Page 57 of The Devil's Heir

Jarek

It's dark by the time we get to the cabin. There are a few guards, because clearly, Carmen didn't think she would need more. The bitch probably thought she was in the clear. I ensured only my trusted men knew of my plan and who was involved.

It's been a long time since I've been part of a raid like this; my men usually take care of the grunt work. However, this involves Liliana, and I will not leave it to anyone else to save her. I need to personally see that she is alive and uninjured.

"Koval, you take your men and disarm all the guards. Do whatever it takes to keep them from alerting our presence," I order through the earpiece.

My men are positioned around the cabin, hidden within the thick forest. The trees are so dense, so unforgiving, that no one can see us—not even the bitch herself.

That's Carmen's second mistake—dragging Lily into the woods, believing she could keep my pauper hidden.

She never considered the very shadows she trusted would betray her.

She can't see us coming, and that will be her downfall.

There are only four guards in total, manning each side of the cabin. As soon as they're taken down, we move in. Knowing that whoever is inside will be no match for us, I instruct half my men to remain outside and ensure no one gets away.

Creeping up on the house, we try peering into the windows, but all the blinds are closed. Eddie, the guy I use for technical shit, brings out an infrared scanner. He walks around the perimeter before coming back and holding up three fingers .

"I'm seeing three bodies inside. It looks as though one of them is below ground—I'm assuming a basement—maybe a root cellar," Eddie states.

My anger rises to hear that my pregnant woman is being held in a dark, dank place like a root cellar. I stalk toward the front door, but Joey grabs my arm, stopping me from bashing the door in.

"Let me go!" I snarl.

"Calm the fuck down, Jarek. You can't go in there like this. Do you want to get her killed?" My best friend asks glaringly.

Fuck, he's right.

"Fine!" I yank my arm free and wait until I've calmed the raging storm billowing inside me.

"There's someone in the front of the cabin, sitting down, and one in the back who looks to be taking a shower," Eddie smirks.

"So, as soon as we open this door, we're going to be seen. Our best bet is going in through the back door," Joey says what the rest of us are thinking.

Sixteen men against two. The odds are evidently in our favor, but I don't want to take any chances, not where Lily is concerned.

I nod. "We go in through the back. Joey, you take a few men and go to the front room.

Eddie, you take a few to where the second fucker is located and secure him, but point me in the direction of the cellar," I order the men, then add, "Under no circumstances are they to be killed.

These motherfuckers are mine. We will take them to The Reformatory. "

Joey turns the door handle slowly, cracking the back door open just a few inches. When he sees nobody near, he pushes it open quickly in case a creak in the old wood gives away our intrusion, and we all file in silently.

Joey and his men proceed toward the front while Eddie points the infrared scanner at the floor as we walk into the kitchen. There are two doors on the far side, and he points in that direction. I nod and watch as he turns to the left and takes his team in another direction.

The cabin isn't small by any means. Carmen would never stand for that, so maneuvering through the massive kitchen with two islands in the center, I head for the two doors. The first one I open is a huge pantry, but the other door opens to yet another door, this one with a deadbolt on it.

"Hey, what the fuck? "

I hear the fucker from the front room curse before all goes quiet, and I know Joey has him secured. This is easier than I thought. Carmen sucks at abduction— I hope she doesn't quit her day job —I grin inwardly.

Turning the lock, I swing the door open, impatient to get to my pauper. I rush down the stairs and hear a scraping noise to my left. It's dark as fuck down here. I don't bother searching for a light when I see her small form huddled near a corner.

Lily's hands cover her face, and I turn red when I notice the metal cuffs around her delicate wrists, which are connected to a chain attached to the wall.

"Lily!" I call out and run to her.

"J-Jarek?" Her voice is soft and raspy as she lowers her hands. "Is it really you?"

I pull her into my arms. "Yes, baby, it's really me. I am so sorry."

Lily's whole body starts to shake, and I hear the sobs that break free. I hold her tighter and kiss the top of her head, not caring that it's dirty and ratted up.

"Thank you…" she says through her tears.

"Don't ever thank me, pauper. Have I not proven it before? I will always come for you." I pull away and swipe my thumbs over her wet, dirty face.

Lily winces, and just then, the light turns on and I snap my head back only to see Joey standing by the steps. When I turn back to Lily, I lose all the breath in my lungs. Bruises litter her beautiful face and there's a cut on her lip and her cheekbone.

"Who fucking touched you?" I ask through a clenched jaw.

"I'm okay. Can we just go?" Her hand cups my cheek.

"Not until you tell me which motherfucker hurt you!" I scowl.

Liliana studies me briefly, then sighs. "It was Heath. I bit him pretty hard when he kissed me—"

"He dared put his mouth on you?" I explode.

"Let's calm down, Jarek. We need to get her out of here, and then you can rage all you want afterward," Joey says, placing his hand on my shoulder.

Bowing my head, I take a few deep breaths before meeting Lily's eyes once again. Without taking my eyes off her, I order, "Joey, go find me the keys to these cuffs. "

My friend leaves immediately, and I pull Lily back into my arms. "I will never leave you unprotected again, pauper—never," I whisper.

I feel her body relax in my embrace and hold her even tighter.

Joey and Koval take the two fuckers to The Reformatory while I take Lily home. I call Owens to come do a house call so he can look Lily over, ensuring that she and the baby are okay.

I haven't questioned who the other guy was with Richards, but I'm pretty sure I can guess who it is. They will both pay, as will Carmen, but my full attention is on Liliana and our child.

"Everything is checking out okay, but if you would like another ultrasound, just to be sure, swing by tomorrow, and we can get it done," Dr. Owens tells us.

"I don't have any pain, Heath only hit me in the face…" Lily stares at me and adds, "Carmen was mad that he had hit me. I'm not sure why."

I don't give a fuck that Carmen didn't want them to hurt her. The fact still remains, Carmen had Liliana and my heir abducted. According to Lily, Carmen gave her an ultimatum—leave the country, or Carmen would ship her off with the others.

I've heard that Greco was into that trade, but I never interfered because it wasn't my business. Carmen has now made it my business. I'm going to take down the Greco family, and I'm starting with that fucking bitch, Carmen.

Owens had already been at the house by the time I got Lily home, so I wasn't able to get her cleaned up. Now that the doctor has left, I leave Lily long enough to turn on the jacuzzi tub and pull out her body wash and shampoo.

I return to the room to find Lily sitting up on the edge of the bed. Rushing over, I stop her before she can stand and scoop her into my arms, carrying her bridal style to the ensuite.

"I can walk, Jarek."

"Not when you don't have to."

"Jarek… "

"Let me do this, pauper—I need to do this." I don't mean to sound so gruff, but that's exactly how my words come out.

Lily lets out a sigh and rests her head against my shoulder until I stop before the tub and set her on her feet. I grab the hem of her shirt and pull it up and over her head.

"I can do the rest…"

I ignore her, hook my fingers into the waistband of her leggings, and push them down. Going to my knees, I help her step out of the material until all she's in is her panties and bra.

My hands go to her waist, and I pull her into me so I can press my lips to her stomach. When she showed me the slight roundness the other day, it made the pregnancy seem so much more real. I smile while my lips remain pressed against her skin.

Lily brings her hands to my head, runs her fingers through my overgrown strands, and very softly says, "Your son is okay. He's going to be strong, just like his father."

There's a burning in the corner of my eyes, but I push it away as I wrap my arms around Lily's waist and flatten my cheek against her. I just hold her for a moment. This woman has often brought me to my knees, but I'm happy to do so because she is my life. I will never want another.

Regretfully, I pull away and stand up, reaching around her to unclip her bra and letting her beautiful breasts fall free from their cage. I run my thumbs over her nipples and feel her shudder. It's all I do before pushing her panties down and off, then lifting her and placing her into the tub.

I kneel beside it and take the loofah into my hand, but she stops me. When my eyes meet hers, there's a look in her deep brown eyes that I can't quite make out. If she asks me to leave, I don't think I can do it. However, she surprises me with her request.

"Can you get in with me—or am I too filthy?"

I don't need to think twice about it as I stand and strip out of the dark clothing I had changed into before leaving to go find her.

I don't care how dirty she may be; I'll join her every fucking time.

Lily leans forward, and I climb in to sit behind her, pulling her back into my chest. I kiss her shoulder before picking up the loofah once more.

As I run the loofah over her breasts and stomach, I ask, "Do you want to talk about it? "

"Will you go all caveman on me if I do?" she asks in a teasing tone.

"Probably, but you'll deal with it." I smile even though she can't see it.

"Hm, yeah, I will…"

She moans as I continue to wash her, and even though I don't plan on being intimate with her, my sidekick doesn't seem to have gotten that message.

"Sorry," I say with a little chuckle when she squirms away from the hardness.

"It's okay. I'm used to you poking me in the back. It's how I sleep every night."

I continue to grin. She's not wrong. I have a constant hard-on whenever I'm around her, awake or asleep; it doesn't make a difference. My dick knows she's near and wakes up every fucking time.