this like a mission, isn’t he? Damn it. He has something up his sleeve. I’ll find Nic and Jared. I doubt Chad would be part of the payback, but I’ll give him a heads-up just in case.”
Jacob put a hand on Zane’s arm, stilling him. “I’ll let Justin and Jason know, too. Drake, you inform Dixon. Chief, you’ve got Doc.”
“Roger that.” The men echoed the affirmation and casually strolled away from each other.
Joseph knew when the group in the corner broke up and he tracked them as they made their way through the crowd. Their surreptitious warnings would have been missed by someone who wasn’t trained or, for that matter, currently training people on covert operations. He wrapped his arm around Ember’s waist as she chatted with Anna. An added benefit to the plans he initiated. Being on alert the entire vacation for retribution that would come, but not in a way they would ever anticipate. Fools. Fuck around with a sharp knife and there was no doubt you’d get cut. Oh, he’d make them bleed, but not the red stuff in their veins. Nope, they’d be jumping through hoops.
Gabriel cleared his throat, bringing Joseph’s attention back to him. “Thanks for the heads-up on that… operation. We took care of business this morning.”
Joseph nodded his head. “Good.” He glanced at the women as they held an animated conversation. Gabriel nodded to the corner. Joseph kissed Ember’s temple. “Be right back.”
She glanced at him and smiled. “Okay.”
He and Gabriel moved out of earshot. “You know they know something’s up.”
Joseph’s low, evil chuckle confirmed that he in fact knew.
“When are you going to tell them?”
“Tonight at dinner I’m going to tell them I have a private yacht hired for a day of deep-sea fishing. I’ll drop the bomb when I have them as a captive audience. We will dock exactly twenty-four hours before the event.”
Gabriel frowned. “They’ll be able to find what they need.” He lifted his drink to his lips.
“I don’t doubt it. However, that day there will be four cruise ships docking at dawn.”
Gabriel coughed, choking on his drink. Joseph patted him on his back until he could breathe. He accepted a napkin from a passing waiter and wiped his mouth. “You are one devious son of a bitch.”
“They wanted to wedge their way into my vacation. Seems only appropriate that they experience everything with me. Right?”
“And the ladies?”
“I have that covered. It cost a fucking fortune, but I have everything in place. I swore you and Frank to secrecy.”
Gabriel gave a firm nod before agreeing, “You have our word.”
“I do, and for that, I thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go be social and happy.”
“Fuck, you’re going to scare them to death before you run them to death, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yeah.” He laughed again. Maybe this vacation had potential after all.
Joseph tapped his spoon against his wineglass, stilling the babble of conversation around the table. “Thank you all for coming to Aruba on such short notice.” There was laughter and clapping from the women and children. The men smiled but glanced around at each other. “I know everyone has plans, but I wanted to let you know that I’m giving most of my Christmas presents early this year. First, gentlemen, we have a full day on a luxury yacht, deep-sea fishing on the tenth. Ladies, I’ve hired the services of a local spa for you on that day. Hair, nails, facials, massages, the works. My staff has arranged to take the older children on ATV rides around the island with a picnic lunch at one of the beaches. The younger ones will have childcare here at the house.” He glanced down the table to where the children were sitting. “Don’t worry, many, many more presents will come on Christmas morning.”
A loud happy choir of voices rose, and he lifted a glass of wine, speaking above the din. “A toast to family, by blood or by choice.”
Everyone lifted their glasses in unison. Joseph took a sip and sat down, smiling at Jacob, who stared at him. Damn, he could see the wheels working in the little man’s brain. He was having fun with this payback.
“What a wonderful gesture. I really thought you’d be upset that they came down.” Ember leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
“No, actually, I am enjoying having everyone here.” He covered her hand with his. “Don’t tell a soul that I just admitted that.”
Ember laughed and smiled at him. “Your secret