by Leanne Davis
Now, the general went over the top by hosting a dinner in honor of Will Hendricks’s bravery for single-handedly rescuing his younger daughter. Will nearly puked when he was informed. His attendance, of course, was mandatory. That’s how Will ended up dressed in full Army regalia, before five hundred of the most influential figures, both military and political, in the country. Many had flown in from across the nation. All were assembled in his honor. Though the general called it “unofficial,” what Will saw was about as official as it could get.
The event was the vehicle by which, after a month, he came face to face with Jessie Bains once again.
She looked nothing like the girl he took out of the cell.
Just over a month since returning her home, tonight, she was all smiles, making jokes about her captivity, and relating how lucky she was when the handsome soldier came to rescue her. For the occasion, she wore a peach-colored dress, strapless, that showed off her smooth shoulders, and strained to hold her double D breasts. It clung to her small waist, and flowed down onto the floor. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, the blunt ends brushing her bare skin whenever she smiled and cocked her head, as if having the time of her life.
She sat with her family, as did Will. Being the guest of honor, he was obligated to sit next to the general, and across from Jessie. Her dull, haunted, brown eyes never once met his. Why didn’t anyone else notice those stricken eyes of her? She gulped the champagne as if it were water, spoke too loud, smiled too much, and tried too hard to convince him of the empty-headed party girl she so obviously thought she was. Why, then, was he the only one who noticed it was all an act?
Lindsey was a striking contrast. In a lovely, modest, black dress that draped over subtle curves, her blond hair was smoothly wound into a knot, and her makeup was so soft and natural it only enhanced her beauty, without looking overdone. She spoke in quiet, gentle tones, her excellent breeding visible. She was seated two chairs away from Will. He noticed her glancing his way more often than not, and quickly diverting her eyes, as if shy, at being caught.
When the general ultimately stood up, tapping a spoon on his wine glass, Will longed for deployment to some far-off region right then and there.
“As everyone here knows, we are gathered here to honor this man, Colonel Will Hendricks. He not only stepped up, at risk of his own safety, but did so at a time when he was not required to. This man’s bravery makes me very proud to count him as one of my own. And now, also as part of my family, for returning my daughter to me at personal sacrifice of himself. Ladies and gentleman, please join me in a round of applause for Colonel William Hendricks.”
The entire room erupted into loud clapping before it became a standing ovation and a roaring ensemble of cheers. Will blinked. Did the general really do this to him? How could an officer in the United States Army, a general at that, crave so much attention? How could the general shine a spotlight on his own daughter’s kidnapping? And why did the good general feel the need to throw a party over it? Hailing Will as the hero made him wish he could disappear from Jessie’s life and that the whole ordeal never happened
Then again, Jessie didn’t tell anyone. Obviously. No one knew what he knew. She pranced around, pretending to love being the center of attention, as if getting kidnapped was just another fun way to start the next social season, as if it were all a great big joke.
Now Will was getting dragged into this obscene display of Jessie’s ordeal. Will wanted nothing more than to be forgotten, and fade into the crowd, or go on another mission. A mission where only a handful of people knew where he went, and whether he succeeded, although he usually did. He accomplished more than a few important, life-altering deeds during the span of his career. This, however, was becoming a travesty. The turning point of his life. He got that now, and clearly. Just as Jessie predicted.
Will smiled politely through the well-wishers, the hand-shakers, and the shoulder-slappers while the women nearly wept for his heroism.
“Will?”
He looked down at the soft, feminine voice beside him: Lindsey. He might have been mad at her for dragging him into this, but that would have been comparable to hating a baby. She was so pure, good, quiet, and serious. She never meant to harm anyone.
“Hi, Lindsey.”
“You hate this, don’t you?”
He smiled, almost willing to trust her, but not quite, she was still the general’s daughter. “I’d rather not get attention for just doing my job.”
“Jessie doesn’t even get what you did for her,” Lindsey said, her gaze following her dark-headed sister. Jessie was giggling, talking, and moving her arms as she seemed to be describing their mad dash off the roof. Did she include the part where she peed on him? What about when she was chained to the wall? Or when she begged him not to leave her? Did she explain what it felt like to have feces on you because you couldn’t move far enough away from it? Somehow, he doubted she would include those things in her glib recounting of her experience.
“She’s safe. That’s all that matters.”
“I’m sorry she’s so abrasive about it. You were really heroic. I doubt she even noticed.”
Jessie noticed. Will knew it and he wanted to say it. He wanted to stick up for Jessie, and tell everyone she was one of the strongest people, even compared to most soldiers he knew, or she could not pull off the farce of convincing everyone that she had a delightful time being kidnapped. Not after what he witnessed. He personally knew how badly she suffered. If he hadn’t witnessed it himself, and watched it happen with his own eyes, he too, might have been totally convinced by her laughing and happy candor.
She played it all off that she was a little scared, but really, she was fine. She was that persuasive, and sounded that happy. He wondered how much else she buried in her life and pretended to be outrageously happy about. Was everything he heard, and all the gossip, completely a sham? Was her blatant sexuality and crude behavior really just a shield she hid behind? The screen she used to prevent everyone from noticing she liked using razor blades to slice her own skin?
“I’m sure she noticed. I’m sure she realized if I hadn’t shown up, she might not have returned.”
Lindsey’s eyes rose to his face in utter astonishment. She hadn’t a clue. Jessie’s own sister didn’t even realize that Jessie nearly died. “What do you mean?”
“They would have killed her. Think whatever you want about your sister’s attitude, but she was kidnapped, taken out of the country, and locked in a cell. She wasn’t about to be handed back over. So give her a break. Maybe she’ll quit the bravado act if she could trust someone who really cared that she survived.”
“I didn’t know. She plays it off like it’s no big deal, and Daddy said, she was just begging for the attention. You don’t know Jessie, she could have even planned something like this.”
Will nearly sat down as he rubbed a hand to his temple. They believed Jessie could plan something like this? Jesus. They were so off base. The general told Lindsey it was no big deal? And Jessie could have planned it as a stunt for more attention? Bullshit. The general knew as well as Will, Jessie was mercilessly kidnapped and held against her will. Was Jessie right when she said her father hated her? But why?
“She didn’t plan it.”
“No, I suppose not,” Lindsey said, looking off towards her sister. She licked her lips. “I-it sounds like you’ll be stationed here for awhile.”
“Looks like.”
“Well, I hope to see you more. I’d like that.”
Will blinked. There it was… that look of longing in Lindsey’s eyes. Shit. The general’s daughter liked him. He liked Lindsey, and always thought she was sweet and pretty. But she was the general’s daughter. No way. No how. There was nothing on earth that would make him mess around with a superior officer’s daughter. Not when the other daughter had already caused him so much trouble.
“Yeah, maybe, Lindsey.”
Will escaped by ducking into the men’s room where he coul
d hide. He came out and wandered away from the crowd where the dinner was being held. He couldn’t handle much more attention, or joking over what Jessie suffered. Coming around the corner of a shadowy hallway, he heard voices. He turned to leave when he recognized the voice. Jessie’s.
“Not here. I mean it.”
Jessie’s voice often was too loud, and too artificial, although no one else seemed to notice. This time, however, she sounded stressed. Will cringed, starting to dread his association with her. She was going to lead him into trouble. She was just that kind of girl, it followed her everywhere. Being near her was like being in her wake, you never knew when you might get capsized. Will rounded the corner of the hallway and tried to back up. But it was too late, he already spotted Jessie in an alcove hidden at the end of the long hallway. He’d been trying to leave, and escape, but instead, he had to run into her. He straightened up again, when he realized what she was doing.
Pinned against a door, and hidden by the doorway, the man with her had his hand up her dress, and not innocently. She squirmed. He couldn’t believe this girl. Anyone could walk right up to them. Then the man’s profile registered with Will: the state senator, Harlan Johnstone. The man was sixty if he were a day, and currently finger-banging a twenty-year-old girl. A girl who was also the daughter of the man’s closest friend. Will couldn’t believe his unending bad luck. Johnstone spent a lot of time in Bains’s office, as Will now knew.
The senator turned just as Will tried to quietly back up, and run from the disaster known as Jessie Bains. The senator turned suddenly, and his eyes ran up and down Will in startled astonishment. He pushed Jessie off him, and she fell back into the door. The senator stared, and ran his hand over his pant leg. Then he tucked his offending hand into his jacket pocket, and, without a word, passed by Will as fast as he could. The old guy was almost jogging. Will couldn’t believe what he just witnessed.
Jessie pushed away from the door and brushed at her dress. Her gaze was pinned on his feet.
“Well, if it isn’t my hero.”
“What are you doing, Ms. Bains?”
“The senator.”
“He’s sixty years old.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, well it was worse when I was younger.”
Will paused. Jesus how long has she been doing this? “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would you?”
She shrugged.
What was wrong with her? That’s all Will could think as he looked down at the small girl before him. What the hell was the matter with her? He couldn’t think of anyone he knew who was as disgusting as Jessie Bains at that moment. He retreated and turned his back on her. He had a feeling very little stopped Jessie from doing what she liked. He lied for her and tried to protect a girl who would stab him in the back just as easily as she’d, no doubt, sleep with him. And anyone else for that matter.
Her voice stopped him.
“Look at you in all your military finery. I imagine you men are all supposed to be handsome in your uniforms. All I can see is the strange, cloning effect you share when you’re together. You’re all the same. But then, that’s what you aim for, isn’t it? To be the same. To fit in. Be part of the brotherhood. Let me guess, you’re a career guy, aren’t you, Will?”
“I am.”
Her sneering tone so contrasted to the other civilians’ near awe and respect for his profession. He decided he had enough. He might’ve saved Jessie, but he didn’t see any reason to ever talk to her again. As far as he could see, she was a spoiled, self-centered, bitchy, brat, who probably slept with half the post just to piss her father off. No wonder her father disliked her so much. He turned his back and started down the hallway.
“Will, wait.”
He sighed and closed his eyes. He almost got away free. Still, he stopped and turned back towards her. There was something in her voice. A desperate cadence he didn’t notice before.
She walked closer. “You didn’t tell my father.”
“I told your father only what pertained to the job he sent me to do. I found you and got you home.”
He studied her face. Stricken brown eyes stared back at him. Her eyes were the only honest reflection of the hell that she suffered and the pain that had to be filling her head. Why could no one else see it? She lowered her eyes from his gaze. He was surprised to find anything made her bashful. Getting caught with the Crypt Keeper’s hand up her dress didn’t faze her, but thanking him did?
“No other soldier I know would have gone against my father. Especially, not for me.”
He shifted. Not good to be singled out or in cahoots with Jessie Bains. “I didn’t go against anyone. I simply left out personal details that didn’t pertain to my job report.”
“You still didn’t tell him everything. You did as I asked.”
Will hesitated. “How did you know he’d do all this?”
“Because my father will do anything to advance his career and his power. Anything, Will. Don’t forget it. Don’t underestimate him. And never trust him.”
“But I should trust you?”
She dropped her head. “I know how I come across. You’re all about honor and integrity. I’m not. I’m about survival. You helped me with that. I would never betray you for what you did for me.”
“Why? Because you’re doing so well?” Will bit down on his tongue. Don’t ask. Back away. Turn away. Don’t ask for more details. What if she offers them?
“What? The senator? He just, you know, knows certain things that he threatens to tell my father if I don’t cooperate with him.”
Will stared at her and she looked up, unashamed. Unfazed. She didn’t seem to realize what she was saying to him, or what the senator was doing to her. He tightened his jaw to keep it from dropping. She thinks it’s normal to let an old pervert sexually blackmail her?
“Then threaten him right back. Threaten to tell your father on him.”
“My father wouldn’t care. He’d only care if I made the senator mad.”
“Did you not want that to happen just now?”
She shrugged.
“Then why didn’t you call for help? It’s rape if you don’t want it.”
“I can’t stop him. He’ll ruin my life even worse than it already is.”
Will let out a deep breath. Was she telling the truth? He looked at her. Her face was down, staring at her own dress. “How old were you when it started?”
“Sixteen.”
“Are you lying to me?”
She didn’t even bother to look offended by his doubt. “It doesn’t matter, but I’m not lying.”
“Sixteen? That’s statutory. You hold all the power.”
“I never hold the power.”
“But—”
She suddenly smiled brightly up at him. “It’s fine, really. I have it all under control.”
Will watched her face go from dark to smiling. Was all that goading, rudeness, and obnoxious hatred for the military, as well as her father, real? Was she telling him the truth about the senator? About her father’s reaction? It didn’t seem possible to Will that any man would react in such a way towards his own daughter. Especially the man they were talking about. The general was the epitome of manliness to Will. He was everything that Will wanted to be.
Jessie didn’t matter to him. She was a job, and not his problem. But she was also the surest way to end his career.
****
Jessie finally let her shoulders slouch in defeat as she watched Will walk away from her. He walked like every other man she knew. His back ramrod straight, and his legs perfectly in step. She wondered if he practiced in the mirror to perfect his stride as precisely as a still picture with each step he took. It was part of why she hated soldiers. They were all the same, they looked the same, dressed the same, acted the same, and followed orders the same. And Will was the epitome of that description right down to his pointed, polished, black shoes.
Except Will didn’t totally follow orders. He kept some th
ings to himself, for her. Why? She wasn’t sure. He didn’t particularly seem to like her, and never really warmed up to her. But he also didn’t look at her like every other soldier did: an easy lay. Or as the general’s other “bad daughter.”
She looked down when she felt the pain in her palm and opened her hand. The blade she kept tucked in her purse left only a small, thin thread of blood. She took out a tissue and watched the bright red drops spreading on the pristine white tissue. It was fascinating. Like watching ink spreading on a sheet of paper. Since it was her own blood, it only made it prettier. She released the pressure on the cut and told herself to relax. She made it through tonight, through the senator, and even through Will. She could last another hour until she could escape and go home. And then... What? What would she do? What was she trying so hard to make it through? To get back to… What? Being alone in pain? Memories? Her own agony?
So far, nothing helped that.
Except seeing Will. That did help.
Her father told her a few weeks earlier, after all the media died down, he wanted to throw a party and dinner in honor of Will. It was no shock to her that the press knew about her. Hadn’t the general done that himself? Did her father give her any credit? Or any thanks for making him the most famous general in the world right now? No. Not a word. He never even asked how she was.
But then again, she didn’t even try to stop him. She smiled and went along with the charade. She came to the farce of a dinner and was smiling, fine. She appeared just as her father needed her to be in order to get the attention he wanted. She had to be fine, otherwise it wouldn’t work. The general receiving attention after his daughter’s ordeal, made her father seem capable, kind, caring, and wonderful only if she were over it. The general receiving attention after his abused, scared, and terrified daughter had a nervous breakdown, on the other hand, would be a terrible, egotistical thing.
So she did what he expected of her. She smiled, and laughed her way throughout the evening. She flirted with the soldiers, as well as the politicians, and with all the men who expected it of her. Everyone except Will.