Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

with him through countless tortures, the pain and anguish, the humiliation of being helpless and having monsters amuse themselves with finding how much a body could withstand without kil ing it. They tortured him and used his body until he was nothing more than a monster himself with the need for vengeance.
    She was there. In his mind. Refusing to leave him even when he begged her to go. She saw him through it al and he had come out on the other side, when he had believed it would be impossible to survive intact. It was the first time in his life he hadn’t been alone. It had been the worst—and yet the best time of his life. El e had shared his mind, shared his pain and his hope and ultimately saved his sanity and life. He had fol owed Jonas to Sea Haven to meet her.
    Though he’d known the moment he met her family that he was nowhere good enough for her, that he came from a place she would never understand, it didn’t stop him from wanting her. Stil , he hadn’t known how, after so many years of being alone, he would feel with her living under the same roof. Now he knew.
    He inhaled her scent drifting from his bathroom. The water was off now and he could hear her moving around. He liked the sound of her in his home, the fragrance that was al El e. For a moment he closed his eyes and savored the idea of her with him. When a man had been alone, adrift, with nothing in his life but duty, he realized finding El e was a miracle. She was his life. His reasons for honor and code and everything he held on to.
    She came into the room, looking so feminine, so heart breakingly beautiful he ached with emotion. His heart actual y hurt and it made him feel like a damned fool, but he stil didn’t care.
    â€œAre we going for a walk?â€
    He sighed. He’d been hoping she would forget, but he knew part of it was defiance, thumbing her nose at Gratsos, refusing to al ow him to control her life in any way. And he was proud of her for that. He looked outside at the clear sky and let his breath out. He’d keep her from the water’s edge and walk high, closer to the dunes than the water.
    â€œCome on, Bomber.†He signaled the dog. “Let’s go for a walk. My lady wants to go, we go.â€
    She deftly wove her hair into one thick braid that hung to her waist as she fol owed him outside. At once she lifted her arms to the sky and smiled. “I love the ocean.â€
    â€œSo do I.†He couldn’t imagine living anywhere but here on the wild northern California coast, with the stormy sea and the close-knit community. Artisans and fishermen coexisted and worked together to keep their environment as pristine and preserved as they were able.
    She didn’t seem to mind walking along the dunes, up above the expanse of beach, throwing sticks to Bomber and skipping along, free to run when she wanted or just walk beside him, holding his hand as they made their way down the curving coastline.
    Birds flew in lazy circles looking for a meal and out at sea two dolphins leapt and chattered. They paused for a moment to watch them.
    â€œThose are Abigail’s dolphins,†El e said eagerly. “I know they are. Wel , not Abigail’s, of course they’re wild, but al the same, they actual y cal to her with a signature whistle. It’s very cool. Two males, Boscoe and Kiwi often come by to coax her into swimming with them. Kiwi has that scar on him from when he saved Abbey’s life. She’l be happy to know they’re back.†She glanced toward the Drake house, but from where they were she couldn’t see the captain’s walk. “I’l bet she’s up there now.â€
    â€œIf she was up there, her dolphins wouldn’t be out here fol owing us as we take our walk.†Jackson was much more practical.
    â€œUnless she sent them to keep an eye on us,†El e said.
    Jackson grinned at her. “That’s such a Drake thing to do.â€

    She kicked sand at him and threw driftwood down the beach for Bomber. “You mean everyone doesn’t have dolphins to watch over them?â€
    â€œNot ones they can communicate with.â€
    â€œAbigail can talk to any animal,†El e said.
    â€œCan you?â€
    She shrugged. “Not like she can. I can a bit. I have al the talents, but because I have so many I haven’t developed them al to their ful potential. I chose the things I