Disclaimer: See previous chapters..
A/N: I feel like I need to keep saying this...Thank you so much for the guys who are leaving reviews. Like EEG who stayed up just to read the next chapter. You guys is what is really keeping this story going. The characters love you guys. Thanks! Again I know nothing of legal or illegal adoption. Any italics when talking to Hector is Spanish.
Bringing Gracie Home
After what seemed like hours, I got up from the floor, keeping Steph tucked close. I walk into our bedroom and place her on the bed. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying. Her hair is a mess. I swear she could never be more beautiful to me. I know that once Gracie is found, Steph is going to be in a lot of pain and harvest a lot of guilt. I will do everything in my power to squash the guilt she may have. My phone vibrates for the 10th time in the last hour and I walk out of bedroom to answer it.
"What?"
"Boss, Hector is here and he has some great news."
"Good, I'll be down in a minute." I wonder what news he could possibly have. Dios, I hope its something we can work with. I jog down the stairs. I feel better and more in control. Hector and Tank are waiting in my office.
"Hector, what's the news?" He hands me a little device called the Ipad. I see a little red dot blinking on the Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church. Its a convent that no longer does church services. I look at Hector, puzzled.
"Hector, what is this?"
"That is the tracker in Gracie's car seat, sir." The smile on Hector's face is smug and all I can do is look at him stunned. I reach out to shake his hand. "When did you do this, Hector?"
"When you had me install trackers on Steph's new car. I had a tiny tracker left over so underneath Gracie's car seat I placed in there with a small screw. The only way to even notice it is to look at it closely and even then you have to know what you are looking at."
A huge grateful smile breaks out on my face. I look at Hector with a whole new respect. "Hector you have my undying graditude. I owe you, my friend. I owe you my life. Thank you, Hector, Thank you." I turn towards Tank. "Get everybody dressed. Full combat, as many guns as you can. I'm going upstairs to get ready. Call Morelli, let him know that we aren't waiting."
"Yes Sir."
I head back upstairs, fob my way in the door and head to the bathroom. Steph is still asleep I debate on waking her up, but in the end I let her sleep. I discard my clothes, jump in the shower and do a quick run through. I'm ready to hold my daughter. The last 2 days have been hell and I'm ready to hold my daughter. I get out of the shower, dry off and dress in my combat clothes. I grab my boots and head into the kitchen. I grab a protein bar and a bottle water. I put on my shoes, grab my guns and knives and cuffs and head down to the garage. I'm ready to fight.
We pull up in front of the church. The people inside should be scared. We have a total of 4 black SUVS. Tank, Lester, Bobby, Antonio(my brother) and myself is in the first one. Ram, Cal, Manny, Hal, and Woody in another one. Zip, Zero, Hector, Brett, and Eric in one. Ace, Silvo, Mike, and Brad in the last one. Chris and Paul are watching the monitors. We all get out in slow motion it seems like. We all put on our kelvar vests and head towards the doors.
I open the door and it opens easily. Hector next to me with the Ipad. A older nun holding a baby walks up to us.
"Sir, you men can not come in here. I demand you leave."
"Lady, I demand you walk away. The police will be here in a few minutes. Now back off." She stumbles back and Tank reaches out to catch her. She tries to slap his hands away. She turns away and starts screaming for Father Nichols.
"Hector show us the way, please." We follow him to a closed door. The car seat is behind the door. I take a deep breathe and open the door. My heart stops. "Son of a bitch!" The 12x12 room is full of high chairs, swings, bouncy seats, and fucking car seats. I walk in and look around. I see Gracie's car seat and grab it. I walk back out the door. Attila the Nun and I'm guessing Father Nichols meets us.
"What are you doing here, Sir? You need to put that away. That is not yours." Father Nichols draws himself up to his 6' frame. I make sure my face is deadly and lean in closely. "This car sear is Mine. The baby that come with it is also Mine. The police will be here shortly. I suggest you tell me what happens to the babies that these car seats belong to. NOW!" He jumps at the sound of my voice and by the 15 muscle bound men in black with guns he knows I mean business. He turns around and leads me down a dark hallway. I hear sirens in the distance. Good, the TPD is here.
Tank, Lester, & Bobby are following me. At the end of hallway, the man stops and points toward a door. "All the babies brought here are put in this room. Please understand these babies are brought to us because their parents give them up for adoption. We have done nothing wrong." I look at Father Nichols and then at Tank. "Make sure he doesn't move from that spot."I open the door and walk in. The room is dark, nothing like Gracie's bright room at home. Three of walls are lined with little portable cribs probably about 20 in all. There are two changing tables that have seen better days. Dios, please let Gracie be okay. My heart strings tug me in the direction to the far left in the corner. I walk over and my eyes well up with tears. Gracie's piercing brown eyes look back at me. She smiles and coos at me. Her arms reach out towards me. "Hey Princesa, Daddy's here, baby, Daddy's here." I pick her and she snuggles into my chest. I walk back towards the door. I hold my body tight. I look at Father Nichols and with venom dripping in my voice. "This baby has a stable home with loving parents. Her mother was hit in the head with the butt of a gun and then this baby was taken...in other words, my daughter was kidnapped." I walk away to come face to face with Morelli, Eddie, Big Dog, and Carl. Morelli is the first to speak. "Is she okay?" I look straight at him. "I don't know, I'm heading to the emergency room, now. I want everyone in this damn place arrested. Thanks Morelli." He nods his head and I continue on my way.
Tank and I get in our SUV along with Lester, Antonio, and Bobby. I have already told everyone else to back to Rangeman. What they don't know is that I'm giving everybody a hefty bonus. Hector a bigger one. Without them, we would have never found Gracie. Tank pulls up in front the hospital and I climb out holding on to my child as if my life depends on it and hell it does.
"Mr. Manoso, We have completely checked Gracie out and she is fine. She has a small diaper rash but nothing bad. You may take her home." The nurse hands her back to me. I thank her and walk back outside. I climb back inside the truck. "A little diaper rash, but she's okay. I hope the son of a bitch who is responsible runs for his life because his life is most definitely at stake."
"I'll help hide the body, Carlos. I will help you no matter what the costs, man."
"Thanks man. Now lets go home."
I speak softly to my daughter murmuring in spanish. We pull into the garage and I climb with Gracie against me. I hop onto the elevator. I wave to Tank and the doors close.
I fob my way in and walk towards the bedroom. Stephanie has at sometime gotten up because her hair is freshly washed and she has on clean clothes. It must have been Ella because the sheets have been changed. Good, I take Gracie into her bedroom grabbed a clean outfit and a clean diaper and the diaper rash ointment and head to the kitchen. I strip her down and give her a bath. I dry her off and put on her diaper. I began to dress her. Her outfit will make Steph smile. She is wearing a orange sleeper that says Gracie's 1st Halloween in purple writing. It has a black pumpkin smiling with a black bat coming out of the pumpkin.
"Are you hungry, Princesa? Let's go wake up Mommy. I'm sure she is ready to hold you. I know I was." I walk into the bedroom and climb on the bed.
"Babe, wake up please. I have something for you." She rolls towards me. "I just want Gracie, Carlos. Just Gracie."
"Open your eyes, Querida. Please." She opens her eyes and they land on Gracie.
"Oh Carlos!" She yanks off her shirt, I hand Gracie to her and she finds a nipple and latches on. My Babe is crying, tears streaming down her face. "How Carlos?" I explain the illegal adoption thats going on and the tracker that none of us knew Hector installed. That we found her in a church being cared for. I told her about the emergency room and the diaper rash. She leans over to me and gives me sweet kiss. Against my lips she says. "You're my hero, Batman. I love you!"
"I love you, too Babe."
"I want to see Hector as soon as possible please."
"As soon as you get dressed, Babe, I promise."
I lean against the headboard and pull Steph in my arms so she is sitting between my legs. I put my arms around her and softly run my fingers over Gracie's head with one hand and up and down Steph's arm with the other. Steph settles against me. I hear her say. "Finally, she's home. I love you, Gracie."
My life is whole once again. Mr. Smythe, paybacks are a real bitch. I hope you're ready.
A/N : He He! Paybacks are going to hurt!
