Category: CITW: Main Story

Chapter 63: The Noose is Fitted

(AKA I commend my soul. . . )

Ram’s POV—Friday Afternoon

Hal’s going to be out of the office over the next week. I’m happy for him, but I hate acting as XO. I’m in my office, trying to catch up on paperwork and schedul ing men before I take point on the bridge. I’m hoping for a quiet day.

Steph cannot poach from our office anymore. Hal and Manny looked at the figures, but until we pick up a few more contracts, we can’t hire, plus we have to keep in mind we have men in San Antonio. We have to keep their positions open. Thank god for Hal and his calendars. At least this duty doesn’t take as long as it used to.

Phone rings. “Yo!”

“Yo.” Woody. “Look at the CO’s cameras.”

“No live monitoring.” I’m switching to the correct feed.

“I’m recording everything. You’ll thank me.”

I switch over and I immediately understand.

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Chapter 62: You’re Proving Your Worth

Some racist speech in this chapter. The views expressed are NOT my own.

This chapter starts a week after “The Gossip says. . . “

Joe’s POV

I finally have proof Mañoso is trying to have me killed.

After two successful months in Delaware, he’s stuck me in Charlotte under a new name, with new credentials and rough intel. Basically, I have two feebs, Mason and Jackson, who he has confirmed are hiding a major gangbanger in witness protection. The guy was taking kickbacks from MS-13 and allowed them to mow down his entire gang. Jesus, a snitch. Wonderful. He needs me to get them talking about it on tape.

Suicide mission, anyone?

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Chapter 61: Cuteness Overload

A/N: Whew! Two weeks of heavy topics. Now for some FUN!

Steph’s POV

I flop back on the couch. Hector’s gone to pick up Nikki and Hector Manuel from the airport, and Nancy is cleaning the house.

“Less mess this time.”

I grin. “I’m doing leadership retreats with the company. The men cook and clean and I enjoy life.”

Nancy laughs. “Good for you. If you provide the space, they do the work. That sounds fair to me.”

I walk into the kitchen and peer into the tank. Rex is snoozing. My poor baby. I’ve barely thought about him but the Trenton man each week took over ‘Rex duty’. The other strategists and liaisons laughed each time. Continue reading →

Chapter 60: Liaison Week at the Beach, II

Thomas’s POV

Sharing a room with Rodney this week is going to be difficult. I want to kill him. I don’t know much about what’s going on, but I do know that Armando and Diego have worked directly with and respect the CO deeply. That’s all I need to know. Rodney should be grateful I don’t have direct experience with her. If I did, he’d need to sleep with one eye open.

I’m not much of a talker, which makes my position as liaison difficult sometimes. Diego, Armando and I have all laughed about it. Armando talks too fucking much for his position and Diego and I don’t talk at all. We’ve laughed that perhaps the wrong men are in the wrong positions.

I can tell that Diego is on his last days in Miami. His NYC work made him a star and it’s clear Armando is trying to train him to become an XO. I know Diego wants the position, he’s waiting on it, and it’s just a matter of where it will be. I’m hoping San Antonio; I’m hoping his position doesn’t come at Armando’s expense.

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Chapter 59: Liaisons Week at the Beach, Part I

A/N: Assume someone is translating for Hector. Conversations in Italics are in Spanish.

Bobby’s POV

Ram meets me at Newark Airport. We’re headed straight to Point Pleasant from the airport and Ram has a grin on his face.

“Sir.”

“Ram.” I’m proud of Ram. He’s done a good job of acting as both Trenton’s mouthpiece and as Steph’s. Brand new and making a name for himself. And he’s great at calming clients. I’m impressed. “You look amused.”

“Looking forward to this. Steph says we’re building RangeWorld this week. The housekeepers have been in their space. It’s impressive. I can see how they’re using it and it’s creative.”

I nod, smiling. “Yes, Ella called wanting to talk about how to coordinate care for injured and sick RangeMen within it. The ladies have ideas. I’m not ready.” We chuckle. Continue reading →

Chapter 58 Strategists Week at the Beach, Part II

Patrick’s POV—Wednesday

Morning activity? Amusement park. The CO ate cotton candy and rode the Ferris wheel all morning. She was a happy lady. Chase was amused. It was his idea and it was a last minute one, but she grinned all morning. We’ve been trying to think of something, besides flowers, to say ‘Thank you’ but we’re stuck. Each man is hoping inspiration hits soon.

This afternoon, it was my turn. Mark and I went over my offerings with a fine-tooth comb before I left, so I know they’re in good shape.

Wrong. The guys are vicious. I honestly think they enjoyed it. Jorge, Manny and Chase tore holes through my proposals and the carcasses were obliterated by the CO. Les was laughing his ass off. Continue reading →

Chapter 57: Nightmare?

A/N: I warned you.

Steph’s POV

I’m exhausted. Les and I have been talking quietly about Miami and the situation there. Les doesn’t think we should fire Armando but he does want to know what’s really going on.

“My information about Armando is all over the place, Les.”

Les sighs. “Mine too, Beautiful, which is why I don’t want to fire him. I think something else is going on, especially since both of us have our instincts ringing on Miami. I’m headed straight there from here, to pick up Shane and thrash Antonio.”

“What did he do? Wait, was he the one with the petition about Ella?”

“Yup.”

I commit that name to memory. I’m going to punish him too. I start thinking of what I can do.

Les eventually leaves and I get comfortable in my bed. I’m half asleep, dreaming of Ranger, when the alarm sounds.

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Chapter 56: Strategists Week at the Beach, Part I

A/N: The Album for Steph’s Point Pleasant rental is here.

Patrick’s POV—Last week

0900. Time for the pulse check.

“Yo!” Diego.

“Yo!” x5.

“Roll call. Miami, present.” Miami always starts the pulse check and we move north to each branch.

“Atlanta, present.” Chase.

“Trenton, present.” Manny.

“NYC, present.” Jorge. Cool guy. I’m starting to like him.

“Boston, present.”

“Good. Turning this over to Trenton,” Diego says.

“Thanks. OK, men, here’s the deal. Everyone got their invitation to the beach, with the address and suggestions, correct?”

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Chapter 55: We Talk? Part II

Steph’s POV

The next morning, I make it clear I don’t want to talk about his op or our relationship any more this week. Ranger puts his blank face in place and nods. I know he’s confused. I’m confused, but I know two things.

One: Denial Land will see me soon, and Two: Ella’s list is important. I need to know what I want before I talk to Ranger or I might agree to everything he says. Then I’ll be angry and looking to get out of it, except I’ve never made a promise to Ranger that I’ve broken. I’d like to keep that record.

I’m finally starting to see how important Ella’s list is. She and Grandma were right. I’ve never been able to tell Dickie, Joe or Ranger what I want in a relationship, just what I don’t want. Dickie dictated the terms in our marriage. I decorated a house I hated because he felt it was the appropriate house for an up-and-coming lawyer. I agreed to start cooking lessons for the dinner parties he assumed we would have. I bit my tongue at his mother’s rude comments instead of saying something because Dickie’s balls were (and still are) owned by her.

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Chapter 54: We Talk? Part I

FYI The ‘Bastard.’ of the last chapter was Hector, not Ranger! Sorry for the confusion!

Ranger’s POV

Romance her. Hector is an insistent ass. I’m watching Steph now and I wish I could just walk over and kiss her. She looks so cute in her polka-dot bikini. She needs to reapply the sunblock or she’s gonna burn soon.

I watch her rub the back of her neck and look around. I grin. Two minutes and she knows I’m here, but she doesn’t look for me. She turns around and heads back to her house. As she heads back, I see her looking around warily. OK, maybe she is looking for me. I watch, cautiously, prepared to duck behind a tree if necessary. Instead, my phone rings.

“You are the world’s worst stalker.”

“Fuck you.”

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