Hidden Currents (40 page)

Damon smiled at him. “I think we might need to rethink your plan a little bit.” He patted the chair next to him.

“The bastard isn’t coming out of this alive.” The grim finality gave no room for argument. Jackson looked at Jonas, who had followed them out, Tyson, Aleksandr and Matt close behind.

“Jackson,” Jonas cautioned. “You can’t kill someone in cold blood. You’re a deputy sheriff, sworn to uphold the law.”

“You can have my badge, Jonas,” Jackson said quietly. “I’ll write up my resignation and have it in your hands in five minutes.” He started back into the house.

Jonas stepped in front of him. “Don’t be an asshole. What are you going to do? Shoot him and go to jail?”

“That’s pretty much the plan.”

It was Damon who answered. “I might have a better one. Why don’t you sit down and hear me out. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and while I don’t have all the details worked out, I think we can get rid of him without anyone going to jail. While I have to agree with Jackson on wanting the man dead, I’m not too keen on losing a brother-in-law. Jonas, if you think it best you don’t listen, maybe you should go inside and see if Hannah needs anything.” He looked around at the others. “If any of you don’t want to hear what I have to say, now’s the time to walk away.”

Jonas shrugged. “I can’t exactly be a hypocrite. I just don’t want Jackson in trouble. I went out to sea to kill the man threatening Hannah. And if I got to Gratsos, I’d kill him. I may be hardheaded, Damon, but I know arresting Gratsos isn’t going to stop him.”

“Well, I’ve got a plan.” Damon sounded smug. “Or at least the beginnings of one.”

“Let’s hear it,” Jackson said, and sat on the rail, slamming up a barrier so Elle couldn’t read his mind. He needed to stay in hers, but he couldn’t have her knowing what they were discussing.

Elle felt it the moment Jackson put up a shield between them. He hadn’t been subtle about it either. She glanced toward the deck where the men huddled together around Damon. Frowning, she looked at Sarah for an explanation. “They’re up to something.”

“Damon has a very level head,” Sarah reminded her. “He’d never be involved in anything crazy. He’s always the voice of logic and reason. He’s probably calming everyone down. We have a few hotheads in the family.”

Hannah grinned at her. “You wouldn’t, by any chance, be referring to my husband, would you?”

They all laughed and began to arrange the candles around the room as they talked. “Jonas is never going to change,” Joley said, “but we love him the way he is, Hannah.”

“He’s gotten so bossy since we’ve been married.”

The sisters burst out laughing and Hannah put her hand on her hip. “What?”

“He’s always been bossy, you dolt. You’ve just stopped blowing his hat down the street,” Abbey pointed out. “Jonas comes with a label, ‘Dominant Male Right Here.’ ”

“Well, I rather like it and he’s not as bad as Ilya.”

Joley blushed a deep crimson. “I get around him.”

“I’ll just bet you do,” Elle said and nudged her sister with her foot.

“So what about Jackson?” Libby asked. “Sarah says you’re getting married in a couple of days. Are you really, Elle? Are you sure that’s what you want? Jackson has always put your back up. Are you prepared for what it’s really going to be like living with him?”

Abigail glanced out to the deck to look at Jackson. With his scruffy beard he looked like a fierce mountain man. She knew he often went undercover for other counties. He was at home in the role he played, but sometimes he was intimidating. “You’ve suffered a terrible trauma. It might be better to make huge, life-changing decisions when you’ve had time to recover.”

Elle found herself the center of attention, in the middle of her sisters with all of them watching her closely. She pulled her sweater closer around her, suddenly wishing she’d worn more clothes. They couldn’t see the lash marks crisscrossing her body, but she was acutely aware of them, of the trail around her breasts and even over her sex. The inside of her thighs burned and for a moment she couldn’t breathe.

Baby, do you need me to come in there and rescue you?
Jackson’s voice was a velvet rasp in her head. She felt instant warmth pouring through her and hadn’t realized how cold she’d become. She was shivering and she made herself take a deep breath.

She looked through the window and he was looking at her. He put his hand up in the air, palm out, fingers spread wide. She put her hand up, palm facing him and felt the brush, first skin to skin, then his lips as if he’d pressed them into the center of her palm. She closed her fingers around the spot, holding the sensation to her. At once she felt steadier.

I’m fine. Thanks. And don’t reprimand me, you started it.
She ignored the stabbing pain in her head, needing the brief communication.

Wait until we’re alone.
His voice promised everything but punishment.

Elle turned her attention back to her sisters. “Jackson makes me whole. He gives me back everything Stavros took away. I’m not well, not inside yet, and I know that, but Jackson makes me better every day.”

Sarah smiled at her. “I want you to get to the point, we all do, where we can put our arms around you and hold you. It’s difficult for us.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I hope you understand why. Knowing what happened to me and experiencing it are two different things. Until I’m strong enough to keep that from happening I don’t want to take any chances with any of you, and Joley and Hannah are pregnant. We don’t know how much their babies feel.” She kept her chin up, trying to stay outside herself and not let those images and memories flood into her mind.

Jackson’s mind moved against hers and she felt stronger, as if he stood beside her, linking hands, linking souls. There was no way to explain to her sisters, but she could see they were trying to understand.

“No one will cross that line without your permission,” Sarah agreed.

“Kate has to stay safe. Promise me, you won’t take too much on yourself, Katie. You can’t burn yourself out in order to help me,” Elle said.

“I’ve been thinking it might be best to try this in three sessions,” Sarah said. “Libby and I talked it over and she said when she’s healing something difficult, she’s found if she attacks it in thirds, it conserves her strength and keeps her safe from being overwhelmed. Her body can absorb the disease or wound better.”

Hannah blew on the candles to light them. At once the room was filled with the soothing fragrance of lavender. Sarah, Hannah, Libby, Abigail and Joley formed a circle around Kate and Elle, joining hands. They swayed back and forth in time to the swelling chant Sarah began. Kate moved closer to Elle until she was standing inches from her, eyes closed, her lips moving in prayer as she asked for strength to help her sister.

Joley’s voice began to swell in volume. Abigail joined her, the blend of their voices strong and pure, a counterpoint to Sarah, Hannah and Libby as they chanted, a call and answer, building energy in the room. Kate smiled her serene smile and reached out to Elle again, her hand hovering just a breath from her sister.

“Are you ready?”

Elle couldn’t help it. She reached out to Jackson for reassurance.

I’m here, baby. I’ve got the shield up and it’s strong. She’s not going to feel anything but love from you.

His voice was quiet. Strong. Protective. Her heart turned over. A part of her wanted to weep tears of joy for the way he loved her. She nodded her head at Kate.

Kate placed her hand on Elle’s head, the lightest of touches, almost a caress, a stroke of love from one sister to another. At once she could feel warmth flowing from Kate’s hand to her head. The throbbing pain that seemed ever present lessened. She could almost imagine the deepest layers in the lesions healing. Tiny sparks of electricity tingled, leapt and flickered, as if Kate was repairing an electrical current in her head.

The warmth grew to heat. The tingles became charges. Outside on the deck, Bomber suddenly lunged at the screen and began to bark. His entire body faced the women, ears forward, his teeth showing, his barking extremely aggressive. Hannah and Joley both jumped back, breaking the linked circle.

Kate’s face paled and she pulled her hand away quickly as though burned. She swayed and Elle caught her around the waist, helping her to sit on the floor. Immediately Libby reached for her.

Kate scrambled backward, avoiding Libby’s touch. “Wait, Libby. Just wait one moment.”

“What the hell’s going on in here?” Jackson demanded, yanking open the screen. Bomber bounded in, rushing over to Elle. “Dismiss,” he snapped to Bomber and the dog ceased barking.

Elle paled. “Did something slip through, Kate? Didn’t I protect you?”

Kate wrapped her fingers around Elle’s slender wrist. “You protected me just fine. I didn’t feel anything of what you went through. The barricade you and Jackson have together is astonishing.” She dropped her head between her knees, drawing in great breaths to keep from fainting.

“Kate?” Sarah asked.

Hannah floated a plate of sugar cookies into the room, caught the plate and stood by anxiously as Joley maneuvered a teacup.

Kate looked up, her face very white. “I heard him.”

“Jackson?” Sarah asked.

Kate shook her head. “
Him.
Gratsos. He was reaching for her, but he can’t get past Jackson’s barrier. He was so angry. Enraged. And he battered at it. I felt him.” She paused. “And then he felt me.”

Elle gasped. “Is he in your head? Tell the truth, Kate. Abbey. Make her tell the truth.” She was totally panic stricken. Her heart beat so hard she actually pressed her hand against her chest.

“I pulled out the moment he felt me. I don’t think he can find me again, but he has to know we’re related. If he doesn’t have your real name and address, he has another clue. I wasn’t trying to hide or protect myself because it didn’t occur to me that he might ‘see’ me or feel me as I worked at healing you.” She took a sugar cookie and bit down into it. Joley thrust the teacup into her hands as she shivered. “He’s a scary man.”

Elle sank down onto the floor. First Hannah. Then Abigail. And now Stavros had frightened Kate. Sweet, serene Kate. It seemed almost blasphemy. Was there no one safe from the man? And Dane. She didn’t even know if Dane’s family knew he was dead, or if he’d just disappeared as she had.

She pressed her fingers to her eyes, fighting the burning tears. A part of her wanted to get on a plane and confront Stavros. Walk into a room and fight him—psychic power to psychic power—but she wasn’t nearly well enough. He was going to find her—he
had
found her and he was systematically attacking every one she loved. Who would be next? Whose death would she be responsible for next? Hannah could so easily have died, taking her unborn child with her, and Abigail still had the bruises and stitches. Why? Because all of her sisters were conserving energy to heal her. They had nothing left for themselves.

She was destroying her family by staying. She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around herself and tried to face what it would be like to put herself in Stavros’s hands once again. A shudder went through her body. Every touch, every act he’d forced on her was so vile to her, such a violation of everything she was and what she stood for, and now, after being with Jackson and knowing love—the touch of love—she couldn’t face it. She’d never be able to go through with it. A single sound escaped, one of complete despair.

“Baby, come here.” Jackson crouched down beside her, his movements slow and gentle.

Almost immediately everyone went quiet and Elle’s sisters moved back to give him room. It was evident in that moment that Elle, their strong, fierce sister, the one they’d all come to know as a protector and fighter, was fragile and in need of someone to lean on.

Elle rocked back and forth, barely aware of the others in the room. Jackson didn’t touch her, simply stayed inches from her, his body heat warming her.
Elle. Look at me. You’re retreating and wherever you go, you know I’m just going to be following you. Look at me, honey. We’re here, in our home, and you’re surrounded by everyone who loves you.

Her eyes flickered. He could feel her, small and light and rolled into the fetal position, tucked into a corner of her mind.

That’s it, baby. I’m right here. Right beside you. Look at me. See me.

The sound of his voice—soft, compelling, strong—penetrated the wall she’d erected to try to protect herself from a threat she couldn’t face. Elle forced herself outside her mind and back into her body where she could open her eyes and look at his face. A strong face. Beloved in every way. Every line. Every scar. She knew his face as if it were her own. She could trace the bone structure, the firm jaw, his sensual lips and straight nose with the little crook in it.

Jackson’s eyes were so dark, so compelling, and once she looked into them she couldn’t look away. She felt safe there, held there, not captured, but sheltered. Tears blurred her vision and she blinked rapidly so she wouldn’t lose sight of him.

Jackson, all too aware of their audience, gathered her into his arms, pulling her against his chest, his arms wrapping her up so no one could see her face. He knew Elle’s family loved her, but she would be so embarrassed to be seen in a moment of weakness. Pride was a big thing to Elle and, where he’d already been through the first stages of trauma and knew what to expect, she had no idea that these moments would come at the most unexpected times.

Elle burrowed close to him, her face tight against the hollow of his shoulder. He stood, taking her with him, sitting in a chair with her on his lap, his arms effectively sheltering her from everyone.

“Katie,” he asked softly, “are you all right?”

She nodded. “He didn’t get inside my head. I pulled away as soon as I felt him. I think we both recognized we weren’t alone at the same time.”

“Thank you for working on Elle. I can feel a difference already inside her brain, with just the one healing. When you worked with her, could you get an idea of the damage?” Jackson really wanted an answer, but even more, he wanted to divert attention away from Elle until she could recover enough to face everyone.