Not too long after my brilliant yet horrid epiphany, I found myself standing on a private air strip, waiting with my Cuban Rambo and a suitcase that made me feel like I belonged in some sort of heart-pounding, Hollywood espionage thriller. So much so in fact, I was still half expecting some tinted-windowed black sedan to pull up with guns blazing. Much to my disappointment however, a fairly normal looking silver Honda Civic pulled up a few minutes later instead.

Three women, a child, and the one and only Izzy Manoso climbed out and soon joined me and Ranger on the tarmac. Izzy raised an eyebrow at her brother, completely ignoring my presence per what I had come to understand as her usual. At least when it came to me.

"You sure about all this?" she asked, giving a subtle nod over her shoulder at the band of girls. "This is a major investment for a court testimony. Even for you."

Ranger didn't respond. Instead he gestured to me to hand over the suitcase, locking eyes with Kate as I did. "It's all there," he said, completely void of emotion. "The passports, the money, the passes." He paused, his tone growing slightly darker and more serious. "I've even gone so far as to procure you a very safe and reliable escort to see you back to the States when the time comes."

"I'm sure you did," Kate smirked, taking a step forward and accepting the case. "Good doing business with you, Mr. Manoso." She stuck out her hand to shake on it, and just like that, their business arrangement was a done deal.

After the handshake, Ranger reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a small card. "If you ever find yourself hanging around Jersey, look me up. My company could always use someone with your levels of…creativity. Plus, I'm told the benefits aren't half-bad."

My jaw dropped. Aren't half-bad, my ass!

I shot him a look that probably wasn't as subtle as I'd intended, but seriously? Rangeman benefits weren't just decent, they were damn near legendary. I mean, what kind of paycheck has that many zeroes when you're just doing menial crap like pretending to know how to use a bunch of fancy computer databases? I'll tell you how many I've come across in my time fighting in the trenches of rat-race America. Zero. Zip. Absolutely none. If Ranger was offering you a job with his company, you'd be a fool not to take it.

I let that thought sink in for a moment.

While I was still pondering my past and current levels of foolishness, I felt something similar to a boa constrictor suddenly encircle my leg. I glanced down and found a curly mop of hair and a pair of chubby cheeks grinning up at me, arms wrapped around me in a death grip.

"Uh, hi," I stammered, still not entirely sure what to do with children despite the fact I had four nieces. She giggled. "That's a cute bear you have there," I offered. She squeezed him while somehow still managing her impossibly strong grip on my legs. Kids were a curious breed.

I flashed Ranger one of those "I may need a little help here" glances, and his mouth twitched. Then something happened that made me question my grip on reality. Ranger's stone-cold, expressionless façade was momentarily replaced with a heart-melting smile as he swung the little girl off her feet amidst a flood of giggles. He tipped her back and blew raspberries on her exposed stomach, pulling her upright to a round of nonstop pleas for "more, more, more."

Pretty sure my mouth was stuck open like a stupid, hooked fish.

"One more time," he conceded to my continued surprise. "But I need to see your bear real quick first." She handed over the stuffed, raggedy thing without a single moment of hesitation. Ranger plucked at the seam on its back before removing something small and discreet, dropping it surreptitiously into his pocket as he handed the girl back her bear and tipped her backward again. He gave a subtle nod over at Kate who returned the gesture.

The copy of the database. Clever. Why hadn't I thought of that?

Ranger set the girl back on her feet and tousled her hair. "Have fun making friends with the giant rodent in Florida, kid," he said, pushing the girl back toward the group of women. The neighbor that had been their protector and friend intercepted her with a hug and offered Ranger a warm smile.

"You are an incredibly kind man," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "We can't thank you enough."

The cool, expressionless façade returned, and Ranger shrugged. "No thanks necessary. It was all just a business transaction." She gave a reluctant nod of understanding as she shuffled towards the small plane with Anna, Kate, and the girl.

Izzy rolled her eyes at her brother. "Business transaction, my ass. You're making me look like the mean one."

"You are the mean one."

Her mouth did one of those famous Manoso twitches before she turned and followed the girls. "Guess someone has to be," she called over her shoulder. She paused just as she reached the stair ramp and did an about-face. "I'll take that thumb drive now, if you don't mind. I've got a whole team of people anxious to blow this thing wide open before the scurrying rats all slink back into the shadows again."

Ranger thought for a moment. "My guy needs to see it first. I'll drop it by later tonight."

Izzy looked slightly miffed for a moment, but she shrugged it off before returning to the plane and climbing the stairs, giving a fake salute as the door closed behind her. Ranger and I moved back to where we'd parked our car and watched as the small plane lifted into the sky.

"Giant rodent in Florida, huh?" I asked, trying not to make eye contact.

"It was on Kate's list. A nonnegotiable, apparently."

Really? "What else was on her list?"

He shrugged. "The usual. Money. Fake ID's. A chance to start over."

"And you just did all that?"

"Izzy wanted the testimony. It seemed like a win-win."

Uh huh.

Suddenly an SUV with tinted windows pulled onto the tarmac, and my heart gave an involuntary flutter. As far as I knew, we weren't expecting anybody else at this bon voyage party.

The vehicle parked next to us, and I relaxed a little once I realized Ranger wasn't in combat mode. A thin, balding Hispanic man with square glasses stepped out of the SUV and crossed over to Ranger where they proceeded to do one of those complicated man-handshake things. He rattled off some quick words in Spanish before offering me his hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you," he said in flawless English, no trace of an accent.

"Likewise," I managed to sputter out despite my ongoing state of shock. Who was this guy?

"Everything go according to plan then?" he asked, turning back to Ranger. "There were lots of eager helpers when I called in those favors. You always did have a way with people." His chuckle was oddly warm and charming, and I kind of liked the guy even without knowing a single thing about him.

"Your work was flawless as always," Ranger replied. Then he quirked a brow. "Your fee still the same, or have you upped your going rate recently?"

The man grinned. "My oldest has a new boyfriend. Think you could make him disappear?"

Ranger's mouth twitched. "Sorry, I've got enough trouble with Julie these days. You're on your own with that one." He handed over the thumb drive from his pocket. "Let me know what you come across on here. I'll be in touch."

They did another complicated fist thing before the stranger hopped back in his car and pulled away. Ranger walked around our vehicle and opened the door for me.

"Who was that?" I asked before climbing in.

"Silvio."

"As in the Silvio?"

He shrugged. "Probably lots of Silvio's, babe."

I made a face. "You know what I mean."

"Then yes, that was him."

"That was him?"

"Yes," he reiterated. "You seem surprised."

"He was…normal."

Ranger raised his eyebrows slightly as if there was an implied "And?"

"That man seemed downright cordial and…friendly?"

The familiar mouth twitch returned. "Everyone likes Silvio. Makes him exceptionally good at what he does."

"And what exactly is that?"

"Odds and ends."

Thanks Mr. Cryptic. "Right."

"We done here, babe? My arm's getting tired holding the door."

So says the man who could probably bench press a car if he wanted. I rolled my eyes and angled into the passenger seat. "Where to now?"

He shut the door and walked around to the driver's side before answering. "The hotel. You and I still have some unfinished business."

I got a nervous flutter in my stomach. As I seemed to recall, having unfinished business with Ranger was never a good thing.