Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

this way. She shuddered and turned to bury her face against Jackson’s chest, uncaring of the people around her.
    You’re safe, baby. I’m right here. I’m always with you.
    Inez looked stricken. El e had always been self-sufficient and sure of herself, absolutely confident, even as a young child. Yet, she’d curled into Jackson and suddenly appeared quite fragile. “What did I say, Jackson?†she whispered, walking with them to the door.
    â€œNothing at al , Inez,†he said. “You’re fine.â€
    El e managed a smal smile over her shoulder as Jackson took her out of the store. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.â€
    â€œNothing happened, El e. You’re going to be al right.†He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close. “You’l find you’re going to have triggers and you just have to deal with them when they crop up. We’ll deal with them.â€
    She quickened her steps on the wooden planks, hurrying toward Jackson’s truck. The wind blew in off the sea, just a breeze, ruffling her hair and touching her face. They could both hear the feminine voices singing a soft melody, a soothing balm to her raw nerves. Out in the ocean, several whales surfaced, blowing as they did so, as if saying hel o, and then swimming silently past the headlines before slipping back under the water again. At once she could hear their answering song, the breeze skipping over the water to bring the healing tones, the melodic keening and groaning, accompanied by churring and whistling.
    The whales sang to El e, performing a masterpiece, a sonata, most likely directed by Abigail. The unusual music sustained her on the way home.
    Highway 1 wound along the cliffs above the ocean and the whales kept pace with them, gliding lazily through the water, singing to her, occasional y breaching so she could maintain a visual.
    As they drove up the drive to his home, Jackson noticed the abundance of bird life and plants and flowers. The blossoms seemed thicker and more colorful. He could see herbs had sprung up in one section just along the back fence as he parked the truck. The Drake women sat on his deck, listening to the whales, singing back to them in low tones. Abigail and Joley singing a harmony while the other women’s voices rose and fel in counterpoint like waves.
    Jackson went up the stairs and stood, El e leaning against him, listening to the song the whales and the girls performed back and forth. When the last note faded, he shook his head. “Unbelievable,†he said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d hear something like that. I’m not going to ask how you did that.â€
    Abigail smiled at him, even as she dropped down on her knees to greet Bomber. She scratched his ears and chest. “I’ve decided to try tonight, Jackson. You know, to attack Gratsos through Bomber. Kate’s going to do another session with El e and I’m going to join just before she withdraws. We think El e is at her most vulnerable right then and he feels the barrier slip for a moment. You’re maintaining it, but as Kate withdrew she sensed you holding yourself back to give her more privacy. And that made El e’s defenses just weak enough that he almost slipped through.†She looked at Kate. “We’re going to give him another opportunity and this time we’l be ready.â€
    â€œI don’t understand what you’re going to do to him. How can Bomber possibly touch him?†El e rubbed her throat as if she felt Stavros choking her.
    Abigail glanced at Hannah and they exchanged a wicked little grin. Jackson frowned and stirred, suddenly uncomfortable. “What are you two up to?†he demanded.
    â€œA little experiment is al .†Sarah began to build a circle right there on his deck with candles.
    â€œWhere’s Ilya? And Jonas? And Ty. Damon was going to be here. We have things to discuss. What’s going on? Where’s Aleksandr and Matt?â€
    The sisters burst out laughing. “You sound a little scared,†El e said. “Are you afraid of my sisters?â€
    â€œA little,†Jackson admitted. “Things get out of hand fast when you’re al together.â€
    â€œTy’s pul ing another shift,†Libby explained. “They’re very shorthanded with that flu going around. And