Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

Ping-Pong ball, just jumping all over the place. 'Rein it in, Brian. Sheesh. The man is standing right there listening to every word you say.'
    'I'm backing you up,' Brian pointed out.
    'You're being mean about it. Nikitin didn't fire him, he wouldn't.' Probably for more reasons than she wanted to know, but she was certain she was right.
    'Nikitin loaned him to us to keep Joley safe.'
    'You know, I don't know why all of you think I'm the only one in danger. Every one of us is hanging out there.'
    'Maybe because you live your life in the tabloids,' Ilya interjected, his voice low and controlled.
    'That's not fair,' Brian objected. 'It's not like we ask for the paparazzi to follow us everywhere we go and make up lies.'
    'It's still a choice. And this,' Ilya leaned over Joley's shoulder and snapped the paper with his finger, 'this is dangerous. There are people who believe this crap. They want to believe it and they fixate on it.'
    Joley glared at him, crumpled the tabloid and threw at him. 'You don't have to approve of my lifestyle. I don't want or need your approval.'
    Brian shoved at his glass of water, spilling it on the table. 'He can't be her bodyguard, Jerry. Personal protectors can't think clearly when they're in a relationship with the protectee, and he's screwing her.'
    Tish gasped audibly. The band members looked at one another. Ilya simply caught the front of Brian's shirt in his fist and hauled him over the back of the booth, bringing him up on his toes. Joley covered her face with her hands, imagining all the cells phones out, both recording and taking photos.
    'You owe Joley an apology.' Ilya's voice was whisper-low, but it cut like a knife. 'You're supposed to be her friend and you're deliberately hurting her and trying to publicly humiliate her.'
    Rick stood, too. 'Brian, that was way over the line.'
    'Whoa, dude,' Logan added, 'if he doesn't kick your ass for that, I'm going to have to do it and I haven't kicked ass in ten years.'
    Tish put her arm around Joley and glared at Brian as Ilya shoved him back to solid ground. Brian rocked back on his heels, straightened his shirt and looked at the band, who were all gaping at him in horror.
    'That's not cool,' Leo weighed in.
    'What the hell's gotten into you, bro?' Denny asked. 'You've been acting weird for a couple of weeks now. You pissed at Joley for something?'
    Brian glared at Ilya, obviously considered trying to Punch him and then changed his mind, and climbed over the booth to sit back down. 'Sorry, Joley. And* m apologizing because it was a lousy thing to say, Qot because muscle man got physical.'
    Joley didn't look at him. Other than her sisters, Tish, and Jonas, she counted Brian and the others as her best friends -
    more even - family. Brian had been a little off for a while now. She considered that he might be jealous of Ilya, but truthfully, Brian didn't think of her in that way. He offered, but he wasn't really attracted to her.
    Tish shifted, drawing her attention. The baby was sound asleep cradled against her in an sling. Joley was grateful for the distraction. 'My sister's pregnant.'
    Logan snorted and ruffled her hair. 'You have like a hundred sisters. Which one?'
    'Hannah. I'm so excited for her. Jonas is walking on air, but I'll bet he's turned all bossy on her.'
    Logan laughed. 'From everything you've said about him, I'm betting he was already that way.' He leaned in to the kiss the baby's cheek, his mouth very close to Tish. 'I'm never letting Lissa date. Men are pigs.' He rested his head on Tish's shoulder. She didn't look at him, but she didn't move away. 'Even the good ones can act like pigs sometimes.'
    Brian gave an overly loud sigh. 'I suppose you're referring to me. Okay, fine. I deserve it.'
    Everyone laughed, including Joley, although she had to force it. She wanted to forgive Brian, but part of her was still hurt, and she had never been very good at forgiveness, even with her closest friends.
    The food was surprisingly good, or maybe they were all just very hungry. Joley tried not to be so aware of Ilya. He had such a powerful energy, yet he seemed to be able to blend into the background, which made no sense until she detected the subtle flow of power in the room. He used his gifts to aid him in disappearing in plain sight, which was probably how he'd kept her palm from giving away his presence earlier.
    Conversation flowed around her, and Joley managed to laugh at the appropriate places, but she didn't feel like