Category: Change in the Wind

The Full Story, with all Side Stories and the Housekeepers’ War series integrated in.

Chapter 116: Brown has lost his fucking mind

Bobby‘s POV

Occasionally, I have a really good, and really scary, thought.

I had one last night. It was so good I got out of bed to do some research. After two hours of searching, one hour of plotting, and ten minutes thinking of a co-conspirator, I’m ready.

“Candace?”

I move swiftly to catch her cup of coffee. Hal appears and I wave him off.

She smiles. “Sir. Sorry. Good morning.”

Extra glow. Good job, Hal.

“I need your help.” I wait until she opens her office and gets comfortable. I’m in no hurry and I tell her to take her time. Once she’s ready, I detail the plan to her and sit back. She’s smiling.

“You guys really like to meddle in other people’s lives, don’t you?”

I shrug. “No. But will we help our brother when we see he needs it? Yes.” Continue reading →

Chapter 115: Business and Pleasure

Steph‘s POV

Ranger is red and panting. “Babe.”

“Ranger.”

I’ve never seen him this aroused and it looks a little painful.

Smack!

He grips the door frame harder and clenches his teeth. His muscles are knotted and tense, his face carefully blank. He’s been holding this position for thirty minutes, determined to allow me to explore my kinky fantasies.

Problem is, I don’t have any. I’m making this up as I go. And I like it. Continue reading →

Unpleasant Duties, Part IV

Tank‘s POV

A month earlier

“Pierre, what do you know about Lula’s people?” Momma asks, rinsing the last of the dinner dishes.

Not enough. I’ve had the background done. Her mother is a restaurant manager. Her father is unknown and her step-father is a truck driver. Her brother works a help desk and her sister is a hair stylist. Solid working class family. Neither of her siblings is married or has kids, they attend church on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and her sister still lives at home. Sister is divorced. Brother never married. No records, no scandals, nothing.

Lula, however, is known in her parents’ community as the wild child, the one who took off to New Jersey with her boyfriend against her mother’s permission. She fell into sin and vice, selling her body on the streets, in and out of jail. No one’s heard from her in years and it’s widely believed she’s probably dead. Continue reading →

Chapter 114: Your Words vs. My Actions

A/N: I got playful with Mañoso in this chapter. Because I know you might be confused:

Ranger: The military trained soldier, who thinks of things in military terms.

Carlos: The closest approximation of Ranger’s core self. The part of him that only Steph gets. The vulnerable side of Mañoso.

Ric: The ‘normal’ side of Ranger. The side the guys know, the side people might be allowed to see. Mañoso’s ‘normal’ train of thought.

When you see brackets [], the personalities are arguing.

This should be fun.

Ranger‘s POV

She’s staring at me.

“Babe.”

“Carlos.”

I open my eyes, a smile curving my lips. Steph’s looking at me, a happy smile on her face. “Hey.” I kiss her.

“Hey.”

“Kinda cold for bikinis, Babe.”

“Damn.”

I laugh. Steph. The one and only. She leaves to hit the bathroom and I roll over onto my back and stare at the ceiling. She climbs back in and settles on my chest.

“Ranger?” I don’t answer. “Ranger?” She looks up. I’ve raised an eyebrow. “Carlos?”

“Babe.”

I get poked. “More than one word.”

“What’s up, Babe?”

“We need to talk.”

What does that mean? What did I do? “About?”

Continue reading →

Chapter 113: Welcome Home

A/N: Roscommon: Thank you for all your help!

Steph‘s POV

I drop my purse on the side table and kick off my shoes. I have ice cream, a blanket and a blank TV.

RMSA was a disaster.

I’m not even sure how it happened. I went expecting to have a great trip. I was going to get the guys for the manipulation, I was going to point how bad they were at managing their company, and I was going to help Lula plan her wedding.

Well, I kinda helped Lula.

I stare at the apartment I’ve spent the past month decorating for me and Ranger. It looks great, but Ranger won’t see it until Tuesday when he comes back.

I check the time. 5 p.m. If I hurry, I can make dinner. Continue reading →

Chapter 112: Reset

Mark‘s POV

I’m taking one last look around. Steph’s meeting with the Leadership to discuss the findings, Diego’s talking to some of the ‘exiled’ Miami men, and Hector’s disappeared again.

The ladies are all in Lula’s office, gossiping.

I walk out to the garage and the three men there come to attention. “Sir?”

“At ease.” They relax but still stand at the ready. “Tell me, what’s the best part of being a RangeMan?”

Each one blinks and looks at the others. “Honestly,” the red-head says, “it’s the brotherhood.”

I nod.

“Yeah. A lot of places talk about merit, but RangeMan is all about merit,” the blonde says. This one is Arlo. That I know. “That’s why I stay. The pay is great, the men are my brothers, and I know that merit wins the day.” Continue reading →

Chapter 111: The Power to Hurt Me

Ranger‘s POV

One clean slice.

That’s all it took to remove James White’s head from his body.

He expected to be shot. Don’t know why. He knows his people. He should have expected a machete.

Trent passes me all the info the FBI has collected on White’s death so far. Gang killing. MS-13 with a machete. What’s interesting is that there aren’t any tags near his body.

“I’m betting Alberto, Damian’s second,” I tell Trent after reviewing the info.

“No tags.”

I point to the picture of the headless body. “That’s the tag. Contact the DEA and see if they have any informants working with or in the Cartel Juarez. If they do, see what the gossip is.” I put the info down and look at the task force. Every member, including Morelli, is here. “This had to be sanctioned, since White was their member in the FBI. This brings the full weight of the US government down on them. They’ll be ready for blow back.” Continue reading →

We Fall Down but We Get Up

A/N: UnBeta’d. Sorry it’s late. I kept fiddling!
Bug: Correctional Officer

Thomas’s POV

Man in front of me is in his late 20s, maybe early 30s. Cool. He’s been reading my application for the past ten minutes and he hasn’t said shit yet.

Piman told me I’d be tested. Wish I’d asked more questions about the test.

He finally looks up. Cold dark brown eyes, ponytail, strong nose. Looks like Piman’s cousin, the darker version. Expensive ass suit. Gotta be Cuban. Shit. I hate Cubans. Only one I like is Piman. Oh, and Danilo. They’re cool. I wonder if this is another entitled little shit.

He leans back in his chair and stares at me. “Why?”

What the fuck? “Why?”

He taps my application. “What can I get from you that I can’t get from another applicant?”

Skills, fucker. I got ’em. Can I say that? Continue reading →

Promise

A/N: Prompt from EEG and CTBabe1202. Thanks!

Manolo Peña’s POV

I step back in line and watch Hector Gutierrez leave the gym.

Wow.

Just wow.

He told me that when he arrived in San Antonio he wouldn’t speak or acknowledge me, but . . .

I want to blush. He’s gorgeous. Well built, intimidating, no nonsense. Sexy as hell.

Great ass.

I shake my head mentally and stand at attention. I see his partner, Stephanie, up at the front. She was a sweetie. I see her grandmother in her. Even though we both knew we couldn’t speak to each other, her eyes said, So you’re Manolo, huh? Hiiiiii!

I learned how to control the blushing in the Navy. Thank god. I might’ve been pitched overboard if I had not.

Hector was putting my abilities to the test. Continue reading →

The Fallen Plum Society Meets Again

A/N: Yes, there is a chapter or two between 110 and this, but I’ll let you have this now.

Diego’s POV

At 1700 Friday, I follow Bobby, Lester, and Tank down to Tank’s Escalade and get in the back seat. We return to the hotel, where Hector and Ranger are waiting.

“Diego.”

“Sir.” Being in front of Ranger is always nerve-racking. I look around and we’re alone.

“Sit.” I sit and Ranger disappears to the kitchen. He returns with a folder and two bottles of water. “I’ve heard about your performance this year.” He stares at me. “Impressive.”

I fight the grin.

“Not just the work you’ve been doing in Miami, which alone is notable, but your work in stabilizing RM-NYC. I heard about that not only from my partners but also from the CO. We’ve all been extremely impressed by your dedication and hard work.”

Yes! Fuck! I impressed Ranger! That’s not easy. Continue reading →