The Reaper's Daughter (Book 1 Soldiers Series)

6

They rode in silence for the duration of the night; neither slept their minds preoccupied with the fates awaiting them. Sasha glanced at the clock for the eleventh time in the past hour, it had been hours since they left Johnny’s house and the sun had risen. Her stomach ached with hunger. Johnny had not hurt her or even looked at her at all. Apprehensive, but no longer afraid of him, Sasha shifted in her seat. “I’m starving can we stop for food at least?” She asked breaking the long silence.

Johnny turned his face toward her blinking in surprise as if he had somehow forgotten she was even there. His mind focused on the road and his plan of attack, searching his memories for allies and enemies, finding more of the latter than the former. Trying to decide who had the resources to hunt him down and draw him out; more importantly, who would want to? However, now that Sasha had mentioned food he realized that he too was hungry and needed to sleep. As much as he wished to catch up to Jess, he would be no use to her if he was not rested and strong. Besides they wanted him until they got what they wanted Jess would remain safe, of that he was positive.

He took the next exit and pulled in to a roadside motel. Putting the car in to park Johnny made Sasha aware of the pistol he had under his coat, making it clear that it would be on her at all times. “Don’t run. Don’t make a scene. Don’t draw attention or drop hints and I won’t shoot you.” He warned. “Now we’re going to get a room and something to eat.”

He let her out and held Sasha’s hand tight portraying the role of a couple looking for some privacy. Johnny led her into the office and rang the bell. A shrivelled senior man crept along slowly from the back room, his old bones creaking with each inch of progress. Johnny rolled his eye; he would grow old himself waiting for this senile old man to reach his station.

“We want a room,” Johnny said impatiently.

“I’m coming, sonny. These old rickety bones don’t move the way they used to. A room you say?” The old man stared over the top of his thick bottle lenses. His scrutinizing eyes were sizing up the large impatient Native man in his office. His hand clasped tightly around that of the small, fragile blonde beside him. Her expression stressed, her fingers flush from lack of circulation as her companion held her tightly. “Good morning Miss are you alright?” The old man asked reaching the desk.

“She’s fine just tired and hungry. Can we get that room?” Johnny asked again restraining his tone.

“The little miss is welcome to anything in our kitchen and a fresh bed if she wishes, but if you want to stay together I suggest the inn in Duncan, it’s ten miles due west of here.” The clerk said coolly glaring at Johnny.

He had seen that look before many times. The old fart was a bigot. “We don’t want to drive another ten miles we’re here, and your sign says vacancy. We want a room.” Johnny said trying to control himself.

“We don’t have any rooms for your kind, haven’t in forty-six years and won’t ever.” The old man bitterly snapped, his patience worn thin with the ignorant savage who dared to walk in and demand a room dragging around a poor white girl, more than likely his captive.

“My kind?” Johnny growled leaning over the counter, looming over the old man like the shadow of death. “What kind is that? Male… tall… breathing?” He snarled an unspoken warning reaching for a key off the corkboard behind the shrivelled desk clerk. Taking money from his pocket, Johnny paid for the room. “We’ll take this one and be gone by dusk.” He spat at the withered old bigot his words dripping with disdain. Johnny tugged on Sasha’s hand leading her back outside and toward their room.

“Was that necessary?” Sasha asked concerned that the old man may call for a mob. Bigots often knew plenty of other bigots, and they did not take kindly to being pushed around by those they hated. “What if he calls the sheriff or someone to come to take you out?”

“You’ll be fine, you’re a captive, and they’d only turn on you if they thought you were a lover, so you’re safe.” He reassured her stopping at the vending machines before reaching their room. “Don’t run I will catch you.” He warned before releasing her hand and reaching into his pocket for some change. Johnny was sure the kitchen would not serve them so the vending machine would have to do.

“I meant you.” Sasha clarified suddenly looking anxious; clearly, she had not considered what they might do to her for just being with him until he had brought it up.

“You’re concerned for my welfare, how nice, but trust me I’m more dangerous than anyone we’ll run in to out here. I can handle myself.” Johnny smiled for the first time since they left the club the night prior. His charming smile seemed to ease her nerves. He deposited change into the machines over and over gathering numerous articles to take back to the room.

Gathering up the junk food and pop Johnny dropped a few. He squatted down to pick them up and found himself met by Sasha. Her hands brushed his when she picked up the dropped items. She was very good about the whole abduction, he thought, cooperative and even helpful; and her concern for his safety seeming genuine, although misplaced.

Once they reached the room, they tossed the food on the bed and Sasha dug right in tearing open a bag of chips. She must have been starving. Johnny locked the door and stared out the window at the horizon. He could not stop worrying about Jess. About the sort of people, she was with and what they might do to her. He was sure her life was not in jeopardy. They would not kill her until they got what they wanted from him, but that did not guarantee to protect her from other wrongs. He only hoped he had prepared his daughter enough for what lay ahead for her.

“Are you not eating?” Johnny heard Sasha ask from the bed. Johnny turned around and walked over to join her. He sat down positioning his back against the headboard and stretching his long legs out on the bed. He picked up a chocolate bar and took a bite still feeling like he should have done more. He should have been home, should have been there to protect Jess. “Are you thinking about Jess?” Sasha asked softly.

He nodded. “I should have been there.”

“Who took her?”

“I’m not sure, but I have a few suspects.” He admitted one, in particular, stood out in his mind.

“Why would they take her, she’s only eighteen what could she have possibly done?”

“They’re using her to draw me out. They know I’ll come for her.” Johnny said calmly.

“Draw you out? What is going on? Are you two in the witness protection program?” Sasha asked.

Johnny smiled. “No, they would have found me years ago if that were the case. It’s not hard; I’ve hunted down enough of those program guys myself.”

“What are you hiding from?” She asked finding his statement odd.

“My life,” Johnny answered elusively. He was not about to divulge everything to a cop’s girlfriend.

“Why do these people want you so bad? What did you do?”

“I left, and why the hell do you ask so many damn questions?” He snarled his mouth set in a firm grim line. She was making him angry.

“I was just making conversation.”

“Well, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I would like to know what you’ve gotten me involved in.” She said taking another bite of her chips.

“You’re not involved.”

“Than why did you bring me with you?”

“Would you have preferred the bullet? That was the other option.”

“Than you made the right choice, I appreciate that.” She swallowed hard choking on her food at how casually he mentioned ending her life.

“I thought you might. You don’t have to worry; I only wanted a head start on the cops. I’ll let you go in a day or so and point you in the direction of help so you can return to your life. As long as you don’t give me problems between now and then you’ll return safely to your man and home within a few nights.” Johnny bargained with her finishing his chocolate bar in a couple of bites. He had not realized how hungry he was. He’d kill for a cheeseburger and hoped the next motel was not full of backwards bigots.

An awkward quiet filled the room as they ate. What does one say to a woman they were holding prisoner? Sasha sat cross-legged on the foot of the bed watching him stretch and yawn. He was tired. “I promise not to go anywhere if you want to sleep.” She offered taking note of the dark shadows under his eyes.

Johnny eyed Sasha determining if he could take her at her word. He did not know this woman, and she was in a position where most would want to escape. She looked innocent. Her pale hair tumbled over her shoulders. Her toned figure like candy to the eye. She was the most beautiful woman he had seen since Ashley. Even under these unusual circumstances, she did not appear to be frightened of him, at least not anymore. Sweet and accommodating, Johnny found he could not take his eyes off the earth-bound angel at his feet.

The memory of the dance they shared flashed through his mind, the feel of her body brushing and rubbing against his, the taste of her lush lips; he could feel his body reacting to her appeal once more. It had been an eternity since he felt a woman beneath him, and the control required not to take her at that moment was colossal. Johnny rose from the bed abruptly and walked away, distancing himself from Sasha, after all, he promised no harm would come to her. He intended to keep his word. “I think I’ll take a shower instead.” A very cold shower.

***

Sasha sat on the bed eating as she watched him walk away from her and kick his heavy boots off. Shrugging off his coat, Johnny hung it on the doorknob. Reaching behind his neck, he stripped his shirt off over his head and tossed it aside. Sasha stared with opened mouth at the incredible male physique she was now privy too. His muscular form is appearing as if he was carved from stone. He was like a brilliant marble statue come to life.

Johnny tugged the hair elastic from his dark mane, and the silken locks fanned out over his shoulders in shimmering ebony. The muscles in his shoulders flexed as he moved his arms to discard the elastic with his shirt. Johnny lowered himself to the bed and brought his legs up enough to remove his socks and place them on top of his shirt. His hands moved to his belt and removed the long strip of leather.

Sasha’s eyes moved over the gorgeous man that sat barefoot and half-naked beside her. Her skin tingled with the thought of what his hand would feel like on her body. The memory of how he felt pressed against her warmed her skin. She must be crazy; this man was dangerous. She knew that now and still she wanted him.

She wanted his touch.

Wanted to feel him inside her.

What was wrong with her?

Johnny rose from the bed and nodded his head for her to move up. Moving to the head of the bed, Johnny took Sasha’s wrist planning to use his belt to tie her to the headboard so he could be sure she did not take advantage of his absence. Her eyes drifted low to his hips where she noticed a conversation piece. A small round tattoo resided high on the pelvic bone. A black and brown-inked cercal with detailed designs and a tiny red letter S in the heart of it. A strange design, she thought and an interesting place for it to be drawn.

“What is that?” She asked eyeing his pelvic bone.

Johnny’s eyes dropped down in horror to see what she was referring to, hoping his body had not given his arousal away, but he did not feel erect. “Pants the last time I checked.” He chuckled trying to hide his discomfort.

“No.” She frowned slipping her hands from his grasp as he stood beside her. Sasha leaned over the pads of her fingers glided over the tattooed section of skin. Johnny sucked in a breath of arousal and closed his eyes trying to control himself. “This, what does it…” She trailed off as she watched him become erect through the taut leather pants he wore.

She realized he was turned on; he wanted her as much as she did him. The knowledge of her effect on him brought a smile to her face. A sense of control and power filled her. He wanted her and she could either grant him what he desired or deny him, teasing and tempting this glorious man. Sasha had no fear of rape, if he were going to he would have already done it she was sure.

“It is an interesting design.” She said softly tracing the cercal with her finger hearing him sigh quietly. “Tell me why it’s so low? Weren’t you anxious having those needles so close to…?” Sasha blushed not sure she could finish the sentence. She watched the bulge grow and stiffen, long and ridged. The size astounding her, she had never seen anything that could compare, and she longed to touch it. Her fingers gravitated toward it, brushing over the magnificent package hidden behind his pants.

Johnny’s hand closed firmly around hers stopping her from obtaining her goal. Startled Sasha looked up into his dark bedroom eyes. An unmistakable lust radiating from those deep dark pools of liquid night boring into her. His gaze made her feel naked despite the fact she was fully dressed. A burst of excitement exploded inside Sasha. The tender tissue between her legs began throbbing in anticipation.

“Don’t,” Johnny warned her, his voice taking on a huskiness that excited her, “I won’t be able to stop.” He warned her, if she were toying with him she might regret the outcome. His restraint was only so strong.

Freeing her hand from his Sasha stood up. Leaning into Johnny she whispered. “I won’t say stop.” She smiled, his body shuddered with pleasure.

“It’s been a long time for me I won’t be able to control myself.” He moaned giving her one last chance to remove herself from a potentially painful situation.

Rising on her tiptoes Sasha kissed his mouth lightly, sliding her tongue over the part of his lips. “It’s ok.” She breathed giving him consent to satisfy himself and her in the process. She yelped with shock when he forced her back down on the bed and held her arms above her head. She was surprised when he began to tie her to the headboard with his belt securing Sasha tightly so she could not get free. “What are you doing?” She demanded.

“Stopping us both from making a big mistake,” Johnny told her leaning over to look in her eyes. She could see the regret in his face. “You’re too nice a girl to get mixed up with me. I’m going to take a shower and then we’re both going to get some sleep.” He said going into the washroom and shutting the door behind him. Sasha looked up at the belt and tugged to free herself. It was hopeless she was trapped. Annoyed she went limp. She could not believe he had tied her up.

***

Exhausted Johnny slept for a short time that warm morning. Sasha’s soft body rested peacefully in the nock of his arm on the small double bed. Her light hair fanned out over his dark chest and shoulder as she nuzzled against him. He had forgotten how enjoyable it felt to hold a woman. Johnny had woken before Sasha; he had untied her while she was sleeping, and content he lay in bed stroking her hair that shimmered like liquid sunlight in the afternoon glow.

What an extraordinary woman, he reflected; beautiful, intelligent, and kind. She found herself in these bizarre circumstances for a lady of her breeding and still found compassion and empathy for the man who abducted her at gunpoint. It was a shame that he had to give her up; he would have welcomed her companionship on his trip.

Feeling his eyes on her Sasha blinked awake and still under a haze of slumber she smiled up at the handsome man who held her. “It’s nice to wake up and have the man I fell asleep with still here. I haven’t woken up beside Chris in almost a year.” The warmth of Johnny’s body fused with hers created an air of serenity and peace. “Good morning.” She cued, her mouth curving in a satisfied smile.

“Good afternoon.” He corrected her.

“Did you sleep?” She queried propping herself up on his broad chest with her elbows.

“A little.” He smiled. She grinned at him, and things felt so peaceful and perfect.

Outside a car door slammed and hostile voices muttered. Without warning, Johnny withdrew from Sasha and rolled out of bed scrambling for his boots and shirt. His expression firm and concentrated as he pulled on his shirt and peered out the window. “Get up.” He said quietly. “It’s time to go.”

Something was wrong she recognized his expression from back in his living room just before he tore down the wall. Sasha stumbled from the bed putting her shoes on in haste. Johnny slipped on his coat and tucked the laces of his boots inside so not to trip; he had no time to tie them. Johnny flung open the door to their room and stepped outside. Sasha followed pulling on her coat as she walked behind him.

Six large townsmen and farmers from the surrounding areas were circling Johnny’s car. Their ball caps tipped low to block the sun from their faces. He noticed the desk clerk seated on a rusted old bench outside the office door. His toothless grin is wide in sadistic satisfaction. Johnny quickly walked toward his car surveying the gathered men. Two bats, a tire iron, a crowbar, and a knife. One of the pick-up trucks they had arrived in had a hunting rifle mounted in the back window. Johnny watched as the old man pointed a long bony finger in his direction directing the men’s attention to him as he walked down the wooden platform.

Johnny stepped up to the men fearless and on guard. Sasha hung back on the platform out of harm’s way. “Problem gentlemen?” Johnny asked, indifferent to the raising weapons.

“Yeah Tonto, the problem is you don’t seem to understand plain English.” Snarled the biggest man. His cowboy boots grinding against the gravel of the parking lot with each step he took toward Johnny. “My Pa told you, your kind is not welcomed here. You should have moved on Comanche.”

“Are you done with all the lame Indian references?” Johnny asked calmly.

“You got a mouth on you boy.” He snarled. “We got to teach you some respect.” He growled swinging the crowbar he held at Johnny’s knees.

Johnny stepped back and reached down gripping the other end of the bar before it hit him. Turning sideways, he moved into his attacker and stomped down on the bar, ripping it from the man’s hands and gaining possession. Bringing his elbow up hard, Johnny broke the redneck’s nose and, swept his legs with the crowbar, dropped the man to the ground. It all happened so quickly the others had not had a chance to come to his rescue before Johnny planted his foot on their friend’s chest while he lay bleeding on the ground. Resting the crowbar on his shoulder, Johnny smiled smugly. “I learn slowly. Who’s next?”

The remaining five men rushed him as Sasha watched with fearful amazement. Johnny stepped over the injured man on the ground and swung the crowbar wildly taking one man out at the knees, another in the head, and the other two got a blow to the ribs and shins. The fifth man dropped his knife and ran for the rifle in his truck. Johnny reached into his coat and pulled his pistol. In a split second, he c****d the hammer, took aim, and fired. The windshield shattered before the man reached the truck and he dropped to the ground with his hands defensively over his head to shield himself from the flying glass. He then sprawled out on the ground surrendering.

“Be a dear and go get the rifle,” Johnny instructed Sasha, holding his gun on the groaning men rolling around in the dirt.

Hesitating Sasha cautiously walked through the scattered men to the truck. She stepped over the cowering cowboy; lifting the handle, she pulled the door open. Climbing up Sasha reached for the hunting rifle and lifted.

Stuck.

She noticed the latches on either side and flipped them open, the weapon slid up easily, and Sasha climbed out holding the weapon away from her. She looked as if she had never held a gun before. It clearly made her nervous. Sasha ran over to Johnny who took the rifle and tucked his pistol into the back of his pants. He passed Sasha the keys to his Sunfire and told her to get in as he aimed the rifle at the truck with the shattered window.

He fired and blew out the front tire then turned it on the other truck doing the same. Johnny opened the driver’s door to his vehicle tossing the weapon into the backseat. “The key is in the room.” He snarled at the old man on the bench. He should have just broken the old fart in half, but he did not have the time. Johnny got in and shut the door. Sasha had started the engine and shifting the clutch Johnny pulled out of the motel, pointed the car west, and they were back on the road.

Sasha watched out the back window as the motel vanished from sight. Nothing left behind them but trees and dirt road. She settled into her seat and stared at Johnny with shock. “How did you do that? You took them all out without so much as a scratch to yourself. If I had blinked, I would have missed it.”

Johnny laughed, he had surprised himself too. He was years out of practice and thought he might be rusty, but it was like riding a bike it would seem. Once he started, he just flowed. He felt energized, alive again for the first time since Jess was born, he felt free again, the man inside him reborn. He felt twenty again the only difference was had he been twenty he would not have let them live. “I told you I could handle myself.”

“Where did you learn to do that?”

“You get a lot of that growing up on the streets of LA. You quickly learn that you are either a victimizer or a victim.”

Sasha took advantage of the little tidbit of information he had revealed to her. A personal piece of him. “You grew up in LA?”

Johnny smiled at the persistent lady beside him. She was determined to figure him out. “Yes, born and raised.”

“Is that where you got the tattoos done?”

“Yes.” He grinned slyly anticipating her next question.

“What does that one mean?” She asked coyly touching his hip.

“It’s a Soldier’s crest.” He admitted deciding she was not much of a liability anymore. He no longer believed she would turn him in.

“You were in the army?”

Johnny laughed; Sasha must have led a very sheltered life. “No, it’s the Soldier’s crest.” He clarified.

Sasha sucked in a breath as she realized what he meant. “The big LA biased gang? Dateline said they were as influential and as connected as the mafia.”

“Now a day they are the mafia.”

“And you were a Soldier?”

“I am a Soldier. They are not exactly the US postal service; you don’t just quit. We tried.” He growled bitterly at the memory.

“We?” Sasha eyed him contemplating his choice of words. “Jess’ mother?” She asked figuring it out. “Was she…?”

“Yes, she was.” He confessed, remembering his lost love. “She got pregnant, and we wanted a better life for Jess, a life without drugs and violence. A life where the only guns she saw were on TV. We didn’t want her to grow up in that world of depravity and immorality, so we ran, and they came after us. The very people we had once called family, our friends, they turned on us.”

“She didn’t die in childbirth, did she?”

“I never said she did. I clearly said she died when Jess was born.” He frowned fighting back the bad memories.

“How did she die?”

“Gunshot.”

“And how was Jess born if she died before childbirth?”

His mood turned black; his eyes narrowed making him appear frighteningly dangerous. “You ask too many damn questions.” He snapped his tone final.

The atmosphere now tense Sasha sat quietly facing the window. She curled up in her seat and rested her head against the window. If they were not going to talk, then she may as well get some more rest. Johnny silently cursed himself, maybe under different circumstances they could have been something. He liked Sasha very much, but their lives were worlds apart.

She tried so hard to connect with him, and he wished she would not. If this innocent school teacher knew even a sliver of the horrible things he had done in his youth, she would not look at him the way she did now. He was a monster, and he did not want her to see him that way. He wanted her to remember the way he was now. He sighed and reminded himself to enjoy her company and not get attached; Nevada was not that far away.

Johnny watched the road, speeding down the interstate.

Speeding toward Jess.

Toward his past.