You Think You Know Me Chapter 14 Problems in Columbia Part II, a janet evanovich fanfic

Disclaimer: I love the Stephanie Plum series, but I don't own them and I don't make anything off of them.

Warning: Those that like the Cupcake ending will not be happy with this story. Not much physical harm comes to Morelli, but his ego definitely gets beaten to a pulp. Not sure if this is a HEA story at this point, but let me know if you have any suggestions. This is my first FanFiction attempt and I Promise to complete it. I am having a lot of fun with the story so far. Thank you in advance for reading and please let me know what you think.

Thank you to suedesigns101 for reading this ahead of time and giving me the encouragement I needed to get up the nerve to post the story. I truly appreciate it.

A big thank you to those who have reviewed my story as well and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing what you think should happen next.

Problems in Columbia Part II

(Tank's POV)

Two days ago Ranger's handler had informed us that he had been captured on his mission and we needed to get him out. We had immediately jumped into action and left Trenton to bring back our brother. The entire Core Team and a few others we hand picked left within an hour of getting our information on where it was believed Ranger had been taken and we were going to do a bit of surveillance to confirm our suspicions. The information that we had on the location was not very extensive.

After spending the night last night watching from a distance and trying to get the timing of the guards shifts and their pattern of movement we had come up with a plan to extract Ranger. We were all in place around the property, focused mainly on the south end as it was the closest to the main house and we saw a helicopter land on the lawn and out stepped Gutierrez. He walked into the house with all of the confidence in the world and a smug look on his face. I was looking forward to wiping that look off his face. A few minutes later we saw some unexpected movement to the left and watched as our brother was walked to the house and in a side door. Since we now had visual contact we were a go for our mission.

"We are a go at two minutes before shift change." I whisper into my com link. "Time is currently five before change. Remember boys, get him out and let's go home. Take out anyone in the way."

I hear a round of 'sir' in my ear from my team mates. I can see the guards moving around the grounds and my trigger finger starts to get twitchy. Before I can give the 'go' order an angry voice comes across my com link, "Ranger Team Alpha, stand down. Kill code confirmation is AlphaOscar1208TangoRomeo. Confirm receipt of code." I am stunned at first and then pissed as hell.

"Who the hell is this?" I couldn't stop myself.

The voice comes back again. "Confirm receipt of kill code AlphaOscar1208TangoRomeo soldier."

Shit this was not happening. Our friend was just marched into his death and we were being ordered to stay here and do nothing. What kind of bull shit was the government trying to pull.

"I confirm receipt, but I don't work for the government anymore. I will not leave a man behind." My voice starts to rise above a whisper, but is laced with venom.

"Shut the fuck up Tank, I know who you work for. You will do as ordered. Keep you voice down before you blow yourself and your team up. There are security sensors that are hidden about 5 yards from where your heat signals are registering. Do not make any noise or further movements until you are given further instructions. Are we clear?" the voice asks.

Who the fuck is this person? What sensors, we hadn't found anything, this is complete bullshit. "On who's orders?" I sneer in the com link.

"General Stanton. Now shut up and keep your heads down. Hawk, Bones use your tranquilizer darts on any of your team that may see the need to disobey these orders. And do not move from your location until given that order. You will be able to hear what goes on inside through the com link."

I hear Hawk and Bones agree to the command with "Affirmative". What the hell is going on here? The next thing I see is a flare shot off in the air from high above the house shortly before a parachute opens and the outside lights of the house dim then are returned to their original brightness. What the fuck is going on here?

(Lester's POV)

As we sit outside waiting for our chance to get Ranger out of there I notice an incoming helicopter. I already know this is going to be Gutierrez. We had found out that he had been on vacation and was to be returning soon, we just didn't realize that it would be today. As the helicopter lands Gutierrez gets off with a smug look of satisfaction on his face. That look alone told me that he was responsible for Ranger's capture. Not that I had any doubts before, this man had been after Ranger since his brother had been killed in one of our previous missions. I planned on taking this guy down personally for this. I was glad to see that his family was not with him, we tried to avoid the deaths of innocents as much as possible, especially women and children.

We were all ready for the go ahead from Tank at the two minute mark when we hear a voice come over the com link and surprised us all or at least that is what I thought.

"Ranger Team Alpha, stand down. Kill code confirmation is AlphaOscar1208TangoRomeo. Confirm receipt of code." What the fuck? There is no way this is happening.

I hear Tanks response "Who the hell is this?", and then I hear "Confirm receipt of kill code AlphaOscar1208TangoRomeo soldier." from the voice. No way in hell was I walking away. The soldier in me took over and was ready to accept my orders but who ever this was, was going to pay dearly. "I confirm receipt, but I don't work for the government anymore. I will not leave a man behind."

"Shut the fuck up Tank, I know who you work for. You will do as ordered. Keep you voice down before you blow yourself and your team up. There are security sensors that are hidden about 5 yards north of where your heat signals are registering. Do not make any noise or further movements until you are given further instructions. Are we clear?" the voice asks.

"On who's orders?" I hear from Tank in an angry voice. None of us are happy about this new turn of events.

(Hawk's POV)

Waiting outside the compound of the Gutierrez Cartel I could tell that everyone was on edge. I know that I was not as surprised at the turn of events as most of the rest of our team. The conversation taking place in my ear between Tank and the unknown voice, or at least unknown to them was actually quite amusing and would have had me rolling on the floor laughing if the situations hadn't been as serious as it was. When the discussion of security sensors we hadn't been able to find was announced I stiffened in place ready to stay in my location until I knew they were deactivated. The smile on my face grew even wider when I was given orders to use my tranquilizer darts on any of the team that could put us at risk. I knew it wouldn't be necessary, but I responded with Bones at the same time with "Affirmative." Boy were things going to get interesting, especially when the team figured out who had just ordered them to stand down.

(Gutierrez POV)

The helicopter ride back to my house was uneventful and I felt a bit more relaxed then when I had left. Spending time with my family always helped me to center my mind. As I step out of the helicopter and walk to the house I have a feeling that the relaxation I had just had would be coming to an end very soon. I needed to make a few calls and then check in with my team and find out what had been happening since I last checked in with them. I make my way to my desk and sit down when only a few minutes later there is a heavy metal sound coming towards my office. I wonder who they found this time that had betrayed us. I hear the sounds getting louder, then entering my office followed by the sounds of a kick and someone hitting the floor. I take a deep breath before looking up. What I see before me is one of the most precious gift anyone could have given me, a goal of mine for many years since he had killed my brother. The only problem was that it was also my worst nightmare, because I couldn't do a thing to him, he was protected and I couldn't afford to take that chance no matter how much I wanted to.

"Manoso, you are very brave to come into my territory. Only it appears that your luck has run out on this visit." I could hear the venom in my own voice and hoped that he feared what he thought was going to come, but if I knew him the way I thought I did, there would no evidence of fear from him no matter what. "You have no idea how long I have wanted to see you in this position in front of me so I could see the life drain from you like my brother's drained from him. You took something from me that was very precious and you should pay dearly for this." I say staring straight at him with all the hate and anger for him that I have felt over the years. I now had to find out why he was here, before I could make any moves. Taking in his appearance Manoso has been beaten and stabbed multiple times.

Still staring at Manoso I ask my men in the room that have entered in the last few minutes, my second in command Garcia, Manny Benitez one of my upper level men and the now kneeling Manoso, "Who brought him here? And how long has he been held?"

My eyes never waivered from Manoso, but I nod in acceptance of what has been said. "Garcia were you aware of his arrival or him being held here? Does anyone else know of his presence?"

I nod in acceptance still glaring at Manoso. I let that information sink in for a few minutes before I respond. "You know you are a dead man, right?" This question directed at Manny. There is no time for him to respond because the next thing I hear is the flare signal going off outside the window of my office. Since I was still sitting at my desk I quickly reached under the space in front of me and hit the switch that will dim the outside lights and then turn it back to normal, which is the return signal.

I shake my head slightly knowing exactly what is coming and hoping that it will have a better outcome than what the current view of the situation should. Seeing Manny holding a gun to Manoso's head I walk around my desk and break eye contact with Manoso for the first time since I first realized he was there. "Garcia you know what to do. Manny stand down, I will not prevent what is coming your way. You knew what the consequences of your actions would be so you deserve what is about to happen." I see Garcia stand at parade rest and Manny still holding his weapon on Manoso. Thinking to myself 'I know this is going to cost me big time for having one of my men turn on me like this. I should have eliminated him at the last incident.' When I quickly think back to that incident I felt that his actions were that of the old school feelings towards women that he needed to get over, and that what had happened to him would be enough to change those views, but obviously that was not correct and I was going to pay dearly for that now.

Manny is stupid enough to open his mouth and speak, "Once I put a bullet in the four of you there will be no but me to answer to, no one will be able to touch me. My contacts will see to it. You've gone soft Gutierrez! You've bent to the wills of the outsiders and our country is being controlled by cowards, too bad for you that I have kill you before you see the old ways brought back." Before he say anything else Garcia is shot in the arm, and I am hit in the shoulder trying to jump out of the way. On my way down to the ground I see a flash of black move so quickly that I almost miss it.

The next thing I know there was a lot of grunting and the sounds of flesh hitting flesh and a few cracks of what sounded like breaking bones. I wait until the sounds stop and look up. To see Manny on his stomach with his hands tied together behind his back and his head pulled back by his hair and knife at his throat, a figure in black with their knee in his back with their head next to his ear whispering something.

I look over to see Garcia getting up holding his arm with a smile on his face looking at the sight of Manny pinned to the ground. I turn to look at Manoso and his expression has not changed but he was looking directly at the pair on the ground only a few meters from where he was.

For the first time I hear the figure in black speak and it is directed towards Manny, "I shouldn't be surprised that you are the one responsible for this problem, however I would have thought that when I cut off you left testicle the last time we had a confrontation that you wouldn't challenge me again." I shiver at the malice in her voice and the reminder of what she did to him before. "You were warned that any attempt to harm those protected by me would be the end of you. You should have known that the night that you attempted to rape me. You underestimated me then and you did it again when you decided to challenge me now. I want to know who gave you the Rangers location and you will tell me now or I will cut off small pieces of you at a time rather than give you the quick end, even though you don't deserve it. Rico, you need to disarm the security sensors at the south end for 3 minutes. There is a Rangers team that will be joining us here in the office. Have one of your men lead them in and your men are to stand down with their weapons. The Rangers have orders to lower their weapons, but they will not give them up. Is that understood?" I meet her eyes and give her a nod of agreement.

"The sensors have been disarmed and will reset in 3 minutes. They can enter now Blaze." I pick up the phone, "At the south end there will be some visitor coming onto the property. Bring them to my office, you are to stand down with your weapons and allow them to retain theirs." At that instruction I hang up the phone.

(Ranger's POV)

Making eye contact with Gutierrez I could see the absolute hate he held for me. There was an evil smile that graced his lips at my appearance and I could see that he was enjoying the fact that you could see the damage that had been done to me. It was a few minutes before he spoke just looking at me and never breaking eye contact.

"Manoso, you are very brave to come into my territory. Only it appears that your luck has run out on this visit." I could hear the venom in his voice I new my end was coming and my team had not had a chance to get to me yet. He continues speaking, "You have no idea how long I have wanted to see you in this position in front of me so I could see the life drain from you like my brother's drained from him. You took something from me that was very precious and you should pay dearly for this." I was surprised by his words. Why did he just say should and not will? What is going on here?

His next words made more sense to me. I figured he would reward Benitez for handing me over to him. "Who brought him here? And how long has he been held?"

Manny speaks, "I found him four days ago and brought him in. I wanted to offer him to you as a gift. He was careless with his awareness of his surroundings and I only had to use a tranquilizer dart." There seemed to be some smugness in his voice as he delivered his statement. If he only knew ironic that statement he would be rolling on the floor laughing. How many times had I said that to Steph? She would never believe what had happened to me.

His eyes never waivered from mine, gives a slight nod then asks, "Garcia were you aware of his arrival or him being held here? Does anyone else know of his presence?" Now I was totally confused, why did it matter if others knew?

"To my knowledge no one else knew he was here until he was walked across the grounds into the house just a short time ago. I had no knowledge that he had been brought here or I would have taken care of it." Garcia states flatly. Now what the hell is going on? I know that his second in command would not have finished me off for him. Gutierrez wanted to finish me off for himself, I knew that for a fact.

Still holding eye contact glaring at me with what looked almost like pain in his eyes his next question threw me. "You know you are a dead man, right?" Even though he was looking straight at me it didn't seem as though this question was directed at me. There is no time for anyone to respond because the next thing I heard was a flare signal going off outside the window. I see Gutierrez move slightly and then shake his head slightly before he stands to round his desk.

For the first time Gutierrez drops eye contact with me. "Garcia you know what to do." At this statement I see Garcia out of the corner of my eye switch his stance to parade rest. "Manny stand down, I will not prevent what is coming you way. You knew what the consequences of your actions would be so you deserve what is about to happen." Manny still has his weapon trained at my head after Gutierrez order him to stand down. I think to myself, shit I'm in the middle of a fucking mutiny. And I used to think that Steph got herself into the shitty situations, good going Manoso, good going, I had to hold myself from rolling my eyes at my situation.

Manny speaks up, "Once I put a bullet in the four of you there will be no one but me to answer to." What the fuck, the guy is nuts and can't even count. There are only three of us in the room not including himself. He should be a wonderful leader for the Cartel I think to myself. "No one will be able to touch me. My contacts will see to it. You've gone soft Gutierrez! You've bent to the wills of the outsiders and our country is being controlled by cowards, too bad for you that I have kill you before you see the old ways brought back." What is he talking about the old ways? Before I have a chance to think any further all hell breaks loose and I drop to the floor in hopes of finding something to open my restraints on the floor around me. Manny shoots Garcia in the arm, and the I hear another shot and a loud thud as a body hits the floor. Out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of black move so quickly that I almost miss it.

The next thing I know there was a lot of grunting and the sounds of flesh hitting flesh and a few cracks of what sounded like breaking bones. I am still looking for something to free myself when I hear a very familiar voice that I had not heard in two year. I close my eyes tightly praying that I was wrong. When I open my eyes to see what had happened I see Manny on his stomach with his hands tied together behind his back and his head pulled back by his hair and knife at his throat, a figure in black with their knee in his back with their head next to his ear whispering something. Unfortunately the face was turned away from my sight on the other side of Manny's head so I couldn't confirm my worst fears.

Waiting for the figure in black to move I am able to maintain my blank face, and my heart beats rapidly against my chest, and I am honestly surprised that no one else in the room can hear it. I stare in the direction of the two people on the floor and catch my breath when I hear the voice again.

For the first time I see the figure in black and her attention is still towards Manny, "I shouldn't be surprised that you're the one responsible for this problem, however I would have thought that when I cut off you left testicle the last time we had a confrontation that you wouldn't challenge me again." I shiver at the malice in her voice and the thought of what he could have done to her to cause the use of such tactics. "You were warned that any attempt to harm those protected by me would be the end of you. You should have known that the night that you attempted to rape me." At those words anger boiled up in me that I had only experience when she was in danger. "You underestimated me then and you did it again when you decided to challenge now. I want to know who gave you the Rangers location and you will tell me now or I will cut off small pieces of you at a time rather than give you a quick end, even though you don't deserve it." Even though her words were cruel and threatening I can't remember a time she has looked more beautiful. She was in complete control of that man, but she was completely ignoring Gutierrez and Garcia who were still in the room with us. I knew this would be the end of both of us. That was until she spoke again. "Rico, you need to disarm the security sensors at the south end for 3 minutes. There is a Rangers team that will be joining us here in the office. Have one of your men lead them in and your men are to stand down with their weapons. The Rangers have orders to lower their weapons, but they will not give them up. Is that understood?" At first I was taken aback by her boldness, and then was in absolute shock by the response she received.

Meeting her eyes he offers a simple nod, "The sensors have been disarmed and will reset in 3 minutes. They can enter now Blaze" He picks up the phone, "At the south end there will be some visitor coming onto the property. Bring them to my office, you are to stand down with your weapons and allow them to retain theirs." And he hangs up. HOLY SHIT, my Babe was BLAZE? What the fuck is going on here?

Hope everyone enjoyed this update. Where do you think they will all go from here? Ranger/Steph get together? Will he accept her as she is? Will the Merry Men accept her as she is? Let me know what you think.