Ranger pulled me into his body as we settled in bed that night. "Do you think that I should give Julie an overview of our company and everything we do?"

"I think she is old enough and mature enough for it and she has, after all, signed the confidentiality agreement. She also seemed to have a full understanding of the document that she signed, despite being so young."

"I would like to share with her the functions of Rangeman. Perhaps not PMC or my position on the NSLT, but definitely Rangeman, and definitely my army experiences. I'd like to keep my history of being the Black Shadow from her, and my work at shutting down so many drug lords. I am a lot more relaxed about the terrorists coming back at me, and I think if I can keep in the shadows, we are safe from them. However, I still worry about the drug lords. My work with them was more recent."

"Then I think you should tell her as much as you feel comfortable. Julie is a good person, an honest person, and I believe that she is strong. I think she would be a safe person for you to tell and, quite honestly, she will figure out much of it when she starts working for Rangeman in another three months. She's observant and analytical and smart as hell. I suspect that she will research your name otherwise, and she might not come to the right conclusion when she sees the information that is available. A reckoning is coming. You might as well tell her before she asks."

"Can you be in that conversation with Julie and me?"

"Are you sure you want me there?"

"Yeah. It's not something that I talk about much, and it isn't something that I feel comfortable talking about. But, like you, I think Julie deserves to know. And like you, I think that she will soon figure out that something is going on and will have questions. It's too apparent that something is going on if you have any knowledge of my history."

"I agree. Part of why Julie is so mature is because you treat her as an adult. She can handle it."

We were quiet for a while before Ranger kissed me on the back of my head. "My meeting was really good today."

I smiled. "I'm happy. I'm glad you felt like you were able to contribute. I know you were worried about that."

"Every single one of the directors is a strong person. They seemed to have the same morals and ethics that I do, and they are all someone that I could admire, all there to do the best job that they could."

"I'm glad it went so well and that they were recognizing the value you were bringing to the table."

He snorted and kissed me again, slid his hand up under my pyjama top and rested his hand on my breast. I wiggled to get into a better position. "How did your research go today?"

"Cal and I were linked up to the undercover detective, and by the end of the day he had gotten back to Cal. That was what I was reading just prior to coming to bed. Brett confirmed that Richard is the current president and he became the president four years ago. He said the previous president died but that Todd's father had been the favorite in line for the presidency and, when Todd went off to college, Todd's father started telling everyone that he wasn't interested in becoming the president after all. That makes me think that Richard stole the money for them, and in return Todd's father stepped away from the running. He said the club knows of the theft, and they think that Todd's parents were responsible for it. However, that information didn't come out until after Todd's parents were jailed and couldn't answer to their charges."

"Do you think Todd knows of the theft then?"

"Probably. The undercover detective said it was common knowledge."

"I wonder if Todd's parents know."

"That's an interesting question, and is one that Cal was wondering as well. One thing is for sure - we have enough information now to talk to the various players and hopefully shake something loose."

"I'm taking tomorrow off to spend more time with Julie and the kids. I know you were planning on taking the day off before you were covering for Tracy. Did you still want to take the day off, or do you want to work?"

"Maybe half and half? You have arranged to go to the gym with Julie in the morning before the babies wake up. I might get up at the same time."

"You?" said Ranger in shock.

I laughed. "Smartass. I'm sure there has been at least once in my life that I have gotten up before the sun." I paused. "I know. When I came back from Hawaii, I had to catch a morning flight, and I was up at four. It was one of the most singular terrifying experiences of my life."

Ranger laughed.

"Anyway, I thought I'd work while you are at the gym, and then, if you are here, I might go into work for the morning and then come back for the afternoon. We could talk to Julie together while the little ones are sleeping, before having some play time and making dinner together."

"Do you think it would be nice to take Julie and her sisters out for dinner?"

"I somehow suspect that Julie would like it better if you took the munchkins with her to the grocery store in the morning and picked something special to make for dinner. I know you like to cook and Julie looks forward to cooking with you and the family. I understand. That is something that I love as well. I may never enjoy cooking for the sake of cooking, but it is my favorite part of the day since it is when we all come together and share about our day and have fun together. I know that Julie seemed to really want to cook the pasta tonight. She got Tia helping with the salad, the twins taste-testing the ingredients, and she put some music on and made banana milkshakes for everyone, and she looked so relaxed and comfortable and happy. The twins were laughing as she danced while she was cooking, and she got them dancing in their high chairs as well. Like me, she said that it is one of her favorite times and, when she thinks of family time with us, she thinks of making dinner together." I could feel Ranger smile as he kissed me again.

"It's one of my favorite family times too. Is there anything you would like for dinner?"

I smiled. "Hot dogs?"

Ranger groaned. "I should have qualified that, shouldn't I? Is there anything that is real food that you would like for dinner?"

I snorted. "I should have had cravings for hot dogs when I was pregnant. You might have made them for me then."

"Too late now." He sounded so pleased with himself.

I laughed.

"Our girls have a much more refined palate. They don't like hot dogs", he said with satisfaction.

"Don't tell Tia that. She loves hot dogs."

"When has she ever had hot dogs?" He sounded shocked.

"At my parents' house. She has them on the July 4th family reunion. Also, Julie has made them for her a couple of times, and I have taken her out for lunch and ordered them for her a couple of times. She hasn't had them often, but she is always quick to tell me that they are one of her favorite foods when she does."

Ranger sighed. "And here I thought she took after me. Peanut butter and olive sandwiches, whipped cream, hot dogs...the world is going to Hell and this is the initial indicator. People's taste buds are being ruined by fake food and weird combinations."

"Hey, buddy. I know what you don't like about peanut butter and olive sandwiches, and hot dogs. I can sort of, in a theoretical way, understand that. But what's wrong with whipped cream?"

"It comes in an aerosol can. Food shouldn't come in an aerosol can. It's almost as bad as spray cheese. Cheese should come in a block, not in a can. I have a hard enough time with processed cheese. It comes in plastic coverings that are almost impossible to open. It is like a USB stick. It doesn't matter which way you insert it into the port, it's always upside down. You can take it out and flip it over, and it is still upside down. It's like the stupid thing has a gyroscope on it that makes it flip over and always be the wrong way around to fit into the port. Similarly, the plastic wrap on the processed cheese slices always opens on the other side. You can try all you want to peel off the plastic, then eventually decide that it opens on the other side. You turn the cheese slice over - and it is the same problem. I swear, these things are devised to drive me fucking insane."

I laughed.

"Ah, you can laugh. You are one of those rare people who can do amazing feats like find the opening in the plastic packaging on the processed cheese. You can probably put the USB drive in the port the right way the first time as well, can't you?"

"Of course."

He shook his head in amazement. "As always, I am in awe of you, babe."