Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

over,†Matt cal ed. “Move this thing.â€
    Rick hovered almost low enough for the skids to touch the water to al ow Jock to bail out. He went into the sea and Rick took the helicopter up fast to give the boat time to move in quickly and retrieve his partner. His heart was beating fast. He was relying on the word of two army buddies that the women could force the helicopter away from him when he bailed out.
    â€œYou can do this?†His mouth was dry.
    â€œGo when I say,†Sarah said. “Don’t hesitate.†Hannah would have to direct everything they had to push the helicopter away from the pilot without catching him in the wind. That meant precise timing.
    The pilot made the sign of the cross and brought the helicopter in low again, over the roiling waves. For a moment he was afraid he might not be able to move, but then the adrenaline kicked in. “Hail Mary,†he shouted, half in prayer, half in bravado.
    â€œGo!†Sarah shouted.
    He burst into the air. Folding arms over his head, keeping his body pencil straight, he leapt out away from the helicopter. Behind him, the wind howled and blasted the side of the helicopter with hurricane force. The roar hurt his ears, but the blast pushed the big body of the metal bird sideways as it fel from the sky.
    The water closed over his head.
    The helicopter crashed into the water a good distance away, but he felt the drag on his body as he kicked strongly to the surface.
    â€œSecond man in the water,†Matt reported.
    The wind howled and moaned. Jonas frowned as a wal of water nearly took them out. “Sarah, tel Hannah to back off. We’re getting slaughtered out here. The waves are nearly swamping the boat.â€
    â€œShe’s trying, Jonas,†Sarah snapped. “This isn’t easy. The storm’s taken on a life of its own.â€
    It took both Matt and Aleksandr to haul Rick into the boat. They wrapped a blanket around him and he wedged himself beside Jock, a rifle in his hands.
    El e came to, fighting, gasping for breath, unseeing, fists flailing. Jackson held her to him, cradling her against his chest, rocking back and forth, although he was fairly certain it was to comfort himself, not her. He had been in her mind, knew what they’d done to her, but seeing her broken body, her face swol en and bruised, the raw wounds of the whip marks across every part of her body and the evidence of manacles around her wrists and ankles made him sick. He’d actual y been sick, heaving his guts out over the side of the boat, his eyes burning and the air choking in his throat.
    â€œYou’re safe, baby,†he crooned softly. “I’ve got you safe. Open your eyes, El e, look at me. I’ve got you safe.†He repeated it like a mantra, a litany.
    Her lashes fluttered. She groaned. The boat bumped hard on a wave, throwing them al around the boat. Several of the men swore as seawater poured over them.
    El e gasped and looked around, obviously not comprehending. Jackson bent closer and used the much more intimate form of communication. She seemed drugged, disoriented, very far away. We’ve got you safe, baby. We’re away from the island and heading for the ship.
    She stared up at him for what seemed an eternity and then recognition kicked in. For a moment, tears swam in her eyes. Where is he? Stavros? Did you get him?
    We will. We have to get you out of here.
    El e’s expression changed. Her eyes turned emerald bright, like two jewels pressed into her pale face. She struggled out of his arms and stood up, ignoring the men in the boat. Facing the island, she raised her arms high. At once lightning forked across the sky. The wind funneled straight through the arc she formed with her arms and headed in a concentrated rush for the vil a.
    The air pressure in the boat was tremendous, pressing down on them, the force of the wind vibrating through their bodies as it passed overhead and hit the vil a head-on. Glass and steel exploded as if charges had been set on the very foundation. El e refused to stop, even with Jackson pul ing at her. She faced her enemy and flattened everything standing on the island with the force of her rage. Trees exploded. Cars and trucks flew into the air and crashed back to earth.
    â€œEl e, stop,†Jonas said. “She’s bleeding, Jackson.â€
    Jackson could see her face now. Blood streamed from her eyes and mouth and nose,