Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

accosting Joley and took him away from the floor. He did it without a sound, without fuss, so quickly no one seemed to notice.
    Joley stood for a moment, watching the two men disappear out the door, and then she shrugged, grinned at the manager, and went back to her dancing.
    “What just happened?” Abigail asked. “I swear, two seconds ago, Prakenskii was standing against the wall behind Nikitin. How in the world did he get through the crowd like that and why didn’t I notice him?“ She leaned her head back to look up at Aleksandr. ”You move like that. Like Prakenskii.
    Sometimes I don’t even hear you or see you and you’re across the room.“
    He grinned at her. “We blend. I hope the eager young man is all right. Prakenskii, depending on his mood, can be a little enthusiastic about his work.” He nodded toward the wall behind Joley, and Abigail frowned when she saw the Russian had returned unnoticed.
    “That’s just creepy. He isn’t looking at Joley at all, but I still don’t like him being so close to her.”
    “He sees her. He sees everything.”
    “Great.” Her fingers tightened around his. “How do you do this day in and day out? I’m a nervous wreck, worried about my family, you, what the heck they’re up to. The man Nikitin gave his money to didn’t go to the bar to get drinks; he’s up by the band.”

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    “It’s possible Nikitin wants a certain song played and he’s going to bribe the band. He’s reputed to really love music and it is something he would do. Money talks with him. There is no need to worry.
    Prakenskii has twice acknowledged my presence and indicated they are here peacefully.”
    “Well, that’s just great. As opposed to going into battle?” She toyed with the drink on the table. “At least Aunt Carol and the other ladies are having fun.”
    As the music ended, the Drake sisters returned to their table. Joley paused and went up to Prakenskii.
    Abigail held her breath. The man wasn’t exceptionally tall, but he seemed to loom over her sister, powerful and looking enormously strong. More than anything he had an aura of danger surrounding him.
    Her sisters wouldn’t fail to recognize it.
    “I’d like to buy you a drink,” Joley said as he walked with her to the table. “It wasn’t necessary to rescue me, but it was very gentlemanly. Thank you.”
    “You should be more aware of what is going on around you,” Prakenskii reprimanded her. “And drawing attention to yourself by dancing so suggestively is utterly stupid for a woman in your position.”
    “Oh, God.” Abigail covered her face with her hands. It didn’t help that all the women sitting at Aunt Carol’s table overheard and nodded their heads in complete agreement.
    Joley tossed her head, sending her hair flying in all directions. Sparks fairly flew from her eyes. “Really?
    How lovely of you to give me unsolicited and unwanted advice. Take a hike, buddy.”
    “He had a knife on him and he carried a drug to put in women’s drinks.”
    Joley had turned her back on Prakenskii, but that stopped her cold. She turned back slowly. “Where is he? Did you get his name?”
    “Did you know this man?”
    “No, but sometimes I get letters…” She trailed off. “Where is he?”
    “I suggested he leave before the police were called. His knife and the drugs were confiscated and thrown away. What letters?”
    Joley waved the question away. “We should have called the sheriff and had him arrested.” She tilted her chin. “Men like that don’t need suggestive dancing to do what they do. They’re sick perverts.”
    “That is true, but it does not excuse your deliberately enticing men with your suggestive dancing.”
    “You are a jerk.”
    The singer in the band stepped up to the microphone as the music faded away. “I’m certain if we all put our hands together we can persuade Joley Drake to sing for us.”
    The manager of the bar frantically drew a line across his throat, signaling the band member to stop, but he was ignored.
    Abigail swore softly under her breath. “The Caspar Inn is one of the few refuges left to Joley where she can enjoy herself without fear of tabloid reporters or crazed fans. Singing would definitely draw unwanted Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    attention and this place would be lost to her if word got out that she ever dropped in to