Sorry for the huge wait, I kinda...forgot... forgive me? Let me know what you think!

Chapter 9

'Uh oh.' I gulped, 'you called me no fun when I said that I didn't like getting shot or arrested. I'm not sure I like your idea of fun.' I said to Lester.

Lester's grin widened, 'you get used to it.'

'Shit.' I said to Ranger.

He grinned at me. No help there.

Eventually the plane touched down on a private airstrip just outside Miami. Ignoring the men's protestations, I got changed in the toilets; if they were going to be all-dressed-in-black-bad-asses, then so was I. I tugged on a pair of my black combats and my gorgeous kick-ass boots. I was already wearing a black T-shirt, so I put my shiny new glock in the waistband of my pants and covered it with one of my leather jackets. I tied back my unruly hair into a ponytail and then started on make-up. I applied grey eye shadow to my eyelids, which emphasised the blue of my eyes, some eyeliner, and some lip-gloss to make my lips look extra kissable. Suffice to say I was satisfied with the results; hot but bad-ass.

I walked out of the toilets, noting the arrival of Cal, Hal and Junior.

Lester whistled, 'Damn Beautiful, you look great.'

'Do I look like I could kick-ass?' I asked.

'Definitely.' Lester laughed. Bobby and Tank nodded agreement, smiling.

'Cool.' I said.

'Can you run in those heels?' Bobby asked, frowning in concern.

'Can I run in these boots Ranger?' I asked, smirking slightly.

'She can run in them.' Ranger confirmed firmly. And then he changed the subject before he could be questioned about it, 'Bobby, you're riding shotgun to Hal. Tank you're with Cal. Lester you've got Junior. Steph and I will work together. Questions?'

I put my hand up.

Ranger's lips twitched, 'you don't need to put your hand up Babe.'

'My chemistry teacher gave me seventeen detentions for asking questions without putting up my hand first. I had to write thousands of lines.'

Ranger's smile widened, 'I won't make you do lines Babe.'

'Promise?' I checked.

Ranger nodded.

'Ok.'

'Babe?'

'Yeah?'

'What was the reason you put your hand up in the first place?'

'Oh yeah. I was wondering where Hal, Cal, and Junior came from?'

'They've been working a case which led them to Miami and, rather than farming it out to Rangeman Miami, they chose to follow the leads personally.'

'Won't that interfere?' I asked.

'No Babe, they've finished the case.'

'Oh.'

We walked the short distance to the brand new, black, shiny cars. We all beeped our cars unlocked and climbed in. Everyone had a bronco, except Ranger. Ranger had a BMW. I slid into the shotgun position next to him, inhaling the scent of new leather.

'Yum.' I said.

Ranger shot me an amused glance and cranked over the engine.

Unusually, it was Ranger who broke the silence, 'I'm going to introduce you to my family as a Rangeman employee, ok? I want them to respect you as a professional so that if anything happens then they'll follow your orders too.'

It made sense, 'ok.' I said simply.

'You don't mind?' Ranger asked, looking slightly surprised.

'No. As long as you don't expect me to lie to them.'

'No.' Ranger replied decisively, 'definitely not. And you're still sleeping next to me.'

I smiled at him, my hand settling on his knee, 'good.'

He flashed me the wolf smile and pulled over at the side of the road. He undid my belt and pulled me into his lap, kissing me until I was breathless.

Ranger's cell rang.

'Yo.' Ranger answered.

I could hear laugher on the other side of the phone.

'Just took a break.' Ranger said.

I couldn't make out what the reply was, but Ranger said, 'yeah,' And disconnected.

I raised my eyebrow at him. Ranger smiled, but didn't elaborate on the conversation. So I rolled my eyes and climbed off his lap into my seat. Ranger laughed softly but didn't say anything. He started the car again, and we were off.

It took about half an hour to reach our destination. It was a beautiful three-story house with huge wrought iron gates and an immaculate lawn. Ranger typed some numbers in a little box and the gates started to swing open. One by one we drove in, parking in front of the house.

'This is where you grew up?' I asked.

'Yeah.'

'Nice.'

Ranger nodded.

We swung out of the car and waited for everyone to join us by the front door, then Ranger rang the bell.

The door opened a few seconds later, 'Hello Ricardo,' said a smiling woman in her fifties. Her hair was streaked with grey, but she looked distinguished rather than old, and it was obvious that she'd been a beauty in her youth.

'Maria.' Ranger smiled, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

'And it looks like you brought some…friends.' Maria glanced dubiously at the assorted muscle bound men in black. But despite her slight reservations, she smiled warmly at all of us, 'Come in.' Maria said, in welcome. We trooped inside to the main room.

'Ric!' said a stunning woman, running to him. She was absolutely gorgeous; a female version of Ranger.

Ranger caught Trina easily, 'Hey baby girl.' He said, smiling fractionally.

His brothers came forward, and gave Ranger manly hugs, then Ranger's father stepped forward and clapped Ranger on the shoulder, 'glad you could come.' He said. Ranger nodded and turned towards the Merry Men.

'This is Katrina, Andy, Michael, Dominic, and my father, Carlos.' He said.

We all nodded.

Ranger continued, 'This is my sister's boyfriend, Jack, and Michael's boyfriend, Mark. Questions?'

We all shook our heads.

'Good. Lester, Junior – you're securing the perimeter. Bobby, Hal – you're updating the house's security. Tank, Cal – you're guarding my sister. Steph, you're getting intel with me. Questions?'

We shook our heads again.

'Good. Go to it.' Ranger instructed.

Everyone scattered. I stood by Ranger, unsure what to do.

'Just stay here.' Ranger said in a low voice, so no one else could hear. I nodded minutely.

'Bodyguards?' Trina said incredulously, 'I don't need bodyguards! And how do you know who Jack is? You haven't met him!'

'Actually,' said Jack, 'he has.'

'What?' Trina asked.

'After we'd been seeing each other for a couple of months he came and asked me what my intentions were towards you.' Jack explained.

'WHAT?' She all but screeched, 'Ric – you didn't!'

'Just wanted to check.' Ranger said, smiling slightly.

'You're so…' Trina grit her teeth, searching for the right word.

'Protective?' I supplied.

'Yes!' Trina agreed.

Ranger shrugged. 'You're my baby sister.'

'I'm your only sister!'

'That too.'

Trina sighed and then eyed me, 'Who are you?' she asked.

'Steph.' I replied, doing the Rangeman monosyllabic answer thing.

'She's going to be guarding you too.' Ranger said.

'She looks scary.' Trina said.

'Really?' I asked eagerly, smiling. 'That's so cool! I look scary!'

Trina paused, 'well…not anymore.'

'Oh.' I thought about it, 'was it the smiling or the babbling that gave me away?'

'A bit of both really.' Trina replied, smiling amiably at me.

Ranger ignored the interplay between us, 'you're having bodyguards Trina - deal with it. Now, I'm going to the Church, and you're staying here in the house, ok?'

'Ok.' Trina sighed.

Ranger turned to me, 'I'm going to the graveyard; you can come with or unpack.'

He was going to visit his mother; if I went with him I could watch his back so he could just relax and focus on his prayers to his mother.

I retrieved my gun from the small of my back and checked I had bullets chambered, then I clicked on the safety and put the gun back. 'I'll come with.' I said.

He nodded slightly, his eyes grateful, showing his understanding of the implication of me checking my gun.

Ranger nodded to his family and we left.

Ranger parked the Beemer in front of a florist's, 'Back in a minute.' He said, getting out. Ranger returned with a beautiful bouquet of flowers - he put them in the back and started the car. We drove for a few minutes and we entered what had obviously been, or was, gang land.

Ranger idled at the curb, 'there.' He said; pointing to a building covered in slogans. 'That used to be the Red Fights headquarters.'

I reached over and squeezed his thigh in silent support. Ranger smiled slightly at me and took a deep breath. We stayed there for a few minutes whilst Ranger's thoughts lingered in the past. Then, wordlessly, he turned the car around and started driving again.

Five minutes later we were in a nice neighbourhood, parked in front of a small church. We angled out of the car. Ranger took my left hand in his right, carrying the flowers in his left hand so that I had my gun hand free.

He led me to his mother's grave and he gave my hand a quick squeeze and let go, kneeling down.

I stepped back, giving him space, drawing my gun and surveying the area; being aware of my surroundings just like Ranger had spent the last few weeks patiently teaching me.

Ranger laid the flowers on his mother's grave and splayed his hand against his mom's headstone. He bowed his head.

I waited patiently, guarding over him.

Finally Ranger stood and turned to me. I handed him my gun, and then I knelt beside his mother's grave. The epitaph read: Roseanna Manoso, Beloved wife and mother.

Thank you, I thought silently. Thank you for loving him and raising him – for helping him become the man he is today. Thank you for giving him to me.

I rose slowly and turned back to Ranger, slipping my hand into his. Silently we walked back to the car. Ranger paused at the car, 'Thanks for coming with me.' He said.

'Sure.' I replied.

Even with his blank face on, I could tell he was sad. I stepped close to him, wrapping my arms around him. Ranger held me close - for once I was the one giving the comfort.

Eventually Ranger stepped back, but not before kissing me on my forehead. 'Thanks.' He repeated. I nodded and he handed me my gun back. Ranger opened the door for me, I slid in and we drove back to his parent's house.

'Ranger?' I said, before he unlocked the front door.

'Yeah?' he said, turning to face me.

'She would be proud of you.'

He smiled at me, but his smile was tinged with sorrow, 'I hope so.'

'I know so.' I said firmly.

Ranger smiled properly, 'Thanks Babe.' Then he leaned forward and kissed me lightly.

'Ok?' I asked.

'Ok.' He agreed.

'In that case, let's go get this psycho.'