The Reaper's Daughter (Book 1 Soldiers Series)

12

Jess stretched, yawning as she woke to an empty room. She was alone in bed and not restrained in any way. Jess got up searching the room for her clothes. All she could find was her leather skirt, and excessive amounts of water had ruined it. Where was her shirt or her jacket? What had happened? Suddenly flashes of the previous night came back to her. The shower, the pills, the heat… Mace.

Jess closed her eyes with embarrassment as she recalled the way she had mauled Mace, how forward she had been, how she had refused to allow him to do the right thing. Dear lord, she had practically forced herself on him. How could she look him in the eye now? What he must think of her. Looking around the room, Jess wondered where Mace might be.

Wrapping the sheet from the bed around her body, Jess walked slowly over to the closed door. The air was stale with the sweetly sick smell of s*x. She had spent an entire night in bed with Mace working the chemicals out of her system. Jess stood quietly at the door. She could hear voices in the hall.

Men.

She pressed her ear to the door hoping to make out what was said. Her fingers curled around the doorknob turning it slowly so as not to make a sound. Jess cracked the door open just enough to peek out. The voices were low, but she could make out Mace’s voice and two distinct others. Curious Jess slipped silently through the door and crept down the hall hugging tight to the wall so not to be seen. Reaching the corner, Jess peered around cautiously to see what was going on.

The visiting men in torn jeans and tattered jackets stood with their backs to her blocking the main door. Mace stood stripped to his pants, barefoot in the tiny living room with a small bag in his hand. His face was stern and unswayed as he shook his head. “You boys know the drill, cash in hand or you leave empty-handed. I should knock you on your ass just for wasting my time.” Mace snarled.

“Come on man a bill is outrageous; we can get the same thing from the Worriers for eighty.” Complained the taller of the two as he anxiously shifted back and forth from foot to foot rubbing his left arm.

Mace shrugged not intimidated by the threat. “Be my guest, buy that low-grade Mexican crap, but we both know it isn’t the same quality as mine or you would have gone to them first. You get what you pay for.”

The two men conversed in whispers both looking edgy and sniffling. Mace’s gaze lifted and he looked directly at Jess. Her heart jumped into her throat; Mace had discovered her. With a casual motion of his finger, Mace gestured for Jess to come out of her hiding place. Jess hesitated, besides the bed sheet she had wrapped herself in she was wearing nothing. After a moment of thought, she decided to ignore him was probably unwise. It was probably better for her to befriend this man than to keep him as her enemy.

Reluctantly Jess stepped out from behind the corner. Lifting her chin high, she walked past the two men that now eyed her with great interest, still holding the sheet tight around her. Mace held his hand out to her pulling Jess under his arm holding her close to his body possessively. Physically staking his claim in front of his guests. “Decide quick boys as you can see I have better things to do with my time than watch you two attempt to think. Your choice remains a bill or the door.”

“Picking them young don’t you think, Mace?” The shorter of the two chuckled. Mace lifted one dark brow unamused with the man’s attempt at humour. “Yeah… ok… a bill.” He nervously agreed.

Jess watched the two men scrounge for enough money between the two of them and offered what they found to Mace. Mace stared down at the crumpled bills and change in their hands without taking it. His expression was dark and annoyed. “Do I look like the f*****g corner store? Man, I don’t do change. Paper only.” He demanded, slapping their hands as he refused their money sending the change falling out of their palms and rolling across the floor.

“It’s all we have. Come on please man just this once.” The tall one begged, looking as if he might cry. “It hurts bad.”

Mace stood silently considering his options. He snatched the paper money from their hands and tossed the tiny bag he held at them. The two men acted as if they had struck gold. “Next time you come here you bring paper, none of this change bullshit. If you waste my time again, I’ll send you packing with your balls in hand. Now get the hell out of my place.”

The two men scurried out the door with haste not wishing to irritate Mace further. The heavy door slammed behind the men, and they were alone once more. Instantly his expression warmed and Mace dropped the money onto the empty pizza box. It was like night and day the way his personality changed from cruel stone cold bad boy to the warm, playful man she found herself alone with now. Mace scooped Jess up in his arms and dropped down onto the couch with her in his lap. “I’m sorry Boo, did we wake you?”

“No, I wasn’t sure if I am still confined to certain areas.”

“I’ll make you a deal. If you promise not to run than I promise to take you anywhere you want Boo, except the cop shop.” He clarified. Mace was after all still responsible for holding on to their only piece of leverage. It would be his head on the chopping block if she got away now.

Jess considered his offer. If she played nice, followed the rules he would let her walk free. No more tie wraps, no more locking her up and tying her down. She might even get the chance to get out of this apartment. She could break the rules and run, but then he would likely catch her as he had in the past and tie her up again. Plus, there was no telling how many of his gang buddies roamed the street. It was probably safer with Mace then running from him.

Jess knew her father was on his way. She trusted he would find her. All she had to do was wait. “Alright.” Jess agreed. “I won’t run.” She promised. Mace followed her gaze to the pile of money on the box. “What did you sell?”

“Don’t ask if you don’t want to hear the answer.”

“You’re a drug dealer, aren’t you?” She asked looking him in the eyes.

“I prefer to think of myself as an entrepreneur.”

“I don’t think dealing drugs qualifies you an entrepreneur.”

“Why not? All I do is capitalize on a demand presented to me by the conditions of my surroundings. That’s all entrepreneurs do.”

“I don’t think criminal activity counts.” She said with disapproval.

“It’s just petty cash anyway, easy money,” Mace smirked taking note of her makeshift attire. “Do you want to go shopping Boo?” Jess’ face lit up with excitement. “I’ll buy you some clean clothes, something really trendy, and then we’ll cruise LA, and I’ll play tour guide.”

“Am I still your prisoner?” Jess asked with a hopeful smile.

“For now.” Mace grinned brushing his lips over hers. “But if you promise not to bolt or give me grief I will treat you good. However, you need to stay out of my cabinet; the next thing you take might do more than make you hot.”

“I’m sorry, I only had a headache. I didn’t know what it would do.”

Lifting Jess to her feet, Mace patted her lightly on her bottom. “Let’s get dressed and go out. Maybe we’ll hit the Pier later for some sun and salt water.”

“Do you treat all your hostages this way?” She asked slyly.

“Only fine vixens like yourself.” Jess smiled as she stood before him letting her makeshift dress fall and pool around her feet. Mace smirked as he took in the tempting sight. He rose to his feet pressing his hard body against her nude curves. “Maybe we won’t dress right this moment.” He murmured silkily against her ear.

***

Chris walked through the crime lab. They had collected evidence from the scene at the Max farmhouse, and he had insisted that they put a rush on the prints they found on the cellphone and hidden closet. “What do you have for me, Paula?” He asked startling the female lab tech when he tapped her on the shoulder. “Sorry.” He smiled.

Paula put aside the microscope she had been working on and led him over to her computer bringing up the files she had found. She was a pretty young woman if you liked the nerdy type, he would have taken a shot at her himself, but she was all business all the time. “We found over forty-seven fresh prints throughout the house and surrounding area. Nine separate individuals in total.” She explained, referring to the locations they found fresh prints on a map of the house and land that was posted on a large whiteboard.

“How fresh?” He asked.

“They would have had to have been made within a few days of collection. In the living room and the girl’s bedroom, we’ve got the Vic from the Camaro. Safe to assume something was going on between him and the girl.”

“He was found in the driver’s seat of his car. He never made it in the house that night; they must have been left behind previously.” Chris deduced.

“Well the girl’s prints are everywhere, but that is to be expected because she lives there. Here’s the interesting thing they were also lifted off the bedroom windowsill and the hood of the Camaro, along with this guy’s.” Clicking her mouse, she brought up another file. It was the rap sheet of a known Los Angeles gang member, Arnez Santiago. Chris read the long list of violent crimes.

“A s*x offender. So, you think he went after the girl?”

“That’s a pretty safe theory. Now, the girl’s prints were also on the knife in the hall along with this guy. Dillon McNeil, also known as Doc.” She added bringing up the next rap sheet. Another Los Angeles gang member, Chris noted.

“Any word as to who the blood on the knife belonged to?”

“Well it wasn’t the Camaro Vic’s, and it wasn’t the girl’s blood either. Without another comparison, I can’t tell much more than the fact that it’s male. It could be anyone; this guy was on the scene too.” She brought up another sheet, “or this one,” and another, “or this one.” Chris scanned the rap sheet Darnel Reynolds, also known as Mace, known Los Angeles, gang member. “Are we starting to see a pattern?”

“They’re all LA Soldiers.” He noted.

“Bingo.”

“What the hell are LA gangbangers doing in Hillview, and what do they want with some small-town teen?” It did not make any sense. The Soldiers were known as a high profile organized crime syndicate. They were high on the FBI’s list, but they were not known for working outside California. What would have brought them to Ohio? And what did they want with this particular girl?

“We also found an unidentified print on an end table beside a chair by the door; we’re assuming it is Sasha’s if you bring us something from home that she may have touched frequently we can confirm it. Now here’s the interesting part; the prints on the cell were those of Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Santiago, as well as one other. This guy was on the cell, the knife, the front door, and the closet.” She clicked her mouse and brought up the last file. “This one was hard to find, it was in the FBI’s database under closed case files.”

The mug shot was what caught Chris’ eye. The man was defiantly the one Sasha had left with; Chris would have recognized that face anywhere. “Yeah, it was his house. What’s his name?”

“Jonathan Richards.”

“So, he’s not who he says he is. What did you find on him?”

“It was not easy; his file was deemed classified at one time, lucky for us they removed the restrictions once the case was retired to the federal archive database. It took some searching, but I finally matched the prints.”

“Why would they retire this to the archives?”

“I can explain that, but you’re not going to believe it.” Paula pointed to the personal information on the lower half of the screen. Chris’ eyes widened in stunned disbelief.

“Deceased?”

“He’s dead. He died in a warehouse fire a little over eighteen years ago, and the record got buried as a closed case, but it looks as if he’s not quite as dead as some thought. Check this out; he was also an LA Soldier. I think you’ve got your connection, what it means I’m not sure.” Paula said switching to another computer to bring up the ballistics report. “Also, the gun that belongs to the bullet in your Vic's skull hasn’t been retrieved yet so I can’t tell you who pulled the trigger, only that none of the weapons in the house were used to kill the Vic; but it looks like you’ve got a ton of suspects to choose from. I think it’s safe to say though that they came for something specific and if they got it they most likely went back to LA if so there’s going to be some jurisdiction battles with the locals. You might want to pass the case on.”

Chris thanked Paula for her time and asked her to keep him informed. He walked through the building making his way back to his car. Pass the case on to the locals, not likely, this case could be a career maker, and his fiancée was involved. He was not about to sit back and let someone else get the credit. Unfortunately, he could not push on without the support of his chief and the L.A.P.D. That could take some time to get, but he had the long trip back to Hillview to devise a way of going about getting it. He was going to get his girl back and, god willing, catch a high-profile fugitive in the process.

***

After working off some energy, Mace lent Jess a pair of his sweatpants that she had to pull the drawstring tight on to help hold them up along with a t-shirt that turned out to be miles too big for her. Since her clothes were ruined, they would have to do temporarily. After they ate Mace took Jess down to the street where he walked her to his car. Her eyes were wide with awe, judging from his meagre apartment and the shady neighbourhood she was surprised he drove such an upscale car. She had been expecting the van. Sitting on the street was Mace’s mint condition silver Mercedes-Benz convertible. It was amazing that it was untouched and not stolen or stripped.

Mace opened the door and let her in. “Don’t you worry about your car?” Jess asked admiring it.

“Are you kidding Boo, don’t nobody mess with a Soldier’s ride. This thing is safer than the president’s car.” He grinned getting in beside her.

“Why do you live in this place if you can afford this car?”

“Because junkies are filthy and there’s no sense having a nice place. As for the car it lets me blend in when I deliver to my more upscale clientele.” Mace started the car up before she knew it they were cruising the boulevard and seeing the sights.

Mace took Jess to the trendiest boutiques. She felt like a spoiled little princess with Mace buying her anything she wanted and a few things he liked himself. By the end of the day, she was as fashionably dressed as any Hollywood starlet. Jess had such a wonderful time she had completely forgotten she was supposed to hate this man.

As they sped down the road with the wind in her hair and the stars coming out, Jess found herself smiling at him. Mace smiled back and took her hand in his. She knew she shouldn’t but she liked him, Jess liked everything about today. Her father might be disappointed, but man did she love Los Angeles. It was nothing like that crummy little town she had been suffocating in.

Jess loved the salt air and the sea breeze as they drove past the beach. She loved the neon lights, the fast cars, and all the hustle and bustle on the street. She felt alive out here. They stopped for dinner at a beachside bistro where Mace bought Jess whatever she wanted from the menu. She sat at the small table with him in the new outfit he had purchased for her earlier that day. A short white designed skirt with knee-high white boots and a classy white silk top with a scooping neckline.

Mace had changed his attire from the way he looked when they were on the road. He had cleaned up his look with a pair of dark slacks and a simple red t-shirt. He looked dashing smiling back at her with his dark shades. “You look like a diva.” He commented over their meal. Jess smiled feeling fabulous. “LA agrees with you.”

“I have to admit. I like it here. I hate that small town.” Jess confessed.

“You got a gorgeous smile.” Mace grinned. “And the heart of a Soldier, just like your folks.”

Jess looked down at her meal her smile fading. Something had been eating at the back of her mind for days. “You said you knew of my father.” She started not sure how to go about what she wanted to ask him. “Stories you’ve heard.” She paused again taking a deep breath Jess looked up at Mace. “Did you ever hear a*********s about my mother?” She asked.

She did not know anything about her mother. Her father had never spoken of her. Jess knew he had loved her mother very much. She saw the pain in his face every time he thought of her. The agony he tried to hide on her birthday. All she knew was that her father had loved her mother with all his heart and that she had died when Jess was born.

“Yeah, I’ve heard stories,” Mace said. “All sorts of stuff. Ash is as big a legend around here as your father. What do you want to know?”

Jess shifted to the edge of her seat eager to learn anything about the woman that gave her life. “Anything. Everything. What did she look like?”

“She looked like you. Very beautiful.” Mace smiled. “From what I understand everyone liked her. Especially your father and Luda. The rumour is that they used to be best friends until Ash showed up on the scene. They both fell for her, but she only had eyes for your dad. That sort of drove a wedge between them. Luda was insanely jealous.”

“How did they meet?” Jess asked. She had always wondered what it had been that had brought her parents together.

Mace cringed a little. “You might not like that story quite so much.”

“Why not?”

“Well, it is not exactly a fairytale.” He paused and thought about it for a moment. “Well actually maybe it is. The short-censored version of the story is that he swooped in on an unrelated matter and rescued her from a less than desirable fate. She then followed him home like a lost puppy and never left. They fell in love.”

“What’s the uncensored version?” She asked curious to know what he was trying to hide from her.

Mace leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. He removed his glasses and lowered his voice so the other customers could not hear him. “Ok, you have to understand this world is very different from the one you come from. These people come from a very different place, live by a very different set of … rules.” He tried to explain. “Your parents they come from this world, not yours. They’re a very different kind of people than your friends’ parents might be.”

“I think I’ve realized that. What’s the story?” She demanded, she did not need him patronizing her.

“Your father was sent out to track down a thief. A guy that stole a lot of money and drugs from Luda. Now, this guy knew he was in trouble because you don’t steal from a Soldier. He took his crack w***e wife and his kid, and he ran. Bad idea, because if you run, they send the Reaper after you, and the Reaper will always find you.”

“The Reaper?”

“Your father, he was their hitman, the absolute best there ever was hands down. Anyway, he found the guy. Went in there like death come knocking. He found the wife so strung out on the bed she didn’t even know he was there. Bang… he popped her one. He moved on to the washroom looking for the husband. Kicked in the door and found him. Pervert was trying to rape his daughter. Bang… popped him right there with his pants around his ankles…

“Now the story goes the teenage girl, Ash, just stood there staring at him. She did not scream. She showed no fear. He should have shot her too, after all, she was a witness, and the Reaper had never left witnesses, but he could not do it. Something about her stopped him. He left and went back to his car to leave before the cops showed up. He was about to drive off when he saw her again standing in front of his car staring at him. She had no one, nothing, and nowhere to go. No one knows what it was about her but that day Reap reached across the seat and opened his passenger door. Ash climbed in and never left his side.” Mace said with a smile. “It’s dark I know, I told you that you wouldn’t want to hear it.”

It certainly was not the romantic love story she had always expected. Then again everything about her parents had surprised her so far. You think you know someone all your life, and you wake up one day to find out they’re a mafia hitman. Jess wished she could say it was hard to envision but it was not. It explained so much. Her father’s obsession with staying off the grid, his fanatical combat training, and his poor people skills.

“What was she like?” Jess asked wondering what sort of woman her mother had been; had she been nasty, a snob, or had she been sweet and kind? What was it about her that her father had fallen in love with?

“I don’t know I never met her,” Mace said dashing Jess’ hopes. “But she must have been something. She caused quite a stir, tore friends apart. She tore the Veterans apart. She convinced Reap of all people to run.”

“Who are the Veterans?” Jess asked wondering just what he was referring too.

“They’re the first Soldiers. They are the founders of this whole organization. They started things, back when the streets were still wild and crazy, controlled by hundreds of little gangs. They started the Soldiers and then quickly swept through the city on a territorial rampage waging war on all the other gangs. The streets were a bloodbath. If anyone that survived they offered the option of dying or joining up. Well, you offer a thug the choice between death or making money he’s going to sign on. So as the years went on their ranks started to grow and grow until they were too big to oppose. Nobody is crazy enough to go up against them. There are thirteen Veterans, and we’re so large now that each one of them has their following. Thugs that serve just them. All together we’re Soldiers.”

“And you have no opposition?”

Mace lounged back in his chair and shrugged. “Well, there are the Warriors.” He mentioned casually. “The only other gang left in LA, but they’re not going to be a problem much longer.”

“Why not?” Jess asked.

“Mace!” A woman hollered from the boardwalk. They both looked up to see a young black woman rollerblading toward them in a yellow bikini. She was beautiful and fit with short hair. She lifted her sunglasses and rolled to a stop beside their table with a flirtatious smile. “When did you get back?”

“Yesterday.” Mace smiled standing up to hug her.

Watching him take this half-naked woman in his arms annoyed Jess. “Are you coming to the party tonight?” She asked clinging to his arm.

“I don’t know. Where’s it at?”

“Gear’s.” She said. “If you come I’ll make it worth your while.” She cued running her finger down his chest. Jess had an impulse to break that woman’s finger in half.

“Oh yeah?” Mace grinned knowingly at her.

“Steps will be there. You can have both of us.” She purred.

Jess watched Mace grin at the offer, and she felt her blood boil. “Tempting but I got someone with me.” He said turning her down.

The woman turned her head to eye Jess up for a moment. “That’s cool. She’s cute; she can join in too.”

That was the last straw. Jess shot to her feet. Grabbing a fist full of the woman’s short hair, Jess yanked on it hard pulling her head back with force. The woman yelled out, and Jess spun her on her rollerblades dragging her away from Mace. She then lifted her foot and kicked her heeled boot into the woman’s backside sending her rolling down the boardwalk.

“What the hell brought that on?” Mace snapped surprised by her reaction. Jess turned around picking up her drink from the table then threw it in his face. Slamming the glass back on the table, Jess stormed off. Furious Mace wiped his face and followed her. “Get back here.” He demanded. “You promised not to run.”

“I’m not!” Jess snapped back over her shoulder with annoyance. “I’m walking away.”

Mace caught up to Jess and grabbed her arm pulling her to a stop. He forced her to turn and look at him. “What is your problem?”

“That girl all up on you.” She growled. “And you were grinning like an idiot.”

Mace laughed which only fueled her annoyance. “Are you jealous?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Jess snapped trying to pull away without success his grip was too strong to break free. “Why would I be jealous of that hussy?”

“You are jealous.” He laughed.

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Against her will, Mace pulled Jess into his arms holding her close against him. She wanted to hit him, to fight against his restraint. It infuriated her that he could hold her so effortlessly. He smiled sweetly at her then kissed her softly. “Quit tripping Boo; she’s got nothing on you.” Mace caressed her face. “What do you say we head home and skip the party?”