Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

already,' Kate muttered under her breath.
    'Would you like some tea, baby?' Hannah asked her sister, glaring at her husband. The suite had a large kitchen, and Hannah had already taken it over.
    Jonas glared right back. 'I'm trying to keep you alive, Joley. You've been raised around security. You know what it means, and you certainly have had experience with what can happen when someone tries to kill you…'
    Ilya stirred. 'That's enough. It was my fault, not hers. I walked out of the room and it wasn't secure. We handled it.
    She handled it. She kept Lucy from getting to Tish and the baby and she stalled to give me time to break into the room.'
    Joley flicked him a small look and his stomach tightened. She might look fragile and suitably chastised, but Jonas was only annoying her. Her dark eyes smoldered with fire, and that one telling flash lit a blaze in his belly. You 're so damned sexy when you 're pissed.
    She nearly choked, but he felt her laughter in his mind, and it connected them back together when he'd been feeling apart from her. The Drake family was large, and they had no trouble talking to one another, giving their opinions and backing each other up. Watching them together had made him feel a little lonely, which was odd. He preferred being alone, but this was Joley's family and he needed to learn to become part of it, because a huge part of her heart lay with them and she would never be truly happy if he wasn't comfortable with them.
    'We're just lucky she handled it, aren't we, Ilya?'Jonas demanded. 'Because you fucked up and she nearly was killed.'
    'Don't say "fuck,"' Hannah said. 'You said you'd clean up your language.'
    Ilya coughed to cover the sudden laughter welling up. A pained expression crossed Jonas's face at his wife's reprimand in the middle of him dressing Ilya down. Family dynamics could be a lot more fun than Ilya had first thought.
    'Laugh it up,' Jonas hissed at him, but it was clear Hannah had taken the starch out of his attack. He sighed. 'Joley, I know you're sitting there rolling your eyes while you're trying to look like you're listening, but you have to take your protection seriously.'
    'I'm serious,' Joley said. 'I thought we were safe in the suite.'
    'Your bodyguard stays with you at all times.'
    Joley crossed her arms over her breasts and looked mutinous, but before she could say anything, Ilya made his stand.
    This was her family, the people she loved most in the world, and whether or not they wanted to accept him into their circle - they were going to have to.
    'Joley and I are getting married after the tour.'
    Everyone in the room froze. The silence stretched. Joley kept her chin on her knees, her lashes hiding her expression. Ilya simply didn't care. He'd had enough of Jonas scolding them as if they were small children, and he wanted to make it very clear that Joley was under his protection - and more - that he belonged there as more than the bodyguard. They could deal with him on equal footing.
    'Married?' Sarah finally echoed. She moved closer to her fiance, Damon, as if he could change what Ilya had said.

    Damon shifted slightly and took her hand.
    The teakettle whistled, and Hannah waved her hand toward the kitchen. 'Joley?'
    I don't think they believe me, lubov moya . He injected humor and warmth into the caressing tone of his voice, deliberately stroking her with sound.
    Joley shrugged. I think you're right.
    Ilya kept all expression from his face as he teased her. Maybe I should tell them I ate spaghetti off your stomach last night and licked sauce off your breasts . He'd done more than that - a lot more than that. Do you think they 'd believe me then?
    No, they'll just think all the tabloid stories are the truth.
    'Joley,' Hannah repeated. 'Are you really thinking of getting married?' There was a little hitch in her voice and her gaze shifted for a moment to Ilya.
    Joley nodded. 'I'm not into big weddings. I thought we'd just run off, get it done and then sort of tell Mom and Dad after.'
    'Before,' Ilya corrected.
    'After,' Joley said.
    'We will tell them before we are married and give them the opportunity to join us,' Ilya said. I will not be hidden from your parents as if you are ashamed of me.
    Her gaze jumped to his face. 'Ilya. Never. How can you think that?' She was so upset she forgot the others hadn't been privy to their exchange. 'It has nothing to do with you. I just can't seem to do anything right and I've given up arguing with my father.'
    Everyone