Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Vacation

CADEN

As the month goes by, I plan to have a little surprise that I haven’t notified anyone in the house about.

I have my guys—Frankie, Tank, Tony, Niko, Jesus—and their families along with Frankie’s parents and all the kids meet me in the conference room.

I see people file in, and they can tell something is going on. They are looking around, but the others are just as stumped.

I even kept this big secret from Eva just so it would be a surprise to everyone. I wait until everyone in the room is seated before I start my speech.

“Now that everyone is here… I know the last month or two has been quite a whirlwind for some, and for others, the last six months have been crazy. I can’t thank you guys enough for sticking through everything that has happened.

“So, to thank everyone in this room for their patience and support, I took the liberty of planning a vacation for us all for a week. Even Eva doesn’t know, so don’t even look at her.

“Vinny and his guys will be here in the morning to hold the fort down for the week since we are all driving to our destination. I rented us hotel rooms right in the park so no security is really needed.”

Everyone is watching in anticipation of where we are going.

“Kids, we are going to Magictown! So we need to get packed for tomorrow!”

The screams that come from that room… you’d think people were getting tortured. My son is screaming as Eva looks at me wide-eyed.

“Don’t worry. I have already notified your doctor. He has a doctor down there for us on standby just in case.”

Everyone goes running out except Jesus and Maria and their kids. I can see the reservation on their faces, so I sit down next to them and send the kids outside.

“Jesus, talk to me. What’s wrong?”

“It’s just we can’t accept this. It’s too much. You have treated us amazingly—letting us live here, feeding us… we were at your wedding, and now this?”

“Jesus and Maria, look at me, please. You are part of this family, period.

“I told you that I take care of mine. You didn’t have to stick around after we took out Ortiz, but you did. You didn’t have to show up to the barbecue we had, but you did.

“You didn’t have to take me up on my offer to live here, but you did. You’re family! As long as I am living and breathing, you will always have a spot next to me with my boys. So, don’t worry about anything, and go get packed.”

They nod their heads, and as they stand up, I give them each a hug before they walk out. I make my way upstairs and see everyone running around packing to get ready. I can’t wait to be on the road tomorrow.

I don’t think we will be getting much sleep tonight, so we may just end up leaving once everyone is packed. Once everyone has their bags packed, we go and load up the cars. We are taking six SUVs.

We are going on vacation, but are you ever really on vacation? We will have to blend in, so we’re only taking our cell phones and guns. I made sure to get permits for everyone, so we won’t have any issues.

***

When the next morning slowly creeps in, kids are running everywhere, as the parents have decided to just go and grab coffee and food on the way.

Vinny knows we will probably be on the road, and the staff already knows he’s coming, so we don’t have to wait.

While we are driving, the kids are bouncing off the walls and waiting anxiously. Luckily, it’s only a few hours to drive with one thirty-minute pit stop for potty breaks and snacks, since the kids didn’t eat before we left.

By the time we pull in, it’s almost noon, so we quickly get checked in and offload all our luggage. We all meet up downstairs, and I hand out their passes so we can all head to the gates.

While we are walking up to the gate, Nate starts slowing down and just starts crying. People are looking.

I expected this, maybe, when we were leaving the park. Except we haven’t even gotten to the gate yet. I kneel down to his level to try and figure out what’s wrong.

“Are you okay, son? What’s wrong?”

“I never thought I would see it.”

“Well, you know what, son, I’ve never been here either, so it will be our first time together!”

He jumps into my arms, giving me a hug. I just pick him up and continue heading in. We stop and look at shops where we both get our first-time-visitor pins. We have to see anything and everything.

We all get embroidered ear hats because you know it’s a mandatory thing. Eva gets a queen one which is fitting. Nate gets a car one, and I get a king one to match Eva.

We all travel together and feed everyone, and since all the guys have my credit card, anything they want is on me. Within reason, of course.

We all meet back at the hotel for dinner, and the poor kids are falling asleep at the tables while eating. I think I can safely say our first day went well.

The whole week is the same, day after day, but we sneak in off-days so we can go to the pool and relax. We adults need some downtime, also, other than just sleep at night.

I’m sitting by the pool with my son snuggling in my arms when my phone rings with Leo’s name coming up on it.

“What’s up, Leo?”

“Okay, so I got info about Veronica. All the properties are around your area. Everyone will be in the same school district for middle school and high school. I’m unsure about elementary school.

“There’s a few, and the lines are drawn weird, but I should know for sure in a few days. Also, word got out she’s recruiting guards and has made a few phone calls to ones we got from Ortiz.

“Most pledged their loyalty to you, but two left and went to her.”

“All right. Is Vinny there?”

“Yeah, hold on.”

While I’m talking to Leo and Vinny, I see Jesus pick up his phone and start chatting. He then looks at me as the color drains from his face.

“What do you want me to do about those two?” Vinny asks.

“Give them one chance to come back,” I say. “If they don’t, you know what to do, but give me a few minutes.”

“Okay, consider it done. I will wait for your call.”

I hang up, then I hand Nate over to Eva and call Jesus over. He slowly walks over, looking at everyone after he hangs up his phone. When he stands next to me, I hear him gulp audibly.

“Jesus, I am not a difficult person, and I am not a tyrant. All I ask is for loyalty, that’s it. I’m sure you just got a phone call from one of the two men that just flipped sides.

“I am giving them one chance and one chance only. Come back or their fates are sealed, as my hands are tied. There is a code, and I cannot have leaks.”

Jesus nods his head then picks up his phone. After a few seconds, he starts to speak.

“Man, I am telling you this once and only once. Come back or there will be consequences. You know you have already been ratted out. The order has been given out.

“You can’t pull that shit, and I won’t stand up for you, either. You knew where our loyalty was, and now you made your bed.”

“My king, you have to do what you have to do,” Jesus says, after finishing his call.

I nod as I pick up my phone.

“Vinny, put the order out. It’s a done deal.”

“You got it, Caden.”

When I hang up, I turn and I can see Jesus is upset. I know he knew these guys, but this is a dangerous business and it’s a dangerous game.

They know the consequences of being in this line of work. They could get shot tomorrow for all they know.

“Jesus, I take care of mine. Be loyal and your family will always be safe at the house. If something happens, they will never have to move and will be taken care of.

“I take care of my family and my men. Please don’t ever make me have to make that phone call for you.”

“My king, my loyalties lie with you and the queen. I will never betray that, no matter what.”

“Thank you, Jesus. Now, let’s head back and finish the week having fun!”

I pat him on the back as we head back over to everyone. Never do I ever like having to order someone’s death. Except for, in this line of work, we can’t take chances. Especially when they leave for a rival.

We finish the week strong, exhausted and a little sunburnt. We slowly get stuff packed before we head home and get ready for work. In just a few short months, our baby girl will be here. We have decided on a name.

Jocelyn Gracie Maxwell.