Hard Core Law

“What are you willing to do to save Jackson and Sage?” She tried not to move the rocker. She was serious and needed to know how far he’d go. “For the record, I’m willing to do anything. And I mean anything, including breaking the law.”

Did he look a little insulted as he bent and picked up Jackson’s pj’s from the floor? Well, she didn’t care. It was something she needed to hear him say out loud.

“Don’t look so surprised. I’ve heard about the integrity of the Texas Rangers since the first day I met you. How could I not after listening to the countless kitchen table conversations on the subject? Not to mention this past year when three of your company men might have been straddling the integrity fence, but managed to come out squeaky clean heroes.”

“You act like having integrity is a bad thing.” He clutched the pajamas and moved to the window instead of placing them back in the dresser.

“Not at all.” She stood and joined him, wishing she could blink and make this all go away.

All she could do was wrap her palms around his upper arm, offering the comfort of a friend. Even though they’d been raising his children together for four years, she couldn’t make the decisions he’d soon be faced with.

“Are you going to tell me about the Tenoreno family? At least more than what I’ve heard about them in the news? Are you in charge of the case?”

Josh didn’t shrug her away. They stood shoulder to shoulder at the pastel curtains sprinkled with baby farm animals. He stared at something in the far distance past the lake. Tracey just stared at him.

“In charge of the case? No. Company F has prepared Paul Tenoreno’s transportation route from Huntsville to Austin. I finalized the details this morning. Now that this...the kidnapping, your injuries...” He paused and took a couple of shallow breaths. “Tenoreno’s transport to trial has to be what this is all about. Thing is, state authorities are sure to change everything. It’s why they brought the FBI onto the case so quickly.”

“Is Tenoreno mixed up in the Mafia like the news insinuates?”

“Tenoreno is the Mafia in Texas.”

A chill scurried up her spine. The words seemed final somehow. As if Josh had accepted something was about to happen and there was no going back. He hadn’t answered her question about how far he’d go. But he wouldn’t let the Mafia take his kids. He just wouldn’t.

“You need to make me a promise, Tracey.”

“Anything.”

He removed her hands and crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his head to stare at the top of hers because he was frightened to meet her hazel eyes. Frightened of the desperation she might see in his face.

“Hear me out before you give me what for. I made you the guardian of the twins last year.”

“Without asking me?”

“Yeah. I was afraid you’d say no.” Josh shrugged and lifted the corner of his mouth in a little smile.

It was Tracey’s turn to look incredulous. “Seriously? When have I ever told you that I wouldn’t do something for those kids?”

He nodded, agreeing. “I need you to promise that no matter what happens to me...”

“I promise, but nothing’s going to happen to you.”

Of course, she didn’t know that. This afternoon when she’d headed to the day care to pick up the twins, she wouldn’t have believed anything could have happened to any of them. It has been an ordinary day. She’d finally made up her mind to talk with Josh about finding a permanent nanny to take her place.

“You asked what I was willing to do. They’re my kids, Tracey. I’ll do anything for them, including prison time.” Josh still had the pj’s wrapped in his hand. “Believe me, that’s not my intention, but you have to know it’s a possibility.”

Was he aware that she was willing to join him? She meant what she’d said about doing anything for Jackson and Sage. And if that meant she was the one who went to jail—so be it. And if it came down to it, she’d do anything to keep them with their father.

“Just tell me what to do, Josh.”

“Nothing. If Tenoreno’s people contact you, tell me. You can’t be involved in this. It has to be me.” He gripped her shoulders and then framed her cheeks. One of his thumbs skated across the bruised area and settled at her temple. “You got that? I’m the one who’s going to rescue my kids and pay the consequences.”

She believed him. She had to. But she couldn’t promise to stay out of his way. She might have the answer. What if money could solve their problem? Even if it wouldn’t, now wasn’t the time to tell him she’d never let him be separated from the twins.

Chapter Four (#ulink_187438c6-0b04-5cc3-b60b-7cb66710eee0)

Josh pulled Tracey to his chest, wrapping his arms around her, keeping someone he cared about safe. He stared at the green pajamas decorated with pictures of yellow trucks—dump trucks, earthmovers, cranes and he didn’t know what else. He used to know.

How long had it been since he’d played in the sandbox with the kids? Since he’d been there for dinner and their bath time?

Mixed feelings fired through his brain. He couldn’t start down the regret road. He needed to concentrate on the twins’ safety. The overpowering urge to protect Tracey wasn’t just because she was an unofficial member of the family.

Tenoreno had hired someone to assault her and steal his children. Her cuts and bruises—dammit, he should have been there to protect her. To protect all of them.

“There has to be something we can do to make this go faster.” She pressed her face against his chest and cried.

It was the first time to cry since she’d entered the house today. He fought the urge to join her, but once a day was his limit. If he broke down again, he wouldn’t be able to function. Or act like the guy who might know what he was doing.

A knock at the door broke them apart. Tracey went to the corner table and pulled a couple of Kleenex from the box.

“Yeah?” It could only be one of two people on the other side. Bryce or Agent McCaffrey.

“You fill her in yet?” McCaffrey stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

Tracey looked up after politely blowing her nose; a questioning look crinkled her forehead.

“We were just getting there.”

“Here’s the phone you can use to contact us. We won’t be far away.”

“But far enough no one’s going to notice.” Josh took the phone and slid it into his back pocket.

“Anyone following you will see the obvious cars. They’ll lose you after a couple of miles, but George and I will be there.”

“Josh?” Tracey said his name with all the confusion she should be experiencing. After all, he’d just demanded the FBI and police leave him alone, get out of his house and off the case.

“It’s okay, Tracey. All part of the plan. We need the kidnappers to think I’m in this on my own. No help from anyone. Hopefully that’ll limit what they ask me to do.”

When he left the house he’d have a line of cars following and hoped it didn’t look like a convoy. A bad feeling smothered any comfort he had that law enforcement would be close by.

“So everything you just said—”

“Was the truth. Every word.” He shot her a look asking her to keep that info to herself.

He knew that stubborn look, the compressed lips, the crossed arms. It would soon be followed by a long exhale after holding her breath. Sometimes he wanted to squeeze the air from her lungs because she held on to it so long. Each time he knew she wasn’t just controlling her breathing. She was also controlling her tongue because she disagreed with what he was saying or doing.

Mainly about the kids.

Lately, it had been about how often he worked late or how he had avoided necessary conversations. Like the one congratulating her on finishing her thesis. Yeah, he’d avoided that because it would open the door to her resignation. What they needed to talk about was serious. She’d most likely accepted a position somewhere—other than Waco. If he could, he’d also like to avoid a conversation about what happened two weeks ago when they’d kissed.