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

by Gracin Sawyer

  I couldn’t breathe, let alone speak. “I love you,” I murmured, falling back on the bed.

  He chuckled and went to the bathroom for a washrag.

  Wow. Why in the hell hasn’t he done this with me before? That was a lot different than the other times.

  “Jacob,” I sighed, still living in the pleasure he created. “That was incredible.”

  “Sex is only as good as the trust and love between two people.” He winked from the doorway. “I want nothing more than to make sweet, slow love with you every time, but sometimes, we need a release. Sometimes, we just need… that.”

  “Well, that, was incredible.” I sat up. “Wait a minute. Why’d you leave? It was so amazing. It felt better than before.”

  He laughed. “Yes it did. Fuck, Lily, that was the best feeling in the world. I wasn’t wearing a condom. I felt you. And damn was it good. I’d never experienced anything like that before.”

  “So, I was your first, um, first time with nothing?” The thought that I was his first something had the fire raging all over again.

  He took a rag and walked back. His hand swiftly wiped me clean. I could have done it, but there was something so intimate about the way he did it. “Yes, that was the first time I’d ever gone without a condom.” He grinned at me. “That’s also why I pulled out. We have to be careful.”

  I fell back again. I didn’t want kids, but I didn’t want to be careful. He just gave me a taste of something that he couldn’t take back. And I wanted more. I wanted to feel him come inside of me. I wanted to feel his cum fill me. Just the thought had me moaning in anticipation.

  “If you are okay with it, we can get you on birth control. I don’t think I could go very long without feeling you like that again.” His raspy voice slowed.

  I would do whatever it would take to never have to use a condom again. I nodded and chewed on my lip. “Jacob, could we, you know, do it that way again sometime?”

  “I’m hoping to never do it any other way again.”

  I rolled my eyes. “No, I meant, with you behind me. It was really hot. Like, a natural instinct took over.”

  He laughed and tossed the rag on the floor before coming to rest next to me. He touched my face with the back of his hand and stared into my eyes. “You amaze me.” He swallowed hard. “I want to know you in every way, Lily. I want to make love to you in every way there is. I have no barriers. Everything I own is yours, even my body.”

  If my heart wasn’t already lost to him, it would have been right then. “Why. Mr. Cardosa, I do believe I love you.”

  He pulled me so I was snuggled next to him, my back against his chest. “You better.”

  The smell of bacon and coffee wafted up to the room rousing me from a deep sleep. Jacob was already up, showered, and dressed. He winked at me when I sat up, still completely naked. “Flapjack is downstairs cooking breakfast. Head on down when you’re ready.”

  “What time is it?” I yawned.

  “About a quarter past ten.” He kissed my forehead before leaving the room.

  A shower would do wonders for me. I rummaged through my bag for the last of my clean clothes and headed to the bathroom. I let the water get as hot as it could before melting off my skin and let it roll down me.

  My life had become such a whirlwind I needed time to think. I pondered over things that happened in the last month. I escaped Knox, nearly killed myself, found and fell in love with Jacob Cardosa, was kidnapped again, then flown to another country because I was sold to Red, Jacob saved me, I killed Knox, only to find out Angel Martin was my father, then Angel died, and now Garcia wanted me dead. Yeah, it was no wonder I was exhausted.

  I got out and slipped into my clothes only to find the contents of my bag gone. My heart stopped but picked back up when I saw my gun on the nightstand beside Jacob’s. I grinned. It was as if they were meant to be together. Just like me and him.

  I grabbed the gun and attached it to my hip. I already missed Lupe and Maria and wondered if I’d ever see them again. Downstairs the men were talking and a few times I could hear Jacob’s laughter.

  My stomach growled and I let it lead me down the stairs to the food. I gave Jacob a quick peck on the cheek as I passed him to sit at the counter. Plates piled with food lined the island. Carter smiled at me as he flung a hand towel over his shoulder and filled a plate of food, then set it down for me. “I wasn’t sure you’d ever wake up.”

  I picked up a piece of bacon that I swore melted in my mouth. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to.”

  At the oversized dining table, they had Angel’s box open and the contents spread all around. They were going through everything. One colorful paper caught my attention. I slipped off the barstool and picked it up from the table. It was my birth certificate.

  I’d never seen it before. And now I knew why. I couldn’t stop staring at the father’s name: Robby Angel Martin. He really was my father.

  On the table was another certificate but had a few papers stapled to it. Curiously, I snatched it up as well. It was another birth certificate for me, but it was much newer, and Angel’s name was gone, replaced with Garcia’s. I scowled. Lifting the paper up, I inspected the papers attached to it and found that they were application papers to have a birth certificate changed. I wanted to let out a crazed laugh, but held it in. Garcia really was a piece of shit.

  I had more than enough proof now to know the truth. Doc looked at me with concerned eyes. “Lily, I really didn’t know.”

  I nodded. “I know. It’s fine.” I sucked in a long, deep breath and tossed the papers back to the table. “The sooner we find him, the sooner this can all be over.”

  Chapter 29

  Jacob

  It had been a long week. I had exhausted myself going over every single paper in the box Angel left for me. But in the end it didn’t matter because I was going to kill Garcia. I would then hand over the entire box of paperwork to Rodriguez tying Garcia to more unsolved and some wrongly solved events around the world.

  Garcia wasn’t a man who knew how to clean up his trails very good. And Angel had been very good at following him. Too bad Angel wasn’t around to see the man who stole everything from him go down. I know if someone tried to take Lily from me, they would burn in hell for their mistake.

  I could sense Lily before I saw her. Her hips swayed just enough when she walked that I was mesmerized. Her hair was pulled up as usual and she had on her tight jeans. Damn those jeans, hugging places that belonged only to me. It was sad that I was jealous of material. Her gun sat ready at her side, and I made a mental note that really needed to thank Lupe. I’m fairly certain I funded almost his entire arsenal, but seeing her so confident had me thinking he deserved more.

  The way her smile lifted to her eyes had my heart thumping wildly. I don’t think she had any idea how beautiful she was.

  She made her way around the desk. I pushed myself away from the desk, letting the wheels on the chair glide me to her. She sat down on my lap and wrapped an arm around my neck. “Jax and Diesel should be back from patrol soon. We should go after them.”

  I chuckled. She’d been trying all week to get me to take her out on patrol. She didn’t understand that her safety, her being alive, was everything to me. I knew I’d have to come to terms with it sooner or later, the first time we would go out on a job together would be hell. But I promised her together.

  “Alright, fine, you win. Tell them to get our horses ready.” I winked at her for good measure, knowing a fresh crimson blush would sweep over her cheeks. “Besides, it’s been too long since we rode a horse together. Last time was very satisfying.”

  “Cardosa, you’re impossible,” she squealed.

  It’s not likely I would ever forget our first time on a horse. After everything with Knox was taken care of, a repeat of history might be in order.

  “Boss!” Bear slammed his way through the house.

  I grabbed my gun and was up out of the chair, holding Lily behind me before Bear made it to t
he study.

  He stopped at the door, his focused look fell on me. “Someone’s coming. The first alarm tripped not a minute ago. They’re coming up the road.”

  This was it. I could feel it. “I’m coming.”

  Bear took off, leaving Lily and me behind. I turned to her but she was already shaking her head. “I’m not staying here. I’m not hiding. I’m with you and you said together, remember?”

  Damn it. I didn’t have time to argue with her about what a bad idea this was. I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me. “Stay close. Do not leave my side.”

  A lone SUV screamed up the drive just as we made it to the porch. It was Garcia’s. But the vehicle didn’t stop and barreled into the side of the barn, crashing through the wood and metal.

  I ran with Lily beside me, both of our guns raised and ready. Smoke and dust filtered the air. Bear was there first, closely followed by Fox. Doc came out of his house, his rifle cocked and ready, aimed at the SUV. Flapjack was near Lily, a handgun in his hand pointed at the same place.

  A few of the men Rodriguez sent gathered cautiously around, sidestepping to the wreck. Bear closed in first. Fox took his flank and guarded him as he opened the driver’s door.

  “The driver’s dead. Shot in the head.” Bear peered around the man in the seat and then backed away, looking all around him. “It’s empty. Garcia’s gone. Damn it. They tied a rope to the steering wheel and had his foot pressed against the gas pedal.”

  “Shit,” I growled, searching around us. It was a set up. Garcia was drawing us out.

  Static blared from the radio Fox carried. “Need… help… fuck… get… ass…” Diesel’s voice broke through the connection. Then clearly, “he’s fucking here, get up here now!”

  Fox clicked the radio trying to reconnect with Diesel, but it was too late. “Diesel, crap, Diesel.” Fox looked at me shook his head. “Sorry, boss.” The radio wouldn’t work any longer. Diesel had warned us, and that was all he could do.

  Fuck. Everyone ran everywhere. Lily. Where was Lily? I turned to see her leading our horses. She mounted the smaller one and dropped the reigns to Lady for me. I was up in the saddle and kicking Lady to run before Bear would even notice we were gone.

  Lily kept up, her determination equal to mine. Hearing Diesel had to have upset her. They had a stronger connection than the others, except for maybe with Flapjack. This was personal for both of us and we both had too much at stake to lose.

  We slowed as the trees wouldn’t allow us to move as quickly through them.

  “Jacob,” Lily shook. “If something happens to him. Just know that I promised him, too.”

  I figured as much. “You won’t have to keep that promise today.” I wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but she didn’t need to think about that right now. I would do it for her if the need arose. No way in hell would I make her live with that.

  Lady traipsed up the mountain, heading toward the cabin. It was the only logical place Garcia would have gone. Fuck. When this was over I was going to burn that place to the ground.

  Gunshots rang out and I stopped Lady, holding my hand up for Lily to follow suit. Silently, we dismounted and crouched low, using our horses as shields, not knowing where the bullets were hitting.

  The small cabin was just a few more yards away. Behind us, more horses could be heard gaining on us. Doc led the new party, jumping from the back of his gelding. The rest all dismounted in sync with the shots being fired.

  All their eyes were on me waiting for orders. Using my hands, I reverted back to our own silent language, one I would have to teach Lily. I watched her proudly as she tried to follow along and grasp what I said without actually knowing for sure. She never cowered as bullets zinged past us. She stayed close to my side as I left Doc and Flapjack with the horses. Bear and Fox took the right and we went left. Everything moved fluidly. We were once again a well-oiled machine working toward the same goal.

  A flicker of movement caught my attention and I saw Jax hiding out behind a small shed. He was loading his gun with what looked like the last of his ammo. Keeping to the tree trunks and shadows, Lily and I made our way to him.

  His grin was filled with relief when he saw us. “About time. You almost missed all the fun.”

  Lily crouched low and double-checked her gun, making sure it was fully loaded and ready. I knew she didn’t need to, but was glad she was preparing herself. “Where’s Diesel?” she asked, her voice hardly quivered at all considering how worried she was.

  Jax gestured with his head to the other side of the cabin. “He’s holed up in that ditch over there. Fucking Garcia started shooting before we knew he was here.” He looked at me. “Hell, boss, the alarms didn’t even go off. He didn’t trip a damn one.”

  I clamped a hand down on Jax’s shoulder. “It’s okay. But I gotta go get Diesel out of there. He’s a sitting duck with nowhere to go.”

  “I know. I’ve been trying to give him enough cover, but I haven’t seen him move.”

  I pushed back the sick feeling in my stomach and left Jax, knowing he’d give us as much cover as he could. Sticking to the shadows, Lily crept close beside me as we made our way to Diesel.

  “Shit,” Lily slid down the bank of the ditch to Diesel.

  He was unconscious and bleeding from his head. But he was alive. I tensed. That meant Garcia knew he was unconscious, and we would come for him. It was another trap.

  Lily ripped her shirt and wrapped it around Diesel’s head. He was only hit with something hard, not shot. I stepped low and crouched down close enough to Lily to touch her. Garcia was somewhere close, but I couldn’t see him.

  Jax started shooting again and I knew he saw something. A few grunts and moans not far off told me he hit his target, but the man who fell not five feet away from me was not Garcia.

  Lily jerked and looked behind me toward Jax. She pulled her gun and aimed steadily. A shadow crossed my vision and my heart stopped as it lunged for Lily. I didn’t have time to think. I dove for Lily and threw my body on top of hers, shielding her from the man, but not before her gun went off. I had no idea where the bullet went.

  The man grabbed me and I couldn’t contain the grunt as his fingers dug into my still tender shoulder. I pushed him off and flung him to the ground, then we rolled and I was on my back. It was then I noticed his gun and fought him for it. Not having my full strength in my left arm had me at a disadvantage.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Diesel stirring. His eyes shot open and he was up, pouncing on the man, flinging him off me. He reached the man and pulled the gun from his hand like it was no more than a toy. He was like a wakened bear and he was pissed.

  I scrambled to my feet and turned to see Garcia holding a gun to Lily’s head. My heart stopped. I was crazed with fear and anger. I had to do something. Fuck. He had Lily. He had my woman. My life.

  I held my gun tightly aimed at Garcia but he moved so all I had a shot at was Lily. I played through each scenario hoping to find one where I could save her. Garcia laughed. “Come on you little bitch. It’s time for your lover here to see what I’m gonna do to you.”

  Sick fucker. I didn’t know what he had planned but I knew it wasn’t something I thought lily could live through. I was losing her.

  I held my gun trained on her and felt the hot tears roll down my cheeks. She gave me a sad smile and mouthed, “I love you.”

  Fuck. Fuck! No. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t know how to pull the trigger. There had to be another way. Time pressed down on me and I knew what had to be done. I refused to let this bastard hurt her. I choked back my natural instinct to protect her and told myself this was me protecting her.

  She looked past me with no fear in her eyes. Her attention no longer on me. I didn’t see Diesel raise his hand or the gun he now held. All I saw was Lily as he fired. His promise to protect her blared through my soul. My heart shattered and I cried out for her. “Lily!” No! I lunged for her, not caring if I died. If she was gone then I would die too.<
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  But it wasn’t her who fell. Garcia dropped, his lifeless body collapsed to the ground. One shot through his head.

  Lily ran to me, her arms clinging tightly around my neck. “Jacob,” she cried.

  With her in my arms, I dropped to the ground, kissing her face, her lips, anything I could touch. Shit. “Lily,” I breathed.

  I pulled her close and breathed her in. Diesel grinned, watching us with blood running down his face. He knelt down and touched Lily’s shoulder. “You are the bravest woman I know. You were gonna let me shoot you!” He sniffed back his own tears. “You didn’t think I’d miss, did ya?” He wiped at his eyes. “I never miss.”

  She tilted her head to see him. “I trusted you.” Then she looked up at me. “I trusted you both.”

  Still holding her to me, I stood up and carried her to the horses. I sure as hell wasn’t letting her go to ride her own horse. In the saddle, I kept my arm around her and kissed her head. I kicked Lady and left Garcia’s body for the birds. Rodriguez could come up here and get what was left of him.

  The others mounted their horses and we all began the journey back home. Diesel grunted and pressed a hand to his head, but thankfully he would be okay. Nothing a few doses of aspirin wouldn’t fix.

  “Jacob,” she whispered. “Thank you. You just keep saving me.”

  I squeezed her tighter. “Lily, you are worth saving. I love you so damn much it hurts.”

  Her body curled up next to mine, fitting perfectly in my arms just like she was made for me. She was mine. And I would always protect what was mine.

  Epilogue

  Jacob

  Deep breath. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to breathe. After six months of planning, I couldn’t believe today was finally here. The warm summer breeze wafted in through the open windows of our bedroom. I smiled and looked around. Last night had been wild and I was sure Rosa would be finding articles of clothing all over for days.