Chapter 24

It was late by the time we got home to 7. Tank and Hal had both been fed and watered by Mama Manoso. Tank and Hal seemed to have gotten along well which pleased me. We were close to being one happy family.

In the privacy of our own apartment, Ranger told me Tank and the others had greenlighted Hector being head of the Fixers and joining management, and the creation of Trackers with Hal as its head. He suggested we tell Hal and Hector tomorrow. I was pleased, they had both been ardent supporters of mine and had really added value to the Rangeman brand. I was grateful that the others recognised that, I had been prepared to go toe to toe to argue with them if necessary.

We lay in bed together; Ranger was idly playing with my engagement ring.

"There was a time when I dreamed of this," he admitted, "but the reality is even better than my dreams. My whole family love you. They've really taken you in. Mi Mama has always pushed Cuban girls on me, I wasn't sure if she would be ok with you being white Hungarian to be honest. But I should have known that you could win anyone over."

I smiled at him. "It's not me Ranger, it's you, they love you and want you to be happy."

He shook his head, "Thinking I was dead they took you in – that wasn't for me. That was for them, and for you. After all this time. you still surprise me, and I don't know how."

He turned to kiss me. "Before I left for this mission, you were the perfect woman in my eyes. I loved you with all my fractured heart. And I left you. I left you with an impossible task. And I returned and once again I'm surprised. You've achieved the impossible, you've smashed the impossible. And the woman you are now is even more perfect for me than the you you were. You're still you. But you have this confidence now, this strength. You are truly my partner in all ways. You blow me away. I can't wait to be your husband."

I was speechless. That was probably the most I had ever heard Ranger say in one go. I kissed him. "I didn't want to disappoint you. In the beginning, every dilemma I thought to myself "What would Ranger Do?" But by the end of those 6 months, I knew what Bombshell was going to do. I knew sometimes it might be different to your methods, but they worked for me, and still upheld the Rangeman ethos."

He was nodding, "You've taken my company and improved it Babe. Not just ran it, and ran it well, but improved it. Tank told me before about the contract with Sunny. I would never have thought to offer her such a big opportunity, never have thought she could match the big fish on pricings, let alone improving on them. You're out of the box thinking has always blown me away."

I smiled at him, "I'm the person I am because you have always supported me, you gave me confidence when I had none. Now I have my own, but it grew from the seeds you planted. You reap what you sow." I kissed him, this was all a bit heavy for me, I needed to turn it to a place of fun before I got emotional. "Now…" I purred, "I believe I owe you a lapdance with nothing on but weapons holsters."

Th next morning we both got up and went to the gym together. Hal appeared like he was summoned and we had our usual kickboxing session after my workout. Ranger showed his enthusiasm for my new work out ethos in the shower. After we were fed and dressed, we headed to 5 for a brief meeting with Hal and Hector where they were both offered their new positions. Needless to say, they both accepted.

I sent out a firmwide email appraising them of the new teams creations and the new appointments of Hal and Hector.

Ranger emailed a list of the current teams and asking if anyone wanted to be a part of any other teams, in particular did anyone want a transfer to become part of team Tracker? He also included a note about our recent agreement with Les Sebring in addition to Vinnies. There was plenty of work to be had for team Tracker. Hal had worked with me the last 6 months, he knew my methods and had a good relationship with a lot of my contacts now. He would have to train the new team mates.

Ranger and I had a lazy afternoon to ourselves. Bobby had sorted rotas and Tank had processed bonuses and payroll. It was so much easier to run the company with the others back to help.

We headed out to my parents for 5pm. We left Tank and Hal, neither of us were planning on drinking tonight so we could watch each other's six and give Tank and Hal some down time.

The early warning system was on full pelt. My mom and Grandma Mazur were at the door with Valerie. We hadn't even walked in the door when my mom spotted the ring. She let out an excited squeal and gave Ranger a massive hug. "Frank!" she yelled, "Frank! Ranger's here and he's proposed to Stephanie!"

My dad made his way from his station at the TV, he looked at the ring and held his hand out to Ranger who shook it firmly. "Want to come and fix the car with me?" Dad and Ranger disappeared to the garage. I doubt the car was even touched.

Albert and the girls were at home, Valerie thought it would be less of a circus that way. Frankly, I agreed.

Mom was so excited. "We can book the VA hall!"

I interrupted. "We are going to get married, I don't know when or where, but we will be planning both of those things. You can help me pick the dress, but that's it. This one is going to be my wedding. I'm never getting married again after this, this is it, so I'm doing it my way."

My mom just nodded, she had gotten used to assertive Steph. "I'm so glad he's alive." She said for 100th time. I smiled, "me too."

We talked for a while about the girls and grandma's latest gossip before the conversation moved back around to Ranger. I explained that Ranger's fake death had been critical for the mission and they weren't to badger him about the hows and whys.

"What happened to his eye?" asked Val.

I winced. "I punched him a little."

Grandma Mazur laughed, "hot damn, my granddaughter Bombshell strikes again. Not quite as good as Black Thursday, but still I can tell the girls at Clip and Curl."

Dad and Ranger were back, smelling faintly of cigars. They were both smiling.

"Black Thursday?" Ranger asked.

"Erm." I said, "well. You see-"

"She kicked everyone's ass!" Grandma interrupted. "She kicked doors down and broke limbs and stabbed people."

"I didn't stab anyone!" I protested firmly.

Ranger raised an eyebrow.

I sighed. "It was the day before your funeral. I wanted to make sure that the criminal elements were cowed. That they weren't going to attack Rangeman or your funeral. Also, I had a lot of anger. I was worried someone would use your funeral to attack some Rangeman covered businesses. With all of the Rangeman at your funeral."

"All of Trenton Rangeman went?" He said surprised.

"All Rangeman." I replied, "Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Trenton. We all pulled in contractors and left a skeleton crew. But yeah, mostly everyone came."

"It was wonderful to see how many people respected and love you dear." Said my mom to Ranger. "It was a lovely service."

"Black Thursday?" Ranger asked again.

I sighed again, "long and short of it is we started a lot of brawls with a lot of criminals and sent a lot of them to hospital. I needed the street to know Rangeman wasn't weak without you."

Grandma snorted, "the street got the message alright. Last count was 47 broken limbs. Joe had to call Steph to ask the boys to reel it in."

I nodded, "Yeah that's about the size of it."

Ranger was smiling. "Nice."

Mom rolled her eyes, "It wasn't nice, but Stephanie explained it was necessary. There weren't any attacks anyway so I guess she was right. Enough talk of violence now. Let's eat."

We had just finished when there was a knock the front door. Mom went to open it and came back with Joe in tow.

Joe froze when he saw Ranger. "It's true. You're really alive."

Ranger just nodded, his eyes cool and assessing, not sure if Joe was going to be a problem or not.

Joe shifted his gaze to me, "I'm so happy for you Steph."

I grinned at him, "me too." I flashed him my ring hand and he came over and pulled me into a hug. "congratulations." He whispered. "I'm so happy for you." He gave me one last squeeze and stepped back, giving Ranger a clap on the shoulder.

"You don't waste time." Joe commented, smiling.

"Turns out you can die." Said Ranger flatly, "carpe diem."

Joe nodded. "I'm glad you're not dead." He said to Ranger, "Steph was a wreck, it was horrible. I've never seen someone cry like she did at your funeral, and I've done a lot of death notifications."

My mom nodded, carding her fingers through my hair. "It was awful," she said softly, giving me a kiss.

I cleared my throat. "Let's not make Ranger feel worse about his fake death please. It was a bad chapter, but its done now."

Ranger nodded, lacing his fingers with mine. "It's done." He agreed.

Joe stayed for dessert with us all and later Robyn joined us all for coffee after her shift had finished. It wasn't awkward at all. I was glad my friendship with Joe had weathered this storm.

There weren't that many seats in the lounge so I was sitting in Ranger's lap. I twisted to look into his eyes.,

"I love you Ranger." I said giving him a soft kiss.

"I love you Bombshell." He replied, making me smile.

"Let's go home Solider. I have plans with you."

He flashed me the wolf smile. "Me too Babe, me too."