privacy. But sometimes she interspersed melodies and slower ballads between the foot stomping, get-up-and-dance rhythms of the rock and roll she was so famous for, in order to bring peace and contentment to any troubled people she sensed in her audience.
"Good choice for a warm-up band," Brian said. "They have a way of getting the crowd going."
"Yeah," Joley agreed, "I really like them. And they're not bad to travel with."
"Chicago is great," Rick Henderson, the bass guitar player, announced. He came up behind Joley to air hug her.
Although he hadn't even brushed against her, she moved forward, an automatic response from childhood. She rarely touched anyone other than her sisters. It was a good way to ruin friendships. Fortunately her band had been with her a long time and they respected her personal space.
She spun around and smooched the air at Rick. "Chicago is awesome. I love it here." To be honest, she was just a little nervous. After the Nikitin party in New York she was somewhat depressed. She had a few enemies and the threatening letters had been more plentiful than usual lately. The Reverend and his followers were protesting her concert and she knew they would be trying to cause a scene here as well.
"Chicago always has a good crowd," Brian agreed, high-fiving Rick. He flashed another smile at Joley. "You aren't worried are you, hon? Seriously, we have extra security everywhere."
"That whack job Reverend RJ is here," Joley said, and bit down hard on her lower lip, wishing she hadn't mentioned him.
She'd done a stupid, stupid thing, challenging the perverted man in front of the television cameras, but worse, she'd used her voice on him. He had enough charisma to gain followers, but Joley's voice could make men obsessive. She'd been careless, and she knew it. What was worse, Ilya had seen the entire thing. That also had made her feel cheap and dirty. She certainly knew how to make a fool out of herself around him.
She didn't want to appear as if anything bothered her. That was her trademark—happy-go-lucky Joley. Laughing at life and moving through the world like quicksilver. She hid scared well—always had. So well that her sisters, able to read others with ease, never guessed that she'd embarked on her world tour with trepidation. The recent attack on Hannah had terrified her. She knew the Drake family had bitter enemies, and the threats on her life had grown numerous.
"The Reverend shows up just to get the press," Brian said. "I caught his act the other day for a few minutes, how repentant he is for his lustful thoughts, and how he spent a week on his knees begging the lord's forgiveness for lusting after you. He says he wants to save you as well. He's forgiven you for tempting him, you daughter of the devil, and now he only wants to reach out and pull you from hell's claws. I think he's trying to get the world to believe you're a lesbian or at least bisexual, because then he could really crucify you."
For a moment Brian sounded bitter, but when she glanced up sharply, he shrugged. "He's a fucking weirdo, Joley. Don't let him rattle you."
"Well I wish he'd just disappear."
"He got a lot of press time for his little act with you," Rick added, threading his fingers through his long blond hair in typical Rick fashion. He had gorgeous hair and the women went wild for it. Knowing that, he used every opportunity to draw attention to the shimmering golden strands, which made the rest of the band laugh.
"Anyone near you can pretty much stay on the front pages. And now the Rev's hanging with Nikitin," Brian added, pointing his finger at her. "I told you it was a mistake to ignore Nikitin. If you were his friend, he'd never let the Reverend come near his parties."
"You ought to know. You've gone to them even when I asked you not to," Joley said and glared at Brian.
Brian looked uncomfortable. "I didn't know about him, Joley."
Rick shrugged, unrepentant. "He always has the best booze and women. What can I
"Good choice for a warm-up band," Brian said. "They have a way of getting the crowd going."
"Yeah," Joley agreed, "I really like them. And they're not bad to travel with."
"Chicago is great," Rick Henderson, the bass guitar player, announced. He came up behind Joley to air hug her.
Although he hadn't even brushed against her, she moved forward, an automatic response from childhood. She rarely touched anyone other than her sisters. It was a good way to ruin friendships. Fortunately her band had been with her a long time and they respected her personal space.
She spun around and smooched the air at Rick. "Chicago is awesome. I love it here." To be honest, she was just a little nervous. After the Nikitin party in New York she was somewhat depressed. She had a few enemies and the threatening letters had been more plentiful than usual lately. The Reverend and his followers were protesting her concert and she knew they would be trying to cause a scene here as well.
"Chicago always has a good crowd," Brian agreed, high-fiving Rick. He flashed another smile at Joley. "You aren't worried are you, hon? Seriously, we have extra security everywhere."
"That whack job Reverend RJ is here," Joley said, and bit down hard on her lower lip, wishing she hadn't mentioned him.
She'd done a stupid, stupid thing, challenging the perverted man in front of the television cameras, but worse, she'd used her voice on him. He had enough charisma to gain followers, but Joley's voice could make men obsessive. She'd been careless, and she knew it. What was worse, Ilya had seen the entire thing. That also had made her feel cheap and dirty. She certainly knew how to make a fool out of herself around him.
She didn't want to appear as if anything bothered her. That was her trademark—happy-go-lucky Joley. Laughing at life and moving through the world like quicksilver. She hid scared well—always had. So well that her sisters, able to read others with ease, never guessed that she'd embarked on her world tour with trepidation. The recent attack on Hannah had terrified her. She knew the Drake family had bitter enemies, and the threats on her life had grown numerous.
"The Reverend shows up just to get the press," Brian said. "I caught his act the other day for a few minutes, how repentant he is for his lustful thoughts, and how he spent a week on his knees begging the lord's forgiveness for lusting after you. He says he wants to save you as well. He's forgiven you for tempting him, you daughter of the devil, and now he only wants to reach out and pull you from hell's claws. I think he's trying to get the world to believe you're a lesbian or at least bisexual, because then he could really crucify you."
For a moment Brian sounded bitter, but when she glanced up sharply, he shrugged. "He's a fucking weirdo, Joley. Don't let him rattle you."
"Well I wish he'd just disappear."
"He got a lot of press time for his little act with you," Rick added, threading his fingers through his long blond hair in typical Rick fashion. He had gorgeous hair and the women went wild for it. Knowing that, he used every opportunity to draw attention to the shimmering golden strands, which made the rest of the band laugh.
"Anyone near you can pretty much stay on the front pages. And now the Rev's hanging with Nikitin," Brian added, pointing his finger at her. "I told you it was a mistake to ignore Nikitin. If you were his friend, he'd never let the Reverend come near his parties."
"You ought to know. You've gone to them even when I asked you not to," Joley said and glared at Brian.
Brian looked uncomfortable. "I didn't know about him, Joley."
Rick shrugged, unrepentant. "He always has the best booze and women. What can I
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