Exiting Garcia’s house, the ambulance was just leaving, the lights and siren blaring through the air. Rodriguez stood beside a patrol car talking animatedly.
“Rodriguez!” I said, jogging down the stairs to meet up with him.
“Now is not a good time, Cardosa.” He turned back to the officer, the same one who tried to stop me from entering the house earlier. “Listen, you don’t get paid enough to open your trap about a case that’s not yours. This is mine.”
“What about him?” The officer gestured to me.
I almost laughed—almost. He had to be new to the force because no one else dared question me or my presence.
“Who’s the newbie?” Irritated that my time was being wasted.
Rodriguez shifted his weight. His usually clean boots that hardly seen the outside of his office now had a layer of dirt on them. “Cardosa, this is Sammy Price. He just started last week and I haven’t been able to talk to him about you yet.”
I didn’t really give a shit who the officer was. I stared Rodriguez down, reminding him of who was the boss here. “Well I suggest you get that talking over with because the woman I love has been kidnapped right out from under your fucking hands. That man you sent after her is nothing but a damn kid! What the hell, Rodriguez?”
Rodriguez stood taller, trying to keep his clout with the young officer. “Look, you said no blues. I only have a few guys in town I could call. London is actually pretty good at this.”
I scoffed. “London? Hell, the kid told me his name was Fox. And how am I supposed to trust someone who hasn’t even had their balls drop yet. It’s like you have a fucking death wish.”
“His name is London Fox, and he’s been in the system more than most juveniles, so I know what he’s capable of, and utilizing his talents with a job like this is right up his alley. It’s better than him wasting his abilities on some dumbass outside a bar.”
I pushed a finger to his chest. “You better hope he doesn’t lose her.” My threat wasn’t negotiable.
Flapjack drove the truck over to me and I jumped in, leaving Rodriguez to explain how things were ran to his new man in blue.
Diesel clamped a hand down on my shoulder from the backseat. “Don’t worry, boss. We’ll find her.”
I couldn’t believe anything less. And once we found her, I was never letting her stray from my arms again.
Chapter 2
Lily
If Jacob didn’t kill Knox, I would. The son of a bitch had me locked in the trunk of a car. The mix of gasoline and something rancid clung to the interior carpet making my head split worse than when he hit me over the head with his gun.
The horrible thought that Jacob wouldn’t come for me tried to sneak into my head, but I dismissed it immediately, not wanting to let myself drive down that depressive road. He promised me that he’d always find me. I had to cling to that hope.
A tight rope bound my wrists together behind my back and my shoulders ached in protest. The dirty gag in my mouth had me choking back vomit. I tried not to focus on the smell of the cloth, but the sour sweaty stench refused my senses a reprieve.
The back of my head had bled enough to leave streaks of blood down my neck and shirt. I couldn’t touch it with my hands roped together, but I was certain there was a large lump. It hurt to lay back on it, leaving me to keep on my sides. Not that there was much room to move around in the trunk.
We sped down the road for what seemed like forever. The taillights came on, giving the small space a red glow. I had long ago tried to kick them out to draw attention to passing cars, but I couldn’t get them to budge. I needed more momentum.
Maybe I couldn’t kick them out, but maybe I could short the light itself out? I kicked the light again, harder and harder. After a few attempts, it flickered and went out. A small victory, but now I had to wiggle around to change position to get the other light. Moving was hard and painful. It took longer than I wanted, but finally I faced the other light.
The car rolled to a stop and I could hear a door slam shut. The trunk popped open and I squinted under the brightness of an orange street light.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Knox asked, pulling me up by my hair.
The gag muffled my screams. Damn that hurt!
“Apparently I need to tie your legs too.” He dropped me and began wrestling my legs.
I kicked at him and tried to jump out of the car, but without my arms, I just fell before I could leave the trunk.
He got me back down and began wrapping the new rope around my ankles. “You have more fight than your mom, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to have these legs wrapped around me. I should have fucked you when I had the chance. But now it will be better because I’ll be taking Cardosa’s woman.” He chuckled as he slammed the trunk shut again.
I screamed again to no avail. No one could hear me. But it felt good to release something, anything. Damn, I really hated that man.
The car started rolling again. I could hear cars zoom by us, but no one knew I was locked in here. What an invisible world I lived in.
I wondered where Knox was taking me, but more importantly, I wondered how Jacob would find me. It wasn’t like Diesel could track me like in the mountains.
Bound and gagged, I couldn’t do much to escape, and I wasn’t certain there would be a rescue mission, so I had to think of how I was going to survive. Without knowing if Jacob was even coming for me, I needed to rely on myself to get away from Knox. I’ve done it before, I could do it again.
My stomach ached, reminding me of how my last escape went. But I refused to go down that path unless there was no other way. I had something to live for with Jacob, and while it only lasted a short while, I wanted a lifetime with him. Just keeping my mind on him helped keep my sanity.
The dark space closed in, pressing around me through the hours. I nodded on and off, trying to stay awake, but found it was easier just to sleep.
The car lurched forward and stopped, the door slammed shut again, but Knox never came back for me. Did he leave me to die in the car? No way, I was sure he had other plans for me.
I screamed again and wiggled the best I could to try to break free of the rope, but it dug into my skin more.
“Hey,” a man said quietly outside the trunk.
Yes! Someone heard me. I screamed again, the muffled sound probably wasn’t as loud as I wanted, but I had nothing else.
“Shhh, listen, my name is Fox. Cardosa’s on his way. It’s gonna be okay. Crap, I gotta go, don’t worry, I’m watching.”
What the hell? He left me? I screamed and squirmed around again. Damn bindings. I rubbed my face up and down the carpet, rolling the gag out of my mouth. “Wait! Come back, please! Help!”
My throat hurt as I yelled for the man.
Footsteps echoed outside the car and I froze. Was it the Fox guy or Knox? The trunk popped open and I screamed for help again.
“Shut the hell up!” Knox grabbed the gag and tied it securely back around my mouth.
I looked around for the man who told me Jacob was coming, but all I saw was cement walls and ceilings, and lots of cars. Red lights steadily remained lit over the cars and green ones were over the empty spaces. We had to be in some kind of parking garage.
Knox looked around before cutting the rope at my ankles. “Get out and don’t even think about running.”
He pulled me by the upper arm and roughly tugged me out of the trunk. It was hard for me to stand. My legs were nearly asleep and I couldn’t feel them. I wasn’t sure how many hours I was stuffed in the back of the car, but it was too long.
My head throbbed and my vision threatened to leave as blackness faded in and out. Where was that guy? I tried to survey the area but Knox yanked me toward him. Maybe I had made Fox up in my mind, hoping that Jacob really was coming.
I stumbled but found my footing before face-planting it on the cement. The air here was heavier and much warmer than back home.
I let Knox lead me away from t
he car and into an elevator. Wherever he was taking me, I needed to be alert and ready.
His arm held onto mine tightly, his fingers dug into my flesh, bruising the tender skin. “I should have done this years ago.”
I glared at him and tried to spit the nasty rag out of my mouth.
He laughed. “You are a lot feistier than I gave you credit for. Whatever Cardosa did to you was worth it.” He forcefully squeezed my chin to hold my face close to his. “Maybe I’ll get a piece of you before I’m done here. I’m ready for a good fuck.”
I held my head high, wishing I could will him to die. There was no way I’d let him touch me. The only man I would ever give myself to was Jacob.
The elevator dinged, breaking the intense stare between us. Two men in dark suits stood outside on the elaborate carpet. “Follow us, we have a room waiting for you.”
Knox gave me a wicked grin. “It’s payday.”
Chapter 3
Jacob
I paced the bottom floor of the suite. It was the same room I used every time I came to Vegas. It had two floors, with an adjoining room attached to the lower floor for a couple of my men. This time, they all stayed with me. With any luck, it would be a short trip.
The burner phone Rodriguez gave me buzzed and I answered it immediately. “Where is she?”
“Knox grabbed her from the trunk and took her up to the top floor. I’m at the end of the hall and there is security everywhere. But they haven’t left the room.”
Knowing Lily had been shoved into a trunk for the entire trip to Vegas had me pissed. But at least she was alive. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Just stay there and watch. I’m on my way.”
Fox gave a quiet laugh. “Yeah, I told her that.”
“You what?” When did he have time to talk to her?
“Well, when Knox left for a minute I ran over to the car and told her that you were on the way. I figured it would help her sanity, ya know?”
“But you didn’t help her escape?” What the fuck! This little boy was seriously pissing me off.
“Heck no. There is no way I’m good enough to do that yet. I wasn’t going to risk her life or mine. I’m good at staying to shadows and following people, not breaking them out of trunks.”
Well, I guess he wasn’t all bad, knowing what he was capable of and not risking Lily’s life earned him bonus points. “Alright, just watch her, I’m on my way.”
He gave me the casino and room number before hanging up. They weren’t far away, just down the strip. “Come on, boys! She’s here.”
With the traffic, especially at this time of night, there was no way I was going to waste my time. Flapjack would have to grab the truck and meet us there.
I ran out the front doors and down the packed sidewalk. Shoving through people and weaving my way around groups and cars. I made it in record time down the strip. Past the dancing fountains and lights, I pushed myself to go faster.
Hold on, honey, I’m almost there.
The cell rang, I could barely hear it over the ambience of the casino as I ran inside. I dug it out and answered, following the signs to find the tower I needed.
“They’re moving her.”
“Fuck.” I stopped and waited where I was. “Where is she?”
“Headed back toward the parking garage.”
“Don’t lose her!” I turned around and headed toward the elevators. “I’m on my way.” Hitting the hang up button, I kept the phone in my hand, waiting for him to call back.
Diesel was behind me and followed on my heels, while Jax and Bear ran to the opposite elevators to cover more ground. My heart wouldn’t stop racing. I was losing time. So help the person who stopped this elevator, I’d kill them.
The doors finally opened and I called Fox, he picked up immediately. “What level is she on?”
“Three, but you better hurry. He’s already got her back in the trunk.”
“Son of a bitch!” I didn’t have time to wait for the damn elevator again. I ran to the stairs and jumped down the flights “Stay with her, Fox!” I said, leaping over the rails to the last flight.
“I gotta go or I’m gonna lose her, sorry.”
The squeal of tires had me running faster. I drew my gun and watched for the car. Where was it?
Taillights vanished quickly around the corner and I ran back up the stairs, trying to beat them to the exit. Level 2, Level 1. Headlights filled the exit and I ran toward them, but it was only Flapjack. He slowed down enough for me to jump into the passenger side and sped off. Diesel, Bear, and Jax were already in the back.
“I saw him, but couldn’t get a clear shot,” Bear reported, his pistol still gripped in his hand.
I called Fox again. “Where are they headed?”
“Looks like the Henderson airport. Look, brah, if they get on a plane, I don’t know how to follow them.”
I hit the dash. “Damn it!” Rage consumed me. “We need to get back to the airport.” At least I had one thing going for me, that was the same airport we landed in. It was premier for a private jet. But that scared me too, because there were a lot of people I knew who had access to a private plane.
Flapjack punched the gas and weaved through the traffic, using the sidewalk when available. He knew how precious time was and didn’t waste it.
“They just pulled in, heck, I don’t know what to do. Wait, they stopped. He’s getting her out of the trunk.”
I tossed the phone back to Diesel. “Keep talking to him.” I pulled out my personal cell and dialed the airport. “It’s Jacob Cardosa.” Another perk of my name was I didn’t have to deal with anyone I didn’t want to, even at the airport. They immediately transferred me to the head of security. “There’s a plane getting ready to take off, I need you to stop it.”
The man hesitated. “Mr. Cardosa, you know I can’t do that.”
“Like hell you can’t! They have my woman and are taking her somewhere. If you can’t stop it then tell me where the fuck they’re going.”
Diesel leaned forward. “They’re getting on the plane. Numbers are C-two-four-eighty-nine.”
“Listen you piece of shit, the numbers on the jet are C-two-four-eighty-nine. Now tell me where they’re going.” I gestured to Jax. “Call and get the plane ready to fly. We’ll be there in five.”
“Alright.” The security guard gave in and started looking into the plane’s flight schedule. “Looks like Mexico.”
I turned to Diesel. “Tell Fox to get his ass on my plane.”
We pulled in, tires screeching onto the tarmac as we stopped just outside the secure gates. I opened the door and watched as a small jet took off over me. It climbed higher and higher, and I couldn’t breathe.
I was losing her.
Chapter 4
Lily
I’d never flown before and could honestly say I didn’t like the weightless feeling it offered. Mixed with fear, it didn’t sit well on my stomach and I dry heaved with nearly every bump from turbulence.
But what scared me more than anything was I knew there was no way Jacob would be able to find me now.
The two men who guarded my room back at the hotel were with us, but said nothing. They were like silent bodyguards.
At least Knox had taken the gag off while we were in the air. It wasn’t like screaming would help me now.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice raspy from lack of water and screaming. “How’d you get a plane?”
Knox sat beside me, even thousands of feet in the air he still didn’t let me get far. He chuckled. “The plane is a friend of a friend’s. After I drop you off and get paid I’ll owe him, but it’ll be worth it.”
His malicious grin made my stomach roll again. “Why me?”
Knox leered at me. “Because Cardosa fucked everything up for me. I had something over Garcia and now they both will pay, with you.”
“I ran away, Jacob didn’t help me escape. He had nothing to do with it.”
He laughed. “Except now you’re not a fu
cking virgin. Do you know the price a man can get for a girl who hasn’t been fucked yet? Damn, why the hell else would I have waited to screw you like I did your mother? Jacob definitely had something do with that. He got in between your legs and ruined everything, and you let him!”
Years of pent up anger burned under my skin. My hands might have been tied still, but my mouth was free. I lashed out toward him, catching his cheek and biting as hard as I could. The taste of metallic blood filled my mouth, but I didn’t let up.
He yelled and pushed me, but I held on tighter until a small chunk came off in my mouth and I flung backward, hitting the floor on my side, spitting his flesh out at him. I glared back at him with a cocky smile.
He held both hands to his face, covering his cheek. “Cocksucking, motherfucker! You bit a damn piece of my cheek off! Fuck you, bitch.” He kicked me in the stomach and there was nothing I could do to block out that pain.
I cried out and tears poured from my eyes relentlessly. Stabbing myself hadn’t hurt that much.
“Aw, does that hurt?” He kicked me again. “Fuck you.”
He left me on the floor alone. One of the guards came and lifted me up, helping me back to my seat. “I like a girl with that much fire.” He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “I’d like to show you how a real man feels inside you.” He leaned back and buckled me in so I couldn’t move, a wicked grin lifting the corners of his mouth.
I glared at him. “Go to hell.”
He laughed and returned to his seat. Soon both men were laughing and watching me intently. I could feel Knox’s blood drying on my chin and I worked my head to wipe off as much as I could on my shoulder.
I couldn’t believe I did that. I knew my need to fight back was growing, but even that surprised me.
The pain near my healing wound killed me. It was so intense I was sure I’d throw up, but only stomach acid rose to my throat, reminding me that I’d had nothing to eat or drink since the night before.
Branding & Saving Lily Box Set: Books 1 & 2 (Jacob and Lily's Duet) Page 14
