Hotch couldn't help but chuckle as Sloane was regaling them with an amusing tale.
"It's a true story," Sloane flashed a cocky smirk then took a drink.
Alex focused on her date as he laughed.
"It's good to see you enjoying yourself, Alex." Sloane observed.
"Oh, well, it's actually good to see Aaron laughing. He's usually so serious." Alex stayed closed to the truth.
"And what is it that keeps you so serious, Aaron? What do you do for a living?" Sloane asked.
"I'm an attorney," Hotch stated.
"Public defender's office?" Sloane was trying to be insulting.
Alex placed her hand over Hotch's. "Aaron is a partner in his own firm."
"Impressive; what kind of law do you practice?" Sloane seemed a bit interested.
"Civil, mostly. My firm is on retainer with several corporations. We have handled everything from parking tickets to embezzlement," Hotch spun.
"He assisted in a high profile murder case last year," Alex added.
"Assisted?" Sloane raised his eyebrow.
"I would be doing a disservice to my client by giving the pretense that I could run a murder case on my own. I reached out to a very prominent attorney and we worked together in that case."
"And won," Alex bragged.
"Remind me to get one of your cards before you leave," Sloane raised an eyebrow.
"Of course," Hotch replied.
"So, what have you been doing with yourself, Alex?" Sloane changed his focus.
"I am a certified translator. I finally put all of those French classes to good use," She snickered.
"That sounds like it can be a pretty lucrative career," Sloane was impressed.
"Please excuse me for a moment." Hotch stood up and placed his napkin on his chair.
Reid kept watch and timed it to get up and walk along side Hotch at the right moment to not look conspicuous as they headed towards the men's room.
"I need a business card," Hotch whispered.
"I'm on it," Reid acknowledged and the two went their separate ways.
Reid rushed through the hotel lobby and out through the main entrance door going right past Morgan and JJ. "Garcia, I am going to need your magic fingers," he called over the com.
Morgan watched as Reid ran further away from the hotel then focused back on JJ with one hand leaned against the wall and the other wrapped around her waist.
Back in the dining room Sloane gulped down the remaining scotch in his glass then continued to leer at Alex while Hotch was absent from the table. "So, is your boyfriend aware that you used to bartend at my club?"
"Yes he does," she stated confidently.
"Is he also aware of the extra side jobs you would do for me?" He flashed a taunting grin.
Alex glanced down at her fork and imagined stabbing him in the chest but turned to him with a grin. "What side jobs are you referring to?"
Sloane was amused by her answer as he took a drink from his refilled glass.
"What do you want, Julian?" Alex asked.
"I want a lot of things," he fixated on her.
"Why did you invite Aaron and me to dinner with you? It's not like we are old friends that need to spend time getting reacquainted." Alex was getting dangerously close to showing her true feelings.
"I ran into someone that I had known from several years ago on a remote island, is it so farfetched to want to spend a few hours with… a friend?"
"Of course not," Alex replied as Hotch returned to his seat.
"I hope I didn't miss anything," Hotch said as he sat back down.
"Alex was just about to tell me why you both chose this island as your vacation destination."
"When I was in college, I had a tight-knit group of friends. We did everything together, even vacation. One spring break we traveled to an island in the Bahamas. That's where he fell in love," Alex started her story.
"A local girl?" Sloane asked. "Some of these island girls can be irresistible."
"No, actually, with the island. He said that it was the most beautiful place he has ever been and would want to spend the rest of his life down here." She remembered when Charles fell in love.
A Gulfstream jet started its approached toward a small Caribbean island with Hugh Barlow in the captain's chair. "We will be landing in a few; it might be a bit rough." He announced to his teammates.
Charles Sullivan couldn't take his eyes from the window as he focused on the crystal blue waters below. "This place is amazing."
Reid and Alex chuckled to each other.
Charles turned to them, "can't you both see the beauty in this place's tranquility?"
"It's an island, we've been to several islands. What makes this place any different?" Alex questioned.
"I don't know, I can't explain it," Charles turned back toward the window.
The plane shook as the wheels touched down. They taxied to a small hanger where they were able to park during their mission.
Hours later the quartet were planted in front of the rolling beach waters using the cover as vacationers and even convincing themselves.
"I could see myself living here," Charles announced to the team.
"What are you talking about?" Hugh asked.
"I'm talking about my future. I can buy one of these resorts, have a staff run it and just enjoy the rest of my life sitting on this beautiful beach. I wouldn't have to worry about anything other than what I was going to have for breakfast that day." He placed his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair.
"Reid leaned over and placed his hand on his friend's knee. "You know what, buddy, that's a damn good dream and we are going to make sure it happens."
Charles looked over to see his friends smiling and nodding in agreement.
"Just call me and I will be there," Alex promised.
"That goes for all of us," Hugh added.
"I couldn't have asked for better friends," Charles basked in their eternal friendship.
JJ held onto Morgan's hand as he led her into the elevator and pressed the button to the sixth floor. The metal doors opened and they stepped into the foyer then turned down the hallway.
"You know I have been thinking about this all day, thinking about you." Morgan stared into her eyes.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" JJ asked as they charged toward room 605.
"Of course I'm sure. Come on, we are literally in paradise, and we can let this moment go to waste."
The couple stopped in front of the locked door and Morgan reached into his pocket and pulled out the plastic keycard.
JJ lunged toward him forcing his back against the door. They held onto each other as their mouths embraced.
"Excuse me," a man approached them.
"Oh," JJ was surprised while holding onto Morgan's shoulders.
The man glared at them, "just what do you think you're doing?"
"I am getting friendly with my girl, not that it is any of your business," Morgan snapped.
"It is my business when you are doing in front of my room." He stared at them.
"Your room?" Morgan questioned. "This is my room!"
"You have the wrong room. Now you better leave or I am going to make you leave." The man threatened.
"Now you want to start something in front of my own room? Room 505!" Morgan shouted.
"This is room 605; you are on the wrong floor!"
Morgan and JJ looked at the room number then both chortled.
"Hey man, I'm sorry, you're right." Morgan's attitude changed. "No hard feelings." He patted the man on the shoulder. He grabbed onto JJ's hand as they both headed back toward the elevator.
Morgan and JJ walked out of the elevator a bit surprised to see Reid standing in the lobby.
"So, what did you find out?" Reid asked.
The three of them walked through the lobby together as JJ leaned in toward Reid. "There was a guard posted down the hall, unnoticeable. As soon as we were in front of that door he was on us."
"This Sloane guy doesn't pull any punches. I wouldn't doubt if he had a guard on his balcony as well, or at least video surveillance." Morgan chimed in as they continued walking.
"We need to assume that he has more protection than just a few guards. We all need to proceed with caution." Reid left them and headed back to his seat at the bar where he watched them finishing their dinner together.
Sloane gazed at his two guests, "I have had a fantastic evening."
"Yes, thank you for inviting us," Hotch said with a grin.
The party rose from the table and started toward the bar on their way out. Reid got off his seat and brushed past Hotch placing something in his hand.
Hotch looked down to see a few business cards with Aaron Hodges listed as a high profile attorney. He then put his hand in his inner jacket pocket. "Oh, Julian, I just realized," he held one of the cards between his fingers and handed one over.
Julian was pleasantly surprised, "thank you, I will be sure to call you when we get back to the states."
"I look forward to it," Hotch announced as they shook hands.
"I hope I see you on the beach tomorrow. Have a pleasant evening." Sloane left the couple and moved into the lobby from the restaurant.
Hotch grabbed onto Alex and pulled her aside in the empty corridor. "Did that go as well as I think it did?"
Alex grinned, "yes, it did."
Reid stayed close behind Sloane while going unnoticed.
Sloane pressed the button for the elevator then turned to his bodyguard. "We need to keep an eye on them, especially her."