The baby in her arms stirred a little and Tish shifted her to pat her back and keep her asleep. She glanced around for the diaper bag. "I think I left her diaper bag in the dressing room. I need to check her in case she needs a change."
"I'm not making excuses," Joley said, following her into the large dressing room, "but it's hard on the road, you know that. It's lonely and isolating. Drinking is a way to be numb, and I would have considered it as an option myself more than once if my body chemistry was different. Logan always loved you, Tish. After you left, we thought we'd lose him. He went crazy, life didn't matter much to him. Drugs, drinking..."
"Women," Tish supplied bitterly, glancing over her shoulder at Joley as she snagged the bag. "Believe me, I tried not to read the tabloids, but it was compulsive behavior." Lissa squirmed, and Tish handed Joley the changing pad to put on the makeup table.
Joley smoothed the pad and pulled diapers and wipes from inside the bag. "That, too. That's how he got involved with Lucy. He stayed drunk. We finally did an intervention and told him he was out if he didn't pull his life back together. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you want to view it, Lucy was already pregnant. She'd tried twice to slice Logan up with bottles when she was angry with him, and then as soon as she found out about the baby, she threatened to cut it out of her stomach. We got the lawyers on it and went the legal route. She didn't want the baby, but she has problems with reality."
"I feel sorry for her," Tish said, kissing Lissa and putting her gently on the pad. "I would give anything if Lissa was mine and Logan's child, yet she can't enjoy what she has because she's too ill."
"If she stays on her meds she does fairly well," Joley said. "She makes much more rational decisions when she's on them, but she just won't take them."
"If I stay any longer taking care of Lissa, I'll be lost," Tish admitted as she took the little pink outfit off so she could change the diaper. "I can barely think straight around Logan, but I can't lose myself again like that. It was terrifying to be so depressed, so out of control. Maybe that's why I feel so bad for Lucy. I've had a taste of what depression can do to a person and it's horrible."
"Do you honestly believe Logan would make that mistake again?" Joley slipped her finger into Lissa's little hand. "You're so good at this mom thing. Look at you, Tish, changing that diaper like a pro. I'd be freaking out if it was me. She's too small."
Tish sent her a small grin. "It took me a while, but I was better than the guys. They're so cute with her, all of them, big bad boys, all fighting over who gets to hold her. It's so funny." She sighed. "Right now, Logan's saying everything I want to hear, because he wants me to stay with him. We were never divorced, but I don't want him to be with me because he needs me for the baby. Our relationship wasn't strong enough to sustain being away from each other a few weeks."
"Tish..."
She shook her head. "I made all the excuses for him already, but military men and women are apart. Pilots. Lots of couples are apart for long periods of time."
"He was weak. It cost him a huge price, Tish. You didn't answer me. Do you honestly think he'll ever make that same mistake again? He nearly destroyed himself after you left. I was there. I saw him."
The lights flickered and dimmed. Joley frowned. "They can't be finished breaking down the set this fast. Surely they're not closing the building." She turned around to peer out the dressing room door into the larger suite. The lights were off, except the mood lighting over the bar. She was aware of Tish wrapping the baby in a blanket and lifting her into her arms.
Something heavy banged against the outside door. Startled, she looked over at it.
Joley. What the hell is going on?
A chair was stuck under the door handle, effectively blocking the door to the suite. The couch had been pushed up against it as well. Joley caught sight of movement, someone ducking back behind the bar.
Ilya. We're in trouble. Someone's in the room with us and they've barricaded the door. I can't see, but I'm willing to bet they've done the same with the other entrance.
Stay calm, Joley. I'm coming.
The fear subsided a bit, as fast as it had risen. The absolute confidence in his voice calmed her. He would come and nothing would stop him.
She caught Tish's hand, preventing her from entering the suite. "Stay back, hon. We've got company and they barricaded the door from the inside."
"The baby, Joley. What about the baby?"
Joley caught Tish's hand. "It's all right. We'll be all right, Ilya and Logan will come for us. We know the dressing room is clear because we've been here all this time and whoever put the chair against the door is out there. So I want you to stay to the back of the room with Lissa. If they come in here, they'll have to get through me to get to you and the baby."
Tish clutched the baby tighter to her. "Will your cell phone work in here?"
She'd called Ilya, and that was her secret weapon. No one could possibly know they could speak telepathically. "Ilya knows, he's coming for us."
"You know who's out there, don't you, Joley?"
Ilya? It's Lucy, the woman you took down in Dallas. If she's off her meds, she can be very violent and she's tried to kill the baby before.
Does she have a gun?
"Tell me, Joley. I know you suspect someone," Tish insisted.
Joley sucked in her breath, weighing whether or not to tell Tish the truth as they moved together deeper into the dressing room. Her fingers tightened around Tish's hand. "It's Lucy, Tish, the baby's biological mother. I'm just guessing, but she's probably responsible for the flowers, doll, phone call and my clothes. My best guess is, in her twisted and demented mind, she believes the tabloid articles and thinks I've stolen Logan and the baby from her."
"She didn't want the baby. She tried to kill the baby before she was even born and again right afterward in the hospital. She's not supposed to come anywhere near the baby." Tish's voice trembled with fear. She pulled her hand away from Joley and hugged Lissa tighter to her.
"Did Logan mention she attacked him in Dallas just before we entered the building for the sound check?"
Tish made a small sound of assent. "He said she'd been arrested. And she violated a restraining order. The judge specifically said she couldn't go near him."
"Well her mother must have bailed her out, because she's back. I caught a glimpse of her right as I noticed the door was barricaded. She's dressed as a crew member and she ducked back behind the bar, but it was her. And in all honesty, I've never found that restraining orders do much good on people like Lucy. She wants me dead."
Tish put a hand on Joley. "Because she thinks you're with Logan and the baby, but as soon as she sees me, she'll know. I was in the bus when those pictures were taken. But she knows I'm his wife. She sent me a few threatening letters telling me to give him up. That was a while back, but they were ugly."
Joley didn't want to point out that Lucy had to have just now seen Tish holding the baby; that would just frighten her more.
There was sound of glass shattering, the overpowering smell of whiskey and then a slow, deliberate tread that came closer and closer. Tish gasped and clutched Lissa tighter. The baby began to cry.
"Do you have formula for her?" Joley asked. "Go sit down over there where you're out of the sight of the doorway and feed her. We just need to buy a couple of minutes."
Tish nodded and ducked back into the smaller alcove, sinking into the chair there and hastily pulling a bottle from the bag to keep the baby quiet.
The sound of humming became loud. Lucy stood framed in the doorway dressed in trousers and shirt proclaiming she was a crew member. Around her neck hung an ID badge with a picture of a man on it--John Dylan. Joley recognized his photo immediately. Lucy kept humming as she looked around the room.
"Hi, Lucy," Joley said to greet her. "I didn't know you'd come to the concert. It was a great show. Did you enjoy yourself?"
Lucy's lashes fluttered. A cunning, crafty expression crossed her face
. "Don't pretend to be my friend. I know what you did."
Joley deliberately looked as innocent as possible. "I have no idea what you're talking about Lucy."
Lucy bared her teeth like a wild animal. "I have friends. You think I don't have friends who tell me what's going on? I know you stole Logan from me. He wanted me and you were jealous--so jealous you crawled into his bed. That bitch of a wife of his thinks you're her friend, just like you're pretending to be mine, but I know the truth."
Joley shook her head. Lucy took a couple of steps to Joley's right, and in her hand, beside her thigh, were the jagged remains of a whiskey bottle,. Her fingers were wrapped around the neck of the bottle, and she began to tap it against her thigh.
"Lucy, be careful. You're going to cut yourself," Joley cautioned her.
She had to keep her body between Lucy and Tish, and Lucy taking steps forward didn't give Joley much room.
"Do you think I care?" Lucy demanded, brandishing the bottle. "When I'm finished with you, your face will be in shreds."
"Like my clothes, Lucy? You tore up my clothes, didn't you?"
Joley was aware of a muffled sound coming from just beyond the darkened interior of the suite. Ilya had to be making his way in. She just had to keep Lucy focused on her and he'd be there.
Lucy tossed her head. "Strutting around in front of him in your whore clothes. I know all about you, Joley. You pretend to be so innocent, but you can't stand it when you aren't getting all the attention. That's why you didn't want to have Logan's baby. You insisted I carry the baby so you wouldn't have to ruin your figure. You had me impregnated with your child." She stepped even closer as she lowered her voice, biting out each word between her bared teeth. "I knew you'd done it before he told me, and I tried to kill the brat, cut her out of me so your bitch seed wouldn't take root."
"Who told you that, Lucy? Because it isn't true. Lissa is your child." She had to convince her just in case Lucy managed to get past her.
"Lissa?" Lucy snarled the name. "I told Logan he couldn't call her that. He'll see what happens when he tries to leave me."
Joley kept her eyes on the middle of Lucy's chest so she could see her entire body--shoulder movement, foot position, the telegraphing of the attack before it came. She stayed on the balls of her feet, slightly to the side to present less of a target. Both arms were loose, one across her body, so she could bring it up fast and block if need be, one up under her chin, so she could use it to strike. She knew Ilya was close, she could sense him moving into the outer room now. He'd gotten through the barricade Lucy had placed against the far door.
Lucy lunged at her, her fist striking out, bottle rushing at Joley's torso in an arc. Every defense was an offense, and Joley timed hers to catch the arm solidly as she swung her own up in a block, knocking the forearm hard to push the broken glass to the outside, delivering a front kick to Lucy's stomach and doubling her over. Joley followed the kick in and slammed her arm down hard on Lucy's back, driving her to the floor. Lucy crumpled, sprawling at the last moment, trying to recover and swinging wildly with the broken bottle to keep Joley away from her.
"You bitch," she screamed. "I'm fucking going to cut out your heart."
A hand dropped on Joley's shoulder. She whirled around swinging, but Ilya caught her, locking her close. "Everything's fine, lubov moya. Please go over to Tish and let me handle this."
"She's ill, Ilya, please don't hurt her," Joley said.
"Of course not." Ilya kept his gaze on Lucy, who slowly climbed to her feet.
Lucy didn't even look at Ilya or acknowledge that he was in the room. She could see only Joley. She straightened her shoulders. "Do you think that hurt? That didn't hurt." Deliberately she made a slow cut across her own arm. "You see that?" Blood dripped. "I don't feel pain. I refuse to feel pain. You're the wimp bitch Logan thinks he's going to run away with, but I don't let anyone steal my man."
Joley knew that backing up often brought an attacker forward. She didn't look at Ilya; certain he was ready, she simply took a tentative step back, putting herself in a vulnerable position. It was difficult to move fast when backing up.
Lucy lunged again, this time striking upward toward Joley's throat. Ilya stepped to the side of her arm, blocking her with his body while he took control of her wrist, his grip merciless. Lucy went insane, kicking and screaming, trying to throw herself over backward, but Ilya held her in a grip of steel. She turned and tried to sink her teeth into his shoulder. He shifted his feet, swinging Lucy into an arc and taking her to the floor, facedown.
Joley rushed to Tish, wrapping her arms around her and the baby. "It's safe now. You're safe."
Logan, along with several security guards, burst into the room. Logan's face was ashen. "Tish. Baby, are you all right? Ilya called me and told me. Are you all right?" He dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her into his arms.
"Are you crying?" Tish touched his face. "We're safe. We're both safe."
"I thought I'd lost you again. I wouldn't have survived this time, Tish. Thank God you're okay." He rained kisses on her upturned face, careful not to smash the baby.
For the first time since they had broken up, Tish kissed him back.
Joley sank back on her heels, trying not to shake, waiting for Ilya to finish helping put Lucy in handcuffs.
Ilya's eyes met hers. She felt tears clog her throat. Her body trembled. He crossed the distance to her and simply took her into his arms, pressing her against his solid strength, one hand stroking a caress down her hair while the other locked her against his chest.
"Hopefully they'll get her the help she needs, Joley. You were wonderful." He brushed kisses over her temple. She'd scared him to death, but at the same time, the determination, the look on her face as she protected Tish and the baby twisted her even deeper into his heart. "It's over, now, lubov moya. Let's give a statement and get out of here."
Joley nodded and went with him, careful to keep the appropriate space between them so the paparazzi wouldn't suspect he was anything more than her bodyguard. She knew--and accepted--that he was everything... and that meant she would do whatever it took to protect him.
Chapter 17
JOLEY was very subdued with her family as they gathered together in a hotel room in Sacramento. She sat alone in a high-backed chair, looking young and fragile, her eyes downcast as Jonas ranted at her. Ilya wanted to gather her into his arms and hold her. He also wanted to smash Jonas in the face. Instead he waited for a sign, anything at all from Joley to tell him how she wanted her family handled, but she just looked at the floor. If she didn't give him an indication soon, he was going to have to throw her brother-in-law out the door--and there'd be some satisfaction in that. Jonas was making it clear that he believed he was in charge.
"You know better, Joley. You could have been killed. Tish and the baby could have been killed. What were you thinking?" Jonas demanded.
"Jonas," Sarah cautioned.
"Get over it already," Kate muttered under her breath.
"Would you like some tea, baby?" Hannah asked her sister, glaring at her husband. The suite had a large kitchen, and Hannah had already taken it over.
Jonas glared right back. "I'm trying to keep you alive, Joley. You've been raised around security. You know what it means, and you certainly have had experience with what can happen when someone tries to kill you..."
Ilya stirred. "That's enough. It was my fault, not hers. I walked out of the room and it wasn't secure. We handled it. She handled it. She kept Lucy from getting to Tish and the baby and she stalled to give me time to break into the room."
Joley flicked him a small look and his stomach tightened. She might look fragile and suitably chastised, but Jonas was only annoying her. Her dark eyes smoldered with fire, and that one telling flash lit a blaze in his belly. You're so damned sexy when you're pissed.
She nearly choked, but he felt her laughter in his mind, and it connected them back together when he'd been feeling apart from her. The Drake
family was large, and they had no trouble talking to one another, giving their opinions and backing each other up. Watching them together had made him feel a little lonely, which was odd. He preferred being alone, but this was Joley's family and he needed to learn to become part of it, because a huge part of her heart lay with them and she would never be truly happy if he wasn't comfortable with them.
"We're just lucky she handled it, aren't we, Ilya?" Jonas demanded. "Because you fucked up and she nearly was killed."
"Don't say 'fuck,' " Hannah said. "You said you'd clean up your language."
Ilya coughed to cover the sudden laughter welling up. A pained expression crossed Jonas's face at his wife's reprimand in the middle of him dressing Ilya down. Family dynamics could be a lot more fun than Ilya had first thought.
"Laugh it up." Jonas hissed at him, but it was clear Hannah had taken the starch out of his attack. He sighed. "Joley, I know you're sitting there rolling your eyes while you're trying to look like you're listening, but you have to take your protection seriously."
"I'm serious," Joley said. "I thought we were safe in the suite."
"Your bodyguard stays with you at all times."
Joley crossed her arms over her breasts and looked mutinous, but before she could say anything, Ilya made his stand. This was her family, the people she loved most in the world, and whether or not they wanted to accept him into their circle--they were going to have to.
"Joley and I are getting married after the tour."
Everyone in the room froze. The silence stretched. Joley kept her chin on her knees, her lashes hiding her expression. Ilya simply didn't care. He'd had enough of Jonas scolding them as if they were small children, and he wanted to make it very clear that Joley was under his protection--and more--that he belonged there as more than the bodyguard. They could deal with him on equal footing.
"Married?" Sarah finally echoed. She moved closer to her fiance, Damon, as if he could change what Ilya had said.
Damon shifted slightly and took her hand.
The teakettle whistled, and Hannah waved her hand toward the kitchen. "Joley?"
I don't think they believe me, lubov moya. He injected humor and warmth into the caressing tone of his voice, deliberately stroking her with sound.