Branding & Saving Lily Box Set: Books 1 & 2 (Jacob and Lily's Duet)

by Gracin Sawyer

  “He told me you knew him.” She stood up and took a step toward him. I waited to see what she would do, not wanting to stop her from dealing with this how she needed. Besides, right now it was literally a family issue. “He said you would remember him.”

  Doc kept looking from her to me. “Lily, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  She took one more step, closing the distance between them. Her fists clenched at her sides. “I’m talking about the fact that you knew he and my mother were in love. I’m talking about how he’s my biological father!”

  Doc’s face went ashen, completely drained of color. That was all I needed to see for proof. He knew more than he let us all know. I decided to take over for her. This was now more than her. In one swoop I was up and behind her, rubbing her arms. But my glare was set hard on him. “Doc, you lied to me.”

  His hands went up. “Wait a minute, Jacob. I haven’t lied to you.” He stared wide eyed at Lily. “Or you.”

  “You have five minutes to tell me what the fuck you know before Fox learns what happens to traitors in this family.” Doc was one of my oldest friends, but I wouldn’t deal with lying. Betrayal has not nor would be tolerated, on any level.

  “I don’t understand,” Doc stammered. “Please, Lily. I don’t understand.”

  She thrust a finger to his chest. “He said you would remember because he asked your permission to marry my mom.”

  He shook his head. “No. It’s not possible.” Blinking slowly, he looked around the room at each of us. “He was dead.”

  “Do you know him?” Lily repeated.

  Doc nodded. He shuffled past us and sat down. His blank stare fixated past what was in the room, watching an old memory. “Angel didn’t go by Angel back then. His name is Robby. He and Rachael were high school sweethearts. They were so in love. Robby, or I guess Angel, came to me, asking me if he could marry her. Of course I said yes. We laughed and had a drink at the house to celebrate.” He scoffed. “That was the last time I saw him. Rachael came to me two days later, heartbroken. Even the life had left her eyes. She told me he was dead.” He snapped back to the present and looked for Lily. “But she never told me about you then. She left two days later to be with Garcia. I thought it was her way of grieving, moving on, finding a way to deal with everything.”

  “So could it be true then? Is he my father?”

  “I think so. I always thought it was too soon when she told me she was pregnant, the dates didn’t add up.” He choked up. “Lily, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. He was dead.”

  “How did you not know he was alive? How come you didn’t tell mom?” Lily dropped at his knees and pleaded up at him. “Why are there so many secrets!”

  I pulled Lily up and wrapped my arms around her. She was shaking with her face buried in my shoulder. “I can’t look at him right now.”

  “Shh, honey, you don’t have to.” I rubbed her back and let her hide from the world.

  Doc panicked. “I didn’t know, just like everyone else didn’t know. Angel doesn’t show his face to anyone. Hell, Jacob you know that. I didn’t know he was Robby.”

  I did know that, but it didn’t make anything better admitting it. “Doc, I think you should come with us tomorrow. We’re going back to talk with Angel in the morning.”

  “You couldn’t stop me,” he mumbled.

  I scoffed. The thin edge Doc was riding on may have gotten a bit wider, but he wasn’t clear yet. I needed to make sure all the secrets were out and nothing more could hurt Lily.

  Flapjack blew out a long breath. “That’s a lot to take in. I think it’s best if we give you guys some space. Let Lily rest.”

  Everyone agreed and made their way to the door, including a grief stricken Doc. The door clicked shut and Lily picked her head up. “I really think we need a do-over for our date night.” She tried to jest, but I could see the strain streaking her face.

  I lifted my hand and brushed her hair away. “I wish I could make everything better for you.” I took her hand and pulled her to the stairs. “Come on, let’s get some sleep. I don’t think tomorrow is going to be any easier.”

  She slipped her heels off as she walked, flinging them to the floor. Her bare feet padded across the lush carpet. Upstairs she untied her dress and pulled it over her head revealing white matching bra and panties.

  I gulped back the raw emotion I experienced every time I looked at her and closed my eyes. “You better be sleeping in something else, or we aren’t getting any sleep tonight.”

  She giggled. I loved the sound and knew she was blushing without even looking. “Mr. Cardosa, are you saying you can’t keep your hands to yourself?”

  “Not when my woman looks like that.” I opened my eyes and groaned as I watched her crawl across the bed and slip under the covers wearing just her bra and panties.

  I pulled my clothes off, leaving just my underwear on, knowing damn well I didn’t have the same effect on her, but needing to feel her skin against mine. I climbed under the covers and pulled her to me. “Sleep you little minx. Tonight, you sleep.”

  “What about you?” her voice was already drifting off.

  “I’m gonna be awake all night thinking of what I’m going to do to you tomorrow with you pressed against me like this.” She smiled and I kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, Lily.”

  She snuggled closer to me and intertwined her legs with mine. “Goodnight, Jacob.”

  Fuck. It was going to be a long night.

  Loud banging had me shooting up out of bed and darting to my bag for my gun. Disorientated, I looked around to get my bearings. Lily was on the bed, sitting up, watching me with wide eyes.

  “What was that?” she asked, pulling the blanket up over her chest.

  “Just stay right there.” What the hell were gunshots doing in a hotel? I slipped on my jeans and darted down the stairs just as my men burst through the door. Next time I wasn’t sure I would give Bear a key.

  “Boss,” Diesel scanned the room wildly. “Where’s Lily?” He was frantic but released a long sigh when she padded down the stairs.

  She had on jeans and a t-shirt, but was still barefoot, just like me. She pulled her hair back and tied it up in a ponytail. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s Angel. His room is just down from ours. We heard the gunshots and ran out. He’s dead. So is his men.” Jax leaned over and braced himself on his knees. “We ran up here as fast as we could.”

  “Shit.” Bear’s nostrils flared. “Boss, we got to end this.”

  Lily clung to my side. “Angel’s dead?”

  Jax nodded. “I’m sorry, Lily.”

  “Fucking Garcia!” I roared. “He had to have known we talked to Angel. When the fuck did he get back from Mexico?”

  Flapjack was already on the phone digging for information. He hung up the cell and shot me a furiously glowering stare. “He got back right after us. The bastard has been tailing us and we didn’t even know it!”

  Damn it! I was not one to be hunted. If Garcia thought he would win this, he was sadly mistaken. He threatened my woman, killed both her parents, and seriously pissed me off by coming after my family. It was time to turn things back around. I would never be prey for some asshole.

  “We need to get Lily out of here,” I said the words as I left her standing with the men, grabbing my cell phone. “Flapjack, call the airport. Get the plane fucking ready.”

  “Already on it, boss,” he said, pulling the phone up to his ear.

  I dialed Rodriguez. He answered, but was not groggy as I half expected seeing as how it was only three in the morning.

  “Cardosa, when did you get back? Have you turned on the news? Angel Martin was shot.”

  “I know. I’m a couple floors above him. We’re getting ready to leave Vegas to head back home. I want every man you have watching for Garcia Ramirez. And don’t even think about sending any blues.” I started shoving everything back in our bags.

  “Shit, do you think it was Garcia who shot Ange
l? Fuck, Jacob, what’s going on?”

  Lily’s gun sat on top of her clothes but I wanted her to keep it with her so I pulled it out before zipping her bag. “Yeah, it was Garcia. He’s after Lily. So help me, when I see him, he’s dead. I don’t care what kind of fucking mess this is for you to clean up, he will die.”

  Rodriguez cursed. “Cardosa, you never let me have anything easy do you. Shit. Okay, let me make some calls. You want me to send them to your place?”

  I ran a hand down my face. My shoulder ached in protest, but I didn’t care. I used the pain as a reason to keep moving. “Yeah, but send some to his house too. If they see him, they call me.”

  I hung the call up before he could say anything. I was done talking to him. The less he knew the better. It was easier for him to clean up for me.

  Ugh. I was going to owe him huge over this. Damn man was a bit greedy, but he was the best at his job. Well, the best man for me. Maybe not for the state.

  Lily found me upstairs and I tried my best at a smile for her. I handed her the gun. “I want you to keep this with you. Don’t go anywhere without it.”

  She nodded and accepted it, placing it at her waist. “Jacob,” she breathed.

  “Honey, you’re safe. Don’t go thinking about things that aren’t.” I took her in my arms and inhaled deeply.

  A knock at the door had me pushing away from her and practically jumping down the stairs. “Stay there,” I ordered.

  Diesel was already there, his gun in hand as he looked through the peephole. Slowly, he opened the door to a scrawny guy. He couldn’t be much older than Fox. He looked around nervously. “Cardosa?”

  I stepped forward. “Who are you?”

  He held out a cardboard box. It had a lid and looked like it came right from an office. “I’ve been holding these for Angel. He said if anything ever happened to him to make sure you got them immediately.”

  “What is it?” I asked taking the box.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t ask and I knew better than to look. Shit, I did my job, I’m outa here.” He darted back down the hall toward the stairs.

  I set the box down and opened it, half-worried there would be something other than paperwork inside. I picked up paper after paper and started to laugh.

  “What is it, boss?” Bear came over and took a few papers from me. His laugh was deep and bellowed through the room. “Holy shit. Is this what I think?”

  It was. It was every single paper trail, every breadcrumb, every single piece of fucking proof of everything Garcia has ever done. Damn. Angel wasn’t lying. He really had tracked down enough to put Garcia away for thirty lifetimes. There were things in the box that even I was surprised about.

  I slipped the lid on. “We need to get out of here.” Not only did Garcia know Lily was here, but I was sure he knew I now had a box containing every miserable thing he’d ever done. I smiled. The prey just became the predator.

  Chapter 28

  Lily

  I wasn’t sure if I should be feeling pissed, sad, or just plain tired. My whole life had been a lie. I didn’t even know who I was. Jacob held my hand in the truck, but my thoughts were everywhere and I couldn’t keep up. The radio kept talking about Angel’s death on repeat. It made me sick that he hadn’t even been dead for an hour before the world started talking about him like he was some monster that deserved to die.

  My stomach rolled. Okay, yes, he sold drugs. Yeah, he probably killed a man or two. But damn, it didn’t mean he deserved to die. Jacob had killed many men and he wasn’t a monster. Shit, I’d killed a few men, did that mean I was no better than Angel? I wanted to ring the radio announcer’s neck. Blah, blah, blah. Ugh. It was sickening. They didn’t even know him.

  My heart sank. I didn’t even know him. And now I never would. The pain started in my fingertips and ran up my arms to my heart. Grief had a funny way of sneaking up. I may not have known the man, but he was my father. It was confusing, but damn it, it didn’t make it any less truthful.

  The hatred I felt for Garcia mounted. He hid behind the title of father my whole life then when my real father called him out, he had me kidnapped. And my mother… My stomach twisted. Garcia had now killed both of my parents. And he wanted me to be next.

  The dude on the radio kept talking about Angel and I flipped it off. Asshole. Just hearing his voice made my skin crawl.

  The airport treated Jacob as if he were the president of the Untied States. They might as well have rolled out a red carpet for us to walk on to the tarmac. It seemed like they were doing some serious ass kissing. I guess dropping the ball on letting him know Garcia flew in right behind us would scared them into such service.

  I sure wouldn’t have wanted to be the one Jacob was pissed at. I knew him as a lover, but the world knew him as something different. They knew him as someone to be afraid of. I smirked as I watched him settle in his seat on the plane. It wasn’t that long ago I was afraid of him too. But now, I trusted him with my life. Hell, he was my life.

  It wasn’t a long flight, and even if it was, I don’t think I could have slept. Adrenaline was a better drug than any kind of caffeine. We landed and there were two trucks waiting for us on the tarmac. I recognized one of the drivers as Rosa’s husband, Gunner.

  Jacob and I rode in the backseat this time, with me in the middle. His hand slid in between my thighs and held onto my leg. He was silent, but I knew he was more aware of everything around him than I was. He had gone into full bodyguard mode.

  The sun was breaking over the mountains as we pulled in. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this place until we arrived. A part of me would forever be on this mountain. But even a bigger part of me belonged here at Jacob’s house. It was home.

  There were men swarming around everywhere. So many more than I remembered. “Who are all these guys?” I asked, stretching on the porch.

  Jacob glanced around. “Security,” he chuckled and touched my chin. “I told you. You’re safe.” He was trying so hard to make everything seem normal and fine. I loved him even more for it.

  “Well, I didn’t doubt that. Just you alone is more than enough for me.” I walked in the house before him. Taking a deep breath, I let the peaceful calm envelope me. It was funny how just being in a certain place could do that.

  “I’m glad you have so much faith in me, but I’m not taking any chances.” Jacob dropped the bags by the front door. I worried about his shoulder and knew it must be killing him.

  “Well, we’re here at your house. Now what?” I implored, closing the front door.

  His brow rose. “Well, first thing is for you to call it like it is.” He touched the tip of my nose. “This is your house too, which means we’re home.”

  Ugh, I hated how easily the heat filled my cheeks. He called it my house too. Knowing he was offering me so much made my heart skip. “Well, Mr. Cardosa, now that we’re home, what are we going to do?”

  His laugh echoed through the downstairs. “The guys went to grab a few zees before we meet later.”

  “What if I said I wasn’t tired?” I was, but I wanted something more. Truth be told, I needed something more.

  His eyes darkened with desire. “Lily.”

  I held a finger up to his lips. “Don’t. I need you Jacob. I need you to take the world away.”

  The deep groan quivered in his throat. He picked me up in one arm and carried me to the stairs. I laughed, but hung on around his neck. He set me down at the foot of his bed. He pointed to the king sized mattress. “Our bed.”

  He was really pulling out all the ammo. Didn’t he know he didn’t have to say anything? I didn’t care whose bed it was, I would lie with him in the gravel. I pulled my clothes off before he could take the time to do it himself and was met with another throaty moan.

  I wasn’t waiting this time. I unhooked my bra and slipped my panties off. I needed him now.

  He freed himself of all his clothing and I couldn’t help but stare at his shaft. How that thing ever fit inside of me was a
miracle. A blissful miracle. Between my legs warmed and I could feel the wetness seep down my thigh.

  “Turn around,” he breathed, raspy and deep.

  I had no idea what he was thinking but I obeyed. I trusted him and at this point, I didn’t care what he did as long as he was inside of me.

  I braced myself over the bed and he came up behind me, grabbing my hips. It was strange but so sexy. I felt his manhood throb near my ass. His fingers went up between my legs and found that sweet spot. I cried out as a shock of bliss erupted.

  His other hand reached around and kneaded my breast. Holy shit. I pushed back searching for him. I couldn’t tell who was moaning, but heard my voice in my ears loud and calling his name. Everything mixed together.

  He removed his hand and his thick pulsating shaft thrust inside of me. I arched back and pressed against him. “Jacob,” I cried for him. Why did something so animalistic feel so fucking good?

  He thrust harder, it ached in painful ecstasy. I met each thrust, opening up to allow him to ram himself as deep as he could get. I could feel him in me, so deep, so far up. I bucked back and my head lifted as I arched trying to find a way to fit more of him.

  He was so deep I couldn’t tell our souls apart. We were truly one. He pushed faster, slamming into me hard. It felt so good I didn’t want it to ever stop. His dick was so big I felt the shudders as I clenched around him.

  “Fuck, Lily,” he groaned in pleasure. He pulled out and I flipped around to watch him grab his shaft and slide his hand up and down.

  I reached out and took over. My wetness covered him and my hand slid easily up and down. His fingers found my opening and began to stroke me while I gripped him harder. He cried out as he spilled out over my hand, but his fingers kept stroking me. Hearing him and seeing him come pushed me over the edge and I called out for him. My body exploded and I knew I needed him to save me.

  Opening my eyes, the room spun. Jacob leaned over and breathlessly pressed his lips to mine. “I love you.”