Steph’s POV

I spend the next morning in my thinking position in the bed. There are lots of decisions for me to make and I don’t want to. None of them are easy. None of them are simple. None of them are clear and no matter what I choose, everything will change. I don’t have enough options and I don’t have enough information.

I sound like Javi. I completely understand his hesitance now. It makes total sense. What did Hector say?

Love is rarely sensible but marriage? Marriages that last are based on sensible standards. Do we get along? Do we share the same values? Do we support each other? Are our goals in life similar? Are we able to make decisions together and can we disagree and still be OK with each other? That sort of thing.

If I look at my relationships with Joe and Ranger along those guidelines, how do they stack up? Joe? Mostly no. Ranger? Mostly no idea, yes to the ‘support’ and ‘get along’ questions.

I flop onto my back and sigh. No easy answers there.

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A/N: Conversation in Italics understood to be in Spanish. Also, this chapter opens the week after Steph and Hector return from NYC.

Get comfy and grab the Kleenex. This is a long chapter.

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Hector’s POV—Wednesday Morning

This situation cannot continue. I can’t take it. This has to stop. I’m getting flashbacks of living in my Mama’s house when my sisters became women. I want to run and hide.

My Angelita is losing it.

I sent Hal a memo and told him to modify it so each XO understands. I could tell he had Ram’s help in crafting it. He sent the memo this morning.

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NOT FOR DISCUSSION—TO BE LIMITED TO CORE TEAM AT EACH BRANCH ONLY

Please be advised. The CO is in an uncertain mood. Engagements in Trenton have been unsuccessful. Conversation with the CO should be limited to business matters only until situation is resolved. Do NOT attempt to tease or question until CIO and/or Chief Strategist can determine issue.

Failure to comply may find you without your balls. Tread carefully, men.

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Steph’s POV—Monday

I’m curious about Javier’s desire to get rid of Bonds Enforcement. It’s a money maker all over the company, a backbone to every other branch. I checked the figures; at every other branch, it accounts for a solid 20% of their revenue, if not more. Here in NYC it’s 10%. I’m wondering if that’s why NYC was having so many problems, but I’m also curious about the fact that neither Manny nor Diego mentioned this as a problem. I want to know more, so I tell Hector I want to shadow Mack, the head of Client Services, for a day to learn more. Hector is not happy.

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Lester’s POV—Monday night

Beautiful and I have to have a talk.

When a man walks into his home and encounters a shapely behind clad only in a thong and a tight black T-shirt laid out on his sofa, he gets thoughts. Cargo tightening thoughts. Hell, that’s a fucking invitation.

If we have to share this apartment for two weeks, she’s gotta wear pants to bed. That’s a temptation I don’t need. I’m here to assess and stabilize the branch, not fantasize over Steph’s ass and prowl the NYC clubs for suitable alternatives. Damn!

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Manny’s POV

My instincts are screaming that I’ve just found the perfect strategist for Javier. Jorge sounds like exactly what Javier needs: someone who’s rash, bold, and likes to make bets. Javier would balance him out, force him to prove his assumptions. Jorge is someone Javi trusts. It’s about time I finally found Javier an option; I had examined the backgrounds of every rising employee within RangeMan and none of them were right for Javi. I’m willing to take the chance on this guy.

Diego closes the office door and we shuffle around, pretending to search for keys. Diego gives Adam the rundown of the situation, and both of them are looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Explain,” Adam asks, softly.

“This guy sounds like the perfect counterweight for Javier. This guy is fast, makes bets and hunches, will take a chance. Come on, Wall Street trader? He’s used to making quick decisions, moving decisively. He’ll push Javi to make decisions, and he will help him bounce ideas around. Plus, his background is finance and marketing. He’ll get out there and fight for business. Meanwhile, Javi is slow, deliberate, and cautious. He’ll force his friend to prove he’s right, get the market research. Given what Jorge has already been through, Javier won’t have to push that demand too hard.”

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Steph’s POV—Sunday Morning

I spent the last two weeks in Trenton preparing for the NYC trip. I’ve reviewed Javier’s financials and Manny and Diego’s ideas for his pipeline, and I’m ready to help Javier back up on his feet. Diego reports that in the past week they’ve been able to move with some of their ideas, especially in business investigations, so the demand is there. He also reported that in the past month they’ve been able to pull back contracts that were lost, so he’s hoping the bleeding is contained to being thwarted in bids, not a loss of reputation.

Lester was pleased to hear that and said he would arrive on Tuesday to help get things sorted out. The lawyers on retainer filed suit against CombinedSecurities and, given that they can’t find Liam, they want to talk about a settlement. Lester smells blood and his number starts in the nine figures. After all, the CEO is looking at major jail time.

“Pay or play,” he keeps saying. I asked him to explain during our last call and he snorted. “The bastards will pay or we’re headed to court. If they’re willing to deal, what little bits Bobby played must’ve scared them shitless.”

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Conversations in Italics understood to be in Spanish.

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Ram’s POV

Something is wrong.

I’m no genius. I don’t claim to understand women and there’s a lot about them that I want to remain a mystery, but something is wrong with our CO.

She’s . . . not herself.

I’m back in the Bomber file, looking for threats, but I haven’t found any. The men are discreetly looking for a new stalker. Hal and I are both worried and scared. We called Manny, told him to double time it back here for a day or two to assess her, use his instincts.

His assessment: She’s angry.

Thanks, Manny. I mentally sent him the finger.

Steph’s behavior this week has been abnormal. She spent the past week, since her return from NYC, in the gun range every day, twice a day. Every man here had one eye on his work, the other eye on the CO’s progress in the range. We aren’t sure what to make of it. We’re proud (Finally!) but worried.

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