Chapter 21

SPOV

I felt so warm and comfortable, remembering being on that yacht and then soaked walking to the car. I couldn't feel Carlos behind me and was almost tempted to go back to sleep, then my eye caught the reflection from the ring on my finger. I smiled, I felt so happy, he loved me and wanted to marry me. And you know what, there were no feelings of panic or thoughts of running like I'd had with Joe. This felt right, it was what I wanted and had dreamed of. I looked again at my ring; it was beautiful. There was a large round diamond in the center of blue stones, were they blue diamonds? Each set in white gold with engraving on the gold, holding the blue stones and looking like leaves. A last look and then I needed to move, I'm sure Carlos said we needed to go to the court house to get a marriage certificate today, and where would we get married, did I need to find a dress, but where would I go? I headed for the shower, trying to remember getting changed last night, though I did have memories of being in hot bubbly water. More awake I found a dress that was more classical looking. Sleeveless, with buttons down the front and a small collar; ending just above my knee. I found the matching lilac sandals and took a brush through my hair; I really needed to decide what to do with my hair now I didn't need a disguise. I rushed into the kitchen to find Carlos just coming through the door.

"Babe, you didn't need to get up yet, I was going to bring you some breakfast"

"I'm up now, good morning, where have you been?"

"Well I got in some gym time and then showered and changed downstairs so I wouldn't wake you. How are you feeling this morning?"

"I feel fine, I must have slept well, I can't remember a thing after leaving the yacht"

We both sat down and looked under the domes to see what Clara had brought up, omelets for us both, but she was as good as Ella at making them taste scrumptious.

"Ella will be jealous you know"

"I know so let's just not say anything to either of them"

"Do you have everything you need?"

"Sorry?"

"We'll need a photo id and social security number"

"Yeah, I picked them up when I visited Grandma"

I felt nervous going into the courthouse, like people were watching me, but was pleased that we didn't have long to wait before being seen by someone. The woman filled out the forms and asked questions, like the exact date of my divorce from Dickie, not a date I would ever forget. She also gave us a copy of the Florida's family law handbook, saying we had to read it. Carlos paid the fee and she gave him the certificate so now we were heading back outside. I relaxed slightly as I realized that one of the hurdles to getting married was over, but before we walked through the door I froze. My heart rate went up and I was starting to shake.

"Babe?"

"Something's wrong, we can't go out of that door, something bad will happen"

I took a step back and pulled Carlos with me, he always believes in my senses, especially when I feel danger, so he put his arm around my waist and we headed for a rear exit, a phone already in his hand.

"Santos will meet us at the rear exit, that sound all right to you?"

I nodded my head; I didn't feel that the rear exit would be a problem. As soon as we got to the exit I was sandwiched between Carlos and Garcia and bundled in to the back of an SUV that Lester was driving.

"Hector and Midge are at the front videoing any one who's there, then they'll pick up anything from cameras in the area"

Why was this happening now? Or had I been wrong, had I misinterpreted the feelings I'd had? I'd been so happy this morning and now I was back to feeling defeated and questioning myself.

RPOV

Steph had been so quiet in the car on the way back; she looked dejected which was not how I wanted her to feel. I'm sure her senses were accurate, I would never doubt her, but the problem was that she doubted herself. Hector was back by the time we arrived hopefully with something to give us.

"Jefe, descargaré el video y le avisaré cuando esté listo"

I turned to Steph and repeated what he'd said.

"Hector will let us know when the video is ready to see, why don't you go upstairs, Clara wants to show you something"

She frowned at me but without saying a word disappeared into the lift. I knew Clara had been talking to Ella and between them they wanted to find a dress that Steph liked for our wedding, I'd already started to put together in my mind what needed to be done, now I needed to put things in action. From my office I called Tank to take care of one of these plans.

"Ranger, everything all right?"

"Yes and no"

"Spill it"

"I'd like you to arrange for Mrs Mazuur, Mary Lou and her husband, Lula and Connie to be flown down to Ballast Key, use the helicopter"

"Err, why?"

"Steph and I are getting married, so fill up the seats with yourself and those closest to Steph and I"
"Shit, when?"

"Sunday, that will give Steph and I a week before we return to Trenton"

"You using Miami for security?"

"Yes, Tank, have we got eyes on Morelli?"

"Yeah, he's still not really recovered from the bear attack, he's at the hospital most days for physio. Must say I don't think I could have done a better job"

"Good, and Tank those arrangements are on a need to know, don't tell Stephs friends or Grandma where they're going or why. They'll only be there for the day, so it's the flight in and out on the Sunday, maybe Vince can pilot"

"Count it as done, and congratulations, oh, do you want anything brought down?"

"No, see you Sunday, but keep in touch"

I felt so much easier with that out of the way, the island actually belonged to the family, I'd bought it a few years ago as somewhere they could all go, but it was well hidden in the records as to who the property belonged to, I hadn't been there for years. That brought to my mind my next problem. What did I do about my family, I couldn't invite everyone, there'd be too many, and to be honest I didn't want all of them there. Maybe if my mother and father could keep it to themselves, not always possible with a family like ours, but if my mother didn't get invited then there would be hell to pay.

"Mama, are you busy next Sunday?"

"For you, never, why?"

"I'd like to speak with just you and padre, privately"

"Carlito, what is wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, are you busy or not?"

"NO, where do you want us to meet you?"

"Here in Miami"

"Okay, we'll fly in Saturday evening"

"Are you staying with Celia?"
"Yes"

"I'll have a car pick you up at 11 in the morning, dress nice mama, I'll take you somewhere special"

"Hijo, serás mi muerte con tus secretos"

"Bye, mama"

That was as good as she was going to get, at least Steph would get to meet them, though I'm sure she'd have a go at me for not forewarning her. There was a knock at the door and Santos came in, he definitely didn't look pleased.

"Santos?"
"Good news and bad news"
"Just spit it out"

"Beautiful was right, there was a threat outside the courthouse"

"And, who?"
"Your friend Jeanne Ellen Burrows"

"Shit, not a coincidence then?"
"Not from the look on her face, what do you want to do?"

"I need to visit her and let her know exactly what I'll do to her if she goes anywhere near me or mine"
"You'll need backup, so give me a text when you want to go, do you know where she'll be?"

"She has a condo here in Miami"

"What you going to tell Beautiful?"
"I'll think of something, so don't say a word to her"

Shit, that woman was like a piranha; she wouldn't leave me alone. I'd slept with her once, before that one night with Steph, in fact it was probably not long after the shower rod incident. She'd been around at the time, here in Miami, and I'd thought why not? I always made sure any woman I slept with knew the set up, it was gratification only; it scratched an itch. Besides Jeanne Ellen was not even a good lay, and I had avoided her over the past few years. Did she think she had some sort of feeling for me, when the only feeling I had for her was disgust. I didn't want her anywhere near me and especially not Steph. I checked in with Sam as to where Clara was, pleased when he said she was still with my Babe. Clara and Ella were organizing everything, food, flowers and I'd asked for them to provide cake as well, I'd been in touch with the Justice of the Peace and he was pleased to carry out the ceremony and ensure that the paperwork was filed, all I needed now was to get rid of Jeanne Ellen and reassure Steph. I text Santos to meet me in the garage, it was 2100 hours and I knew where she'd be. We travelled to the condo complex in one of the undercover cars, the dingy red color and make of the car wouldn't stand out, and I didn't want either of us to be seen. Rangeman covered the security for this building so I had Hector remove it from the observation system, but keep an eye on it for any other problems. After all I didn't want there to be a break in and Rangeman not be aware, as soon as I was finished a quick text to Hector and he would put it back into the routine monitoring. As I entered the floor where Jeanne Ellen's condo was Santos hung back, he'd be listening in on his phone through mine, and any sign of a problem he'd be with me. I didn't bother with knocking; I opened the door using tools to the sound of Rap music, I heard her in the lounge at the end of the corridor, unfortunately she also heard me.

"Carlos, I knew you'd come to me"

"No Jeanne Ellen, I'm here to warn you"
"Darling, I know you've missed me, that stupid bitch has you running in circles. You deserve someone so much better than her"

"Jeanne Ellen, I choose who I will be with and it's her not you, so you need to understand that I won't tolerate you near us, and certainly not threatening us"

"Don't be naive Carlos, she's not good enough for you, but you and I, we're a team, we think the same"

"Jeanne Ellen let me say this once and once only. You and I don't exist, I would never have you anywhere near me and I've told you that over the years"

"But we were so good in bed together, and we work well together, you're my other half"

"Not happening, no we weren't good together and we never will be, what will it take for you to understand?"

"That disaster out of the way"

I was getting annoyed and frustrated and also very afraid of what she might do. I needed to play one last card.

"You still doing special ops Jeanne Ellen?"

"Of course, we could partner up"

"What do think the General would have to say at your behavior?"

"He likes me, he'll give me anything I want"

"You're wrong Jeanne Ellen, he has more respect, more trust and certainly more admiration for Stephanie Plum than he has ever had for you. I'd be all too happy to hand over the mission report of your goings on from that mission in Columbia and your new friend in Italy, Paolo Di Lauro, one of the bosses of the Camorra organization"

She physically paled and took a step back from me. I'd hit the bitch where it hurt, I always knew she had somehow misdirected some of the Intel on that mission to protect someone, and after time spent pulling together my own Intel I knew who it was.

"Why would you do that, you love me?"
"Because Jeanne Ellen I do not even like you. If you come anywhere near me or Stephanie, if a single hair on her head is damaged, or me, that information will automatically be released to the General"

"I won't be blackmailed, not by you"

"Then you'd better leave America and don't come back, go live with your boyfriend Paola, and live a free woman Jeanne Ellen, because what I'm saying isn't blackmail it's a promise"

With that said I turned around and left the condo, I'd have her watched, I'd already placed trackers in her bag and coat on the way in and would do the same with her car, Hector had set up monitoring devices on her phones. Hopefully she would leave the country. I nodded to Santos as we went back down the stairs.

"You think she'll take your advice Ranger?"

"Yes, otherwise the General will have all the data to have her locked up for treason"

"Why do you have that information?"

"Insurance, I have all sorts on a lot of people just in case"

I felt lighter because I knew Jeanne Ellen would take what I'd said seriously; she never did have the guts or skill to outmaneuver me, and she knew it. Now I had another woman to placate and apologize to, because even though I didn't want to I had to tell Steph what I'd done and why, our relationship had to have trust between us and that meant no lies and no hidden secrets. I'd seen Clara down in the break room so knew that Steph would be alone.

"Clara do you have any donuts or cake I could give to Steph?"

"She'll need more than cake young man, she's upset that you've disappeared for most of the day without a word to her"

"I know, but cake will help, please"

I knew she couldn't refuse and followed her along the hall to the kitchen; there she had hidden away a large chocolate muffin with what looked like chocolate icing drizzled over it. I thanked her and headed up to the apartment. I entered quietly, not liking the silence that greeted me, even on the stairs it was quiet and the bedroom and lounge were empty. I was panicking, where the hell could she have gone; surely she wouldn't leave me, would she? I called down to Raphael.

"Do you know where Steph is?"

"She wanted some fresh air so I showed her how to access the roof terrace"

I calmed, realizing that she'd been cooped up all day and was probably going a bit cabin fever, not a good state for her to be in. With my offering in one hand and a bottle of wine and two glasses in the other I negotiated the doors and stairs onto the terrace. When we'd had this building renovated the designer had insisted the positive features of having this area and though I never used it I knew it did get some use, even if sometimes it was for drunken parties. As I turned into the roof area I could see Steph, she was sat cross-legged, hugging her knees, sat on a large mattress looking out toward the sea. The evening was beautiful, calm and warm. I knew exactly when she realized I was there, she straightened slightly, but didn't turn. I sat behind her with my legs on either side of her and kissed her head.

"I'm sorry Babe, I should have talked to you, with you, but I'm not used to that yet"

"Where did you go?"

"There was someone in the crowd today, I'll always trust you with what you feel"

"That's a relief in as much as I wasn't being paranoid"

"No you weren't. I know who it was"

That made her turn around and look at me.

"Babe, remember how I said that I was like Santos?"
She nodded her head and I think she realized an ex lover had been the one outside the courthouse.

"Babe it was Jeanne Ellen Burrows"

"What, she's an ex girlfriend?"

"No, nothing like that. I slept with her once, here in Miami a long time ago, and I was with her for maybe an hour at the most, then left"

"So why did I feel threatened?"
"She's always tried to get together with me again, through work or just being on similar cases. She thought I should be with her not you"

"So what now?"

God she sounded so miserable, could she think I'd go to Jeanne Ellen and leave her?

"Babe, I love you and on Sunday we are getting married. I don't want to be with anyone else but you"

"So why did you go see her?"

Clever, she'd assumed that's where I'd been, but not for the quickie she thought I'd be there for.
"I threatened her, to make sure she never comes near either one of us again"

Now she was curious, she her eyebrows raised, she never could just raise one.

"I have information that would put her in prison for a very, very long time"

"So this information is pretty bad?"

"Oh yes"

"You think she'll do as you asked?"

"Yes, I do. So are we good?"

"I suppose so, but please talk to me first, I was worried about you, me, and us"

"You will never have anything to worry about, I promise I'll try to talk with you, but sometimes it's habit, sometimes because I want to protect you and sometimes I don't want to hurt you"

"OK, but no secrets"

"No secrets"

I turned her and molded her to my front, god this felt so good and having told her the truth I did feel lighter, more at peace with myself and as strange as it sounded I felt closer to her, that we understood each other better.

"Babe, we need to move down from here if you want to continue with this kiss, there are cameras up here"

"Shit, I'd love to have you make love to me under the stars"

"Then I'll make sure that we do that, soon"

We returned to the apartment and sat on the couch finishing our wine.

"Did you have a good time today with Clara and Ella?"

"Are they related?"
"Yes, cousins, they're both my aunt"

"Well, that accounts for it, they just seemed to complement each other with what they could do, and they are so organized, all I had to do was to make a choice and they did everything"

"So we're organized for Sunday?"

"Yes, but I have something that I need to get, with you"

"What Babe?"

"Would you wear a ring?"

"Yes, as long as it doesn't interfere with the work I do"

"Thank you"

I hadn't thought of a ring for myself, I already had the one for Steph, it matched her engagement ring and I'd had both made by a friend who was a jeweler here in Miami, maybe we needed a visit to see him tomorrow. I moved Steph up my body so that she was straddling me, her hips were in just the right place to send shivers through my body, and for me to feel my erection growing against her. I loved the feel of the way my body came alive when she was near to me, her smell, her moans the way she moved her body, but most of all the way her eyes turned to a deep blue when she was aroused. And right now she was as aroused as I was, her lips were moving across my face to my ear as I removed her T-shirt to feel her smooth skin and to feel her nipples harden under the ministrations of my hands. I loved how sensitive she became, how she became so aroused yet was still eager to please me. I moved to taste her breasts as my hands moved down to her firm ass, I wanted to feel more of her skin so lifted her to pull her joggers and pants out of the way. Her hands had moved down my chest and were now touching and massaging the muscles, I know she loves the way I look, as much as I loved to look at her body. I felt her hands trying to undo the fastener and zip of my cargos, if she got her way I wouldn't last long enough to fully satisfy her, and part of my turn on was seeing her come to orgasm by the power of my hands or tongue. I moved to sit up pushing her onto her back, I was right where I wanted to be, between her thighs, I lifted her thighs so that I could taste her folds, so sweet, so wet and just for me. With her legs now over my shoulders I could feel her small movements and her moans of satisfaction as I used my tongue and fingers to entice and pleasure her, moving them in and out with a curl of my finger to hit the most sensitive spot. God she tasted so sweet and she was quenching my thirst with her juices and I felt I couldn't get enough. My own hormones were swimming, I felt so contented so at one with her, she was my soul mate, the only one for me. As I felt her muscles tighten and her hips move toward me I bit down carefully on her swollen clit, and with a final plunge of my fingers she cried out as her orgasm hit her. I prolonged the clenching of those muscles by moving my fingers slowly in out against the inward pull. I wanted to be inside her, I had to be inside her. I lifted her down to my knees and removed the cargos that were now in the way and as she wrapped her beautiful long legs around my waist I pushed the tip of my erection through her folds, using her wetness to lubricate my length I pushed inside of her, so beautiful, so tight, so perfect, I loved the feel of skin on skin and it heightened my sensitivity. I needed to see her eyes, I needed that connection to her.
"Open your eyes Babe"

I looked into the depth of blue eyes that were almost midnight blue, the movement of her hands, her nails on my skin were like electric pulses going through my body, her moans and sighs were like music to my ears. I felt that I was touching her womb and then as I felt myself shudder, I stilled to rub at her clit, preparing for both of us to come together. I'm sure I saw stars in front of my eyes, but maintained the contact we had by looking in to the depth of her soul. I cried out her name, hearing mine in the distance and felt my muscles eject my seed from my body as an excruciating pleasure overcame me, heightened by the flexing muscles of my Babe. I was so in love with her it almost hurt, but it also made me feel so connected to her, that she was a part of me I could never live without, my soul mate.