A/N: So brownc0at thinks that this behemoth of a chapter (which initially clocked in at 61 pages! Send her some love!) should be broken up into a two-parter. I bow to my beta’s wisdom. Part II will post tomorrow.

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Mark‘s POV

I’m packing when Nikki calls. Boxers? Boxer briefs? Commando? I’m more comfortable commando but I pack one pair of each. Hector Manuel doesn’t need to see me nude.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Iceman!”

She’s the only person who can get away with calling me that. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Hector’s coming for Thanksgiving.”

My balls relocate somewhere near my throat before settling. Tough. Hector’s going to learn to put up with another man in Nikki’s life. I promised to come. I’m not avoiding her just because of him.

Besides, what’s the worst he could do to me? Beat me up? Slice me? Disappear me?

OK, time to stop thinking about Hector’s options.

“I assumed he spent every Thanksgiving with you.”

“Nope. He usually spends Thanksgiving with his mother and sisters. This is the first year he’s decided to spend Thanksgiving with me and Manny.”

I’ll bet my appearance had something to do with it. “OK. What’s he making?”

She’s quiet for a moment before laughing. “That’s it? That’s your entire response?”

“Yes. Hector loves you so we’ll learn to get along but I’m still coming. I’m making stuffing and Brussels sprouts with bacon.”

She laughs. I love that sound. She told me she didn’t have a lot of things to laugh about and I know how that feels. I’m willing to be an idiot if it makes her laugh.

“Oh goodie. Cabbages and stuffing. Yum.” I think that’s sarcasm. “Hec always makes desserts. His bread pudding is family legend, but his flan is a close second. I still can’t figure out how he makes either one.”

“Great. I haven’t had a good bread pudding in years.”

“Well, when he pulls this from the oven, I’ll grab you a piece as long as you promise to protect my body.” I laugh and hear her snort. “”No seriously. My family will run you over to get at that. Steph and I got into it at the beach over his bread pudding.”

“Really?” I’m intrigued. She’s building this up to mythic proportions.

“Really.” I hear a sound in the background. “Manny wants to say hi.”

“OK.” I hear her tell him to say hi and tell me about his new favorite thing to do.

“Hi, Mark!”

“Hi, Manny! You have any candy left?”

“No,” he says sadly. “Mommy took all my candy, but Mark! Guess what!”

“What?”

“Mommy says you’re gonna swim with us! Are you gonna swim with us? Tío’s friend taught me to swim. I can doggy paddle. Me and Mommy swim at the Whyme-ca—”

“The what?”

I hear Nikki whisper, “Y-M-C-A, Manny.”

He rushes through the initials, which makes me smile. I go digging and find my swim trunks.

“Are you coming for Thanksgiving, Mark? Tío‘s coming. And Abuela and Abuelo and everybody and Mommy’s gonna make lots of food—”

I’m sitting now. I was prepared for Hector. Her parents too?

I’m not ready to meet the parents.

You meet the parents and you need to start shopping for the ring.

—oOo—

“Marcus?”

My mother. The only person who can get away with calling me by my full name.

“Hi, Mom. Need something?”

“Your father tells me you aren’t coming home again this year.”

Translation? This is the fourth year in a row, son. Unless there’s a woman involved, come home.

“That is correct.”

“Why?”

This is the peculiar disadvantage of being the son of psychologists. I spent my entire life being examined. In most cases, my parents were entirely wrong about what I was thinking and feeling, which led to them misinterpreting everything I did and said.

“I’ve been invited to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving, Mom.”

“Victor?”

“No.”

My mother is not going to allow my silence to stop her. “Well? Who is it?”

“Nikki.”

“Nikki?” My mother is cautious. “Who is Nikki?”

“I met her at work.”

“Sister of a RangeMan?”

“Cousin.”

“Whose?”

Yeah, she’s going to dig today. The fact that I’m not coming, yet again, has irritated her. “Hector’s cousin.”

“Hector.” My mother is thoughtful. I hear her fingernails clicking against the keyboard. “This is the chief tech guy, right? Hispanic? Your age, roughly?”

My mother has started a file on every RangeMan I’ve ever mentioned. I assumed as much. We’ve all become possible dissection subjects, except Ranger and Les. Mom likes Les. She thinks he’s wonderfully adjusted and independent. A strong personality, Dad says, and very loyal.

Another reason I don’t understand my parents and they don’t understand me. I look at Les and see a maniac.

Ranger fascinates her, but both she and Dad both say Ranger has a massive ‘Don’t even try’ sign hanging off him invisibly.

I want to know where and how to acquire that sign. I’ve tried, over the years, to emulate Ranger as much as possible. As a result, the intrusions into my life have lessened.

Another thing to admire my commander for. The one time I met his family, it was clear that Ranger maintained a distance. That’s how I knew that it could be done.

“Soo . . . is she Hispanic?”

“Yes.”

“Pretty?”

“Yes.” No. Gorgeous is the correct term.

“So you’ve met her before?” She sounds pleased.

“She invited me to celebrate with them.”

“When did you meet her?”

“Halloween.”

“Three weeks ago?” Mom says incredulously.

I stop and consider. Nikki and I have been on the phone for hours at a time every night since we met. I never really thought about the fact that it was barely three weeks ago.

Seems we’ve known each other much longer.

“Yeah. I guess.”

“I’m not trying to get involved with your love life, Marcus.”

Massive lie.

“Good to know.”

“Although it would seem your . . . acquaintance with her is moving along pretty fast, wouldn’t you say? Being invited to a major family holiday, where you’ll presumably meet her family and partake in her traditions, suggests a much longer and deeper acquaintance than just a few weeks, Marcus.”

True meaning? ‘I’m finding it hard to believe that this woman invited you to spend Thanksgiving with her after only three weeks acquaintance. Did you sleep with her? Or have you known her much longer than you’re saying? Is the invitation really from Hector? Are you just lying to get me and Dad off your back?’

This was my life from birth to eighteen. I made a solemn vow when I left that house: I would take people at their word. No long nights trying to examine context and subtext. No racking my brain trying to figure out why someone said something like that. No looking for ulterior motives. I return the compliment by being exactly who I am. No subtext.

It’s made me, as Vic says, completely useless reading people. I suck at the politics. I’m good for making and following orders. He finds the fact that my men are rabidly loyal the most hilarious side-effect. They know that I mean exactly what I say and that if I make a promise, I’ll follow through.

He thinks that’s probably why Ranger’s kept me all these years. I follow his orders exactly. Not following them, and not following Stephanie, will cost me big time in his estimation. I better be prepared to beg for my life.

I am.

The drill continues for another thirty minutes. Mom tries to find out more about my relationship with Nikki and I duck her questions with the shortest answers possible. By the time I hang up, I’m exhausted and I’ve figured out why she’s irritated: she invited a graduate student of Dad’s to dinner to meet me. I’ve screwed up her plans.

Rule one in the military: Make sure the target is in place before calling in the artillery.

Vic walks in, notices me pinching the bridge of my nose, and laughs.

“Mom?”

“Yeah.”

“Need a brandy?”

“If you’d be so kind.”

He smirks and hits my drinks cabinet. He pours a nice amount into two glasses and sits in the chair opposite my desk. “The annual ‘Why aren’t you coming home?’ drill?” he asks, handing me my glass.

“Yeah.” I sip, the spicy aroma and warm heat loosening the tension in my belly.

“You tell her about Nikki?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

Vic really laughs at that. “Idiot. Now she knows there’s a girlfriend. Her bachelor son found a woman,” he coos. I toss a pen at him. “You tell her about Manny?”

“God, no!”

“Why?” He raises an eyebrow.

“She doesn’t need to know yet.” I sigh. “Nikki and Manny are . . .”

Mine. The word pops into my head so fast I’m startled, but it’s the right one. They are a part of my life outside RangeMan. When I talk to Nikki, I don’t talk about capacity reports and service levels. I talk about food, Mexican cuisine versus the solid Midwestern cuisine I grew up with. We debate wine versus tequila, Jägermeister versus cough syrup, and vodka versus gin. We argue over which city has worse traffic, Atlanta or Boston.

I talk to Manny about Pokemon, since I started Tivo’ing episodes so I’d understand what he was talking about. I give Nikki a listening ear about her work dramas and ignore my own. I tell her war stories from my military service and some stories about college.

She teases me about anything she can think of and I laugh at her stories. I just enjoy her company– well, her voice. Completely direct. No beating around the bush, no guess work, no ambiguity. Just like I like it.

Mando had a point. I needed more to my life than work. Rod and Pat have stopped being angry, especially Rod. I dropped in on Tamika, his wife, explained what happened and how I’d led Rod wrong, and apologized. I was thoroughly cussed out, but Rod said it helped his marriage a lot so it was worth it. I did the same with Jennifer, and Pat says Jen’s still mad, but she thinks I’ll pull it out like I always do.

My ‘punishment’ from both ladies is to be their backup babysitter.

That’s not a punishment to me. I like kids. They are, for the most part, completely direct. They either like you or they don’t. No in-betweens.

Vic and I are trying, too. We’ve started hanging out like we used to, working out and club hopping. I razz Vic about his pick-up lines and he gives me a hard time about the fact that my “fan club” found us and started stalking me. I can put names with faces now and if I had a black book all the pages would be filled.

My men are loyal to me again. They know I screwed up, but they also know I’m doing everything I can to fix it. I have balance. We passed Charlotte last week and Mando’s pissed because Charlotte’s last now. He’s riding his men again. Mari called me and told me not to brag too much.

I ragged him unmercifully. Mari’s mad at me now. That’s dangerous. Diego’s watching me closely. I’m closing in on Miami.

A sharp whistle breaks through my thoughts. I start and look over to find Vic with a massive grin on his face. “I’ve been calling your name for the past minute. Do I need to leave for a few minutes? Need a few minutes to . . . uh. . . think?” He snickers and I flip him a finger.

“No.” I smile. “Mom pointed out I’ve only known her for three weeks. I was thinking about that.”

Vic smiles. “Feels like you’ve known her forever?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good. Figured out how you’re going to handle Hector?”

“There is no handling Hector.”

—oOo—

Hector‘s POV—All conversations in Spanish

“Alexa, I don’t have time for this conversation.”

I really don’t. I want to get InfoPath rolled out for testing between Thanksgiving and Christmas. NYC is desperate for it. Our current online form is good, but being able to put the requests directly into SharePoint with a touch of a button?

Javi and Jorge ask Angelita about it every other day. Hal and Ram do too and Nate reports that all of Atlanta is waiting.

The IT team is working. I take another gulp of coffee and wish Manolo was a full RangeMan. He’s SharePoint certified and has years of experience. He sent me notes on how to get this set up faster and, so far, they’ve been spot on. He also sent info on how to fine-tune the system. I can’t wait to test those.

“Hector!” My sister is exasperated. “I can’t believe you’re not coming home! Thanksgiving is the only time we’re guaranteed to see you!”

“I know that, but I miss Hector Manuel—”

“He’s not your son, Hector.” Her voice is hard.

Alexa. Still knows how to hit me where it will hurt me the most. Why did I take this call? Fifty percent of my calls with Alexa end with her in tears and me in a fury.

“Really?” My voice is dripping acid. “I wasn’t aware.”

She sighs. “What I mean—”

“What you mean is that Hector Manuel should not be my first concern. I should not be interested in seeing my nephew, whose first breath I witnessed, whose first year I was a part of, who is my heir and child as far as I‘m concerned. That’s secondary to making bread pudding for you, right?”

Silence on the line.

I don’t pretend to be ignorant to the fact that only Nikki accepts my ‘lifestyle’ in our family. Everyone else is praying, fervently, that I give up my ‘tendencies’ and start dating women.

Good luck. Les says Manolo’s doing well. He’s being accepted as a leader in his recruit class. I’m happy for him.

He looks good in linen. I wonder if he has a linen suit. A tux, perhaps? I never thought I might have a ‘plus one’ for Tank’s wedding and I’m hopeful that Manolo will accept the invitation when I invite him. I broached the subject with Tank. His family seemed pretty conservative and I didn’t want to cause problems.

His answer? “Anyone you love is welcome.”

I love my brother.

“No, it’s not,” Alexa says quietly. “We’re happy that you and Hector Manuel are so close. It’s great, Hec, but to be honest, you and Nikki are a tight unit against everyone in the family. You guys treat everyone as if they intend to betray you—”

“When Nikki needed her family the most, they turned their backs on her—”

“We didn’t want to see her make a huge mistake! She had so much promise! It would have been best if she’d not had a baby.”

“Well, she was already pregnant! The die was cast. The egg was fertilized!” I hear Alexa inhale sharply. “Once she decided to keep it, the only possible response was to support her. What are you suggesting? That she should have aborted it?”

I may be a lapsed Catholic but abortion makes me squeamish. I love my son. I would never wish him away.

“No! That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying it would have been better if she’d given him up for adoption.”

I sigh. “Well, it’s a moot point. She kept him, I stood behind her and helped raise him and now everyone wants to stick their noses in. And with support behind her, she graduated on time, got a great job, and is taking care of her son.”

“And our mother could use help with the heating bill,” Alexa seethes. “All your income goes to Hector Manuel.”

“Not true. I pay her rent. She won’t accept more.”

“Really?” Alexa sounds confused. I guess they didn’t know.

“Yeah. Really. Plus I replaced her car two years ago, remember?”

“Oh. Yeah.” Alexa is thoughtful.

“You mean my three sisters can’t help my mother while I help my son?”

“Your mother is a widow. Your cousin had a father who was so intimidated by your reputation he didn’t want to go anywhere near his son.”

“How do you know that? Besides, fear of me should never have stopped Mauricio from seeing his son.”

“Mauricio didn’t spend time with his son because he’d have to wedge you out of the way! Maybe if you weren’t snapping and growling around the child all the time, he would’ve been there for him.”

Well, that’s no longer an issue anyway. I’m Mijo‘s father. I refuse to allow anyone to harm him. “Well, considering the idiot is now dead, that’s a moot point, isn’t it?”

Alexa is quiet for a minute. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

“And while Mauricio never bothered, I was always there. As far as Hector Manuel is concerned, his life has barely changed at all.”

Nikki said the funeral was appropriately somber but left Manny a little shaken. Now that Mauricio is dead, all his relatives wanted to hug and kiss and fawn over Manny. The same baby they fervently denied was Mauricio’s endured a day of people pinching his cheeks and remarking over how much he resembled his father. Nikki was glad to leave and Manny believes his father is sleeping for a long time.

Fine. As long as he isn’t traumatized by Mauricio’s death. I couldn’t bear that guilt.

“Again, could you help Mama? The heating bill is astronomical this year and Naomi and Lottie are having problems with it. They have their own houses to heat. You know, while you’re buying massive townhouses for Nikki and paying for private school for Manny, your mother is cold in her home.” Alexa’s voice drips with disdain.

Oh, so that’s what this is really about. Tía Lupita must’ve bragged on Nikki’s home. Well, Manny loves me. He doesn’t spend his time lecturing me over who I love and my lifestyle. He doesn’t attempt to set me up with a woman every time I come over to eat dinner. He doesn’t tell me how disappointed my father would be in my lack of interest in my sisters’ lives. He doesn’t tell me how disappointing it is to know I’m a gangbanger, ignoring the fact that I got out five years ago.

And I didn’t buy Nikki’s townhouse. Mauricio did. He also pays for his son’s education.

I sigh and log into my bank account. “How much is it?”

Alexa reads off the balance from Mom’s latest statement and I arrange for the bank to draft a check to the heating oil company.

I don’t do anything for family, huh, sis? Yet the family embarrassment always comes through.

“Done. They’ll send the check directly to the company.”

“Great. Anyway, Thanksgiving? Can you bring the flan?”

“I’ll be in Atlanta.”

Alexa is silent. “You know, Papa would be—”

“Don’t tell me shit about what Papa would be,” I interrupt. I’m clenching my teeth to avoid saying some really hurtful things. “You have no idea what Papa would be. I think Papa would be proud that I managed to make something of myself. I think he’d be proud of the fact that I’m still trying to remain close to a family that can’t accept me. And I think he’d be proud of the way I’ve bitten my tongue this entire conversation. Goodbye, Alexa, and if you have anything else you need to tell me, text it until I call you.”

CLICK.

I sit back in my chair and stare at the ceiling.

I’m only good for what I can do for others. Not for me. Never for me.

—oOo—

“Come on.”

I look over. Angelita and she looks troubled.

“What’s wrong?” I sit up, concerned, but she shakes her head.

“Gym. Now.”

“Why?”

“Because if you glare at one more person today, we’ll have to hire more employees. Besides, I could use a refresher on knife skills.”

“Not trying to make me feel better are you?”

“Mayhem and Mischief in the gym practicing?” She grins and I smile in spite of myself. “Possibly.”

“Which one am I?”

Angelita snorts. “Clearly, I’m Mayhem.”

I grin. Good point. “I like Menace better.”

“I knew you would.”

We hit the gym and I refresh her knowledge of how to both guard against and attack with her blades. She’s been practicing. I have to step my game up to handle her. Eventually we toss the blades and just starting working through defensive maneuvers. She’s getting really good. She even flips me once. Ranger appears at that moment to laugh and I flip him a finger. I hop up, grinning.

“Nice.”

She rubs her backside. “You earned that.”

“Good to know.” I hug her and she yelps.

“You’re sweaty, Hec! I don’t need extra sweat.”

I swat her bottom. “Go shower.”

“Where do you think I’m headed,” she grumbles and hits the stairwell for Ranger’s apartment, Ranger right behind her.

I shower and leave the gym. I’m back in my office, working through those instructions, when my phone rings.

“Yo.”

“Yo.” Lula? “Manolo, tell him that I hear that he’s scaring the crap out of everyone in Trenton.”

I’m stunned by this. Manolo translates the sentence then asks, “What happened?”

“Alexa. My sister.”

He tells Lula. She harrumphs. “Well, Steph thought he might need someone to talk to and since I’m in the middle of getting your paperwork straight to send back to Trenton, maybe you just need to sit there while he talks. If he gets the drift.”

I’m grinning. Angelita and Lula. Those two have each other’s back through everything.

“You got that, right?” Manolo asks.

“Yeah.”

“So tell me about it.”

I stare at my phone. “What?”

He laughs quietly. “I’m having a ‘meeting’ with Lula right now about my paperwork. The CO thought you needed a greater diversion than mat time, although I have to admit, the thought of you hot and sweaty on the mats sounds good, Hector. And since Lula doesn’t speak or understand Spanish, this is pretty much a private call.”

Please make it through probation. I need someone by my side, besides Angelita and my brothers, who does not fear me constantly.

I hear a protest in the background and Manolo chuckles. “No, Lula, I was just explaining how this phone call came to be. We’re not talking about you. I promise.”

“Then pick up the phone. I don’t wanna wonder what’s up every time I hear my name.”

I’m grinning.

I love Mayhem and her buddy Lula.

—oOo—

The Day before Thanksgiving

Mark‘s POV

The flight from Boston to Atlanta is a little over three hours and it’s peaceful. I land in Atlanta, head to the rental car counters and stop.

Hector. He looks annoyed and tired. I walk over and he looks up.

“Mark.”

“Sir.”

He stares at me then smiles and nods to himself.“Right. Anyway, Nikki tells me you rented a car?”

“Yes, sir. Should I add you to my rental?”

“Yes.” He thinks.“Please.”

I wait for the lightning to strike. Please? From Hector?

He scowls. “I’d like to clear Atlanta traffic today, Mark. Nikki and Hector Manuel live in Smyrna. That’s twenty minutes in good traffic and forever in bad traffic.”

I’m not even going to attempt to question Hector. I’m just going to allow that to pass. I head to the rental counter and pick up the keys to the truck I rented. We take the shuttle to the SUV and I hand the keys over. Hector drives us to Nikki’s and I get out.

I want to move to Atlanta. Houses here are huge and cheap. Nikki has the end townhouse in a cul-de-sac. Two car garage, at least three floors, and a well-manicured patch in the front. I look at Hector, who smirks.

“My son deserves green grass, a good school system, and lots of friends. I will do anything to ensure he gets that.”

I nod. Admirable. Hector’s devotion to Manny goes beyond words. I look around.

“If you don’t mind my asking, this house?” I raise an eyebrow.

“What about it?”

“Mortgage on it?”

Hector smirks again.“There isn’t a mortgage.”

Fuck! How on earth did Hector manage that? Is this a foreclosure special?

The garage door lifts and Nikki bounds out with Manny close behind.

“Hector! Mark! You’re here.”

Nikki looks a little wild. I open my arms and she rushes right into them. Manny immediately goes for his Tío.

“Everything OK?” I whisper.

“No,” she replies. “I’m about to lose my fucking mind. I can’t concentrate on work, I can’t cook, I can’t do shit because my mother is complaining about everything and my father wants liquor.” She shivers in my arms and I rub her back. “Then, to make this holiday complete, my no-good cousins showed up and they want to be fed too! I agreed to host for you, my parents and Hec, not the entire fucking family.”

My stomach twists again. More family?

“How can I help?”

She exhales and looks up. “You’re too good to me.”

I snort. “I have my asshole moments. I’m sure I’ll encourage you to chuck something at my head before this visit is over. Ask anyone.” I smile at her as she laughs. “How about this: I’ll shower and get cleaned up, then let your mother badger me with questions while I cook. You can work. Hector can take Manny and I’ll suggest they go on a liquor run. How’s that?”

She closes her eyes and two tears skate down her face. I wipe them away with my thumb. “Perfect. Oh god, that’s perfect.”

“Good.” I squeeze extra tight then head around to the trunk. Manny is still talking to Hector a mile a minute, but at the sight of me he runs and grabs onto my leg. I crouch down.

“Hey, Manny!”

I get a hug. “Mark! Are you gonna pway with me?”

“I am. I’m going to cook too.”

Nikki calls Manny’s name and Hector hands him his computer bag to take inside. Manny takes the bag proudly and joins his mommy as we grab our bags.

“Mark.” I look. Hector’s face is grim. “I’m taking Tío Ramon for a liquor run with Manny. Can you keep Tía Lupita occupied?”

“We think alike,” I reply. “I’m going to cook and allow her to question me so Nikki can work.”

Hector nods and we head inside. Just as the garage door closes I hear him mutter, “OK, maybe you’re not as big a shit as I thought.”

How kind, Hector.

—oOo—

All conversations from here until further notice in Spanish. Conversations in Italics are English.

Hector‘s POV

Dios te salve, Maria. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo.

Tía Lupita and Tío Ramon have not changed. I’m glad I brought my rosary. Tía Lupita and Nikki are arguing over the sleeping arrangements, as if Lupita has anything to say about it.

“Absolutely not,” Tía Lupita says, indignantly. “Last time you shared a bed with a man, you had a baby. You won’t take that chance again. Mr. . .” She stares at Mark, who looks bored by this argument. “What did you say your name is?”

“Phillips. Mark Phillips.”

“Right.” She turns to Nikki. “He can sleep with Manny.”

Nikki clenches her teeth in frustration. “Mark is my—” She looks at Mark and he nods, a small smile on his face. “Boyfriend. He is my boyfriend and the sleeping arrangements have been set. You and Dad are sleeping in Hector’s normal room, so he’s sleeping with Manny. Mark’s sleeping with me.”

“And in nine months, I’ll have another grandson and he won’t have a father either,” Tío Ramon mutters. Nikki turns bright red.

Mark raises an eyebrow. “If that happens, you’ll have another grandchild and a son-in-law. I would not leave Nikki alone to raise my child and she knows that.”

Nikki smiles faintly. The entire family gapes at him. I raise an eyebrow. Bold statement to make.

“You speak Spanish?” Tío Ramon asks.

“Fluently,” Mark replies drily.

I want to laugh. No one knows how to respond. They expected to insult the gringo and watch him smile in confusion. That plan is shot.

“That’s all the more reason for him to sleep with Manny. At least if Hector sleeps with you, we know you won’t get pregnant.” Tía Lupita looks at me. “Hector can’t get anyone pregnant.”

I’m gay, not impotent! I look at Nikki, who is beet red. Mark is trying his best to hide a smile. I open my mouth to shut this down, but I’m cut off.

“If you’ll excuse me, while you argue over the plans your daughter made regarding the sleeping arrangements in her house, I’m going to take a shower,” Mark says. “If I need to move rooms, I’m sure you’ll tell me when I return, correct?”

Nikki smiles. “Yes.” Mark stops, kisses her in front of the entire family and disappears into her bedroom.

I’m impressed. He has balls and he’s showing them off.

“Yuck!” Manny says. “That’s icky, Mommy.”

Thank you, Mijo, for breaking the tension. I laugh and pick him up. “You don’t like kisses, Mijo?” I pepper him with kisses and watch him laugh and squirm.

“Tío! Nooooo, Tío! No kisses!”

I laugh and head downstairs. Everyone follows me. I put him in front of his big board books and, while he reads to me, I make a great production of checking the liquor levels. “Nikki?”

“Yes?” she yells down the stairs. Tío Ramon is watching me make the list with greedy eyes. I pretend not to notice as he adds his favorite beer to the list.

“You’re out of liquor. I need some for the bread pudding, so I made a list. You have anything else you need me to pick up?”

“No, but check with Mark. He was going to take over food prep.”

Everyone groans. “Great,” Nando mutters. “The white boy’s gonna try to make tamales?” He snorts. “We might as well hit Taco Bell.”

I stare at him until he shuts up and moves away. Marco, Will, and Jason also decide to move away from me.

They’re all Reyes. They know my rep. I’d never kill them, but I would make them hurt.

For insulting Mark? When did that asshole go on my list of people to protect? Nikki. Right. Nikki likes him. As I head back upstairs, I hear Jason say, “I think it’s obvious he’s gay.”

“Why?” Will asks.

“Anyone trying that desperately to prove he’s not usually is.”

I lean against the wall and sigh.

I exchanged my sisters for my cousins. Yay me.

—oOo—

Mark‘s POV

I’m watching Mrs. Rivera explain, painstakingly, the process for making tamales.

“Now, don’t put too much filling inside and not too much masa. Just enough.” I replicate her actions and get a grudging nod. “Not bad.” I fill three more and get a slightly approving nod. “Yes, not bad at all.”

Not that she’s convinced I won’t screw everything up, she starts her questions. This is no worse than being questioned by my own mother.

There’s just added pressure. I can’t screw up the tamales because she’s watching me. Mr. Rivera is trying to stare holes through me. Hector is pretending not to listen, but I can tell that he is. The female cousins have shown up and they’re also listening carefully.

“So, Mark, you’re single?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She smiles. “Such polite manners. When was your last steady relationship?”

“It ended three years ago.”

“Why?”

Jeez, you’re nosy. “We decided we weren’t right for each other.”

“And you didn’t figure that out until you got engaged?”

I stare at her. “I think it’s better that we figured it out during the engagement than after the marriage.”

That shuts everyone up.

“So what have you been doing since?” Mr. Rivera asks.

“Working.”

“Not dating?” Nikki’s cousin Lia asks.

“It wasn’t high on my priority list.”

Mr. Rivera nods. “Smart man, to concentrate on working and putting yourself in a position to afford a family.”

I shrug. “I love my job.”

“Are you still in contact with her?” Mrs. Rivera asks.

“No, ma’am.”

“Why not?” Nikki’s cousin Mercy asks. “You loved her enough to propose. Why not just call off the engagement and try again?”

I look at her. “That’s what I said at the time. She disagreed. I’m not going to force anyone to change their minds.”

“Have you talked to her since? Perhaps she misses you.”

“I rarely think of her anymore. Less since I met Nikki.”

This statement is greeted with silence. I love the subtle pressure I’m getting to leave Nikki alone. I almost miss Hector’s open, honest hatred and menacing threats. That I know how to deal with (kinda).

Is Hector going to be my only ally in this house in regards to my relationship with Nikki? If so, I’m screwed.

Once we have all the tamales in the steamer, I check Nikki’s turkeys, which are outside in the garage in coolers, brining. Time for me to start on my part of dinner.

Nikki walks downstairs and leans against me. “Everything OK?” I ask.

“Yes.” She sighs. “Finally got the project teams in India straight and they’re ready to work.”

“You’re on call?”

She nods. Her father makes a disgusted noise. “Ridiculous. Thanksgiving is about family and taking time to spend with the ones you love. Being on call during the holidays should be criminal.”

My phone beeps. I look at Nikki and she presses the button on my Bluetooth headset since I’m chopping onions.

“Yo.”

“Yo. Sir.” It’s Mike. He’s in charge while I’m gone. “We have a problem.”

“OK. What is it?” Nikki starts piling stuffing ingredients in front of me while her family looks on in confusion.

“Our servers here in Boston are getting hit, according to Johannes. He can’t figure out what’s going on.” I look at Nikki, eyes wide, and mouth ‘Mute’. She mutes my phone while Mike continues to describe the situation.

“Hector?” He has his computer on. I know the screen he’s looking at is something I see Johannes looking at all the time.

He snickers. “Nice response time.”

I roll my eyes. “What do you want me to tell Mike?”

“Tell Johannes to execute his emergency plan.”

I look at Nikki. She unmutes my phone.“Mike?”

“Sir?”

“You’re in charge. What should you do?”

He’s quiet. “I’ll call Hector.”

“You’ll call?”

“Johannes. Johannes needs to call Hector.”

“Hector or Nate? What’s the procedure?”

Nikki’s been translating for Hector. He glares at me. I shrug.

“Right. He needs to call Nate.”

“Mike?”

“Sir?”

“Do not panic. Remember your procedures and follow them.”

“Yes, sir.” He promises to keep me informed, I disconnect and Nikki grins. Hector groans.

“That’s not what I said.”

“Mike’s in training to be an XO. He needs to learn how to handle emergencies.”

“And?” Hector still does not look pleased.

“Well, isn’t Nate on call? Does he know how to respond to this kind of thing?” I raise an eyebrow. “Procedure is to call the CIO when things like this happen. He’s now the CIO. I didn’t get any updates that procedure changed.”

Hector looks thoughtful. “Good point. My subordinate is in training for his new position too.” Hector walks off, a smile on his face.

I get the feeling I’ve done Nate no favors. My access to the network is gone.

“You’re on call too?” Nikki asks, cubing the bread I’ve placed in front of her.

“24/7/365. There’s never any getting away.” She smiles and shakes her head.

“Never?” Lia asks.

“Never.” I look at Mrs. Rivera. “One reason my ex hated my job. I have a general manager-in-training in charge over the weekend but, unless I tell him not to call, he’ll call me when he’s not sure what to do.”

The entire room is quiet. I continue prep for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Manny comes over and is boosted into a stool in front of me. He’s watching avidly. So is Nikki. Hector is pretending not to watch but every so often I see his eyes dart over.

I’m a stickler for stuffing. I don’t use the box mix and StoveTop is an ugly word to me. I make mine from scratch, the way my mom does. Stuffing is to me what tamales are to Diego.

Can’t wait to text him and tell him I learned how to stuff and steam them.

I mix the onions, celery, and sausage in and start adding broth. Nikki and I work in sync, prepping corn pudding, squash casserole (squash?), and rolls. I check that everything is ready for us to steam green beans and Nikki starts a mole for the turkey. I prep the Brussels sprouts and everyone frowns.

“Brussels sprouts?” Hector says, screwing his face into a frown. Manny takes note of his Tío‘s face and looks at the sprouts again, less enthusiastically now.

I nod. “Most people boil them to death. If you cook them right, they’re great.” I smile. “Plus, everything tastes better with bacon.”

“I like bacon,” Manny says, brightening. “Bacon is yummy.” This starts a bacon song and dance that makes everyone smile.

Hector grabs his liquor lists and asks Mr. Rivera if he’d like to accompany him to the store. They head out with Manny and I start cleaning the kitchen. Nikki disappears and so does her mother shortly after.

Fifteen minutes later, Mrs. Rivera comes back downstairs and eyes me, but I’m washing dishes for tomorrow.

“You know her son’s father was a gang member, right?”

I nod.

“And you know Hector is one, right?”

“Was one. My understanding is that Hector’s out.”

She waves her hand as if to say, ‘doesn’t matter’. “This doesn’t bother you?”

I raise an eyebrow. “She’s not a gang member, right?” Mrs. Rivera’s lips press together tightly. “And neither is little Manny. They’re my concern.”

“Ha!” she exclaims. “Clearly you don’t know my daughter that well. There’ll be three people in your relationship.”

“No, there will be two.” I set the wine glass down carefully. “Hector and I have already talked. We know where we each stand. You don’t see us in conflict, do you?”

She walks off.

This is shaping up to be one hell of a Thanksgiving.

—oOo—

Nikki‘s POV

I flop back on my bed and close my eyes.

I wish my parents had never invited themselves over here for Thanksgiving! I’ll run Mark off before we even get that far!

Mom has done nothing except snipe that my house is dirty, Manny is loud and rambunctious, and I had to work all day. My father was upset I didn’t have any beer and my liquor is running low.

I don’t drink! Neither does anyone I spend time with, which, at the moment, is mostly RangeMen!

Everyone, everyone has commented on my home! I want to scream and tell them that this home legally belongs to Manny! It’s in trust for him. My son owns our home! My compromise with Hector was that I would furnish it and I think I’ve done a good job.

And it is clean! It’s just that Manny’s toys were all over the floor. He’s three! He plays with a toy and puts it down. We played the clean-up game and got the toys put away but she’s still sniping. She’s running her fingers along my trim and bookcases and shaking her head over the dust.

She was insulted when I handed her a rag and the Pledge.

Hec managed to ‘obtain’ $1.4 million from Mauricio during his trip to Atlanta. ‘Mauricio sought fit to provide for his son’ my ass! No wonder the Reyes in Atlanta were pissed at Rey! I’m still under watch, Hec says, but mostly it’s protection now. The new head of Atlanta knows that Manny and I are important to Hector and he’s connected to Ranger some kind of way.

I had a crush on Ranger for years. Knowing that it’s his, well, Hector uses the term ‘ally’ loosely, that’s watching out for us makes me smile.

I’m so glad Hec’s so smart. He used $200,000 to buy this home. My bank accounts look the same as always, but Hec makes sure that the same amount of money he used to give me from his account still trickles into my account from the account he used to hide Mauricio’s money. We’re living off the interest. The principal is being moved into trust very slowly and carefully.

Everything else I provide for my son. Just the way I wanted it.

We’re fighting right now. I want him to reimburse himself for all the money he’s spent since Manny was born. Hector was insulted, saying it meant nothing to him to purchase what Manny needed. Manny is his son and it was his pleasure to ensure Manny had what he needed.

Well, it means something to me. Mauricio might have been robbed of that money, but I’m going to call it my eighteen years of child support. If his father has finally provided, Hector should be made whole.

Besides, he has a partnership to buy. Every penny counts. I’m trimming our budget to ensure Hec has the money he needs. I don’t want Hec to miss a payment trying to meet Manny’s needs. I can handle it. I can provide for my son so his uncle can buy his partnership in a company he loves.

I roll over and grab my phone. I text Hec to buy a bottle of champagne while he’s out, the good stuff. He answers and wants to know why. I tell him to just do it.

I look out of the window to the setting sun. This has been the day from hell, but I’m glad Mark came. I’ve been fantasizing about him since he left Atlanta and, so far, he’s been just as wonderful as he was then. Sexy body, quick mind, strong hands, and protective. Definitely protective. Fifteen minutes into my ‘talk’ with my mother, my phone rang. It was Mark, attempting an Indian accent, to tell me that my attention was required in Bangalore.

I could have kissed him.

I left my mother, walked into my office and shut the door. Once I heard her go downstairs, I snuck back into my bedroom.

I’m tired of being thought of as easy just because I got pregnant without being married. I’m not easy. I made a decision to keep my child and without Hector’s support I might not have made it this far.

Now, because I’m in a new relationship, everyone thinks I’m just going to sleep with Mark, get pregnant and he’ll run off. Well, there are some differences this time.

One, I picked a much better man. I asked Hec for his opinion and he (grudgingly) gave me his support. He has no idea how much it means to me to know that he’s behind me this time. I know that they don’t get along at work, but both Hector and Mark told me that, when it comes to me, they have a truce. I’m not to be affected by their professional dislike of each other.

I hope that maybe my relationship with Mark will give them a reason to like each other personally. I don’t know if I could trust myself to be in a relationship with someone Hector didn’t fully trust. Hec’s a good judge of people and if he’s reluctant to support Mark, I’ll always wonder why. I reminded Hector that he’s still Mijo‘s daddy and I’d never take his son away.

I think that was his fear and knowing I’d never cut off his access to Manny has made it easier for him to accept Mark.

Even Mom, grudgingly, gave Mark credit for what he said when he arrived. He would not run.

Two, I know what a condom is. I bought some, in different sizes. It’s been years since I had sex and I plan to get some this holiday season. That’s my gift to me. I’m not on birth control, but if sex becomes a more permanent feature in my life, I’ll consider it.

Three, I’ve asked Hec to stay out of it but I know him. If I end up pregnant and Mark didn’t want to stand up and make it right, Hector would ‘help’ him do just that. Not that I think it would be necessary. Mark struck me, from the beginning, as the kind of man who says exactly what he thinks and does what he believes is right.

Hector snickered and told me yeah, Mark does. Sometimes to his detriment. He won’t tell me what that’s about and I get the feeling that’s the issue Mark has in RangeMan, which no Atlanta RangeMan, not even Danny, will tell me about.

Oh well.

Four, I’m not an impressionable teenager anymore. My head isn’t turned by rims and swagger. Well, swagger yes, but other things rank higher when you have a child. Your ability to keep your job and your word. That’s high for me. Maturity. Honesty. Communication. Comfort in who you are. Having something going on in your life besides the other person.

I’m in a long distance relationship that has more life than the relationship I had with the father of my child.

Finally, I know what a condom is!

“Headache?”

My eyes fly open. Mark’s at the end of my bed, smiling.

“Yes.” I close my eyes and feel the bed depress next to me.

“Flip over.” I flip and feel Mark’s hands on the back of my neck. “Your neck and shoulder muscles are tight. Sit up.” I sit up and lean back against him. He massages my shoulders until I’m half asleep.

“Nikki!” I hear my mother yell, and I start. Mark rubs my back.

“Pretend to be nearly asleep. I’ll handle her.”

“I love you,” I mutter then tense. “I think.” I close my eyes and yawn.

He laughs quietly. “I’ll take that.”

I hear the footsteps get closer and stop in the doorway. “Nik—”

“It’s been a long, stressful day,” Mark says quietly. “She needs a nap. Is there something I can help you with?”

Silence.

“You just arrived. You wouldn’t know where to look.”

I’m lifted slightly and placed back on the bed. My slippers are removed from my feet and I’m tucked in.

“I’d rather try to find it than wake her.” I hear his footsteps leave the bedroom and the door close.

I turn over and look at the door.

Oh please God, please don’t let him be a massive asshole! He’s too good to me.

—oOo—

“Mommy?”

My eyelids are being poked. Manny. I open my eyes.

“Hey, Manny.” I lift the blankets and he crawls in with me. “You went shopping?” I kiss his head and make a mental note to take him to get a haircut.

“Uh huh. Tío bought lots of dwinks. He bought me a dwink.”

“Oh yeah? What kind of drink?”

“Chocolate milk.”

I laugh. Manny loves chocolate milk and Hec knows it. He spoils Manny so much. “Did you thank Tío?”

“Yes, Mommy. I wanted more chocolate milk!”

I laugh. I hear my bedroom door open and look over. Hector.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” He kicks off his shoes and crawls on top of the bed with us. “You OK?”

“Yeah. Why?” Manny crawls over me to snuggle between us.

“Mark said you needed a nap.”

I smile. “How is he?”

“Holding up against the inquisition.”

“Still think he’s a pendejo?”

Hec raises an eyebrow. I look down. Manny’s looking at the two of us. New word and he wants to know what it means. We both grin at each other.

Hec grimaces. “Let’s just say that, at the moment, I’m feeling kind toward him.”

“I like Mark,” Manny declares.

“Well, that’s settled. We like Mark,” I reply, looking at Hec.

—oOo—

Mark‘s POV

Dinner is pizza. I think that was a good idea. At 2000, the Riveras say goodnight and go upstairs to bed. Nikki and Hector remind everyone that Manny is a child. No violent movies.

I don’t think Family Guy is an appropriate cartoon. Neither does Hector. He glares until they switch to Shrek.

The sound of the heat kicking on wakes me. I check the time then survey the room. Nikki fell asleep against my shoulder. Manny’s drooling on Hector’s neck and Hector’s out cold. I touch Hector’s shoulder and he jerks awake. I nod at the clock on the wall. Zero dark thirty. Hector nods and picks up Hector Manuel. I shake Nikki awake gently.

“Huh?” She looks confused.

“After midnight,” I whisper. “Bedtime.”

“Oh. Right.” She taps each one of her cousins awake and hands out extra blankets and pillows. Lia and Mercy inflate an air mattress and I ensure the house is locked up tight. I set the alarm and we say goodnight to the cousins and head to her bedroom.

“How do you want to do this?” I ask once we’re inside. I’m looking for a safe place to stash the weaponry where I can get to it but Manny can’t.

She looks at me. “Hard. Fast. All night—”

I know my ears are red. “I meant, left side of the bed or right?”

“Oh.” She blushes and runs her fingers through her hair. “Umm … I usually sleep close to the door because of Manny.”

I nod. “Hard, fast, and all night I can manage, but not tonight. We’d have an audience.”

“I can lock the door.”

I pull her into my embrace. “I won’t stop until you scream.” Her eyes widen. “Four years for you? Three years, roughly, for me. My goal in life is to break your headboard.”

We both look at her headboard. Solid wood, sleigh bed style. I’ve never said anything so ridiculous in my life, but right now, I mean it. I’m up for the challenge, some parts of me more than others. I see the moment she realizes it.

“Oh god yes,” she whispers, looking down.

“Right. So tonight, let’s just get some sleep.”

“OK.” She kisses me, hard, while sliding her hands into my pants. “What happened to your underwear?”

“Suitcase.”

She looks down, unzips my jeans and tugs them down. My dick is happy to say hello. Thrilled, really.

“Are you serious?” she whispers. She starts stroking and I moan before stopping her.

“Audience.”

“Right now, I really don’t give a damn.” Her thumb swipes across the head and I grit my teeth to avoid moaning loud. I hate being logical. Right now, I want to fuck her wherever I can. Wall, bed, countertop, I’m not picky right now.

I capture her hand and kiss it. “You want to face the looks tomorrow?” I raise an eyebrow and watch her blush. “I won’t feel embarrassed, but you know you’ll hear it all day.”

“Right,” she mutters. “I’m taking a shower.” She walks off to the bathroom while I remind my dick to behave. Not tonight. Maybe, if I’m very lucky, he might get lucky tomorrow. I need to get some condoms first.

Arriving with condoms seems arrogant. Making a condom run isn’t.

I pull my jeans back up, stash the weapons, lock her bedroom door and walk into her bathroom. Nikki’s in the shower when I walk in. Frosted glass. Thank god. I brush my teeth and leave. I strip and, just as I’m reaching for my sleep pants, I hear Nikki gasp. I turn, wondering what’s wrong, but she’s just staring at me. “What?”

She shakes her head. “I’ll make you a deal.” She grins. “I’ll sleep naked if you will.”

I raise an eyebrow and she drops the robe. My dick thinks this is an excellent idea and I should take her up on her offer. I toss the pants back inside the suitcase. Nikki slides in the bed and I slide under the covers and reach for her.

“Mark?”

“Hmm?” I need her to go to sleep so I can handle this. What’s the protocol for jerking off your first night in your new girlfriend’s house during a major holiday?

“This is a terrible idea.”

I know. I want you like you wouldn’t believe.

“Why?”

She turns over. I see her smile in the moonlight. “Because your dick is not into the tomorrow idea. Neither am I.” She slides one slim thigh on top of mine and I roll over onto my back. She slides right on top of me and my hands decide to explore. Yeah. Bad idea. She’s hot and wet and slowly grinding on top of me.

“Condoms?”

“Bedside table.”

Yes! “Headboard?”

“Break it.”

I smile against her neck and pant silently. “Trying to make a good impression on your parents.” One inch. If she slides down one inch, I’ll grab a condom and we can make this really good.

“You’re frustrating me.”

She slides. I reach and her phone beeps. She grabs it, checks the message and groans.

“What?” I’m ready. Oh god I’m ready, but she takes the condom from me and puts it back on the table. She curls up next to me and sighs.

“Hector’s the ultimate cock block. He says he can hear us.”

Two minutes later, I feel Nikki shake. “What?”

“Hero to zero on me, huh?”

Your insane cousin can hear me trying to corrupt you. Yeah, my dick has decided to go into hiding.