The Reaper's Daughter (Book 1 Soldiers Series)

3

Johnny pulled up his jeans, his wet hair dripping down his back. He had knocked off work early to shower before his meeting with Miss. Kent. The smell of sewage and dirt was unappealing, and he did not wish to turn her stomach when he arrived, a shower had been in dire need. Johnny reached for his shirt which had been lying on his bed and spotted his daughter standing in the doorway shaking her head with disapproval.

“You’re not going to wear that are you?” Jess criticized his clothing choice.

He looked down at what he was wearing and contemplated her scrutinizing stare. “What’s wrong with it?” He thought he looked presentable. Johnny was not entirely sure what she found wrong with his attire.

“It’s so boring,” Jess complained. “You have a banging body, Daddy, why don’t you show it.” Jess walked into his room and threw open his closet inspecting it for something better.

“You shouldn’t be noticing such things.” Johnny scolded.

“You’d have to be blind not to notice,” Jess said selecting a different style of pants from the back of his closet and laid it out on his bed. “When did you get these, this would be hot. I didn’t even know you had something like this.”

Johnny picked up the shirt from the bed and pulled it down over his head. “It is a parent-teacher meeting Jess, to talk about all your indiscretions, it is not a date.” He sighed, picking up the pair of leather pants Jess had laid out. Johnny had not worn them in many years. The garment buried in the back of his closet for over eighteen years. They had belonged to a man he had not been in what seemed like a lifetime. Johnny was not sure they would even fit anymore.

“There’s no harm in looking good.” Jess grinned suggestively as she exited the room.

“Hay,” Johnny shouted after Jess stopping her in the doorway. He pointed a warning finger at her. “You aren’t leaving the house tonight.”

“Of course not.” She smiled.

“Don’t give me that look.” He warned. “I know that look, and no one is coming over.”

“Yes, Daddy.” She teased as she disappeared around the corner.

“Don’t yes Daddy me,” Johnny yelled after her, “don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.” Johnny stared down at the pants in his hands and decided Jess was right. There was no harm in changing, and Miss. Kent was an amazingly stunning woman. He dropped the jeans he had just put on and stepped out of them. Pulling the leather pants up his muscular legs, Johnny slid the pants up over his hips and zipped them up. Surprisingly they fit like a glove; it helped to keep in shape.

Johnny picked up the paper that had Miss. Kent’s address and placed it in his pocket. Leaving his room, he knocked on Jess’ bedroom door. Opening it up Johnny poked his head inside. Jess was lying on her bed reading a magazine. “I’ll only be an hour or two.” He promised.

“Take your time.” Jess smiled.

He offered her a forced grin. “I’m sure you would love that. Stay out of trouble; you’re grounded.” He reminded her.

“Whatever.” She muttered looking back at her magazine ignoring him.

Johnny shut the door and headed downstairs. He slipped his boots on then grabbed his keys and jacket from the rack. Heading out the door, he made his way to the car and stopped when he reached the door. With the key in the lock, he looked around. Johnny thought he had heard something in the bushes. He looked out at the trees, then back at the house, and then back at the trees. Suddenly two chipmunks came running out of the trees rolling around and fighting then scurried up another tree. Breathing easy he opened the door and got inside. Stupid animals were making him jumpy.

***

Sasha stuffed a folded wad of cash into her back pocket along with her I.D card. She did not like to take too much with her when she went to the bars. Chris had drilled it into her head about how easily pickpockets could prey on someone in such busy areas. Her hair fell loosely down her back in thick heavy curls. She had selected her favourite silk shirt with flared sleeves and her fitted black jeans. Running over the checklist in her mind, she decided she was ready to go.

“It is about time.” Teased Mary, one of her oldest friends, Ruby and Fran, had also joined Sasha to cheer her up for the night. They had insisted she go out with them and dance, reassuring Sasha the change in venue would lift her spirits.

“I feel like I forget something.” Sasha drawled scratching her head trying to recall what she might have forgotten. “Well, whatever it was I’m sure it will come to me, let’s go.” Sasha declared reaching for her coat hanging on the hook by the door.

Sasha opened the front door and watched as a black Sunfire pulled up in front of her house. The engine turned off, and Johnny Max stepped out looking like temptation incarnate. His sleek, muscular body accented by his stylish clothing. His confidence carried him up the walkway with s****l prowls that took her breath away. Sasha wondered how she could have forgotten he was coming over to see her. He had an air of danger and excitement about him. Johnny was the type of man that set off every warning bell in a girl’s head and still she would give her left arm for his favour.

***

Johnny stopped halfway up the walk and surveyed the leaving group of ladies. Their expressions and roaming eyes telling him that Jess’ selection in dressing him had achieved the effect his matchmaking daughter was trying to attain. His gaze fell to the enchanting blonde at the head of the small group. Beautiful and innocent, Miss Kent stirred something carnal within him, something he had once thought long dead. She was young, trim, with an athletic figure not what one would expect from a school teacher. She looked considerably younger in her evening wardrobe than she had earlier that day in the prudish conservative dress he had met her in, and he found himself curious as to exactly how old she was.

“Am I late?” He said silkily acknowledging the flirtatious dress of the ladies.

Sasha blushed embarrassed. “No, I’m very sorry I forgot. I was heading out for a drink or two with my friends.”

“I see, well then shall we reschedule or just say that’s that?” Johnny asked feeling oddly disappointed. Jess was right Miss. Kent affected him. She awoke a craving he had long suppressed, but then maybe it was best if he went home the way he felt he was not sure he could behave himself.

“No,” she said with sudden urgency, “I mean, why don’t you come with us, we can talk there.” She suggested. He could not believe that she had just invited her student’s father to go drinking with her.

Johnny looked around uncertain of himself. He really should go home and make sure Jess was not getting into trouble, but something compelled him, glancing at his watch with every reason to decline in his mind Johnny turned his charming smile towards the pretty teacher. “What the hell.”

Sasha gave Johnny directions to the bar and watched with a smile as he returned to his car. He had just reached the door when he heard one of the other women whisper. “He’s gorgeous. Who is he?” Johnny tried to act like he had not heard them but his pride was starting to rear its head, it appeared he still had it.

They reached the club after fifteen minutes and found a parking spot at the far end of the slush-covered parking lot. Johnny pulled in beside them and put his car in to park. He took a breath and stared in the rear-view mirror. “In and out that’s it,” he sternly told his reflection, “nothing more.” Pocketing his keys, Johnny stepped from the car and locked the door. Walking around the rear, he greeted Sasha. She smiled up at him and stepped on a patch of still frozen muck, her foot slipped out from under her and Sasha lost her balance toppling over. Johnny reached out and caught her in his arms.

His embrace was strong and gentle; it felt strange to hold a woman again. Sasha placed her palm flat against the solid physique beneath his jacket and pushed herself back on her own feet. The pads of her fingers moved down his hard-sculpted chest. Realizing her inappropriate lingering, Sasha stepped away abruptly and thanked him for his assistance.

Johnny’s body reacted immediately to Sasha’s closeness, and he wished he had decided to go home. Coming was starting to look like a very bad idea. He could not involve himself with a woman like Sasha; his past filled with skeletons and ghosts she could never understand let alone accept. He had spent years keeping his distance and remaining in the shadows, hidden from everyone and any chance of being discovered. Johnny had been a loner for years trying to remain a ghost, and this night would risk it all. He could not involve anyone else in his life, he could not condemn another to Ashley’s fate, but something about the way Sasha looked at him made him stay against his better judgment.

Johnny followed the ladies inside the bustling club. The atmosphere seemed fused with energy. The air laced with smoke and the smell of booze. Bodies packed the dance floor as the DJ spun the latest hits. They found a table near the floor. Taking off their coats and hanging them on the back of their seats, Sasha’s friends offered to go to the bar and order drinks while Sasha and Johnny discussed their business.

They had to raise their voices to hear each other across the table. Feeling the matter of his child to be one of confidentiality Sasha moved around the table to take the seat next to him so she could hear and be heard with some discretion. They discussed Jess’ attendance record and her continuous male company, of her fighting on school property and total disrespect of the faculty. “She was caught once with a concealed knife on school grounds. She was very fortunate not to be expelled.” Sasha said.

Johnny stared at the table; he knew about the knife he had given it to her. Johnny had taught Jess from a young age how to use a blade in self-defence. He could not be with her at all times, and he needed to know she could put up a fight should anyone come for her. She had come home and informed him that her blade had been confiscated. Johnny had scolded Jess for pulling it out at school and then had given her another to replace the one she had lost. Wrong or not he was not about to leave his only child defenceless.

“I do my best Miss. Kent; Jess and I have been alone for a very long time. I must admit I’m not sure how to raise a girl. The harder I try to protect and guide Jess, the more she seems to resent me and rebel.”

“Please, call me Sasha.” She said softly.

One dark brow lifted in response to the informal address. “Johnny.” He returned silkily. “If I might, you look rather young to be a teacher. How old are you?” He knew it was impolite to ask a woman her age, but she looked young enough not to take offence.

“You look too young to be the father of a teenager. How old are you?” She teased.

“Forty.” He answered. “And you?”

“I’m in my twenties.” She added elusively. Johnny’s eyes trailed down Sasha’s lush form and came to rest on her left hand.

A ring.

She was taken. “And the old man?” He inquired tapping her engagement ring with his finger. “Is he mid-twenties as well?”

Sasha stared down at her ring with a guilty expression. “No, the early thirties.” She said trying to hide her shame.

“And where is he tonight?”

“Working. Chris is always working. He has a very demanding job and…” She trailed off staring out onto the dancefloor. Amongst the bodies of dancers, she saw a man, his hands all over some trashy looking brunette. She tossed her light hair with her hands and then kissed Sasha’s fiancé full on the mouth. Johnny’s gaze followed Sasha’s to the floor. Her face was flush with anger and embarrassment.

“Working, how could I be so blind?” She whimpered.

Sasha stood up and holding back her tears took her coat and walked toward the exit. Johnny was quick to follow and caught up to her by the door. “Sasha, what’s wrong?” He asked quietly moving between her and the exit cutting off her retreat. “That was him wasn’t it?”

Sasha wiped away her tears and nodded. She must have felt like such a fool, wanting only to run and hide. Johnny took her hand in his and led her back to the table. “Where are we going?” She asked.

“Back.”

“Oh no I couldn’t face that again please don’t make me.”

“If you run away he’ll win, don’t let him get the better of you,” Johnny said sternly taking her coat from her hands and passing it to Ruby. “If you won’t confront him then at least get some revenge.”

“How?” Sasha inquired not sure at this point how she could find satisfaction.

Johnny removed his coat his sleeveless white shirt bearing his dark sculptured biceps revealing a detailed tattoo of thorny vines wrapping around the firm upper muscles. Without his coat, Sasha had a full view of his tall, lean frame, his narrow hips and broad shoulders, his smooth, rigid abdomen and powerful limbs. Johnny smirked when the corners of her lips twitched in an admiring grin. Johnny’s fingers closed around hers, and he led Sasha out on the dancefloor. “By giving him a taste of his own medicine.”

“I don’t understand.”

Johnny lightly tugged on her arm and swung Sasha into his embrace. His arms closed around her in a warm, sensual hold pressing her body against his as they moved to the music. “In short, get his attention and make him jealous. Believe me, when he sees you with me he’ll flip right out. I haven’t met a man yet that likes being passed over for a guy like me.”

“But how do we get his attention without confronting him?”

“By getting everyone’s attention.” He smiled wickedly. Johnny took Sasha’s hand and spun her out, turned her around, and brought her back into his arms; her body gliding perfectly into position with his. The action had cleared space and caught the attention of the few people around them. Johnny stepped Sasha around and slid his hands from her shoulders down her ivory arms bringing her hands up around his neck.

Sasha closed her eyes savouring the skilled caress of his hands flat against her shoulder blades as they moved slowly down her back. He swayed and rocked against her, leading her through the seductive song. His head hung low, his face so close she could feel his warm breath on her neck.

Sasha’s hands roamed Johnny’s shoulders and neck gliding over his strong back. It felt marvellous to be touched by a woman again. The image of Chris and his hussy purged from her mind and replaced by desire and sensation. Johnny’s hand glided low over her curved hips and lured them closer alongside his own. His hips ground against hers in rhythm to the beat.

Every place her hands touched felt ablaze with white-hot sensation, spiralling downward to his very core. He wanted her, what would she think of him, she was engaged to another man, and he was lusting after her. It was deliciously wrong, even if the other man was a cheating dog.

Sasha moved in closer, her slender curves rocking against him brushing and rubbing in all the right places. His mind spun with erotic images. His body is reacting to Sasha’s lush structure. Her hand rested on his back, and her face rested against his collarbone. “Is it working?” She purred softly loving the way he felt.

“Hmm, defiantly.” Johnny groaned as he felt himself stiffen against her belly. Suddenly realizing what he must have thought she meant Sasha smirked and glanced up at him. Blushing Johnny glanced over her shoulder and singled out her fiancé. He was watching with hate in his eyes. He had defiantly noticed them and was understandably upset. His fists clenched at his sides. Johnny smiled smugly at Chris and moved his hands low over Sasha’s bottom gripping firmly he lifted her against him and crushed his mouth to hers claiming her lips in a selfish, lustful kiss. His tongue swept the moist depths, his desire equally matched by her enthusiasm.

The world faded away, and all he was aware of was Sasha and the way her magnificent body felt pressed against his. Breaking their kiss Johnny’s eyes lifted marginally to look over her shoulder. “And it begins.” He breathed a warning of events to come.

Chris grabbed Sasha and yanked her from Johnny’s arms. His fist flew out to strike the man that was making moves on his woman. With a side step, Johnny easily avoided the punch and took Chris’ wrist in his hand. Fisting his opposite hand Johnny struck Chris full in the chest knocking the wind right out of his attacker. As Chris tried to catch his breath, Johnny twisted his arm and spun him around wrapping his opposite arm over Chris’ shoulder and across his throat in a chokehold. “You best pick your fight’s better buddy I’m not the best one to start with.” He growled and shoved Chris into a table knocking over drinks and chairs.

Security was on them in seconds. “Time for you two to go before we call the cops.”

“I am the cops.” Chris sputtered stumbling to his feet.

“Don’t care you still got to go.”

The bouncers placed their hands on his shoulders and Johnny shrugged their hands away. “Don’t touch me.” He warned his tone menacingly low. “I’m leaving.” He strolled over to their table and took his coat from the back of the chair. “It was nice to meet you.” He said politely to the group of ladies he had arrived with as if he had not just assaulted a man a moment ago. He turned to Sasha and nodded his head goodbye. “Miss. Kent.” Glaring at Chris, Johnny pulled his coat on taking the keys from his pocket. He walked to the exit with security right behind him as he left the club. Chris was the next to be escorted out.

Sasha retrieved her coat and rushed out to the parking lot. She ran past Chris trying to control her balance as she crossed the slush and ice-covered parking lot after Johnny. She called out to him causing him to stop and turn once he reached his car. Smiling Johnny leaned against the trunk and waited for her to make it safely across the slippery parking lot. He reached his arms out to offer stability and Sasha gratefully took his hand as she slid across the ice. “Miss. Kent?”

“I told you it is Sasha.” She scolded him playfully. “What you did in there, it was nice. Thank you. He was really mad.” She grinned.

“All cheaters are hypocrites; it is ok to cheat but not to be cheated on. Some male macho bullshit.”

Chris approached with rage in his voice. “Sasha! What the hell is going on?”

Sasha turned her hands planted firmly on her hips. “You tell me Chris, weren’t you supposed to be working? You’re a lying creep, who the hell was that woman?”

“Sasha, let’s not do this here. Come home with me and let’s talk this out. Just give me the chance to explain.” Chris suggested the request sounding more like an order. He was a fair looking man with sandy blond hair. The type of guy that thought he was better and bigger than he was.

Not approving of his tone, Johnny stood upbringing himself to his full height. “No explanation needed, you’re an ungrateful, selfish pig who can’t keep his pecker in his pants. Seems pretty clear to me and I don’t even know you.”

“Stay out of this, no one asked you for your damned opinion.” Chris hissed. "Just who the hell is this bloody gang banger anyway Sasha, you bored at home, so you got to go slumming?”

“You’re one to talk! In there with that hussy.” She snarled, her train of thought lost when she felt Johnny’s hard body press against her from the back as he put his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck.

“Come home with me.” He offered in a husky tone loud and clear for Chris to hear, his cheeky smile adding to her lover’s fury.

Sasha grinned widely, she wanted to hurt Chris, wanted him to feel as betrayed as she did. Johnny opened the passenger side door, and the lovely blonde climbed in. Walking around the rear to his door, Johnny smirked victoriously at Chris and climbed inside. The car tires spun, and the vehicle sped away leaving Chris alone in the parking lot watching his fiancée drive off with some guy. Wondering who this man was, and what he was doing with Sasha? Johnny did not know Chris well, but he was willing to bet Chris was not going to just let this drop.