Mark’s POV— 12/18, 1600

I stand before the Leadership Core and the CO with a clear mind and heart. I’ve done the right thing. My colleagues no longer hate me. I’ve proven myself to my boss. I’ve worked with her, not against her, even though my office failed the ‘management’ portion of the review. My men are confident in my leadership again and I leave having done the right thing.

I feel clear in the decision I made four months ago. It had been accepted. It worked out for both of us.

“Let me be sure I understand you correctly,” Ranger says slowly, his eyebrows drawing together. “You have resigned from the company?”

“Yes, sir,” I reply calmly.

“You do not intend to rescind this resignation?”

“No, sir.”

“You have given and worked your notice?”

“Yes, sir.”

Ranger’s eyes are boring holes through me. This is almost as nerve racking as that day in April when he threatened to ‘disappear’ me. The rest of the Leadership Core is staring at me just as hard. I chose the worst possible place to stand. Ranger is on my left, but Lester and Hector are in front of me. I should have stood behind Lester. Tank and Bobby aren’t as scary. I look at Steph, who looks calm, although amused, at the proceedings.

My office is packed, my keys have been removed from my key ring, and the order to remove all my various accesses is ready to be given. My men are stunned, but I am prepared to walk out of RM-NYC today as an ex-employee.

“Return to Javier’s office. Wait there.”

I nod and leave the room.

Only God, and Stephanie, can save me now.

—oOo—

Steph’s POV

Mark walks out the door calmly. I’m actually kind of proud of him. I turn toward the guys and am faced with four identical looks of complete confusion and one look of amusement.

I smile.

They look stunned (Tank), confused (Lester), uncertain (Bobby) and completely disbelieving (Ranger). None of them expected this. The ‘blank’ faces have taken a temporary vacation.

“Babe?” Ranger raises an eyebrow.

“Ranger?” I raise an eyebrow and get four identical looks of surprise. Yes! Finally!

Ranger lifts Mark’s resignation, submitted four months ago while we were at Point Pleasant. Not one of the men voted to keep him, but he submitted the resignation on Wednesday morning, before their vote. It gave me a chance to think about how to make the situation work for everyone and, thanks to Candy, I had an idea.

I’m sure, months from now, someone will come back and rip my idea to shreds.

I accepted his resignation on the condition that he finished the year but I made him leave the effective date of resignation blank. He would help me identify RangeMen who were good candidates for XOs, liaisons, and strategists and he would mentor those individuals in his office. That way, he trained his successor to take over the office and I had a ‘pipeline’ of potential leaders.

Well, that’s what he thought he was doing. In fact, he was training the new XO for Charlotte. Mike will soon be ready to be placed in the position and it gave Mark a chance to actually work with me.

I decided, while at Point Pleasant, that Mark’s decision to put his office before himself was his redeemer. He would do what was right for his men. So, if he and I could finish the rest of the year without me wanting to kill him, I’d find a way to leave him in his position as XO. I just needed to know that he would a) win his colleagues back or at least convince them to stop hating him; b) make amends to his men for forcing them to run interference in the office for him; c) get over wanting to leapfrog to Ranger’s side; and d) stop eavesdropping.

It worked out better than I ever imagined. Mark proved that he’s not a complete asshole. He’s a decent guy and a great XO. Now that he’s not desperate to prove I’m the worst hire ever, he’s accepted that he is as high as he will ever go and he’s content. Something Hector said helped, that Les is happiest when he has a lot of different things to work on. Mark reminded me of Les in that regard. Having some new directions for his focus (flying, repairing his friendship with Mando, his relationship with Nikki, and repairing his partnership with Victor) really helped.

I decided to leave the punishment for his insubordination and disrespect over the first five months to the guys. I wasn’t doing their dirty work. If they wanted him fired, they could do it themselves and quit putting the decision off or trying to force me to do it.

This is their failing. They failed to support anyone in leadership except Hal, Ram and Manny and they were developed only because the Leadership Core stayed in Trenton for four years. The Trenton men feel close to, and have a relationship with, the Leadership Core, but none of the other offices do. This company is a ‘personality cult’, but the personalities in charge have been AWOL.

When I thought about what Hector said about me being the ‘talky face’, it suddenly made perfect sense. He was right. That’s my job. I bridge the men and the Leadership Core and someone has to.

Now, to give them the same kick in the ass.

“That situation was all your faults.”

I’m faced with four stunned faces.

“Babe?” Confusion tinged with anger. Good.

“It’s true. Why didn’t anyone simply sit him down and say ‘We’re not taking on partners’? That’s all he needed to hear. That’s all I told him. He was acting like an asshole because he was desperate to please you, Ranger. He wanted to be your right-hand man. It was a desire to please gone too far and, before you say anything, I’d like to point out that it’s the same situation that Tank has with Hal, except Hal knows his limits.”

Tank looks gob-smacked. “What! Hal does not act like Mark.”

I lean forward in the seat. “Yes, he does. Hal wants to make you proud of him. When faced with tough decisions or questions, he asks himself ‘What would Tank do?’ He respects the guys, but he hero-worships you and you know it.”

Tank sits back, eyes wide. I don’t think he ever thought about it like that. Surprise surprise.

“Mark is Hal, taken to the extreme.” I face Ranger again. “The difference is Tank and Hal have a relationship. Hal knows he can call Tank, regardless of reason. Tank occasionally sends books, quotes, things to develop Hal. He makes his support and expectations clear. Hal takes everything Tank gives him and applies it to become a better leader.

That’s what Mark wants, the recognition that he’s done a good job. That’s why he went overboard in NYC and Miami. He saw himself as safeguarding your company. That’s what Rod said, right?” He nods. “Right. Mark felt he was doing what was right for you and you never said anything to him to correct that assumption. You just beat his ass on the mats. That’s why he spied on everyone and drove them crazy. He was trying to make sure everyone was running your company to the best of their ability.”

I shake my head and lean closer to Ranger. His blank face is firmly in place.

“Words, Ranger. He needed the words. He remembers nearly everything, every word, you’ve ever said to him,” I tell him quietly. “You are his benchmark, the man he measures himself against. He needed to know you recognized his efforts to grow the company and keep everything afloat. You showed him you trusted him by continually putting him in charge but you never said anything. He needed words, Ranger, not just actions.”

“Angelita is right,” Hector says quietly. The guys look at him, still stunned. “That’s what I figured out at Thanksgiving. Mark responds to clear information. No ambiguity. You knew his parents spent his childhood analyzing him.” Ranger nods. “He doesn’t like to analyze people’s objectives. It’s what made him the perfect soldier. He followed orders and he trusted you. Every time you took him to the mats, you gave him a clear charge. No ambiguity.”

The guys look flabbergasted. Ranger’s eyes widen.

“Once Angelita told him whatever she told him at the beach, that’s when he got his shit together. He had clear information. Angelita took it a step further by putting him at the mercy of his colleagues. She made him subordinate to them for once. That’s what humbled him. The only men who could save him were the ones he pissed off repeatedly. If he wanted to save his ass, he had to learn to be a team player instead of the leader.”

BLT’s jaws have dropped. Ranger’s put his military blank face in place. Les snorts then starts laughing. Everyone looks at him, but he waves, still chuckling.

Hector looks at Les for a moment then leans toward Ranger. “Those contracts that the two of you did together? DEA?” Ranger nods. “You talked to him about the company and that gave him the expectation that he might rise to the leadership level. You talked to him and it made him proud that you’d confide in him. That’s where your problem started.”

Ranger’s red. I’m sure he never considered it. But I knew what it was like to try to do your best with Ranger’s non-communication. After listening to what he said and thinking about it at Point Pleasant, I realized that Mark and I are a lot alike. Mark grew the company time and time again with little feedback from Ranger. He had his own branch to run, but he was trying to fulfill Ranger’s charge, even with Tank’s and Les’s hostility. He wanted to stand by Ranger’s side and no one was telling him what to do to do that (or that it was impossible anyway!)

He did his best with everything lined up against him. If he’d had even one person willing to give him a hand, Mark could have done an even better job than he did. I looked; Mark’s management of the company when he was in charge wasn’t bad, but I had what he didn’t: support from Ranger, Tank, Les and Bobby.

That’s when I decided to give him a chance. I understood him. Ranger failed to talk to him. He knew Mark looked up to him, worshiped him, and he failed to talk to Mark and let him know he was proud of him. He gave Mark just enough information to feel as if he could expect one thing then kept Mark in a waiting mode.

Just like Ranger telling me he loved me then telling me that love came with a condom. Result? CONFUSION! I needed to know how Ranger really felt about me, whether or not he really loved me. He might not think that’s right, but when all I’d heard, for years, was his complete disinterest in me outside a bedroom, I wasn’t chancing a relationship with him! I needed to know he loved me and if that makes me pathetic, because I wouldn’t leave Joe until I knew, so be it. That’s how I felt. That’s what I needed.

Mark needed to know if he was doing a good job and what Ranger’s expectation was. Was he ever going to rise to the Leadership Core or not and if so, what did he need to do? What was Ranger looking for from him? How could he impress Ranger? What more did he need to accomplish to stand by Ranger’s side?!

Hec told me that after he spoke to Mark at Thanksgiving, it was crystal clear what I was up to. He figured it out after one conversation with Mark because he figured out what Mark and I shared in common: lack of communication and confused expectations from the man we both admired. It took him some time to figure it out but he did.

Because of Nikki, Hec is prepared to be Mark’s backer on the Leadership Core but I really had to talk him into it yesterday at his apartment. Mark’s not an idiot or an asshole; like me, he was confused and monumentally fucked with by Ranger’s non-communication. Now that the expectations are crystal clear, Mark’s showing who he really is and Hec thinks he’s less of an asshole.

I asked what it would take for Mark not to be an asshole. Hec didn’t have an answer, but he did look nauseous.

Hector Manuel is the issue now. I saw that in Atlanta. If Nikki and Mark go any further, Mark becomes ‘Daddy’. I’m not sure Hec’s ready to let go of his spot in Hector Manuel’s life.

“That’s also what Armando needed in Miami,” I add softly. “He needed to know that he would always run that office. Without that reassurance, he didn’t feel like it was his office. He was the first man named XO in this company, but would that change when you moved back to Miami?” I look around the table. “Danny and Javi felt that way too, FYI.” Bobby and Les blush. “They didn’t know how the situation was going to change, but they tried to run their offices like you’d never come home. Mando knew better and he felt like a place holder for you, Ranger.”

I sit back. They all look humbled. Yeah, guys, the rest of the world cannot ESP! You have to talk to us!

“The rest of the XOs get that recognition from me, that reassurance. Mark didn’t want that from me, Ranger. Armando didn’t need that reassurance from me. They needed that from you. They are your longest serving XOs but they weren’t getting any recognition from you.

Instead, you were impatient and short with them. They were your soldiers, but this isn’t like what you guys did overseas where the ‘mission’ came to a clear end when you got the objective. They need reassurance too. They need you to talk to them. Constant communication. Not just orders.”

It’s like a bomb went off in here. All four of them are red and each one is looking at his partner in embarrassment. Lots of ESP going on right now. I look at Hector. He rolls his eyes and smiles.

Thanks, partner, for helping me make this point. We’re the talky ones at this table.

The room is quiet for a few moments before Les groans. “Damn.” The guys look at him in confusion. “She’s right. You’re the only person who can check Mark. If you give him the order, he complies. He wanted to know you paid attention and were proud of his work. Mando let everyone run him over because he knew that there would be an even stronger personality in house to cover him.”

Good. Les sees my point. “Exactly. The moment I asked Armando to face the possibility of Ranger never returning to Miami, he started to claim his office. I could help him. I couldn’t help Mark. Mark still needs you, Ranger.” I sit back and look at them. “Money is not the same as recognition. ‘Proud of you, Babe’ means more than any car.”

Bobby chuckles and leans forward, rubbing his face. “We discussed this,” he said, looking at Les and Tank. “We said that one of our failings was that we didn’t give the XOs any positive reinforcement.”

“When?”

Bobby looks confused for a moment. “Months ago, after you told us what was going on here in NYC. We talked about that, about how we were going to have to make those changes and ensure the men understood we were proud of them.”

“You didn’t do anything.” I cross my arms and sit back.

Every brow rises and blank faces slam into place.

“Incorrect.” Tank’s voice is arctic. “Bobby and Les took the opportunity to express pride in each man and his work when you hosted them at the Shore.” I feel my face heat up. “I didn’t have that opportunity, but since three of my five XOs were in Trenton for your clearance weeks later, I started then. I’ve met with each one, including Diego.”

“Oh.” OK, I didn’t know that. “I apologize, Tank. I didn’t know.”

He nods, just barely.

The guys sit back, quiet. “Well,” Les says, brightening, “we’ve already addressed some of the things Steph is pointing out and have tentative plans in the works to address the rest.” He shrugs. “So, I guess this is a review of the LC, if we want to think of it that way.”

Tank, Ranger, and Bobby all raise a brow at him.

“By the way, it’s happening now to your newest XO. He’s trained himself to be like the CCO, to never break blank face, to wonder what Ranger would do and model himself like his idol,” Hec says, hiding a smile.

“Diego,” Lester says then starts laughing again. Ranger looks truly disturbed now and I can see Tank and Bobby hiding smiles.

“Exactly. Now, I have some recommendations.”

“Go ahead, Steph,” Tank says quietly.

“I think you should leave Armando in Charlotte for six more months. He’s doing a great job and he loves it there. His family loves it there and I see the XO he probably was when he first started. He’s away from his family and in a new environment where the men respect and obey him. More importantly,” I look at Tank, “he’s finally grieving his father. That’s what happened to him, why it seemed he lost his balls overnight. His father was his other pillar of support and when he died, Mando was hit in so many directions that he never got a chance to say goodbye.”

“We’re aware,” Tank says.

I glance at Ranger and he also nods. “We had a long conversation while you and I were in Charlotte,” Ranger says. “I know where his mind and heart are.”

Oh. And again, I had no idea.

Bobby and Les start writing notes. “Go on.”

“I recommend moving Mark to Miami as the XO there.” Complete confusion. I smile. “Mark is good at building or rebuilding respect for leadership and SOPs. He’s proven that.” I hear Tank snort. “Plus he’s good at discipline and internal RangeMan procedures. He can control Miami in Mando’s absence and Mando won’t question anything Mark does. Those two are really repairing their friendship. They talk every other night. Mark will see it as his mission to straighten it out for Mando and I can pretty much guarantee that it will get done right. He won’t hesitate to fire, he’ll hire the right people and he’ll make sure Miami is shored up right.”

I’m giving you the opportunity here. What are you going to do?

“OK, what next Steph?”

“Diego goes to San Antonio. He’s ready. He ran Miami with an iron fist.”

“Then why not leave him?” Bobby asks.

“Because the men would continue to see him as an interim, not an XO,” Ranger replies, staring at me. “He needs to go somewhere where he’s seen as the authority. San Antonio is it.” Ranger looks at me. “Next?”

“The internal designation of ‘Head Office’ needs to move to either Trenton or Atlanta.”

“No. Home office needs to be where I’m located,” Ranger says.

I shake my head. “Can you tell me, right now, that you don’t plan to take another mission ever again?” Silence. I turn to BLT. “You guys still plan to be mobile around the company?” They each nod. “Then the head office needs to be located where there’s a strong XO who can issue orders across the company and be respected. That’s Hal or Danny. Either one. Honestly, I consider Danny the senior XO of the company, but since the admin roles are split between Miami and Trenton, Trenton is a good choice too. Atlanta is a good choice because Danny is there, he’s a well-respected XO, and he’s the head of the centrally located office in the company, but—”

“Trenton,” Hector says, looking at Tank. “Hal is a good choice because, although he’s the newest, all the XOs look to him for difficult decisions. The other XOs respect Hal and he could control the company if he needed to. Plus, with Manny there as the new Assistant Chief Strategist and Ram being the person that everyone calls to verify rumors, the guys really are running communications in the company. Trenton is home office already. That was a power vacuum Angelita also filled. Company communications went through Trenton because of Bobby, but with the power Hal has and the new job for Manny?” Hec shrugs. “Trenton. At least until Ranger comes back and makes a final decision.”

I look at the guys. “If you still intend to bring up Memphis and Detroit, the company needs leadership that’s trusted and feared company-wide in the interim. Only two XOs fit that description.”

“And only one office has all the pieces,” Hec adds.

“My plan addresses that,” Ranger says, tapping his iPad. “Home office will remain in Miami.”

Where you aren’t? Fine, ignore my recommendation. Now to hit them where it will truly hurt.

“Well, since we’re moving men around and talking company leadership,” I reach into my purse and pull out an envelope, “time to talk about my status.” I’m immediately faced with four blank faces. The eyes, however, are confused again.

Hector is hiding his amusement. He knows the truth.

“I’ll work a two week notice but I’m officially handing in my resignation.” I stand and smile. “I know the position was a one-year contract, but it’s best to do these things formally, right?”

“Babe.” Ranger’s face is blank but his eyes are confused. “The year isn’t over.”

“Therapy. How can I work on me and run a multi-million dollar company and a branch at the same time? Something’s gotta give.”

I walk over and kiss his cheek, then walk around the room and kiss Bobby, Les, and Tank. Hec slaps my hand as I pass him and I give him an extra-long kiss on the cheek, which makes him blush. I walk to the door and turn back around.

“Thanks for the opportunity, guys. See you ’round.”

Lining me up to do your bidding again? Leaving me in the Miami office, an office hostile to me, while you go off to Syria or the Bahamas? No one supporting me when I need it the most? I apologized but you’re still holding my words against me? Not giving me a chance? And no one tells me anything! I’m sick of being the last to know!

My partner is the only person who actively, genuinely cares and it’s not enough. Screw that. I’m not Mark. I know how to cut my losses and leave. Time to go pick up the girls anyway.

You have thirty minutes to get a game plan together before I leave this building. Once I walk out, I’m done for good.

Let’s see how you like it.