pickuptoy

I don't hate JJ. I have never cared for him though. But I do think they him and Kris can be good for each other. Kris can keep him fucked real good and hopefully man up some. Susannah, and even Bellona keep him pussified and whiny and acting like a little boy. I like how he was assertive with Rafael. And Kris being with Jj is really going to help him open more doors and move up in his career. I really don't think he is trying to be a gold digger, just riding a horse is a lot better than hopping on a mule here and there. The two of them might flourish together and stick with one another for some time. J.P. Stef, and Brad may even be impressed with the two of them. Will might even come around JJ a lot more. Otherwise JJ may just be JJ, not do anything constructive the rest of his life. Just be a fashion world groupie with no direction.

@masongpretty much summed up my feelings about this chapter. I have never been a fan of JJ's. But I can see hope for the kid. Kris may be good for him, and he may be good for Kris. I really don't think Kris is a gold-digger, but more of an opportunist but may even be a keeper, or at least someone to help JJ get in a better direction. Maybe as this relationship builds JJ may become a better person with a drive to become relevant. Not just a little whiney bitch! Great Chapter Mark. I was disappointed when I saw JJ was narrating, but you did a hell of a job with it. Keep up the great work.

Wow! Perfect timing for both Granger and Calvert. I wonder it that was the King's first voyage the he encountered the enemy. He will have something to boost about when he gets back to court and to laud George with. Thanks Mark. Another Great Chapter!!

Thank you so much Mark for getting Granger back on the water again. I wish he could keep permanent command of the Endymion. But just having him in command again even if temporary is welcome. Keep up the great work Mark!

JJ is just JJ, my least favorite character on here. I have a higher respect for Zach and "The Black Widow" than I do for JJ. Whenever he is the narrator, I picture the weather as being cold, and foggy outside every time, whether it is day or night. Thanks Mark for the chapter.

Now where did I vaguely hint that George could die? If you will reread the post, I responded to Mark's quote.

I am really hoping that doesn't happen or at least until George has lived a long fulfilling life.

What a surprise when I opened my email and had gotten a notification that my favorite story on this site has been continued with it's first chapter in a new book. And on Tues. morning. If it had been on a Sunday it wouldn't have been that much of a surprise. But a big "Thank You" to Sir Mark! Caroline is smart enough to know it is not advantageous to continue to fight George. She knows George and the kids wealth and status will continue to rise. Continuing being combative with George only pushes him and probably her relationship with the kids completely away. Being civil with George, and able to still have a chance to be part of the kids life will have it's advantages. Her status should benefit along with her security. As the kids mature and still have respect for her they will always see to it she is taken care of by either George or themselves as they take their rolls in life. Continuing the way she had been might turn their backs on her. Who knows, as time passes, George might start trusting her more and might could use her as the hostess for his own or attending Royal functions that having a female or beard is needed. Between the two, I would trust Caroline more than his sister-in-law. Also George may get another command, and he knows that Caroline will help make sure the children's welfare is first. Look forward to the next chapter.

Somehow I must have missed where the cook was connected to Curtis Buck. I remember her being rude and a homophobia, but not the other connection. Now Curtis Buck may have paid her to bug their beach house. But if so where are the recording going to? Are they in Buck study somewhere, or are they in a third parties hands? Also how did the cook get into Miranda's house to bug hers? But we don't know for sure if hers is bugged or not. I think it may have been one of the investigators that probably bugged Brad's beach house thinking they may find out Zach is hiding out there. If they a deputy watching the street in and out and a deputy or maybe more monitoring the beach. They had pretty good info that he may show up there. But I will go back and read the where Will fired the cook and see what I might have missed there.

Thank you so much for the book "Gap Year". Mark. Going to be impatiently waiting for Book 18. Is it done yet? LOL! I know this will not be popular with everyone, but I hope whoever the main character or characters that is telling the story in the coming book, Will, Brad, Stef, JP, Wade, Marie etc. I hope we skip ahead a year or so in their lives. 105 chapters in GAP Year covered less than 4 months. But seemed like a couple of years. Maybe getting a big portion of the family and close friends we have all come to love for a reunion, significate birthday, or big event where we can get caught up with their busy lives and what has happened since May 4, 2004. How well the Sluder/Crampton empire has grown in wealth, investment, relationships, carriers, accomplishments, or failures. But I will be satisfied however it is presented to us. But beggers can't be choosers!!

Thank you Mark for another chapter. Hope you had a great time New Year's Eve and day. I am wondering how they are going to get thru the forensics that will show the distance from the gun will not jive with Curtis holding the gun to shoot himself. Different splatter patterns from his brains and back of his head. His face isn't going to be hurt that much if he was shot in the mouth. So they are going to be very interested in who had beat Curtis. Remember this was 10 years after the Nicole Brown Simpson murder. And forensics even then was very sophisticated. But as Mark said, "money has power" But the hopefully the hospital didn't do any sampling of Taylor's hands or protected any of the cloths and towels that they may have use cleaning her when they admitted her. So the investigators won't have that to use. I am sure they will find the slug from the plant Zach shot. I don't care for Zach, but don't want anyone framed for something they didn't do.

Thanks for this latest chapter. Sounds like a beautiful and exciting addition to the their growing empire they are building. Keep up the great work.

Thank you for this chapter Mark! And Happy New Year. I hope 2024 is the best year ever for you and all your readers and followers. I think it was Taylor, but very well could be Miranda that killed Curtis Buck. Since it has to be one of the characters on Mark's survey list. I don't think it was big, Jake, or Travis. And Guy Fellowes and the father of the 16 year old girl Curtis raped were not on the survey. If Zach didn't and is framed, I believe something will end up pointing the investigators to the real killer. Buck my have been videoing or taping all his meeting for years, but deleting everything that didn't give him an edge in his business dealing or future insurance against someone. Might incriminate Jake on the beating, but exonerate him on the murder. Eager for the next chapter.

Thanks Mark for the excellent chapter.

After reading this chapter and that Taylor had a meltdown, I think she is probably the one that shot and killed Curtis.

I think it may have been Sierra Gardner or her mom or dad. She may be pregnant and told them about Curtis raping her. It has only been 2 months since the rape. But also Miranda Curtis may very well have killed him. Or Fellowes may very well be the one. I don't think it was Travis, Jake, or Zach. But I guess we will all have to just wait and see.

Thank You so much@CLJobefor the wonderful story. Best one yet. You author's really are appreciated. I hope you start another soon.

And Marie will be second in class.

Thanks Mark for another great chapter! Big may be a closeted smart guy. I hope him and Travis can work together and build old man Buck's company back to a respectable and profitable company again. If they can get Curtis locked away, kidnapping and attempted murder can get you 20 - 30 years, might get them headed in the right direction. Jake might help them a lot too. Wherever Mark leads us with his wonderful talent will be fine with me. I just hope Zach doesn't have a big part in it. LOL!

No he had sex with Miranda Buck at her house when he went to see Big and he wasn't there. Will just mentioned that the she asked about he when he meet up with her at the GM fashion show. and was going to look him up. Darius must not have been there. But said he must have been good since she was looking for him again. “Dude, you banged my mom?” Big asked, acting all outraged. “Once,” Darius repeated. “She was asking about you when I met up with her at that GM fashion show, and was going to look you up,” I said, piling on. It was so much fun to make Darius squirm trying to deal with his slutty ways, especially since he usually did the same thing to me. “I must have been good,” he said to me. “That is fucked up,” Big said. “When did this happen?” “When I was sixteen,” Darius said calmly. We all looked at him, waiting for him to elaborate, so he finally rolled his eyes and obliged us. “I went over to your house, you weren’t home, and your mom hit on me.”

I love it. Great Chapter! Armand is a great friend! Maybe the 3 of them will now get inspired and paint some saleable works that they can sell and be comfortable for the rest of their lives. At least be able to drink better wine. LOL!

Thank you so much Andre for another chapter. We all know you are busy with work and life. We really do appreciate you and all the other authors that keep us well entertained and entwined with the story lines and characters you bring us. Good to hear that the Devlin-Major Portfolio is growing and looks like may grow even more in the future. The Reunion Project may lead to some hotels over there too. Looking forward to your next chapter!

Thank Mark for another great chapter. I liked the letter that Tom Buck wrote to Travis. With the circumstances the way they were he probably couldn't have said anything more. I hope Travis will share it with both Big and Taylor. Maily where they will see that Tom didn't have much faith in Curtis running the Buck companies and figured he would run it into the ground. They will also see that he had no control and could not restrict how Curtis managed the trusts for the two of them. I bet Travis will end up taking care of Big, but probably will not take any pity on Taylor. I can't remember who brought it up in the last chapter about what happened to the CD in the sound system. Maybe someone from the motel will sell it to "Entertainment Tonight" or "The insider" or whatever TV tabloid show that was back in the period of time. Would be great if Curtis saw it was out to the public and go on a drinking binge and run off a cliff in Malibu. Might have a large life insurance policy. That might help them some. But I think Travis and Big will be ok. They are half brothers too. Big also has a new uncle in Jake. With Jakes Trust and Travis' they might get Buck companies strong again. With some investment from Will's family they minus Curtis the Buck name might mean something again in CA.

Great Chapter Mark. Thank you so much for the Thanksgiving present. I had just taken a sip of wine when I got to the part when Travis announced that Curtis has been fucking Taylor. My glass was almost full, I just downed the rest of the glass. Was in for the ride then. I was surprised that Travis had the sound system set up with the rape to play and had not told Will about it. Always good to have an Ace in the hole. I hope everyone had had a Happy Thanksgiving!

I wonder if the "old man" Thomas Buck knew that Jake was his son! I bet he did. I wonder with Thomas Buck's lawyer there if some more things may come up. Exactly how old is Jake. When Miranda fucked him he was 16. (16 + about 9 months, + or - a few, Travis 18 years old. So around 35. I have heard of trust funds set up so someone can't get it until they are 35. Could the old man have set something up for Jake that he, or anyone else but the lawyer may know about? Night may still be young!