Tagged: RangeWorld

Business-focused Chapters

Chapter 84: You have no loyalty

This will be the ONLY time I write from either of these POVs. Now, excuse me. I need to go disinfect.

Antonio’s POV—Monday morning

I can’t believe Ranger put a bitch in charge of a black ops company but hey, that just means my next step, to XO, should be much easier. Women are much easier to manipulate than men and, if it’s true she has all this power, I can follow her orders long enough to capture the prize. Fuck Diggy. I intend to take over as XO of Miami, and I’m sure everyone has told her everything they believe to be true about me. Time for her to learn the truth.

The fact that her ass was kidnapped from right under Diggy’s nose means he’s dead in the water. Fucked up his shot to be an XO in 24 hours. I can’t wait to laugh at him. A muscle in my jaw twitches and I try not to wince in pain. Fuckin’ Mack. That asshole has been a pain in my ass since he arrived, dissin’ me ever since he said hello. I’m going to get his ass back for the concussion.

I’m next to the CO’s office, waiting for her to come back. I can’t believe I’m about to do this shit, but hey. Whatever. Her little quote on Friday was cute. The Miami men don’t have a problem with their masculinity. We simply know what a woman’s place is and we have no problems reminding them. That feminism shit’s gone too far and we know why Ranger put her in charge. Continue reading →

Chapter 83.5: 72 Hours with the Equal Rights Warrior

“Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman,
but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.” ~ Dorothy Sayers

Edna’s POV

Hot Damn! An all-expenses paid vacation to Miami!

I hang up the phone and start packing. Stephie said the flight would leave Newark at noon tomorrow and one of her RangeMen would pick me up at 10 a.m. and escort me to the airport. I’m thrilled.

Stephie said that she needed help teaching a bunch of sexists to fear the power of a woman. Not a problem. I marched in the 70s for the ERA and I still regret it didn’t pass. I spent years as a housewife only to get screwed in the end. I now live with my propriety-obsessed daughter and her quietly compliant husband.

That house is hell. Continue reading →

Deleted Scene: The Return of Maria

This is the way I originally wrote Maria’s return. This would have been in Chapter 83: The Power of a Woman, after this section:

So the league of assholes (much easier than trying to keep count of the quickly dwindling number) is silent for two days, watching her, assessing her, before they ask again. They get the same answer. Finally Nacho comes to me as the representative of their ‘concerns’.

It takes everything I have not to say ‘windows’.

“Diego, we don’t know what’s up with Maria, but she’s not cooking like she used to. It’s almost like having Ella here. Can you find out what’s wrong?”

So I called a meeting and allowed Maria to tell the men of RangeMan Miami her needs. No man was prepared for what he heard. Continue reading →

Chapter 83: The Power of a Woman

A/N: This chapter starts the Friday Steph leaves for her weekend with Carlos.
I know this chapter, timeline wise, is all over the place. Sorry I can’t give you a more linear flow in this chapter but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes! So if you’re confused, don’t worry. The next chapter explains everything!

Diego’s POV—Friday Morning

Stephanie’s been walking around with an evil smile on her face for the past 18 hours.

Hal is terrified. Thomas, Pat and I are confused. Mack’s amused. He can’t wait to see what she comes up with.

“Diego, I’m telling you, that smile is trouble!” Hal hissed as we left the CO’s office at 0800. “That smile contains all the evil and mischief she can come up with.” He stopped dead in the middle of the hall and shuddered. “That smile was the last thing I saw before I was stunned.”

I froze. Whatever the CO had come up with, it was guaranteed to be the work of an evil genius.

I need to go light a candle. Continue reading →

Chapter 81: You lead, I’ll Follow

Steph’s POV—Wednesday

I wake up bright and early the next morning and go to the gym. My presence causes every man to stop and stare. I merely wave and hit the treadmill. After an hour, I’m dripping nasty sweat and exhausted. Thomas has arrived and is smiling at me.

“Mats?”

I roll my eyes. “Right. Wait until I’m good and tired to issue a challenge.”

He laughs. “Mack keeps telling me about your pointy elbows.”

I frown and look at my elbows. They look like normal elbows. “OK, but if Mack warned you, I’m promising nothing.” Continue reading →

Chapter 80: You need to get a new idea

A/N: The entire chapter is Mack’s POV. You know what his language is like. There’s a slang dictionary at the end.
 
UPDATE: This chapter was written before the clearance. As another reviewer pointed out, Mack’s seen Hal before. Chapter has been updated slightly. 🙂 Whoops!

Mack’s POV—Monday

I insisted on protecting the CO. She’s major and she needs serious firepower and a no-shit attitude at her back. I’m not saying Linden ain’t shit; I’m saying I’m not afraid to do time again. He needs to stay clean. I’m ride or die.

She saved NYC. Men in this branch are serious about her. The moment Thomas told me what went down, I swung my balls and called Tank Saturday morning. First time I ever called him ’bout something but I’m serious. The CO will have protection. Continue reading →

Chapter 79: Orders and Reprieves

Steph’s POV

Diego’s jaw is tight. He keeps swallowing hard and he hasn’t taken his eyes off the road.

“Diego?” I speak softly. I recognize this face. This is the ‘I fucked up beyond all comprehension’ face. “Diego?” He looks over at me and I smile. “This is not your fault. This is not Maria’s fault. This is my crap luck coming back to bite us all.”

He gives me a tight smile and we pull into the garage. Maria’s there, in tears.

“Stephanie!” she rushes forward and hugs me tight. “Oh, Stephanie! I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” She’s sobbing and hugging me so tightly I can’t breathe. I pat her back awkwardly. Continue reading →

Chapter 77.5 Unpleasant Duties, Part II

A/N: Tank’s POVs take place during the first week of Steph’s Miami trip.

Tank’s POV

This is probably the hardest apology I’m going to issue but I’m determined. I just wish I could get the nasty taste out of my mouth.

“Sir. Welcome to Boston.”

Mark has his blank face on but I detect confusion. Good. I nod and toss my bags in the back seat. I climb in and we travel to RM Boston in silence. We arrive and I note the silence on the floor. Everyone is confused. Good. I travel up to Les’s apartment, stash my bags, then head downstairs. I get off the elevator at 5 and walk to Mark’s office.

“Bring the results of Steph’s report with you.” Continue reading →

Chapter 77.3: We Woo, Part II

A/N: Mike is the man Danny has recommended as an XO candidate. Since there’s no real way for you to meet him during the Boston trip, this is your chance to get to know him.

Mike’s POV—Monday

The CO’s just left the gym and every man is quiet.

She holds our lives in her hands.

She holds Mark’s life in her hands.

She holds Pat’s and Rod’s lives in her hands.

And she knows nothing good about this branch. That’s a huge problem. Continue reading →