Drake Sisters 05 - Safe Harbor

I am."
    His breath hissed out. "Don't push me right now, little girl. You'll find yourself over my knee right in front of your sisters. I' in furious with you."
    "You wouldn't dare. I'd have you arrested."
    "No, Joley, you wouldn't. We both know that, so just back off and let me rant about this as you deserve. But I'm warning you." He stepped closer to her. "The next time you do something so foolish, so dangerous, I'm going to give you a lesson you will never forget."
    He swung away, paced the length of the room like a restless tiger, visibly pulling back and regaining control. When he turned around, he was no less furious, no less frightening, but this time his rage was icy. "And what's the matter with all of you?"
    The other Drakes had drifted into the room, one by one, all standing in a loose circle watching him with wary eyes.
    "Do you honestly believe she's that tough? That strong? What's wrong that you don't look after your younger sister?"
    Joley's swift intake of air was audible. "I am that tough and you'd better not threaten my sisters or you'll find out just how tough I really am."
    Hannah's head was pounding, the emotions swinging out of control, beating at her.
    This was her fault. Joley's exposing herself to danger was her fault. As much as she might detest Prakenskii's manner, he was right. Joley was rash and she did act without thought for her own safety when she was protecting her family. Was it possible that whoever hated Hannah that much would turn that hatred on Joley?

    "You're right," she said, her voice strangled with tears. "You're right. Joley, honey, you have to be more careful. You're out there, all over the news, and the wrong people are watching."
    The knock at the door jarred her nerves. She pressed her fingers tightly against her lips and turned away to try to keep the others from seeing how distressed she was.
    Just like that it had all come back. The knife. The pain. The utter horror of it. And now she had to worry about someone doing the same thing to Joley.
    Ilya held up his hand when Sarah made a move to the door. "It's Nikitin," he said.
    "Tread softly. He knows nothing of your capabilities."
    Elle moved close to Hannah and circled her waist with one arm, positioning her body just a little in front of her sister. Hannah frowned. Elle was the youngest, the quietest, and definitely the most lethal. Hannah didn't want Elle's protection anymore. If anything, it should be the other way around, but already her heart was pounding, lungs burning, and she could barely think with the buzzing in her head. A full-blown panic attack was setting in.
    "Joley, take Hannah upstairs," Ilya commanded. "Hurry."
    Joley glanced from him to Hannah's pale face. Without protesting, she grabbed Hannah's hand and took her out of the room, up the stairs. Behind them, she could hear Prakenskii opening the front door to let the mobster in.
    "I-I c-can't breathe," Hannah stammered, her breath coming in long wheezes.
    "Yes you can, honey," Joley said. "You'll be safe in your room."
    "Outside." Hannah indicated the balcony. She could breathe outside. She was safe with the wind and the sea. She groped her way along the walls to the French doors and threw them open, stepping with relief onto the tiled balcony.
    "Better?" Joley asked, pulling Hannah's chair closer.
    "Yes. I'm sorry, Joley, and I'm sorry you felt you had to go out there and protect me from that slimebag pervert. You're an amazing sister."
    "People like that make me so angry, Hannah." She was silent a moment, her hand shaking as she pushed back her hair. "I hate it that Ilya saw me like that. It made me feel cheap and dirty."
    "Oh, Joley." Distressed, Hannah reached out to her. "He didn't look at you as if you were cheap or dirty, he looked concerned and upset, and afraid for you. He made me afraid for you."
    "And I hate that he was right. It was a stupid thing to do, but I'm still glad I did it.
    Very few people are going to follow the Reverend after his little display."

    "Be careful, Joley. Be very careful from now on. You've made an enemy." Hannah rocked herself back and forth, trying to find balance again.
    "Jonas is going to be really upset with me, too." She brightened. "But you're going out with him tonight and that ought to mellow him right out."
    "Maybe I shouldn't go with him. I don't want him to love me like this. I want to be whole for him. Strong for him."
    "Jonas has loved you forever, Hannah, you're the only one who didn't know. He