Judd's gaze narrowed on his face. "And how do you know that?"

"I called Manero the minute I heard Chavez was on his way to the ranch. I told him to get a man out there to monitor the situation and to track Chavez when he left. He came through for me."

"How long have you known this?"

"I've known he went to Miami since the day after I got here. As I said, Manero just found out about the yacht."

"And you didn't tell Elena." It was a statement, not a question. "You were afraid she'd try to go after him again."

"I didn't want to take the chance. I think she'd do anything to put an end to this threat to Barry."

"She won't be pleased."

"I don't care. I want her safe." His lips twisted. "Jesus, is that too much to ask? She's never been safe in her life."

"You want me to go with you?"

"I may need help."

"Good God, you're admitting you're not all-powerful? What's the world coming to?"

"Will you do it?"

"It will be difficult. A yacht isn't like a house. They can see you coming."

"It can be done."

"When?"

"Tomorrow night."

Judd was silent a moment. "I'll think about it."

"I won't go in unless I believe we have a chance."

He nodded. "I know you're no amateur. It's just that I have a good deal to live for right now. I don't want to blow it."

Galen turned to leave. "Let me know."

Judd grinned. "You'll be the very first."

The mat.

Elena woke up screaming.

Just a dream.

She was panting and drenched in sweat.

She got out of bed and went to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Then she changed her nightshirt and went back to bed.

No, there was no way she could relax. Her heart was still beating so hard she felt suffocated. She needed air.

A moment later she was on the porch and taking deep, cool breaths.

"Okay?"

She looked over her shoulder to see Galen standing in the doorway. "I needed some air."

"Couldn't sleep?"

"Oh, I slept," she said. "Nightmares."

"About Luis?"

"Yes. He was on the mat, and Chavez was hitting him and hitting him and hitting him." She drew a deep breath. "Luis was never good at hand-to-hand. My father and I both tried to teach him, but he didn't want to learn. Maybe the life we led was too rough for him. Maybe if he'd grown up in a stable family situation, he'd have been different, happy. Everyone should have the chance to he happy."

"If they don't try to take that chance away from someone else."

"You're right. I know you're right." Her teeth hit into her lower lip. "But I can't just sit here while Chavez is torturing him. I have to help him. After he's free, I can turn my back on him, but not now."

"What about Barry?"

"You and Dominic will keep him safe."

"Oh, so I'm the one who is supposed to stay here and babysit?"

"Yes. Luis isn't your responsibility. I want only one thing from you. I need to know where Chavez is."

"And you think I can find out?"

"Sure." She tried to smile. "You're the great problem-solver. You can solve this one, can't you?"

"Maybe."

"Try." Lord, she was cold. She crossed her arms over her breasts. "Please. Find him. I don't want to have nightmares like that for the rest of my life."

"You won't. Go back inside."

"You'll do it?"

"There's not much I wouldn't do for you." A smile lit his face. "Fight a dragon, tilt at a windmill, explore a wilderness."

She loved that smile. She never wanted to stop looking at him when he smiled at her. "Just a location."

"You don't understand. You have to make me stretch my capabilities. Next time I want a challenge." He opened the screen door. "Now scoot back to bed. I have some thinking to do."

She didn't move. "Will you. sit on the porch swing with me?"

He went still. "Why?"

She didn't want to go inside. She didn't want to leave him. "It would be nice. I feel a little. It would be nice."

He took her hand and led her toward the swing. "Yes, it would." He pulled her down beside him and put his arm around her. "Cuddle up. It's a little chilly."

But he was warm and strong and smelled of lemony cologne. It was good sitting here and not thinking of anything but the creak of the swing and how comforting it was to have him hold her. "This is very nice of you. If you want. we could go in later and have sex."

He chuckled. "No, we couldn't. That's not what you need right now. You keep trying to pay me. How long is it going to take you to realize that times like this have their own value to me? Of course, that's only when I'm not being a sex-driven pig."

"Or an asshole."

"You're smiling." His hand gently massaged the side of her neck. "That's a good sign. Now, close your eyes and I'll tell you about my life as a smuggler in the Orient back when I was young and dashing. Of course, I'm still young and dashing, but maybe not quite as foolhardy. I remember one time when I was trying to find a ship to Shanghai."

Chapter 11

Chavez's call came the next morning.

"Did you have a good night?" he asked after Galen gave her the phone. "I'm afraid poor Luis didn't. Of course, I slept very well indeed."

"I'm not going to give you Barry." She paused. "But he's not the only one you want. I'll meet you, if you like. Don't you want another chance at me?"

"So much that I'm almost tempted. Almost. But I have to have my son first. Once you're dead you won't be able to tell me where he is. Then I'd have to negotiate with someone else."

"Maybe you'd get lucky and be able to keep me alive. I'm sure you'd much rather torture me than Luis."

"Much. But there are small satisfactions. He looks a bit like you around the eyes. Give me my son."

"Let me talk to Luis."

"I'm afraid he's not able to communicate at the moment. Perhaps the next time I call." He hung up.

"He wouldn't let me talk to him." She handed the phone back to Galen. "He said he couldn't talk."

"He could be lying," Judd said from his seat across the room.

"I know that." She drew a deep breath. "Just find Chavez for me, Galen." She went out on the porch. She tried to make her face expressionless as she saw Barry sitting in the swing with Dominic. "Hi. Are you hungry?"

"No." Barry was gazing at her, troubled. "You look sad, Mama."

"No, I'm fine. I thought maybe we'd take a walk by the lake. I heard wild geese when I was out here last night."

"Sure." He jumped down from the swing. "I'll go tell Galen that I can't help with breakfast." He ran past her into the house.

"It's getting harder to keep things from him," Dominic said. "He's a smart boy, and all this bouncing around would make anyone suspicious. You may have to talk to him."

"And what am I going to tell him? That his father is a monster and wants to kill his mother?" She shook her head. "My job is to protect Barry."

"And Luis?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Chavez wouldn't let me talk to him."

"I'm ready." Barry opened the screen door. "Galen said he had to do some business this morning anyway and I could come back and help with brunch. That's half breakfast, half lunch." He ran down the porch steps. "Let's go see the geese."