Eleven
Manny aka Hubs
Holy smokes, Wifey is something else, she put on a damn good show today. She's fucking awesome at distractions and earning people's trust.
When she waltzed into the lives of Rangeman, she was clueless about being a BEA. We all knew Ranger was thinking with the wrong head that's for sure, but to be honest who could blame him? Stephanie is the beautiful girl next door with a little wildness in her and she has tenacity and spunk.
We all figured she wouldn't be around for too long, that's Ranger's M.O. She wormed her way into our lives, and we were captivated. We tried to intimidate her but that didn't last more than five minutes. We realized that she was the first woman to accept us for who we were and wasn't intimidated or fearful. What impressed us was she didn't strut her little ass around to get what she wanted.
Stephanie became our defender, our best friend, and our sister. The building is full of men who will give their life for her and vice versa. She earned our trust and we've never regretted allowing her into our lives.
Most importantly, we earned her trust.
While working a case I was injured and at the time, Ranger did not have medical power of attorney for any of us so without hesitation, she came to the hospital and played the role of my wife. She was so convincing; I swear the boss was a little jealous. We began calling each other Wifey and Hubs.
We had to play the role of a married couple again, but this was far more serious than fooling the hospital staff. Ranger was out of the country and Tank got word that one of Ranger's Afghani enemies was out for blood and he was going after Stephanie. Tank found out that one of Ramos' men was actually a plant, but he wasn't sure which one. We couldn't figure out what the connection was so he called Alexander Ramos for help.
This threat required us to live with Ramos which neither one of us was thrilled about. Stephanie hates being stuck under house arrest, as she likes to call it. Hector and Michael swept the bedroom that we would be using along with the rest of the house for cameras and bugs that were not already set up. Hector deemed it safe and clear after several hours.
We had to be very convincing as a married couple in public as well as inside the compound because of the unknown. Not knowing who the man was and what his intentions were we needed to step up our game and play the role to the fullest. We slept in the same bed, thankful for the California King bed and added all types of public display of affection.
The best part was bedtime; we would sit on the bed playing cards or other board games and she'd suddenly make fake orgasm noises and other sexual sounds in order to satisfy anyone who may have been spying. I'd laugh as she giggled and rolled her baby blues. She would crack up when I would join her in fake sex. She'd laugh and say we sounded like bad porn actors, i tend to agree with her.
I got to see a side to Stephanie that was new to me, even though I know she is a caring individual but what I saw made me adore her even more.
While we stayed with Alexander, he took sick, seriously ill. We didn't know if this unknown threat was the cause, but Stephanie was not going to take any chances. She trusted no one and she wasn't afraid to show it. I re-call one night we were in the kitchen while the chef was preparing Alexander's meal. She watched the man like a hawk, regardless of the fact the chef had been a long time trusted employee, there was no way anything other than the ingredient he required was going in the dish. She made a pest of herself and she didn't give a crap who she pissed off.
Ramos, Stephanie and I were talking one night about the first time they met while she was helping Ranger clear his name because the dumb ass Ramos brothers set him up for murder. She laughed as she recalled the day he jumped into the blue monster she calls a car, they both laughed when she admitted she drove by intentionally looking for him. I laughed hard when he shared about how his men finally find them in the bar and they mistook her for a hooker.
"My boy that was the day I gained every ounce of respect for this beautiful blue eyed breath of fresh air. She was nose to nose with men who won't hesitate to kill for looking at them the wrong way. She threw the money in their face and told them to fuck off and she turned around, head held high and walked out. How can you not love and respect a woman with her gumption?" We laughed as we watched Stephanie turn fifty shades of red. I couldn't help but admire a woman who was always struggling financially turn down hundreds of dollars that the security team threw at her, the money would have covered three months rent. She was pissed that they thought she was a hooker.
"She's the daughter I've always wanted, and I am so lucky that she allows this old man in her life. This sweet Angel will always be under my protection and will hold a place in my heart until I take my last breath."
She worked relentlessly playing nurse to a man who is involved in many illegal things, but she didn't care because he's her friend. She was scared and worried about Ramos. Stephanie nursed him back to health with care, attention and most importantly love.
Once she was satisfied that Alexander was back to his normal self, we resumed our 'married life' all the while she kept her eyes and ears wide open to try and find the plant inside the Ramos compound and try to figure out what the connection was between Ranger's enemies and Ramos.
I'll be damned if she didn't scope him out.
She decided it was time for her to take matters into her own hands by asking a different man to jog with her. Rodolfo was the lucky bastard she decided to choose on a particular day. She began asking him questions about Ramos and when a few of his answers didn't jive with what she knew, she kept digging and digging acting the part of a clueless woman who knew nothing about anything, living her life simply on her looks.
I can't help but smile because Wifey acts clueless, but she is very aware of her surroundings. A far cry from the disaster magnet she once was. She truly is a force of nature.
On the way back from one of their jogs, she hit the nail on the head when she asked him a question about a made up Ramos nephew, she had him hooked. She faked a leg cramp and as she was bending down to massage her calf, she grabbed his ankle pulling him flat on his ass on the concrete. She flipped him over on to his stomach and sat on his ass while she cuffed him. The action captured on cameras surrounding the compound allowed the men to run to her rescue. I was curious as to where she hid her handcuffs.
The reaction I saw in Alexander Ramos amazed me. At that moment, he was not the head of a Greek Mob or illegal arms dealer. I saw a man watching his daughter do something heroic, his face showed pride. That moment defined their relationship. What I found so crazy is Ramos' face would show unhappiness and embarrassment when he spoke of his sons. He spoke of Stephanie with love, pride, and happiness. They truly care for one another. It didn't surprise me one bit when he generously sold her the hotel.
Ranger isn't thrilled about the relationship that Stephanie and Ramos share, but he will never tell her to end it. He understands that despite the illegal things the man is involved in, he deeply cares for her, and she will always be safe. The two strong men respect each other and Ranger is comfortable knowing the Greek Mobster will always be a third and fourth set of eyes on the love of his life.
Our charade as a married couple was over and it was time to head home.
We brought the threat back to Rangeman to interrogate and extract the necessary information from him and he sang like a canary naming names and locations of the team sent to bring Ranger down. Stephanie let us play with him for a bit. She wanted to have the last say before his demise.
Confidence was booming when she went into the interrogation room and kicked the chair out from under him, as she slammed her booted foot on his chest, pointing her gun in between his eyes. "You fucked with the wrong person asshole; you and your gang won't live to breathe another day. You see when you threaten Ranger you threaten me also."
As she was about to pull the trigger, he literally peed all over himself. He didn't know her gun wasn't loaded, with grace she walked out making sure the last thing that loser saw was her ass sashaying out of the room. Watching it all on the monitor was fucking priceless.
"I don't care what you do to him and the rest of the assholes, make them fish food for all I care. I don't want anyone in their organization to ever attempt to get at Ranger again."
Wifey is the best thing that's ever happened to me, would I rather she be mine? Hell yeah, but I'd rather have her in my life as my sister and friend. It's time for me to move on with my life. Santos managed to move on after realizing Stephanie would never love him the way he wanted but no one can come between the special bond they share.
I am glad that we were there for her during her cancer scare, that by far was an incredibly scary time for us, I'm thankful she pulled through. I love watching her transform from a hot mess to an exceptional business partner and boss who is the complete package. It's an honor to call her my sister and best friend.
I used to think Ranger was the biggest dumb ass that ever walked the face of this earth for not seeing her the way other men see her and how lucky he was that she gave him the time of day. I'll never forget the harsh words between Hector and Ranger one day when I walked into Hector's office and they were in a cubby in the back of the room. I don't know what prompted the conversation but I heard enough to understand Ranger being put in his place.
"You are a fucking fool Ranger. You have put the word out that Estefania is your woman not just in the streets but also in this building. You're a child with a toy, you don't want the toy but won't allow anyone else to have it. You're a selfish bastard and if you can't tell your woman how you feel or if you don't have any intentions of making her yours permanently, then walk away and let her move on to find someone who can make her happy."
"You better stand down man." Ranger replied.
"No, I will not. You think that telling everyone she's your woman is for her safety but you're living a fucking lie. You're fooling yourself; you need to pull your head out from your stupid ass."
"Dude what the hell was that all about?" I asked Hector after Ranger stormed out of the room.
"I am sick of that bastard stringing my beautiful Estefania along with his bullshit. Neither he or the cop deserve her."
"I know what you mean man. If the boss ever walked away from her, there would be a line two miles long waiting for Stephanie."
Stephanie has asked me many times when I will find myself a woman. I reply my boss has the perfect woman I've been looking for. She laughs when I respond with that answer but she doesn't know how serious I am.
I was pulled from my thoughts when we came to a stop at the airport. The Atlanta core team escorted us inside as I watched Cody and Marty checking out Steph's ass. Before I could react, Lily had each of them against a wall with hands around their neck. "You respect Stephanie and remember who she's married to. Most importantly, don't ever forget she's your boss. You understand?"
"Yes ma'am." They replied. Even though she is retired from the military, her rank as a Captain still holds and we respect the titles we've worked so hard for. Luckily, Stephanie was too busy talking to Nikko and Hal to notice what happened. Although knowing Wifey, she probably saw and heard what took place, that's just the way she is.
"Way to go Lily Cap." I whispered. I don't know how we came up with that nick-name, I think Julie started it by calling her Cappy and we just made up our own.
"Thanks." She replied smiling. I need to get to know her a little better. She's Julie's security detail and according to her records, she was one hell of a soldier.
We checked in at the lounge and sat down at a table in the corner, Nikko ordered drinks. I listened as Wifey and Lily were talking. "What was that all about Lily?" Steph asked.
"Nothing to worry about."
"Come on Cappy spill."
"Cody and Marty pissed me off as they were checking you out from the back inappropriately. I decided to call them on it."
"Thank you; I appreciate you having my back." Steph replied giggling after she realized the pun in her response.
"Boss, do you want me to transfer everything into a report for the Warden?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, that would be great. Hal, when we get back, I want you to put everything that we recorded on a disc so we can send it to Warden Morrison tonight."
"Yes boss."
"Nikko, what did you catch from the rambling?"
"She does tend to mumble to herself a lot. Each time you asked about Melissa she questioned why this happened to her, that bitch should have died along with her parents." He looked at the notes on his phone. "She did say that the baby should have been hers."
"Ms. Montrose didn't show any sign of remorse when you told her Detective Morelli died." Hal added. "What surprised me was as much as she dislikes Melissa, she was pretty quick to give up her location."
"Boss, there was a point when she did mumble saying no one will find them, by the time I get to a phone and give the idiots my orders, the bitch and the kid will be dead." Nikko said.
"That was the feeling I had Steph. Her body language was opposite of what she was saying, she looked sincere but her body said otherwise."
"Manny, I'm glad you were able to read into that and take action. Thank you."
We discussed our notes in order for Lily to transfer to an official report that would be acceptable as evidence by the District Attorney.
"Do we have any updates?" Steph asked.
"Boss, Ram checked in, they're heading out now and hope to have everyone home in six plus hours. The one hundred plus mile drive will take them a little bit and you know Ranger he wants everything to be perfect when they arrive at the location and execute their plan." Nikko replied.
The host in the lounge advised our departing flight was on a three hour delay and we toyed with the idea of driving, but Steph didn't want to sit in a car for over twelve hours. "Since we're delayed how about dinner?"
"What do you have a taste for Boss?" Nikko asked.
"One Flew South is an upscale restaurant in the airport; they have a variety of food. How about we try that?" Lily suggested.
"Works for me." Steph replied as Hal informed the lounge host that we were going to dinner. He said he'd call and make sure we had a table. I took care of locking our equipment in the locker and we took the tram to the restaurant.
We enjoyed a relaxing meal along with a few drinks and we were ready to head home.
"Wifey, have you spoken to Sade lately?" I asked. I always enjoy being her security detail and we've become friends. Everyone thinks there's something sexual going on but that's far from the truth. I respect her too much for that.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact, she'll be here next month."
We chatted a little while longer until we arrived back at the lounge, I grabbed our things from the locker. The wait wasn't too long before the host announced our flight.
We took up five of the eight First Class seats. A guy noticed Stephanie sitting by herself in the front row and walked towards the empty seat. Nikko squashed that idea quickly. Ranger has made it very clear to all the staff at Rangeman, "when Babe travels without me, you all are my eyes and ears, do I make myself clear?"
The Captain's booming voice brought me out of my deep thoughts. I looked over to my left and saw my beautiful friend asleep snoring softly hugging a pillow; a smile came to my face, something that was very rare in my life as well as the men at Rangeman. I watched her slowly wake up and look around wondering where she was. "You okay there Wifey?" I asked smiling.
"Did I fall asleep?" I laughed at the childish grin on her face. She giggled and ran to the bathroom to fix her unruly hair and freshen up for our arrival in New Jersey.
"It's okay; even Wonder Woman has to get her rest." I replied grinning.
Binkie and Rafael were waiting for us at the gate when we arrived at the airport. I was getting a kick out of the people staring at us as we walked through the terminal, wondering if Stephanie was some type of celebrity with her body guards.
Men want her and women want to be her and I can't blame them.
Our drive to Rangeman was comfortably silent when Stephanie's phone alerted an incoming text. "OH, MY FUCKING HELL!" She shouted. Rafael almost lost control of the car as the rest of us got into protective mode.
"Stephanie, what is it?" Hal didn't answer, she just stared at her phone with tears pooling.
"Steph talk to me. What the hell is wrong?" She handed me her phone.
"Oh fuck." I replied in shock. I took one look at Stephanie and I knew exactly what was going on in that mind of hers.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you all for reading and following. As always, a huge thank you to Susan Peters for all your work.