Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

he did was al about him and nothing about you.â€
    â€œI can try,†Kate said. “I’d like to help.â€
    El e took a deep breath and shook her head regretful y. She wasn’t strong enough to shield Kate from the emotional trauma of what had happened to her and she wasn’t about to let her gentle sister experience a man as depraved as Stavros. Jackson had saved her.
    You saved yourself by taking that leap of faith. You trusted me enough to give yourself to me wholly. And Jackson had been humbled by El e’s faith in him. After al she’d been through, she’d stil believed in him enough to let go of everything and hand herself over to him. He kissed the top of her head, trying not to crush her in his arms. He had the need to hold on to her with everything he was, every last bit of his strength, and shelter and protect her, make certain nothing could ever touch her again.
    El e stirred, pressing closer, but she didn’t respond. Her mind moved against his, a warmth, a feeling consuming him that he was unfamiliar with.
    Love. It felt like love flooding his mind.
    â€œEveryone needs to rest,†Ilya said. “We should go back to the Drake house and let Jackson and El e have a little time to recoup before we make any decisions. Kate, before you do anything, you need to discuss it with Matt.â€
    Her chin rose. “I can help my sister without consulting my fiancé, Ilya.â€
    His eyebrow shot up. “Real y? Not when you’re risking burning out your own talents.â€
    Joley scowled at him. “It’s bad enough that you want to boss me around, but I swear, Ilya, you’re turning into another Jonas. Don’t be tel ing my sister what to do.â€
    Ilya caught her chin in his hand and leaned down to brush a kiss over her upturned mouth. “Believe me, honey, it takes both Jonas and me to keep the lot of you in line. It’s a ful -time job for us.â€
    El e tried to smile as the ribbing started. Ilya had successful y moved the attention from her, but now she could dwel on what had happened as she looked around the room and saw the broken lamp and the overturned furniture. She felt every bruise and her throat was sore. Was she letting Stavros have access to her by just simply thinking of him? Letting him into her thoughts and mind? If so, how could she possibly stop? He’d done terrible things to her, things she couldn’t help but remember in vivid detail. Worse, what if she was just plain crazy and none of it was real? She was asking Jackson to believe her, but could her mind be so hysterical that she was somehow doing this to herself?
    No! I felt him, too. And Bomber knew he was here. I think he has access whenever my mind leaves yours. You’re too broken now, your natural barrier’s in shreds and he waits until you’re defenseless and then he pours in like the ooze he is.
    Another man had assaulted his woman in front of him. If Gratsos could have, he would have raped her to show her she had no control, that she was nothing and he could get to her anytime he wanted. Rage was a living, breathing entity deep inside and Jackson breathed it away, forcing his mind from that dark place where he’d lived for so long. What Gratsos didn’t understand was, El e was far more powerful than the shipping magnate could ever conceive. And combined with Jackson, when she was back to ful strength, he was certain Gratsos wouldn’t stand a chance. In the meantime, he had to keep her safe.
    It was surprising how smal of a bal El e could curl into. She took up very little of his lap and felt smal and light in his arms. He wanted to be alone with her. “Maybe we should let El e rest,†he agreed with Ilya. Jackson was busy examining the damage done to El e without trying to make it obvious.
    Gratsos was angry with her. He’d wanted to hurt her and he’d done so. She was shaking and trying to hide it from her family.
    Libby crossed the room to stand in front of them. “I know you don’t want me to feel anything that happened to you and I respect that, El e. But I’m a doctor as wel as your sister, and I can heal.â€
    â€œYou’ve done that. I can tel my wounds are already better,†El e said in a smal voice, without looking up. She burrowed closer into Jackson.
    Libby sighed. “That isn’t good enough, hon. I have things I have to check for