Category: Change in the Wind

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

Mea Culpas

A/N: Prompt (and title) from trish94509.

“Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.”

Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Mark’s POV—During Steph’s time in Miami

I have no idea what I’m looking at.

This looks like a basic street corner in Boston, but more ‘ethnically diverse’.

Vic’s slouched in the seat next to me, staring at the crowd of people walking by. “Spotted him?”

I look at him in confusion. “No. Have you?”

“Been looking at him for five minutes,” Vic says calmly. “Can’t take him right now. He’s surrounded. Plus, no law enforcement backup.” Continue reading →

I Learn to Waltz, Part I

A/N: OK, so this is Part I of a new series entitled: I Learn to Waltz. Many thanks to Lisa Trent, who suggested this One-Shot, but once I started writing, it was like writing for the Housekeepers’ War all over again!
Also, in this context: ‘swing my balls’ means bragging. Versatile phrase, huh? LOL.

Mack’s POV

Jorge and Javi are major! Homies who went through the first session of business etiquette classes said it was major. Worth it. They been using the skills and we hittin’ major numbers with the contracts. Javi said he expect us to take the crown this month. We asked what’s keeping us from takin’ it now.

Trenton. Continue reading →

RangeMan Reading Club: Selection One

Prompt from guynellheard.

Hal’s POV

We sensed a problem when we realized Sis was reading The Art of War.

She’s already sneaky enough. If she’s really trying to hone her skills, we’d have another Les here. That’s nerve racking.

Vince pointed out the obvious. The Art of War is thin. Barely 100 pages. Certainly not novel sized. Still, it is an amazing book. Maybe she’d picked up a critical review edition, with a bunch of academics parsing every phrase. It would make sense. It’s one of Ranger’s favorites.

Sis is devoted to the book. She reads it all the time, during meetings, during dinner, during lunch. You could be in the middle of a serious discussion with her and see her eyes slide toward the book with a barely concealed eagerness.

We’re getting lots of things approved lately because she’s in a great mood. Continue reading →

Chapter 90: We Deliver a Sheet Set

Helen’s POV

Stephanie is coming to dinner tonight for the first time in months. I realize I haven’t seen my daughter since Tank and Robert were here to confirm she was trained to their standards. I’m actually looking forward to seeing her. Mother says that Stephanie has been quieter and more thoughtful lately.

I’m thrilled she hasn’t been hurt in months.

Knowing that she’s now trained for this job and prepared for the danger that follows her around everywhere has made my life much easier the past few months. I can walk around the Burg knowing that she’s safe and that Hector or Henry is with her. They’ll protect her but if they can’t, if something happens, Stephanie can also protect herself until help arrives. I’m proud of that. My daughter is trained for her (horribly ridiculously dangerous) job. Continue reading →

The New Boys Get a Clue

A/N: One Shot Prompt from mcrmyrangerbabe. It’s a long one. I’m covering almost seven months here. Enjoy!

Month 1

SA RangeMen Recruits—Military Vet’s POV

RangeMan is no joke.

Every man hired so far has been intimidated by his new colleagues. Even the vets hitting the gym are astonished by the veteran RangeMen. They are, without a doubt, some of the most intimidating men we’ve ever seen.

They don’t play. They don’t joke. They have cliques, location based, but they’re quick to remind everyone that they’re brothers. You might be from Miami or Trenton or Atlanta but at the end of the day, you’re a RangeMan and that’s all that matters. Continue reading →

An Award Winning Story

A/N: Much thanks to Vulcan Rider for this little brain dropping! I know she didn’t expect me to go in this direction but . . . I felt inspired and my beta is devious.
 
And MUCH thanks to MantLady for allowing me to pick her brain for her extensive knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and treatments! Consider this part one.
 
Warning: You will end up feeling sympathy for a hated enemy at the end.

Alan Watkins sits in his office at the Trenton Gazette and stares out of the window. There aren’t a lot of really good, news-worthy stories to focus on lately. Just the usual business at the Capitol, some random burglaries, and the usual gossip.

Nothing Pulitzer worthy. Continue reading →

Chapter 89: Soul Searching in Advance of Goodbye

Armando’s POV

We’re already aware we failed the review. Sadly, we expected it, but Mark told me to look at this as a chance to learn more about myself. He has. He’s realized that he’s been so desperate to prove he was ready to rise to the Leadership that he’d become a piss poor leader. He and his partner barely had a relationship. His branch wasn’t trusted within RangeMan. His men were considered snoops simply because he was a snoop.

I wondered how he didn’t know all of that, but I guess Steph telling him that meant more.

He had a lot about himself to change. Apparently, Steph calls it a ‘pillowcase’ moment. He can’t pry the story behind that out of her, but he said that his relationship with her is improving. He’s repairing his relationship with Vic. His men are relearning the importance of trusting the leadership again, regardless of what they have heard or what they think, but he’s opening his leadership style up to listen to his men again instead of simply handing down orders.

Eye opening, he says. Still, he wonders if that’s what Ranger would do. Continue reading →

Chapter 88.5: Humbled II

Chenae’s POV

Antoine called and said I should be ready to go when he arrives to pick me up for Fall Break. The schedule works out for him because he’s trying to land a major distribution deal, and I’m beyond ready to go home to Momma’s.

I asked Momma why Antoine seems to want to spend so much time with me. She said that he told Pierre he’d take over. He told Momma that he hopes to help reconcile me and Pierre before I dig myself into a hole with my big brother that I can’t get out of. I’m confused by that. I know Pierre is angry with me but I don’t think he’s that mad.

After my last class ends on Wednesday, I pack up my books and laptop and head to the gate. I’m ready to go and I’m glad to see Antoine’s already waiting on me. He steps out of the car and he’s mobbed. Continue reading →

Chapter 88: The Calm and the Storm

Steph’s POV

I told Mando I want him to go back to Charlotte next week to concentrate on his branch. I’ll help Diego with the Miami branch and we worked last night getting a game plan together. I was thankful to have three strategists and two XOs at one branch. We needed every bit of their brilliance to brainstorm ideas, but Diego got all the strategists on a call and let them help us. I mostly took notes in Thomas’s absence.

Diego and Mando already had a file of possible employees and they pulled it the day after the Friday firings. We have 30 men that we are ready to train to be the new RangeMan Miami men, but Hal had a brilliant suggestion.

He suggested we send them all to San Antonio. Continue reading →