Unfortunately, Ranger and Stephanie still belong to Janet. The mistakes are mine alone.

The drive from my domain - the Rangeman building - into Shiv's territory could be a study in contrasts ... not only with the blue-skied, sunny day appearing darker across town, but this was my life, my everyday environment, back in Newark before I'd moved to this city a lifetime ago to live with my grandmother.

I've come a long way since then. Shiv has, too, but he decided to rise to the top of his familiar food chain, whereas I chose to pursue a much loftier goal. Why would I settle for ruling one city when I can have my run of the globe? I'd give that up for my family in a heartbeat, but Stephanie understood long before we got together and made Olivia, that I was straddling two worlds ... and she's never forced me to choose between them. She didn't today, either, and because of that understanding ... I'm able to roll up guilt-free to the apartment building Shiv now owns.

He's not a subtle man. He's acquired money over the last two years and he wants everyone to know it. His glass-encased building brought to mind the one leaning in Pisa. The 'openness' of the place had me feeling like I had a target on my back the entire time I was walking into it.

"Good to see you again, Manoso," Shiv said, meeting me at the lobby door, having some decent security himself. "How's the family?"

"Curious as to who you are and what you want with me."

His face split into a grin. "Let's head to my office and I'll fill you in. It'll then be up to you to decide to clue the ladies in afterwards or not."

I already know I won't be talking specifics unless I'm forced to. He may be a relatively good guy, but his views on what's legal and what's not are even grayer than my own.

Since Shiv's 'office' is really his Liberace-esque apartment, we took a private elevator up to the top floor of the mirrored-monstrosity he claims is just a temporary 'investment'.

"Get to the point," I told him, once we were behind closed doors. "I'm technically on vacation and I'm not supposed to be working."

His gelled head nodded and his sharply-featured face softened briefly in sympathy. "I get that. You're playin' family-man this time around."

"You should know better than most that I don't 'play' in any area of my life."

"Oh yeah? Word spread all the way down here about how you took care of that Crux asshole threatening the missus. I'm in need of similar services as you provided that fucked-up Javier dude."

"I'm not an assassin or a hired gun."

"Aren't you?" He asked.

"I was protecting my wife ... my family ... nothing more," I stated.

"If saying that helps you sleep at night, more power to you. I'm not requesting you pull the trigger here, I'm just asking you to locate the asshole I'm looking for so I can do it myself."

"What's going on?"

"Some up-and-comer wants my turf and thinks picking off my people one by one is gonna get it for him. His last attempt to 'persuade' me into leaving involved taking a few potshots near my sister and her kids when they were leaving church. I find that kind of behavior ... unacceptable."

So do I. Not only does it hit too close to home to have women and children be targets for something I'm involved in, randomly shooting at innocent people makes this a public safety issue. And my specialty is protecting the general public.

"Why you?" I asked. "Is it personal?"

"It's about money and power ... and who has more of it. Espada wants to be me ... like that ugly fucker has a chance in hell of accomplishing that," he said, polishing his tattooed knuckles against the wool suit that would have him frying in the Miami heat if he didn't have the air in his buildings set to crypt. "I almost got the fucker, but I was off that day and he managed to disappear with only a flesh wound. I have a reputation to uphold as well as a shot to correct now. Last time an associate of mine laid eyes on him, he'd been hiding out near Atlanta. I know you still have plenty of contacts in the area ..."

"What do I get out of this if I help you?"

"A safer city for your daughter, excuse me ... daughters ... it is now, since you've had another little one. I may be in this for less noble reasons than what you based your empire on, but I do my part to protect my city. There'll be a substantial increase in trafficking of the drug and human-kind, a rise in the yearly death toll, and a low-humming uncertainty whenever anyone steps outside their doors, if Espada gets his way ... though Rangeman's business will be booming."

"I like turning a profit, but not at the expense of Miami's residents."

"I knew it'd be clear why you should turn your men loose and find this fucker for me," he said, his grin hinting at cocky. "I may be an asshole, but I got a heart of gold under the initial abrasiveness. So you're in?"

I'd say it's never smart to agree to something before doing a little research to see if it's possible to do, but I'm not worried. I've successfully located every person I was hunting.

"Well?" Shiv pressed, not knowing the definition of the word patience.

I was about to assure him that I've got his back in this, but my stomach clenched and my eyes flicked to a window to the left of where we were standing in his living room.

"We've got company," I said, right before lunging forward and knocking Shiv off his feet as the bullet flew close enough for me to hear the familiar whizzing that triggers the 'save your fucking ass' instinct.

I did one better. I saved myself as well as Shiv again. I added another 'he owes me' to the mental file I have on him. We rolled to a safer location and we both had our weapons out, but I'll always be faster. I went against impulse and waited for the moment where the shooter revealed his position and himself when he rearranged his stance in an apartment in the building across the small street between the two complexes.

When the smoke cleared so to speak, and the room went eerily still, Shiv and I cautiously got to our feet and looked first to the window now sporting two small holes and webs of cracks radiating out from them. He should've paid more and opted for bulletproof glass like all the Rangeman buildings are equipped with.

Shiv reminded me of a combo of Hector and myself, nothing surprises him and nothing really rattles the man.

"This shit's getting old," he said, like getting shot at - and potentially becoming just a wall stain - is an everyday occurrence ... because for us it is.

"I see that."

His dark eyes suddenly had a wicked gleam in them. "You may have survived this, but from what I've heard ... the missus is now going to fucking kill you."