Josh's Destiny

Chapter 8

Destiny backed away as Josh let the box drop from his suddenly numb hands. The black rose with its crimson edged petals fell out of the box, landing on the white tiles of the kitchen floor like a stain of ink. All three of them stared at it as though it were some particularly venomous snake.

At length Destiny whispered, "He's found me."

"Yeah" said Jake "But he's after Josh."

"No, it's a ploy to make Des run" said Josh.

"Looks pretty damn convincing to me" Jake replied and he stared at Destiny. He looked at her so long she began to fidget.

"I told you this would happen" Jake fairly hissed at her. "I told you to leave way back when but you stayed. And now Josh is getting death threats. Are you happy now, Destiny? He's in real trouble!"

"Keep your voice down!" said Josh in a low tone because Jake was fairly yelling at Destiny.

But it was too late as Sam and Danny rounded the corner into the kitchen. They took in the scene at once and Sam bent to pick up the rose. "Don't touch it!" barked Jake.

Sam stopped in mid-reach and slowly straightened up. And Destiny saw a scared little boy. She looked at Danny Wagner. He had gone pale and when she looked at Jake, she saw he looked sick. And just like that she knew it was over.

Without a word to anyone she walked out of the kitchen and to her room. She was packing a small bag when Josh came in. She knew he would follow her and she knew what she was going to say.

"No, Josh, not this time. I have to go, and I have to go alone."

"It's not your decision to make. Anyway, I'll just follow you."

Destiny rounded on him with anger flashing in her emerald eyes.

"I don't want you to follow me! That rose was a death threat against you! Don't you understand that? Don't you understand that this isn't a game? Nick Cole wants me, he's obsessed with me, he's stalking me, and he isn't going to quit I'm afraid until he gets me. Even if he has to take down anybody in his way!"

Josh walked slowly toward Destiny and stopped right in front of her. He took her into his arms and she struggled just a bit before she gave into him.

"What do I do, Josh?" she asked with a tremor in her voice.

He stroked her back and kissed her forehead. "I think you're right. We should leave. I can't let you go alone."

She was laying her head on his shoulder and she replied, "You're in the middle of an album. You can't leave."

"I'll work it out, even if I have to commute from...where are we going?"

She raised her head and looked into his soft eyes. "Crooked Hollow, Montana."

"You're kidding, right?"

"I'm very serious. I found it while researching Montana for the band. I went there one day and I love the place. It's small, quiet, right on a river and snuggled up against a beautiful mountain. Artie Williams, the local owner of the diner there, said he'd hire me on the spot. He even has a cabin I can rent."

"Great, now I have one question. What's to prevent Cole from finding you? It's secluded did you say? Great place for a kidnapping. Hard to defend and you see a river, I see an escape way. It's obvious he's having you followed. Think about this a minute."

Destiny was silent and at length Josh pushed her gently away. Then he began to pace. He thought more accurately when he was moving.

"There are some things you should know about me, Des. I have some friends who are, shall we say, not really on the up and up. Oh, they aren't criminals I guess you'd call them mercenaries. Like in the magazine, Soldier of Fortune."

"What?" she asked, sinking down on the bed.

"Yeah. I met them during my training for the martial arts. I am a black belt. When you're short and skinny you take a lot of crap and I don't like to take crap. I've filled out nicely, I think, but I still don't like to take crap."

Destiny only stared at him and Josh continued his narrative.

"I think I should contact my friends, talk to them, and have a bodyguard put on you twenty-four seven. You'll never know they're around, but I'd feel a hell of a lot better. And this house is not secure, too many variables. We should move into the Hilton Hotel downtown. It's a pretty swanky place for Frankenmuth. Doorman, concierge, room service and all the amenities. Plus, you'll be easier to guard there..."

"Wait a minute" Destiny said. "This is moving way too fast. You know people like this? You're a black belt in the martial arts? You're talking like some guerilla warrior rather than the sweet, gentle soul the world thinks you are. I don't even know this Josh!"

"I know, Des, I was going to tell you later on, but this incident has forced my hand."

She rose from her sitting position on the bed and began shadowing him as he paced.

"What if he decides to just shoot you? Martial arts can't help you then."

"There'll be a guard on me too. I'm not anxious to die, Des. Besides, I really don't think this Cole guy wants to be investigated for murder. That would put him too much on the cop's radar."

She stopped and put a restraining hand on his arm stopping him as well. She looked into his eyes and saw behind the façade of the gentle rock musician for just an instant. There was a cold, calculating mind there and for just a moment Destiny Chapel was afraid of Josh Kiszka.

"Who are you?" she asked in a small voice.

Josh reached out and took her upper arms in his hands. "I'm the same person you knew ten minutes ago. I haven't changed from my core being, Destiny. But there are a lot of sides to me that the world doesn't need to know about. I imagine you have your secrets too."

Destiny thought about that. Yes, she had her secrets. Well, secret. But it was a massive secret and she hoped Josh never found out about it. She sure as hell never planned to tell him unless she was forced too.

"All right, I suppose that's true enough, but Josh..."

"No buts. You're already packed for a few days, I'll be packed in few minutes and we'll go to the hotel."

"Are you forgetting our dinner with your parents? And it's Christmas time, the hotel might be full."

"I'll deal with Mom and Dad. As for the hotel being full" he grinned, "I'm Josh Kiszka, I think I can get a room."

"Trading on your name? I didn't think you did that."

"It has its uses."

He started toward the door of the bedroom, when she stopped him with a question.

"Josh" she said softly, "Why are you going through all this trouble for me?"

He stopped with his hand on the knob. He turned to her and replied, "Isn't it obvious by now? I love you, Destiny." With that declaration, he left the room.

She made her way to the bed and sat again. He loved her? Did she love him? She supposed she did. But she could leave him. Could he ever be without her? Her secret rose in her mind and she put her hand to her forehead.

She should tell him. But it was fantastical and sometimes she had a hard time coping with it. But if he truly loved her...it didn't bear thinking about now. She hurriedly finished her packing, and just as she did, he poked his head through the doorway.

"Ready to go?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Then let's get gone!" And Josh waited for Destiny to precede him out of the room. She felt like she was in a movie, well and truly in a movie. But though it had started out one genre, she was sure it was going to end up something completely different. And she hoped Josh could handle it.