Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

Sea Haven for any other reason than to stir up headlines for himself and the last thing they needed was publicity.
    â€œI haven’t seen or heard about him for a couple of days now, Jackson.â€
    â€œHow old is the woman’s daughter?â€
    Inez frowned. “Young, fifteen maybe. It’s hard to tel these days with kids. She dressed in the goth fashion, al black, lots of piercings, hair hanging in her face, but she looked cute. She didn’t talk when they came into the store and she looked sad. I felt sorry for her. Do you want me to ask around about him?â€
    Jackson shook his head. “No, just keep your ears open. If he’s around, someone wil mention him to you. Don’t act overly interested, but cal Jonas, Ilya or me.â€
    Inez nodded solemnly. “Don’t you go worrying about me, Jackson, I’ve been around his kind a time or two.†She waved to El e and stalked off, her thin shoulders stiff.
    Jackson watched her go with a smal smile, shaking his head as he turned back to El e. “She’s a very nice woman.â€
    El e nodded. “She looks after half the vil age.†She watched him come toward her, the easy fluid way he moved, whisper quiet, his eyes watchful, restless, shifting from sky to ground, even out to sea. He made her feel safe. “That’s nice—what you do for Donny.â€
    Jackson shrugged. “He’s a great kid and I got the time. He likes to talk about law enforcement. The boy doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. I’ve got him keeping an eye on both Donna and Inez. I told him they were getting up a bit in age, although neither wanted to admit it, so he carries heavier boxes for them.†He gave her a quick, embarrassed grin. “Then I told them I was trying to help Donny learn manners so if he asked to help them carry things, it would be doing him a favor to let him.â€
    â€œVery clever, Deveau. I’m going to have to watch you. What was al that whispering she was doing? What’s going on?â€
    â€œShe just warned me that I’d better look after you. And she said RJ was in town a few days ago.â€
    His voice was very casual, but El e stiffened, tension rising in her enough to trigger the dog into going alert, his head up and ears cocked, listening for trouble. His eyes remained focused on her.
    â€œIt’s no big deal, El e. RJ coming into town isn’t unusual. Joley and Hannah and even Kate generate news coverage. He wants it. We’l just keep a low profile.â€
    She nodded, forcing air through her lungs. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I’m just not ready for my name to be public in any way. I stil have to contact Dane and file a report, and even that scares me. Being held prisoner in his house, I realize every passing day just how much power Stavros real y has. It’s not only his money—and believe me, he’d buy his way out of anything—it’s his psychic ability. He subtly influences people. I didn’t even recognize the flow of energy for what it was until we were on the island and he couldn’t use it on me anymore.â€
    â€œHow does he influence them? What exactly are his psychic abilities?â€
    She rubbed at her temple. Her hand was trembling and she twisted her fingers together in her lap. “I don’t know, Jackson. He obviously knew I was psychic and I never suspected he was. I couldn’t read him and just thought he had natural barriers. But I couldn’t read his bodyguard either or any of the men in the room with us. I should have suspected, but I never felt energy at al around him.â€
    â€œCould that be his only talent?â€
    â€œHe was afraid of his brother and with that psychic barrier on the island, I’d guess that his brother can be more lethal, but I don’t know.â€
    She rubbed her temple again.
    Jackson stepped behind her and dropped his hands to her shoulders, massaging her, feeling her smal bones. He couldn’t understand how Stavros could have hurt her the way he had. El e needed someone to love her, to understand her, to admire and respect her. Why try to break her down?
    Her hand came up to cover his fingers. “He isn’t you, Jackson, and he never wil be. He doesn’t want a strong woman. He doesn’t want a partner. I don’t know, maybe he’s into the entire