Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

might look at the guards and think they were cool; she looked at them and wondered how many people they'd killed.
    A guard tapped her window, making her jump, motioning for her to let him see her. Her driver objected, but she rolled down the window and peered at the guard so he could visually identify her. She saw the instant flash of recognition. Joley Drake, legendary singer known simply as Joley. For one brief moment she thought he might ask for her autograph, but he recovered and waved her through the gates.
    Sergei Nikitin had been inviting her to his parties for months, but she always made excuses not to go. Sergei was a wealthy man who ran in the in circles. He knew politicians and celebrities of every kind. He maintained the public image of a charming businessman who liked the good life and surrounded himself with household names - movie stars, race car drivers, sports figures, models, public figures and of course the most famous bands.
    Very few people knew he was reputed to be a Russian mobster with a violent, bloody past and a penchant for making his enemies disappear. Most of those who had heard the rumors thought they only added to his mystique. It seemed inconceivable that the suave, charming businessman might actually order vicious, sadistic deaths to further his already abundant wealth - to everybody but those in law enforcement - and Joley - thanks to her brother-in-law, who was a sheriff.
    'Just stop here,' she instructed and waited until Steve had pulled to the side of the drive, still a distance from the house, before opening the door. She remained in the seat, hesitating.
    The party was in full swing. Music blasted from the house, filling the air around it. Joley could almost feel the building expanding and contracting with every boom of the bass. Even the windows vibrated. She sat in the car with the door open and studied the house. Nikitin would know she'd come. His security people would have radioed the house immediately so Nikitin could be ready to greet her. It would be a victory of sorts for him. Finally. Joley Drake.
    He'd been pursuing her for months. Another celebrity he could be photographed with.
    'Are you getting out, Joley?' Steve asked.
    She met the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror and made a face. 'I don't know. Maybe. Do you mind just waiting, Steve? I feel bad for dragging you out tonight.'
    'That's what you pay me for,' he reassured her. 'If you want to sit here for a while, it's fine by me. I was surprised you wanted to come,' he added, a note of worry in his voice.
    It had surprised her too, but she'd lain awake staring at the ceiling until she'd wanted to scream in frustration. She rarely slept, was a total insomniac, and she couldn't do anything but pace back and forth in her hotel room. The frantic call from Gloria begging her to find Logan had been all the excuse she'd needed. Gloria's daughter was in the hospital having Logan's baby and had already called the media and was making a scene, threatening to kill herself if Logan didn't show up.
    Joley told herself she'd come to the party to make certain Logan knew what he was doing, to send lawyers and security as well as her manager, but she could have done it all with a phone call or two. Lucy had already agreed to turn over the baby to him, and the papers had been drawn up, but everyone knew Lucy wouldn't go away that easily.
    There would be one scene after another.
    Joley shook her head as she turned her attention to Nikitin's grounds. There were people everywhere. They milled around the rolling grass, some making certain to be seen by the mob at the fence. A few hopeful starlets and male models even signed autographs through the gate. Cries and pleas and drunken laughter were every bit as loud as the booming music.
    She spotted Denny Simmons, her drummer, walking in the distance with a blonde, not his current girlfriend. She bit her lip hard. She didn't want to know any of them cheated. 'Men are dogs, Steve. That's why I don't date anymore.
    Hound dogs.'
    He sighed, watching Simmons. 'They have too much, Joley. You know they drink too much or do a few drugs and they don't have a clue what they're doing.'
    'Denny's been divorced once already and he acts as if his girlfriend is his world, but look at him now.' She narrowed her eyes as Denny stopped to kiss the girl, skimming his hands over her ample breasts. The woman jerked his shirt out of his pants and her hand went to his zipper. 'Damn him for this. I really like