Jonas, not mentally incapacitated. Tell me. I have the right to know and I'm not some fragile flower that's going to wilt or be crushed, so just tell me.
    Fragile was exactly what she was. He touched her face with his fingertips, brushed at strands of her hair. "I think I have the right to protect you, Hannah. You took about ten years off of my life. I'm not hiding anything. The woman is dead. We have no idea what the motivation was, but we're looking into it. In the meantime, I'm staying right with you. There's no need to be afraid."
    He hoped he was right. Prayed he was right.

    There has to be a reason, Jonas. Did I know them? Had I