This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4)

Giving Jason a speculative look, Aviva withheld further comment and gave Jake the benefit of the doubt.

“We checked all the hospitals within a fifty mile radius. Noelle has not been admitted, so put that thought out of your mind.”

Jake saw MacKenzie deflate as the full impact of his words hit her. He knew she had been worrying about this possibility but had refused to give voice to it.

“Are you sure?” Came the almost inaudible question.

“We checked, MacKenzie, she’s not there.” Jake again assured her.

Within seconds, a change came over MacKenzie and Jake knew she was going to withdraw from them. She knew something, and whatever it was, she was unwilling to share it with his family.

“I’m so sorry that I came running over here. Mr. Kingdom, I apologize for disrupting your household this late at night.” Spinning around as though confused at who to look at first, MacKenzie took in each member of the Kingdom clan, color rising in her face. “I should go. Thank you all again.”

Heading her off as she made her way to the door, Jake blocked her path. “I’ll wait with you while Josh calls you a cab. The others were just leaving.”

None of his family questioned him. It was as though they all instinctively knew he wouldn’t allow her to leave the house. As his brothers and father passed her by, they each stopped to show some form of support and comfort. From Jackson and Josh there was a squeeze of her hand. Jason bent over and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. From Aviva, there was an embrace and whispered words meant only for MacKenzie.

When only the two of them remained, Jake didn’t give her time to withdraw further. “See no disruption, only concern for you and the baby.”

“I don’t understand why he’s doing this,” MacKenzie said, fresh tears gathering in her eyes.

“I don’t either, MacKenzie, but I will get to the bottom of this, I promise. In the meantime, I need you to tell me if anything unusual happened yesterday.”

Taking her limp, cold hand, Jake pulled an unresisting MacKenzie towards the sofa and helped her to take a seat. Deciding to give her time to compose herself, he made his way to the bar and filled a glass with water. Her face stilled held a distracted look; so Jake took her hand and wrapped it around the glass.

“Drink this and then tell me everything. It doesn’t matter how inconsequential you think it, don’t leave anything out.”

Raising the glass to her lips, Mackenzie drank until it was empty.

“Another?” Jake questioned with a nod in the direction of the glass.

“Yes please,” MacKenzie said, holding it out to him.

With a second glass filled and deposited, Jake sat down beside her. “Talk to me, tell me what’s going on, and I’ll do whatever’s needed to help.”

The sincerity of his words had the desired effect. Within minutes, MacKenzie had relayed the somewhat peculiar conversation she and Carlos had shared before his departure.

Jake knew pieces of the puzzle were missing. However, he was almost certain she wasn’t the one who could put all the pieces into their rightful place. Carlos was playing a game. That he was prepared to use their child as a means of gaining the upper hand was distasteful to Jake.

“Is it usual for him to take the baby for overnight visits?”

“No, this is the first time she’s spent the night with him.”

“Did you ask him to take her, or did he volunteer?”

“He volunteered when I told him I was going to ask my sister to babysit.”

“Did he know where you were going and who you were having dinner with?”

“He knew that I was having dinner with you guys, but I didn’t tell him where we were going. What are you getting at?”

“I’m not getting at anything,” Jake said ensuring his face showed nothing of his thoughts as he recalled the feeling of being watched the night before. “I’m just trying to understand what could be going on with Carlos.”

“He can’t keep her!”

“No, he can’t,” Jake agreed, recognizing a cry for help when he heard one.

“I know he’s her father, and I want them to have a relationship, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt,” MacKenzie said with a sharp nod; as though attempting to convince herself of her words.

“That’s a good idea. We know Noelle is okay, so as soon as we locate Carlos, we’ll go and get her.” Jake hoped his tone was reassuring and hid his deep rooted fury. He found it impossible to fathom why Carlos would do something he knew would obviously distress his child’s mother.

“Thank you for all that you’ve done but this isn’t your concern. If you call me that cab now; I’ll get out of here and allow you to get on with your evening.”

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