The Reaper's Daughter (Book 1 Soldiers Series)

8

They drove through the night Mace refused to allow them to stop. One night locked up with Jess had been more than enough for him. He was not interested in tempting fate twice. They took turns driving and stopped only to gas up. They kept under the speed limit and on the main interstate; it was a straight shot for Los Angeles. Jess slept a little when Mace sat with her and was awake when he drove. Frequently he had to turn back and tell the others to leave her be.

It was frustrating like babysitting a group of five-year-olds that could not behave. Mace could not wait to hand Jess over and be finished with her. Once she was no longer his responsibility he was going to go out and party. Live it up, get drunk, and find himself a girl. After barking back at the guys a few times, Mace traded seats handing the wheel over to Trey. Mace went back to sit with Jess acting as a barrier between her and the boys.

It must have been the wee hours of the morning because most of the guys were asleep. Jess had been quiet for some time staring out the window. Mace yawned and slouched in his seat dead tired when he heard her speak. Her voice was soft and low. “What is going to happen to me?” He opened his eyes and saw Jess was now looking at him. She shifted low in her seat and moved closer, her body pressing against his so she could speak quietly without waking the others. Mace could see the question in her eyes. “When we get to LA what are you going to do to me?” She whispered.

“I’m going to give you to my boss. A man named Luda.” He whispered back answering her question. He did not know why he was telling her. There was nothing she could do to stop it.

“What will he do to me?” She asked.

“I don’t know,” Mace answered honestly. “My job ends at that point.” He would never have to deal with her again. What Luda did with Jess was none of his concern. He watched as her eyes lowered disquieted. He admired her strength. Even now she did not break; she did not cry or barter. Her future was so uncertain and would be frightening for anyone in her position.

Jess moved closer her bound hands taking hold of his as she rested her head on his shoulder. Mace tensed as she cuddled up to him seeking solace. His initial instinct was to shrug her off, but Jess looked so upset, forced to seek comfort the only place she could. Strangely enough, he felt sorry for her. Relaxing Mace left her be and closed his eyes. Let Jess have what fleeting peace she could find. Once she met Luda, she might never find it again.

***

Johnny drove for hours stopping for meals and gas. He drove well into the night before Sasha insisted he pull over and get some rest before he fell asleep behind the wheel and killed them both. “They already have a good day start on me. More than likely they have more than one driver, so they never have to pull over putting them farther away faster. By morning they’ll be a good two days ahead of me.” Johnny complained refusing to pull over. “They’ll be in LA in another day or two.”

“You’ll never get there if you fall asleep and crash this car into a tree.” Sasha tried to reason with him. “Why don’t you let me drive? You can sleep and, in the morning, we’ll switch. With the both of us taking turns we can get farther without stopping.”

“Why do you want to help me?” Johnny queried, most captives would have made trouble for him, but Sasha did everything she could to help him. She never caused problems; she took his mind off his troubles and even helped him back at the motel with those rednecks. Now she offered to drive so he could rest. He did not understand this woman.

“Because I like Jess, she may not like me, but I’ve always admired her free spirit. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to any of my students and I didn’t do everything in my power to help if I were in a position to do so.”

Johnny pulled over and got out of the car. Walking around, he opened the door and let her out. “I’m trusting you.” He warned, helping her out of the car. “It should just be straight for the next six hours, don’t turn follow the road. If you see the Nevada sign turn right and wake me.” He instructed hoping he was not going to regret his choice. Sasha walked around the car and Johnny climbed inside closing the door and trapping himself in the passenger seat. He was now at her mercy and feeling slightly nervous; it took him some time to fall asleep. He still had the gun, he reassured himself, giving himself some sense of control as he drifted off.

***

Johnny woke, feeling refreshed. He stretched in his seat and looked around. They were in the desert. They were in Nevada. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You looked like you could use the sleep.”

“Where are we?”

“An hour or two from Vegas I think.”

“Pull over,” Johnny instructed Sasha. It was time for him to drive. He would head into the nearest town and drop Sasha outside the sheriff’s office. She would be safe and on her way home, and he would be off to California. They switched seats and Sasha curled up for a well-earned nap. The road signs told him a town was two miles south, a little out of his way but it would only put him back thirty minutes. He took the marked exit and let his foot rest heavily on the accelerator. A cloud of dust trailed behind his car, gravel spun out from under his tires.

Johnny reached the town shortly and slowed to obey the traffic laws; he did not need some two-bit sheriff slowing him down with some traffic violation. He drove around in circles for some time trying to find the sheriff’s office, and when he finally did, he felt the frustration building. Johnny glanced at the clock, trying to find the authorities had kept him off track longer than he would have liked, his thirty-minute detour was fast becoming sixty. He pulled in to the parking lot and shook Sasha awake.

Confused she surveyed the surroundings yawning. “Are we stopping for food?” She froze when she read the sign above the main entrance. “What’s going on, I thought we were avoiding the police?”

“I’m avoiding them; you’re going home. This is where I let you out.” He took some money from his pocket and held it out to her. “This should help you get home. I’m sorry about this whole thing, but I just needed time.”

Sasha stared at the money he offered. “I don’t understand?”

“Get out Sasha, go home, work it out with the cop and get married. Have a family and live your life. This is the part most abducted women dream of and don’t get… freedom.”

“You’re just going to dump me here and pay me off? Is that supposed to make me feel grateful? Well, I’m not going” Sasha said matter-of-fact, crossing her arms defiantly.

Johnny raised one dark brow in confusion. “I don’t understand you. First, you didn’t want to come, and now you don’t want to leave? Am I going to have to drag you from this car?” Sasha glared at him annoyed he would so easily tear her from her home and then leave her in god knows where with a few dollars and a ‘have a nice life.’ Johnny got out and walked around; opening the door, he reached in and tried to grab Sasha as she swatted him away.

“If you leave me here I’ll tell them everything.” She threatened. “LA, the Soldiers, Jess, the kid in the car, and the motel, your license plate and car, everything.”

Johnny paused just staring at her, he was releasing Sasha, and now she wanted to turn him in. “Did your mother drop you on your head when you were younger? What’s wrong with you? Do you know what sick, despicable thing girls in your position would do to get let go?”

“I don’t care I’m going with you.” She said pulling the door closed.

Annoyed Johnny opened the door again leaning his weight against it to prevent her from closing it once more. “Get out.” He ordered.

“No, I want to go with you, I want to help.”

“Why do you want to come with me? Besides driving there is nothing you can do to help. You’ll slow me down.”

“Please.” She pleaded with him.

Johnny frowned. As much as he would love to have Sasha go with him to Los Angeles, it was too dangerous. It was bad enough that Jess was forced to face what was yet to come he could not subject Sasha to it as well. “No.” He snapped trying to haul her from the car.

“No, let me go,” Sasha growled. “I’ll scream.”

Johnny stood up and paced the parking lot raking his fingers through his hair. She was impossible. If he forced her out physically and she screamed he was bound to be circled by numerous hillbillies with guns and a badge. He knew well enough that a Native man dragging a screaming white woman in a small entirely white town would not bode well for him. Why did she have to be difficult now? Johnny walked back to the car and placed his hands on the open door and roof. “Sasha, you cost me valuable time.” He tried reasoning with her.

“Then you best get back in the car and start driving.”

“Sasha this is not a game, these people I’m going after are dangerous, they’ll kill you for looking at them the wrong way. People are going to die.”

Sasha stared up at him with innocent confidence. “I’ll be fine; I have you. Besides, you can spend the drive over teaching me a thing or two, and we’ll see what happens when we get there.” Johnny hung his head stressed; he was fighting a losing battle. Sasha reached up her creamy palm and caressed his cheek with gentle faith. “I understand, I might get killed and more than likely I will get hurt… but I’m going with you, and unless you shoot me yourself, you’re not going to stop me.” Sasha took his face in her hands and drew his full lips to hers. A slow lingering kiss, she parted her lips to his probing tongue. His strong hand cup the back of her head pulling her closer. It had been eighteen years since he had been with a woman. He could not resist her.

Johnny sighed and pressed his forehead against hers in defeat. Taking time to prepare her for Los Angeles was going to slow him down even more if she learnt nothing more from him he had to make at least sure she could shoot. They would have to stop somewhere remote for target practice. That will add at least a day or more to their trip.

A day was better than a week in some redneck jail for a domestic dispute; god forbid they be efficient and fingerprint him, he could be spending an indefinite stay behind bars. Johnny stood up and shut the door watching Sasha’a face light up with triumph through the dirty window. Returning to his seat and shutting the door Johnny reached into his coat taking out his switchblade. “Do you know how to use this?” Sasha took the knife and palmed the handle like an infant trying to hold a spoon for the first time. Johnny groaned and pressed his palms against his eyes trying to fend off a tension headache that was now building. This was going to be a long trip. “Let’s just get to Vegas and get a room.” He had his work cut out for him.