Josiah's Vengeance

By Dr. Jose Flores

This thriller is a suspenseful sequel from "His name is Josiah" as this book carries on the afterlife of Josiah Jr. Josiah lives a meanless life deprived of his father's presence. His father unselfishly gave his life saving his fellow Marines on his last combat tour, not knowing his son was conceived. Josiah is forced to figure out life on his own, dealing with his own adversity. Josiah constantly disappoints his father and grows hatred for a man he never met.....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669820444

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Copyright © 2022 by Dr. Jose Flores.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/12/2022

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1   Point-Blank

Chapter 2   Growing Up

Chapter 3   Meeting Jocelynn

Chapter 4   College and Military Service

Chapter 5   Vivid Dream

Chapter 6   Visiting Josiah

Chapter 7   Vengeance

CHAPTER ONE

Point-Blank

Jacob’s Recall of His Brother Josiah

Ready, aim, fire! Ready, aim, fire! I stood there frozen, wishing it was just a dream as the twenty-one-gun salute went off. Ready, aim, fire! Each shot that rang out of those guns was a stab to my heart and soul. I was not ready to accept this. I wasn’t prepared to accept the fact that my big brother was gone. He can’t be gone. He can’t be dead. Superman doesn’t die in the end.

Our hometown did an amazing job in giving Josiah a welcome home parade. The whole town pulled together as Josiah’s casket was escorted to the cemetery. It was a closed casket as his body was completely dismantled. Even the viewing and church service had a closed casket. The American flag was laid perfectly without a wrinkle as it draped flawlessly over his casket.

I was surprised at how many people showed up at his funeral. Some flew across the nation to attend his funeral and show their appreciation. Then again, I knew this man affected and influenced lives all across the world.

The sad part about all this was that some never knew what sacrifices this man truly made for his family. His reputation was tarnished, but we knew who he really was. Because he disobeyed a direct order from an officer, the service made him out to be disobedient and in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. For this reason, he was not being considered for any military award or decoration. In fact, had he survived the combat tour, he would have faced repercussions and would have probably been forced out of the service.

My mother couldn’t hold back her tears, and the pain in her eyes was unbearable. My brothers and sister cried as they held one another. Taps played as all military personnel rendered honors to him with a steady salute. There must have been over two hundred military personnel there in their dress uniforms. The sharp-dressed marines on the funeral detail carefully folded his flag into a perfect triangle of twelve folds. Once completed, the senior marine turned to my mother and said, On behalf of the president of the United States, the United States Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service. Instantly, my mother burst into a painful cry as Maggie held her. My mother accepted the flag and held on tight to it as she buried her face into it. I couldn’t hold back my tears, and I started tearing up and breaking down. The entire cemetery was filled with people sobbing.

The casket was lowered into the dirt for Josiah to rest finally. We lined up to traditionally pour dirt onto his casket. My perfect white gloves carefully picked up a handful of dirt as I stood over his casket. I don’t know why you did what you did, Josiah. You didn’t have to. You shouldn’t have had to lay your life down for us, but you did, and for that, I’m grateful. You will be missed, big brother. I promise to carry on your legacy. I will not let you down. You have given me the torch. I’m sorry you didn’t have the opportunity to find the love of your life, get married, or have the child you always wanted. It’s not fair, bro, but I guess life in general isn’t fair. Although cut short, you lived an incredible life, an amazing one. You affected the world with your actions. Your name will live on forever, brother. The world will never forget what Josiah did, I thought as I finally threw the dirt I clenched on so tightly. My grip loosened as the dirt fell onto his casket.

I had a towel that I wanted to be buried with Josiah. It was the same MVP towel that John gave him when Josiah missed the finals in his high school senior year. I threw it in, and it landed on Josiah’s casket. Rest easy, brother. You truly are the real MVP, I said. I walked off. I felt like a part of me died there as I felt I was going to be buried with him.

We finally left the cemetery and headed to the ranch. We arranged a dinner celebration at the ranch, which was fully decorated by the family and close friends with dozens of memorials and pictures of Josiah. There were hundreds of people who filled the ten-acre ranch. Family, friends, marines/sailors/soldiers/airmen, coaches, teachers, high school friends, even his exes showed up to the gathering. We celebrated the life of Josiah. We started a fire and gathered around it. We drank and laughed. We shared stories about Josiah, anywhere from childhood memories to embarrassing moments he had. We joked about the women he dated or some of the things he did that didn’t make sense at the time but ended up as a precise, calculated move on his part. Some marines who served with him shared stories of him.

One sergeant who had been out of the service for a while was Josiah’s first platoon sergeant. He told us about when Josiah first checked into the unit as a brand-new marine. He was always squared away. His uniform was always pressed, his boots always cleaned. He was shy and, at first, kept to himself, but once he warmed up to everyone, he got to know the team. That boy was fast. He always finished first in every physical training event, every run. If he wasn’t at the gym, he was at school or studying. He was meritoriously promoted to the rank of corporal and sergeant, and that man earned it. I’ve never had a marine as sharp as Quintero. He was something else, the sergeant said.

He then turned to my mother. Mrs. Quintero, you should be honored and proud of your son. He was an amazing man and an extraordinary marine. He represented the family to the highest of traditions, he said to my mother.

Thank you, Sergeant Buck. I appreciate that and all you did for him. He spoke of you a lot, my mother said to him. He got up and hugged my mother.

We highlighted some of his accomplishments. I sat there sipping on my drink and thought about how happy the family was at that very moment. The family was finally intact and back on their feet. It sucked that it took Josiah dying before we all pulled together, but it was his plan from the very beginning. I thought about how carefully he must have calculated everything and was amazed at how he envisioned it all and how it unfolded.

I stared into the fire as the wood cracked. The family was finally happy; we were a family again. For the first time in our entire lives, we were financially stable and set for life. As the saying goes, Sometimes things have to fall apart before coming back together stronger. Even a walk through hell could lead to peace in heaven. Much would come from what Josiah left, and the future looked extremely bright.

We all ended up getting drunk and spent the night there at the ranch. I called it a night because I had to leave in the morning to head back to my duty station in Hawaii. I got up to say good night and realized how many people were still there, gathered around the fire. There must have been over fifty of our closest family and friends. What a blessing.

Two Years Later

I was on leave from the marines and going to visit my brother. His name was Josiah. I walked through the cemetery and headed toward his tombstone. I finally found it and laid down some fresh flowers. It was covered in fake old flowers and a pile of dirt and debris. I cleaned off his tombstone as it had accumulated dirt over time, covering the lettering of his name, message, and dates. Here lies the body of United States Marines Corps’ gunnery sergeant Quintero, born September 6, 1989, died January 15, 2018.

I sat there and had a conversation with my big brother. "Hi, Josiah. Jacob here. I’ve missed you, brother. Not a day goes by without me thinking about you, your life, and your sacrifice. People still talk about you to this day, brother, what you did and the life you lived. It was truly inspirational. I ended up joining the marines too, big bro. I’m a corporal and heading to Iraq next week, the same country that took your life, Josiah. I’m scared, to be honest, brother, but I know you’ll be there with me, watching over me. Both you and Dad have my back, and that I am sure of.

"The family is doing amazing now. Mom got a huge house built on the ranch. She’s happy and raises the grandchildren. Almost every one of our siblings has children—all except me so far. Mom opened the restaurant she always wanted and hired Nanita to manage it. They are doing great. The company drilled a well in the back of the ranch, pumping oil, and the profits from that have been so abundant that our siblings’ children and their children are set for life.

"Benjamin and Jovita, his wife, oversee the business and keep Mom updated and informed about it all. Joel was spared from the cartel and lives on the ranch too. He is also married to Arianne and has three children, Genesis, Matthew, and Eliana. They opened a tire shop and are doing extremely well. I think they are actually expecting another child. I think they are naming it Grace. Maggie is a full-time college student. She goes to college in San Antonio, and Mom helps her and watches Angelina, her daughter. Her house was spared from bankruptcy, thanks to you, Josiah. Josue and Samuel started their music career and opened a studio with the money you left them. As you instructed, they were able to get Dad’s demo from Uncle Jimmy, remaster it, and release it. It seems to be doing well and has sold hundreds of copies so far. Dad’s dream was made possible and was completed because of you, bro.

"As for me, well, I decided to join the marines in honor of you. I love it, and it has made me a better man. No kids or wife for me, though, brother. I don’t see that soon. Guess I’m cursed like you. Ha ha!

The town renamed the football stadium after you, brother. It’s crazy. It’s called Quintero Stadium. They have a statue of you in your full combat set. There is a plaque there with a huge Marine Corps eagle, globe, and anchor emblem. The lettering reads, ‘It is finished, the promise is delivered!—Josiah Quintero.’ It looks pretty badass. No lie, bro, I said.

Then I heard someone walking up behind me. I stood up and looked; it was Nanita with a little boy. Nana and Josiah never worked out, and she ended up with some dude she went to college with.

What are you doing here, Nana? I asked.

I was going to ask you the same thing, li’l bro. I didn’t even know you were in town, she said.

Yeah, I came to visit Josiah before heading out to Iraq myself. I will leave next week, I responded.

You’re going to Iraq! Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack? she said as we hugged to greet each other.

Is this your son? Hi, little man. Can I have a high five? I said to the little guy as he shyly hid behind his mother.

Yeah, this is my little boy. He’s a handful, straight little troublemaker. We have a day off today, so I thought we would come by and visit Josiah. I can’t stay too long. I promised this little one I’d take him to go visit his dad, she responded as she combed her fingers through his hair.

He looks familiar. What’s his name? I asked her.

She ignored me and looked over at her son and then at Josiah’s tombstone. I miss him, Jacob. I wish he didn’t have to go. I hear everyone is doing really great. I work with Mom now. I’m sure you are aware of that, Nana said.

Yeah, they are doing really well. Everyone is now married with kids. If anyone, Josiah deserved to experience that. He always wanted a family, Nana. He dreamed of settling down there at the ranch and building a house, raising his family, and training his kids. Sucks that he lived a short life, I said.

He made his choices, Jacob. He could have had it, but he chose to sacrifice for the family. He could have had his own family. He had plenty of women who wanted him. He had me. I loved him with all my heart. I would have done anything for him. But he dedicated and sacrificed his life for you, guys. That was his plan, Jacob, she said.

It was his promise, Nanita, I said.

Yeah, I know. I still wish he could have lived and enjoyed his life, she responded.

Her son dropped his ball as it rolled over to me. I grabbed the ball and handed it to the little boy. Here you go, little man, I said to him. I picked him up. His eyes and dimples looked so familiar as if I had seen this little boy somewhere before. I stared at him as I held him. He started playing with my medals on my Marine Corps dress blue uniform; he was curious. Then he looked up at me with the cutest smile and laughed. For a minute, I was happy and content.

What a lucky man, I said to myself, thinking about the father who was blessed with this beautiful child.

He is such a beautiful baby, Nana. He’s so adorable. Wow, what a blessing. I’m so happy for you, I said to her.

She responded with a huge smile.

Aren’t you and Victor engaged? I heard y’all were getting married. I mean, you do have a child together, I said to her.

No, I called it off. I couldn’t go through with it. That’s not his child either, she said. Ironically, his father is a marine. Crazy, huh?

The three of us turned to Josiah’s tombstone and grave site, staring at it. You never did tell me what your son’s name is, I said to her as we continued to stare at his perfectly placed tombstone.

It’s a mystery, just like his father. I named him after his daddy, who is always around him, has been there since day one, and has never left his son’s sight. It’s crazy how life is, Jacob. It’s crazy how even the best plan can always be made better with the love and mercy of God, she said to me as she started to tear up, looking at Josiah’s grave.

Don’t you have to get going? This little one has to go see his dad, I said to her, putting her son back down to the ground.

We are already here, she responded.

I was confused and stopped to think. What did you name the boy, Nana? I asked once again.

She smiled, turned to look at me with tears in her eyes, and proudly responded, His name is Josiah.

Josiah Jr.