Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

Steve the evening the bus blew up. He asked where you were. He was coming from the bus and we talked for a minute, but it was a bizarre conversation. Do you think he's the one who planted the bomb? The thought made her angry. She'd known Steve and trusted him. She liked Steve. How had she missed that he would betray her? Some psychic she was. She hadn't known her best friend was gay, and she hadn't realized Steve was in the employ of people trying to kill her.
    Magic isn 't science, Joley. You rely too heavily on your gifts. People are different, and they can be a multitude of things - not all bad, not all good.
    She didn't want a lecture, she wanted help. Nikitin and whoever his rival mobster was might have a small army with tons of firepower, but she had her family - her sisters. And she had Ilya. The combination was unstoppable.
    She reached for her closest connection with absolute faith. Hannah?
    We're here, honey. We feel it. We'll be waiting.
    She wasn't afraid. Deep inside she felt centered and calm, definitely in control. Already she could feel the energy building around her as her sisters united. She flashed a reassuring smile at Brian and tapped her fingers against the back of his hand. 'We'll be all right. If they mention Nikitin to you, act like you don't know anything.'
    'You think these are the same people who tried to kill him earlier?'

    'I think they have to be. And I think Steve planted the bomb that blew up my bus, so don't think he's going to have any loyalty toward us. Ilya will come for us.'
    'I've seen him in action. He inspires confidence.'
    Joley nodded. He did that. She was amazed how safe she felt, how reassured. She'd always had that with her family.
    Having Ilya only made the feeling more so. Whatever differences they had to work out, trust was no longer one of them, because she knew he was coming for her - nothing would stop him.
    The ride was long. North on the freeway for what seemed an hour and then west toward the coast. They drove through a series of twists and turns. They were definitely off the highway and running along a narrow, winding road that led to the foothills. She recognized the area.
    Bear Valley. They 're taking you on the road to Bear Valley. Hannah's voice was soothing and calm in Joley's mind.
    We're not far behind you. Jonas picked us up. We're tracking your energy.
    All people left a specific trail behind, a part of their aura, their song, the same as fingerprints, and Joley knew each sister could find one of the others if she ran across that energy trail.
    Ilya? She couldn't help reaching out to him. She wanted to feel the warmth of his touch, the comforting caress of his voice.
    We were sent a map to follow. He's distraught, Joley, genuinely distraught.
    You know it's a trap. They have cover everywhere. This is heavy brush country, lots of trees, and they '11 have the advantage of knowing the terrain. They chose it.
    You worry too much. It will be all right .
    She wanted the reassurance, and his voice, that amazing voice, provided it. She believed in him, which was almost shocking to her. She believed in her family and never thought anyone could come close to making her feel safe in the way they did, but Ilya had slowly inserted himself into her life until she found herself believing. And now that belief was so strong, she had no doubts he would find a way to rescue her.
    Joley stared out the window into the night, watching the lights of cars flashing past. For Joley, marriage was sacrosanct. In her profession, marriage often ended up in a quick and easy divorce. She didn't want that. Her parents had a long and happy marriage, and her ancestors had done the same. One by one her sisters had found men they felt were true partners - best friends, astonishing lovers. Joley had never believed that would happen to her. She had always believed the bond of her sisters would be all that she had, and she'd been determined to make that enough - until Ilya.
    He was everything. Her heart, her soul, and he certainly commanded her body. She knew what love was, and she had finally made that sacred commitment with every fiber of her being.
    The car slowed, and Joley let her senses flair out as much as possible, trying to send impressions of movement or heat or anything that might help Ilya. Her sisters would be somewhere safe, and no one would ever know they'd been there, helping in the battle, but Ilya would be on the front line and she wanted him to have every advantage.
    'Look