Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

slid over him. He was looking straight ahead, out the window, ignoring her and the ocean below them as they wound their way along the ribbon of highway toward his home. “And you’re just tel ing this to me now?â€
    â€œThere was no need for you to know before.â€
    A smal stirring in her mind told Jackson El e Drake was not completely gone. She’d always had one hel of a temper to go with her bright red hair, and he felt a smal spurt, like a weak firecracker going off. “There was every need. You know what I thought.â€
    â€œI know what you said you thought. You blamed me for your running off.â€
    Her lips tightened and she ducked deeper into the blanket, averting her face, inhaling the wind. The breeze ruffled her tangled hair. She pushed at it.
    â€œYou didn’t want me enough to take me the way I was, Jackson.â€
    He felt the punch of her words in his gut. “Don’t fucking tel me I didn’t want you enough, El e. Don’t ever say that to me. I may not be Jonas, al smooth and saying whatever a woman wants to hear, but I sure as hel wanted you with every cel in my body and you knew it. You wanted me to change. You wanted me to be a yes man.â€
    She swal owed hard. “I’m not doing this with you. It doesn’t matter anymore. We had our chance and we lost it.â€
    â€œAnd don’t fucking say that to me either.â€
    â€œMaybe I just shouldn’t say anything.â€
    The scenery blurred as she stared out over the ocean. Waves pounded against great rocks, throwing geysers of water into the air and dousing the rocks with white foam. There was a semblance of peace in the familiarity of the coastline, wild and untamed, the ocean unpredictable, yet always constant. Like her family.
    Jackson cleared his throat. “I don’t know how to do this right, El e. You’re exhausted and hurt and—â€
    â€œ Damaged. Just say it. We both know it. I need honesty from you, Jackson. I’m counting on your honesty to tel me when I’m screwing up.
    Because I feel so . . .†She trailed off. She rubbed her chin on the blanket. “Angry. Wanting to hurt someone. I hate myself for this but better you than them.â€
    â€œDon’t you think I know that?†He pul ed the truck into his drive and took them up to his home. “I knew what I was asking when I begged you to stay alive, El e. I’ve been there, I know better than anyone what you’re feeling right now. I’m wel aware you’l do anything to protect your sisters.â€
    â€œIncluding putting your life in danger?†There was a note of chal enge in her voice.
    â€œI shared your mind when he shoved a gun down someone’s throat.â€
    El e squeezed her eyes closed tightly, but she couldn’t stop the vision of a complete stranger towering over her, shoving his penis into her mouth, or the sight of Stavros slamming his gun into the man’s mouth and pul ing the trigger. Her throat closed, as if a hand squeezed like a vise around it, taking her breath until she fought, thrashing to get air.
    Jackson slammed on the brakes and reached for her, ripping her seat belt free so that he could spin her around, catching her by the shoulders. Her hands were at her neck, trying to pry unseen fingers from her throat. Behind them, in the back of the truck, Bomber was barking frantical y.
    â€œBreathe. Take a breath,†Jackson demanded, his voice calm, although his heart was stuttering. Her eyes were glazed, far away, not seeing him.
    He kept her mind flooded with him and he tried again. Elle. Take a breath. Breathe with me. He pried her fingers loose from her neck and pressed her palms flat over his lungs as he inhaled deeply and then let out the air. That’s it, baby, with me. Feel that. We’re together. The same skin, honey.
    You breathe and I’ll breathe.
    She was fol owing his instructions, huddled, sheltered inside him, fearing Stavros reaching for her from a distance. Jackson leaned down and brushed the top of her head with a kiss. “We’re okay now, El e. You’re home. You’re safe.†He drew her into his arms, cradling her against his chest, blanket and al . “Sarah wil bring some clothes over for you tomorrow. In the meantime, you can wear mine, but they’l be a little big.
    We’l make do.â€
    El e clung to him for a moment, trying