The Reaper's Daughter (Book 1 Soldiers Series)

9

Jess behaved herself the rest of the trip. She barely slept, and what little she did was restless because she did not trust the occupants of the van to keep their hands to themselves. She slept briefly, only a few minutes at a time and then forced herself awake. The ride was mostly peaceful while Mace was awake to monitor things, but on the odd occasion when he fell asleep, she had to fend for herself, frequently resorting to kicking the back of his seat until Mace woke. It got to the point that he had to change the seating arraignments again, placing Mace between Jess and the many wandering hands within the vehicle. Over the few days on the road in the confined space, Jess had become grateful and appreciative of the protection Mace offered.

At one point, Jess relaxed enough with Mace beside her to sleep for an hour. Her head resting on his shoulder with her wrists and ankles bound tightly in front of her. Mace rather liked this time, her body leaning up against him. He admired her for her strength. Not once had she broken down sobbing, begging, or bargaining. She had guts and persistence, but she was smart enough to know when to sit back and be quiet. A feisty little spitfire she fueled his imagination, intriguing him like no other female in his world.

Mace sighed with relief as they entered Los Angeles. It was about time; he was glad to be home. Those small towns and endless interstates were for the birds; give him smog and bikinis any day. Shrugging his shoulder to wake Jess he placed his hand on her shoulders to help her sit up straight. “Welcome to LA, Boo.”

Jess looked out the window, and her jaw dropped in awe. Her eyes wide as she took in the view. She must have spent her whole life tucked away in that rural hell Mace realized. Death by boredom must have been the most common affliction, he thought. Jess looked beautiful smiling for the first time as she watched the excitement passing by, as though she had forgotten the reason she was there. Mace found himself compelled by an overwhelming desire to keep her smiling.

“Drive by the beach.” He told the driver. “Let’s take in the sights, after all those damned trees we deserve to ogle some ladies.”

It was a bit out of the way, but none of the guys argued the point, they too had been counting the minutes until they had returned home. Upon reaching the beach, Jess gasped with delight. She leaned across Mace to see out his window and get a better look at the hustle and bustle as they passed by the beach. “The ocean, wow, and the beach, the sand…” She grinned as she caught sight of some young men stripped to their shorts playing football in the sand. “And the sportsmen…nice.”

Mace grinned oddly pleased that she was enjoying herself; he too took the opportunity to enjoy the view. Jess balanced herself; her bound hands planted firmly against the side of the van propping herself up to see out his window. Her long, athletic curves stretched out over his lap. His eyes drifted over her tempting body as he agreed with her. “Yeah, it is certainly something else.” He grinned letting his gaze fall on her taut round bottom. He could not help but remembered how firm it had felt back in the woods. The way it had felt in his hands and how badly he wished to touch her again.

Jess turned her head to look at him over her shoulder, a playful grin curving her sexy little mouth. “Are you staring at my butt?”

Mace chuckled neither confirming nor denying her accusation. Taking Jess by the arm, he helped her back into her seat as they left the beach and continued to their preset destination diving through Beverly Hills and along Wilshire. Jess was bobbing back and forth like an anxious child trying to see all the sights.

It was another twenty minutes before they reached Luda’s nightclub. It was not open to the general public yet, but the club was always open to Soldiers. They parked the van in the back; the alley deserted, nothing but garbage bins and mice. The doors opened, and they piled out of their seats stretching their stiff legs and backs. It had been an agonizingly long ride.

Mace leaned into the van, and he took Jess’ chin between his fingers, he forced her to look him in the eye. His voice was low and soothing, she was strong, but he was sure she must be frightened even if she hid it well. “Now listen to me closely Boo. The men inside aren’t as forgiving as I am. So, shut your mouth, keep your head down, only talk when spoken to and for the love of god curb your tongue. If you do that, I promise you won’t get hurt. If you’re lucky, they’ll lock you in a back room and leave you be.” Mace lifted Jess from the van leaving her legs bound; he had learnt his lesson already. He carried her in his arms through the back door of the club navigating the employee hallway and kitchen until they reached the front of the club.

There were empty tables lined with chairs; a stage stood center room with tall poles and a small barrier between the lining tables and the edge of the stage. They had passed a few secluded rooms in the back as they came in. The neon signs hung on the walls led Jess to inquire if she were now inside a gentlemen’s club. At a table near the stage sat a large group of laughing men of various ages, all drinking and smoking, counting money and jotting down numbers. They quieted as the incoming men approached.

Mace pulled up a chair by looping his foot around the leg and sliding it out. He lowered Jess into the seat and turned her chair toward a forty-something-year-old Italian man with a faint greying streak at his temples and a cigarette hanging from his lips. He was in fairly good shape and dressed fashionably for a man of his age and stature.

The man leaned back in his seat and took the cigarette from his mouth. Butting it out in his glass he tented his fingers and stared at Jess. His eyes surveying her, taking her in. “God, she looks just like Ash, but she’s got Reap’s eyes.” He addressed the table without ever diverting his gaze from Jess. “Did he get the message?” He asked Mace.

“He got it. I’d say we got a few days’ grace though; he had to sleep sometime.” Mace answered.

“That’s fine. I’ve waited over eighteen years to look that traitor in the eye, a few more days won’t make no never mind to me.” Luda stood up and walked over to Jess placing his hands on the arms of the chair, his face close to hers to examine her better. “What’s your name?”

Jess spit in his face, and Mace’s heart almost stopped. Taking a moment to wipe the spit from his cheek Luda stood up straight and backhanded her so hard Jess’ head snapped back, her face stung with pain. “I see you have your father’s defiance. What’s your name?” He demanded, raising his hand to strike her again. Luda was not a man to trifle with.

“Jessica,” Mace answered for her; he could not bear to see her struck again. “She’s a little difficult, teenage rebellion and all that shit.”

“Damn b***h is vicious Luda; she stabbed me, shot Trey, and humiliated Fat Boy,” Doc complained again rubbing his thigh.

“Not to mention all the backtalk and bullshit she pulled on the way down here.” Fat Boy added with a scowl, each wanting to increase the severity of the beating they hoped she was about to receive. “But Mace seems to be able to control her as much as can be.”

“Is that so?” Luda lifted a skeptical brow at Doc. “You let a little slip of a girl stab you?”

Doc shifted on his feet uncomfortably. “I wouldn’t go as far as to say let her. She…”

Luda lifted his hand to silence him and turned his attention back to Jess, scratching his chin as he thought. “Well then what are we going to do with you for the next few days? Can’t keep you here, not if you’re going to be trouble.” He thought and lifted his gaze to Mace.

Mace instantly knew what Luda was thinking. Stepping forward in protest, he shook his head. “Oh no, it was bad enough that you made me a delivery boy.”

“Well obviously it was a good thing I sent you, or these fools would have never got her here at all. They say you seem to be the only one who can control the little chit. So, you’re nominated, she stays with you, and you keep her in check. I want her in one piece when Reap gets here.”

“I’m not a bloody babysitter.” Mace snarled.

Luda put his arm around Mace’s shoulders. “You’ve just been promoted.” He said with finality, drawing him out of Jess’ range of hearing. “Keep her in check, see if you can convert her if at all possible, but if not just keep her tucked away until this thing goes down.”

“Convert her? You want me to recruit her after kidnapping her?” Mace could not believe what he was being asked to do.

“You tell me, does she have any of her father’s talents? I’m assuming so if she’s been as difficult as they say.”

“She’s got some raw talents yes but-”

“But nothing, believe me when I say Reap is going nuts over her abduction, it would be salt on the wound if when he arrives, it’s to find his precarious baby girl is a Soldier. If possible recruit her, if not just keep her out of my hair, and she can die with daddy.”

“How the hell do I do that? Just what exactly am I supposed to do with her?”

“Not my problem,” Luda answered, indifferent to Mace’s inconvenience. He took an open pack of cigarettes from his pocket, placing the filter between his lips he lit up. “Now get her out of here, I do believe the sign outside says no minors.” He joked rousing laughter from the men. Mace frowned, it was all amusing to them, but it was he who got stuck with all the work. Mace stared at the small defiant woman lounging in her seat smugly staring back at him. What was he going to do with her?

***

Pushing the heavy door to his apartment wide open Mace fumbled for the light switch. His arm wrapped tightly around Jess’ legs trying to hold on to her. He repositioned her over his shoulder for a better grip and kicked the door shut behind them. Mace headed for the couch and dropped Jess down onto the cushions; hauling her up four flights without dropping her while she struggled relentlessly was a workout in itself. Mace headed for the small nook in the corner that the building’s owner tried to pass off as a kitchen to retrieve a cold beer. Popping the top, he guzzled back half the bottle and gave a refreshed gasp when he finally took a breath. This woman had been nothing but trouble since he laid eyes on her and now he was stuck with her.

He strolled back to the living room area and sprawled out on a ratty old armchair. Mace picked up the remote searching the TV channels for a sports game to watch while he relaxed. Jess squirmed around trying to reposition herself and get comfortable. The tie-wraps had been digging into her skin for two days. “These bloody things hurt.” She complained staring at him as if she expected him to do something.

“Quit moving, and they wouldn’t hurt.”

“Please.” Jess pouted holding her arms out to him. “I can barely feel my fingers anymore… just for a little while?”

“I don’t think so you’ll just try to shoot me again,” Mace said taking another sip of his beer.

“Oh, come on, how long are you going to hold on to that?” She snipped. Jess groaned and stared at him with big doe eyes. “Please, it hurts so much.”

Mace eyed Jess; he did not trust her not to try something. In his experience, if you gave her an inch, she took a mile. Her bound arms extended toward Mace showing him the pressure sores starting around the wraps. Reluctantly he put down his beer then Mace rose from his seat and walked to the door. He locked it up tight making sure she could not get out easily. He then left the room and came back a moment later with a small box. Positioning himself in front of her Mace took out his knife from his pocket and cut away the plastic tie-wrap from her wrists. Jess rubbed her sore flesh with relief. Kneeling in front of her Mace cut the wraps at Jess’ ankles and freed her.

“Give me your arms.” He said opening the box. He took out an antiseptic wipe and lightly cleaned the forming soars. He then took a small tube of ointment and applied it to her wrists, after which he carefully dressed the wounds with gauze. “A day or two and it should be fine. Don’t try anything.” He warned her pointing the blade at Jess as he cleaned up.

“And if I do?” She asked smugly.

“I may not have any tie-wraps here,” he began walking over to the closet. Mace opened it up and took out another box. Reaching inside, he removed a set of handcuffs. Tossing the boxes inside the closet, he closed the door and turned to face her, the handcuffs swinging on his finger. “But I can still restrain you.”

Jess smirked as he returned to his seat with the handcuffs in his hand. “And why do you have those in the first place?”

“At the risk of sounding like a parent, I’ll tell you when you’re older.” He chuckled gulping his beer.

“Oh please.” Jess rolled her eyes.

“Oh yes I forgot, you’re a bad girl, a hardcore hood rat.” He mocked. “Please, no need to be fronting with me princess, I bet you’ve never even let a guy past third base. As much as you want to piss off daddy, I’d bet you’re still ‘daddy’s little girl.’ Nothing but an uptight little tease.”

Jess glared at the arrogant man lounging in the chair across from her. His posture relaxed and his expression smug. “Being a virgin doesn’t make me a tease.”

“So, I was right, figured as much. So, tell me this, the stiff in the driveway, how’d you keep him out of your pants?”

Jess stood abruptly stomping her foot in outrage. “His name was Jake, and he was my boyfriend.”

“Ok, how did you keep Jack out of your pants?”

“You’re cold. How can you be so nonchalant when you killed him?”

“I didn’t; we already established that I was just there. Besides, I don’t care who the hell he was; wrong place, wrong time, s**t happens.”

Jess glared at him ready to have a hissy fit. Had she been at home she would have probably stormed off and slammed doors, but she was not, and she had nowhere to go. Dropping back onto the couch, Jess crossed her arms across her chest and pouted instead. Mace watched with a grin; she looked so cute when she threw a tantrum. Her bottom lip thrust out in full pout, so luscious and kissable. He forced himself to look away. Why did she have such an effect on him? Why did she invoke such cravings inside him? The next few days were going to be hell he could feel it.

“Can I at least take a shower?” Jess bluntly asked wanting to have some privacy for the first time in days.

Mace stared wide-eyed at the pretty young thing. “A shower?” That would mean she would be undress with nothing but a thin wall between them. Visions of her nude body standing under the running water crept into his mind.

“Yeah, a shower, you know it is how people bathe. Look I’ve been stuck in a van with some smelly guys for days. I haven’t changed my clothes or brushed my hair or anything; I would like to bathe at the very least.” Mace stared at Jess not knowing what to do; it was an unusual request from a captive. “We’re four stories up what am I going to do in there, jump out the window?” She complained.

She had a point, besides there was not even a window in the bathroom. What could she do? “Fine.” Mace got up to find her a towel. Jess followed him down the narrow hall to the small washroom at the end. It was too small for a tub and had only a rust-stained standing shower with a plastic curtain instead of a glass door. “Take as long as you like, but I’m going to be checking on you every ten minutes to be sure you’re not scamming me somehow.”

“So, no privacy.” She interrupted.

“Not true, I could stand here and watch, but I’m not. You’ll have privacy with a few interruptions, isn’t that preferred?” Jess scowled at him and placed her hand on his chest she pushed him out of the washroom so she could shut the door and enjoy her first ten minutes.