Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

him yet. I drove all night to get here, and now I'm thinking of jumping back in the car and calling him from the safety of two or three hours away.'
    Joley looked past her. Logan had just stepped out of the bus, and his radar had found Tish immediately. He was staring at her with naked longing. T think it's too late to run, Tish. He's coming this way.'
    Tish didn't turn around. Instead, she closed her eyes briefly, as if gathering strength. Joley pressed her hand for courage. 'I hope you stay, Tish. You're family to all of us and we've never been the same without you.' She kept her voice low. 'But I understand if you can't stay.'
    Tish's fingers clung to hers for a moment, and Joley felt her tremble. Instantly she felt protective and stood her ground, letting Tish hold on to her for courage.
    Logan stopped a few steps short of them. 'You came, Tish.' His voice was low and gravelly, choked even.

    Joley was nearly overwhelmed with the mixture of emotions pouring out of Logan. He was close to a breakdown, she realized. The pregnancy had been a nightmare, with Lucy threatening to kill herself every few days and the paparazzi dogging his every footstep. He stood directly behind Tish, his usually good looks worn and tired.
    Joley watched the struggle on Tish's face as she turned to face her husband. 'I came,' she agreed. Her fingers tightened around Joley's.
    'Thank you for coming, Tish. Believe me, I know what I'm asking.' Logan raked both hands through his hair and then rubbed the shadow along his jaw. T have the baby here. She's been crying most of the night, kept us all awake. I don't know what's wrong.' He glanced over to where Jerry and Brian were now shouting at Dean. 'Everyone's temper is a little frayed. They all took turns holding her to try to get her to sleep, but we can't keep that up.'
    'The baby's in the bus?' Tish asked, obviously melting at the sheer desperation in Logan's voice. 'Show me.'
    Joley took a couple of steps toward Jerry and Brian, but Tish hung on to her like a pit bull. 'It looks like it's getting out of hand over there.'
    'Don't think you'll make it any better,' Logan cautioned. 'Dean was talking crap about you this morning and Brian overheard him. He was seething when he came into the bus. He's hard to rile, but when he gets going, you've got to look out. Come see the baby.'
    Joley frowned, torn between hope that she could end the argument that looked like it was coming to blows and fear that she would possibly make it even worse. Dean glanced up, and his venomous gaze met hers across the distance. He spat on the ground and gestured obscenely at her. Even from where she was, Joley could feel the malevolence pouring from him to her. She shivered as waves of hatred and anger washed over her. And something else. She turned her head quickly to see Ilya straighten, his gaze on Dean, hard and cold and glittering with promise. His aura was black and swirled around the edges with blood red. She drew in her breath sharply.
    Brian spun Dean around and smashed his fist into his face. Dean staggered back and then flung himself on Brian.
    Around them the crew sprang into action, surrounded the two men and dragging them apart.
    Logan pressed Tish and Joley forward toward the band's bus. 'You don't need to be out here. Somewhere, you know someone with a camera is lurking. Let Jerry and Brian toss the bum out on his ass.'
    'I feel responsible,' Joley said.
    'He's right, Joley,' Tish agreed. 'You can't be involved in that. Brian shouldn't have been either.
    Either the man knows something or he doesn't. If he does, he should just give them the information, and if not, he shouldn't be so resentful that they asked him. It's a perfectly legit question when some kid is missing.' She tugged at Joley. 'Let's go see the baby.'
    Joley glanced back toward Ilya, but he was walking away, heading toward the front of the amphitheater, his back toward her.
    Chapter Seven
    Logan stepped out of the bus and put the baby into Tish's arms, standing there with a look of utter, naked, helpless love on his face, for the entire world to see. 'I named her Melissa Lacey, the one we picked out together back when we were in high school. We've all been calling her Lissa. Isn't she beautiful?'
    Tish looked as if she would cry. She stared down at the little upturned face, the little waving hands with soft, perfect fingers, then pushed the baby into Joley's arms and stepped inside the bus.
    Logan caught Joley's shoulders for support,