They went down the hallway. Jace opened the outside door quietly.
As they reached the bottom step, he led her toward the garage.
“I’m taking you home.”
“On your motorcycle? Not a chance.”
Jace swore loudly. Always his motorcycle, the big bad beast she feared.
“You have no choice, babe. Let’s go.”
“I’ll walk to my car.”
“Where did you park?” he asked Kara.
“I left my car on the next street near some houses.”
He gave an approving nod. “Smart. I’ll take you there on my bike. It’ll save us time.”
“I’ll walk there.”
“Not alone. Not in this area this time of night. Too risky.”
Not taking chances with her safety and no way could he risk her driving to the police station instead of going home.
Jace started to curse as she took off at a fast clip. She’d always enjoyed jogging, and they had done early morning runs together, mainly because Jace didn’t like her running alone. The trail they used was safe enough, but still...
Would he ever stop worrying about her?
He retrieved his bike, started the engine and followed her. He made it to the end of the street and the busy intersection off the main road as she turned the corner. Kara fumbled for her keys and slid behind the wheel, then turned on the engine.
She rolled down the window, peering at him. “You can go now, Jace.”
“No way. I’m following you home.”
Kara made a strangled sound but pulled out. He followed her at a close distance. If she detoured to the police station, he was toast.
But she headed for her home. Kara pulled into the driveway, and parked, engine still running. He parked behind her, peered down into the driver’s side window.
She was on her cell phone. If she was calling the cops...
After rolling down the window, she made a frantic gesture and cupped the phone. “It’s Dylan. He called me. He’s scared, Jace. Really scared. He said he saw something...he wasn’t supposed to see.”
All his senses went on alert.
“What?”
“Some man named Marcus. He saw him in the clubhouse with Mike.”
Jace went still, a thousand scenarios playing in his mind. Savage joy that there was a witness he could use to identify Marcus. Worry about Dylan himself, for few bikers knew Marcus’s real identity. “Tell him to stay put. I’m coming back for him.”
Kara talked to Dylan and gasped. “Okay, okay. I’ll be there. I promise.” She hung up.
Jace’s heart raced. This wasn’t good. What the hell did Mike have planned?
“I’ll get him. You stay here.”
“He wants to see me. He doesn’t trust anyone else, Jace.”
Great. The kid had a guilty conscience now? Couldn’t he have waited? Dylan knew who Marcus was, and that wasn’t good for the kid.
Exasperated, he pulled off his helmet. “Fine. Leave the car. Get on. But let’s hurry.”
Kara leaned away. Huge blue eyes stared at him.
The real terror in her voice made him pause. Squint at her. “Babe, why are you so scared of my bike?”
“Please, Jace, I can’t do this.”
Exasperated, he looked at her. Really looked. It wasn’t scorn on her face, or disgust for the lifestyle she thought he’d embraced. No, it was simple fear.
Real fear, the paralyzing kind. Fear for Dylan.
Panic flared in her eyes, the pupils indicating Kara was ready for flight-or-fight. He couldn’t risk either.
“Take your car. But you have to hurry.”
When they arrived back, Kara parked a block away. Jace parked next to her.
