“He’ll come looking for me before he targets you, babe. But you have a great security system and even better neighbors.”
She bit her lip. “Where are we going?”
“Someplace safe.”
“Not good enough, Jace. I need to know where, because if you don’t tell me, I’m driving to the bank and a safe-deposit box.”
“For your underwear?” Jace frowned, totally confused.
“You are such a guy.”
Kara squatted down, unzipped her case and withdrew a velvet bag. After she opened it, he stared inside.
Jewels. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphire jewelry.
“It’s the rest of my stock from the Vandermeer sale. I didn’t want to leave all of it in the store. I can’t risk anyone taking these as well, so they’re going with me until I can get a safe-deposit box.”
Kara tossed the case inside and zipped up her overnight bag. Jace looked around. “Don’t worry. We’re headed to someplace safe, where you and the jewelry will be protected. We’ll take my bike.”
“I’m driving.”
“I want to get there today, not next week.” Jace sighed.
Kara scowled. “I don’t drive like an old lady.”
“No, an old lady is a NASCAR driver compared to you, babe.” He took the keys, jingled them. “Fine. I don’t have time to argue. The sooner you’re away from here, the better I’ll feel. You follow me. Let’s go.”
As he wheeled her suitcase out to the car, she looked around as if for the last time. Kara hugged herself as he opened the trunk and deposited her suitcase.
“Will your friends object to me staying there, and you ringing their doorbell this early? It’s barely six.”
“They’re early risers.”
He itched to get her to safer ground, leave her where no bad guys could find her.
But Lance’s reach had many tentacles. He only hoped she’d be safe, and out of danger.
Chapter 10
The 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.”
