Slipping into the monitor room unnoticed because of the celebrating, Stephanie and Lester stood with the guys wondering what was going on. Ranger stood up and quieted everyone down. Steph looked over at him and gave him a look that asked him what was going on.
"Babe the birdie is singing" he smiled the rare wide smile
"Ok?"
"What he means Beautiful is Jennea said something that will send him away for a long time" Lester told her
"Oh so I don't have to go in then?" she asked relief flooding thru her thinking she and her baby would be safe
Bobby looked at Ranger hopeful but knew it rarely played out that way.
"Sorry Babe but I still need you to go in. What we have on tape and what we get with you being sold will nail this jackass to the wall"
Both Stephanie and Bobby let out a garbled sigh. Ranger told Chet to man Jennea's monitor as he lead everyone else over into the conference room.
"Chet cue it up" Ranger said into his phone
"Yea I got thizz girl coming in tomorrow at eight thirty. Shezz a real how do you Americans say a looker?" they heard a thick French accent say
"Of courszzz I sure. I am top photographer. All dees girls you see in fashion magazines are my work. I know girls"
"I just might have myself some fun with miz. Stephanie before she iz sold to you, she iz that nice"
A loud crash was heard causing Stephanie to jump as Lester kicked his chair into the wall. Ranger stopped the tape and stared over at Lester. Stephanie moved over and placed her palm to his chest getting his attention.
"Les it won't go that far, you guys won't let it" she softly said
"He's a sick bastard. He is just calmly talking about selling you and wanting to do other things first"
"Santos" Ranger barked
"Sir" Lester responded taking his chair and rolling it back to the table
"Once we see them try to drug Steph and money exchange hands we swarm in and bust them" Ranger said "Babe we won't have to wire you because we rigged the entire building with sight and sound, so no worries on him detecting a wire"
"Ok"
"I, Bobby, and Lester will be in the monitoring van listening and watching the feeds from the shoot. Tank will have his own team and they will surround the grounds" he explained and everyone gave their approval
"Dismissed till seven thirty PM tomorrow, where we will get suited up and head out" Ranger said and walked out of the room
When everyone filed out of the room, Stephanie sat there not moving. When the last man was going out he stopped to check that everything was ok before shutting off the lights, as he did this he saw Steph sitting there lost in thought stroking her stomach.
"Steph you ok?" Tank asked coming to her
"Huh?"
"Are you ok?" he asked again
"Oh, yea just mentally getting prepared"
"I understand. You going thru everything that can happen" he said
"Yea. Something like that. I'll go now"
"Steph" Tank called out as she was walking out "I won't let you get hurt"
"Thank you" she said touched as a tear slid down her cheek
Steph walked down the hall with a lump in her throat. She was so touched at Tanks declaration that he wouldn't let her get hurt. Seeing Lester over to the side of the room laughing with some of the guys, she walked over to the elevator and punched the down arrow. Feeling herself getting worked up and out of sorts, Steph knew at any other time if these were different times she would just throw herself into her boyfriends arms, but she just couldn't. With the door opening on floor down from where she came, she walked to the end of the hall and knocked.
"I need… I just needed" she tried to tell him
"Come on" Bobby said stepping back and opening his arms
With tears freely flowing, Stephanie walked into his arms and buried her face into his chest.
"Oh Bobby"