Iguala was much further south in Mexico than I wanted to go. I hated it. It wasn’t just hot and humid, but it was crammed with even more people. That could be good and bad, depending on what I needed.
Jax pulled the truck up to a rundown building. Hell, everything here looked dilapidated. Everywhere was crowded and congested. Old cars and trucks lined the streets making it nearly impassable. The entire city had an old western cantina vibe that lacking the modern improvements of other places in the world. It was all too easy to take the comforts easily indulged in at home for granted.
“Looks like Bear and Flapjack over there.” Jax opened the door.
I checked to make sure Lily had her gun. “Shoot if you need. Don’t hesitate.”
Her calm face held an expression I hadn’t seen on her before. The confidence she radiated had me bursting with pride. This woman, who had already killed to save me before, was the only woman for me.
Diesel and Doc followed us outside. Diesel still felt he had something to make up to her, or a promise to uphold, keeping his guard over her he didn’t stray far. At least I knew she had a backup bodyguard if something happened to me.
Bear nodded at me as we walked up. He and Flapjack were at an outside table, both with drinks in their hands and sunglasses donning their faces. It was all part of their stakeout. Bear looked menacing with his bald head, tattoos, glasses, and a beer pressed to his lips. Shit, if I saw him on the streets of Mexico I wouldn’t want to dance with him.
“Knox is holed up across the street in that little cantina with the orange roof.” It was hard to see where Flapjack’s gaze landed behind his glasses. He lifted the brown glass bottle slowly, meticulously to his mouth and took a swallow. “Behind us we have a couple of watch dogs, not sure of their names, haven’t seen them before, but not too worried.”
Bear finished off his drink with a long swig and set the bottle down on the table. Leaning back in his seat, his stance wide and apparently comfortable, he nodded at me. His ruse to throw the men watching us off track had him playing a part I knew well. He was really good at acting calm and collected. After all these years, I could see things others couldn’t, like the way his right hand hung off the back of the chair showing me three prominent fingers to tell me there were three men. Or like how his head cocked back and to the right told me where they were at. If his leg bounced it would tell me they were moving, faster was closer, slow and steady just meant they were moving position.
I gave them both a polite nod and placed my hand at Lily’s back to lead her away, knowing they wouldn’t be far behind.
“So, he’s in there, right?” Lily lifted her chin to the orange roof.
“Yup.” I pressed her to move closer to me, not liking how many men were already drunk and watching her as we passed.
She turned, moving from my grasp and headed toward the bar. “Lily.” I tried to get her to turn back but she just kept going. I hastened my pace to keep up with her, not for one second letting her out of my sight.
Behind me Bear, Flapjack, and Diesel flanked me. Doc and Jax had the outside to watch while we went in.
I expected her to stay to the shadows and leer through the crowd to find Knox, but no, not my girl. She walked in like she owned the fucking place. I couldn’t keep the damn smile off my place as I watched her. A calm came over me and I realized she was right, this was her world too and damn did she look good in it.
Knox was in the back corner. His boisterous voice carried through the crowd. The slur of words he said made no sense and hardly any of them I could hear until he said her name. My heart leapt and stuttered. I reached out to touch the small of her back, letting her know I was there, but also to calm my own nerves.
Lily didn’t stop, she just kept walking, but I wasn’t about to stop her. Curiosity got the better of me and I was excited to see what my little minx had planned. Whatever it was, she knew I had her back. I would follow through whatever she wanted.
Chapter 22
Lily
My mind went blank but was actively spinning with every damn memory at the same time. My stomach churned and bile rose in my throat. Jacob’s hand at my back was the only thing tying me to the present.
I just kept walking toward Knox as if my legs held their own vendetta and refused to not seek revenge. The closer I got, the worse I felt. The vile memories that would haunt me forever consumed my mind. The things he’d done in front of me and to me I would never be able to forgive him for.
He’d kidnapped me. Raped my mother. Abused us. Killed her. Kidnapped me again. Shoved me in a trunk and sold me to the highest bidder.
His cheek was still raw from where I bit him a week ago now. I smirked as he looked up to see me standing there. I wish I had bitten more off.
My heart thundered loudly in my ears, drowning out the music and drunk men. I wasn’t worried, not in the least. Jacob was there. He would make sure I was safe while I dealt with my demon.
Knox’s eyes shifted from me to Jacob then back to me quickly before trying to look calm. Except I knew him. He was anything but calm. The sweat on his brow glistened and his lips quivered. “I’m a bit surprised to see you here, Cardosa. Alive anyway.”
Fuck him.
All I could see was red, flashing in my eyes. Call it instinct, call it rage, I didn’t fucking care what it was, but I knew it felt right as I reached for my gun.
The handle slipped perfectly into my hand and my finger naturally took its place at the trigger. I wouldn’t miss. Knox’s eyes widened as he saw what was about to happen, but it was too late. I squeezed the trigger and felt the power of the gun shoot through my arm as the bullet found its way to my mark.
The bar patrons whizzed by me, pouring out the door escaping the scene.
Jacob didn’t even flinch. Everything that led to that moment flashed before me. A million times someone could ask if I regret killing him, and the answer will always be no.
“Aw, shit, that’s our girl,” Bear bragged as he squatted down to examine my handy work. “Well, she sure as hell didn’t miss.”
My hand held steady as I replaced my gun back at my side and looked for Jacob. His smile widened and he winked. “Cardosa’s don’t miss.”
Carter whistled. “It looks like Diesel is gonna have to brush up if he’s gonna compete against our girl. Damn, Rabbit, you got him right between the eyes.” He slapped his knees as he stood. “It looks like you met your match in every way, boss.”
Jacob chuckled. “That I did.”
While they talked wildly over Knox’s dead body, I was still reeling. I was numb, void of the excitement they brandished. I thought I would feel sick or shocked. Even wrong. But I didn’t. I felt stronger.
Blood stopped pooling around Knox’s body and I stepped over him.
“Lily, you okay?” Jacob asked. He tilted his head and held me in a strong gaze, seeking the answer from my soul.
That was a loaded question. I looked down at Knox and smiled easily. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, taking in a full breath. A wave of peace rolled through me. “Yes.” I left Knox’s body, determined not to look back. “I’m better than okay. I feel free.”
The bartender, unafraid of our group, stalked up to Jacob. He was a short man with round beady eyes. Everything he said was in Spanish and I could only pick out one or two words, neither of which were good.
Jacob pulled out his wallet and handed the man a few bills saying something back to him in the man’s language. I didn’t know Jacob could speak Spanish and watched in awe. The man stopped complaining and opened his arms out for the whole building, shaking his head yes and smiling.
“He said we could shoot anyone here for that kind of money,” Jacob laughed. He wrapped his good arm around my shoulders and leaned in. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. It kinda feels like I took my life back. It’s hard to explain, but I just had to do it myself.”
He kissed the top of my head. “How’d I get so damn lucky?”
Diesel held his fist out for me to bump. “Damn, woman, you got some skills.”
Jacob held his head high. “Hell yes she does.”
My heart skipped at his praises. Knowing he was just as proud of me for overcoming Knox as I was of myself had me falling a little more in love with this man. I gave him a smug grin. “I told you I was meant to be with you.”
“Boys, leave that bastard to rot. I have a need to take this woman home.” Jacob took my hand and pulled me with him.
Outside, Doc found us first. “I assume he’s dead?”
Jacob nodded. “Lily took care of him.”
My grandfather eyed me with a crooked smile. “Well damn if I didn’t see that coming. As it should have been. He deserved it, honey, don’t think back on it and twist it. You understand?”
I didn’t, but nodded anyway. Why in the world would I twist it? Maybe it was something he’d experienced before and didn’t want the same for me? Either way, I wasn’t about to let Knox steal anymore of my life. He was dead. I killed him. And damn it felt good.
Chapter 23
Jacob
Holy shit. I still couldn’t believe Lily just walked right in with no fear and shot Knox. Not that I blamed her. Fuck, I wanted to kill the man too. For everything he’d done to Lily he deserved nothing less than death. Although, my way would have been longer, dragging it out, making him pay minute for minute all the things he’d done to her. But there was no way in hell I would refuse her a chance to heal. If shooting him helped her, then I was all for it. Hell, I was sure she had more reasons than I did to want that bastard dead.
I clasped Lily’s hand tightly in mine as we boarded the plane. It was late by the time we made it back to Toluca, but there hadn’t been any sign of Angel in Mexico. The last place anyone had heard of him being was in Vegas, so I decided to head back home. No reason to hide out in a foreign country when I could be at home with my own security, sharing my bed with the woman I loved.
One day everything I had, including my bed, would be hers, legally. There was no way I wanted to go through this life without her as my wife. I wanted to share everything with her. My house, my bed, my name. Just thinking about it had my insides raging with a need to consume her body.
She leaned her head to rest on my shoulder and sighed contently. “Home.”
“Home,” I repeated. “Now try to sleep. It’s been a long day.”
She yawned and scoffed at the same time. “It’s been a long few years.”
I squeezed her hand and watched as her eyes closed. It wasn’t long before everyone else was asleep besides me and Doc. He shifted in his seat across from me and gazed at his granddaughter. “It’s easy to see how much you two love each other. You’ve already gone to the ends of the earth for each other. But I want you to be careful, Jacob. Take care of her.”
That was the easiest promise I’d ever have to keep. “Doc, that is one promise I’ll never break.”
He chuckled. “I don’t reckon you would.”
The flight back to Vegas went through the night, but we made it back mid morning. Lily slept through the whole flight. It was good for her. She still had so much healing to do, physically and emotionally.
The hotel already had my suite ready for us when we got there, along with two other rooms for the men. I wasn’t sharing my room this time. It was more of a need than a want to be alone with Lily.
It was best to come straight to the hotel. I didn’t want Angel to know we were in town yet, or that I had Lily with me.
“Boss, if it’s okay with you, I’m gonna sleep for a week.” Fox’s shoulders slumped as we all trudged to the elevators.
I kept my arm around Lily, not letting go. I couldn’t. I wasn’t sure when I would be able to do so without fear or panic setting in over losing her. But she clung to my shirt just as tightly as we walked.
Everyone but her and I got off two floors below my suite. I had never taken her here yet so she had no idea where we were going. Her surprised look said it all as she walked in the room. “Jacob, this is huge. Surely we don’t need so much room.”
I growled and briskly walked to her. “I’m gonna christen every inch of this room with you.” I claimed her mouth with mine, fulfilling the desire to do that since last night.
Her lips moved quickly under mine, thrusting her tongue to search for mine. Wildly, my hands were everywhere. Both hands. Pain be damned, I was going to love my woman.
Rubbing down her back, along her neck, tangled in her hair, at her waist, I couldn’t pick a place I wanted to stay. I needed to feel all of her. No. She deserved more than a two-minute fling on the floor. Which is where this was headed.
I pulled back and tried to slow my breathing. “I want to do this, really, but I need to love you more.” I reached out for her hand. “Come with me, Lily.”
Her eyes already clouded over with desire watched me as she followed me up the stairs to our bed. Beside the bed on the nightstand were two glasses and a bottle of white wine chilling on ice. I didn’t drink wine often, but the ice was working in my favor. I grinned.
Taking the sling all the way off, I didn’t even grimace when I moved my arm. I didn’t want her to worry or think anything about my wound. Today was about her.
I pulled her shirt up, untucking it from her jeans before lifting it all the way off. Her hair fell down cascading across her chest. I gently moved one side over her shoulder and followed her bra strap around to the back. Expertly, I pinched the fabric unhooking the clasps. Taking one strap at a time, I stared into her eyes as I slipped it off.
The throbbing intensified in my shaft as it grew, held back only by the restriction of my jeans. I wasn’t sure how I was moving so slowly when everything in me screamed to bury myself in her.
Without touching her skin, I unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them down around her ankles where she stepped out. She didn’t move away, but stood there, letting me take her all in. Damn she was beautiful. Only one more article of clothing had to go but I was losing myself in the sight of her. I gripped the thin fabric of her panties and ripped them off in one swoop.
Her chest rose with heavy breaths, beckoning me to taste her. Stepping forward I found her neck and left a trail of kisses down her collarbone. “Lay on the bed,” I damn near demanded.
She turned to the bed and crawled to the middle. Fuck. She was doing that on purpose. “Lay there and close your eyes.”
With her on her back, everything was spread out for me to see in all her beauty. I picked up a piece of ice and relaxed on the bed next to her. Gently, I let the ice touch the hollow of her throat. She tensed for only a second before she arched slightly in a silent plea that my body understood. Slowly, I moved the ice down, cresting her full mounds to the tight peak of her nipple, letting the ice drip as it melted. I captured the cold bud in my mouth and groaned as she writhed in delight.
I sucked the water off her and pushed the ice lower. She gasped as I slid it down between her legs. The ice was almost gone now, only a small piece remained between my fingers as I settled it over her small nub. I took her nipple between my teeth and teased before letting go. There was more water to lick off her.
My lips feathered her skin, taking the time to softly kiss around her wound that looked more like a distant scar from the past now. I loved it though. It was what brought her to me. But I vowed that she would never again have a reason to attempt to kill herself.
The ice was gone but I let my fingers remain there, touching her ever so slightly. My tongue found her wet nub and licked with enough pressure to have her squirm. Her legs widened and she moaned my name. Fuck me. My cock pulsed in response and begged to answer her.
Damn she tasted so sweet. It took everything I had to not devour her completely and have her come in my mouth. Hell, I wanted that. I dove my tongue deeper, slipping inside of her and groaned. She was so wet.
Lily whimpered and arched her back. “Jacob,” she said breathlessly. Her hands reached for me, framing my head.
>
“Come for me, honey. Come and I promise I will do anything you want.” I leaned on my good arm and trailed my other hand down to her wetness. I licked her again, filling my mouth of her. Slipping a finger inside her, she tightened and I damn near came in my jeans.
“Please,” she begged. “Jacob.”
“I know, honey. Just let go.” I pulled out and thrust in three fingers. I was being fucking greedy, needing her to come all over me. To feel her tighten around me.
I held my breath, trying to stop my cock from beating me to what was coming.
She tightened around my fingers and cried out. Her hips bucked up trying to get more. I moved my hand, replacing it with my mouth, sucking her wetness until she stopped coming.
“Jacob,” her words came out in broken raspy whispers, “you said, you’d do, anything.”
I nodded and sucked my fingers, tasting her all over again. “Anything, honey.”
“I need you. Please.” She writhed on the bed, her motions erotic.
“Fuck. You are amazing.” I stood and shed my clothes. I stood beside her fully erect, pre-cum dripping off my tip.
She reached for me and grabbed my shaft. Her hand tightly ran up and down the full length. “Please,” she begged again. “You said you’d never deny me.”
Kneeling over her, I braced myself with my good arm. No way in hell was I going to keep a fucking gunshot wound from making love to my woman. Her legs were still spread, waiting for me. I climbed between them and the tip of my rod barely touched her as I waited for a moment.
Shit. I needed a condom. I got back out of bed and found exactly what I needed and rolled it on in record time. I reclaimed my place between her legs and pressed gently at her opening.
Lowering myself to my elbow, I found her mouth and my tongue darted in and out as I slipped inside of her. A deep growl resonated in my chest. Fuck. She fit me perfectly. Her hips lifted to meet mine and take me inside of her even more.
I would never get enough of his woman. She was mine. I thrust harder, needing to bury myself deep inside her. I couldn’t tell where she began and I ended. Her body wrapped around me in every way.
Branding & Saving Lily Box Set: Books 1 & 2 (Jacob and Lily's Duet) Page 25