Disclaimer: JE owns nearly all of these characters. I'm just having fun.
A/N: Thanks to latetolove who is the most patient, encouraging beta in the world. All mistakes are mine.
Big hugs to Margaret Fowler who gave me an idea that turned into this story.
If you like it, check back on Monday. I'll post updates on Monday and Thursday. Thanks for reading.
Chapter One
Ranger's POV
It was almost midnight when our plane touched down at the private airfield near Trenton. Two weeks. That's all this mission was supposed to take. Instead, thanks to bad intel and an inexperienced, multinational team, I'd spent most of the last four months freezing my ass off in mountain villages all over Kazakhstan. Coldest fucking winter in the last 20 years. It would be an even colder day in hell before I'd accept another job with the U.S.-European Union Joint Task Force on Security.
I glanced across the aisle at my traveling companion. A warrior descended from warriors, Bear had been the one bright spot on this mission. From generations of Mongol ancestors, he had inherited his strong cheekbones, his golden skin and his sleek black hair, currently pulled back in a high, Samurai-style ponytail. Ostensibly, his startling blue eyes were a legacy from his Swedish mother, although it was rumored that Genghis Khan had blue eyes, too. Given Bear's ruthlessness in battle, I had no trouble believing that the blood of the Mongol warlord ran in his veins.
Perhaps his skill as a strategist was another legacy from this distant grandfather … or perhaps not. Bear's father was a warrior of a different sort, a conqueror on the battlefield of corporate takeovers. The spoils of his victories had afforded Bear an education in the best schools of Europe. He had a degree in military engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique in France, as well as degrees in economics and criminology from Cambridge. Exactly where Bear had mastered the use of dagger and bow was a bit less clear, but I had reason to appreciate those skills on this trip.
Bear glanced up from his iPad and met my gaze. The stock market in London wouldn't open for another few hours but it was the middle of the business day in Japan. "The Nikkei opened up 30 points," he said with a faint grin.
Undoubtedly, there would to be hell to pay next week. I had three days with handlers from the EU at the hospital in Ankara, Turkey. The U.S. team was demanding equal time and was insistent that I return directly to DC for a debriefing. If this had been a typical deployment, we would be landing at the airfield at Andrews tonight. But this time, I was a civilian contractor. As such, my attorney had been able to successfully argue that I was entitled to 3 days off in Trenton to attend to my business and pressing personal matters. The personal matters were top of mind tonight.
Two black vehicles were waiting for us on the tarmac. "Vince. Binkie." I jerked my head toward my companion by way of introduction. "Bear. New man on the Miami team." I explained. Bear nodded almost imperceptibly in greeting.
"Take Bear to Haywood. I have a stop to make."
Vince cleared his throat. "Tank suggested that you return with us. There is a …" he trailed off as if uncertain what to say next. "A situation he needs to discuss with you."
"Screw Tank," I said. "Give me the keys to the Turbo."
Twenty minutes later, I pulled into Stephanie's parking lot and noticed that all the lights were off in her apartment. That wasn't too unusual for this time of night. I surveyed the lot, wondering about her current vehicle. When I'd left, she'd been driving a faded, red Monte Carlo with a black racing stripe down the side. I didn't see it in the parking lot, but four months was long time for Steph to keep a car. With some satisfaction, I noted the absence of Morelli's SUV and the POS unmarked cop car he sometimes drove.
I took the steps to the third floor and waited outside her door, listening. Hearing nothing, it took me 30 seconds to pick the lock and step into her foyer. Again, silence. Not even the faint sounds of Rex shuffling though the pine shavings lining his cage on the kitchen counter.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed an even layer of dust over the counter in the kitchen and the coffee table in the living room. Housekeeping wasn't Stephanie's strong suit, but it was clear that no one had lived in this apartment for at least several weeks.
I dialed Tank before I reached the parking lot. "Location on Stephanie," I demanded.
"Welcome home, RangeMan."
"Location, Tank. That's an order."
"I'll remind you that I'm in charge while you're on the government's payroll and technically, you still are until you finish the debriefing," he answered mildly.
"How long," I demanded.
"Did Vince tell you that I wanted you to come back to Haywood?
I ignored his question, repeating my own. "How long has she been back with Morelli?"
"She's not back with Morelli.
"Then where the hell is she, Tank?" Scenarios that did not involve Morelli began to run through my head, scenarios that involved stalkers and exploding Chevrolets.
"She's safe," Tank answered. "If you come back to Haywood, you can see for yourself. But there a few things you need to understand first.
Ten minutes later, I pulled the Turbo into the garage on Haywood and parked in the empty spot closest to the elevator. Vaguely, I registered that there were two empty spots where I kept my personal vehicles. I made a mental note to ask Tank what happened to the Cayenne, but we had other things to discuss first.
When I reached Tank's office on the 5th floor, he was standing beside his desk, quietly conversing with Bear. "Ranger," he said, giving me a slight nod in greeting. "We're almost finished. Give us a minute, and I'll brief you on the developments here."
But he never got the chance. At that moment, I heard a sound, a squeal really, from behind me and I turned to face the door.
"Carlos!" I heard Steph's voice moments before she launched herself into my arms, rocking me back on my heels. I had only a moment to be surprised at her unexpected use of my given name. That was quickly replaced by surprise at the softness of her lips against mine, the gentle insistence of her tongue just before it slipped into my mouth. The disquiet that I had been feeling since leaving Stephanie's apartment was quickly replaced by relief. Relief accompanied by a tidal wave of unadulterated desire. It wasn't that I was unaware of my surroundings. At that moment, I just decided to hell with the fact that we were standing in Tank's office. I kissed her back.
Stephanie's legs were wrapped around my waist and her hands were fisted in my hair. I slipped one arm under her ass to steady her and with the other hand, I stroked her back gently. That's how I found the gun tucked in the waistband of her cargos. "Were you out on surveillance tonight, Babe?" I murmured against her lips.
"Takedown," she replied between kisses. "Gary Wathen. Drug possession and illegal sale of firearms. Out on $200,00 bond." She pressed her pelvis firmly against mine. "We had a tip that a sale was going down on Stark Street tonight, and we were able to, um, intervene."
With that, Stephanie seemed to remember where we were. She unwound herself from me, reluctantly it seemed, and turned to face Ram and Hector, both of whom were still standing in the doorway. She settled her back against my front, pulling my arms tight around her waist. It was then that I noticed the Porsche key ring that was slipped over a finger on her left hand. The mystery of the missing Cayenne was solved. I wondered briefly about the fate of the Monte Carlo. "Thanks for the back up tonight, guys."
Ram caught my eye and quickly looked away. Hector just smiled broadly at Stephanie. "No problema, chica. I like it when we get to help you play rough with the bad guys."
Before I could ask any questions, Steph caught sight of the unfamiliar face standing next to Tank. "Babe," I began, knowing that that some sort of introductions were in order. But she was quicker than I was. She took two steps toward Bear, hand outstretched. "Forgive me," she said. "I don't think we've met. I'm Stephanie Manoso. Welcome to RangeMan Trenton."