Page 77

Jacob nodded. “I had something to work out first.”

Jonas scrutinized him. “And did you?”

“I did, and interestingly, Carla’s love is…consuming.”

“Love?”

“Yes.”

“Do you love her?”

“I do.”

Their smiles stretched across their dark melanin faces.

“I’m in love with her.”

Next to the bar, Jaden poured a shot glass of tequila and strolled across the room to his brother.

“Congratulations. Love is not an easy thing to find, and being in love is something to celebrate.”

“I agree,” Julian said.

“We all do,” Jonas added.

Jacob accepted Jaden’s offer.

“Thank you.” He tilted his head and took a quick sip. “We just came back from Barbados.”

“Barbados!” Josiah finally spoke up. “You know I’m an island boy by nature.”

The men laughed. Josiah was the youngest of the brothers, but anytime he could take a trip to an island, whether near or far, he took it. His wife loved his spontaneous trips. Santana had become just as accustomed to the frequent trips as his brothers.

“They don’t want to take you with them, man! They were trying to get their groove on,” Jonathon quipped.

Jacob nodded. “True that. Sorry, little brother.”

“Ah! All right.” Josiah nodded. “I’ll let you all have that one, but the next one!”

He pointed at Jacob.

“I’ll think about it.” The men howled. “Is Dad here?”

“He and Norma left a few minutes before you got here. But he’s just a phone call away.”

“I’ll get with him some other time.” Jacob glanced at Luke. “Have you decided what you want to do about Lennox Jenkins?”

Luke chuckled. “You say that as if we can have him disappear.”

Josiah raised a finger. “Well—”

“Don’t start.”

Jacob laughed. “I was just kidding.”

Jacob’s guffaw grew. “No, he wasn’t.”

Josiah shrugged. “If you know, you know.”