“I’ve also entrusted you with something few people know; my real name. Guard it well, Joshua Kingdom, for your sake and your family’s.”
Releasing him, Sam turned his back to Josh and walked away. Moments later Joshua watched the powerful car pull away and turn a corner disappearing from sight.
Looking down at the card, he read what was written on it. Apart from a telephone number there was only one word, Counterfeit. He also noted Counterfeit didn’t think twice about turning his back on him.
Chapter 1
Each time his eyes landed on Noelle, Josh couldn’t help but smile. The kid was an exact replica of her mother, red hair, freckles and all.
It didn’t matter that Noelle’s vocabulary amounted to around fifteen words at a stretch. The words she managed to produce had them all doing her bidding as though they were her subjects. That her attitude of assurance was Jake’s doing, he never doubted. He couldn’t fault his brother. If ever he was lucky enough to have a daughter, he too would teach her that she deserved only the best, and to accept nothing less.
The lunch Aviva had cooked for them was the type of food that made grown men content. Everyone welcomed the suggestion of a walk to make room for dessert. As his gaze wandered across the expanse of land that surrounded Jason and Aviva’s new home; without warning, a feeling of restlessness assailed him, and Josh moved away from the rest of his family. Everyone was making their way back to the house after a walk in the crisp February air. While he loved his family more than anything else, somehow he wanted to be alone.
Sticking his hands in his pockets, Josh gazed around. Winter had yet to loosen its grip, and a feeling of disquiet settled over him. Something vital was missing from his life. Elusive as ever, the thought, recently his constant companion, dissolved as though carried away by the wind.
His strides lengthened as he tried to make sense of the way he was feeling. His head snapped up as a shrill scream tore through the air. The scene that played out before him would be something he would never forget.
His father and brothers were around fifty yards further down the hill than the women, and MacKenzie held Noelle in her arms. The blood-curdling sound came from MacKenzie, and after that, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. MacKenzie all but threw Noelle into Aviva’s arms as she picked up speed.
“Get out the way, get out the way; I can’t stop, I can’t stop!” She shouted, her arms flapping in warning.
The furthest person down the hill, Josh made ready to intercept a runaway MacKenzie. He needn’t have worried, with a loud, oh shit! Jake was on the move, eating up the space between him and an out of control MacKenzie. Throwing out a long arm, Jake snagged her around the waist and lifted her clean off her feet. He’d successfully stopped her downward flight, but now they were both careening down the hill.
Watching and filming every moment of the surreal scene, Josh laughed out loud. By the sounds of it, Noelle thought her mother was playing a game because she too was screaming with laughter.
In a show of strength, Jake somehow managed to dig in his heels and bring them both to a halt. How he kept them on their feet, Josh didn’t know.
****
Safely back in the house, Jake and Aviva made a fuss of MacKenzie. The other men sat in silence with huge grins on their faces. Each time Jake and Aviva turned away from an embarrassed looking MacKenzie, they allowed their amusement to show. “Y’all have no sympathy in your hearts. How can y’all be making what happened to me your amusement of the hour?!”
“You have to be kidding, Kenzie that was as funny as hell!” Josh managed to get out around his laughter.
At her tut of irritation, he decided that was the moment to whip out his phone for a replay of her misfortune.
“Jacob!” MacKenzie spoke through gritted teeth. “You better get that phone and delete that mess before I have to deal with that provoking s-h-i-t!” MacKenzie spelled out, ever mindful of her daughter.
Jason chose that moment to enter the conversation as though something was puzzling him. “I don’t understand why you couldn’t stop, couldn’t stop,” he teased repeating the words. “It’s not as though the hill’s that steep!?”
As he stopped speaking; the sound of MacKenzie’s voice reverberated around the room. Get out the way, get out the way; I can’t stop, I can’t stop! And everyone again erupted into laughter. Just then Josh’s phone began to ring. Looking down at the screen that was devoid of a caller ID; he stood, excused himself and left the room.
“Joshua Kingdom,” he said answering the call.
“It’s Sam,” came the simple response.
Looking over his shoulder, Josh pulled the door shut and walked into Jason’s study before responding.
“What’s going on, man?”
“I need your help.”