CHAPTER 35

Present Day Trenton

Connor walked the length of the front of the school. He saw the bus pull up and Julie get off. From a distance, he was once again startled at the beauty of his half-sister. She would have men falling at her feet someday. She was already garnering attention. He'd heard the comments some of his so-called friends had made. That was a situation in the making that he'd deal with eventually. Right now, he had other issues to tackle.

"Julie, wait up!" he called as he loped down the sidewalk shortening the distance between them. She stopped and frowned as she watched him approach.

"You're still grounded," she said. "Just because you're staying with your uncle doesn't mean you can drive to school."

"Not that it's any of your business," he said, "but Chase dropped me off. I'll be taking the bus home with you today. I'm working with Louis to repair more of the damage."

"That's good," she said. "Ranger's still gone. I'd like for everything to be back to normal when he comes back—if you haven't run him off forever. What were you thinking, Connor? I mean, I know what you were thinking with. I saw that slut run from your room."

"Julie, I, uh, I'm sorry. It got way out of hand. I feel pretty bad about it."

"You should feel bad, but you don't have to apologize to me. It's Ranger and Stephanie. They're the ones you hurt."

"Hurt? I didn't hurt Ranger. He's like Iron Man."

"He's not. He's my dad, too, and I know what a great guy he is. You came into the family like you're some put upon prince, and you've screwed everything up. I don't know why you are so angry at Ranger. None of this is his fault. You should be blaming your mother! Ranger didn't even know you were alive. If he had, he'd have taken care of you. I know."

"I don't need him to take care of me," Connor declared. "And leave my mother out of this. You know nothing about it."

"What I do know is we were a happy family of three and now we're a miserable non-family of four."

"That's what I'm sorry about," he said. "I really don't want to screw up your life…"

"Too late."

"I mean it," he continued. "I don't want to screw up anything. I'll keep a low profile for the rest of the year. I might go talk to the school counselor and see if there is any way I could take extra classes and graduate early. Then I'll get out of your life. Things will be good for you again."

She frowned. "I don't want you to get out of my life," she said. The sound of a bell ringing behind her grabbed her attention. "I've got to go," she told him. "I don't want you out of my life, I just want you to stop screwing it up." She turned and ran into the building.

Connor walked slowly up the steps into the same door Julie had disappeared through. His first period was a study hall, and it drove him crazy to have be at school so early and then just sit around. He didn't do much homework. He didn't have to. He was smart. He listened in class and then did just what was necessary to get by. It had frustrated his dad, because John Madrid had been a straight A student, a fact he'd been proud of all his life.

Connor slid into a desk as the final bell rang, and opened a book. He knew it was wise to look busy. So, he stared at the pages, but his eyes were seeing another scenario entirely. He was seeing his father and mother in their kitchen at home. John used to come up behind her at the sink when her hands were wet with suds and kiss her on the back of the neck. She'd squeal and turn and suds would go flying. John would laugh, and Connor would pretend he was grossed out by his parents' display of affection. But he'd liked it. He liked that his parents were happy together.

His mother had gone so suddenly there'd been no time to get the details she'd kept from him all his life. After the funeral, he'd talked to Mary Oliveiras, the only grandmother he'd ever known. She'd confirmed that John was not his biological father. Then he'd asked her the big question and was relieved when she'd said, John knew. John knew that he was not Connor's biological father, but he'd accepted Connor as his son from the get go. That somehow made it a little better. He'd been wanted. He hadn't been a burden to John. And that was important, because no biological son could have loved a dad better than he loved John Madrid.

He turned a page in his book, trying to look as if he was studying the chapter, and thought about John. How would John have reacted to the scene Ranger walked in on?

He couldn't imagine, because it would never have happened. Nothing like it ever had happened. His friends weren't perfect, and they'd gotten into their fair share of trouble, but they'd never been purposefully destructive. It didn't happen. Oh yeah, once they'd rutted up old man Miller's pasture with four wheelers, and they'd caught hell for it. But that had been an accident and they'd made restitution.

The kids that had descended on Ranger's house had been willfully destructive. They were children of privilege and didn't respect anyone or anything but their own pursuit of fun. Don was okay, and Connor was pretty sure he hadn't been responsible for the debacle. More likely it was Ashleigh and her friends. He was done with that group, and if they hadn't figured it out by now, they would soon.

The bell rang and he was surprised the hour had passed so quickly. He needed to stop at his locker before his next class, so he made his way out of the room and down the hall. He saw her coming and stopped for a moment to watch her. Hard to believe just a few days ago he'd wanted a piece of that in the worst way. Come to think of it, the worst way was what he got.

Her eyes took him in and suggestively lingered at his crotch. "Hey, Connor. Good to see your dad didn't kill ya." She giggled.

"No. He didn't."

"I'm glad you didn't get in too much trouble." She batted her eyelashes at him. "Things were getting pretty interesting when we got interrupted. Maybe you'd like to try it again?"

"I don't think so, Ashleigh," he said. He let his eyes roam up and down her figure, which was on display beneath designer skinny jeans and a skin-tight sweater. "Having my old man come in in the middle kind of … changed my mind for me."

"I thought maybe after school we could hang out," she suggested.

"No can do. After school, I'm going home to replant flower beds that got torn up the other night."

"That's crazy!" she said, affronted. "Your parents are making you do that? Why can't the help do it? I mean you guys are loaded. That house is fab."

And that was the problem, he realized. Maybe the kids weren't playing him. They just truly had no concern for anyone but themselves. He decided to have a little fun. "The house is fab. My old man was pretty pissed. And yeah, he has money. You know how he got it?"

"He, uh, he owns some business."

"Well, yeah," Connor said. "He owns a security company. But that's just cover. He's really a government assassin. He kills people for a living. And it's a good living. I think you're safe, though. He doesn't usually go after women. Not unless it's a sanctioned hit. But I think he got a pretty good look at some of the guys downstairs."

"You mean he'd…"

"Probably not," Connor shrugged casually. "But he was furious. Our house was really trashed." That was the complete truth. "He's got a lot of ... skills. He can take someone out and make their body disappear like they never even existed."

Ashleigh's eyes were wide. She was believing every word, the stupid twit. "I'm a lot like my old man," Connor continued. "We tend to go for the same type of woman, so I don't think he'd do anything to hurt you. Maybe you can come over for dinner sometime. Meet the family, formally." She was already taking small steps backward, widening the space between them.

"I, um, I'm not sure," she said, "I'll let you know. Gotta run. I don't want to be late for class." She took off down the hall. Good riddance, he thought.

At the bank of lockers assigned to the freshmen, Julie was rolling her eyes. "Tia, pullease!" she said. Tia's turquoise hair had faded into a soft blue, and her eye shadow had softened as well. Her lips were pink today and she was rocking a fluffy print shirtdress with ruffles at the sleeves. The dress looked like June Cleaver on steroids, and no way should it have gone with saddle shoes and pale blue anklets, but it did. Tia looked really cute, and even though Julie was frustrated with the conversation, her friend made her smile.

"I'm not kidding, Julie. Your brother is hot. Everyone is talking about the party you guys had. Why didn't you invite me?"

"I didn't have a party. Connor did something stupid and a bunch of kids came in and destroyed the house. It's been a nightmare. I wasn't there, but I'm dealing with the aftermath. Stephanie is pissed off, and my dad was so mad—he left! I don't even know where he is."

"That's awful."

"Yeah, and Connor, who you think is hot, and I think is a dipwad, is completely to blame."

"That's terrible!" Tia exclaimed.

"I've been practicing my martial arts. I think I could take him. I'd like to kick the jerk in the butt!" Julie said.

"You wouldn't!"

Julie hesitated. For all her odd appearance, Tia was a good person. She was actually concerned for Connor's well-being. "No, I wouldn't," she said, finally. "I don't want to hurt him, I just want him to try to blend in a little better." At Tia's raised eyebrows she continued. "Connor and I are half-sibs. Both of us lived with our mothers, and now we're both living with our dad. It's sort of a recent thing, and we're still working out the kinks."

"That's cool," Tia said.

Julie gave her friend a small smile as she slammed her locker door shut and they headed for class. It was the most background she'd given to anyone, and while it wasn't near the full story, it seemed to be enough for Tia.

Later in the afternoon as they were seated side-by-side on the school bus, Julie turned to Connor. "I was thinking maybe I could help you with the flower bed thing," she said.

"Nah, it's okay. I'll get it."

"I can help, really. I'd like to," she said. "And Connor, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For saying you should be mad at your mom. I had no right."

He was quiet for a moment. "Apology accepted. And I apologize, too. You're right. I need to cut Ranger some slack. He didn't ask for any of this."

"You know you're so much like him. I get kind of jealous."

"Jealous!" He was astounded. "I'm no threat to you and your dad, kid. He can't stand me."

"That's not true," Julie said. "And you are so much like him. You look just like him."

"I don't want to be like him!"

"What's wrong with being like our father?"

"I want to be like my father. John Madrid is my father. I loved him and he was a good dad. I don't know anything about Ranger. He may be a good guy, but he's not my father."

"You're kind of screwed up."

He looked at her disgusted expression. "Well, duh!" he responded, which made her smile which was what he'd been after.

"Let me tell you something, Connor. I have a stepdad. Legally, he's my real dad because he adopted me. But Ranger never gave me up. He has helped my family out with money, and visited me when he could. The thing about Ron, my stepdad, is that he isn't a really good guy at times. He might love me, but he might not." She shrugged. "I wanted to move up here and Ranger worked it out with Ron. I don't know how he did it, but he did. I get that you don't want to be disloyal to your dad … and I'm glad you had a good one. But getting to know and care about Ranger shouldn't take away from your dad. It should add to you. You're lucky."

"You're full of shit," Connor said. "Losing my parents isn't lucky."

"Of course it's not, idiot. But you've got a chance to be supported by people who care about you. Don't screw it up."

They were quiet for a while. As they neared their stop, Julie asked, "Was it bad today, with everybody at school?"

"Not so bad," he said. "I think most of the kids were afraid to talk to me about it, and I didn't go looking for conversation."

"A lot of kids knew about it. Maybe not what really happened, but that there was a party and something big happened. You know my friend Tia?"

"The scary little chick with half a shaved head and turquoise hair?"

"Yeah, but she's not scary. She was upset because she thought it was our party and I hadn't invited her. I told her I had nothing to do with it. She thinks you're hot."

"Now that is scary," Connor said. "Are you trying to set me up with her?"

"No way. I wouldn't let you near any of my friends. I know what you have on your mind."

"Nothing different on my mind than on any other guy's," he said.

They fell into silence again and his thoughts turned to Ranger. Was that what it had been like with Ranger and his mom … the way it had been with Ashleigh and him? He realized he was the same age his mom had been when she got pregnant with him. And Ranger had been two years younger. Just a year older or so than Julie was right now. He shook his head. It was hard to be angry with someone that probably hadn't had a clue about what they were doing. And now Ranger was trying to make things right. Don't screw it up, Julie had just said to him. He turned toward her as they exited the bus.

"You're right. I need not to screw this up. And I need to figure out how not to screw it up. I never wanted a sister, but since I've got one, I'm glad it's you. You give good advice."

Julie punched him in the arm, hard. She grinned at his yelp of pain. "You're lucky to have me." She laughed as she ran up the drive, leaving him standing still, rubbing his arm and grinning at the retreating form of his sister.

...

What was wrong with her? It was the 21st century. A girl could call the guy. Especially when the girl was the wife the guy had walked out on days ago. Without further ado, she opened her contacts and hit his number. Oh yeah, she could call him, but when it went to voicemail she'd have to call Tank and ask him to find Ranger for her. And when he did, she was going to reorder that bromance. Husband and wife meant more than nonstop crazy good sex. It meant true commitment, sharing on the deepest level. And every time things got deep, Tank seemed to be there.

"Babe." His softly spoken answer took her by such surprise she almost couldn't talk. There was silence for a second while she drew in a deep breath.

"You answered," she said, the surprise evident in her voice. "You're not in some third world country reorganizing a government?"

"I don't do that anymore. I'm a married man."

"Huh! You sure about that, Batman?"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'm pissed off. I think there are other options than leaving."

"In retrospect, you may be right," he acknowledged. "But at the time, I had to go."

"I understand that, but maybe it's time to modify that have to leave gene."

"I'm working on it, Babe. That's all I have been doing the past two days. I should have called, but... I didn't know what to say. I'm not used to not having all the answers."

Steph could hear something different in his voice, his words—a vulnerability. "Where are you anyway? Your voice is echoing. Are you at the Pentagon?"

He laughed. "I'm standing in a mausoleum. In front of a plaque at my abuela's grave."

"Oh." She was suddenly speechless.

"I'm coming home, Babe. I'll be in better control, but I'm going to schedule some extensive sessions with Dr. Fincher. I'd like you to be there, too."

"You mean like marital counseling?"

"No. Like crazy husband counseling. I want you to be part of it. Maybe the kids, too."

"Oh."

"You said that before," he teased.

She should be pissed. She was pissed on some level, but she couldn't find it—the anger, irritation, hurt. What she felt was relief. Ranger, her Ranger, was on the other end of the line.

"Yeah, I guess I did. I called to tell you we've got the place cleaned up. Louis and Connor have worked hard."

"Connor?" She heard the astonishment in his voice.

"Yeah. Connor. I'm not excusing what he did, but I know he's sorry. I think he's won a little respect from Louis. He's been staying with Chase, but I want to ask him to come back home. I mean, if that's…"

"Ask him to come back home."

"You're sure?" she asked.

"I'm sure."

"I told your mother about the party and what happened after. She was upset."

"I bet she was," he said. "The question is who was she upset with, me or Connor?"

"Both of you. I told her about the Murano piece she gave me. She doesn't want me to try and replace it. She's going to buy me another."

"That's nice." Great. They dwindled to small talk. How great was that?

"Since I'm in Miami," Ranger said, "I'm going to make an unscheduled visit to RangeMan. I'll spend the night in the apartment there and meet with the staff in the morning. I'll get a flight reservation made for later tomorrow. And I know I need to talk with Connor and with Julie. But I need some time with you. I need, want to make it up to you for leaving you to deal with my messes. I need to make sure you know how committed I am to this marriage. I love you, Stephanie."

"I…I love you, too." She was a little breathless. But she found her breath for another question. "Ranger, have you talked to Tank since you left?"

"No."

"Does he know where you are?"

"No."

"One more question. Are you going to fire Hal?"

"No."

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow." They disconnected and she smiled. Maybe the bromance wasn't as strong as it used to be. That was a step in the right direction.