Unapologize
By: PricklySare
Chapter Eight: Tank's POV
The guys and I had been in position for over an hour when Ranger and Bombshell finally pulled into the parking lot of Diablo. "Looks like we're ready to roll," I said into the mic. I flashed the lights of the SUV Hal and I were occupying, alerting Ranger of our presence. About damn time they got here. It wasn't like the Boss to be late to anything, especially to anything related to business—but then again, Bombshell had a way of changing the game plan. It was almost amusing to see the Mighty Manoso smitten. Almost being the operative word, because if he was smitten, then so were we.
"Affirmative," came Bobby and Lester's response. Hal opened his door and quietly slipped out of the SUV, shutting it silently before heading to his location. I could hear Bobby doing the same thing through the transmitter in my ear. Climbing from the SUV I headed inside the club, ignoring the looks of appreciation and fear that crossed the faces of women as I passed them. I didn't have time to indulge in a flirtation until after the scum was handcuffed and transferred into the custody of the TPD. After that, well it was open season on the sex clad women who were looking for a good time.
Santos was leaning against the far end of the bar apparently in deep conversation with a platinum blonde, walking, talking, Barbie doll. I'm pretty sure she had just as much plastic in her body as the toy did. To the casual observer he would appear to be just like any other young, horny man who frequented the club; having worked with him in different situations for the last decade I knew that he was nothing if not aware of his surroundings, and could flawlessly maintain cover while being ready for the shit to hit the fan.
I chose a booth in the back near the rear door, with a clear line of sight to the bar where Giovanelli was currently slamming back shots of what appeared to be tar, but was most likely Jager. I suppressed a shudder at the thought of drinking that shit. Never again, man. Never again. Bombshell's mic was switched on and Ranger's voice could be heard saying, "Go get 'em, tiger." It was time to get the show on the road. I did one last look around the crowded club and pretended to sip the whiskey on the rocks I'd ordered from the waitress when I first sat down.
Bombshell's progress could be gauged by the voices of the guys as she came into view of each one. Christ these guys were going to get their asses kicked. A hush seemed to come over the club when she walked in the door, and I couldn't help but feel my jaw drop. She was a vision in red and the dress was doing horribly, wonderful things to her body. No wonder they were so late getting here. I bet even Ranger's robotic control couldn't match the power of that dress. "Damn Bombshell." What I wouldn't give to help her out of that dress. "Hope you've got your head out of your ass, Rangeman. Otherwise I'm stepping up to the plate," I said without realizing it. Well, fuck. I wonder if he'll allow me a choice of third world countries, or if he is going to pick it for me.
From the Boss' reaction to our obvious appreciation of Bombshell's attributes I'd venture to guess he was getting close to the breaking point. "Enough. No one will be getting anywhere near my woman," he growled in our ears. Yep, definitely nearing his breaking point. Everyone knew that she was 'his woman', and it had kept her safe on a few occasions, however, it was a very rare thing for him to actually voice that fact. "Now do your jobs, or tomorrow we'll be meeting on the mats for a review of your responsibilities as employees." Mats would be preferable to the dark side of Hell, but seeing her in this dress might just make Hell bearable.
Watching Bombshell work her magic is a show like nothing I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of things in my life. Most of them bad, none of them as amazing as she is when she is working a distraction. She strolled into the club, all swinging hips and sex appeal; slipped up to the bar and whispered in the skips ear before tossing her hair over her shoulder and letting out a throaty laugh that caused my pants to tighten uncomfortably. Even though I could tell she was uncomfortable, being so close to the skip, she kept up the act until he was eating out of her hand. Unless you really knew her, and had spent a lot of time around her, you wouldn't notice the look of disgust that would slip across her features. She's convinced that we all have ESP, but she doesn't realize just how expressive her face is to people who are proficient at reading body language.
"You know, Marcus, it's getting pretty hot in here." Her voice broke through the transmitter as she was winding down her 'show'. Her voice was smooth and husky, making me think of things like velvet and smooth scotch. I would follow you, Bombshell.
"Then let's get out of here so we can get you out of that dress and...cooled off." It took everything in my control not to get up and break the man's neck, and I could only imagine how Ranger was handling this when he couldn't see anything. A shudder ran through her and I could tell she wanted to get as far away from him as possible, but instead just continued to smile at him like he was the best thing to happen to her.
"Sounds good to me, Marcus. I can't wait... to get out of this dress and wrapped up in some hot, sweaty, sex." I had to stiffle a laugh. She was baiting Ranger and he couldn't deserve it more. That girl has serious balls, and I couldn't be more impressed or proud.
Ranger's voice was rough when he said, "Lets roll." Show time. When she led him out the door Lester and I were on their tail ready to help box him in with Bobby and Hal, while Ranger whisked her away from anymore potential harm.
Just before midnight we had the skip loaded in the SUV and were ready to head out, we were just waiting for Ranger to finish up with Bombshell. It was apparent by the way they were clinging to each other that something in their relationship had changed tonight. In the past he was always finding a reason to touch her, to be near her; often dropping everything just to go to her, but tonight the touches were different.
When he whispered in her ear a huge smile covered her face and her eyes sparkled. They were so close together that nothing could get between them, and there was a look of total devotion and reverence on his face. Well I'll be damned. Mighty Manoso has fallen. I spent a few more moments watching different emotions flash across his usually blank face and for the first time since I met him I knew exactly what he was thinking and feeling, and the power of those feelings were truly a powerful thing.
Bombshell gave us a little finger wave before walking back into the club to meet up with the girls and I climbed into the SUV with Hal and motored out of the lot toward the cop shop. I was more than ready to kick up my heels and have some fun.
Steph's friend Eddie was working the intake desk when Ranger and I brought Giovanelli into the station, and I nodded at him in greeting. "Good night?" he asked as he started the booking process. I allowed my mind to wander while Ranger used minimum syllables to answer the cop.
When it was time to hand over custody of the skip I pushed him toward the cop while Ranger grabbed the receipt. With a final call of 'Night', we headed out the door. "Ready to hit the club?" I asked.
"Yeah, let's get back to Haywood and change over. No need to go in loaded for bear and scare the civilians." The smile that flashed across his face wasn't the same smile that caused women to walk into walls; but it was the one that often made the scum we hunted wet themselves, or offer to cuff themselves to save us the trouble. "I'd rather not have any interruptions once we get there," he said.
I laughed out loud and clapped him on his shoulder saying, "I feel ya man. I wouldn't want any interruptions if I were going to be spending time up close and personal with Bombshell." The look he shot me could kill a lesser man, but it had no effect on me and I just smiled. "Nice try, man. I'm not scared of you. I remember you when you were still a snot nosed, scrawny ass little shit."
"Fuck you, Tank," he growled at me.
"Maybe, if I don't get any better offers. I'll keep it in mind though," I replied, baiting him.
"It's so hard to find good help these days," he said when he reached his car. "We're leaving for Diablo in forty-five minutes. See you at Haywood."
"We'll be locked, loaded, and ready to go," I told him before climbing into the SUV.
Forty-five minutes later I was riding shot gun in the SUV. Ranger was driving and Bobby and Lester had taken position in the backseat. The mood was relaxed and everyone was ready to let off some steam. I knew I was looking forward to seeing Bombshell in her little red dress again, but I wouldn't make the mistake of letting Ranger know that.
A blinking green light on the console caught my attention, "Did you get the mic back from Bombshell?" I asked. The light indicated that a wire was transmitting to the SUV, and I was pretty sure there weren't any other wire active tonight.
I was in the process of flipping the switch to route the feed to the speakers when Ranger said, "No."
The car was filled with the sounds of a busy club and Bombshell's voice. There wasn't another noise in the car as we all listened in stunned silence while Bombshell and some unknown female 'talked'. The things she was saying to Bombshell was enough to make me want to hit a woman. Tension filled the SUV and I watched as Ranger's hands tightened on the steering wheel and he visibly fought for control over his emotions. I would truly hate to be her sister when Ranger got to her. The SUV lurched forward as Ranger's foot pressed down on the gas.
When the 'bitch' called her a whore I swore and reached to break the connection, but Ranger stopped me. "No, keep it on. We might not be there, but I want to know what's going on." I watched as the speedometer creeped higher and higher. This was going to get ugly.
"First off, Valerie," Bombshell said, her voice angry as it came over the speakers. I would hate to have that anger turned on me, and I'm not exactly what would be considered a small man.
"Wow, isn't Valerie her sister?" Lester asked. Oh, shit.
"Supposedly," was Ranger's tight reply. I've never known him to hit a woman, but I'd be hard pressed to get in his way if he chose to this time. What kind of bitch would treat her own blood that way?
"My personal life and what I do with it is none of your business. You don't know me, and even if you did, I could care less what you think. You've been playing Saint Valerie too long and now even you're believing it." It was about time that Bombshell stood up to her family.
"I don't know what you mean," her sister said. I just bet. It was like a tennis match, and Bombshell was winning.
"Oh, I think you do. How did it feel to know that all your acting didn't save your marriage? That being so perfect didn't keep you from experiencing pain, like us non-perfect people?" I was completely shocked. She had pulled out the big guns and was showing a side of her I wasn't even sure she possessed. She wasn't pulling any punches and I found myself wanting to clap for her. Score one for Bombshell!
"You have no right to judge me," her sister said, a whine prominent in her voice.
"Funny thing about judging someone, Val...you actually have to give a rat's ass about them. You don't fall into that category. Now, let's quit with the petty bullshit and address why you're really here, then you can take your perfect little ass back home and let me finish my night with people who I respect, and who respect me in turn." I wanted to pump my fist in the air, she was totally kicking ass and taking names. I only hope that she will be okay tomorrow. Bombshell has an innocent soul. She sees the best in people and her heart breaks each time a person proves their own evil in the world.
The laugh that came through the speakers made my skin crawl, "Respect you? They don't respect you; they keep you around for entertainment purposes. You're their key to the good gossip. You're a joke, and you're doing nothing except embarrassing your family and ruining Joe's good name. I don't even understand why he put up with you, and why he continues to be interested in you." A low growl came from deep in my chest. I was going to rip that bitch apart. How dare she say something like that about Bombshell. I felt Lester's hand on my shoulder and I tried to reign in my anger, there wasn't anything I could do about it right then. My responsibility was to Ranger, and I couldn't keep him calm if I was running off half cocked.
"How much trouble you think we'd get in if we drug her outside by her hair and beat the hell out of her for what she's saying to Bomber?" Bobby asked from the backseat.
"I don't know, but I'm willing to risk it," was Lester's reply. Amen to that.
When she found out that her sister was there on the orders of her mother Lester, Bobby, and I said, "Oh Shit!"
The confusion in Bombshell's voice was enough to break my heart. She had no idea what her family was up to, and I had a feeling this conversation was going to get worse before it got better. I glanced at the speedometer again and Ranger had the accelerator floored, yet we were still too far away. She was going to need us when this was all over, and I was damned if I wasn't going to be thee for her.
"Mom decided that I was the last hope for getting you to see reason. Since I'm your sister she figured you'd listen to me. She wants you at the house on Sunday, ready to plan your wedding to Joe. That gives you two days to get rid of that thug and his group of criminals who are always around you.
"She also has applications for you to fill out--" I was totally shocked and I could feel the shock and tension in the other guys as well. Did her mother really think that she would turn her back on her friends? Could her family really be that delusional?
"Excuse me? Plan my wedding....to JOE? As in Joe Morelli? The same Joe who can't accept me for who I am, wanted me to be a carbon copy of not only our mother, but his mother as well? The same Joe who took my virginity on the floor of the Tasty Pastry when I was sixteen and then proceeded to not only embarrass me, but embarrass our family as well when he wrote about it on various walls around town? That Joe Morelli?" Her mother wanted her to marry the guy who took advantage of her when she was just a kid? Someone like that doesn't change. If he took advantage of her when she was a kid, what the Hell did her mother think would happen if they got married?
"Man, I'd hate to have Beautiful pissed at me. Damn, does her sister not know her at all?" Lester said from the backseat.
"Guess not," I replied. I couldn't imagine that someone who actually knew her would even consider speaking to her in such a way.
I had to choke back another laugh when I heard her say, "You know what, Val? I would rather have my vagina shrivel up and die before I'd ever marry Joe." The desire to say 'point, set, match' was almost overwhelming, and I really wanted to be there when I heard her sister's outraged gasp. What a prude.
"You are so crass, Stephanie. Must come from hanging around criminals all the time. No one in the 'Burg would ever speak like that." Her sister was right. No one in the closed minded community would ever see us as anything more than scary muscled men who carried guns and could kill without blinking. No one would ever view us as the people that we really are. No one that is except Bombshell.
"That. Is. It." I had a feeling that Bombshell was getting ready to put the smack down on her sister, and if I were taking book on this event my money would be on her. She treated us with respect and I didn't for a minute think she would change that now. "Ranger and his men are not thugs or criminals. They have more honor and higher morals than anyone I've ever met. Especially in the 'Burg. They don't sit around all day wondering what everyone else is doing, or worrying about what everyone else thinks about them. Those men do the jobs that no one else is willing to do, the jobs that need to be done so that innocent people are safe. Innocent people like your daughters.
"They have protected me, and cared about me more than anyone else ever has. Those men that you are calling thugs and criminals are good and honorable men who have to do a job that is dark and dangerous. They do it so that the darkness doesn't touch anyone else. Each of those men have more honor in one finger than Joe Morelli could have in his entire body. I am proud to call them my friends, regardless of what you or anyone else thinks." My heart cracked at the words that came from her. No one had ever seen past our exteriors, or thought about what would happen if the jobs we took care of were ignored. There are horrible people out there who rival my worst nightmares—and I've had some pretty horrible nightmares in my life. Her honesty, and optimism in her fellow man has caused me to fall a little in love with her; and listening to her defend us just pushed me a little farther into that emotion.
"Friends? Really, Stephanie, are you that naïve? They aren't your friends; they're just there waiting for their chance to get in your pants. Especially the thug. The second that they get you on your back they'll drop you like yesterday's trash. Though, I guess you're used to that since you spend so much of your time rolling around in it anyway. " Even though Bombshell has stared in several of my private fantasies, I would never disrespect her like her bitch of a sister was. All of the guys have been in my position as well, and would never take advantage of her like that. Everyone knew that there was something going on between her and Ranger, and no one wanted to come between them.
Bombshell's sigh was barely audible when she said, "Trash comes in all kinds, Val. From where I'm standing it's apparent that you're not too far from the county landfill yourself. For the record, he does have a name you know. So do all of his men, apparently your proper 'Burg upbringing is failing, Val."
Her sister's voice was the worst kind of prissy, I could almost see her nose sticking up in the air when she said, "I don't care what his name is. He's a thug and thugs don't need names." Out of all of us, Ranger is the least thugish. Sure, he plays the part, but that's just what it is. Part that he plays. He is nowhere near being a thug. If he were a thug, then he wouldn't do the jobs that he does, wouldn't take the responsibility for the lives and happiness of so many people. In fact he wouldn't care about anyone except himself, and Ranger is anything but selfish; except maybe when it comes to opening up.
Bombshell's tone of voice dropped a dozen degrees below freezing and was possibly colder than the arctic when she delivered the most heartfelt, and truthful speech I have ever heard anyone give. She poured her heart and soul out to her worthless excuse for a sister when she said, "He. Is. Not. A. Thug. He is a kind and honest man who I would willingly die to protect. A man who has taken a bullet for me on more than one occasion, so don't you DARE stand there and call him a thug and believe that he doesn't deserve a name. If you don't want to call him Ranger, then you can acknowledge him as Ricardo Carlos Manoso-- or maybe even Mr. Manoso. You will NOT call him a thug again. I've put up with a lot of shit from you, mom, and the whole 'Burg, but I will NOT put up with anyone disrespecting Ranger. I don't care who the fuck you are."
As far as impassioned speeches go that one was top of the line and I couldn't have been more shocked, proud, and as close to giddy as a huge, scary black man such as myself could get. Though, if anyone were to ever ask, I would deny the giddy part until I died. I have to admit though, that nothing has ever shocked me as much as her next words. I'm pretty sure that my jaw hit the floor and I risked a side glance at Ranger when she continued, "As for getting into my pants, it wouldn't take him much. I'll even let you in on a little secret, dear sister. I fucked his brains out tonight before I came here. I had him take me on the counter and I enjoyed every minute of it. How do you like that? Does that offend your prudish 'Burg sensibilities? Too damn bad."
Just as soon as she had dropped her bomb we pulled up to the club and were double timing it inside, following behind Ranger as he plowed through the crowd. Having size, not to mention intimidation on our side has it's upsides. People were amazingly quick to get out of our way as we headed toward Bombshell and her bitch sister. Ranger seemed to know without thought exactly where she was and quickly found her. I watched as she rubbed her neck and continued to harangue her sister. The connection she and the boss man have is uncanny, seeing it first hand on more than one occasion has made me a believer and I know to trust her instincts, and his, when the other is involved.
Instead of continuing toward her Ranger stopped, and we followed suit. Apparently he was letting her finish. She deserved to have her say, and it was about damn time she did it. We watched her as the 'conversation' continued to flow through the transmitters into our ears. When her sister went to say something she cut her off saying, "No, you don't have the right to speak. You will listen to me and you will listen to me well. I will never marry Joe and I will never be an upstanding member of the 'Burg. I'm in love with the man you insist on calling a 'thug'. I love him more than anything in this world and I would do anything for him. If he were to ask me to marry him right now, I'd be on the next flight to Vegas. If he decided tomorrow to toss me out like 'yesterday's trash' then I would move on with my life, but I would never stop loving him. It doesn't matter to me that he doesn't feel the same way, I love him anyway. That's the way love is supposed to be, unconditional. It doesn't have to reciprocated, just given freely. That will be enough for me."
I was totally speechless. All of us knew had a hunch of she felt about Ranger, but she had never admitted her feelings to anyone. I'm pretty sure she'd never really admitted it to herself either. I watched as the different emotions flew across Ranger's face, and couldn't stop the grin that flashed across my own. I looked at Bobby and Lester and they were staring so hard at Bombshell that I'm surprised she wasn't catching on fire. Their expressions were identical looks of shock. Ranger was one lucky SOB, and from the emotion on his face I think he might finally be realizing that. At least, I hope to fuck he is.
She wasn't done with her speech yet and I focused back onto her as she continued, "The difference between me and the rest of the 'Burg is that I don't care what you think, or what anyone else thinks. I am not going to bow to the pressure of becoming someone I'm not, of marrying someone I'm not in love with, who doesn't accept me for who I am; just because it's what the flock of mindless lemmings in the 'Burg expect.
If I ever marry anyone, it will be Carlos, it will not be some 'perfect' Italian from the 'Burg, and it sure as fuck won't ever be Joe. So, do us both a favor, turn around and go home. When mom asks, feel free to tell her that as of this moment she no longer has a daughter who embarrasses her. I'm done. You, Mom, and the rest of the 'Burg can eat shit. I don't need you, I don't want you, and I'll be glad as fuck to be done with you. Have a nice life, Saint Valerie."
The second she was done speaking everyone except Ranger began clapping, he looked stunned. Totally, unbelievably stunned. I'm not even sure he was aware of his surroundings, and for Ranger, that is a huge thing. Lester let out a whoop saying, "Good job, Beautiful! That was amazing!" Before running to her and picking her up in his arms.
Her eyes grew to the size of saucers and filled with confusion. She had no idea why we were clapping and carrying on. I suddenly had a very bad feeling about this when she tried to speak, "How, I mean, what- Uhhh..."
"Your wire is still on," Lester answered her stuttered question. It didn't take anytime for her realization to hit and she looked over at Ranger, then went white as a sheet . She started backing away from Lester and said, "Ohmygod. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Ranger," She fled from the club her muffled sobs sounding through the ear piece until suddenly it was silent.
"Fuck," Lester said. I looked over at Ranger and he was still standing unmoving, but the raw pain and confusion on his face was enough to make my heart hurt. Lester was right. Fuck. We needed to fix this, but what exactly do we need to fix? Why was she sorry? I suddenly was really, really glad to not be Ranger.