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 →

Chapter 110 Strategic Retreat and Regroup

Steph’s POV

“Y’all get it straight?”

We’re on the road to Houston, RMSA men behind us in another SUV, and Lula’s looking at me out the side of her eye.

“Yeah. We’re straight.”

She nods. “Good.”

I look over at her. “We’re good too,” I tell her quietly.

She exhales. “Thanks. So what the hell was wrong with you?”

I sigh. “A bunch of things.” Continue reading →

Chapter 109 We Choke on Humble Pie

A/N: Before you read this, I’d like to remind you of BLT’s goals in this psyop: ‘Being the CO of RangeMan while we bring up the San Antonio office would (a) guarantee that she stayed firmly under RangeMan protection, (b) force her to get the training she’s needed for years without anyone demanding she do it, (c) give her a taste of being Ranger for a while, (d) allow her to oversee some of the projects we have going on in house (or will soon), (e) keep her out of the ‘Burg gossip for a few months, and (f) ease the rest of RangeMan LLC into accepting Beautiful as a permanent eventual part of the Leadership Core Team’.

Tank’s POV

“Sir?”

I wave Candace into the room. “I have a management problem.”

“One moment, sir.” She leaves and returns with a legal pad. “OK, shoot.”

I give her the brief outline of the discussion with Steph, taking care to represent what happened on both sides. I also give her the recording of the meeting from my phone. She sits back to listen. By the end, she’s pale and shaking her head.

“Wow . . .”

“Yes. Opinion?”

“Verbal reprimand.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why not written?” I slide the one I wrote over to her and she reads it, nodding, before sliding it back.

“Because this is a first offense, sir. Yes, she was insubordinate, but gloves off?” She shrugs her shoulders. “OK, maybe I wouldn’t have told my bosses to go fuck themselves, but she felt comfortable enough to.”

“And that makes it OK?” I ask coldly.

“No, sir,” she replies, arching an eyebrow. “It makes this entire situation a pain in the ass. You’re all friends but you also have a line. She’s a subordinate doing the job of a board member. Lines are blurry. I have to ask, sir, if you intend to keep her.”

“We do. We want to, but my partners will vote to fire without some sort of corrective action.” Continue reading →

Chapter 108: With a little help from my friends

Lula’s POV

Me and Candy are in my temporary office at RangeMan handling business when Steph walks by.

“Hey, girl! What—”

One look at her face and whatever I want to say dies on my lips. Steph looks seconds from crying. I don’t hesitate.

“Go to the Escalade. I’ll be down in a minute.”

“I don’t want to be tracked.”

“Then you’re shit out of luck leaving this building. At least if we take the Escalade they’ll leave us alone.” Continue reading →

Chapter 107: Irreparable Breach?

Steph’s POV

Ranger leaves for the airport at noon. The weather over DC is bad so he needs to make it in as fast as possible. He said he would be back this weekend, but the guys already had something planned. He might not see me before Monday, but I’ll be back in Trenton by then.

I agree to meet with the guys in Tank’s office after lunch. Les walks in last and waggles his eyebrows at me.

“Hey, Les. I thought you were headed to the East Coast with him.”

He hugs me. “Next week. I can do what I need to by phone for a while.” He moves to his seat, where Bobby takes his head and twists it back and forth.

“Still firmly attached. Good job, Lessie.”

Les’s ears turn red as Tank laughs. “Shut up, Roh-bear.” Continue reading →

Author’s Note to Chapter 106

Happy New Year! Unfortunately, this is where I announce that I’m taking a short break. I have to.

My Muse and I are fighting.

I’ve been publishing weekly, sometimes daily, since Valentine’s Day 2013. I’m not tapped out but I’m tired.

As a writer, especially a first time writer, one of the hardest things to do is ask people to trust your vision. I know, have known for months, where I was driving to at each point and I know that everyone is frustrated right now. I find that both scary and thrilling. Scary because I see how deeply I’m affecting peoples’ emotions and thrilling because everyone’s invested. They’re rooting for Steph. They’re rooting for a Babe HEA. They’re rooting for true love to win.

Me too! I’m rooting for true love to win too!

Lately I’ve tried to avoid the reviews, mostly because they’re draining me. My muse has been confused by the level of . . . not vitriol but something I’m picking up. It’s almost as if no one trusts me right now. That because RMSA is the scariest part of the story, you don’t trust me to treat all the characters equally.

I am treating them equally. I like Steph. I really do and I’ve found the Steph in me lately, which has made it much easier to write from her perspective.

Ironic.

I’m hurt most often by the label ‘Steph-bashing’. I don’t try to bash Steph. If anything, I’m a JE Basher and that’s a large part of my character exploration in A Long Time Coming—Steph version (not posted yet. I intended to post it after RMSA). JE took a character we all know and love and abandoned her. No growth, no change, no improvement. What she did to Lula and Edna? Criminal. Joe and Ranger? I don’t even want to go there. Not right now.

However, I try to write honestly from the perspective of other characters and, honestly, no one is an unending source of encouragement and support. Not even Hector and Ranger. It’s hard to write from the perspective of others now because it’s almost as if I dread the reviews to it. I can’t be honest sometimes. I can’t take the character where I want to (which means having to make adjustments later) because I know everyone will scream.

I don’t like lying to anyone. I don’t like dishonesty. So I have to stop and regroup. Reassess. I know where I was going. I know how I intended to get there but getting through RMSA has taken a toll on me. I have to stop before my Muse runs away for good.

So, what does this mean for you? I’m finishing out RMSA over the next few days. I’m working on some one-shots to tide you over. Not completely abandoning you. Also, within the story universe, Thanksgiving is coming up, as is Christmas and I don’t plan to spend forever getting through the holidays. So, I’m asking for your vote. I’ve completed two of the four Thanksgiving stories I had planned. I’ll let you vote on the stars of the final two. Also, I planned four stories for Christmas. Your vote will determine who I write those stories for also. Oddly enough, those requests get the juices going. The One-Shot list keeps my head churning out new ideas.

I’m also going to start working on my original fic. Just sketching out ideas and thinking.

I’m not abandoning this story. I made a vow to myself when I started that this story would finish. But I’m emotionally bruised right now, like Steph. I need time to regroup and reassess. Rediscover my faith in me and where I was going. I’ll be back, hopefully as good as new, in February. Keep an eye on the ‘Upcoming Chapters’ page on my site. That’ll let you know when I’m ready to pick up again.

Thank you for all the encouragement and support.

Victoria

Chapter 106 The Leadership Core has a meeting

Tuesday Morning

Ranger’s POV

My phone beeps at 0700.

“Hello?”

“Aguilar?”

Trent. I wonder what’s happened. Steph shifts on my chest and opens an eye. Moments later, she makes her dash for the bathroom. I sit up.

“Yes?”

“Any chance you can get back here? James White’s been found dead in Newark.”

I lean back and smile. I can’t wait to tell Les. “Is it crucial?”

“Yes. The FBI is in an uproar. He shouldn’t have gotten bail, in their opinion. As the gangs specialist, he should have been put in a segregated area. His family is here screaming too. Plus, we need to start debriefing your agents. Madam Secretary would appreciate your cooperation.” Continue reading →

Chapter 105: I Meet Her Friends

Saturday

Chenae’s POV

Lula and I wake up bright and early (or somewhere around 9 AM) and go for a run. She’s determined to get her stomach flat for that wedding dress. I’ve gained a little weight and now that I’m going to be in the wedding, I need to trim down a bit.

I’m going to be in my brother’s wedding! I had to praise HIM and give thanks for my blessings. The one thing I assumed my attitude had completely ruined was given back to me. I have my brother’s love and respect again. Continue reading →

Chapter 104.5: I Learn to Waltz, Part III

A/N: Don’t flay me alive. I’m basing part of this story on a real life situation I’m keeping my eyes on.
Slanged: sold drugs.
La Cubana: A Greyhound-style bus service that run between Miami and New York.

Lesson Two: Dress for Success

Mack’s POV

“Mommy! Mommy!”

Yala sinks to her knees in the middle of the Rikers visiting area and grabs the boys in a tight hug. I see the tears in her eyes and I kneel and wipe her face with my hankie.

She opens one eye and peers at me. “Thank you,” she whispers.

I nod and back away. This is her time. I know how she feels.

-oOo-

Earlier

Javi has my ass working like a cheap trick. I’m starting to get a flava, a style to work the streets, and I’m pulling back bigger and bigger contracts. The street guys are thrilled. We’re certain we’re gonna push past Trenton this month. We just know it.

After watching me handle that, Javi changes my job again! Now he wants me to handle more of Jorge’s stuff while Jorge works with Hector and Danny to get the technical setup for the Business Investigations group really moving. I start participating in the strategist calls and learn my new teammates across the company are good peeps. Continue reading →