“Which you shared with your sister.”
“How’d you know?” she asked.
His gaze zeroed in on her again. “You don’t strike me as the type to keep quiet if something’s on your mind.”
“You’re right about that.” She hated how her cheeks flushed when she was embarrassed. She shouldn’t care what this man thought about her outside of gaining his help to locate her niece.
“Where was the trip?”
She hesitated. This is the point where three other agencies had turned her down. Taking in a resigned breath, she said, “Jamaica.”
Daniel clenched and released his fists a couple of times. He didn’t want to think about Jamaica’s proximity to Haiti—a gateway for human trafficking. Hell, Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica were the holy trinity of human trafficking. Part of the reason he’d banished himself to Cuba the past two years was the proximity to Haiti—a constant reminder of everything he’d lost.
Authorities wouldn’t make this easy, especially not after this much time had passed. “This is complicated—”
Frustration came off the beautiful blond in palpable waves. Anger lit a fire in those river blues. “I know what you’re going to say, so I’ll save you the trouble. International law is sticky. There’s no Amber Alert, no U.S. police involvement. Jamaican authorities won’t be honest with anyone from the U.S. and resorts are scared to death of negative publicity. Workers will lie to authorities and to families in order to cover their tracks. I’ve heard it all so save your breath. Ashlyn is running out of time. It’s been fourteen days. I’ve been told you’re the best at tracking people and I’m out of patience. You know how to find people, all people. So, what I need to know is…” She stood there like a bull. “Will you help me find Ashlyn?”
“The authorities won’t cooperate—”
Clara held up her hand, palm out. “Save it.”
“Which will make it interesting,” he continued like she hadn’t just dismissed him. “I don’t work well with the U.S. government. They’re a bunch of incompetent bastards and I don’t want lame investigators getting in my way. If Jamaican authorities don’t want to be involved, even better. I work best alone.”
The blond stared at him cautiously and he could see that she didn’t want to get her hopes up even as a little flicker lit her serious eyes. He could easily see that she was intelligent and a rogue thought struck that she was someone he’d want to get to know better under different circumstances. His brain immediately shut down the possibility. Daniel had spent most of his life alone. The only family he’d ever known he’d screwed up. They were gone. He hadn’t deserved them and he sure as hell didn’t deserve a second chance.
“The trail is cold,” Daniel said.
“When’s that ever stopped us before?” Jaden’s voice boomed from the doorway.
Daniel had heard the screen door creak open a few moments ago but had chosen to ignore it. “I don’t work with a partner.”
“You can’t work alone,” Clara stated. “I’m going with you.”
“Impossible,” Daniel dismissed her. There was a darkness and vulnerability about her that tugged at him and tried to draw him in to uncover her secrets. He could relate on a basic level to the depth of her pain.
She took a few steps closer to him until he could practically see those depths in her eyes.
“I have information you might need,” she argued vehemently. “Information that can save you days and possibly save Ashlyn’s life.”
He fished out his cell and held it up. “That’s what these are for.”
“What if you need information now?” She snapped her fingers as though for emphasis. “If I’m there I can help you. Take that away and you could miss an opportunity to save her life. You and I both know cell towers are sketchy in places in the U.S., let alone outside of it. You need me.”
Daniel didn’t want to notice the wells of water gathering in her eyes or the fact that her chin quivered when she spoke and he could plainly see that she was barely holding it together. He didn’t want to let her reaction influence him. Emotions were precisely the reason he didn’t want her tagging along. Emotions were dangerous in the wrong situation. Emotions in the form of a poorly timed outburst could get them both killed.
“Where do her parents live?” Daniel caught her gaze.
“Does that mean you’ll take the job?” More of that damn hope bubbled. He could see it in her eyes and hear it in the tone of her voice.
“I never said that,” he shot back.
“Still—”
Something bubbled to the surface inside him, too. It sure as hell wasn’t hope. He stalked toward her and pinned her against the truck bed.
“I don’t mince words and I won’t be stonewalled into taking on any assignment. Is that clear?”
Her heart pounded at the base of her throat as she gulped in air. He moved his hands to her shoulders and then dropped them down to her hips.
Jaden’s loud protests drowned out in the background. Daniel needed to prove a point.
He dipped his head and brushed his lips against hers. He groaned as her body tensed and her fingers gripped his shoulders before she went limp against him, molding to his body.
“Are you afraid of me?” He dared her to be honest.
“No.” Her eyes told a different story, glittering with need.
“You should be. I’m not your friend.” And to prove it, he added, “Your niece is dead.”
Clara turned her face away from him and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“What? That’s not what you want to hear?” Damn, he felt like a jerk for saying
