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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 quinceañera 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 quinceañera.”
Jace replied in Spanish, “I know what it is. My boss Rafe’s niece is celebrating her quinceañera 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.”
