Danny blew out a frustrated breath. “Does that mean you won’t tell us who it is?”
Jace looked down at Taryn at the same time she slid her gaze to him. He saw the hesitation there, the bone-deep fear. Her fingers gripped his hand tightly as if begging him to see what she knew as truth.
“Danny. Ryan. Thank you,” Jace said as he turned his head to them. “You’ve both been amazing friends that I’ve turned to countless times. You’ve both selflessly helped when you didn’t have to. I owe you both a huge debt.”
Danny snorted and shook his head. “I’m the one in your debt, Jace. No doubt about it.”
“I take friendship seriously,” Ryan said. “There’s no need to thank me.”
Jace got to his feet as he released Taryn’s hand. “There is when I’m asking both of you to step away from this. For now,” he added when both men began to argue.
Clayton watched it all without saying a word.
Ryan got to his feet first. He shook his head in annoyance before he looked at Jace and then Taryn. “You might think you’re doing the right thing by excluding us, but I hope you’ll see that isn’t the case. Give me a call. I’ll always be here.”
“Thank you,” Taryn told him.
Once Ryan left, seconds ticked by before Danny spoke. “This is a bad decision.”
“But it’s my decision,” Jace said.
The look in Danny’s eyes was hard when he said, “It’s actually Taryn’s. That you’re making on her behalf.”
“He’s doing exactly what I want,” Taryn replied. “I’ve been with these people for years, up close and personal. No amount of reports or pictures can explain what they’re like. No movies or books or TV shows. I broke the law every day. Did whatever was needed to stay alive.”
“I understand that,” Danny said.
Taryn shook her head. “You can’t possibly. Neither does Jace or anyone else. But what Jace does understand is that these people have connections everywhere. If there’s even the slightest chance that I can walk away with my sister, I’m going to take it. But for that to happen, the authorities can’t be involved in any way.”
Disapproval showed on Danny’s face as he stood. “You’re talking about taking justice into your own hands. Jace, I’ve told you, there is only so much you can do before it comes back to bite you in the ass. This might be the occasion.”
“It might be,” Jace said.
Danny looked at Clayton. “Say something?”
“He’s a grown man, and Taryn is a grown woman. They can decide for themselves.”
Danny mumbled something under his breath as he stalked from the house without another word.
After the door slammed shut, Clayton said, “Do not think what I just said means I condone what the two of you are planning.”
“I don’t know what I’m planning,” Jace said as he moved to sit beside Taryn.
Taryn shifted and licked her lips. “I used Danny and Ryan as excuses not to speak any names.”
“And now that they’re gone?” Clayton said as he watched Taryn with his pale green eyes. “Will you tell us?”
Jace didn’t want to push her, but time was swiftly ticking away. If he was to go after these people, he needed names and locations. He silently urged Taryn to trust him, to tell him what he needed so he could free her from her prison.
A single tear slipped from her eye to fall onto her cheek as she looked at him. “Boyd. Boyd Walters.”
“Son of a bitch,” Clayton swore as he jumped to his feet and started to pace.
Jace frowned as he watched Clayton. “What is it? Do you know the man?”
Several moments passed before Clayton stopped and rested his hands on the back of the chair, letting his gaze rest on Jace. “I read over some reports on the known crime bosses in Texas. The worst, the one at the top of the most wanted list, is Boyd Walters.”
“So?” Jace said.
Clayton looked at the ceiling briefly. “They’ve tried to pin tons of crimes on him, but he’s slippery as an eel. He’s gotten to people in witness protection. No section of any branch of our justice system has been able to hold anyone who can testify against Boyd.”
“His men are that good,” Taryn said in a soft voice.
Jace inhaled deeply. “That’s the kind of information I need.”
“That doesn’t sway you at all?” Taryn asked in disbelief.
Jace twisted his lips. “Not in the least.” Not when it came to helping the woman he loved.
“If you’re going to do this, then you’ll need a lot of help.” Clayton sighed loudly. “I’ll start making some calls.”
Taryn shook her head. “You’ve got a family.”
“You don’t need to get involved more than you already are,” Jace told him.
Clayton gave him a hard look. “I was a SEAL. And I can still hold my own. Not to mention, I can call in some favors. I’ll be back.” Clayton started to turn away, then pointed a finger at Jace. “You know who you need to call now.”
Taryn looked from Jace to Clayton’s retreating back before she asked, “Who do you need to call?”
“Cooper, Brice, and Caleb,” Jace said as he sent a text.
Taryn turned to face him. “There’s still time for you to back out. You don’t have to do anything. I’ll take the money and pay Boyd.”
“Then what?” Jace pressed. “Hope he keeps his promise? What if he doesn’t?”
She shrugged. “I’ll think of something. I always do.”
“There is no way you’ll return with that money, and he’ll just hand Payton over and let you go. You may not want to admit it, but you know it’s the truth.”
“Then I’ll at least ask for Payton’s freedom.”
Jace shook his head. “She’s his leverage against you. They won’t do it. Besides, if Boyd doesn’t release you, I’ll have to come and get you. Which means we’re right back to where we are now.”
“There has to be something.”
“There is,” he said. “Me.”
Her face crumpled. “The only thing that’s kept me going was the thought of coming back here to you. You. Only you. I can’t lose you.”
Jace cupped her face in his hands. “I’d walk through Hell itself for you. I know what I’m doing. Trust me.”
“I do,” she whispered.
He thought about her sleeping beside him last night. Of how often he’d woken just to make sure she was still there. He thought of the lonely nights he’d spent and how he’d hungered for her all those years. And now, she was here with him.
His eyes dropped to her sensual lips. He started to lower his head for another taste of her mouth—
“Jace!” Cooper shouted as he came in the back door.
Chapter 15
Taryn sighed at Jace’s kiss. It wasn’t the long one she craved, but it was still a kiss. Jace jumped to his feet. Tears stung her eyes as she gazed up at the man she loved. She wanted to kiss him, hold him, run her hands all over his body, and feel him inside her every day for the rest of her life. She craved him.