Category: CITW: Side Story

Chapter 76.5: I’m not the same person

Armando’s POV—Wednesday

Tank and I are reviewing the third option the Atlanta guys have chosen for a Charlotte headquarters. The first two were busts. Tank didn’t like the locations or the setup inside. This building is more promising, but the longer we walk it, the more flaws I point out. Tank merely nods in agreement. The listing agent is looking at me as if he’d like to choke me now.

“Mr. Cortes, for the needs of your company, this is the perfect setup. Centrally located, priced to sell with excellent potential. This place is perfect.”

My back stiffens. I’ve had enough condescension to last a lifetime. I turn my coldest look on the real estate agent, who goes pale.

“Mr. Law, are you in security?” Head shake. “Have you ever worked with a security company before?” Another no. “Then please explain to me how you know what is perfect for the needs of our company?” Continue reading →

Chapter 72.7: We Find Common Ground

Lula’s POV— Wednesday Night

OK, I didn’t expect to come back to Trenton and find I’d been replaced by the new flavor of the month.

“Hi! I’m Candy.” She’s all bright and happy smiles. Steph and I are meeting at my apartment to help me pack up and Hal just dropped them off. Connie and ML are coming soon. I look at Steph. Is this chick serious? Steph smiles.

“Lula, this is Candy. She’s our new head of HR. Candy, this is Lula, Tank’s fiancée and my bounty hunter partner.”

Candy’s eyes widen. “Oh, nice to meet you! Are you a RangeWoman too?” Continue reading →

Humbled, Part I

A/N: Like Lula and Tank, this started life as a one-shot, but so many of you seem to enjoy Chenae’s humbling that I decided to expand it. Also, please pay attention to how certain themes tie back to the main story.

Chenae’s POV

First sorority committee meeting of the year. I’m the president and I’m being humiliated by everyone.

“Soror Chenae, you’ll be in charge of the fundraising committee again this year, right?” Soror Christina asks, smirking. Bitch. She’s enjoying this.

“Unfortunately, Soror, I cannot. I have to concentrate on finals.”

“Nearly all of us have to concentrate on finals, Soror Chenae. It’s a tiresome fact of life in college,” she says. “You’ve done such a brilliant job the past two years. I think you can handle it another year. All in favor?”

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Chapter 70.3 Armando’s Had ENOUGH!

Armando’s POV—Friday Afternoon

Mariela meets me at the airport and I hug her on sight. My wife. She’s stood by me for years, during the best and the worst. Time for me to begin repaying her devotion with my support, my full support.

“I love you. Thank you for standing with me. Thank you for staying by my side,” I whisper. I watch her eyes water and kiss her gently. “Thank you for my babies, my girls. Thank you for having the patience of a saint. Thank you for being my partner in life.”

Mari smiles, but it’s shaky. I pass her my handkerchief and hold her close.

“I love you, Mando.” She sniffs. “My vows are eternal. I mean them.”

“And I mean mine. ‘For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.’ I haven’t done that for you, as I should, and that ends. You have my vow, Mariela. You and the girls will come first.”

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Chapter 69.7: Girls Night Out, Part II

A/N: Although I am occasionally kinda smart, I do miss the simple things (cringe). I keep forgetting you guys don’t have my timeline. So I’m putting a sanitized version out there (can’t give away secrets!) so you understand what’s happening when. Check my profile for the link.

Steph’s POV—Saturday Night

Honestly, I was more interested in getting some sleep this weekend, but ML and Connie insisted.

“You’ve been at the beach, surrounded by handsome, buff RangeMen for six weeks! Time for girl time!”

I still had no interest in going until Lula calls. “Steph! You coming out with us tonight?”

I yawn. “I was thinking of calling it a night.”

“Damn. I was looking forward to showing you the ring.”

I perk up. “Well, maybe a few minutes. What’s the plan?”

“So far, dinner at that fancy ass place Tank took us to. We have big things to celebrate.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I’m getting married, you’re blowing RangeMan up, Connie had a date—”

“Really?”

“A doctor, girl! She’s excited.”

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Chapter 69.5: This Shit is Real

Manny’s POV—Baltimore, MD, Thursday

Today’s fishing session is probably my most dangerous. Juana Baez is an ex-girlfriend of mine, the only time I ever mixed the job with my personal life. She works in Major Crimes. I saved her life, twice, and it wasn’t a bad breakup, so she was happy to hear from me.

Every time I see her again, I wonder why we broke up. Juana is 34, my age, with long brown hair and brown eyes. Coke bottle shape that looks good in everything she wears. Everything about her turns me on. We loved each other, had fun, shared the same interests, and our families got along. We were the perfect couple. Oh. Right. That was the problem. Juana wants someone who adores her, worships her, and lives only to cater to her every whim. I want a woman a little more independent. My salary (at the time) did not support Juana’s preferred lifestyle. When I moved to Jersey, that was the end. Trenton was not the place she wanted to be. Oh well. It was wonderful while it lasted.

“Manny!” We’re at a sidewalk café in a safer area of town. The Wire was not a storybook fantasy. We hug and I motion for her to sit.

“How’s it going, Juana?”

She sighs. “I hate the Bureau. Simple shit takes a fucking miracle now. We’re so concerned with terrorism that unless your warrant application has some sort of terrorism angle, good luck getting it approved in the next six weeks.”

“Shit,” I mutter. My instincts are ringing. Something’s off. I cough twice, pound my chest and motion for her to take a menu.

“Otherwise? Eh,” she says.

Ranger is about three tables over, in disguise (excellent disguise) and listening. I see him point a bug detector at her and widen his eyes. She’s bugged. Great. We’re both bugged.

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Chapter 68.5: Calls to NYC

Mack’s POV—Wednesday night

My phone always seems to ring during dinner. Homie can never eat in peace.

“Yo.”

“Yo, Mack?”

“Sup.” Who the fuck is this?

“Hi, this is Stephanie Plum.”

Yo . . . the Boss Lady. I set the wing down and wipe my fingers. This is gonna be major. She need me to come shank that asshole Mark? I can ride in minutes.

“Yo, Boss Lady, good to hear from you. Please tell me Javi managed to convince you to come back and visit us.”

Laughter. I like the CO. She major, she’s real, and she’s pretty fucking hot. Ain’t a lotta women like her. Makes me respect Ranger even more. The man is a fucking genius.

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Chapter 67.5: The Housekeepers’ War, Part X

Timeline: Starts during ‘The Noose is Fitted’. This chapter ends at Steph’s clearance (but no additional hints.).
This is the final installment in the Housekeepers’ War.

Week Three

Diego’s POV

I love Ella Guzman. I never thought I’d say that, but hell. I do. I love her.

The men of Miami are some tired motherfuckas.

They miss Maria and Rafe now. They’re desperate for her to come home. They can’t wait to tell her how much they missed her and how they’re willing to work with her now.

Antonio had the nerve to suggest, during today’s staff meeting, that we needed to get professional cleaners in here before the CO’s arrival to ensure everything was perfect. I stared at him.

“Since when do you care about the CO’s opinion?”

Antonio snorted. “Well, we’ve seen that women can find dust anywhere.”

B cut me off. “My mother can find dust anywhere because that’s her job, but you forget, I worked in the business too. I can spot dirt and dust too and I know you want to bring in a housekeeper cuz you half-assing the windows. Get ’em clean, muthafucka. Quit leaving streaks.”

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Chapter 61.7 Boundaries

Tank’s POV

I’m watching the dot on my Escalade come back closer to the apartment. When I called Bobby and asked him to head her off, I was grateful I remembered he had a takedown in east San Antonio tonight. I can see he caught her just in time; he said he spotted her moments before I called. I got lucky there.

I hear the key in the lock and a quick conversation outside. Lula pops her head in and looks at me.

“Bobby’s with me,” she says quietly. I nod and they walk in. Lula takes off for the back and Bobby sits on the sofa.

He looks over at me. “I cleared the way,” he whispers, “but I’m riding your ass about how you opened that shit. Tank—”

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Chapter 61.5 Cold Water

Tank’s POV—Friday

My meeting with my lawyer was routine. I changed the allocations in my will, added my nephews to the beneficiaries list, and added Lula as my primary heir.

The addition of Lula caused my lawyer a problem.

“Mr. LaPierre, have you discussed a pre-nuptial agreement with your intended bride?”

I raise an eyebrow. “My fiancée is not like that.”

Queue a million divorced men rolling their eyes. I smile mentally. I can see Ranger raising an eyebrow now.

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