Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

Ilya to go with them and make certain nothing more happened to them.
    It was a strange conversation, and very unlike Nikitin, who would usually be upset over the cancellation of a group he'd honored with a party. Ilya turned the conversation over and over in his mind as he made his way to the stage.
    Lights flashed, the music rose to a crescendo, and the band rushed from the stage. Security lined the aisle, allowing them a quick and safe retreat. Ilya fell into step with Joley, who barely glanced at him. It was obvious he wasn't going to be forgiven anytime soon, nor was she going to acknowledge that she was angry with him.
    Joley was hurried straight to her bus, where the medic waited for her. The band members crowded inside, leaving Ilya blending into the shadows where she wouldn't notice him. But she noticed. He caught her irritated and somewhat fearful gaze several times.
    'You have to hurry,' Jerry told the medic. 'She's got a plane to catch.'
    'She needs stitches and probably some blood. She should go to the hospital.'
    Joley scowled at him. 'Just get it done.'
    Jerry nodded to the medic, who shrugged and unwrapped Joley's arm, ignoring the manager as he addressed the band. 'All of you are leaving tonight. I've got a plane waiting at the airport. Prakenskii called Nikitin and let him know we appreciated all the trouble he went to, but we aren't taking chances with Joley or any of the rest of you. We've lost one crew member - and that was no accident - we're not losing anyone else.'
    'What about Tish and the baby?' Logan said. 'I'm not leaving without them.'
    'There's room. Tell her to get ready to go.'
    The medic poured something that burned like acid over Joley's arm, and she cried out and jerked away from him.
    'Ow, you sadist. What was that for?'
    'To clean the wound. Hold still. I'm numbing it.'
    'By sticking a needle into it? Are you crazy?' She looked around. 'He's crazy. Get him out of here. I'll just wrap it up.'
    Jerry leveled a look at her. 'You need that arm sewed up. Either here or the hospital.'
    She made a face at him. 'It was good tonight, boys. We held it together, and I think I can safely say, that's one of the worst "gone wrong" incidents we've had.'
    Rick caught her head and kissed the top of it. 'Yeah, baby, you were on fire. You rocked their world tonight. Even that preacher was probably jacking off just watching you, you little sinner you.'
    'Thanks, I think,' Joley said and flashed Rick her brightest smile. T love that shirt on you.'
    Rick dusted off his chest. 'Drives the women wild.'
    Joley laughed and then quickly changed expression, glaring at the medic. 'It hurts - it hurts - it hurts - it hurts,' she repeated, wincing as the needle went in and out of her skin. 'Damn, can't you do something to make me not hurt?' Tears glimmered in her eyes. 'Brian, hit me or something. I heard somewhere you can't hurt in more than one place.'
    Brian swung around, a mixture of anger, guilt and fear on his face. T told you not to use that platform. Why don't you ever listen to anyone? You could have been killed.'
    'Stop jerking your arm away from me,' the medic said. 'You need a tetanus shot as well.'
    Joley glared at him. 'I'm sure I don't. God, you're a freakin' butcher, and now you want to stab me with another needle. Everyone go away. I'm just fine. And for your information, Dr. Frankenstein, I can sew up my own arm. Jerry, make them all leave.'
    'You're kicking us out?' Brian said, his gaze shifting toward Ilya.
    'Yes.' She rocked back and forth. The energy high was giving way under the onslaught of nerves and pain. She needed to be alone, to pull herself back together. She was too exhausted to face any of them, let alone Ilya.
    Jerry waved toward the door, and the band went out. She saw Brian glance around, and then he flipped open his cell phone. Instinct told her he was calling Nikitin. Fear skittered down her spine. 'Jerry. Call Brian back.' Jerry didn't turn around. She yanked her arm away from the medic and stood up.
    Immediately the room swirled and the walls began to undulate. The floor shifted out from under her. Ilya caught her before she went down.
    'I told you she needed blood,' the medic complained.
    'She'll be fine,' Ilya said. 'I'll take it from here.'
    'At least let me give her the tetanus shot.'
    'Do it then,' Ilya suggested. 'Before I throw you out on your ear.'
    'I'm not the one that did this to her,' the medic protested.
    'No, but you sure don't know much about suturing wounds