Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

out, bottle rushing at Joley's torso in an arc. Every defense was an offense, and Joley timed hers to catch the arm solidly as she swung her own up in a block, knocking the forearm hard to push the broken glass to the outside, delivering a front kick to Lucy's stomach and doubling her over. Joley followed the kick in and slammed her arm down hard on Lucy's back, driving her to the floor. Lucy crumpled, sprawling at the last moment, trying to recover and swinging wildly with the broken bottle to keep Joley away from her.
    'You bitch,' she screamed. 'I'm fucking going to cut out your heart.'
    A hand dropped on Joley's shoulder. She whirled around swinging, but Ilya caught her, locking her close.
    'Everything's fine, lubov moya. Please go over to Tish and let me handle this.'
    'She's ill, Ilya, please don't hurt her,' Joley said.
    'Of course not.' Ilya kept his gaze on Lucy, who slowly climbed to her feet.
    Lucy didn't even look at Ilya or acknowledge that he was in the room. She could see only Joley. She straightened her shoulders. 'Do you think that hurt? That didn't hurt.' Deliberately she made a slow cut across her own arm. 'You see that?' Blood dripped. 'I don't feel pain. I refuse to feel pain. You're the wimp bitch Logan thinks he's going to run away with, but I don't let anyone steal my man.'
    Joley knew that backing up often brought an attacker forward. She didn't look at Ilya; certain he was ready, she simply took a tentative step back, putting herself in a vulnerable position. It was difficult to move fast when backing up.
    Lucy lunged again, this time striking upward toward Joley's throat. Ilya stepped to the side of her arm, blocking her with his body while he took control of her wrist, his grip merciless. Lucy went insane, kicking and screaming, trying to throw herself over backward, but Ilya held her in a grip of steel. She turned and tried to sink her teeth into his shoulder.
    He shifted his feet, swinging Lucy into an arc and taking her to the floor, facedown.
    Joley rushed to Tish, wrapping her arms around her and the baby. 'It's safe now. You're safe.'
    Logan, along with several security guards, burst into the room. Logan's face was ashen. 'Tish. Baby, are you all right? Ilya called me and told me. Are you all right?' He dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her into his arms.
    'Are you crying?' Tish touched his face. 'We're safe. We're both safe.'
    'I thought I'd lost you again. I wouldn't have survived this time, Tish. Thank God you're okay.' He rained kisses on her upturned face, careful not to smash the baby.
    For the first time since they had broken up, Tish kissed him back.
    Joley sank back on her heels, trying not to shake, waiting for Ilya to finish helping put Lucy in handcuffs.
    Ilya's eyes met hers. She felt tears clog her throat. Her body trembled. He crossed the distance to her and simply took her into his arms, pressing her against his solid strength, one hand stroking a caress down her hair while the other locked her against his chest.

    'Hopefully they'll get her the help she needs, Joley. You were wonderful.' He brushed kisses over her temple. She'd scared him to death, but at the same time, the determination, the look on her face as she protected Tish and the baby twisted her even deeper into his heart. 'It's over, now, lubov moya. Let's give a statement and get out of here.'
    Joley nodded and went with him, careful to keep the appropriate space between them so the paparazzi wouldn't suspect he was anything more than her bodyguard. She knew - and accepted - that he was everything… and that meant she would do whatever it took to protect him.
    Chapter Seventeen
    Joley was very subdued with her family as they gathered together in a hotel room in Sacramento. She sat alone in a high-backed chair, looking young and fragile, her eyes downcast as Jonas ranted at her. Ilya wanted to gather her into his arms and hold her. He also wanted to smash Jonas in the face. Instead he waited for a sign, anything at all from Joley to tell him how she wanted her family handled, but she just looked at the floor. If she didn't give him an indication soon, he was going to have to throw her brother-in-law out the door - and there'd be some satisfaction in that. Jonas was making it clear that he believed he was in charge.
    'You know better, Joley. You could have been killed. Tish and the baby could have been killed. What were you thinking?' Jonas demanded.
    'Jonas,' Sarah cautioned.
    'Get over it