Chapter 13

T he car Rafe loaned him was immaculate, and rode like a dream, with a V-8 engine that purred at the speed limit and accelerated like a bullet when he needed speed. The seats were soft leather that provided plenty of comfort for long driving. The air-conditioning worked, and he could Bluetooth his iPhone to the speaker system and play soothing classical music.

Why then, did he feel so uneasy as they drove north through the sleepy back roads of Georgia?

Wasn't that he merely missed his bike and hoped the hell Rafe had been able to evade his pursuers. It was Kara, riding shotgun next to him, the delicate scent of her perfumed skin tasing him like an electrical shock. Kara, who had snuggled against him on the motorcycle and wrapped her slim arms around his waist, hanging on for dear life. Kara, who now hugged the door as if ready to open it and jump out of this car.

They'd driven all day, stopping briefly for rest stops. Jace glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Two hours until her cousin was due to call. He could understand her tension, but not the anger radiating from her like a heat signature.

"What's eating you?" he asked.

Kara turned her head. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"The hell you are. You've barely spoken since we left Rafe." Jace blew out a breath. "You insisted on being on this ride, Kara. Now, you're acting like I forced you to come along."

"What's going on with you, Jace?" she blurted. "Stop lying to me and tell me what is really going on. I know there's more to all this than my jewelry getting stolen. That guy you know—Rafe—you spoke to him like he was law enforcement and you work for him."

His shoulders sagged. He avoided a pothole, slowed down as they came into a tiny town where the speed limit was more conducive to a brisk stroll. A post office, mini market and gas station and two churches flanked them as he drove down the main street.

At a red light, he turned and regarded her. "Let's stop and get a bite. You have a couple of hours until he calls and you look famished."

Kara shook her head. "I'm not hungry and I can't eat until you promise to level with me. I can't do this anymore, Jace. I'm too upset over Dylan and I need you to stop acting like everything is a secret."

Her mouth compressed. "Because if Dylan is in real trouble, not just wanted by the local cops and these gangbangers you call friends, I want to know every single detail. I won't risk losing him, just as your friend Rafe told you to run if anyone starts shooting because he won't risk losing you as well."

She turned to look out her window. "And I...don't want to lose you, either, Jace."

Whoa. This went in a different direction than he'd anticipated. Jace's hand tightened on the steering wheel. "Nothing bad's gonna happen to me, Kara. I can handle myself. As for your cousin, I'll do everything I can to save him."

Without waiting for an answer, he used his phone's GPS to look for a quick meal and found a diner up the road. He'd prefer a more anonymous chain restaurant, but this rural area offered few options.

Jace pulled into the parking lot of the Good Times Diner. Lots of pickup trucks, some older sedans. Definitely a locals' hangout. He rolled up his shirtsleeves. Maybe no one would recognize him. He held the door open for Kara, taking a deep breath as all convo stopped and they stared at her.

Kara was stare-worthy, oh, yeah. Put her in rags and she'd still stand out like pure snow on blacktop. But he wished he'd gone further, maybe found a fast-food stand. Too late now. At least no sheriff's deputies sitting at the counter, jawing about the weather and such, and criminal bikers on the run from law enforcement.

When they were seated at a booth near the kitchen, him facing the door to survey who came inside, Jace tried to concentrate on the grease-splattered menu. Too many questions, and he had answers he couldn't give her.

Kara was already involved and he needed to cut her out of this equation.

"Jace?" Her voice was quiet, troubled. "Please talk to me and stop staring at the menu as if it holds all the answers in the world."

"I wish it did. Maybe life would be less complicated." He set aside the menu as a waiter scurried to their side.

He ordered a thick juicy hamburger with cheese, fries on the side. Kara settled for a salad. She was too thin and she needed protein.

When their drinks arrived, he was ready to tell her a partial truth without blowing his cover. With the noise from the kitchen, and most of the locals gathered near the counter, they had a modicum of privacy.

"Kara, I work in the garage the Devil's Patrol own. Yeah, I'm a member. But I'm not like the others." He sipped the sweet tea. One thing about this section of the South. Sweet tea was guaranteed and it was mighty fine.

He sipped more tea and then continued, "Neither is your cousin. I did a little digging and found out Dylan is in deep debt to Lance, the club president. Lance bought him the Ducati, the bike he owns, and as payback, Lance has forced him to steal. Smash-and-grab burglaries. Dylan didn't want to participate, but Lance threatened to break his fingers."

Blood drained from her face. She took a long drink from her water, and then patted her mouth. No lipstick on the napkin. No makeup. Only Kara, natural face and way too pale right now.

"He never told me. I wish he had. We're close but I guess not close enough. I could help him, my parents could help him... We have to get him out of this, Jace! How much is that bike?"

When he named the price, she didn't blink. "My dad would transfer the money to your president..."

Not my president. "No dice, babe. Lance doesn't want money. He wanted Dylan under his thumb to steal for him. His puppet. Until Dylan himself stole the jewelry from under the gang's noses."

"He might have taken it from the gang because they're my jewels. He's family, and we look out for each other."

"If he is, why is he so desperate to help his mother? Your family has money..."

Kara looked away, biting her lower lush lip. "We tried. We did give her money, but her husband, Dylan's stepdad, took it, and instead of using it to pay hospital and doctor bills, the rat bastard used it to gamble. Until Wanda can get out of there, he'll take everything she has. He doesn't care if she lives or dies. I'm going to find a way to get her free. I will."

Her voice held a note of fierce resolve. "As for Dylan, I can convince him to turn himself in, once I see him face-to-face."

She was awfully involved with Dylan. Understandable. Family came first with Kara, which was one reason he didn't protest when she broke off their relationship. He could never measure up to her expectations regarding closeness with family members. Not with his history.

The waiter brought their food. Jace took a huge bite of his burger, too famished to be polite. As he chewed, he considered everything she'd told him. Something was off about all this because she had a zealous attitude about Dylan, almost as if he was a brother and not a cousin.

Jace wondered.

The records he found regarding Dylan had been mostly sealed, due to him being a juvenile at the time of the offense. Darkling had gone over Dylan's social media and found a brief, but poignant posting about a boy named Conner, Dylan's best friend when they were both kids. Conner had been killed in a tragic car accident and his death had "messed me up for a long time," Dylan had posted.

Jace needed to ferret out more about the mysterious Conner. He found no obituary, or even mention of a funeral home. Kara must know who Conner was since Dylan was close to the boy.

He reached for the salt, shook a generous amount onto his fries. Nibbling on her salad, Kara shook her head.

"Keep that up, Jace, and you're going to have a coronary by the time you're in your forties."

"Better than becoming a rabbit," he joked, eyeballing her greens. "I don't always eat like this. It's a special occasion."

At her puzzled look, he added, "I'm hungry."

The sound of her light laugh cut through the tension and made him smile. "I've missed that," he admitted. "Hearing you laugh."

Kara stopped, her gaze locking to his. "I miss you making me laugh, Jace."

So much he missed about her, yet, busy with his career, he hadn't filled in the gaping hole in his life until he'd run into her again. Talk about avoidance. He'd thrown everything into his career with the FBI, taking classes in undercover work to be the best. Always striving to be the best, making up for the screwups in his younger days.

Making up for the screwup with Kara.

Words he wanted to say remained stuck on his tongue. Jace bit into his burger again, chewed, uncomfortable with the silence between them. Good time to bring up their past, where they went wrong, maybe what they could do to fix it.

Because suddenly he realized he did miss her fiercely. Not just the hot sex and passion Kara brought out, more than any other woman. He missed everything about her, from her cute habit of nibbling on her lower lip while deep in thought, to her incredible determination in achieving her goals. The FBI had run a check on Kara after the theft, to make sure she wasn't orchestrating it for insurance. Every bit of information Darkling had sent about Kara indicated she was honest and had a sterling reputation. Kara had taken a mediocre estate-sale business and made it into a thriving company, sharpening her skills while treating her clients fairly.

He was proud of her, Jace realized suddenly.

Say it . The words were on his tongue. Damn, he wanted to say them, but he couldn't. Because in the back of his mind he hated starting up something he'd have to end.

This assignment came first. Not his personal relationships.

Kara glanced at her cell phone. "We need to be some place with a strong signal when Dylan calls. We'd better get out of here soon, Jace. Hurry, please."

Polishing off his burger in a few bites, leaving the fries, he signaled for the check. Paid it, leaving a generous tip. Kara didn't even fight him for it. How well he remembered her stubbornly insisting on splitting the check during their time together. She hadn't changed.

Worry was overriding everything else.

Outside in the parking lot, Kara grabbed the keys from him. "You've been driving forever. My turn."

He obliged but raised his eyebrows. "I was hoping to get further north by today, not next year."

"Ha ha. I can drive fast."

"Wonders never cease," he muttered, climbing into the passenger seat.

When they were on the road again, he glanced at the dashboard clock. Growing closer to five.

"How's your signal?" he asked.

Holding her cell phone, Kara nodded. "Good. I'm pulling over into that shopping plaza to wait for his call."

The plaza looked deserted, with a few businesses that were closed. Kara parked at the end under a shady tree and left the engine running. Overgrown bushes provided privacy from the main road.

Anyone searching for them would have to enter the plaza from a side street. Still, he kept glancing around, a well-developed sense of preservation honed over the years.

It had started with his old man, who liked to beat him up at times. Jace had learned to read the signals.

Kara had such a different upbringing. Still, he wondered what ate at her. Something clearly had and he'd always had the feeling deep down that she hid a family secret.

Good time to ask more about Dylan, before the kid called and forced them into a corner.

"Tell me, who was Conner? Dylan mentioned he misses him and the kid's death when they were both nine messed him up."

True enough. He neglected to add he discovered this through Dylan's social-media posting.

Blood drained from her face. Kara glanced at him, her eyes wide.

"How...when did Dylan say that?"

Ignoring the question, Jace persisted. "Was he a neighborhood kid?"

Pulse beating wildly in her neck, sweat forming on her temples and not just from the anticipated call. Jace turned up the air-conditioning to cool the car more, but he sensed her nerves, more than the heat, had caused the reaction.

"Who was he, Kara?"

She pushed back at the long fall of her hair. "He was a good kid. Dylan's cousin. Maybe a little too impulsive and inclined to get into trouble."

"Did you know him?"

That question evoked an uncomfortable silence. Jace persisted. "You must have known him since you're so close to Dylan."

Finally, she looked up. Stunned, he saw her clear blue eyes filled with tears.

"I knew him. I knew him well, Jace. Oh, God, I did. And every day, I miss him, too. My parents...they will never stop missing him."

Insight suddenly hit him. "Conner wasn't just Dylan's cousin and friend. He was your brother."

At her jerky nod, he blew out a breath and sank back into the seat. Felt like someone had punched him in the stomach.

"Damn, Kara. You never told me. You never talked about him. Your brother? Holy crap..."

"The accident was my fault, Jace. My fault! I was driving..." Her voice rose and then fell.

Her eyes closed as tears dripped down her cheeks. Jace dug into the pocket of Rafe's trousers and found a clean linen handkerchief. Guy always carried them. He once said it was to comfort women who cried on him.

Made him wonder exactly how many times women cried on the guy.

Kara took the cloth, wiped her nose and eyes. Jace waited. Couldn't push her, not now. Not after all these years, she'd kept the secret. He wished he'd coaxed her into sharing her tragic past with him when they were together years ago, but he understood, maybe more than she knew.

Some family secrets were too painful to share, even when you thought you were close to someone.

"Conner was my brother. He was several years younger than me..."

Sensing the dam was about to spill, he waited. All he could do was listen and be there for her now, instead of regretting he hadn't been supportive when they were together.

He listened as the words spilled out, tumbling over each other. How she'd taken out her new car for a test drive, not realizing Conner was hiding in the back seat. The motorcycle that seemed to come out of nowhere.

The screech of sirens, flashing red lights and her brother lying oh-so still on the roadway as paramedics worked to save his life.

The dead biker who rammed into her car. The motorcyclist who ran a red light, seeming to come out of nowhere. She'd seen his face before a cop tactfully draped a yellow cloth over the body, his eyes staring sightlessly at the sky.

Everything made sense now. Her devotion to charitable causes, especially the organization dedicated to teaching young drivers. Kara's hatred of motorcycles and why she always drove slow and took no risks.

Her determination to save Dylan at a personal risk to herself, because she couldn't save her brother.

Kara gripped her hands so hard her knuckles whitened.

"Conner didn't die right away. They kept him alive...life support. He was on life support for two days and then my parents made that awful decision no parent should make."

Jace sucked in a breath. "Damn. I'm so sorry."

"Do you know what an honor walk is in a hospital?"

He nodded.

"They did that for him—the nurses, doctors, hospital staff, even the maintenance guys lined the hallway as a nurse wheeled my little brother down to surgery to remove his organs after they would take him off life support. It was the only way my mother would agree...so he would give life for someone else. They wheeled him down the hallway and I walked behind him. Someone threw a few flowers on the hospital bed... I was numb. I couldn't speak. Cry. Anything. I walked down the hallway on crutches because I'd broken my leg in the accident."

She drew in a breath. "I broke my leg but my brother's death almost broke my mom."

Jace felt emotion clog his throat, thinking of a young Kara, watching her little brother be wheeled into surgery so his life could end, and another could live. He couldn't imagine the heartache her family had suffered.

Every instinct urged him to offer solace. But how could you comfort someone who had suffered crushing loss and still believed it was her fault, after all these years?

No words existed. Jace reached out and held her hand, letting her feel his presence.

Letting her know he listened. And he cared, because damn, he did.

Tears glistened in Kara's eyes. "I miss him, Jace. He was only eight and could be a brat, but he was my brat, my little brother. I miss him so much at times. I—I went into his room when we were in Mom and Dad's house and kept looking around, expecting him to come bursting out of the closet to yell ‘gotcha' or tease me or ask me how high school was... He always followed me around like an eager puppy. I miss him so much I can hear the ghost of his voice in my mind and I turn around, expecting to see him, but I see only silence. So much quiet."

Jace let her grip his hand and nodded. "I understand."

Because even if he hadn't lost a brother like she had, he knew what it was like to lose a family member. He'd lost his dad years ago, long before he was imprisoned. Lost his mom the day his dad got arrested.

Her gaze turned stricken.

"Do you know when someone you love dies and their room remains the same as it did the way they left this earth, it becomes more of a memorial than a tombstone? It's a placeholder covered in memories that are so sharp and painful they make you bleed inside, and yet you don't want to get rid of the grief because it's the last, lingering connection you have to him. When the grief is gone, he'll be gone for good."

Lifting her hand to his mouth, he gently kissed her knuckles, wishing he could kiss away all her pain. Jace reached up and gently wiped away her tears.

"I'm sorry, babe. I am truly sorry. I'm sorry you had to go through that alone and you never told me. I'm glad you finally did. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about Conner. He sounds like a special kid."

"I found out who the biker was, Jace. His name was Archie Turner. He was divorced but had a son. I wanted to contact the son, but my parents wouldn't allow it. I think...they helped to pay for his funeral, anonymously. I still felt guilty. It was my fault, Jace. The accident was my fault."

"How? You were a kid, sure, the ink barely dry on your learner's permit. Yeah, you disobeyed your folks in taking the car when they weren't there. But you had the green light. The biker didn't."

"I killed two people, Jace."

"No, babe. Two people, including your brother, died in a tragic accident. Did the cops charge you with anything?"

Biting her lip, she shook her head.

Jace cupped her cheek and caressed it in a lingering stroke to wipe away her tears. "All law enforcement have homicide investigations when someone dies in a crash. They do it for a lot of reasons, but the main one is to discover what happened and who was at fault."

"My parents told me the biker was at fault because he was speeding and ran a red light. I went on the green light, maybe too soon..."

Jace nodded. "It wasn't your fault, babe. Believe me. You were punished enough. Stop punishing yourself for a mistake you made when you were a kid."

As he drew his hand away, Kara wiped her eyes. "Thanks, Jace. Thank you for saying that."

He glanced at the dashboard clock. Another time he'd ask her about the good memories because he'd learned the good memories needed to balance out the bad ones.

"You okay? Because Conner's best friend is gonna call any minute now and you need to get yourself together. For the sake of your little brother, not just Dylan. Your brother would want you doing this."

As if she reached down deep inside and found an inner core of strength, Kara sat straight and wiped her eyes and composed herself. She found lip gloss in her purse and used the visor mirror to apply it. Pasting on a wide smile, she nodded.

"That's my girl."

Her lower lip wobbled. "Thank you, Jace. Thanks for listening and doing this."

He wanted to pull her into his arms, reassure her as he'd done in the past when they were together. For a moment, the temptation tugged at him, then the pragmatic agent nudged it aside.

A black SUV pulled into the shopping plaza lot and parked near them. Jace assessed the newcomer. Blacked-out windows, engine still running. What the hell were they doing here? Driver wasn't getting out, either.

Not taking chances, he gestured to the vehicle. "I'm driving so you can focus on Dylan's call. We're out of here. I don't like the looks of that SUV."

They changed seats. Kara bit her lip as they drove past. The driver of the SUV made no attempt to follow.

"It's almost five, Jace. He's going to call."

At precisely five, her phone rang. Kara glanced at him, and mouthed, Dylan .

Jace nodded.

She answered, the phone held away from her ear so he could listen, her gaze never leaving Jace's. "Dylan. Thank heavens. I've been so worried about you. Hold on a minute, the car's in motion and I can't really talk."

Not much on this lone stretch of country road, but he spotted a white steeple with a cross. He pulled into the parking lot, parked and shut off the engine. Irony struck him—sitting in a church parking lot, hoping Kara's cousin would have a come-to-Jesus moment and turn himself in, or at least give them a hint where he was hiding.

Before the DP caught up with him and sent him firsthand to meet the good Lord in person...

"Okay, I'm back. Are you all right?" Kara asked.

"Is Jace there with you?"

Her brow wrinkled. "Why would he be?"

"He wouldn't go anywhere without you. I know it! Don't play games with me, Kara!"

From the sound of it, kid was falling apart. Jace gently took the phone from Kara and pressed the speaker button. "I'm here, Dylan, and you're on speaker."

"Good." His voice was shaky, but strong. "Make sure you're someplace where no one can hear you. I have something to tell you."

"Where are you?" Kara asked.

"Someplace you can't find me, but I'm okay. I'll be okay." Dylan's voice dropped. "I'm sorry, coz. I didn't want to help them steal from you. You're the last person I wanted to hurt."

"Dylan, that's not important," she began.

"Yes, it is! It is to me! You and your family have been so good to me. I want to make it up to you, at least a little. I hid the diamond necklace from the robbery, the one you said was almost worth two hundred grand, and I'm going to tell you where to find it."

Jace's questioning gaze flicked to her. Kara bit her lip. "All right. But, Dylan, please, we need you to come in. The police are looking for you."

"Everyone is looking for me. It's why I can't meet you guys. I've got a target on my back. I've got to go it alone."

"I can help you, Dylan," Jace said, cutting in. "I have resources."

"You're not going to turn me over to Lance? I checked his email and that's what he says."

"How did you...?"

"Hacked into his account when he wasn't looking. The guy is more oblivious than a bag of rocks. Except with guns. How can I know you won't turn me over, Gator?"

You can't. Except I'm not turning you over to a cold-blooded murderer. Just my supervisor.

"I have no intention of letting Lance know where you are, Dylan." That much was a truth he could dole out.

"Dylan, please, let us help you," Kara pleaded.

"No can do, coz. But I can help you."

He gave them the GPS coordinates. Jace memorized them.

"The necklace is inside the cabin in a velvet bag in the fireplace."

"You put my diamond necklace in ashes inside an unlocked cabin?" Kara sounded incredulous.

"No one goes there. Everyone in this town says it's haunted. A guy was murdered there ten years ago."

"Terrific," Kara muttered.

"You afraid of a ghost story?"

"No, Dylan. I'm afraid for you. Please, let us help you."

"Sorry."

The phone went dead.

Jace took the phone from her trembling hands and looked at the number, memorizing it. Even if it was a burner phone, at least he now could contact Dylan.

He knew Kara. She would face a horde of zombies to help her family. Admiration filled him. She held no concern for her own welfare, only her young cousin.

Such bravado and selflessness made his job more difficult, because Kara had a tendency to make reckless decisions as long as she thought someone threatened one of her family members.

"Let's go get your necklace and then revert to Plan B."

"Plan B. Where you leave me someplace and go off to trace Dylan. I don't give a damn about the diamonds." She swallowed hard. "Don't dump me someplace and go off without me, Jace. The diamonds mean nothing compared to Dylan."

Jace gently tipped up her chin with a thumb, caressed her soft skin. She bit her lip, her woebegone gaze regarding him.

"Listen to me, babe. You're coming with me right now. We're going to find the diamonds and then put them someplace safe. Dylan will be okay. I won't stop until he's found and protected. I know how much you care."

Moisture glistened in her big blue eyes. "I do. Care."

For a moment he dared hope she meant him, not merely her cousin. Jace dropped his hand and returned her cell phone.

Suddenly, hair rose on the nape of his neck. Sirens sounded in the distance. He cursed a blue streak. "I knew it was too good to be true. I bet that's for me."

Kara turned around. "Oh, no. Is that a cop?"

"Yeah. Local LEO, probably responding to the BOLO for me. Cops put one out after the murder. I'm wanted for questioning."

At her stricken gaze, he added, "One reason I didn't want you along for the ride, babe. I don't want you mixed in with this mess."

Her chin took on that stubborn tilt he remembered well. "I bet someone in that diner reported you to the cops."

He thought hard. If he dodged the cop, he'd bring every single LEO in town after him.

Blowing his cover remained the only option. But he wasn't ready for that. Not yet, not when he'd put so much into this case and Dylan remained at large. They were close.

"I've got a plan." He popped the trunk.

They got out. Jace climbed into the trunk. "You've got to sound convincing. Sorry, babe, but you have to play the, excuse me, naive girl to the cop. You picked up a hitchhiker, treated him to lunch because he needed a meal and dropped him off someplace."

Kara nodded, bit her lip and shut the trunk. Jace centered his breathing. The trunk smelled like oil, grease and suntan lotion.

He heard the car pull up, a door open. Kara calling out through her open window.

"May I help you, Officer?"

Her voice so sweet and guileless. Jason grinned. You could charm ants out of honey with that voice.

He heard the cop say in a gruff tone something about a citizen spotting her with a dangerous biker wanted by authorities. Was she all right? Did she know the guy?

To his credit, the sheriff's deputy didn't act accusing, but was more concerned.

"Oh, my heavens, Officer! I didn't know! My word. I felt sorry for the poor man. He was hitchhiking and looked harmless. A criminal, you say?"

More mumbled words.

"Sorry, Officer. I dropped him off after we left the diner." Kara named a location twenty miles south. "I had no idea he was dangerous!"

More mumbling, but this time closer to the trunk. Aw, damn.

"Open the trunk, miss."

Jace bit his lip. Okay, think fast...

The trunk lid opened and he found himself staring at the face of an amused sheriff's deputy and Kara's worried expression. The deputy consulted his phone, and then spoke into his shoulder mike.

"Got him. He's here, hiding in the trunk."

Okay, Jason Beckett, how the hell are you getting out of this one?