A/N: A bit of a longer chapter to hold us over for the holiday weekend for us Americans. Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July celebration! ~Angie

Previous Chapter: "I take it all back."

"Take what back," he said with a hint of concern.

"That you're just an acquaintance. You can be my best friend again. I need your encouragement to help me keep going."

"Good to hear," he said with amusement.

"Friends?"

"Forever, Babe. Forever."

Click.

I smiled at my phone at least something good happened tonight.

CHAPTER 21

"You're making me nervous just sitting in the corner like that," I said to the dark figure in the corner of my room.

"What would make you less nervous?" Deuce replied.

"Come sit over here?" I said unsure but patted the empty space on the bed. "Please?"

He stood up and sat down awkwardly next to me leaning his back against the headboard.

"Thank you," I said relieved and snuggled up against his side. "There's something weird about what Mosca is doing. I think all of those boxes in the cellar were high end shoes. Why does Mosca have a ton of boxes of designer women's shoes?"

Deuce shrugged, "Maybe he has a shoe fetish?"

I giggled, imagining Mosca prancing around in designer high heel shoes. "What are we going to do about Kyle? They're going to dispose the body."

"Don't worry about it. Ranger's contracted some men to keep an eye on them and tip off the police."

"Ranger contracted people?"

"You didn't think he just let the three of us out here to follow up on this alone, did you? If something went down, we need to make sure the backup is readily available."

"Have you heard from Manny?"

"He checked in a few minutes ago. He's back at his hotel."

A tear fell from my eye as I nodded, "Do you mind staying until I fall asleep? I've been having trouble sleeping alone lately."

"No problem. Go to sleep."

"Thank you. You're not a total and complete asshole, after all," I sniffed quietly and drifted off.

^o^ * ^o^

I stretched awake and found Manny sitting on the edge of my bed the next morning.

"Manny?"

"I'm still mad at you," he replied solemnly.

"I know. I'm sorry," I said sitting up.

"What did you think I was supposed to do without my wifey?" he said gently as he caressed my cheek.

I held his hand on my face and rested my forehead on his, "You'd move on and marry a better wife? One that doesn't blow up things?"

"Not funny."

I shrugged, "You guys put yourself at risk everyday a hell of a lot more than I do. What's the difference?"

"The difference is that if something were to happen to you. A little piece of every one of us will die with you," he closed his eyes and pressed his lips hard against mine. "Don't ever do anything like that to me again."

I smiled at him, "You know I can't promise that. I mean look at who you're talking to."

He let out a sigh and sat back, "You age a man, Alyssa. The least you could do is humor me."

I sat up on my knees and laid a kiss on his cheek. "Can't. I need to keep my hubby on his toes. Need to keep a little bit of mystery and excitement in the marriage."

He tossed me back down on the bed, "There will never be any doubt in my mind that you would keep a marriage less than exciting," and began tickling me until I was blue in the face and I begged for his mercy.

"What time is anyways?" I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Almost noon."

"You let me sleep that long? How long have you been sitting there?"

"Since I relieved Deuce of 'Bomber Duty' at four this the morning."

"You've been sitting there this whole time?" my eyes grew wide.

"I wasn't sitting the entire time. I slept with you and held you in my arms trying to calm myself."

"I don't remember any of this," I shook my head in disbelief.

"That's because you sleep like the dead which can be pretty terrifying. Any idiot could break into that apartment of yours and kidnap you in your sleep."

I frowned.

"Are you going to stay in bed all day? Because if you are, I'm going to need to make sure you get some physical activity out of it so you don't turn into your version of the Marshmallow Man," he wagged his eyebrow suggestively.

"You keep flirting like that, Manny, and people are going to think there's some truth behind it," I smacked him.

"Who says there's no truth behind what I'm saying?" he said innocently.

"I think you could give Les a run for his money in the flirtatious department. I thought he was the worst but I think you're coming in dangerously close."

"I've got more game than Santos," he grinned, shutting the door behind him.

Later when I entered the living room, Lula and Misty were sitting amongst a dozen boxes of shoes, Manny and Deuce standing by the kitchen discussing something.

"Did you guys buy the entire shoe store?" I asked picking up a pair of Coach pumps. "Oh my God, please don't tell me you guys robbed a bank! These must've cost a fortune."

"Short Round, it's amazing. It's this secret place that sells designer shoes for half the price. I almost stabbed a bitch for these," she held up a pair of hot pink satin Prada pumps.

I picked up a pair of black and white striped peep-toed Louboutins with a bow embellishment on them. A pang of jealous crawled up my skin as I scrunched my nose at the gorgeous shoes.

"Don't pout. Those are yours," Misty spoke up. "But don't get too excited these are all knock offs."

"Knock offs?" I scrunched my nose inspecting the shoe closer.

"Yeah, there's no way these shoes are going for as cheap as they are if they're the real things," Misty replied simply and she's easy to believe because she knows fashion. "If you look closely at the stitching around the sole, there's evidence that it was glued and not hand-stitched. If you smell the leather, you can smell the chemicals used to create that faux leather. And the inner lining is cheaply attached; notice the unevenness of the cut."

"Damn, you're right," I said sniffing the shoe and recoiled at the repugnant fumes.

"I don't give a shit. They look real and I'm gonna wear the shit out of them," Lula exclaimed.

I sat back and thought out loud, "Mosca's got tons of boxes of designer shoes sitting in boxes in that cellar and his costume room has an odd influx of designer shoes for a bunch of strippers."

"He could be in the business of selling knockoffs. It's a very lucrative black market business," Misty says.

"What if Mitch stumbled upon that goldmine of information and tried to blackmail Mosca or get a cut in it for himself."

"Manny!" I shouted.

"Wifey, I'm right next to you," he replied standing next to the couch.

"Oh, sorry," I blushed. "You think you can find out where Mosca's warehouse is or where he brings in shipment?"

"Sure, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. The contract guys could probably do some digging."

Deuce nodded his head and walked off to make a phone call.

"I know we've only been here for a couple of days but I'm ready to get the hell out of dodge. Let's find this asshole and get our asses back home," I stated.

^o^ * ^o^

"Why did you agree to let her come?" Deuce growled at Manny as I crouched down below them behind a bunch of crates.

"He didn't agree to anything. I came along because I'm a part of this operation if not more a part of it than you are," I grit back.

"Well, stay low and out of the way," he threatened.

I stuck my tongue out at the back of his head.

"I saw that," he said before carefully moving forward to get a better view and handle on what was being said.

"Did you really think that you could steal from me and get away with it you fucking fungus!" Mosca spat smashing his fist into Mitch's nose.

Mitch's nose spurt out blood as the skinny henchman handed Mosca a handkerchief.

Earlier in the afternoon, the contract guys went in search for the warehouse and found it but it wasn't just that little tidbit that they witnessed. They witnessed Mosca's men catching Mitch in the act of loading some of the crates of knockoff shoes onto the back of a truck.

"You should've fucking ran when you had the chance, but you're a fucking greedy bastard who just couldn't help himself," he spat out. "Do it," he nodded at Bruno.

Bruno cut Mitch's hands free from the rope and put his hand on the crate in front of him and with precise rapid movement, he sliced off his pinky.

Mitch howled in agony. "I'm sorry, Mosca. I can get you money. My girlfriend's brother is the owner of a successful security business. He bleeds money," he bargained.

My blood was pumping.

"She hasn't paid a single penny yet for your safe return. What makes you think you have such a hold on this girl?"

"She just needs some reassurance from me. Let me talk to her. I can convince her."

"We've got Cruz targeted, Boss. Are all of your assets secured?" Deuce said in a low voice into his vest.

"Everything's secure. When you have the opportunity strike," Ranger's voice rang through all of our earpieces.

"Good, cause I'm going in," I said into the vest and stood up, walking quickly towards the men. I grabbed a hold of my spring baton and flipped it out. "I've heard enough," I growled. "Put your weapons down you're surrounded."

"China doll?" Mosca turned around in surprise.

"I should kill you for giving me such an offensive stage name."

"What are you doing here?" he questioned.

"I'm here to take that idiot, right there," I pointed at Mitch, "with me. His dear girlfriend's brother sent me here to collect him, so I'm here to collect."

"He made a grave mistake," he nodded at the skinny henchman who pulled out his phone and placed a call.

"No answer, boss," he frowned.

"Sorry, you'll find that all of your men are indisposed. You messed with the wrong family, Mosca. Ranger doesn't take kindly to those who threaten his family."

The contract men slowly began closing in on us.

"Put your weapons down and your hands in the air," I instructed.

"You think that I'm stupid enough to not come with back up too, China Doll?" he smirked.

A gunshot fired from the rafters and hit one of the contract men in the shoulder. Manny immediately raised his rifle and shot the man out of the rafters.

Bruno lunged at me with his hunting knife. I dodged, raised my baton in the air and brought it down on his arm causing him to release the knife and smashed my elbow into his nose, kicking the knife out of the way. There were was an exchange of gunfire between Mosca's men and the Rangemen.

As I was attacking Bruno, skinny guy joined in. Mosca turned to flee. I pulled out my stun gun and stabbed it into his neck causing him to collapse to the ground. Bruno picked me up and threw me into Mitch. I scrambled back up to my feet. Mitch got up and took off out of the warehouse.

"Someone go after him!" I shouted.

One of the contractors immediately took off after Mitch as I continued my hand-to-hand combat battle with the two henchmen. Ok, it was their hands and my baton but I still think it's a fair fight considering its two against one!

The battle was going on for what felt like hours. My muscles were fatiguing and I was starting to get tired of being picked up and thrown into crates. Not matter how many times I smashed my baton into this ogre; it didn't seem to faze him.

Bruno had me by the scruff of my neck when Deuce showed up and smashed the end of his rifle down on the man's head. He immediately released me and slumped to the ground. I turned around and found Manny had also rendered the other man unconscious.

I looked around the warehouse where the contract men were securing the rest of Mosca's men. Where does Ranger seem to find an influx of tall gorgeous men to work for him even on the other side of the country?

"Let me go!" Mitch shouted as one of the contract guys dragged him into the warehouse by the back of his shirt.

The man dropped him on the ground in front of us. "What do you want to do with him?"

Manny nodded at him, "Help secure the other men. We'll take care of him."

I shoved Manny out of the way and grabbed Mitch by the front of his shirt, dropping him on the crate so that he was now at semi eye level with me.

"You picked the wrong family to mess with, Mitch. I want you to call Cami and tell her that you're not coming home and that you're breaking up with her. I want you to tell her to move on with her life because you're moving on with yours," I grit into his face.

"Why the fuck would I do that, bitch?" he spat at me.

I backhanded him across the face, "Because if you don't, these men behind me are going to do far worse to you than I can ever image. Then you'll be shipped back to Trenton in a box delivered directly to Ranger who will make sure nobody ever sees you ever again."

He swallowed hard, "But I love her."

"Bullshit," I shouted. "You wouldn't have hurt her the way you did if you truly cared for her, you selfish bastard! I'm going to give you five seconds to make your decision." The boys closed in on us a little more.

"Fine! I'll do it!" he cried out.

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed out.

"Yo."

"Is Cami with you?"

"Yes."

"Put her on."

I pressed the speaker button and handed Mitch the phone. I reached over and snatched Manny's knife out of the side of his boot and placed the point up against Mitch's crotch and gave him a hard look.

"Hello?" Cami's meek voice came over the phone.

"Cami, baby, it's me," Mitch choked out keeping his eye planted on the knife.

"Mitch!" she cried out in relief. "Are you ok? Are you safe now?"

"Baby, I'm fine. Your brother's people rescued me."

"That's such a relief. When are you coming home?"

"That's the thing…I'm not…"

"What do you mean?" she said quietly and unsure.

"Baby, I met someone else while I was out here and I've decided not to come back to Trenton. There's more for me out here. Our run was good but it's time for it to end."

"Why are you doing this?" she sobbed and my heart broke for her. "I thought you loved me. You said that you loved me!" her soft sobs turning into hysterics.

"I did but I don't anymore," Mitch said coldly. "Look, I have to go. Take care."

I picked up the phone and pressed the end call button, shoving it back into my Rangeman issued cargos.

"Good boy," I smiled wickedly at him and then cracked my baton in the side of his ribs. "That's for beating Cami." I punched him in the nose, "That's for getting her involved in your low life schemes." I pulled him up on his feet and kneed him in the nuts, "And that's for putting Ranger's family in danger."

I let go of him and watched him keel over in the fetal position in pain. "You're a fucking bitch!" he spat out. "I did what you wanted me to do."

"What do you want a pat on the back?" I kicked him over so that he was lying on his back and placed my boot on his chest. "We better not see you anywhere near Trenton ever again. Stay away from Cami. We'll know if you make any contact with her. If you ever just so happen to run into her, I want you to walk away and pretend you don't know here. Manny, he's yours," I stepped away from him.

Manny picked him up dragged him out of the warehouse.

"Let's go," Deuce said grabbing my arm and lead me out of the warehouse back to his truck.

At the truck Deuce flipped on the radio and gave Ranger and the rest of the team the rundown of the takedown. After he completed the report, he placed the radio down on the hood of the car.

He then roughly grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me in to the side of the car. His face was burning red with fury. "You could've possibly ruined the entire operation with that stupid stunt you pulled," he shouted.

"Ranger gave the ok to move forward."

"But you went forward without letting anyone know what you were up to."

"I'm sorry. I was angry and I acted. I knew you guys were there to cover me if anything went out of hand."

"You're incredibly reckless and stupid! I don't know how you ended up on this team because you're certainly not qualified. You're careless and who cares that you risk your own life but you risk the lives of every man on your team! You're a fucking idiotic, useless, emotional bitch!"

My mouth dropped open and I could see the muscles in Manny's jaw working his anger over standing behind Deuce.

I blinked back at the contract guys cautiously approaching us for further instruction. Then I turned back to Deuce and gave him a hard shove back away from me before Manny could step in.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" I shouted back at him. "Nobody on the team speaks to me like that and I will not allow my new partner to speak to me in that manner either. You have a problem with me, then fucking come to talk to me in private.

"I will amend to my mistakes but what I will not tolerate is you disrespecting me in front of my colleagues and demeaning me. You have an issue with me then take me to the mats like the rest of the men. But don't fucking call me names and don't ever fucking underestimate what I'm capable of doing."

Static sounded from over the radio. "We're still here," Cal's cold and menaced voice came over the radio.

"Not very good first impressions is it, Deuce?" I shot him a look at him before stepping into the back seat of the truck.

Boom! Now what's in store for Deuce when they finally return to The Burg? And I kinda want to toss Manny down on the bed at the moment. ^_~