Chapter Twenty-One

Carson and Pritchard were in Ranger's office when he got there. Carson a little on edge from being kept waiting. Ranger didn't feel guilty in the slightest. Both the FBI and DEA were paying him a hell of a lot to be a subcontractor on this. Didn't mean they had any power over him. In fact, they were lucky he was in such a good mood. Carson might not have liked the response his attitude would get if Ranger hadn't just spent the last ten hours buried deep inside his girlfriend.

He tucked that thought away, holding back the smirk. "What did you find?" he asked Carson, taking a leisurely seat in his high backed leather chair.

"Nothing in the official records about Juarez, but your girl was right about one thing. There's a lot of chatter filtering up from Mexico about an insider working with the feds."

"They have a name yet?"

"Not as far as we can tell. It's just been general whispers."

"So we don't have any specifics on who might be targeting Alvarez."

"Not on our end," Carson said, looking at Pritchard.

Prichard shrugged. "After Agent Carson told me about Ms. Plum's theory I contacted some of our other offices. Trenton's been unusually quiet, but apparently the chatter has gotten pretty loud further south. A lot of them seem to think the leak is homegrown, but there are a few who are talking plant. Like Sinaloa has been using a mole to get information from their enemies so they can spoon feed it to the authorities. Usually the Mexican military."

Ranger nodded. "It's easy to get military action in a country where officials can be bought or blackmailed. But now they've got FBI and DEA doing their dirty work. That takes finesse."

"The intel was good," Pritchard said. "Led to a lot of arrests, all the way up the chain. Enough to break up the Gulf Cartel. They're maybe a quarter what they were ten years ago, and Alvarez played a significant role in that."

"But there are no indications they know who he is?" Pritchard shook his head. Unfortunate, but not surprising. It would have been too easy to have a short list of enemies. Ranger pulled up the genealogy report. "I've had my best people dig up every branch in Alvarez's family tree so I could cross reference with known operators in all the major crime syndicates on both sides of the border. Got a hit this morning. Pedro Jimenez is on both lists."

"Let me guess, Juarez?" Carson said.

"A lieutenant," Ranger confirmed. "The son of one of Alvarez's mother's cousins. Not a fun guy. His name is linked to at least three massacres along the border, body counts in the dozens. Butchered journalists. Government officials who couldn't be turned. There's a trail of blood a mile long behind this guy."

"We've been trying to get to him for years," Pritchard said. "He's been a driving force behind the defense of the Juarez Plaza. Very aggressive in the war against the Zetas. But we've had trouble finding him. He's too well insulated."

"Well, we might have just found your leverage."

Pritchard shook his head in amazement. "Your girlfriend is probably the best thing that could have happened to this case."

"She not his girlfriend," Carson corrected before Ranger could decide if he wanted to. "But even I have to admit she's had her uses. I've had people on Archibald Thatcher since he got out of surgery. Trying to get answers when he's alert. He was all brick wall until Simmons told him she was deeply involved in the investigation. He's not exactly singing, but he's given us a couple leads he wouldn't have otherwise. You weren't kidding when you said he had a soft spot for her."

Ranger's office door opened enough to let Steph lean in. Stealing the attention of every man in the room. "Just checking in," she said, not at all fazed by the eyes. "I'm following a lead on my FTA."

"The possession with intent?" Ranger asked.

"Yep."

"You armed?"

She gave him an overly dramatic eye roll. "Ugh. Fine. I'll get the gun belt out of the Cayenne."

"Take a fleet car. It'll be less recognizable. And take Nollen."

"No Hal or Ramon?"

"Hal just came off a shift and I've got Ramon covering Thatch. Nollen will do fine. Just try not to break him."

"Ha ha."

She really was adorable.

Steph vanished and shut the door behind her. Off to recruit poor unsuspecting Nollen for her wacky wild adventure. And as ordered, there would be two more teams trailing behind them, watching their backs. With any luck, the lead would pan out. Mini was likely the key to figuring out who was upsetting Trenton for personal gain. There was no short list of people who would love to see Ranger gone, but there couldn't be a whole lot of people who even knew Alvarez or Mini existed.

"Should we alert the fire department that she's on the move?" Carson asked.

Ranger turned to him, a single eyebrow raised. His belly contracting in a silent laugh. He didn't want to let Jack think it was okay to mock his woman, but he couldn't deny that was funny. And not a bad idea, actually. He held in his amusement as best he could. "Tell me about the head," he said to change the subject.

"Damian Marquez. Street name Skeezer. Confirmed by the ME to match the fifth body from Stark. They lifted some partials off the fridge handle, but they turned out to be yours. Unis canvassed the neighbors, but nobody saw anyone suspicious coming or going."

Ranger opened the video file off the company server and angled the monitor so the feds could see. "This is footage from the security cameras that watch the lot. It shows a Hispanic male, early twenties, entering the building with a black backpack at 2:47 pm, about the same time the IED was thrown at us in front of the Vincent Plum Bail Bonds on Hamilton. We're still working on a name, but he's a known runner for MS-13." Proof that Cruz was on board, despite the bad blood between them and the Kings.

"Shit, next you're gonna tell me the Ñetas are involved in this."

"Not yet. Word is they're keeping clean."

"Like the Slayers?" Carson asked.

Pritchard cut a glance at him. Too new to know about the Slayers. They'd been the shit a few years ago. Taking over Comstock and parts of Stark. Until they'd targeted the wrong woman. One plucky bounty hunter by the name of Stephanie Plum. Most of them didn't survive the encounter thanks to an oozy wielding cross dresser. And now this. "They're not on the board anymore," he told them, detailing the incident. "Either they didn't want to play ball, or they were an expendable force that could be made an example of. I'd put money on the latter."

Ranger's phone buzzed. Steph. Must have found something good.

"I just had a run in with Mini," she said as soon as the line opened. "She got away from me."

"Babe. She's five feet tall and you've got armed backup."

"Yeah, five of them. Which we're going to talk about when I get back. But the reason I called is that she said something before she squirreled away. I think I know who we're dealing with. I just don't know why."

"I'm listening."

"I think our mastermind is Alvarez."

Ranger digested that for a second. Several things sliding into place. "What exactly did she say?"

"She said the guy who's after us would burn the world to the ground to get away from you. As far as I know, Alvarez is the only one you've gone after in a while. And given the whole superpowers thing, burning down the world does seem almost logical. I just don't know why he ran in the first place."

"I might be able to answer that. Seems there's been chatter in the supply chain about a Trojan Horse. Sent in by the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels to deal some serious blows to the opposition. The idea is to provide critical information to authorities so they'll do the dirty work. They use federal resources to shut down key points or make major arrests while your hands stay clean. It's a technique they've been using in Mexico for years, but I've never heard of it being done this successfully in the states. After what you said, I went searching up Alvarez's family tree and found a cousin on his mother's side is a Juarez lieutenant. That's likely who he was running to when I caught him. The cousin realized the rare opportunity when Alvarez was sent to a federal prison on the attempted murder charge. Started feeding him intel on the Zetas to get him a deal with the feds."

"So he ran because Mini was digging and he knew it was all about to catch up to him?"

"That would be my guess. The Zetas might be based in Mexico, but they've got a long reach. And not only would the hammer fall on him. It would likely fall on his family too. If it weren't for Mini, I'm not sure anyone would have noticed. There isn't a lot of effective communication between agencies. FBI was getting half the picture, DEA the other. If it weren't for the fact Alvarez got greedy and stuck his hand in the cookie jar, Mini wouldn't have started looking either."

"He should have just said no to drugs."

"Babe." Ranger couldn't keep the smile from surfacing. God, he loved her. "So you coming back in?"

"Maybe. Might see if we can get eyes on her again."

"Be careful." He disconnected. Both men watching him. "Ms. Plum just spoke to a high value insider. If her new theory is accurate, the questions of who might have known about Alvarez would be moot."

"I'm dying to hear this," Carson said.

"She thinks Alvarez is the one pulling the strings. Taking advantage of the chaos he caused by tainting the market so he can gather an army behind him."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because I've hunted him down four times now and brought him back in chains. This time tracking him through twelve states and across the Mexican border after a two day head start. He figured right that there was no hiding from me, especially after he killed a federal agent. Carving himself out a little kingdom here in Trenton is the only way he can see of escaping me and protecting himself from the Zetas until he can get back to his cousin."

Carson and Pritchard exchanged glances. Each hoping the other could see a flaw in that theory. After a long moment, Pritchard shook his head. "That girl of yours. She's a keeper."

Didn't he know it.

o o o

Carson and Pritchard had been gone a while when Steph came back into Ranger's office. A little frustrated, but still in one piece. Mostly. His eyes fell to the red that ringed the tear in her jeans. That hadn't been in Nollen's log. He'd have to have a word with the new guy. He met her gaze. "How'd that happen?"

"Mini's scrappy."

That cut through his mood again. Pulling at the corner of his mouth. Wiseass. "Come in and lock the door."

Steph got that about to eat dessert look. Did as she was told. Ranger crooked a finger at her. "Come here." She wandered toward him, the anticipation winning out over her nerves. She knew she could trust him.

With her body and her life at least.

She was smart to worry about what he could do to her heart.

He extended a hand and she took it. Squealing when he tugged her between him and the desk. "Take your pants off."

"Is that a good idea?"

Cute. Like they hadn't been wrapped around each other naked for the last few weeks. "Either take them off or I'm ripping the hole even bigger so I can see what kind of damage was done. Your choice."

It took her a second, but then she unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied them down her hips, revealing a pair of bright blue bikini cut panties and her long, beautiful legs. The legs that had circled his waist so many times last night that it felt like home. He got the first aid kit out of his desk drawer and set it beside her. Holding back a smile when his body responded. He lifted her up onto his desk and took a seat in his chair so that he could pull her foot into his lap. Her knee eye level. "This is getting to be a habit."

"Maybe I just like it when you kiss it better."

He cut his eyes up to hers and they held. Hers dilated to sapphire. Heat moved through him. She was playing with him. God, he loved it when she played with him. Like he wasn't a street hardened mercenary that made most women quail. He brushed his fingers along her thigh as he examined her torn skin. Steph drew in a sharp breath when he cleaned the wound. Her skin warming despite the discomfort. Ranger caressed her inner thigh to sooth her. Blew a steady stream over the drying alcohol to ease the sting and make her burn at the same time. Mission accomplished. He grinned when she licked her lips. "I might need to check you over for injuries again."

"Do you have time for that?"

He spread a large adhesive bandage over her broken skin and kissed it. "I've got as much time as you need." He kissed the inner slope of her knee where it turned to thigh. And then inched higher. Tension rang through her body. Her breath quivering on the exhale. Might as well have purred like a kitten. "Do I need to ask how hard you fell?"

"I'm not pregnant, remember?"

"Unofficially not pregnant. But still ten days late."

"You're keeping count."

That struck him as funny. Of course he was keeping count. He stood and took his place between her legs. Gathering her up against him so that he could tip her backward over his desk, her heat pressed tight against his hard body. "I'd be stupid not to," he said against her chest. Because every day that passed made him just a little more sure that she belonged to him, free and clear. Four more days and he could prove it with a doctor's appointment. Her breath caught. Sending a surge of longing straight through him. She was so soft and pliant. Melting in his arms. He kissed the swells of her breasts. Her throat. Her neck. Her chin. She was trembling with anticipation when he reached her mouth. So ready for the pleasure she knew was coming.

He sank into her deep right there on his desk. More turned on than he should have been by the thought that the thin layer of protection between them might be too little too late. If the damage was already done, they might not even need them anymore. Which would mean when he took her over and over again in his bed over the next nine months, there wouldn't need to be any barriers between them. Nothing keeping them apart.

She'd be his.

God, he nearly lost control at that. Grateful when Steph's body started to sing, signaling her climax. He stayed with her. Finding his release as she found hers. Her breathing ragged in his ear. It took some effort to steady his own. He collapsed into his desk chair in utter relief. Tugged her into his lap and curled her up in his arms. Holding her close. "That might have been a mistake. I doubt I'll ever get through a meeting in here again without thinking of you on my desk."

"It gets worse. They're kind of expecting us for dinner at my parents' house tonight before I drive Grandma to Tommy Thumb's viewing."

"I'm guessing this wasn't something you volunteered for." She shrugged. Of course it wasn't. Steph hated viewings almost as much as she hated dead bodies. But her granny never missed one and Steph, ever the dutiful granddaughter, had been roped into providing transportation. Just like she was guilted into coming home for dinner every week by her mother. And now he was being dragged with her. Again. "You really do come from a long line of scary women, Babe."

"Does that mean you're leaving me hanging?"

"Is that an option?"

"No."

That earned her a genuine smile. "Should I bring an extra shirt in case your sister shows up?"

"You heard about that?" Ranger raised an eyebrow at her and she sagged. Of course he'd heard about Hal getting spit up on. Several times, in fact. As far as Rangeman gossip went, that story was gold. "You still going to chain me naked to a traffic light if Tank finds out?"

"Yes," he teased, kissing her again. Feeling her soft lips with his. "Or maybe I'll just handcuff you to my bed and have my way with you."

"I thought this was supposed to be discouragement."

He held in a laugh. She was teasing about letting him use handcuffs. Bondage was way out of Stephanie's comfort zone. Didn't stop the wicked thoughts from parading around his filthy head. The idea of taking her to kinky places made him hard again. An adorable little flash of panic filled her eyes. Better move on. For now. He let the amusement win, brushing his lips over hers in a tender kiss. "Given the current climate, the only other options are to keep you on lockdown or send someone in my place."

"Lockdown is out."

"And if I sent someone in my place I'd have to give them hazard pay."

"My families not that bad."

"Babe." She glared a warning at him, but it only made him smile. He caught a curl and gave it a tug. "I have client meetings this afternoon, and my insurance rep is coming in at 5. Then I'm all yours. How many more cases do you have outstanding?"

"Just Mini and Earl Belter, the domestic violence. He's been on a fishing trip with his buddies since last week, which means they're out getting drunk somewhere in the Pine Barrens. A neighbor promised to call when he got back."

"Do you need something to keep you busy?"

"No. I'll probably glance at the files again. Do some deep thinking."

"So you intend to take a nap."

"I explained about the decaf thing, right?"

Ranger laughed and gathered her close, kissing her with every lick of hunger he still felt for her. "I'll be up later," he said into her mouth. "Set your clothes out, but don't bother getting dressed."

"Dinner's at 6, and we can't be late."

"That's why you shouldn't get dressed."

She bit her lip. Battling with the Good Girl part of her nature. Yeah. She'd be naked when he got home.

She slipped off his lap and started for the door, too dazed from his efforts to be aware of herself. He grinned. "Babe."

"What?"

"Pants."