The Reaper's Daughter (Book 1 Soldiers Series)

2

Jake showed up at the school during lunch to apologize for blowing Jess off that morning. She hadn’t wanted to speak to him, but he followed her around the entire lunch hour and begged her to hear him out. Since she did not feel like going to her afternoon classes, she decided to skip and hang out in the parking lot listening to his lame excuses.

Jess sat on the hood of his Camaro with one leg crossed over the other her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at him with annoyance listening to Jake whine about how he had panicked when her father held a gun to his head. About how he hadn’t known how to deal with such a threat and was not sure if her father would go through with it. “To tell you the truth, your father scares the hell out of me. He looks like he has done some serious time.”

Jess scoffed and rolled her eyes. “He’s never done time. He’s never so much as gotten a parking ticket. It is all for the show. He looks scary.”

“Well, it works.”

“You are such a wimp.”

“Hay,” Jake snapped, “I am not dying for this.”

“He’s not going to kill you.”

“I’m not taking a beating either.” He said pacing in front of the car.

Jess jumped off the hood and picked up her bag. “You are such a whiner. I don’t know what I ever saw in you.”

“Hey wait,” he said taking her arm, “I’m still going to see you tonight, right?”

“I don’t know? Aren’t you afraid my father might jump out of the shadows and go boo?” She mocked him with a snicker.

“Don’t be a bitch.” He snapped.

“Don’t be a sissy.” She growled back. “Grow a pair.”

“Jessica Max!” An authoritative voice snapped. Jess turned around to see Miss. Kent, her English teacher glaring at her with her hands planted on her hips in disapproval. Miss. Kent was a young teacher fresh out of school herself and trying to prove her worth. The type that still believed she could make a difference in the lives of her students. “You should be in class.” She scolded. “Not out here with this…” She paused and looked Jake over realizing he was far too old to be a student. “Man. You, Sir, have ten minutes to get off school property before I call the sheriff and have you arrested for loitering.” Miss. Kent threatened.

Jake looked at Jess “I’ll come by tonight.” He whispered before getting into his car. Jess watched as he drove away like the coward he was. She then looked back at Miss. Kent. She was not much taller than Jess with pale blonde hair and soft ivory skin. She was the hot teacher all the boys were drooling over, but she did not impress Jess in the least dressed in her little conservative sundress and runners.

Jess glared at her teacher. “What do you want?”

“You should be in class.”

“So should you and yet here you are.”

“I was on my way to class can you say the same?”

“I have a spare.” She lied.

“I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t care.”

“You better be in my class this afternoon.”

“Or you’ll do what?”

“You have skipped my class too many times this semester. If you don’t start showing up, you won’t graduate with the others.” Jess shrugged, this did not exactly bother her. “You are not making my job any easier.”

“Your job is not my problem.”

“If you don’t start attending a class I will be forced to take this matter up with your parents.” Miss. Kent threatened.

“You do that,” Jess said starting to wander off.

“I’ll tell them about the men too.” Miss. Kent called after her.

“You won’t shock anyone,” Jess said leaving her teacher to fume.

***

Johnny came into the trailer for his coffee break; he removed his hard hat and earplugs placing them on the table. He took the coffeepot from the machine and poured himself a cup. Sitting down at the table and reached into his pocket taking out his cellphone Johnny checked if Jess had called as he did on every break for the last twelve years to be sure she was ok. Usually, the voicemail was empty, but today there was a message waiting.

Johnny accessed his voicemail and held the cell to his ear. The message had not been left by Jess but by a teacher from her school who had found his number in Jess’ school file. She had called to speak to him and inform him that Jess had been skipping classes to hang out with men who should not be on school property. She was concerned and wished to speak to him on the matter.

Annoyed that Jess was still defying him Johnny shoved the phone back into his pocket then drank his coffee. Why did Jess have to be so bloody defiant? It was as if she lived for ticking him off. Why did she have to be so unruly and wild? She was far too much like her mother for her good. The harder Johnny tried to control Jess the more she struggled to break free. He was going to have to start dropping her off and picking her up to make sure she went to school, starting today.

***

Sasha Kent ran down the halls of the Hillview high school, darting in and out of the bustling teens working their ways to their lockers and exits. All anxious to get out for the day and begin their spring break now that the final bell had rung. She could see Jessica Max exiting through the front doors with her friends.

Catching up to the rebellious teen halfway to the street, Sasha called out the girl’s name. Glancing back and rolling her eyes Jess stopped and waited. Sasha was the youngest of the Hillview faculty and related fairly well with all of the students except Jessica; she was a troublesome child with authority issues. “You weren’t in class again.” Sasha pointed out confronting Jess.

Sasha worried about her lost student. Jess would one day get herself into a situation she may not be able to handle and end up raped or worse if she did not mind the men she was associated. “Thanks for the update let’s do this again next week?” Jess snarled already turning away to continue with her plans.

“I want to speak with your parents, this can’t keep happening, and if you don't listen to me, I’ll discuss it with them,” Sasha said sternly exercising her authority. An old black Sunfire drove up and honked its horn drawing the attention of the small group on the sidewalk. Sasha watched as the driver stepped out and walked toward them.

He was tall and solidly belt; his muscular form defined well by his white t-shirt and fitted jeans. His long black hair was tied back, and his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. His dark skin was a stunning contrast to his lightly coloured wardrobe. He stalked toward them in powerful, menacing strides. Approaching like some aboriginal worrier, invoking both apprehension and awe with his commanding presence, then he looked right at Jess. “Jess, move it, I don’t have all day.” He ordered and gestured toward the car.

Sasha’s brows narrowed in disgust; he had to be at least forty. He was far too old for the child. Jess walked toward the handsome man, and Sasha stepped in between her student and her ride. His vast size dwarfed Sasha’s meagre frame as she glared up at him. “No, she stays. You should be ashamed of yourself; she’s only eighteen, you sick pervert. Now get out of here, or I’ll call the cops.” She hissed.

He smiled and looked around Sasha to address Jess. “I see you’ve been doing it here too. Get in the car.” He ordered again removing his sunglasses. His stunning dark eyes captured Sasha breath; he was the very definition of male beauty. “I’m Jess’ father.” He introduced himself extending his hand to the protective teacher. “Jonathan Max.”

Suspiciously Sasha eyed him, and when Jess rolled her eyes with irritation, Sasha believed him. Taking his hand in hers, Sasha greeted him more professionally. His hand was the rough, callused hand of a man used to physical labour, the muscles in his forearm flexing with the movement of the greeting. “Sasha Kent, it is very nice to meet you. I was telling Jessica that we should get together.” She closed her eyes in embarrassment when he smirked at her. “I meant to get together to discuss Jessica’s behaviour.” She clarified blushing. “I think that Mrs. Max and you should schedule-”

“There is no Mrs. Max.” Johnny corrected her. “It is just the two of us.”

“Oh, are you divorced, can you maybe call her and-”

“She died when Jess was born.” He explained the memory as painful now as it must have been all those years ago. His dark eyes lowered awkwardly for a moment.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Sasha trailed off not knowing what to say to end the awkward moment.

“It’s fine really.”

“Well, nevertheless we need to sit down together and-”

Johnny slipped his sunglasses on again and shrugged. “I don’t have the time; I’m sorry Mrs. Kent but-”

“It’s Miss. Kent.” She corrected him.

He smiled and continued. “Miss. Kent, I work two jobs and don’t have the time to do this during conventional hours. I already know what Jess is like and I do the best I can, but thank you for your concern.” He turned and followed his daughter back to the car.

Sasha rushed after him and called out. “What about during non-conventional hours?” He turned and peered at her over the top of his sunglasses. “What if I made time for you outside of regular school hours? When do you get off work?”

“I get off far too late to meet at any decent hour.”

“Just tell me when?”

He looked around for a moment then at his daughter before returning his attention to Sasha. “I get off work around nine-thirty tonight.” He said, surely that the late hour would change her mind.

“Ok, that is a little late to meet here. How about you swing by my house after work tonight, and we can talk about Jessica and your options.” Sasha stood firm on the subject of his involvement in his daughter’s academic career. “She is not going to graduate if she does not alter her behaviour.” Surveying the determined teacher, Johnny agreed and asked his daughter to retrieve a pen and paper from her bag. Sasha scrawled her address and phone number across the paper and handed it to Johnny. “Let’s say ten?”

“He’ll be there.” Jess smiled pushing her father toward the car before he could decline.

***

Sasha dropped her purse on the table beside the front door. She browsed through the mail she had taken from the box before she entered and found only bills she tossed it beside her purse. Kicking off her shoes Sasha proceeded to the kitchen, excited to be having dinner with the man she loved for the first time in well over two months. Last year when Chris proposed to her, Sasha had been so happy, envisioning a fairytale life with a white picket fence and a walk-in closet. She had thought of the children and pets with lively family dinners around the table. Instead, she got endless nights alone, arguments, and still, he would not set a date.

Chris was always busy with work, all day and all hours of the night. It was part of his job; she understood that, but often his time away seemed excessive. She had argued that even FBI agents needed time off. After all, it was not like he was a field agent, he spent most of his time behind a desk even though he desperately wanted to move to the field; but tonight, he started his holidays, two blissful weeks for spring and she intended to take advantage of them. She would make a lavish dinner, and they would talk, drink and make love, except the brief work she was required to do later in the evening, but it should not take up too much of her time.

Upon entering the country styled kitchen, Sasha found a note on the table. Picking it up she recognized Chris’ handwriting, and her heart sank:

Sasha had to work, there was a big break in a case, don’t wait up. Sorry. ~ Chris.

Sasha crumpled up the note, anger tensing her body. She was sick of being alone. When would she be a priority to him? Would he miss their very wedding? Would there ever even be a wedding? Sasha was beginning to feel like Chris had only asked her to marry him out of some twisted sense of obligation. Sasha sat down at the table, the silence in the house an all too familiar sound.

Slamming her fist down on the tabletop Sasha rose with new resolve. She was not just going to sit around all alone waiting on him anymore. She was going to call up some friends and have some fun, with or without Chris. It was Friday night, and she was young, she was not going to waste away in this house.