Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

photographers got in his way, wading through them as if they weren't there. He never responded to their questions or taunts, just took Joley and Brian through the mass toward the stage.
    Security swarmed around them in the form of police officers, men who worked as security in off-duty hours. They began shepherding the reluctant paparazzi out of the area while Joley's crew formed a line across the entrance to the stage, blocking the cameramen off so Ilya could get the two of them to safety.
    'Are you hurt?' Ilya asked, moving faster as the cops took control. He kept his voice low. 'Tell me if you're injured.'
    Joley realized she was shaking. 'I'm just angry. I tore my jeans and skinned my knees and hands. RJ's bodyguard shoved me down. I'll bet he got them in.'
    "What about you, Brian?' Ilya asked. 'Are you hurt?'
    'Just my pride. I saw Joley go down and couldn't get to her. It's like that anywhere she goes. It's bad, but not like that for the rest of us. She can't get a cup of coffee or go out without them mobbing her. I should have been able to protect her.'
    'That rotten coward set me up,' Joley bit out between her teeth. 'I'm so going to get him back.' She was struggling not to cry, not wanting to admit how terrifying that couple of minutes had been, lying vulnerable and exposed on the ground surrounded by a mob.
    The crew opened their line and allowed the three of them onto the stage. As they made it to safety Ilya let go of Brian and turned to fully face Joley, his hands on her arms. 'You leave RJ's people to me. This is getting out of hand and you need to be safe, Joley. If RJ is trying to harm you and his people are using the paparazzi to do it, you can't give him any openings.'
    His eyes swept over her, taking in the torn jeans and the smears of dirt on her clothing. She was trembling. His hands fit around her waist, and he lifted her to the platform where Denny's drums were assembled.
    'He's right, Joley,' Brian said. 'That was plain scary. Anyone could have stuck a knife in you and no one would have known until it was too late. There were too many of them. You went down so fast, and their instincts weren't to help; they all wanted pictures of you on the ground. I'll bet the headlines are going to say you were drunk or doing drugs.'
    Joley wanted to smash something. That was part of the problem with her life - there were aspects that were so out of control - and she had lost her sense of humor over it. She had money, lots of it, more than she could ever need in her lifetime. She had put it to good use, of course; she had Libby for a sister, and Libby made certain they were all very aware of every environmental issue as well as humanitarian one. But money didn't get her freedom; in fact, just the opposite. The higher she'd risen in fame, the narrower her world had become the fewer people she could trust.
    She loved singing and she loved performing, but she hadn't been able to strike enough of a balance with the paparazzi to get them to give her some space, and she was drowning. For the second time in her career, she was considering quitting - giving it all up. She had no idea what she'd do, but the life was making her physically ill. She couldn't sleep at all anymore, and even her intense exercise was no longer helping.
    Ilya's hands were warm on her knees, and she knew he was healing the small scrapes. His energy was strong. She felt his heat, and for one moment white light burst through his darkened aura. She glimpsed a multitude of colors, and then the shadows drew across him like a veil, closing his real character off to her, although she felt she was beginning to see the real Ilya through all the little glimpses.
    'Thanks.' Her voice was too intimate, and she saw Brian glance at her sharply. She cleared her throat and tried again.
    'Thanks for getting us out of there, Ilya, I - we really appreciate it. We've got to get moving on the sound check. We've only got a couple of hours before the performance tonight. Where's Jerry?'
    'Right here.' Jerry came up behind her. 'Are you all right?'
    She nodded. 'Did security clear them all out of here?'
    'For now.' Jerry stuck out his hand to Ilya. 'Thanks for helping out. I'd like to talk to you later if you can spare a couple of minutes.' He waved his hand around to encompass the scene. 'I'm busy right now, but can we get together after this?'
    Ilya nodded.
    Joley slid off the platform, brushing at the dirt on her clothes. 'Jerry, call everyone in. We need to talk