Chapter 10

T he drive to the house of Jace's good friend seemed to take forever. Kara kept mulling over the events of the last day. Her life had flipped upside down. She'd lost most of her inventory and there would be hell to pay.

But none of that mattered as much as the dead bodies in the clubhouse and a terrified Dylan being on the run.

If the person, or persons, who had killed them found Dylan before they did...

She shuddered as Jace turned down a street toward a driveway she recognized.

Kara glanced at him as he spoke briskly into the speaker next to the gate.

As the gates swung open, she followed him through.

Jace drove up the curved drive and parked in front of the stately mansion, with its soaring architecture. As she opened the car door, some of her tension fled.

She felt a sense of discovering yet another new thing about him, yet this discovery relieved her. "You know Jarrett and Lacey Adler? Lacey's a friend."

"I know him."

Nothing more from him, only the tense look that hadn't left him since he'd hustled her out of the clubhouse with its miasma of blood and death.

Jarrett opened the front door and came outside. He clapped Jace on the back and gave her a wide smile.

"Kara. Great to see you again."

Lacey's handsome husband, an ex-navy SEAL, could have been greeting her to a tea party instead of offering refuge from members of a murderous biker gang. Typical Jarrett, always putting people at ease, but behind his sunny expression she knew he was a man fiercely devoted to his wife and family, who wouldn't hesitate to break someone's arms if they posed a threat.

"Lacey's inside with the baby. Flor is already at school. Lacey's anxious to see you again."

He picked up the suitcase Jace had placed on the drive and wheeled it toward the house. After they went inside, Kara hung back, watching Jace talk in a low voice to Lacey's husband. Suddenly, it struck her how much these two men were alike, both with military erect posture, quiet determination and a strong protective streak.

This chivalrous persona, a reflection of the old Jace, clashed with the insouciant biker who valued freedom and outlaw living more than family and friends.

It was almost as if Jace was putting on an act.

She'd barely had time to wonder when Lacey hurried into the living room.

Kara rushed over to her friend and gave her a hug. Lacey laughed and stepped back, searching Kara's face.

"What happened? This isn't a social call."

Lacey didn't need to worry. Kara pasted on a bright smile. "Maybe it is. Maybe it's about time I met your son."

She glanced back at Jarrett and Jace, still talking quietly. "Come on. You look like you need a break. Or a cup of strong coffee."

"Try two," Kara muttered.

Relieved that Lacey steered Kara away to the nursery, Jace felt a little tension leave. At least here she would be safe. Jarrett's house was a fortress.

"Care to tell me what the hell is going on?" Jarrett folded his arms across his thick chest.

"No."

His friend nodded. "Fair enough. No questions. You texted you need Kara to stay here because she's in trouble."

"Big trouble. The less you know, the better. It has to do with a criminal gang who stole from her."

Jarrett flexed his fists. "She'll be safe here. I'll take good care of her. Lacey will enjoy the company, too. I'm guessing you're not staying."

"No. Need a favor." He took Kara's keys from her purse and removed the car key, pocketing it. "Now she can't follow me when I leave here. For now, can I borrow a laptop?"

Without hesitation, Jarrett headed down the hallway and entered a stately library. Books lined the walls and a large mahogany desk sat before a set of French doors that overlooked the pool beyond. Jarret switched on the computer, typed something.

"All yours. Take your time."

When Jarrett left, he texted Rafe that he needed any and all information on Dylan, telling him Dylan was a witness who could ID Marcus. Rafe's response was a string of stunned Spanish words. Jace had to grin.

I'm hitting the road to search for Dylan.

Be careful , his boss texted back.

Jace set down his cell phone. He deleted the messages, then checked his email. In a few minutes, Darkling sent him everything she could find on Dylan Moore.

He worked steadily, without interruptions, making notes on everything in Dylan's past. Jace shook his head. Dylan had been messed up at an early age, in and out of school. Therapy from a trauma, no mention of the trauma, but the strain caused his father to divorce his mom, leaving Wanda a single parent.

Jace's mouth tightened as he scrolled through the records. Dylan never had much of a chance. He'd gone from living in a wealthy subdivision with a father who seemed to care, to a single-parent household where his mom struggled to pay the bills, and then had to adjust to a stepfather who was less than stellar. No wonder Kara worried about him.

After clearing the history and shutting down the laptop, he made a few calls. Satisfied, he tucked away his phone.

Now, all he needed to do was leave before Kara got wind he was gone. Jace ducked out of the study. Laughter and the sound of a baby gurgling came down the hallway. For a moment, he smiled. Lacey and Jarrett having a baby after their miscarriage and infertility was a reminder of the good things in this world.

A reason why he had to keep fighting the bad guys.

Palming his keys, he hesitated. Should say goodbye to Kara, but it was best if he simply left.

He started for the door when he heard her call her name. Jace turned to see Jarrett, a worried-looking Lacey and an angry Kara.

"Jace, are you sneaking off without me?"

Feeling a tinge of guilt, he shrugged. "Caught me."

"You bastard," she breathed. "You're dumping me on Lacey and Jarrett."

"You're no imposition," Lacey began.

Kara ignored her friend. "Jason, how dare you!"

"It's safe here. Where I'm going, it isn't."

Not waiting for an answer, he walked out the door.

Kara followed him as he slid a leg over the bike seat.

"Where are you going?" she demanded.

"To find your cousin and the jewelry he took before the Devil's Patrol does and turns him into roadkill."

Harsh words, but necessary. She paled and stood her ground.

"So am I. I'm leaving the jewels here, with Lacey. They'll be safe here. But I'm not staying." Her blue gaze turned stormy. "Dylan is my responsibility, Jace. He's family. I'm going to find him myself."

"The hell you are." Jace turned on the engine and revved it, drowning out her angry protests.

He backed out of the driveway as Jarrett opened the gates for him. Jace blew kisses to a worried-looking Lacey and a grim-looking Jarrett. For Kara, he couldn't bring himself to give her even that simple gesture.

He was too damn worried. Jarrett might lock down the compound, and his friend was adept at protecting his own, but Jace knew he'd put a heavy burden on the former SEAL. The Devil's Patrol could track Kara here and endanger Lacey and the children. All it took was a well-aimed bullet.

He wished there was an alternative, but he couldn't take Kara, and there was no safe space for her. Not without blowing his cover.

Less than an hour later, he arrived at his apartment complex.

Jace pulled into his assigned spot and scanned the area, as always. Tension rode his neck muscles as he pulled off the black helmet. This place had been a Florida motel in the heyday of pink flamingoes and signs advertising Color Television and Air Conditioning, but it was a dump even then. More of a dump now. Still, it was safe for this assignment. Most tenants never spoke to one another and minded their own business. He dismounted and headed up the stairs, avoiding the rusty iron railing that wobbled with each touch. Landlord didn't care about repairs, only the rent getting paid.

A tingle rushed down his spine as he neared his apartment. Jace stopped, scanned the area again. No one around. Not even the stray cat that chased away the rats snacking on the garbage overflowing the dumpster. He inched closer, muscles knotted with tension and awareness.

His door was slightly ajar. Perhaps a crack. Jace removed the Glock tucked into the back of his jeans.

With the tip of one steel-toed boot, he kicked the door open. Son of a... The postage-stamp studio looked like someone had dumped the contents into a blender and then everything had been spat out. Frayed sofa torn open, stuffing spilling out. Same with the old armchair he'd found at a thrift shop. Coffee table broken and lying in pieces.

Weapon cupped in his hands, he advanced. It took less than a minute for his head to assure him "all clear" and he tucked away the Glock. He studied the open refrigerator, the eggs spilled onto the floor and the bread smashed. Inching closer, he saw the clear indent of a biker boot on the store-bought loaf. Yeah, no surprise here. Lance sent his crew to upend Jace's place to search for the stolen jewels. He peered at the fridge's wire shelves and shook his head. Beer was gone as well. No surprise there, either. The gang never wasted a beer, not even when they wrecked someone's place.

Good thing his laptop was secure, back at the FBI headquarters. Jace did all his work on his phone, not leaving anything of value or importance in the apartment. Except for his weapon.

He heard a noise out front. With extreme stealth, he palmed his Glock and waited. Maybe the bastards who did this had returned.

Footsteps sounded on the cheap linoleum. Not the heavy tread of boots, but a lighter step. Female.

Jace stepped out of the bathroom, gun pointed ahead.

A startled yelp. "Please don't hurt me!"

Rolling his eyes, he lowered the weapon. "Dammit, Kara, I could have shot you. What the hell are you doing here?"

"I followed you."

"How..."

"Since you took my car key, I borrowed Lacey's Mercedes."

Jace scowled. He'd sorely underestimated his ex. "You need to go back."

She gingerly sidestepped parts of sofa stuffing. "I told Lacey and Jarrett I couldn't endanger them and their baby, if things were as bad as I thought. Jarrett tried to stop me, but you know me."

He did. No one could stop Kara when she made up her mind. Curiously, she'd been more stubborn in the past about others being endangered, but not herself. She seemed to care deeply about the welfare of others more, which had led to a few fights when she drove him wild with worry.

"What happened here, Jace?" Kara shuddered. "You should call the police."

"No cops. Someone got angry at me for something. It's no big deal." Jace crossed the room, tucking the gun into his waistband. "What the hell am I going to do with you?"

"Take me with you. Or I'll go myself. But I would rather have you with me." Her expression remained guileless. "To be honest, I don't exactly relish the idea of going alone and possibly running into your gang."

"They're not my gang," he said absently. He looked around the wrecked room.

His cell buzzed. Caller ID indicated Lance.

Jace pocketed the phone without answering. Not now.

"I know Dylan must have taken the jewelry. With or without you. I have to find him before it's too late. I can't lose him the way..." She bit her lip.

"The way what? What aren't you telling me, dammit!" Something wasn't right here. Kara had a secret she wasn't sharing and he didn't have time to be polite.

She shook her head. "Nothing. I need to talk to my aunt. She'll know where he is."

Jace gritted his teeth. He didn't need her as baggage around his neck, a possible target that would put him and, worse, her in jeopardy. "Kara, I'll talk to your aunt. These guys don't mess around. Is the jewelry worth the risk?"

"I saw the bodies." Her big blue gaze was clear and direct. "I know what the risks are, Jace. I have to find Dylan. I know he's terrified and all alone. It's not the jewelry. It's him."

Admiration for her rose a few notches. More than a stylish and wealthy businesswoman intent on recovering her property, Kara had a kind and gentle heart. He'd forgotten about that, dammit, and one of the reasons he'd fallen hard and fast for her.

"Try showing up at my aunt's house and she won't open the door for you." She lifted her chin. "But Wanda will talk to me."

Grudgingly, he admitted she had a point.

"Take me to your aunt's house and we'll talk to her together. Soon as we're finished, I'll take you to your parents' house."

Kara's mouth trembled. "I'm not a fool, Jace. I don't want to do this. I'd rather be back in my shop, filing an insurance claim. I have to do this. Maybe someday I'll explain it."

After grabbing a small backpack from the closet, he went to the bureau drawers and tossed in clean clothing, underwear and socks.

Kara had a small smile on her face. "I see you still prefer boxers."

Jace considered. "Naw, not always. Some days I go commando."

Grinning at the delicate tint of red on those high cheekbones, he added extra ammo for his Glock, then grabbed toiletries from the bathroom. Jace slung the pack over one shoulder, checked his weapon and then tucked it into the back of his jeans.

Jace texted Jarrett to inform him Kara was safe, and would be staying with him, then instructed him about the location of Lacey's car.

They left the apartment and descended the stairs.

Kara hovered around his bike, studying it as if it was a great, growling beast she feared. His heart skipped a beat. If anything happened to her, he couldn't bear it. The thought of how close they'd come to meeting with the killer who had no compunction in killing two teens made his blood run cold. Kara needed to be someplace safe.

Kara stared at him. "So how are we leaving here?"

Jace opened a leather saddlebag, stuffed his backpack inside and then closed the lid. His gaze flicked to her. The blue-and-white flowered sundress she'd changed into billowed in the wind. He caught a glimpse of long, tanned legs and shapely feet encased in white strappy sandals.

Hugging herself, the motion lifting her breasts, she stared at the bike as if it was a writhing spider. "I can't ride on that thing."

Jace blew out a breath. "Yes, you can. Jarrett is sending someone to pick up the car."

"I'm in a dress."

All her arguments were feeble. Jace gestured to the flowing dress. "Doesn't matter. Get on."

If Jace had asked her to walk over live coals, she could have handled it far easier than riding on a bike.

Terrified, Kara stared at the motorcycle. Her heart beat like the drums she enjoyed listening to at the club where she and Jace used to go to listen to live music.

Kara had avoided motorcycles ever since Conner's death. She didn't like them, didn't like being around them and vowed to never ride one.

Now, she had no choice. Even as the thought shot through her head, the upstairs door next to Jace's apartment opened and a man came outside. He peered into the parking lot at them and pushed the glasses up on his thin nose.

"Hey, Jace! Everything all right? I got home a little while ago and thought I'd heard someone in your apartment. I'm keeping an eye on it for you, you know."

Jace waved a hand. "Thanks, Oscar. All's fine."

Kara peered up at the man, who looked as if he was more of a paper pusher than Jace had been before her ex had married the biker lifestyle.

Jace gave her a reassuring smile. "Get on first and brace your back against the bar. It's easier for you to throw your leg over the seat. Watch your balance. Wait until I'm on and then use these—" he tapped at pegs at the back of the bike "—to rest your feet. Make sure to avoid touching your legs to the hot exhaust. You'll do great, Kara."

She stared at the big bike. "Is it like riding a bicycle?"

"Yeah. Once you start, you never forget." He winked at her. "Just like sex."

Oscar hurried toward the stairs.

"I don't have time for this guy. Oscar's a black hole with convos and a biker wannabe, and I'll never get rid of him. Get on the bike. Please," Jace urged in a low voice.

Gingerly, as if mounting a horse, she hoisted a leg over the thick black saddle. She did exactly as Jace instructed, and as he climbed on in front, she took the helmet from him.

Jace's neighbor descended the stairs. His gaze was fixated on her bare leg, the skirt riding up almost to her panties. Biting her lip, Kara pulled down her skirt, feeling as if cockroaches crawled on her skin. The guy looked like a nerd, but something in his eyes hinted he was slimy.

Her stomach roiled. Kara looked away.

"Look, man, appreciate you keeping an eye on my place. Me and the old lady are taking a short run up to Sugarland. We're running late, so I'll catch up with you." Jace waved a hand at his neighbor.

"Sure you don't need help?" Oscar eyed her the way she'd seen hungry people eyeball steak at restaurants.

"We're fine," Kara called out.

"You're more than fine, mama," Oscar said. "In fact, you're..."

Jace started the engine, drowning out Oscar's words.

Now she had to go through with this or she'd look like a scared princess too high-maintenance to ride with Jace. Even through the helmet's tinted visor, she could see the pure lust on Oscar's face. Something about him made her more uncomfortable than riding on a motorcycle.

Isn't it always the quiet ones you have to be aware around?

Kara wrapped her arms around Jace tightly and leaned against him.

Jace backed up and then took off, at a slower pace than she suspected he normally drove. The seat beneath her felt comfortable and vibrated with the purring engine. Still, she shut her eyes. Opened them. If they were going to wipe out, she wanted to see what was going on. If they were going to crash, she wanted to try to grab some control.

Even though she felt none.

But Jace took it slow and easy to the address she'd given him.

Kara's aunt Wanda never visited family. Since Dylan had begun working for Kara, she'd only seen her aunt when she visited the house. Then, when Bruce, Wanda's husband, started leering at her, Kara stopped visiting.

Wanda's house was far more modest than the luxurious, waterfront home her first husband had owned. Her aunt hugged Kara after opening the door. Kara hugged back gently, mindful of the bruises probably on the woman's arms. Her anger surged at the thought of Bruce beating her aunt, but she managed to keep her emotions at bay.

Inside the living room, Kara perched on the edge of an armchair and studied the woman who had always welcomed the neighborhood kids with lemonade and cookies after school. In her late fifties, Wanda had a haggard look, with pain time-stamped on her face. Her long dark hair was gone, replaced by a serviceable cut. Despite the heat, she wore long sleeves.

Not only had Kara's family been torn apart by the accident, but Dylan's had also been damaged.

Too many people suffered because I had to take the car out without my parents.

Family photographs lined the walls, along with a photograph of Conner and Dylan at a Little League game. Bile rose in Kara's throat.

Wanda gripped her hands tightly in her lap, anxiety clear in her dark eyes. Her red-and-white polka-dot shirt was bright and lively, a contrast to the shoulders slumped within the clothing. Gone was the plump woman who looked healthy and happy. Wanda had lost weight and had an air of desperation.

Jace explained they were searching for Dylan because he was in danger. He studied Dylan's mother with an intensity she'd witnessed previously that reminded her of a cop scrutinizing a possible suspect. Jace wasn't law enforcement. He'd make a good cop. Too bad he'd chosen a different path in life.

His rugged charm and quiet determination reminded her of the old Jace, the man who hesitated at nothing to acquire what he wanted, especially if that something helped someone else.

As he finished, Wanda grew even paler. Her hands twisted in her lap, as if she didn't know what to do with them.

"We need your help to find Dylan before the gang members do," Jace added. "If he stole the jewels, and I am certain he did, he's in extreme danger."

But Wanda shook her head, her mouth compressed as if holding back secrets. Kara knew Jace would get nothing further out of her. Her motherly instinct to protect her son at all costs clashed with the desire to trust them. Wanda needed to be assured.

Kara joined her on the sofa, slid her hand over the woman's trembling palm.

"Aunt Wanda, I should have seen Dylan's desperation and given him a loan. I had promised him a large raise once I sold the Vandermeer jewels. I didn't realize he couldn't wait, because you are his entire world. I'm so sorry."

Jace cut in, his voice direct. "Does Dylan have any friends upstate who might help him sell the jewels? Or relatives with connections to jewelers who wouldn't question where the jewels came from?"

"No. I don't know." Wanda wrenched her hands out of Kara's. "My Dylan is a good boy. He wouldn't do anything wrong."

Jace came closer, his manner and tone gentle. "Mrs. Moore, we need to find him, fast, before the bad guys do."

Wanda's gaze darted between Kara and Jace, her eyes reflecting a mix of fear and desperation. "I don't understand. Dylan wouldn't do something like that. He's a good boy."

Jace's voice cut through the tension, firm but compassionate. "We know Dylan cared deeply about you, Mrs. Moore. We believe he might have taken the jewels to help you with moving out."

"I would never ask him to do anything like that!"

"You didn't have to. Sometimes children will do anything to help their parents," Jace said quietly. "Even resort to crime."

The woman's face paled at the realization. Kara wondered at the resigned tone of his voice, as if Jace had more than a nodding acquaintance with this fact.

"Please, Aunt Wanda, help us. We want to help Dylan. The people who orchestrated the theft won't give him a second chance."

The woman looked stricken. "He always talked about going to Georgia. Or North Carolina—he likes the woods..."

Jace shook his head. "Tell me about your brother, Phil Pierce. He lives in the mountains of western North Carolina. Moved there in eighty-nine, retired from working as a radiation tech at a hospital, now owns and rents cabins there to tourists."

Wanda paled. Kara felt utterly confused. "How do you know this, Jace?"

He made a brief dismissive gesture. "We want to help Dylan. You have to trust me on this. We've got to find him. The motorcycle gang wants these jewels back and they're hunting him."

"I don't know," she blurted. "How do you know about Phil? I haven't spoken to him in years..."

"What about Dylan?"

She seemed to shrink into her skin. "Maybe. I don't know."

Why was he badgering her? And how had he found out that information? Jace was always friendly, but this was a hard-edged side of him she'd never seen. He was quiet, determined and intense. It contrasted severely with the insouciant biker who enjoyed freedom more than responsibility.

Wanda's eyes filled with tears. "Please, if you find Dylan, don't hurt him."

Jace nodded. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he's safe. Is there someplace you can stay until all this is sorted out? Someone you can stay with?"

"My parents," Kara said quietly. "Please, Aunt Wanda."

Wanda shook her head. "No, I won't impose. I'll go to my friend Sissy's house in North Park, a couple of hours away. She's pressured me to visit, but I couldn't take time off work." Wanda wiped her eyes. "Not that it matters now, anyway. With all the work I've missed at the factory, they fired me."

The woman was hurting for money. As Kara thought over the contents of her bank account, and how she could help, Jace pulled out his wallet. He thumbed through several bills and placed them on the scratched coffee table.

"Here's one thousand dollars. This will tide you over for a while. I'm sorry it cannot be more."

Wanda shook her head. "I can't..."

"Dylan would want you to have it," Kara insisted, her voice filled with conviction, though she wondered where Jace had gotten the money. "He would want his mom to be okay. You're his entire world, as much as he is yours."

Wanda picked up the money, nodding in thanks. Her gaze darted over to Kara as she picked up her cell phone and texted.

They walked outside as Wanda told them goodbye. Kara studied the big Harley in the cracked driveway. "Jace, where did you get all that money? And why are you carrying that much in your wallet?"

"I like cash. Easier to deal in cash."

"How did you know all that about my uncle? Jace, what's going on here?"

"Nothing I want to talk about, Kara."

"Nothing you can talk about or want to talk about?"

"Drop it."

His voice was guarded and he avoided her gaze. Kara's pulse raced. Was Jace also dealing in something illegal? He'd joined a criminal biker gang, and though he'd always been squeaky clean, almost like a Boy Scout, he'd changed.

Or maybe not something illegal, but the opposite. Was the biker persona all an act? Was Jace working for the police? It would explain a lot. Kara knew she had to keep quiet on this, for his sake.

"Are you hungry? Want some lunch? We can eat at my parents' house." Stomach in knots, she couldn't eat if someone forced her, but politeness made her ask.

"Sounds good. That cup of coffee at Jarrett's barely did it." He cocked his head at her. "Your parents still employ Lucy, the cook? She always made a terrific Spanish omelet. I've a hankering. Much better than diner food."

"Yes. She's been with the family forever." Kara was impressed Jace still remembered Lucy. A brief smile touched her face. "Extra peppers, right?"

"You got it, babe." He winked.

Kara hesitated. Once he'd called her that as a term of endearment. They were no longer together, and it stung.

"Please don't call me that, Jace, especially in front of my parents. I...don't want them to think we're together again."

His gaze was long and steady. "Sorry. I slipped. My bad. Fell back into old habits."

Once she'd wished they both could fall back into what they had shared. But the pain of their breakup still radiated deep in her bones.

She gestured to the bike. "I wish I could just call an Uber. It's not too late for me to try, and you could meet me at my parents' house."

He gave her a scrutinizing look. "Was it really that bad, Kara?"

Instinctively, she knew he was talking about them, not the bike.

"No, it wasn't. But there was simply too much to overcome, Jace," she said so quietly she wasn't certain he heard her.

Her cell rang. Kara's heart raced as she saw caller ID.

Dylan.

Thank heavens he's alive. "Jace, I have a call. I'll be right back."

Kara walked over to the side of the garage as Jace climbed onto the motorcycle and started it. For the first time, she was glad of the motorcycle's coughing roar. Jace couldn't hear her conversation.

"Where are you?" Kara tried to keep her voice calm. "Dylan, your mom and I are worried about you. I just spoke to her."

"I know. She texted me and told me to call you."

"Please, tell me where you are and I'll come get you."

"No! I'm okay, Kara. I took the jewelry from the gang. Had to. I'm so sorry I had to steal from you, Kara!"

He sounded scared and lost, like the little boy who came to Conner's funeral, wondering why his best friend had died. Kara swallowed hard.

"The jewelry doesn't matter. You do. Jewelry can be replaced. You can't. Please, Dylan, I'm so worried about you."

"I didn't want to steal, Kara. But Lance threatened me. I had no choice." He paused. "He promised me at least two thousand for the job, and when I asked Big Mike about the money, all I got was a line of crap. They had no intention of paying me. You're the nicest person I know and you didn't deserve this. So I took from them what they took from you."

Something inside her eased. Kara peered around the garage. Jace still sat on his bike.

"I want to return it to you, Kara. I can hide it and you can get it. I'll find a place and let you know where it is."

"Dylan, tell me where you are."

"I can't, Kara. I saw something." His voice broke. "I'm in big trouble. They'll kill me if they find me."

She drew in a breath. "Like the others?"

"I saw who killed them."

Her stomach roiled. "Oh, dear heavens."

"I saw them, Kara. I was in the garage, taking Royce's bike, and heard two big hogs pull up. Two guys... Big Mike, and he called the other guy Marcus. I went to the clubhouse and peeked through the windows. I saw who killed them. There was so much blood, I was so scared I wheeled my bike out to where they couldn't hear me and then I just took off and I've been hiding ever since."

Nausea rose in her throat.

"Did they see you, Dylan? Did they?"

Because if the bikers knew Dylan witnessed the murders, he was as good as dead.

"No. I'm sure they didn't. I was careful, got away from the clubhouse before they came out. Unless they checked the security cameras."

"Jace disabled the receiver before he left. Long story."

Kara gripped her cell so hard it was sure to leave imprints on her palm. "Stay where you are. Stay there and I'll come and get you. The police will go easy on you, Dylan, if I vouch for you."

"No. I can't risk it. I'm sorry, Kara, but I can't."

"Please, Dylan. If you truly are sorry, you'll let me help you."

Silence for a moment and then he finally said, "Okay. Not now. It's too risky, I'm in a place where I'm too visible. Tomorrow, I'll call you at five in the afternoon and give you details where you can find the jewelry. Not in Florida. Marcus has spies all over Florida."

"Where?"

"Georgia. Gotta go."

The line went dead.

Her palm was clammy and cold as she put away the phone. Kara behind Jace and put on the helmet he handed her.

"Client problems?" he asked, backing out of the driveway.

"Sort of."

"You got it worked out?"

"I will."

She had little time to get to Georgia and save Dylan.

Before Marcus and the other bikers found him first.

Jace drove slowly on the motorcycle to her parents' house as Kara clung to his waist. Snuggled against him, she couldn't help feeling a little of the old thrill when they'd been this close.

Always touching each other, holding hands in public, Jace never hesitating to show his feelings.

Now, he was distant. Cold. She should be glad for it, but instead, felt stabbing regret.

When they finally reached the pristine gated community of Coastal Woods, she relaxed a little. Her family had moved here after Conner's death to start over, and if it hadn't been for her father's real-estate business, they might have left Florida entirely.

Kara keyed in the code at the development's gate and the guard nodded as they roared through. Jace turned down tree-lined streets decorated with tasteful plantings, flowers and ornate streetlights until they reached Clover Lane, and the third house on the right.

As he pulled into the driveway of the sprawling, modern house on a deep-water canal, she breathed a sigh of relief. Relief turned into concern as she saw her mother scurry out of the double-glass front doors toward them. Claudia wore a light blue sleeveless dress and high heels. She'd never seen her mother wearing anything casual.

Except after Conner died, and the two weeks where her mother barely made it out of bed...

Kara pulled off the helmet and dismounted, then smoothed her skirt as Jace switched off the engine and put the kickstand down. Claudia had a tendency to clutch her pearls when presented with troubling circumstances.

"Kara. What are you doing on a motorcycle?" Her mother sounded puzzled, but not alarmed.

No pearl-clutching moments here. Kara swallowed hard, feeling all of seventeen years old again. She handed the helmet to Jace, who dismounted and then hung the helmet on the bar on the bike's back.

The sissy bar, they called it. Funny how she remembered things like that at moments when her mind was foggy. She'd barely gathered her composure to reintroduce Jace when he pulled off his helmet. Claudia's expression changed.

"Do I know you?" she asked slowly.

"Aye, matey, I've sailed the seven seas with you," he said in a pirate accent.

Kara bit her lip in a smile at the memory. Her mother brightened.

"Jason? Is that you under all that fur?"

He gave a little courtly bow. "One and the same."

"Oh! Jason. How lovely to see you again. We've missed you."

Jace embraced her mother, who hugged him like a long-lost son.

Gently disentangling himself from her mother's grip, Jace grinned at her. "Kara, your mouth is open."

After shutting it, she looked her ex up and down, squinting in the bright sunlight, trying to make sense of things. When they broke up, her parents had been upset, but now she wondered if they were more upset over losing Jace as a future son-in-law than her own pain.

Claudia gave the motorcycle a cursory glance and then studied him with calm assessment, as if Jace was driving a BMW instead of a motorcycle, his hair shaggy.

"Jason, are you on a special assignment?"

Jace was quick to speak up. "Yes, ma'am, my assignment is to deliver your daughter to you, safe and sound. Here she is."

Kara gave him a puzzled look. "It's a long story, Mom. I'll tell you. We just came from visiting Aunt Wanda."

Her mother's quick gaze darted between the two of them. "Well, no use standing in the sun. Come inside and have coffee."

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I was rather hoping to get a quick bite of breakfast, if you don't mind."

Claudia actually smiled. "Now, Jason, you know I cannot abide the ma'am title. I'm Claudia. I recall you like Spanish omelets with extra peppers. Coffee, black and strong."

Jace grinned and nodded. Her mother was the only one who seemed to get away with calling him the more formal Jason.

Still slack-jawed at her mother's reaction, she followed her into the house like an obedient puppy. Before she could fill in her mother on Dylan's disappearance, Jace told her a brief version, indicating they needed to find Dylan because he was in deep trouble.

Kara watched him. He didn't lie, but evaded details, probably out of concern for her mother. Jace always liked her mother and never wanted her to worry.

Claudia listened, nodding, her face tightening. "Dylan has had a hard time of it in recent years. I hope you can find him, and straighten out all this, Jace. He needs a mentor like you."

A mentor in a criminal biker gang? Kara shook her head and went into the kitchen to greet Lucy, who was cooking at the stove.

Lucy turned down the heat from the cast-iron skillet and beamed at Kara in greeting.

But with Jace, Lucy ran over to him, exclaiming in Spanish as she hugged him. Their cook stood nearly half a foot shorter than Jace, who laughed and hugged her back.

Claudia poured coffee into a large mug.

Jace nodded. "Thank you."

He eyed the lanai and the boat docked out back. Whistled. "You still have it. Sweet."

Kara followed his gaze. Claudia's Dreamboat . Sleek and polished, the yacht was her father's pride and joy. The boat was a constant reminder of her little brother, and how much Conner had enjoyed being on the water with them.

How Conner adored sailing! His little fingers learning to work the lines with her father. That time he'd never listened and leaned over too far and fell overboard.

Kara had fished him out as her mother fussed and scolded. They had shared a shaky laugh.

A few years later, he was gone.

"We sailed to Bimini last year, but Chuck is too busy this year with a large deal he's been working on for months. Perhaps some time you'd like to take her out yourself."

Kara felt as if she'd stepped into an odd time warp. Was her mother trying to set her up with Jace?

"Mom, remember? Jace and I are no longer together."

Claudia smiled. "I know, honey. I was inviting Jason, not you."

Ow. That stung.

"Thank you. Maybe sometime." With a nod, he opened the sliding glass doors and stepped out into the lanai, shutting the door behind him.

Kara turned to her mother. "What the hell, Mom. I mean, Mom! What are you doing? Can't you see? Even if we didn't break up, Jace is... He's in a criminal motorcycle club."

"I doubt it."

Couldn't her mother see reason? It was as if Claudia still glimpsed Jace as the same clean-cut and stoic man he'd been while they dated.

Claudia went to the sliding glass windows and studied Jace as he walked out to the dock. "Honey, did I ever tell you your father did a background check on Jason Beckett right after you announced your engagement?"

"No. Why would you do something like that?"

Claudia turned around. "You know your father, how protective he was."

Curiosity got the best of her. "What did you find out?"

"Perhaps I'll share that information with you some day." Claudia smiled gently. "There's nothing to fear with that young man."

Something bizarre was going on. "How would you know?"

Her mother sighed. "About a year after you and Jason broke it off, we received a phone call asking about Jason. He'd put our names down for a reference."

"Job reference? What kind of job? Stockbroker?"

Jace's firm had been a money-management company and many of the younger employees like him fast-tracked to becoming investment advisors.

"Did he tell you what he's done since you broke up with him?"

"Obviously, he's turned into a full-fledged biker." Confusion filled her. "Isn't he?"

"If he hasn't told you, he has good reason to right now. I'll leave it up to him to share such information. But know you can trust him. We do. Jason was good for you, Kara. I always thought that you two belonged together. We were so disappointed when you broke off your engagement and stopped seeing him."

It stung to think her mother still adored Jason and knew more about his present life than she did. Once more, she felt like a little girl whose parents lectured her about bad choices and wanted to control her life.

"Stop idolizing him. He's in my past and we're no longer together, and except for finding Dylan, I have no intention of ever seeing him again. For anything."

"I think that will be the biggest mistake you will ever make, Kara."

Staring, she felt her emotions boil over into a lather. "I broke up with him. I'm not going back to the past."

"You're right. You cannot. But I always felt Jason and you shared a bond, Kara. I never saw you glow around other men as much as you did with Jason. He makes you happy. He wanted to make you happy." Claudia sniffed. "Jason was always much more mature, even at twenty-five, than those college boys you dated who thought the world revolved around their favorite sports team."

Keeping her voice level presented a struggle, when all she wanted to do was shout at her calm, refined mother, who rarely showed any negative emotions. "He made me happy. But there's too much baggage between us. Why are you trying to set us up again? You see what he's turned into!"

"Kara, Jason Beckett is no ordinary man. We've always trusted and liked him, and he has a high sense of morality and ethics." Claudia's smile was gentle as she tucked back Kara's hair. "Whatever Jason is involved with, it's for a good reason."

"Maybe you should have married him," she muttered.

"Kara Marie Wilmington, watch your mouth." Claudia touched her pearls. "Jason is a good man. I know this."

Kara wondered about Jace and the whole drastic shift to embracing a biker lifestyle. Was all this a masquerade for some greater purpose?

"What is he involved with, Mom? What aren't you telling me?"

Claudia shook her head. "I don't know, and it's not my place to say if I did. I'm sure he's under tremendous pressure now to find Dylan."

"He's under pressure? Mom, Dylan is my cousin. Dylan stole from me. Jace belongs to a criminal biker gang and helped in the theft. I'm going to find Dylan."

Her mother's smile slipped. "You cannot. It's too dangerous. I'm sure this is why Jason brought you here, to keep you safe."

"Don't you see?" Kara grabbed her mother's hands. "It's my fault he got into this mess. He had a good life when he lived near us, when Conner was his best friend. He was happy and his parents were together. It wasn't until after...he got messed up and needed help his father refused to give him. He's a good kid at heart and if not for me...because of..."

"Because of the accident?" Moisture glistened in Claudia's blue eyes. Blue like her own. Like Conner's had been.

"Kara, it was an accident. You didn't know Conner was hiding in the back of the car. It's more my fault... I knew how mischievous he was and how you were itching to take out the car. We should have taken the keys, removed temptation. I should have...I should have known. Conner loved that car, too. He wanted to ride in it as well."

Claudia's voice dropped to a whisper. "We spoiled him too much. He was too used to getting his way."

Kara's mouth opened and closed. All these years, her mother hadn't mentioned the accident, hadn't ever shared how she felt.

"Mom, I drove the car. I was responsible."

"You were a headstrong teenager, honey. A teenager with a new car she was anxious to test out. It was an accident."

"I should never have taken the car out."

"We should have taken the keys with us when we left. It was too tempting. I've tried to shield you since then...how I wish the world were kinder and I could keep you from every harm. We've tried, we've tried so hard, but sometimes it isn't possible. I worry constantly about you."

Now, two huge tears slipped down her mother's cheeks. For the first time, Kara noticed she was showing her age. She'd always thought of Claudia as timeless, as strong as a towering rock. Cracks showed in that rock now, cracks Claudia hadn't displayed to her previously.

Suddenly, she understood the reason for her mother's helicopter parenting. It wasn't that her mother thought she was incapable of making wise choices.

Her mother didn't want her to make a wrong choice that might result in Kara getting hurt.

"I know you didn't blame me, Mom. So please, don't blame yourself. It was an accident. Please, don't worry about me anymore. I'll be fine. I can take care of myself now." Kara slid her arms around her mother.

For a few moments, they clung to each other until Kara sensed Jace approaching. She stepped free of Claudia's embrace and wiped her face as Claudia slipped away, presumably to gather her lost composure.

Her mother never cried in front of anyone. Not even when Conner died. The display of vulnerability troubled Kara, and yet she was glad for it, feeling it had brought them closer together.

I am not alone in my grief.

Jace opened and shut the slider. His quick gaze darted to the tear tracks on Claudia's face as her mother entered the living room.

He headed for the kitchen, ignoring her mother's obvious distress. "Lucy, that omelet is calling my name."

"It's ready, Mr. Jace," Lucy told him.

Like old times, Jace slid onto a stool at the kitchen island. Never one for formality, unless the occasion called for it, he blended in well with so many situations. For the first time, she wondered about that and her mother's odd mention of a background check.

And that mysterious mention of an assignment. Kara sat on the stool next to Jace, as he dug into his meal with gusto, praising Lucy's cooking and making her flush with pleasure.

He glanced at her. "Want to get in on this? It's a huge omelet."

"I'm not hungry, thank you."

Jace shrugged. "Missing out here."

Missing out on more than food? She began chatting with Lucy in casual Spanish, asking about her teenaged daughter, who was preparing for her fifteenth birthday and the quincea?era celebration to honor the occasion.

Kara glanced at Jace. "Sorry to speak in Spanish in front of you. We were talking about her daughter's quincea?era."

Jace replied in Spanish, "I know what it is. My boss Rafe's niece is celebrating her quincea?era soon."

Her jaw nearly dropped. "Since when do you speak Spanish?"

Jace's mouth quirked in a quick, mysterious smile. "Since about ten years ago."

"You knew Spanish the whole time we were together? I never knew!"

A guarded look came over him. "Maybe there's a lot you don't know about me, Kara."

Pieces of the mosaic were beginning to fit together. "I see. Such as this boss of yours. I thought Lance was your boss, since he owns the garage where you work as a mechanic."

Busy polishing off his omelet, Jace didn't answer. He downed his coffee, wiped his face and thanked Lucy in English as he placed his plate and mug into the sink. Then he dropped a quick kiss on her cheek.

"You're the best," he said, and Lucy beamed.

As her mom entered the kitchen, all trace of tears gone from her cheeks, Jace nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Wilmington. I'd better get going."

A sinking feeling swirled in the pit of her stomach as he jingled his bike keys. "Going where? To find Dylan?"

At his nod, she compressed her lips. "Then I'm going with you, Jace."

He gave her a long, steady look. "Kinda thought you'd say that, Kara, which is why I really brought you here."

She slid off the stool and smoothed down her wrinkled skirt. "I'm going with you. If there's any chance of saving Dylan before those bikers find him, he'll listen to me. I can convince him to do the right thing and turn himself over to the police."

Narrowing his eyes, he stared at her. "Not a chance."

"Kara, please listen to Jason. It's safer for you here." Her mother drew in a breath. "I know you wish to find Dylan, but..."

"He called me."

Now they both turned to stare at her. "What the hell," Jace finally said.

"He called me, Jace. He apologized for stealing from my store and told me how scared he was, but that he had no choice but to flee with the jewels." Kara drew in a deep breath. "And he was hiding outside when the others were killed. He saw who killed them. The biker named Marcus and Big Mike."

Jace released a string of curses in Spanish, glanced at Lucy and apologized. His gaze narrowed. "When the hell were you going to tell me this, Kara?"

She met his angry gaze head on. "I know you, Jace. I know your protective streak and knew you brought me here to leave me. I'm going to find him. All you need to know is he is in hiding and safe in Georgia."

"No, you're not going anywhere. Tell me where he is and I'll go. It's too dangerous."

"He doesn't trust you. He's terrified."

Jace gave a grudging laugh. "Of course, the kid is scared! He's a material witness to a double homicide and he's the only person who can identify the real leader of the Devil's Patrol, a guy as lethal as a Mafia boss. Damn." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Stay here. I have to make a call."

As he stepped out onto the lanai again, heading for the boat dock, she threw an apologetic look at her mother, who looked pale.

"Now, can you understand why I must find Dylan? He's terrified, Mom. I made a promise to myself to take care of him and I'll be damned if I break it. Jewel thief or not. I owe it to Conner to make sure his best friend lives."

Her mother steepled her fingers and buried her face into them, a clear sign of agitation. "Kara, please, I cannot lose you, too. Please, stay here with us and let Jason find him."

Guilt surged through her. "I'm sorry for putting you through all this worry, Mom. Dylan trusts no one but me right now and I have no choice."

Finally, she raised her head. "Very well. As long as you promise to go with Jason and follow his lead. Don't go anywhere without him. I trust him. Promise, Kara, or I will lock you into your bedroom."

Kara blinked. "I'm not ten, trying to sneak out to a late movie, Mom. I'm not a little girl."

"Promise, Kara."

Such faith and trust in her ex. "Mom, why do you trust him so much? We're no longer together."

"Promise me."

"I promise. I'll follow Jace's lead."

Kara swung around as the sliding glass door opened. Jace shut it behind him. "I'm hitting the road."

"So am I. With or without you. Dylan's promised to call me to tell me where he's hiding. He's going to return the jewelry to me." She took a deep breath, feeling perched on the edge of a dangerous cliff. "Me, Jace. Not you."

Jace heaved a deep sigh. "This isn't a road trip to look at sights, babe."

Ignoring the endearment that sent a tingle down her spine, she threw back her shoulders. "I know. But you need me, Jace. Dylan needs me. I have until tomorrow afternoon to get to Georgia before he calls again at five. He's going to give me instructions then. It feels like a ransom, but I have to play along with him. He's holding the cards."

Jace leaned against the wall. Glanced at her mother. "You approve of this?"

"No. But I trust you to keep her safe, Jace. She will do this and if you are with her, you'll protect her. I know you will." Claudia's gaze turned steely. "You had better, Jason."

"I will." Jace saluted and then kissed his fingertips and touched them to his heart. "I will put her safety above my own."

Emotion welled in Kara's throat, not from his solemn words, but the gesture he made. How many times had Jace used that special gesture to signify a promise to her? A promise she was the only one for him. A promise he would be faithful and look out for her needs. A promise to make her happy as her husband.

But never a promise to stop riding his motorcycle and put her first.

Maybe you didn't promise to try to understand because you were too scared to reach out to him.

It was too much for one day. Kara bit her lip to regain control of her lost composure. "I'm going to pack some essentials I have here, and call Lacey, ask her to send the suitcase I left at her house."

Jace consulted his cell phone. "Never mind calling Lacey. I'll call Jarrett, ask him to send someone with your suitcase to a place where we can meet on the road. We have to get going. You can't wear that dress, Kara. Long pants—jeans—are best for riding, and a long-sleeved shirt. Shoes or sneakers, no heels. Take a small pack if you have one. There isn't much room in the bike's saddlebags."

In the bedroom her parents had always set aside for her, Kara found jeans, a white blouse and tennis shoes. She dressed, then retrieved a backpack, clothing and her emergency stash of cash. Then she started down the hallway and paused.

Conner's room. The door was always closed. Kara took a deep breath and opened the door.

It felt like stepping back into a time warp. Unlike her bedroom, which had changed as she grew older, her little brother's room remained the same from the day he died.

Bed still unmade. Toys scattered around the room, several miniature cars as well. Posters of favorite sports stars and a photo on the dresser of Kara and Conner.

She crossed the room and picked it up. Someone had dusted in here—Lucy, probably.

In the photo, Conner stood behind her on a raised surface, his skinny arms around her neck as he rested his head on her shoulder, grinning at the camera. She looked impatient and yet amused.

How well she remembered that day. They were about to set sail and Conner climbed up on the deck box and threw his arms around her because she wanted to go sailing alone with her friends, and he pestered her until she capitulated and agreed.

We spoiled him too much.

I spoiled him as well, Mom.

Conner always got his way. Until that day. Kara wiped the tears trickling down her face.

She closed the door behind memories and mourning. Time to forge ahead and try to save someone else. It was too late for Conner. But she would save Dylan, even if Jace didn't want her along for the ride.