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.

Warning: Right at the beginning Junior gets assassinated. Then about half way down the chapter, as the IAs scout out the meeting of DuPuits, Terror is forced to listen in to DuPuits' rape fantasies. Please be aware of this so you aren't taken by surprise.

Chapter 46 – Faithful Unto Death

7-Eleven, Trenton, New Jersey, 5 a.m. several days later

Junior stepped out of the 7-Eleven and scanned the empty parking lot. Something felt off; but he couldn't pinpoint what had him on edge. Wary, he shifted the half full shopping bag into his left arm, took the Glock from the waistband of his cargoes and walked, on full alert, over to his Pick-Up. The hair on his neck bristled as though someone was watching him. Ever so slowly Junior turned around as a feeling of doom came over him. Far in the distance a shot could be heard. The frown on Junior's forehead barely registered as he was violently catapulted backwards against his truck. A second before alive and fully alert, Junior's body now crumbled lifeless to the ground, the complete back of his head splattered over the driver's door.

"Hit confirmed," the spotter next to the sniper said quietly and efficiently packed up his stuff.

Five hundred yards away from the 7-Eleven on the roof of a six floor building, two NISE operatives picked up the casing from the projectile and cleared the area of any evidence that they'd ever been there before making their way back down to the waiting car. They didn't care about the cashier that had come running screaming out of the grocery store or the sirens that could be heard in the distance. Nobody would ever be able to trace the kill back to them. DuPuits had picked two of his best and most reliable assassins to finish off the dispensable pawn before he could become a liability or complication for NISE.

Great Falls, Virginia

The two Rangeman Navigators turned onto the driveway leading to the mansion and slowly made their way along the meandering road. Now in summer with the ancient trees in full gorgeousness filtering the warm sunshine and bushes and flowers blooming everywhere filling the air with fragrances, the Torres Estate bore the grandeur of long gone southern times.

"You can call me a pussy; but coming here feels like we're driving back into another era," Scar murmured while taking everything in around him.

"Dude, let me stop you right there. Scarlet O'Hara ain't coming around the corner to greet you. The lady of the house would rather knock your sorry ass out on the mats than wear some pompous dress and make goo-goo eyes at you," Zip chuckled.

"Holy Shit," Scar blurted out as they rolled past the tree line and the beautiful nested mansion came into view with its trimmed grass and rosebushes lining its majesty. A single sprinkler sputtered in front of the house where Bobby and Lester were playing Frisbee with a dog in the refreshing water. When the trucks came to a stop, Bobby grabbed Emma's collar and they waited for the Rangemen to get out and steady before she could jump and great them. Scar, Woody, Cal and Ram were the first to be attacked, followed by Knock, Scotch, Zero and Zip. Lester started to tense up at the sight of Zero.

"Let it go, man," Bobby tried to appease him. "I'm sure there's a reason for him to be here instead of Tank."

"There better be or he will be at the receiving end of all my pent up anger," Lester growled.

Lester had been at Great Falls for nearly a week now and while he'd felt close to Esme before, this last week they had grown into 'besties'. Life was simply different around her and her brothers and he would stay here forever given the opportunity. He surely wasn't allowing Zero the chance to upset or hurt again. Fucker should have stayed back in Trenton.

Feeling Lester's hateful stare, Zero turned towards him and lifted both hands in mock surrender.

"Listen, Les. I know I'm on top of your shit-list. Tank got tied up and I begged for the chance to come here with the other guys. I want to personally apologize to T and try to make up for my behavior. I know now what an enormous mistake I made and I hope she will give me a second chance."

Bobby glanced at the man he considered his best friend; but Lester neither shifted his stance nor made any attempt to give Zero the benefit of the doubt. Sighing, he stepped forward to free Ram of Emma's slobbery love.

"Welcome everybody. T and the guys are in the kitchen, most of you know the way. They are preparing for tonight's stint so best go to them to get briefed." As the others walked over to the entrance, Bobby grabbed Zero's arm holding him back for a second. "Give Les some time, he'll come around."

"Wanna tell me what has your panties in such a bunch?" He turned toward Les once the Rangemen had vanished inside the house. There was no heat in his voice, just compassion for his struggling friend.

Lester stared down at the grass and ground his teeth. Bobby knew him too well and for far too long to not see the anger boiling in Les. Reaching out he wanted to give his shoulder a friendly bump; but Les jerked away.

"Don't touch me," he spit out before walking away towards the tree line and plopping down under a huge oak.

Confused, Bobby watched Emma trot after Les and lay down next to him. Immediately, Lester started to scratch her neck and ears seemingly lost in thought.

"What's wrong, man?" Bobby sat down next to Emma who by that time had turned onto her back and let Les rub her tummy. "You've done so well this week. Every day you've been feeling a bit better. Why suddenly this anger? Aren't you happy here?"

The rubbing stopped and Bobby saw Lester turning eyes full of sadness at the mansion.

"You don't get it, do you?" Les asked quietly looking back down at Emma. "This last week was one of the best of my life. I love it here and soon I have to leave. Do you know how that feels? It's like getting a taste of happiness just to be dumped back into your shitty life. 'Ah-ah Lester Santos, that's just something for good people, not for dumbasses like you.' Guess the arrival of the guys just brought that home to me," he sighed plucking some blades of grass and letting the wind carry them away.

"Do you have any idea how lucky you are?" He finally turned to Bobby and looked him directly in the eyes. "Not because of the wealth that is residing here or because you got the most amazing woman in this world; but because you have a family now," Lester looked at his friend with swimming eyes. "You will never be alone again. When I go back home, not only do I have to deal with my partner and one of my best friends being gone; but my cousin is no longer family either."

Bobby was dumbfounded.

"Are you serious?" He looked at Lester's slumped figure. "Hey," he nudged Emma away and pulled himself over to Les bumping shoulders with him. "Do you really think Esme will let you just leave without a fight? Man, you know nothing. You are a part of this family just like I am. When you leave, she will make you vow to come back as soon as possible and when you haven't shown your ugly mug here within two weeks, she'll be sending me out to drag your sorry excuse of an ass back here."

Bobby scrutinized Les before quickly putting the arm around his neck and forcing his head down to head-butt him.

"Yo! Stop that shit," Les hollered.

"Say uncle and stop basking in self-pity."

"Hey, a little pity party may be allowed. After all, you got the girl," Lester shoulder-bumped Bobby back once he was free again.

"That's right. I got the girl; but you are her best friend. You are the one she will turn to whenever she feels like killing me and you will be the doting uncle our kids will turn to whenever we piss them off."

"True," suddenly Lester's lopsided smirk was back in full force. "Looking at it from that angle I'm in a far better position than you. I get the girl without all the drama," he chuckled causing Bobby to roll his eyes.

"That's right you wuss. Come on, let's get back and see what she and Furor have planned out for tonight," Bobby jumped up and brushed the grass of his cargoes.

"Why? We aren't gonna be part of it anyway," Lester made a face as he started towards the mansion. "You should have fought her harder on that point."

"Sure," Bobby snorted, grabbed Les' belt and yanked him backwards. "So you can play the comforting hero."

"Can't start practicing soon enough," Les grinned back at him. "I'm an opportunist after all."

7- Eleven, Trenton, New Jersey

Tank once more took in the crime scene in front of him as Junior's truck was finally being towed away. That would mean the TPD CSI team would also vanish sooner or later and at long last Manny and his team could investigate the scene. From the corner of his eye, Tank saw Morelli walking toward him. Morelli was a good cop; but at the end of the day he was just a cop and Tank wanted to get rid of the officials.

"Detective," he nodded toward the officer in front of him.

"You still have no idea who could be behind this kill?" Morelli scrutinized the giant black man. When he got no answer he continued. "The projectile looks as though it may have come from a sniper rifle. From what I can say so far it was a clean assassination. We are still in the dark on which building the shot originated. Most likely, the sniper was on the roof of one of those 4-6 floor buildings one street over; but so far my men haven't found any trace evidence."

"We'll take care of that," Tank interrupted Morelli.

"Is there anything I need to know?" The detective eyed him closely.

"What do you mean?"

"It's common knowledge that Rangeman has enemies and also collaborates with the government for special operations. Knowing you, you will most likely go after the killer of your employee. So, are we about to face some kind of war in Trenton? Because it would be nice for the TPD to be informed ahead of time," Morelli offered with a hint of sarcasm.

"We are as much in the dark about this as you are, Detective Morelli," Tank answered indifferent. "When we get a lead, you'll be the first to know."

Morelli nodded and left Rangeman's second in command standing alone once more.

"Manny," Tank spoke into his cell while searching the eyes of the man casually leaning at the wall of the 7-Eleven on the opposite side of the parking lot. "Any ideas so far?"

"I got a good look on Junior's head. Very small entry wound at the forehead while the whole backside of his head got blasted away, typical for Hollow Point ammunition. Steve from the CSI team let me take a look at the projectile and it's a Lapua. By the markings on it, I'd say the rifle used was a Bravo-51, Marine sniper rifle. Taking into consideration the angle the bullet stuck in the passenger's seat I bet they were about 500 yards away on the fifth or sixth floor or the roof of the buildings down the parallel street. From where I'm standing, I have a good view of the middle one with the gray bricks."

"That confirms what Morelli just told me. Once the TPD has left the scene you and your team are coming to action. I want the casing, I want to know where and why the shot was taken and naturally, it goes without saying, I want an ID on the shooter. Junior may have been an ass; but he was one of us. This is personal."

"Ten-Four," Manny replied and assessed how long the CSI team would need to clean up before he went over to Sanchez, Diego and Ramos to start planning their own investigation.

Six hours later Manny sat in Tank's office to go over the findings.

"I just got back from Steve's lab. The rifle was definitely a Bravo-51 and he was able to give me the exact angle of the shot," Manny stated. "Sanchez and I went back to the 7- Eleven parking lot and determined the gray brick building was indeed the origin. Diego and Ramos went over; but couldn't find the smallest trace. The roof was squeaky clean."

"Squeaky clean?" Tank raised an eyebrow at him.

"Exactly. Whoever the assassin was, left absolutely no trace. The only thing that gave away anyone was probably even up there was the fact that he cleaned a bit too thoroughly."

"Fuck! That means it wasn't related to any of our FTAs. I checked the records. None of those brought in by Junior has the necessary training to conduct such a masterpiece of work," Tank rubbed his head in frustration.

"That leaves his government work or we have to take into account that the shot wasn't related to him personally; but rather revenge aimed at Rangeman in general. What's Ranger's take on the situation?" Manny asked with a close eye on his vis-à-vis.

Tank visibly tensed at the mention of Ranger's name. Ranger's take on the situation was that he didn't care at all. On the contrary, he seemed glad to be rid of Junior. Hopefully the men he sent over to Great Falls would have a successful night because he needed them back here as soon as possible.

Washington D.C.

After lunch and a thorough briefing, the IA's plus Knock, Scotch, Zero, Zip, Scar, Woody, Cal and Ram drove to DC and fanned out. The Rangemen's transition back to talking in their minds had been easier than expected, even Zero didn't seem to struggle. Finally, tonight DuPuits would meet NISE's secret third party and T wanted the team to scout out the perimeter of the meeting as well as their assigned quadrants. They needed to know every side road, every rat run and every hideout.

At 1800 hours the bar was buzzing with after-work patrons kicking off after a hard workday. Terror was sitting in an Escalade on a side street and scanned the customers' thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she let her mind perform a one mile scan. She traced every single team member and was satisfied. Everybody was in position and on edge waiting for their targets to arrive. While DuPuits and his partner would be inside the bar, Knock would prep the unknown man's car with a tracker. He and Scotch would then follow him from the bar until he entered the next quadrant and the corresponding team would take over. T on the other hand would keep tabs on DuPuits to see where he would head after the meeting. Should the team lose the partner, having his car bugged guaranteed that she could still sniff him out later.

Suddenly T felt DuPuits enter the one mile radius.

Target 1 is coming in from the east, she pushed to everybody.

Roger that. I think I see him, Furor answered. He was positioned in an apartment opposite the bar with a wide range spotting scope. "Ok gentlemen, we have a contact. Target 1 is cruising in from the east on Rhode Island Avenue. Black Mercedes SLK," he spoke into his throat mic.

"Roger that. I see him," Scotch answered immediately; likewise fitted with a spotting scope.

They watched DuPuits entering the bar and Terror heard him ordering a mineral water before scoping out a table away from the crowd. After he'd sat down, T felt him lusting after some busty blonds, imagining how he would fuck them hard and rough, rape them. Terror felt her breathing constrict while perspiration built on her forehead. She'd been on the receiving end of men like him. That was in another life, one long gone; but not soon forgotten. The memories of this time flashed through her mind as though it happened yesterday.

The thought of violent rapes gave DuPuits a hard on and T had to feel him touching himself under the tabletop while he envisioned how he would brutally slam his cock into the women, basking in their screams of pain. Slightly panting, he imagined how they would start to bleed from the violence he was inflicting on them and it just turned him on further. He thought about how he would force them to suck him; grab their hair with both hands until they scream and force them to deep-throat him till they choke. Finally, he would bend them over and slam into their assholes, tearing them, before he'd shoot his load deep into their intestines. Terror opened the door of the Escalade, bent over and threw up into the street. Instantly Rev was at her side, holding her braided pigtails out of her face and supporting her body.

After violently dry-heaving for a few moments, T was finally able to sit back just as Agony came to a stop behind them.

"What's wrong?" He gently caressed T's face, brushing some lose hair behind her ears before giving her a small bottle of water.

Terror shook her head. I'm fine, really! I just had a flashback because DuPuits is a sicko with rape fantasies and he took me on a ride with him.

Five minutes later T suddenly shot out of her seat. Guys, we have a problem. Fogger is here.

In her mind she felt her brothers plus Button and CP freeze in disbelief from their respective positions. Fogger was the Inferna Angelus Syndicate's manager, a legend within the Marines for his ability to stay undetected and to sense any kind of surveillance. What the fuck was he doing here?

Furor, inform the Rangemen. I need to concentrate on Fogger, came T's clip command.

"Men, the IA's CEO is in our vicinity. He's master in sensing any kind of surveillance. Knock, Scotch, become invisible. Everybody, no radio transmissions. Do your best to stay undetected, remember your past city trainings with T. Low profile until further notice."

Immediately, T felt Scotch and Knock retreating for better cover. Minutes later Fogger turned out of a small side street onto the Rhode Island Avenue and drove by them.

He's scanning the area. Fuck. What is he doing here? T followed him in her mind. He's circling the block. Attention Furor, he's coming back.

That procedure recurred three times before Fogger finally turned into the bar's parking lot and got out.

"Does he need to have a meeting here of all places? Should our targets recognize him, they will relocate," Furor growled.

"Then we will relocate, too," came Ram's firm voice over the intercom. "It may be some weeks since we last worked together; but we kept training hard. We can quickly adapt to any new situation."

He's right, Furor. I've spent enough time with them before, during and after their training to have absolute faith in their abilities.

T concentrated back onto the bar. Fogger had entered and was making his way through the crowd, looking for someone. When his eyes focused on DuPuits, T felt as though the world stopped moving. Everything came to a halt and froze. In her mind she felt everybody bristle. DuPuits saw Fogger approaching and rose from his chair. The two men shook hands and smiled at each other like old friends as they took their seats and immediately jumped into conversation.

"I read your encrypted email. You could scare the blackmailer off?" Fogger referred to the IAs scheme when T had Snake calling around trying to blackmail NISE regarding their involvement in the drug business. Another thing that seemed like eternities ago.

"Yes, he wasn't willing to meet with me so Jones talked to him on the phone. He subtly increased the pressure and the caller broke and backed off. The call came from a phone booth here in DC. We checked surveillance tapes of surrounding business; but got no clear shot."

Fogger nodded pensively. He didn't like that. He didn't like it at all. How could this person have gotten information about the drug and their connection with it. Did he know anything about NISE?

"What about the CIA agent that was sent down to make an offer to Escobar?"

"It's been handled. Escobar was warned and the offer was ignored. Albeit we had to eliminate two policemen who asked too many questions about the locals vanishing. They had an accident. The public authority and DEA are still in the dark."

"Good. This is getting way too hot. We need to tie up the loose ends and take care that nobody survives who could link us to the drugs and killings."

"Our man in Colombia talked to Escobar. Apparently, the researchers are more or less finished. We need to sweat it out for three more months."

Fogger nodded.

"There's a problem regarding the IA team," DuPuits said apprehensively. Fogger was a powerful man. He preferred to be on his good side.

"What do you mean?"

"I sent two assassins after the woman and both fucked up the job. At the first attempt, she wore a Kevlar vest, fell thirty yards from a roof and miraculously survived. They brought her to Princeton. He started a second try at the hospital but there were guards 24/7. Evidently, he couldn't get a clear shot through the window of her room. I took care that he'll never fuck up again. The second man was reported dead to me two weeks after I lost contact to him. He was found in an office building in an abandoned part of Trenton. There were no signs of a fight or anything. His death was deemed of natural cause."

Another nod from the Inferna Angelus' CEO. "We need to get her out of the way, DuPuits. She's training the Rangeman operators. The longer she continues that, the better they get. She needs to be removed from the equation. Now."

"I think the problem solved itself," DuPuits hurried to explain. "The drug cocktail Ranger has unknowingly been ingesting has proved effective. My inside source reports him to be irritable, irate and more and more off the rocker. Ranger kicked the IAs out of the mission team. They've been back at Great Falls for nearly three weeks now leaving Rangeman the sole conductor of the mission."

"Are you sure of that DuPuits?" Fogger let his icy eyes bore into the man in front of him. "Ranger and his men are no threat to us, especially with him under the influence of amphetamines and steroids; but the woman is dangerous. She is the uncrowned master of espionage, reconnaissance and tracking. We can't risk her having any part at all in the assignment. She has to be eliminated," Fogger stared at him.

"Well, she's with the IA so she's your decision. You know her better than anybody else," DuPuits shrugged. He didn't like Fogger and wanted to be done with the meeting. The CEO of the Inferna Angelus had always looked down at him, treated him like a tool. He knows shit, DuPuits thought. I am the one in control. Neeson and I should get rid of him.

"Exactly. She's one of mine and I say she has to die. With her out of the picture, the rest of her team will be helpless," Fogger looked at DuPuits and left no doubt that he expected DuPuits to obey his orders.

"I bought someone on the inside of Rangeman. He confirmed that the IA's left and are no longer our concern. He was also the one reporting about Ranger becoming more and more of a megalomaniac."

"Who is that source?"

"His name was Junior. He unfortunately got killed this morning, not traceable, after he became dispensable."

Fogger nodded deep in thoughts.

"Nevertheless, I want the woman to have taken her last breaths. It was a fault to ever allow her to become a part of the Inferna Angelus. Contract Carlos Sánchez. Even she shouldn't stand a chance against him."

"How much?" DuPuits asked.

"Ten million now, ten after a successful assassination. Should he fuck up, I will hold you personally responsible DuPuits. Is anything else going on I need to know about?" Fogger asked impassive.

"No," DuPuits replied quickly. "Jones has his hand on the DEA here in Washington. When they come too close for comfort, he directs them the opposite way. Our man with the DEA in Colombia is keeping a close eye on their activities and interferes where necessary. Moore is sitting in on the meetings with the FBI and Terrell is feeding Rangeman wrong information and SAT images. We have every corner covered."

"Good. Keep it that way. I will check where the IAs are at the moment and will take care that the woman will be out in the open so Sánchez can make his move. She's gained way too much influence. Things will be a lot easier with her six feet under."

The Inferna Angelus' were frozen. One of their own was a traitor. One they had voted as their leader. One to whom they had sworn loyalty. One they had trusted blindly. One with whom they had shared their inner thoughts. One of their own had just ordered T's immediate death.

Fogger had long left the bar and now DuPuits made his way to the parking lot. In his mind he comforted himself that Fogger didn't know anything about what he was capable of handling. He, DuPuits, was pulling the strings and still had several wildcards in his hand. T couldn't listen to him anymore. One by one she disconnected her mind first from the Rangemen then also from her team. She was shell-shocked. Fogger had played an essential role in her adoption by Grief. He had always been a confidant for her. He had even been her supporter when she wanted to become the first woman in the Inferna Angelus Syndicate.

Furor, tell the Rangemen that we abort. They stay overnight and are not allowed to talk to anyone outside the mansion, debriefing tomorrow after breakfast. I'll pick up Fogger's trail. You, V, Button and CP go back to Great Falls; brief Bobby and Les on our findings. Agony, Rev, Rage, I want you with me; full gear.

You should have a medic with you in case something happens, Furor sounded worried.

We'll be fine. Now move. The dominance he felt in her thoughts and the shiver running through his body made Furor clear that she meant business.

T heard him talking over the com system while she breathed against the pain in her chest. She had trusted Fogger. He'd been a close friend of Grief; he had an important hand in her being allowed to the Inferna Angelus, in some way he'd been her mentor. Now Fogger wanted her killed and it didn't matter to him at all. T closed her eyes. 'Never trust anyone,' Linho had always told her. 'Trust gets you killed.' How right he had been.

Great Falls, three a.m. the same night

Bobby jumped up and rushed to the main door as soon as he heard the keys in the lock. Without thinking he crushed Esme into his chest and started to whisper words of comfort into her ear while firmly rubbing her back. He had lost count how many times his heart had stopped and restarted tonight while listening for the slightest noise of her return.

Furor had come in behind him from the kitchen followed by Lester, the rest of the IAs plus all the Rangemen. Questioningly he looked at Rage, Agony and Rev. The shadows in his friends' eyes were all the confirmation he needed. Their leader was dead. He had broken the No. 1 rule of the Inferna Angelus – the vow that every new warrior sealed with his blood.

Fidelis usque ad mortem – Faithful unto death.