I couldn’t breathe. If I did, it would ignite the little flame into a raging bonfire. “I’m sure you say that to all the women.”
He chuckled. “What women? My housekeeper is an old cranky woman who happens to be married to one of my men. It isn’t like they are waiting in line at my front door. Guys like me don’t get the lady in the end.” He moved his hand back to his side. “You’re the only one here.”
“What happens in the end that you don’t get the lady?” My heart slowed, waiting for some crazy response like he kills them or something.
“In my line of work, I’d never met someone who made me feel like I couldn’t live without them. In the end, what I do is just too dangerous and I’ve never thought about putting a woman through that before.”
Before? Before what? Before me?
This was crazy.
“Green. My favorite color is green.”
He leaned back but held his arm out for me to rest on his shoulder. I gladly accepted and relished the comfort he offered. “Why is green your favorite?”
Staring at the ceiling, I tried to put into words what the color green meant to me. “It didn’t use to be green, but it changed a few years ago. It’s like in the spring the green returns after a harsh winter, so it gave me hope to see it. Like, if the grass could survive, so could I.”
“Lily,” the deep timbre of his hoarse whisper sent heat waves down my body. “You’re safe here. I promise.”
“Don’t say that. He’ll find me and then you won’t have a choice.” I didn’t have to admit who he was.
“That’s where you’re wrong, honey. It will be him who doesn’t have a choice. Just trust me and I’ll take care of him. If you let me, I’ll take care of you.”
If only that were true. “I can’t.”
He leaned his head onto mine. “Just get some sleep. We’ll talk later.”
Talking to Jacob was like dodging bullets, but it wouldn’t be long before the right question hit me where I had to answer.
The sun was setting for the first real night away from Knox. It was hard to believe it had only been twenty-four hours since running away. And I’d managed to find sanctuary with the one man sworn to kill me.
Chapter 12
Jacob
It was pure torture to lie next to Lily with her head on my shoulder. I wanted to reach out and caress every inch of her.
Slowly, she was opening up to me. But she was protecting the man who hurt her. I needed to find out who he was so I could take care of him. She shouldn’t be afraid of saying his name.
It was after midnight and the grandfather clock downstairs ticked loudly throughout the house, but I couldn’t sleep. Lily was resting peacefully, so I slipped out of the bed and headed to my room. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I needed to get started on Lily’s paperwork now.
Picking up my cell phone, I called Detective Rodriguez. I didn’t pay him to sleep.
“What the hell do you want?” His tired voice grumbled into the phone.
“I need you to pull a missing person report on someone for me. It’s for Lily Ramirez.” He was used to me giving him nearly dead-end leads but did what I needed.
“Hell, Jacob, can’t you ever give me something easy? Her case is locked up tight. Garcia paid to seal it shut.”
“Just do what I pay you to do.” I slid the screen to end the call and tossed the phone on the bed. Why in the hell would Garcia pay to close his wife and daughter’s missing person’s cases? It didn’t make any sense. That fact had me reeling. Why didn’t he want anyone to look into who took them?
A slight knock on my door startled me. Flapjack entered. “Sorry boss, but the boys said they found a trail. They thought maybe you’d want to ride out with them to see where it led.”
“Is it hers?”
He nodded. “They think so.”
Finally, a lead. Lily didn’t just manifest from thin air. After Lily had fallen asleep, I sent Jax and Diesel to look for any clues to where she came from. Diesel was a better hunter than most of his men, for human or animal it didn’t matter, so it didn’t surprise me that he found her trail.
“Get my horse, I’ll be right there.” After pulling my boots on, I grabbed my shoulder holster and strapped it on, pushing my gun down into the sheath. Snatching my Stetson before heading out, I stopped briefly to make sure Lily was still asleep.
I didn’t want to leave her, but she was safer in my house than anywhere in the world.
Doc found me as soon as I stepped off the front porch. “What the hell is going on, boss?”
I walked to Lady, my already saddled horse. Her marbled grullo coloring blended in with the midnight shadows like camouflage. I reached up and ran my hands down her strong neck. “I’m heading out with the boys. I need you to go up and sit outside her door. Make sure she stays safe.”
“Don’t worry about her.”
Swinging up into the saddle was one of those feelings of freedom. Being a cowboy wasn’t just a cover, it was a way of life. Moments like this I could feel the roots in my soul spark. It was an instinctive nature that I couldn’t deny.
Jax and Diesel were already saddled and waiting for me. “Let’s ride.” Turning Lady, I spurred her sides to run.
We reached the edge of the woods and slowed the horses. It would be harder to maneuver through all the trees. Diesel led the way to the spot where they found Lily. “This is it.”
“Whoa,” I crooned Lady to a stop and jumped down.
Half a shattered bone lay on the ground near a puddle of dried blood. It was hard to imagine Lily there, stabbing herself.
“It took a while, but I finally tracked her coming from that way,” Diesel said pointing away from the scene. “She was limping most of the way from what I can tell.”
I climbed back into the saddle. “Let’s see where she came from.”
Following the trail wasn’t as easy with her weaving between the trees. But the longer we followed the trail, the more confused I became. I thought for sure she would have come from off the property, but we kept climbing the mountain higher and higher.
Diesel held his hand up and his horse stopped. Jax and I immediately did the same. Getting off our horses, we stepped lightly on the forest floor. I peered into the darkness searching for whatever Diesel saw.
Up ahead was a small cabin. Her trail came from there. Heat raged inside of me as I realized she had been this close, right under my nose, on my own fucking property this whole time and I hadn’t known.
Using hand gestures that we’d used on many raids, I told them I was going first. I didn’t care who was there, as pissed as I was, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Hell, they wouldn’t get close enough to shoot me with this fury bursting out of me. That son of a bitch had better hope he wasn’t there, but then again, if he wasn’t, my hunt would terrify him until I cornered him to the ends of the earth.
I grabbed my Glock and cocked the hammer. Kill first, clean up later. The only motto to live by in my job.
Each step closer to the eerily silent cabin sent my heart into a sickly excited anticipation. I didn’t kill for the fun of killing, but tonight I would make an exception.
The door opened easily and the retched smell that rolled out made my stomach churn. It was sweat mixed with blood and vomit.
It was a one-room hut, poorly maintained. Whoever was here with Lily was gone now. I flipped the light switch and a generator growled outside before the light flickered overhead.
An old tattered bed with shreds of a blanket used as a cover sat in the far corner. Chunks of rope were still tied to the bedposts. Situated near the end of the bed was a filthy clawfoot tub with no curtain or privacy of any means, not that any human would want to touch the grimy surface.
Beer bottles, broken, full, old, and empty lay around the small space. Deep indents in the couch cushion told of it holding numerous bodies. It was ripped and shredded, caked in soiled waste.
What the hell.
Bile rose to my throat and
behind me, Jax gagged.
Was this seriously where Lily came from? I can’t imagine her here, tied to the bed, forced to shower while someone watched. What other horrible things did she have to live through?
Flashes of my mother streaked through my mind and I closed my eyes to catch them. Her hands had been tied too. Things my father forced her to do, even with me watching, stabbed at my heart.
It was the very reason I became who I was.
Opening my eyes, images of my mother were gone, replaced by visions of Lily. I didn’t care how long I’d known her, she was obviously sent to me for a reason, and I would cherish her. If for no other reason than she deserved it.
Jax darted out of the house, retching off the porch. I met Diesel out with the horses. “I can’t imagine anyone living in that place, boss. That’s worse than any of the others we’ve seen.”
I ground my teeth. “She didn’t live here, she simply existed.”
How in the world did I not know this was on my property? Every inch of the four thousand, eight hundred acres would be searched and documented starting tomorrow. I would not be unaware again.
I promised Lily I would protect her, but I lied. She was here the whole time and I didn’t even know. Time was now important. I couldn’t wait for Rodriguez to get back to me with news on Lily’s report. It was hard to believe one of my men knew about this place and yet failed to tell me. It was even harder to think it could be one of my men.
I vowed right then that if someone betrayed me, they had better be ready to die slowly. Betrayal would be dealt with in my father’s way.
Chapter 13
Lily
Every sound in the empty house had me alert. Waking to find Jacob gone was disappointing. It was crazy that I’d want to be around him so much after one night and day. There was probably a physiological explanation but I didn’t want to hear it.
As bad as he was for me, I equally wanted him to be my knight in shining armor. Armor that consisted of boots and chaps.
Doc sat outside my door, guarding me. Always a prisoner. The sun was up now and shining through the bedroom windows. I wouldn’t get the rays until the afternoon, but it still warmed me despite losing the warmth of Jacob’s body.
The smells coming from the kitchen had my stomach begging for just a small taste. I wasn’t sure if I could ask for food or not. Doc had given me another dose of antibiotics, but then promptly left my room. No offer of food was mentioned.
But I was so hungry.
I didn’t eat a lot, usually only what Knox brought home and made me cook. A lot of rabbits that I made into jerky. My mother taught me how to make food sufficiently with what we had. I would dream about eating hamburgers and milkshakes.
She made me promise never to stop trying to escape. I only wish she had lived long enough to be here with me now. We would probably laugh about how much Doc looked like grandpa. She would lay awake at night with me and talk to me about the future after we escaped. We planned my wedding and we would name future grandkids. She was always optimistic about escaping and living our life.
But laying in this bed, not feeling a spring dig into my back, I wondered what other things we dreamed about that she wouldn’t be there to experience with me. I wasn’t exactly free, but I was closer to keeping my promise. I also couldn’t help but wonder what she would have thought about Jacob.
Thinking of my mother, I no longer felt hungry. Grief had a way of taking all that away.
But I did have a new need. One I hadn’t thought about because I was obviously dehydrated. I worked my way to a sitting position, relieved not to hurt as bad while moving. I quietly cleared my throat.
Doc immediately opened the door but remained outside. “You okay?”
“Um, well, I kinda need,” I stuttered, asking to relieve myself was so embarrassing.
“Whatever you need, it’s yours. Don’t deny me the pleasure of helping such a pretty little thing. Besides, if Jacob found out I didn’t do whatever asked, he’d have my head.”
What if I asked to be let go? To be free. I doubted Jacob would be happy Doc did that for me. “I just need a place, to you know… I must have drunk too much water.”
His face lit up in understanding. “Oh, sure, darlin’. It’s just down the hall a little ways.”
Down the hall. Great. Now I had to get there.
Throwing the blankets off, I twisted slowly so my legs dangled from the bed. My feet hit the wooden floor and I gradually pushed my weight onto them to stand. My stomach burned in pain, but it was tolerable. I could at least move, but it wouldn’t last long. I would be worn out by the time I reached the door.
I used the bed to support me while I shuffled to the footboard.
Downstairs, the front door closed and Doc released a sigh of relief. “You stay right there, don’t move.” He left his post as heavy footsteps ascended the staircase. A slight mumble was audible, but nothing more.
I couldn’t wait for him to come back. I needed to go. Reaching out, I grasped the top of the dresser and worked to move away from the bed.
Big strong arms scooped me up and I almost protested until I saw Jacob’s face. He was back. “What are you doing?”
Only a small blush crept up my face, but I held my head high. “I was walking to the bathroom.”
He chuckled. “That was not walking.”
Still dressed in just his shirt and my undergarments, I snuggled closer to him. He carried me out of the room and down the hall. I only caught a small glimpse into his room, but it was just how I’d imagine. Strong accents with wood and a four-poster bed. It was extremely masculine.
Holding me in one arm, which amazed me, he opened the door and carefully set me on the counter. “I won’t be in here if you don’t want, but if you need help, just say something. It’s a natural thing, so nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Except for the fact that he’s had privacy his whole life and never had an audience. And, it didn’t help that I wanted him to see me naked. Although looking down at my legs, I changed my mind. I was so discolored and ugly. No one should ever have to look at me like I wanted him to. “I got it. Just help me off the counter.”
He lifted the lid to the toilet before picking me up and gently setting me on the floor, slowly letting me regain my balance. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
The door closed and I lowered myself to sit, feeling more worn out and in pain than I was a few minutes ago.
Now that I was done, I didn’t think I could stand back up. I really didn’t want him to see me stuck here with my panties down around my ankles, but I didn’t have a lot of choices.
“Jacob,” I started, but didn’t even have to finish because the door opened and he stood there with alarm etched on his face.
I dipped my head, unable to look at him and not blush. “I can’t stand up.”
He squatted down, slipping my panties off completely and tossed them in the trashcan. I gasped and started to reach for them when he picked me up. “I need those,” I squealed.
“Trust me, you won’t need them.” The deep timbre of his promise consumed me.
I didn’t care about the panties. I was glad they were gone. Between my lady bits a hot wet feeling spread, but instead of being alarmed, it made me want to be closer to him. A lot closer. Pain or no pain I wanted to see how he could fix this yearning. Like instinct, my body told me he was the only one who could quench this new thirst.
I was completely screwed.
He carried me back to the bed and covered me with the blankets. His eyes had a strange haze as he stood over me, but it wasn’t the look of anger, it was different, it was sultry. My heart raced.
“I’ll be right back.”
Maybe I had read him wrong after all. Besides, we just met, it wasn’t like he would have the same feelings and need for me.
Chapter 14
Jacob
Holy hell. I didn’t think I had that kind of restraint. I could smell the desire coming off Lily like perfume.
My wood was so hard it throbbed, begging to be released.
I couldn’t get to the bathroom fast enough. After splashing cold water on my face, I looked up into the mirror.
I wanted her so bad it hurt. The need she created in me was unlike anything I’d ever felt. No short time fling with a woman has ever made me feel like this.
She was so innocent, so sweet, and so incredibly sexy in my t-shirt and no panties. If I kept thinking like that, it would take an icy shower to calm me down. But damn, I wanted to bury my cock inside of her and claim her as mine.
Rosa better hurry back from town with clothes to cover that woman up.
From my room, a muffled jingle from the cell phone I tossed to the bed last night helped pull me from my thoughts.
Three long strides and I was answering the call from Detective Rodriguez.
“Don’t get mad, Jacob, but there isn’t much for me to go on.”
After seeing what I saw last night, that wasn’t a good enough excuse. I demanded answers. “Bullshit. You’ve found more on less.”
“Listen, I have one lead, but it doesn’t make sense. Hell, I don’t know. Maybe it’s nothing.”
I was losing my patience. “If you have something, tell me. Stop wasting my time and do what I told you to do.”
“Calm down, Jacob, I’m not the enemy.”
Rodriguez knew his place in my world, but he was foolishly overstepping. “Like hell I’ll calm down. You don’t get to tell me what the fuck to do.”
“Alright, look, I found a report for Rachael Ramirez, but not for Lily.”
I clenched the phone as I prepared to hear what he had to say.
He continued, “Garcia reported his wife missing but not his daughter, and as for any report from Doc, I can’t find one.”
Shit. My brain couldn’t work fast enough to draw the lines together.
“Jacob, there’s more.”
“Rodriguez, stop dragging this out. You know I don’t need you.” It wasn’t an empty threat. He could be replaced.
Branding & Saving Lily Box Set: Books 1 & 2 (Jacob and Lily's Duet) Page 5