Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize from the Stephanie Plum books belong to Janet Evanovich. The Inferna Angelus' on the other hand are solely mine as is the tiny terror tiger that rules them.
Chapter 45 – Time For Changes
St. Francis Hospital, Trenton, New Jersey, early the next morning
"Hey man, how are you?" Tank didn't try to cover the concern he felt seeing Lester's battered body.
"You no longer have a twin, so that's good I guess," came a weak murmur from the man in the hospital bed. Les' face was swollen beyond recognition and his body felt like he'd been skydiving without a parachute, repeatedly. "Please tell me I did some damage, too," he slurred through swollen lips.
"Yeah, no worries there. Ranger fares the same as you, unfortunately without the concussion," the irritation in Tank's voice was barely contained.
Taking a couple deep breaths he reigned in his emotions and let his thoughts wander to the past. They had all founded Rangeman together – Ranger, Bobby, Lester, Rodríguez and he. Now Bobby and Rodríguez were gone, Lester would certainly follow soon and he, himself, wasn't sure about his future with Rangeman either. They all had been close friends at one time and now Tank had to realize that their friendship teetered on the brink of collapse.
"Listen Les, I'm worried about what's going on," Tank rubbed his pan-like hands over his shaved head. When he looked up, Lester could see the weariness and frustration deeply anchored in Tank's eyes. "Do you remember what made Ranger snap?"
"You bet. He blamed me for fucking Jeanne-Ellen back when they were an item. Fucker, I never touched her. I was just the messenger. He knows that. I even did a fucking polygraph test when he didn't believe me back then. I was his family; but Fucker wouldn't even believe the word of his cousin," Lester got more and more agitated making the little blips on the monitors around him jump with excitement. "And now he thinks I'm fucking T and … what … trying to plant her into Rangeman so she can take the company over? Does he think T will steel his clients and badmouth him like Jeanne-Ellen did? He's fucking insane!"
Tank looked alarmed at Lester's face getting redder and redder and the pearls of perspiration building at his hairline.
"Man, you need to calm down," he soothingly put his hands on Lester's shoulders and pressed him lightly into the mattress. In a matter of moments, a nurse rushed into the room her face firm.
"You shouldn't agitate..," she stopped mid-rant as her eyes widened taking in the massive black man before her.
She was friends with Detective Morelli and had heard about the thugs working for Rangeman; but standing before Tank intimidated her into speechlessness. Apprehensively, the young woman eyed him while checking Les' I/V and monitored data. In a timid voice and hushed tone she cautiously reminded the men of Les' fragile condition as his heart rate and pulse stabilized and his skin color returned to its normal warm caramel color. Once she had left the room again, Tank pulled a chair over to Lester's bed and took a deep breath.
"First of all, the stuff Ranger said was unacceptable and you choosing to take a leave of absence from Rangeman will have my full support."
Lester nodded, grimacing at his pain.
"Irrespective of that something's majorly wrong with Ranger."
Lester snorted. "Yeah, he bought a one-way ticket to lala-land."
"I agree," Tank answered calmly much to Lester's surprise. "The question is why? Les, man, I know you are pissed off; but try to be objective. Ranger's behavior has slowly changed over the past several months. He has become more and more irate. He's thinking of himself as unconquerable, not giving shit about his men. That's not him. He's always been a responsible leader, farsighted and deliberate. Now he's suddenly acting like some megalomaniac, like he's too big for his boots. We have to find out the cause for these behavioral changes."
"I don't have to find out anything," Lester spit out. "I don't give a flying fuck what's going on with my cousin. The stuff he said … it wasn't said in the heat of the battle. He meant it, every fucking word of it. After all those years, he finally showed what he thinks of me, namely that I'm a dumb whore just living off his gratitude. I see no reason why I should care about what's going on with him," Les finished bitterly.
"Lester," Tank started; but immediately got interrupted.
"No!" Les squeezed his eyes shut against the pain both in his body and heart. "No Tank, you won't get me to care. I don't give a shit about what's going on with that asshole. Look at me! He could have fucking killed me. Now you want me to excuse his actions cuz' you THINK something's wrong with him?"
Sighing Tank stood up, put his hand on Lester's shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. "It's OK man, I understand. Perhaps you should take some time off to heal. Why don't you take a trip out to Great Falls and visit Bobby and T? It will be good for you, Bro."
With a final squeeze Tank said his good-byes and silently left the room. He had to get back to Rangeman and start his investigations regarding Ranger or the company would soon be history.
Great Falls, Virginia
Esme and Bobby felt completely wiped out when they awoke after merely three hours of sleep. They had talked long into the night, made plans for their future and then sealed their decisions by making love in their very own way. The sweet memories that flared up in their minds let the happiest smiles spread over their faces. Bobby couldn't remember ever having felt this giddy with excitement. Sure, he had loved Rubén. He'd been the love of his life; but they never had this puppy-love teenage type relationship.
Probably because with Rubén, Muerte somehow was involved and Muerte doesn't do giddy or puppy-love, Bobby philosophized in his mind.
Frowning he looked up and met Esme's twinkling eyes and they both started to laugh. Nope, Muerte was definitely not a touchy-feely kinda guy.
Who knows, Esme smiled brightly. He purred for me, perhaps I can make him feel giddy one day.
That would be wonderful. The two of you share the same spunk. If there's one person who can pull off that stunt, it's you, Bobby nibbled at the tip of her nose. I realize a little amorousness is a nice thing from time to time.
Their half hour long shower served its purpose of getting them clean; but was pleasurably wrapped up in some hot and steamy kissing and caressing. When they finally chased each other down the stairs to the kitchen, Bobby's deep carefree laughter could be heard throughout the mansion. The IAs who were assembled around the huge table looked at each other snorting and chuckling.
"Shit, Puppy, you going all girly on us today? What's with the playful, hand-holding, teenager mushy, gushy, lovesick puppy-love act," Rage mockingly raised one of his eyebrows and scanned Bobby and Esme up and down after they stumbled laughing into the kitchen. He, V and Marvey had come over for breakfast before leaving for the NGA.
"Nah man, not girly," V offered his two cents. "Angel just got him henpecked making him forget about his caveman heritage."
The two of them proceeded to give a detailed replay of the other night when Esme got all bossy on Bobby who desperately tried to save himself from sleeping on the couch. After they finished their little play, Button, CP, Agony and Rev had red faces from suppressing their laughter while Rage and V openly guffawed and bumped knuckles. Furor was the only one who was silently watching Esme, mesmerized by the glow she was sporting and wondering what had happened to put that much happy in her appearance.
The guys loved to pick on Bobby and he took it with a smile. With each passing day, he and Esme's brothers were growing closer together. He was certain that after today's breakfast they'd no longer be in doubt about his intentions with their little sister. Ever since Esme's attempted suicide, the IA's had morphed from a group of friends and brothers in arms to a close-knit family with a deep emotional bond. The custom of sharing most meals together began each morning, come what may, with breakfast. They would sit in the mansion's big eat-in kitchen, discuss the day, banter and ass around. It had been strange at first; but had become a routine none of them wanted to miss and one Bobby had begun to treasure. This morning was no exception as Esme's family plus Bobby, Button, CP and Marvey sat around the huge, food laden kitchen table. They breezed through the delicious multi-cultural fares Sean, their cook, had whipped up for them. Granted due to T's recent explosive spectacle, the absence of flatware had the group eating off paper plates and drinking out of Styrofoam cups; but the atmosphere was relaxed. The air was filled with the men's deep masculine voices, laughter and jokes, the brunt of them aimed in direction of the two love birds who had blissfully zoned out while feeding and kissing each other. A crumbled paper hitting their heads mid-kiss had both of them looking up with narrowed eyes and an "oh, no you didn't," look on their faces.
What? Esme playfully glared at Rage. We are busy here.
"No shit, Sherlock. With all those smoochies between each and every single bite, we'll be stuck here till lunch. May the rest of us mere unattached mortals stand up and leave the table, your highness?" Rage taunted her good-heartedly while Rev and Agony feigned feeling nauseous with the current events.
No, was all Esme said.
The IAs looked at her puzzled.
Pressing a last sweet kiss on Bobby's soft lips and squeezing his hand, Esme slipped of his lap and stood next to him at the head of the table. Letting her eyes wander over the curious faces of her brothers and friends she couldn't help the radiant smile that took hostage of her.
Alright, first of all I want to apologize for my one woman destruction crew last night. Obviously, I also need to thank you for being my cleaning minions. The kitchen is gleaming and I know for sure that I had no hand in that, Esme let her eyes wander around the room, lingering on the sliding door. The seventeen rounds of her Glock were well visible embedded into the glass, silent witnesses of just how volatile she had gotten the previous night.
Guess we need some new glass, eh? Esme blushed slightly giving her hazelnut cheeks an enchanting glow.
Her brothers around the table chuckled.
"A new glass door, new plates, bowls, mugs, cups and saucers, a new microwave and coffee maker, oh, and don't forget a new set of killer knives for the butcher's block," the guys listed and grinned at her.
"Oh, and Sean," V piped up, "is shopping for a completely new kitchen. When I met him earlier he growled that he's fed up with you and your 'dubious' friends destroying his working place. By the gleam in his eyes, I'd say he's itching for a spending spree on your dime," he chuckled.
Esme rolled her eyes. It wasn't Sean's first new kitchen and it wouldn't be his last. Why she put up with his mood swings and bad temper was a mystery. Nope, no real mystery at all. She dealt with him because Grief had asked her for that in his last will and testament. Sean was a veteran, suffering from the trauma he sustained in Vietnam. The Torres' had given him work and a roof over his head when Sean was living on the street and barely functioning anymore. Grief wanted him to always have a home at Great Falls as long as he wanted it and so it would be.
Guys, there are some things I have to tell you, Esme started anew, looking lovingly down at Bobby. Yesterday was quite disturbing for me as you all witnessed. The thought of sending Marv back into danger made something in me snap. I can't stand the thought of losing one more loved one in my life. I know some situations in life are out of my hands like car crashes etc.; but keeping him safe was something I could control and you took that option away from me. That made me really angry – at you, at the world, at NISE; but most of all at myself for permitting it to happen.
Esme took some cleansing breaths battling the emotions surging up in her.
A few months back something in me started to change. Rubén and I got close; you all thought I was falling in love with him and I guess you were right. However, before we had a chance to explore what was developing between us he broke down. Bobby found his way into my heart and now he's so deeply rooted in it that I can't imagine a single day without him, she squeezed Bobby's hand that she was still holding.
I feel my priorities changing. Where before was a dreary gray, there is now sunshine and the most beautiful colors. It's like prior to now, I've been in some kind of cocoon. I'm slowly breaking free; confused, insecure and vulnerable; but with an immense thirst for life. I'm still getting adjusted to this new me; but what I can say for sure is that I can't go on as before anymore. I have a man who loves me with every fiber of his being and whom I love back with the same intensity, unconditionally and irrevocably. We both feel deeply for Rubén and once he's with us again we want to see whether he would let himself be loved by the two of us together. I don't want to constantly risk my life anymore, not knowing whether it would be Bobby and my last goodbye. I love the idea of him, and perhaps Rubén, waiting for me to come home and the distant prospect of perhaps building our own family together.
Esme took a deep shuttering breath and this time it was Bobby who squeezed her hand reassuringly. The movement wasn't lost on Furor who felt like his heart was short of bursting with happiness.
Anyway, once the Rangemen are all back home safe and NISE is either brought down or sufficiently incapacitated, I will resign from the Inferna Angelus Syndicate. Since Grief's death I've just lived for the moment, accepting death as part of my life. I realize I don't want that anymore. I want to live and share my life with Bobby and you. I won't ask you to stop your commitment to the Inferna Angelus; but please know that besides being with Bobby and Rubén I want nothing more in this world than having you with me, safe and secure. You are my family and I can't lose anyone of you, it would break me.
She looked each of her speechless brothers deeply into their eyes and sent a wave of love, affection and commitment to them into their minds and souls.
What's more I want to face those scars on my body and soul and learn to overcome what's behind them; the torture, the rapes, the mutilations to my body. As I said, building a family is a wish Bobby and I both share in the long run; but I need to battle my demons first – at least I should be able to have sex, Esme blushed heartwarming. I know you wanted me to do that all the time; but now with Bobby at my side and how he and Rubén have made me feel these last months, I finally feel brave enough to jump into that darkness. I just hope you will be there to pick me up and dust me off through the struggles ahead, she gulped down the fear deep inside her.
That was it. Esme was finished. She felt the tension in her body escape. At that same moment, Bobby suddenly appeared in front of her, cupped her face and gave her the sweetest kiss possible. If there had ever been a doubt about his devotion to her, this kiss proved the depth of his feelings over and over again.
Furor was the first to pull her out of Bobby's tender hold and into his arms, pressing her tight against his chest.
So proud of you, Angel. Pain will burst with joy when we tell him your exciting plans. He pulled back for a second to press a loving kiss on her brow before engulfing her in his bear hug again.
"You take good care of her," Furor looked sternly over Esme's head at Bobby. "We all have a close eye on you. So far what we are seeing is exactly what we always wanted for her; but we won't stop watching you."
"I know you won't and I know I'll be as good as dead should I ever fail her," Bobby answered seriously. "Believe me when I say I wouldn't want it any other way. She is my heart and soul, she has become the center of my universe. The day I should deliberately hurt her, I will dig out my own grave and hope you make me suffer. I'm really glad that she has you all watching out for her."
Esme still tightly pressed against him, Furor grabbed Bobby's neck with his free hand and shook him gently. It was a small gesture; but Bobby knew that it gave him Furor's blessing which meant more than anything else to him. The rest of the guys didn't hold back in the hugging department either; Rage, Agony and Rev not the least bit ashamed about the happy tears streaming down their faces.
Half an hour later Bobby had Esme back in his warm and loving embrace and finally felt thoroughly accepted by her family. None of them had said anything about stepping back from the action to be with Esme and him; but Bobby was sure the wheels were turning in their minds. He and Esme had long talked about it. Her wish for them to stay with her was out in the open; but however they might decide it wouldn't change a thing about her decisions as hard as it would be.
Rangeman, Trenton, New Jersey
"Will you tell me what's going on with you?" Tank sat on the couch in Ranger's office and looked at the angry features of his friend who was brooding over hell knew what.
"What the fuck do you mean? I'm fine," Ranger threw a hostile glance at Tank. "In contrast to everyone else in this building."
For several minutes Tank silently watched the stranger in front of him. "Carlos, you are my partner and my friend. You are not fine," he calmly replied after releasing a cautionary breath.
Ranger's head immediately snapped up, his eyes locked on the giant black man.
"Listen," he growled. "I have no time for your pansy-ass, whiny lamentations about us being partners and friends and shit. You actually think I give a flying fuck about the shit you're spewing? I'm Rangeman's CEO and therefore the executive of this squadron of pussies. If you can't deal with that feel free to speak up at the next partner meeting. Now get the fuck out of my office."
Tank looked at Ranger dumbfounded. This was definitely a new level of hostility. In all the years they had been friends and brothers, he'd never seen or heard Ranger react in such a frenzied manner.
"Do you actually realize what you're saying?" Tank asked quietly.
"I realize that I've let things slide over the past few years; but that is over now. It's time to get some regimentation back here, strict workouts, a functioning chain of command, military rigorousness, every sentence starting and ending with 'sir'! Just so you know – I'm glad you all are starting to disappear. Rodríguez is mentally disabled, Brown's an overemotional bisexual pussy who can't keep his shit together, Santos is a whore that can't keep his zipper up living off my money and you," Ranger leveled an icy glare at Tank. "You've become nothing but a permissive wimp running after The Cunt like some lovesick puppy bending at her every desire."
Tank looked at him and sadly shook his head. "You are seriously ill, man. I will find out what's going on and then I'll get you help, whether you want or not." Without another glance at Ranger, he silently left the room and went over to his own office to give thought to the situation.
Ranger was a controlling and domineering persona and the position as CEO of Rangeman suited him like a second skin. He was militant, a lone wolf, a perfectionist, savvy, obsessed with superiority, always demanding integrity, vigilance and discipline from his soldiers and that was exactly what their emerging company needed from its spearhead. Rodríguez had still been in active duty back when they founded Rangeman and although he exuded more power and control than Tank had ever seen in a person, he didn't strive for it. Unlike Ranger, Ruben's dominating personality came to him naturally. The moment Rodríguez was home, he managed to leave his Muerte identity behind morphing back into a bon vivant as laid back and fun loving as Lester. Bobby was a healer. Although lethal as the rest of them, he was too gentle at heart to consider the full-time, authoritative role of CEO. Lester was the opposite of a lone wolf, Tank chuckled at the thought. No, Lester was definitely not obsessed with anything other than being carefree and enjoying life. Tank rubbed his face and thought about himself. He didn't like to be in the spotlight; rather preferred the calm role as the backbone of the company. He was a behind the scene type of guy that kept the machinery, their offices, moving. No, Ranger's difficult, demanding personality had been just fine for the job at least until recently.
Sighing, Tank rolled his chair back just as there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," he gruffly called out.
The door was jostled open as both Woody and Silvio maneuvered two office boxes full to the brim with files and folders balanced atop dollies each holding six more boxes. They quickly divested the four boxes they carried on Tank's huge desk before Woody barely lifted his chin to Silvio and nodded toward the door, a silent gesture to leave him alone with Tank.
Tank raised a single eyebrow in face of the sixteen boxes filling up his office space.
"You want to explain this to me?"
"This," Woody flicked his head toward the paper mountain, "is the result of my and Silvio's several week-long scrutiny of DuPuits encrypted hard drives. We just brought these boxes to Ranger's office and he told us not to bother him with this shit. He would perhaps take a look at it once we are back from the mission. What the fuck, Tank. We are working our asses off to get the information and he dismisses us without even asking whether we found something."
Woody had his blank face firmly in place; but Tank could see his blood boiling under the façade. Sighing, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes before shaking his head.
"Tell me the gist of it, Woody."
"It's unbelievable, Tank. For decades, NISE has been influencing the US Foreign and Security Policy. Deaths of politicians deemed accidents were no accidents, hundreds of cover-ups that would shock the American public and they even manipulated the economy to influence presidential elections. Remember the affair that brought President Jonson down? The intern was an operative of NISE. These fuckers positioned straw men in sensitive governmental areas and by that manipulated the bureaus or superiors."
Tank sat behind his desk and stared at Woody, stunned. "Fuck, it's all documented?"
"Every damn action they took in the past several decades. The only thing missing is information about the members of NISE. No word about that; but otherwise everything's in these files and folders."
Tank stared at the stapled boxes in front of him. Their content couldn't be ignored; but he had enough to do with keeping the Rangeman ship moving. It was time he took things in his own hands.
"Wanna make a trip to Great Falls, Woody?"
"Hells ya, man."
"We'll leave tomorrow around lunch time, depending on when I can spring Lester from Saint Francis. I want him to stay with Bobby until he's recuperated. We'll take him and the boxes and can talk to T about your findings."
"Hoo-ah, sir," Woody replied excited about the prospect of visiting the pint-sized tiger and her brothers.
"Woody, any idea or assumption what's going on with Ranger?"
Woody saw that Tank was serious about it so he took his time before he answered.
"Before this mission started, I would have said he was a loner, moody, hungry for power, control and success, never satisfied. Now it seems as though each of these traits are amplified. Plus, he seems to assume that a conspiracy against him is behind everything that happens," Woody hesitated for a moment. "It's like he's losing his mind."
Tank nodded and dismissed him. It was exactly what he felt, too; but what was the reason? Frowning, Tank got an idea.
"I want you to pull up all the feeds of Ranger working out in the gym from the past 12 weeks," he told Hector at the other end of the line before dialing the number of a long and dear friend he missed at his side.
Great Falls, Virginia
"Brown," Bobby answered his phone without looking at the display. He, Button and CP were shooting the shit out of some aliens on the PlayStation in the game room and filling the air with their shouting, grunts and cussing.
"Tank here. What's that ruckus in the background, am I interrupting something?"
Suddenly, Tank's phone was filled with cheers and whooping before Bobby came back on the line.
"Not anymore, man, just got killed. I tell ya, those IA medics have no sense of decency," Bobby said with fake dejection in his voice.
"Sounds like you're having fun."
"I am indeed. Can't remember the last time I felt this great. So what's going on? There a reason for your call?"
Even though Tank tried to make it short, he needed nearly half an hour to get Bobby up to speed. Once he was finished there was silence on the line.
"You still with me, Bobby?"
"Fuck yeah. I can't believe it. You are right, something medical must be going on with Ranger and drug abuse surely is an option. Before you come tomorrow, get his medical file from the safe at the infirmary."
"You're sure Les can stay with you?"
"Yes, Esme loves him. I don't have to ask her to know she will want him with us. Besides, there are five medics in the house. He'll be under the best care. The information Woody and Silvio got about NISE will definitely be worked through here."
"Ten-Four, you'll see us tomorrow," Tank ended the call.
Button and CP had both stopped playing and were watching Bobby with concern etched on their faces.
"What's going on?"
"Ranger's snapping," Bobby sighed. "He beat Lester to a bloody pulp. Tank and Woody are bringing him over tomorrow so we can take care of him. Plus, they're bringing sixteen boxes full of files and folders with information about NISE. Woody and Silvio decrypted DuPuits' hard drives. We need to find out what's going on with Ranger or the mission team is doomed. Tank suspects some drug abuse."
