Category: CITW: Main Story

Chapter 83: The Power of a Woman

A/N: This chapter starts the Friday Steph leaves for her weekend with Carlos.
I know this chapter, timeline wise, is all over the place. Sorry I can’t give you a more linear flow in this chapter but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes! So if you’re confused, don’t worry. The next chapter explains everything!

Diego’s POV—Friday Morning

Stephanie’s been walking around with an evil smile on her face for the past 18 hours.

Hal is terrified. Thomas, Pat and I are confused. Mack’s amused. He can’t wait to see what she comes up with.

“Diego, I’m telling you, that smile is trouble!” Hal hissed as we left the CO’s office at 0800. “That smile contains all the evil and mischief she can come up with.” He stopped dead in the middle of the hall and shuddered. “That smile was the last thing I saw before I was stunned.”

I froze. Whatever the CO had come up with, it was guaranteed to be the work of an evil genius.

I need to go light a candle. Continue reading →

Chapter 82: Alone with you

Ranger’s POV

The distraction was simple. I bought Babe a ticket from Miami to Newark to leave at 1300 on Friday. By 1100, Diego had her at the airport and walked with her to security. He ensured she made it through security with her bag before leaving. I idled in the cell phone parking lot until my phone beeped, then swung back out to the arrivals area and retrieved Babe, who had changed clothes, shoes, and hairstyle in the airport bathroom.

“Hey, Carlos.”

She’s gotta stop doing that. I can’t stop smiling. “Hey, Babe. Enjoy your bit of Mission: Impossible there?”

“Yes!” She kisses me then snaps her seatbelt. I’m staring, dumbfounded, at her. “Ranger?” She waves her hand in front of my face. “Carlos? Tampa. Let’s go.” Continue reading →

Chapter 81: You lead, I’ll Follow

Steph’s POV—Wednesday

I wake up bright and early the next morning and go to the gym. My presence causes every man to stop and stare. I merely wave and hit the treadmill. After an hour, I’m dripping nasty sweat and exhausted. Thomas has arrived and is smiling at me.

“Mats?”

I roll my eyes. “Right. Wait until I’m good and tired to issue a challenge.”

He laughs. “Mack keeps telling me about your pointy elbows.”

I frown and look at my elbows. They look like normal elbows. “OK, but if Mack warned you, I’m promising nothing.” Continue reading →

Chapter 80: You need to get a new idea

A/N: The entire chapter is Mack’s POV. You know what his language is like. There’s a slang dictionary at the end.
 
UPDATE: This chapter was written before the clearance. As another reviewer pointed out, Mack’s seen Hal before. Chapter has been updated slightly. 🙂 Whoops!

Mack’s POV—Monday

I insisted on protecting the CO. She’s major and she needs serious firepower and a no-shit attitude at her back. I’m not saying Linden ain’t shit; I’m saying I’m not afraid to do time again. He needs to stay clean. I’m ride or die.

She saved NYC. Men in this branch are serious about her. The moment Thomas told me what went down, I swung my balls and called Tank Saturday morning. First time I ever called him ’bout something but I’m serious. The CO will have protection. Continue reading →

Chapter 79: Orders and Reprieves

Steph’s POV

Diego’s jaw is tight. He keeps swallowing hard and he hasn’t taken his eyes off the road.

“Diego?” I speak softly. I recognize this face. This is the ‘I fucked up beyond all comprehension’ face. “Diego?” He looks over at me and I smile. “This is not your fault. This is not Maria’s fault. This is my crap luck coming back to bite us all.”

He gives me a tight smile and we pull into the garage. Maria’s there, in tears.

“Stephanie!” she rushes forward and hugs me tight. “Oh, Stephanie! I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” She’s sobbing and hugging me so tightly I can’t breathe. I pat her back awkwardly. Continue reading →

Chapter 78: Close Calls

A/N: Trying something new here. We’re moving backwards in time. 😀

Danilo’s POV—2 am

I hate downtown duty, and downtown duty watching the local ICE office is the worst. It’s boring and demeaning and I shouldn’t have to do this shit. I’m a Don, not a soldier. I should be home, coordinating shit since Piman is in ATL. Instead, I’ve been sitting in the same fucking spot, in this car, for the past three hours thinking of ways to kill Piman. If I didn’t love him and trust his judgment like I do, I’d kill the bastard.

He got me to agree to this because he said he felt, in his soul, that I needed to be at ICE tonight. When Piman feels things, in his soul, I shut up and obey.

All Reyes in Miami are on alert tonight. He called an hour ago. Hector’s viciousness has reached a new level, but Piman’s getting word that el Tigre’s woman may have been kidnapped. Everyone is to stay alert and ready for action.

Still, this is boring. Next time, I wanna pull duty on the Cub. Continue reading →

Chapter 77: Off With a Warning

Mark’s POV

Stephanie’s just given us the final report and I’m leafing through it. Danny was right; this is comprehensive. She took a look at my building, spoke to my men, and discussed our offerings and their viability with the Core Team. This report indicates we’re doing a good job, business wise, but we could be doing much better. That alone is humbling. This has always been considered the best run branch in the company. Now we’re being told that we’re just OK.

Leadership? Resounding failure. Continue reading →

Chapter 76: The Consequences of My Actions

Danny’s POV

I have a head full of dust and a headache. I also have an intense desire to body slam this RangeMan.

“Perhaps if you told me what you were looking for, sir, I might be able to help you find it.” Jason, in charge of the gym and garage. Usually the man in charge of those areas also has charge of the building. I know he’s curious but I’m doing an assessment. He’s been following me around all morning and I’ve asked him, politely, to leave. He hasn’t. My instinct is to tell him to go away, rudely.

“Go away. Now.“

He looks shocked, then angry, before he turns on his heel and marches off. Thank god. Peace and quiet at last. Continue reading →

Chapter 75: Boston

A/N: I would like to thank Roscommon for her outstanding work helping me negotiate the Boston ahcent (LOL) and pointing out local jokes, insider info, and things for Steph to do. The Boston chapters would be very boring without her. Thank you Roscommon!

Jorge’s POV

I asked for hot doughnuts and Krispy Kreme delivered. Now, I know everyone isn’t a fan of Krispy Kreme and I get it. Everyone’s had a bad one but when you have a fresh one, right from the oven, soft, sweet, fragrant with the yeasty goodness . . . sorry, but nothing beats a hot fresh Krispy Kreme.

And judging by the look on Stephanie’s face, she agrees. The moans are starting to get to me. I gotta get somewhere and adjust before I embarrass myself.

“Oh my god,” she moans, with a look of pained ecstasy on her face. People are watching and I’m smiling. We’re in the lobby of Penn Station, waiting for the train to arrive, and Steph’s working through the last one. I had three and she had three. “Where have these been all my life?” she asks, licking her fingers. Continue reading →

Chapter 74: I Demand Respect

Steph’s POV

I pull up outside Lula’s 20 minutes later. I stopped for ice cream and Tastykakes, just in case.

“Hey, Girl! ‘Bout time you made it.” Lula is all smiles and I’m even madder at her. “What’s up?”

“We need to talk.”

Lula’s smile fades. I walk in and sit on the couch. I hold up the ice cream and she grabs two spoons and her ice cream from the kitchen. She settles on the couch and we dig in. It’s silent in the room for a few minutes before I say anything.

“We’ve been friends for a long time, Lula. We’ve been through a lot. But today, you put me in a dangerous situation and left me there.” I finally look at her and she’s shocked. She’s stopped eating ice cream to look at me.

“I knew something was wrong. I felt it and I wanted to get out of there. It took forever to convince you to leave with me and then, once I did convince you, we walked right into a problem.”

Continue reading →