Chapter 98: Welcome to San Antonio

Steph’s POV

I’m looking forward to this trip and I have to admit, Mark’s a great pilot. He invited me to sit in the cockpit with him and watch him work.

I’ve learned I don’t want to know what goes on in there. Too many buttons and he’s not using all of them.

Mark arrived from Trenton this morning with Diego, ML, Connie, and Candy. Hector and Diego immediately started whispering about something (I heard Miami and Les a lot, so I guess it went OK).

“What’s Lenny doing?”

ML looks at me and smiles. “Magda’s moved in until I return.” She’s flipping through a RedBook.

“Connie?” Even at 10,000 feet, Connie can apply polish perfectly.

“Marvin can fend for himself.”

I smile. “How’s that going?”

“Slow.” She finishes her thumb and looks up. “We’re taking our time. Between my Family and his kids, there are a lot of eyes on us. Plus, he’s busy all the time at the hospital, and me being in charge of the office meant more work. We’re moving slow.”

I grin. Ryan put the numbers out this morning and Zip and Hal were thrilled. Trenton and NYC tied this month and the guys will do anything to hold onto the crown. Meanwhile, NYC is partying. They’re ready to win it outright. Continue reading →

I Kissed a LOT of Frogs

One Shot Prompt from Lyllyn, trish94509 and jillianpappan. Thanks!

“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.”

Juana’s POV

“So, what do you do?”

Besides sit with losers like you trying to find something in common? “I’m a cop.”

His eyes widen. “Really?” He laughs nervously. “FBI or something?”

“Yeah.”

The smile drops. “Really?”

I flash the badge. “Really.” I chew another forkful of the excellent steak he’s paying for. No need to waste food.

This is another failed date but he’s decent in bed. He’ll go on the reserve list. Continue reading →

Chapter 96.5 Humbled, Part III

Chenae’s POV

She’s back. Tallulah showed up on campus today and was waiting on me when I got back from practicum. I stopped and stared. She’s lost some weight and she looks good. I hate her less. Mrs. Jacobson was right. I’m responsible for my own hell. If anyone had treated Momma the way I treated Lula, I’d kill ’em and ask Pierre to hide the body.

“Chenae.” She stands and smiles and, for some reason, I smile at her.

“Lula. What’s up?” I nod at Mrs. Baker, the residence hall manager. “My future sister-in-law.” Mrs. Baker nods and I wave for Lula to follow me.

“Not much. I hear you’re in a pinch.” Continue reading →

Chapter 97: The Enemy of My Enemy

 

Halloween Night

Les’s POV

This time, I’m not using the Reyes as the bait.

Ranger, or the possibility of Ranger’s appearance, is the bait.

The Miami men in the Trenton, Atlanta, Charlotte and Miami branches did an excellent job setting the trap. Ranger is rumored to be in one of three cities. In Philly, Ranger is meeting with Tomas and Cheeky, the Philly Inca. In Miami, he’s meeting with Danilo. In Charlotte, he’s meeting with Arturo. In Atlanta, Piman is meeting with his men in a warehouse in Doraville. Ranger will show later.

Tomas agreed to stay hidden for a night. So did Piman, Arturo, Danilo and Cheeky. Ranger is hidden in Orlando.

This will be the biggest bust yet. Continue reading →

Chapter 96: This is a Trick, Right?

A/N: For everyone who wondered why Thomas Mann didn’t spot them securing Drew in the last chapter: A Molotov cocktail takes about 10 minutes to create, due to volatility. So Thomas spotted Steph and the RangeMen taking down Drew. He ran around to the garage/shed/carport, chugged a beer (thus giving him a bottle), filled the now empty beer bottle with gasoline, found a piece of fabric to act as a wick, stuffed one end in the beer bottle, lit the other end, and ran and tossed it into the SUV. Of course, he was drunk, so not all of this went as smoothly as I’ve described it, but that’s the general idea. While he was doing all that, Steph had secured Drew in the SUV and returned to the front door with Zip and Binkie. He missed that part making the bomb.
Drunks don’t always think clearly. He didn’t consider who was missing until the screaming started. Everyone clear now? Plus, you now have a quick lesson on how to make an incendiary. Alternate beginning to that chapter will be posted on my site today at noon.

Hector’s POV

The day after Drew Stefanic died

This is the first year I’m taking Mijo trick or treating. Nikki says he’s excited. Getting to dress up, visit people and eat candy? He’s thrilled.

I know. That’s all he asks me about when we talk, whether or not I’m going to take him trick or treating. I keep telling him that I will and I’ll dress up as a ninja. So now he wants to dress up as a ninja. Nikki’s amused. She planned to dress him up as something cute, like a bum or a nerd.

Or a Pokémon.

He was excited to dress up as a Pokémon and I ask him if he still wants to be a Pokémon. Well, yes, but I’m going as a ninja so he wants to be a ninja.

He wants to be just like me.

I smile. I want him to be much better than me. I want him to never know the ugly side of life I know. So I consider this and do some research. I tell Nikki to buy him a Pokémon costume.

We’re going trick or treating as Pikachu and Ash Ketchum. Continue reading →

I FINALLY Get It–Alternate Beginning

This is how Chapter 95 was going to start at one point. I scrapped this because it didn’t take me where I needed to go in this chapter.

Steph’s POV

“Steph?” I turn. Zip. “Want to try again?”

I quickly grab my things, check with Hector on 3, and join Binkie and Zip in the garage. Just like yesterday, we travel to Franklin Park and set up. It’s 0800, we have breakfast burritos from Ella and we’re feeling good, although it’s chilly. I wonder when the cold front from Boston will travel down here. I bet Mijo would love to play with some snow before he goes home.

Minutes later, he arrives.

Zip clears his throat. “Verify.” Continue reading →

‘I’m Sorry’ is NOT Enough

A/N: UnBeta’d. I’m sorry it’s so late. We are BOTH having internet problems.

Lula’s POV

Ches Deuce ain’t saying much. That’s not unusual. RangeMen don’t talk in cars, no matter how long or short the distance. This is one of those times when I really miss Steph. We used to talk, debate, laugh, and jam to my tunes. I get in cars with RangeMen and go to sleep.

We’re in Ches’s personal car, a green Chevy Trailblazer with the naked girl mud flaps. Classy. Ches has the radio on and he’s singing along to some country song, smiling and happy. He looks like a country boy, brown hair, brown eyes, skinny like the Marlboro Man. He’s even wearing the plaid shirt and dusty looking blue jeans tucked into black cowboy boots.

“Where are you from?”

He glances at me for a moment. “Austin.” Continue reading →

Chapter 95: I FINALLY Get It

Steph’s POV

“Steph?” I turn. Zip. “Want to try again?”

I quickly grab my things, check with Hector on 3, and join Binkie and Zip in the garage. Just like yesterday, we travel to Franklin Park and set up. It’s 0800, we have breakfast burritos from Ella and we’re feeling good, although it’s chilly. I wonder when the cold front from Boston will travel down here. I bet Mijo would love to play with some snow before he goes home.

Zip clears his throat. “Verify.”

I look. Yup, that’s the target. Drew Stefanic. He’s just climbing out of his car when I approach.

“Hi, Drew!” I’m extra loud to accommodate his hangover. Continue reading →

Chapter 94: One Successful Day

Steph’s POV

I’m staring out of the windows, desperate for something new to do besides paperwork. Being in the building is driving me insane.

No one should be awake at 0800. It’s a crime against nature. I’ve been awake for two hours already. I think it’s time for me to do some ‘thinking’.

“Sis?” I turn. Hal. He and Ram step into my office.

“What’s up, guys?” We sit at my table and I grab a monogrammed pen. Hal rolls his eyes. “It’s not clothes.”

“I know. Anyway, I thought about what happened with the mall thing two days ago and I went looking through the SOPs and realized that the definition of ‘offline’ wasn’t clearly defined.” Continue reading →

A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste

A/N: All quotes from Sun Tzu, The Art of War, unless otherwise noted.

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

Les’s POV—Two weeks ago

I’m listening to everything Hec’s passing back.

Damian is a pissed man. Good.

Didn’t take me long to figure out which member of MS-13 was the set captain. Damian is trying to make a name for himself. He was a rising member in Oakland, a tough area to make your bones, and he’s garnered attention inside and outside the organization. Our former Mexican Mafia members worked their contacts to get me a name.

I might have to buy Emilio a drink. He’s at RMSA, in research, and he kept at it until he got the name.

I’ve been watching Damian for a month and I’m impressed. Piman’s not.

“He’s striking at my men. They want to strike back.” Piman’s staring at me, cold. “I don’t believe in collateral damage, Les. This shit’s pissing me off.”

I nod. I know. He’s ready to blow some shit up and protect his men but not yet. They have to accept this with patience.

A week later, Piman acknowledges that waiting was the right method to use. They made a mistake. The FBI followed them and arrested 106 in a raid.

I fought not to allow the grin. I knew they would.

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

Johanssen and I are now friends. These next strikes, in Charlotte and Miami simultaneously, will cement Marsden.

I’m rolling up the carpet now. Time to bring this op to a close. Continue reading →