Hi everyone. I know it's been a while, but i've been stumped as to were to go with this. Also i have not been able to find a BETA (if you would like to help let me know!) and my work isn't as good with out one. BUT i got a review today begging me for more, and to that guest review no im not holing out for review im just not sure how ot take this were i want it to go. Here is the next chapter, im sorry for any mistakes and i hope you like it.
"What am I going to do Hec?"
"You're not going to do anything. I am going to finish what I started. If he thought he could hide in jail and I would forget about it, he was wrong."
"Hec you can't. You have a life now, our family depends on you. If you lost this job or were put back in jail think of what would happen to them. Do you really want them living back on Stark? We've worked so hard, gave up so much, to get them into a decent neighbourhood and the kids into good schools. And now that I have my degree in early learning I can help the little ones relearn the basics and with their schooling. I'll head to the hospital tomorrow and see if there is any openings for nurse work there and if not I'll start sending my resume around to doctor offices. Will we be living here, or are we getting our own place?"
"Don't change the subject Steph. I can and will finish this and I know Ranger won't object. Yes we will be living her and I know the family can't wait to see you, we've all missed you." He gently put his hand to her face, staring into the blueness of her eyes. He was always surprised by the innocence he saw there despite the horrors she had lived through.
"Hec…" she paused "I know you killed all the men that hurt me, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry but also grateful. And I didn't want you going after Edge but I'm not going to tell you I won't feel safer if you do. I'm scared for you, somehow in my mind he is the worst of them all. I don't know what I'd do without you." She kissed him softly on the lips. It always calmed her when they were close, like a net of content and warmth descended on her. "There's just one more thing, I think someone has been following me this last week. I'm scared it's one of Edge's men."
Hector's eyes darkened. Revenge would be his. No one hurt his wife and got away with it.
"We'll talk to Ranger about it later. No leaving the building without me though okay?"
"Hector" she whined but she would follow his rules, no matter what she always followed him.
"Come now my sweet flower, let us go mess with the Rangemens minds some more and then go home to Mama"
Stephanie giggled. It really was fun to watch the men tiptoe around the elephant in the room, quite often tripping on it.
"I just came from Mama's, where do you think I got the food? Don't tell me you thought I baked it." She laughed "We both know I am no good in the kitchen. Which reminds me, how will me living here work? I don't cook, and neither do you, so what will be do for food? Geez the guys you've had over must be really into cleaning coz I know you don't clean like this. There isn't even any dust!"
Hector laughed "We have Ella to take care of us"
"who?"
"Ella, she is like out den mother. She cooks and cleans and does our washing."
Stephanie tensed just slightly under Hectors hands, he knew she would, she didn't like people she didn't know to have access to where she lived. Living in the dorms had almost killed her the first month of collage, until Hector scared away her roommate and set up the security for her.
"Maybe I'll just do the cleaning here, it can't be much, and we can take our meal in the common area. No need to let anyone else in."
"Chicha, calm down. You'll like Ella, she is like a mother to us all. I wouldn't let anyone hurt you, you know that."
"Okay, sorry. Plus, I would really suck at cleaning."
"Yes sweetone you would."
"I think I'll be okay here Hec. Once I get used to it."
They walked back onto level 5, Hector wanted to ask Ranger for a meeting. Ranger happen to be in the control room, so arm in arm they walked over to him. While Hector was talking, Stephanie looked around. She realised that she did feel safe here, and that was a rarity in her life. Bobby came over to talk to her, having heard she just got her nursing degree. Bobby had been asking Ranger for a while about getting about person to help him and he had hopes that now Stephanie was here, Ranger would hire her on. Hector took the opportunity, while Stephanie was distracted, to look at Hal and wink suggestively. Hal was always fun to pick on as he blushed the easiest and was the most naive. Hal turned white, his mouth dropped open as he franticly looked towards Stephanie and then around him. Two men choked and one dropped the file he was carrying. Steph looked around innocently, "What?"
"Nothing." came Hal's quick reply. There were a few throat clearings and shuffling of paper.
"Hi, I'm Stephanie." Steph said to Hal, with her brightest smile. Hal blushed a deeper red and mumbled his name, then turned and all but fled.
"Oh dear Hec, I think I scared him?" she said innocently.
Hector chuckled, "come on my dear, Ranger wants to meet with us in his office."
When the door to Rangers office had closed, Hal sat down with a thud and let out a deep breath. 'What the hell was going on' he wondered.
"You wanted to see me?" Ranger said in way of opening the discussion.
"I don't know if Hector has told you about our past, but there is some trouble heading our way. Hector said you might be able to help." She looked doubtfully at him. It wasn't that she didn't think he could protect them if he really wanted, it was just she wasn't sure if he cared enough or if he was opposed to illegal activities. It might be better for his company to cut them and their trouble loose.
"I do run a security company Babe" he replied with a raise eyebrow
'How did he know what I was thinking?' she wondered to herself. "Don't call me Babe. My name is Stephanie."
"Sure thing babe. Now tell me all about your troubles." His tone was arrogant and it annoyed her
"Karl "Edge" Santano is my trouble. I'm pretty sure I've been followed this last week, hence my early arrival. I spent a few years on the streets and my spidy scene never let me down. He's gonna be coming for me and probably Hector. He might have turned himself in but he's still gonna be out for revenge, not that I don't have my own form I'd like to dish out to him."
"Stephie we find him and there is no way in hell I'm letting you near him. I don't care weather you want this or not, his darkness will never touch you again."
"HEC!" Stephanie whines "I'm a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, I can handle any gun you throw at me and I'm as fit as a fiddle." Stephanie pause as her inner monologue took over "are fiddles really fit? I mean they are instruments so they can't be fit, you can't ask a fiddle to drop and give your 50 or run a mile."
The two other men were looking at her amusement.
"Crap I did it again didn't I" she said looking at Hector.
"Yes my angel, you did. Now stop arguing. You know my word is finial."
Stephanie rolled her eyes and sighed, eyes coming to rest on Rangers desk, "yes Hec"
Ranger wondered about the dynamics of the couple in front of him. It was the strangest he had seen but it worked for them. He also wondered if Hector would let him get closer to Stephanie. She intrigued him. He felt a low hum throughout his body when she was near and he couldn't figure out why. Usually something like that meant danger but this time it didn't feel like danger it felt like nothing he had felt before.
"So what do you want my help with?" Ranger asked.
"To kill the son of a bitch that hurt my women. Who dares to frighten her." Hectors voice was deep and cold
Stephanie gasped, "He doesn't mean that literally of course" she stuttered turning huge innocent eyes of Ranger.
Ranger laughed in his mind, did she really think that helped cover Hector's murderous intentions.
"It's okay Babe, I already know all about Hector's past. We here at Rangeman operate on a slightly different rule. Legally Grey but morally right. We have his back, and yours too. In fact I was hoping you might be interested in a job here. Bobby our medic, who I thought I saw you talking too, is in need of a helping hand and I'm hoping you will agree."
"I dunno Ranger, I don't do charity."
Hector nudged Stephanie and shook his head. "You'll take it Stephie. It will help keep you safe, you'll be closer to me so I can keep an eye on you and it would make living here easier." His voice left no room for argument.
Again Stephanie looked away, but nodded her head.
"Thank You Ranger, I'll accept but if this is a pity job, as soon as Edge is done for I'll be looking for something else."
Ranger nodded, he appreciated her want to make her own way honestly. It was strange to see Hector take complete control over this women, who was nether meek nor submissive. Ranger could all but feel the stubbornness in her wanting to rebuke Hector's statements but she curbed them and let him take control.
"Nice eyes before Babe, I'm guessing you a Hector played a few marks in your time?"
Stephanie blushed a little. Yes she had used those eyes on a few unsuspecting marks in her time, but she was older now and she had made something of herself.
"Si" said Hector smiling as he too thought of the cons they had pulled
The next five days went by quickly. Stephanie enjoyed running the infantry, this let meant it was always open and Bobby was also free to work in the field. Stephanie also enjoyed the gym. The first time she walked in two men fell off their machines and time seemed to stop. Hector worked with her on more self-defence, and then the two would work together on either the bike or treadmill or cross trainer, watching and commenting on the hottness of their fellow co-workers. The first time she saw Ranger without a shirt she thought she would self-combust, the tingle that went through her body whenever she saw him turned into a fiery burn. Hector notice and told her not to think about it. He didn't want his girl hurt and Ranger was not into relationships, he was strictly a one night stand kind of man, though he had been known to have seen the same girl continuously for a while it was never for more than sex. Hector would be hand picking the man he gave his wife to, once they were ready to part.
They played tricks on everyone, but the time for reveals was coming close. Lester, Bobby and Hal had all cornered Hector, the day before, and told him that he had better start respecting his wife as they weren't going to tolerate any more of his behaviour.
It had only been a matter of time, Hector thought, before they had all fallen for her charms. She had explained her absence to the men, being away at college on scholarships, and she had told a few about how she was a run away and how Hector had found her on the streets and taken her under his wing. It proved to him that she was settling here, that she trusted the men of Rangeman. He was happy for her.
At first he had been scared that being around this many men would make her uncomfortable. It had been a constant problem since her kidnapping, but she hadn't had a problem with it since she arrived. She seemed happy here.
Did you enjoy? I don't know when i will get the next chapter up, but i am trying my hardest. Let me know what you thought about it chapter.
