I don't own them. Thank you Margaret :)

Chapter 6 — The Learning Curve

Ranger's POV

I heard him.

Alexander Ramos enjoyed flirting with my woman but he also knew something either Tank- or Kraven-related. And I wasn't sure if it was something Stephanie should be hearing after her day today. I'd make my way over to the Ramos' table while she and Hector were having dessert. Alexander would probably invite us over after we got through with business anyway.

The waitress led us to a table in the back; she finally got that down. We came here quite a bit over the summer and for a while she kept trying to give me a center table. That would have been ok if there were a mirror on the rear wall, but there wasn't so I'd just raise an eyebrow and look towards the back. She figured it out after the forth or fifth time, happy to see that she's remembered.

It was a limited menu and I knew it by heart. Hector had been here before and like me, needed no further introduction to their fare. Steph took a menu anyway. She probably hoped something new would appear or seeing the foods she liked spelled out got her juices flowing. Hmmm, I'd like to get her juices flowing; maybe inviting Hector wasn't such a good idea after all.

I ordered the Greek salad and their grilled chicken. Hector got the same. Stephanie on the other hand ordered fresh pitas with tzatziki and olives for the table, stuffed grape leaves and saganaki, a bubbling cheese dish, as appetizers. Then she ordered lamb chops with Greek roasted potatoes for her main and so she wouldn't forget (as if she would) galactobourecko for dessert. Where that woman put it all was still a mystery to me and I've been watching her eat (read that as painfully) for the last four years.

She really had been doing better but something about going out to ethnic places like this made her revert to old habits. I felt my arteries clog just watching her and then I shuddered.

"Come on Carlos, you know you want some," she said practically putting the melted cheese into my mouth.

"It's all yours Babe. I'm saving room for pie." I lowered my voice for that last part and hoped Hec didn't hear. Stephanie turned a nice shade of pink.

I loved that I could still do that to her and I planned to tease her a lot tonight. It usually made her much more receptive to me, not that she wasn't normally, but I loved when she got extra hormonal. I smiled at that one remembering some of our more fun encounters. The cherry oil from Pleasure Treasures came to mind. I had to alter my internal musings or I'd be tempted to take her outside now and miss hearing what Ramos had to say.

We had finished eating and our waitress reappeared with two Greek coffees for Steph and Hector and a large square of something dripping in honey for Stephanie. That was my cue to make a move to visit the elder Ramos. I was about to use the men's room as an excuse when Hannibal walked into the restaurant. The addition of another Ramos would serve my purpose better.

"I need to talk to Hannibal," I said pretty much to deaf ears. Steph was getting her sugar high and nothing could compete with that at the moment. I looked at Hector and imperceptibly nodded. He understood the gesture and would get Steph another piece of whatever custard-y thing that was if I wasn't back in time.

"Hannibal, my pleasure," I said extending my hand to Alexander's middle son.

"Mañoso," he said calling me by the proper Spanish pronunciation of my name. Most people, including myself, use the Americanized Manoso.

We spoke for a few minutes before Alexander abruptly announced that he needed to talk to me. I followed him to an office in the back and once we were inside he closed, then locked, the door.

He invited me to sit down, so I did assuming this was going to be long and painful.

"You know I hear things," he began and I nodded. "Sherman out of the country?" I nodded again. "I don't want to play a guessing game with you Manoso. Can you tell me what's going on or do you want me to tell you what I've heard?"

"Tank's had numerous threats," I said, not wanting to play games either. "Someone knows too much about him and has hacked into our intranet and menaced him. They want to kill him, which is something we do have to take seriously, but they also promised to harm his cats and his fiancée," I concluded, giving him just enough information to determine if his intel was accurate.

"Bloodline. New York City," he said, telling me all I needed to know.

This was something I expected to hear one of these days, but certainly not in this fashion. In 1999 an ALKN (Almighty Latin King Nation aka the Latin Kings) member, Antonio Fernandez, was sentenced to thirteen years for the trafficking of heroin and weapons. Fernandez was released a little over a year ago and was recently named Inca and Supreme Crown of the New York and New Jersey Kings. One of Tank's earliest jobs after leaving the military was personal bodyguard for Maria Padilla Quiñones, Fernandez' estranged 'wife'.

Prior to his prison sentence Fernandez had been arrested by the FBI for domestic abuse and Maria felt her life would be in jeopardy if the early parole Antonio had been seeking was granted. It was at this point that she hired Tank to be with her 24/7. Unfortunately for Tank, Fernandez heard about Maria's 'bodyguard' and assumed they were romantically involved as well. They weren't, but that really didn't matter as far as Fernandez was concerned, he was gunning for Tank anyway. And now obviously he's found him.

As Inca for the Kings he has undying love, support and acceptance from the ranks. He probably had their top hacker find and then subsequently break into Tank's accounts.

I'd rather Tank not be up against anyone gang-related, but having the top man gunning for him was not good. Fernandez would either need to die or rescind his execution order for us to let Tank roam freely anywhere on either coast from now on. Our best bet would be to see if Hector's or Raphael's gang ties could do anything. And I was also thinking that we needed to get in touch with Ms. Padilla.

I nodded to Ramos that I understood.

"Maybe not as bad as it seems," he said. "They say they've reformed and have gone from being a 'gang' to being a political organization protecting Latino nationalists. I hear they've also aligned themselves with the Marielitos, your Cuban criminal group."

I knew the Marielitos quite well. Their stronghold was in the South Bronx but a few still resided in Newark, mostly contract killers and drug traffickers. And I knew Lolo Sotolongo, the leader of the Newark faction. While not exactly friends, we'd worked together before when we needed information. Rangeman paid well and they appreciated that.

"You know Sotolongo, don't you?" Alexander added just as I was going to get up and thank him for his information.

"We do and I'll be in touch with him later. I also plan to have Hector or Raphael talk to 'Tater' Moreno, Fernandez' second in command."

"Good move. Let me know if I can be of any help. We do business with them on occasion."

Thought so. "Thanks, I'll probably take you up on that."

Alexander opened the office door and we both headed back to our tables.

"Stop by with Steph before you leave," Alexander said joining Homer and Hannibal at their table.

Stephanie still had her plate in front of her and a fork in her right hand. She let out a low moan as I approached. I'd hoped it was in response to me but I'd learned a long time ago that the sex sounds she makes when she eats are in appreciation for what she considers good food. I only hoped Hector's sexuality had him immune. I didn't know too many men who would be.

"Babe," I said kissing her neck just above her collarbone. I let my lips rest there for a second and I felt her shiver. Good. Two could play at this game.

I sat down next to her and took her left hand in mine while I quickly, in Spanish, brought Hector up to speed. I saw his eyes go wide and he pulled out his phone. He placed a call to Raphael and by the one-sided conversation I heard, Rafe wasn't available at the moment.

Stephanie wasn't really paying attention to us, thank God, but she did look up when Hector's phone rang a few minutes later. He spoke rapid-fire Spanish to Rafe and even if Steph could catch a word here or there I knew she had no idea what was being said.

"Raphael is on his way in," he said to us after hanging up. "He and I will replace Cal and Ram for the next twelve hours but we have something to do around eleven tonight. Should we ask Bobby to put on another team?" he continued, giving me the information I needed. Raphael had gotten through to Tater and they were going on a fishing expedition.

I thought I might have to make a trip to Newark to talk to Sotolongo around that time too and I didn't necessarily want to leave Steph alone in the house with a madman after her. So my response was more for my peace of mind than for anything else since the house was secure.

"Yeah. And twelve hours is too long a rotation. Make it eight and you and Raphael can take over for whoever is replacing Cal and Ram."

Bobby was not going to be happy. He hated this aspect of being at the helm and I'm sure I'd hear about it later. Little more I could do. When Steph and I created the schedule, we didn't anticipate extenuating circumstances that could change it. Shift changes in Trenton, where these men were stationed, would fall to Bobby. So I pulled out my phone and called him. Unspoken code between us, I call him Roberto, we speak in Spanish.

"Roberto, Ranger," I said when he answered. I told him what I'd just learned from Alexander and he rejigged some men to put Hal and Binkie on our rotation. He said he was going to get Lester up to speed at some point over the weekend and asked if I needed assistance with Sotolongo tonight. I took that to mean he and I, so I didn't decline. Bobby and I worked well together.

Bobby's POV

I must say I wasn't expecting the intel Ranger handed me. As soon as I heard ALKN I knew exactly what had popped up to bite us in the ass. Antonio Fernandez. I wasn't surprised by the Marielitos involvement with them and I volunteered to accompany Ranger to meet with Lolo Sotolongo tonight. I'd let Ranger work out the details, but I'd make myself available for the meeting. Wondered if he'd come to us? Our building was more secure than the back room of a social club and security was important to both of us. I made my opinion on that known to Ranger and I was pretty sure he'd suggest it to Lolo when they spoke. If we could get Sotolongo as an ally on this, I'd feel better about Tank returning to the U.S. anytime in the near future.

The downside of this thinking was the fact that Sotolongo and his men had already sided with ALKN. Changing his mind or getting him to have a civil conversation with Fernandez regarding Tank might not be easy. I hoped a little pressure on our end and a lot of pressure from Hector and Rafe towards Moreno, Fernandez' second, might work. We had nothing to lose, Tank was already out of the country...although the Latin Kings had far-reaching tentacles.

I was now waiting on Ranger's call. I felt certain that Sotolongo would agree to our meeting, just wasn't sure where it would take place. I had doubts he'd agree to Rangeman, so I was pulling out my flak vest when my phone rang.

It was Ranger.

"We're on for eleven at Rangeman. He's bringing his posse, but at least he agreed to meet with us and on our terms," he told me in English, which also told me Steph had been brought up to speed.

"Good. Have Hector and Raphael made any progress?"

"They're meeting with Tater Moreno in Newark at just about the same time we'll be with Sotolongo. I would think by midnight we'll know if this angle is going to be viable. I'd hate for Tank to be on the run for the next twenty years."

If he lived that long.

"I'll be at Rangeman by ten," he continued. "I plan to leave as soon as Hal and Binkie get here. Steph's excited, last time Binkie was at the house he was teaching her how to read the 'tells' during a poker game. She's hoping he'll work with her to develop a good blank face tonight. I'm glad she's not angry that we're working since I promised her the weekend."

He was so pussy-whipped.