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.
