Gone Girl
Chapter 65 Bachelor Party BeginningsA/N I'm also going to warn that these guys had so much planned for Ranger that the chapters got really long. Like over 30 pages long then it ran over into the next chapter so I broke it up where I could. Next thing I knew the party went on for 4 chapters. So, this chapter is just the beginning setup and prep for the bachelor party.
I have to give full credit for the bachelor party to bachelorvegas dot com. I watched a bunch of videos of bachelor parties in Vegas and saw several give credit to bachelorvegas. So, I looked them up on-line and saw all the things they offered and got very excited. Then I asked the guys and Tank said we have to do this, and we have to do that, and Lester said we have to do this and most of all – not tell Ric. It'll make him crazy when all these guys show up and he won't know what the hell is going on. It turns out that is some of these guys like doing this when appropriate (off the clock) pushing Ranger's infamous control and buttons and trying to get a reaction out of him.
Also NOTE: Changes in POV in middle of the chapter.
Chapter Sixty-five
Friday April 25, 2014 - Day 164 10:30 am
Ranger POV
He was at The Jewelers of Las Vegas. The flagship store of a local chain that specialized in wedding sets and diamond rings. As he looked around, he could see they were a full fledge jewelry store with the watches and the jewelry sets but their case of engagement rings was four times as big as what was in the Singot's jewelry case. There were some really beautiful rings here but he had to think that Stephanie got the ring that she loves and he didn't need to look for a bigger one just because he wanted her to wear a really big rock on her finger.
It was just the cave man in him that wanted this huge rock that let every other man who saw it know that they could never afford her. He was serious when he told her he wanted to shrink down a 911 turbo and put it on her finger. He wanted everyone that saw her to know that she was taken by a better man. Or at least a richer one.
Well the ring was a moot point she was in love with her ring and he couldn't take it away from her just because some of these were bigger. She would get mad at him if he tried. She didn't understand that this was part of the way a man marks his territory and he wanted her marked properly. Well if he couldn't do it with the engagement ring, he could at least put a couple of karats in the wedding ring.
He looked around the store and the two employees who were here were both busy. One with a customer and one looking in cabinets like they had lost something and were desperately trying to find it. Whatever. He didn't like shopping in the big chain jewelry stores because they were like Wal-Mart the same stuff in all their stores.
He had found this store on-line and came specifically because they said they had the best selection in the state. He hoped someone could help him soon. The limo had already picked him up to go to the airport and he only had thirty minutes till he had to be on his way.
"Excuse me," he said a little louder than needed so he got both employee's attention. "I need to buy a ring and I don't have much time." He looked at his watch is if to make his point and the woman who had been rummaging through the cabinets came over looking a little put out that she had been disturbed. Well too damn bad he was going to buy the most expensive ring she had in Stephanie's size and if she made commission off the jewelry, she will be happy. If she doesn't, she should re-think her job.
"I need two wedding rings. I need a size nine ring for me and a size six and a half for my fiancé." Wow just saying the word gave him a little thrill and after tomorrow and forever more she will be his wife. The thought made his insides sing. He couldn't wait.
"What kind of ring are you looking for?" She asked looking down into the case with him.
"The most expensive woman's wedding band you have in a size six and a half." He was going to be clear.
"Our most expensive wedding bands are eternity bands. Are you looking for yellow gold, white gold or platinum?" She asked as she walked two cases down, shook her blond hair out and leaned over the case to look inside.
"Platinum." He followed her and looked in; wondering why she didn't just open the case from the back.
She pressed her finger down on the glass as she leaned over and looked in. "These ones on top are our eternity bands most of them are less than one karat. But the ones in the back go up to three carats."
"Do you know which jewelry stores in the area would have a bigger selection. I'm looking for something that is five or more karats."
"Seriously." She looked up at him in shock. As she looked at him, he realized that she was incredibly young. Just out of high school, eighteen, nineteen, maybe twenty. He doubted she was old enough to drink.
"I want my future wife to have the best wedding ring in Vegas. Where would I go to find that." He asked because he didn't have any more time to waste.
"Right here," said a male voice from the back. "How many carats are you looking for?" An older man with salt and pepper hair, wearing a nice well pressed suit, came over to the display. "Janie go back to finding the necklace. The customer will be here to pick it up in an hour." Then he turned to Ranger.
"I'm Sal, owner of this jewelry store and trust me I have the best selection of engagement and wedding bands in Las Vegas. Janie is new and is unaware of our selection. How many carats are you looking for?" He asked again.
"The most expensive ring you have preferably something five carats or larger."
"Perfect. Come over here." Sal led him over two displays down. He opened the case and pulled out a tray of rings from the bottom. Ranger could plainly see these were much larger eternity bands.
"We have some platinum rings that are over seven carats. We have these 7.6 carat platinum rings in two shapes, oval cut – the round ones there: or emerald cut – the square ones there. Which ones would match your fiancé's engagement ring?" He paused and continued with, "I'm assuming that since you are looking for wedding rings that she already has an engagement ring."
"Yes, she does, and the oval cut ones will be better, I think. And these are the most expensive wedding rings you have in the store?" Ranger questioned again.
"How expensive are you talking?" Sal asked.
"The most expensive wedding rings you have in the store in a size six and a half. I'm looking in the fifty to a hundred-thousand-dollar range." Then he paused, "or more if you have it." Ranger was adamant realizing that he hadn't taken his most expensive in the store announcement seriously.
"Just a minute, I have a selection in the back." Sal didn't dash because he was older and quite regal in his own way but much like a butler summoned by his mistress; he quickly moved through a door into the back room.
Ranger looked through the next selection over of men's rings and found one design he liked but he wasn't going to be sold until he knew they had it in the right size. He didn't have time to size anything today.
It was getting on to be five minutes and Ranger looked at his watch again. Well it wasn't like the people at the airport were going anywhere. They knew he was coming to pick them up. He went ahead and texted Tank that he was on his way. Hoping he would get the text as soon as he landed.
Sal came out with a tray. "The most expensive wedding ring I have is a size seven. It is this 12.3-carat emerald cut eternity band selling for $148,000. If you need a ring today; I can give you this one and order one in your wife's size and have it here by Wednesday of next week."
Ranger looked at it and he could see a real difference in the clarity and quality of the diamonds. "It's beautiful and it is in the ball-park of what I am looking for, but we won't be back to Las Vegas after Sunday. What do you have right now in a six and a half?"
"These two. This one is a 10.2-carat emerald cut eternity band for $96,550, but I have a feeling that if your wife likes round stones better, she will love this one." He held a ring out to him, "it is a 9.5-carat eternity band for $87,450. The nine and a half carats are just the thirteen big stones that are chain set around the ring. If you look at it from the side, there are six smaller stones set in a loop around each of the thirteen stones on both sides of the diamonds adding another carat of diamonds to the ring. It's just my gut feeling but I think she will love this ring and it will meet your needs."
"Perfect. This is perfect, wrap it up for me and it doesn't have to be fancy; she won't see it till I slip it on her finger during the ceremony tomorrow." Ranger explained.
Sal disappeared into the back and came back with a ring box and some paperwork. "I'm assuming you want the insurance for it."
Oh, shit the insurance. "Yes, I forgot. I have less than fifteen minutes." He said looking at his watch, "can we get the paperwork done that fast?"
"Our paperwork is simple. The ring is already appraised. All you need to fill out is your name, her name, your address and sign the last page." He showed Ranger the paperwork and handed him a pen. He began filling it out and saw that it already had all the information about the ring filled in. With tax it was a $98,000.00 ring.
The paperwork was what took so long with her engagement ring because it was custom made. The jeweler had to write in the type of ring all the information about the diamond and the diamonds on the sides. In fact, he still needed to buy permanent insurance on that ring. What he got was only good for thirty days. They couldn't insure it for longer until an appraisal by another jeweler is completed and it would be expiring shortly after they got back from the honeymoon. Definitely on the to do as soon as they get home list.
In minutes he had the paperwork complete and Sal was ringing him up and he was thinking cool it wasn't a 911 turbo, but this ring screamed wealthy. The diamonds in it were huge. Together with her engagement ring there would be close to a hundred-and-twenty-three-thousand dollars sitting on one finger. Then it dawned on him that he needed a ring too.
"Sal, quick I don't have much time. I need a size nine for me too. I saw one here." He moved back over to that case and pointed. "With the black stripe and the three diamonds – do you have this in a nine?"
"Of course," Sal said as he went over to the display to see exactly which ring Ranger wanted. "One minute." He quickly disappeared through the same doors and was back minutes later.
Sal had another jewelry box that he handed to him. He opened it and tried the ring on. Perfect fit. "Ring me up, I've got to go!" Ranger exclaimed.
Five minutes later Ranger was walking out the door with wedding rings for them. It was the last thing they needed, well he needed to get, in order to get married tomorrow. She, he guessed, needed a dress, but honestly, they could forgo all that and just get married in jeans and a t-shirt and he would be just as happy. At this point he was getting to be like her. He just wanted to be married to her and have the whole thing over with.
On the way to the airport he mused he had hated seeing Stephanie leave for the day. It was ridiculous because they had been together almost all day every day this week, but it was like he couldn't get enough of her and he had found that he really enjoyed spending time together.
Stephanie hadn't been gone half an hour when she'd texted that she wanted to have dinner together. He looked on his phone and found a buffet style restaurant that he thought could accommodate his whole family and his men and put it out as a suggestion to her. Stephanie texted back that she wanted a private dinner in their room and that sounded good to him too, but he knew with his whole family coming in this afternoon that wasn't going to be a possibility. He was just trying to come up with the words to let her down easily.
Hal was giving him updates on the women's day and he knew when they arrived at Viva Las Vegas. Hal had just texted that Stephanie had found a dress and all the women were trying on dresses. Right now, as he was reading his texts, Ranger was waiting on the tarmac with one SUV limo to pick up all thirteen of his men from the airport and Ella and Louis.
Tank, Lester, and Raptor were flying in to be part of his entourage. They with his brother would make up the groom's men. Lester was his cousin and had known him his entire life. He had followed him into the army and then the Rangers. Tank and Bobby had known him since boot camp. Bobby was staying behind this time to hold down the fort and because he had gotten a case of alcohol poisoning from the last drinking bout he'd had with Lester and knew his liver wasn't square to fly into Las Vegas, and survive a bachelor's party, for the boss.
Tank and Ranger had gone through boot camp together and had gotten to be friends. They were assigned different tours of duty and got separated but agreed to sign up for Rangers at the same time and were both accepted. So, they met up and went through Ranger training together and they graduated at the top of their class. After they got their Ranger tabs, they requested to be in the same unit and the request was approved.
Raptor had been added to his unit when it was formed and was pissed that Ranger was made commander because he had been a Ranger longer. They clashed and clashed until a call Ranger made saved his (and the entire units) life and he realized that Ranger was a strategist and was intuitive and knew what he was doing. After that they were truly comrades. At least from that day on Ranger knew that Raptor had his back.
Raptor has been running the Boston office for Ranger – partly as a favor, partly because it was a good job but mostly because Raptor liked to be in charge. When he heard that Ranger was getting married in Las Vegas. He insisted on being one of the groomsmen and Ranger gratefully agreed.
Hal and Cal flew in last night to guard the bridal party today with the promise that they would get to party with the men tonight. He wasn't sure who he was going to put on the bridal party tonight. He wanted to put Lester on them to punish him, but he knew that Lester would encourage the women to get in trouble. Lester was never the voice of reason or restraint.
He looked over the roster of men whom he had picked out of the thirty that had volunteered for this duty. They would guard during the wedding, take turns during the reception, and fly with them to Mexico and guard them during their honeymoon. He hadn't expected so many volunteers and almost felt like he was picking favorites when he had to pare the list down to twelve. But he did pick his best men; some of the men who had served with him and some of the men who had been with him at RangeMan the longest.
In the end, to be as fair as he could be he just picked the first six teams with the exception that Manny didn't want to come so he put Ryan in his place. Some of these guys were the ones that came to Russia but he couldn't help it these were his best guys and the only way he was going to be able to relax enough on his honeymoon to let go and just be on his honeymoon was to know he had the best watching his back.
Ella and Louis were supposed to be on this flight too along with, he reviewed his list. Tank, Lester, Raptor, team Alpha – Ram and Ryan, team Bravo – Zip and Zero, team Charlie – Bones and Manuel, team Delta – Ramon and Raphael, team Echo – Hal and Cal were already here and team Foxtrot- Junior and Brett.
Part of the reason he had sent the jet was so that they could bring as much fire power as they would like. Because for Mexico he wanted them to have the Colt ArmaLite AR-15 semi-automatic rifles for long range. He wanted anyone to come across the villa to know it was heavily guarded and for them to turn around and walk the other way. The guys wanted to come because it was Mexico and they are thinking of drinking and partying when not on duty.
He may even give them the option of staying in Mexico for another week while they flew back so they can drink and party. He saw the jet rolling in and prepared for all the men. But when the door opened, and a head popped out, it was Hector who came out of the plane first.
Well okay he supposed there was a hitchhiker or two on board. Hector loved Stephanie and she loved him right back, so it was appropriate for him to be here. He would have to find their own transportation to the hotel, the Limo only held sixteen and they would have to get their own hotel rooms somewhere else because he had booked out the available rooms at this hotel for his fifteen men and his family. What he wasn't prepared for were thirty or so of his men to filter off of the plane.
What the fuck? Who did they leave back in Trenton? He recognized about four of the men as being from the Boston office but still. He was pissed. Someone had spread the word about a bachelor party in Vegas and everybody had to come. He figured they had called up some contract workers for the weekend and everybody had come to party with the boss.
Tank approached him and could see the pissed off look on his face. "Don't be mad Ranger they all wanted to come celebrate with you and Stephanie on your big day."
"You mean they all wanted to come to Las Vegas, look at strippers, get rip roaring drunk and say it is all in the name of the boss?"
"You got it in one." Tank smiled at him and slapped him on the back. "Come on. We got a party to be had. I told them to leave most of the heavy artillery on the plane. We don't need it where we are going."
The men, realizing he was not happy, probably by the scowl on his face and the stay the fuck away from him vibes he was putting off, started congregating outside the plane with their luggage. Tank loaded his luggage including his and Ranger's tuxes in the back of the limo. Raptor pulled him into a big hug.
"Congratulations Ric. I heard all about Russia and I have to meet this woman." He saw me looking at all the other men and said. "Don't sweat it man. They are all grown men they can go party on their own if you're going to be a stick in the mud." He just kept going and loaded his stuff in the limo.
Ella and Louis came over and congratulated him and he told them they were riding in the limo with him. In the next minute, a solid black bus pulled up and all the guys cheered. The next thing he knew they were all loading onto it. He realized in horror that none of them could check into their rooms for hours, so he was probably stuck with them all. Fuck!
He texted Stephanie back to let her know a private dinner wasn't possible but to keep texting him and letting him know how her day was going. He had to get control of this situation. More than half of his men were here to party and he could see it all getting out of control fast.
Plus, he didn't know how to behave. He had expected Tank and Raptor and Lester – his three closest men and a few others to go out and have a few drinks. He'd figured they'd end up at a strip club; they would buy him a lap dance and they would all go to bed. He decided he would let them try to get his mind off of Stephanie but after dark, his heat seeking missile is ready to fire and she was the heat that his missile wanted to fire itself into. He's just not interested in anything else and he's hating that all these guys have come out here to party, using him as an excuse.
He thought that over the years he had made it clear. He's the boss, he's not your friend or your drinking buddy. He's not your wingman or your reason to party. He's the boss and he always have to act like the boss and you have to respect him and treat him like he's the boss.
He had been looking forward – since they were away from home – of letting go a little bit and hanging out with the guys, but with all his men here he had to take control of this situation and be Ranger for the weekend. The last thing he needed was his men getting crazy in Las Vegas and getting arrested or something else ridiculous.
He remembered. He had gotten arrested out here in Las Vegas, but it was a stupid charge. He and some guys had been out drinking and one of the guys had gotten rowdy and threatening in a strip club and got all of them thrown out. But to add insult to injury, the owner of the club had called the cops who were waiting outside for them.
The police were arresting them all for drunk and disorderly when they realized they were all armed. So, they added carrying concealed without a license to the arrest warrants and hauled them all downtown. Ranger wasn't the only one who didn't have a license in Nevada, only two of them had licenses to carry concealed and they didn't have the paperwork on them. As it was, he had applied for one it just hadn't been approved yet. They were all out on bail the following afternoon, but he didn't want a repeat tonight with thirty plus of his men here. He couldn't afford to spend the night in jail and miss his own damn wedding.
He knew his men were going to get rowdy and somehow, he was going to have to not drink and keep everybody from getting into trouble. He was ruminating on this when Lester walked up to him with a big smile, that spelled trouble, on his face.
"What did you do?" Ranger had to ask.
"I have planned the perfect bachelor party for you. We are all going to have fun and you are going to learn how to have a good time." He smirked at him.
"I know how to have a good time but if Stephanie is not part of this party, I'm not going to be having much of a good time. All my best times have been with her." He growled back at him and he meant it.
He would rather hang out with her doing nothing than go out drinking, partying, and watching strippers with his men. In fact, he would rather do anything with her than anything with his men. Because with his men he has to be constantly on alert to make sure none of them did something stupid and get arrested or at the very least kicked out of the strip club.
"Come on." Lester led the way to the limo and Tank told the driver to go to the hotel.
Once there he tried to get into the rooms early but there were only two rooms available and Ella and Louis took one and all his men piled out of the bus and limo with their luggage and piled it up into the other room that was available. Which was supposed to be Tank and Raptors room. While they were hauling all their luggage up, he took the rings and hid them in the bedroom in case Stephanie came back to the room and got curious.
Lester kept leering at him ridiculously and Ranger knew he'd had a hand in planning his party. Which meant a bunch of booze and strippers. He wanted to leave and crash the bachelorette party. The thought crossed his mind and he decided that is what he would do. Later on, once it all got going, he would sneak out and meet up with Stephanie.
He would wait until all the men were drunk and didn't care anymore and then he would find her and they would get another hotel room because he knew his mamma will be watching their room to make sure they didn't hook up. When everyone got back down to the lobby the limo was gone and Tank and Lester led Ranger over to a bottle blond woman dressed up in a loose floral mini skirt and a very tight, white, button-up shirt that had a generous amount of cleavage spilling over of the top.
Lester put his arm around her. "This is Krystal. She is our personal hostess for the party. We have an action-packed day planned and you are going to be so busy you won't even have time to think about Stephanie." Lester assured him.
Krystal stuck out her hand and said. "Nice to meet you Mr. Manoso. You have some good friends here; they have spared no expense to make sure you have the best bachelor party that we have ever thrown."
Oh God what did he get himself into? He rolled his eyes and Stephanie would have a cow knowing that there was something that could make him roll his eyes. Tank did see the eye roll and raised his eyebrow in response. Damn he just had to make if through this day and make plans to see Stephanie tonight.
"I am from Bachelor Vegas; we throw the best bachelor parties in Vegas so just come along and we will get started. You have one of the largest groups we have ever hosted so we rented this bus just for your group. I will be here all day and night with you making sure you have the best bachelor party ever." She chipperly insinuated.
His men were going to have the best party ever. He knew that he was just the excuse to come out here and party and get drunk. They probably all could give a care less if he has any fun because he knew it was all going to be about his men.
"Nice to meet you Krystal. I will be honest; I'm not looking to get drunk and see strippers tonight. My main goal will be to make sure none of my men get arrested." He explained.
"Well – may I call you Carlos?" He nodded his assent. "Well Carlos, you are in luck because your men have paid a lot of money to make sure you have a good time. Let's get everyone on the bus and I will take roll call."
Roll call? Are you kidding me? Like in elementary school? What were they a bunch of toddlers? He thought about it twice and guessed this was a good idea – if she were going to keep track of all his men it would make the night a little easier on him.
As they walked to the bus there was a guy with a camera taking pictures of them. When they got to the bus, the guy with the camera sat across from him.
"Excuse me what is your name?" He asked.
"Todd, I'm here to take pictures and make sure every part of your day is documented."
"Well Todd there are thirty of my men here and you are welcome to take pictures of them all day but don't take any pictures of me. I don't need pictures to remember what I do today," he explained.
Todd nodded his head, but his smile said that he had been warned about this and was going to do everything he could to get pictures of him anyway.
As they loaded on the bus and he had to say this: the outside of the bus was pure black and that boded well for the RangeMan image he always tried to portray. Not some gawdy neon colors and the inside of the bus had luxurious gray and black seats all up and down the inside with two poles in the middle and seats in the very back. He climbed in and sat closest to the door so all his men would go past him, and he could actually see who all was here.
Manny walked by him and he was surprised.
"Hey Manny, I thought you didn't want to come on this trip." Ranger asked.
"Sorry Ranger. I didn't want to come and do guard duty. I'm just here for all the fun." Manny answered looking guiltily at him.
Ranger took a deep breath and nodded at him. "Well get on board." He ushered and Manny quickly made his way to the back.
Once all the men were loaded on, he realized that there were just a few spots left. This bus held like 40 people and they were about 34 by his count. He noticed that Krystal had a clipboard and was standing in the front of the bus, looking like the mommy in charge. But she was more like the hot mom who you wanted to bang when you were a teenager and he wondered who would end up doing her before the night was out.
She told the driver we were ready to go and said we would be there in less than thirty minutes. So, we were going somewhere that was a bit of a drive. At least they weren't hitting a strip club this early. God if they started drinking this early the day would have gone in the shitter fast.
She started calling out names. "Carlos," she smiled at me, "Tank – thank you for calling Bachelors Vegas and booking these festivities you are the BEST – best man ever! "Raptor and Lester. It is my understanding that you three are his groom's men." She waited and Lester answered.
"We will be joined by his brother, Mat later, but for now we are the men in charge of this party and making sure his last night as a free man is the best night of his life!" Lester exclaimed. Sure, he thought, his night was what they were thinking of when they planned this.
He had to say something and set down some ground rules, so he stood.
"Just a minute Krystal, I have to say somethings." He looked at her and she nodded to him. He turned and faced everyone. "Okay men I know you are all out here to have a good time. So, three ground rules. ONE," he lifted up his index finger high so every man could see him, "no matter how drunk you get no fighting and no being rowdy. You all know that the group I was with last time, got kicked out of a strip club for being rowdy and I got arrested because I was with them. The Las Vegas police would have a field day arresting all of you and it is my goal for the evening to get you all back to your hotel rooms without being arrested."
He lifted his middle finger, "TWO once you are drunk – you must drink three glasses of water before you have another alcoholic drink. This will slow down your alcohol consumption and keep me from having to drag all your drunk asses out of the club and back to your hotel room–one–at–a–God–damn–time."
He lifted up his ring finger, "THREE party is over, and everyone goes back to your hotel rooms at four AM. Wedding starts at eleven thirty sharp and I expect every one of you there and with obvious armament. I want at least one visible gun showing on every one of you. Four AM gives you five and a half hours to sleep it off and one hour to make it to the wedding."
He dropped his fingers and looked sternly at his men. "Finally I am going to ask for 2 volunteers at this point. Hal and Cal are on Bride Watch till eight pm. I need two men who are willing to forgo getting trashed and hanging out with me tonight to go be on Bride Watch till two AM – she needs more sleep to function and she has to be up at eight am so she is to end her night at two AM and you are to gently escort her back to Connie's room - where she is staying tonight. Then I need 2 men – who may go with us but must be mostly sober by two AM to take over and be on Bride Watch from two AM until the wedding starts at eleven thirty."
He looked over his men and knew that to get the best protection for Stephanie he needed to throw in some sweeteners, but he had to give them some shit first.
"Don't everyone volunteer at once." He teased and waited; staring his men down waiting for one of them to crack, but none did. "Fine I will sweeten the deal. The four guys on Stephanie watch tonight get a one-week all expenses paid vacation out here in Las Vegas on me with a twenty-five hundred dollar cash bonus for you to spend while you are out here."
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Krystal's POV
Krystal's eyes opened wide at this declaration. He just planned to spend thousands on his men to stay and play for a week and offered up ten thousand dollars cash on top of it. He must be more loaded than she suspected. The party had been booked on Tuesday, but it developed from fifteen men to more than double that, to a total of thirty-five men. And the activities tripled from shooting guns to renting the racetrack and skydiving. She had been told, if she wanted, a guy could handle the day activities and then she could take over for just the night-time party.
But she knew when they had asked for a thousand dollars apiece – thirty-five thousand dollars and were paid fifty thousand instead she had to meet the groom and be here for him. Tank the man planning the party stated that they wanted the racetrack private so no one else was there and the groom to have as many laps, as he wanted, in whatever car, he picked.
The skydiving was one full hour and multiple jumps because they could only take eighteen men up at a time and they wanted the groom to jump as many times as he desired. They paid for two hours at the Top Shot shooting game which was good because the men could play four rounds. They had to be back by five for the stripping and dancing lessons and that was also open to as many men as wanted to participate.
There was to be no drinking until dinner. Which was an hour long all you can eat and drink buffet. After that the night got hazy because the men had to go check-in to their hotels and change. The Sapphire Gentlemen's Club was the best on the strip, it was the most expensive and they had paid for three hours of a private lounge area requesting their own bartender and two waitresses. She had gotten everything they had asked for, but the club had certain dress standards and the t-shirts and shorts, jeans or in some cases cargo pants weren't going to fly.
After the club there were three dance clubs that she usually took men to. Places that were rich in live female action, these guys were fit and ripped and good looking. From the looks of the groom, and all his men they wouldn't have much trouble getting female companionship for the rest of the night.
She was dressed to get the men's attention. She found that if she dressed slutty more of the men would look at her just to be looking but then they pay attention to her and listen when she talked. But she was also well known for picking out the richest men in the group and seducing them, especially the grooms who would love to pay for one more ride, on the hot well-endowed blonde, before they were shackled into wedding slavery to whatever plain Jane they were marrying. This man was definitely rich and controlled and well-liked by his friends. They told her the biggest challenge was going to be making him have fun and admitting he liked it.
But she couldn't believe any man wouldn't love racing cars, jumping out of planes, shooting guns and all that stuff gets men's adrenaline pumping. She has found that after some of that, plus a strip club: men were easy pickings. That's what she was hoping for. That after a day like today and several hours at a strip club he would be ready to pay her big for a release. This man just offered up at least $16,000 in a minute to four men to watch his soon to be wife for one night. Either he didn't trust her, or he was just rich and stupid.
Probably some of both. Brad her counterpart was coordinating the bachelorette party which had only four participants and only three activities. They only had three things down on their schedule, so it was going to be a tame night for him. The weird thing was that this Tank fellow had paid the $1250 for the bachelorette party on top of the fifty grand he had given her.
Tank said that he was coordinating for the groom who wanted his wife and her friends to have a good time, but he knew they didn't have the money to throw her a great party, so he was providing it. So obviously the groom had all the money in the relationship, and he was hot and sexy to boot. He would be one of her greatest prizes if she could get him all turned on and offer him an outlet for all his built-up testosterone. After a day like she had planned she hoped she could break his control and get him to pay her big bucks to release all his pent-up energy. She focused back on him and what he was doing.
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Ranger's POV
Suddenly he had a lot of volunteers. He looked over his men and the one man he wanted, wasn't raising his hand.
"Héctor, realmente te quiero en el reloj de novia esta noche. Tienes que saber que van a una revisión masculina. ¿Qué más necesitas - para hacer esto por mí?" (Hector, I really want you on Bride Watch tonight. You have to know they are going to a male review. What else do you need – to do this for me?) He wondered because Hector was even more all about Stephanie especially since she had taken Julie to protect her and everything she did in Russia.
In fact, all his men had great respect and trust in Stephanie now. She didn't know it, but she had solidified her role in leadership in the company with everything she had done. After her dare devil drive to the bridge, getting Julie safely to the shore, the spectacular swim in the dark, kidnapping him at gun point in handcuffs (something none of his men thought was possible) and going to the club and taking on Ivan to get him and his team free. She was a legend in the company. His men looked up to her, respected her and would willingly follow her now.
He looked slyly at me. "El trato que estableciste el viernes por la noche quiero la mitad." (The deal you set up last Friday night I want half.)
"Héctor, mi hermano, te lo iba a dar todo. Hiciste el trabajo que mereces el pago." (Hector, my brother, I was going to give you all of it. You did the work you deserve the payment.) Ranger was sincere he was going to give it all to Hector, but he realized that Hector might be uncomfortable with that.
¿No debería Estefania obtener la mitad? Todo lo que hice fue limpiar lo que quedaba." (Shouldn't Stephanie get half? All I did was clean up what was left.) Hector explained.
"Estefania se siente culpable por lo que pasó. Ella nunca tomaría dinero por ello. Aunque ella no apretó el gatillo." (Stephanie feels guilty about what happened. She would never take money for it. Even though she didn't pull the trigger.)
"Esa perra murió porque trató de matarla, fue un placer cuidar de ella." (That bitch died because she tried to kill her it was my pleasure to take care of it.)
"Aún así te encargaste de toda la situación para ambos. Así que te lo iba a dar todo." (Still you took care of the whole situation for both of us. So I was going to give it all to you.)
"Tomaré cuatro/quintos. Estableciste el trato. Nunca hubiera pensado hacer eso, así que te llevas una quinta parte." (I'll take four/fifths. You set up the deal. I would never have thought to do that, so you take one fifth.) He was right, Hector would never take it all and that was fair.
"¡Hecho! ¿Ahora qué quieres para cuidar de Estefanía y todas las mujeres esta noche?" (Done! Now what do you want for taking care of Stephanie and all the women tonight?) Because as far as he was concerned Hector had already earned that payment and he owed him extra for doing this tonight.
"Sé cuáles son los planes para esta tarde. Quiero ser parte de ellos Tomaré las vacaciones la próxima semana y eso será suficiente. Estaré encantado de ir a ver a las mujeres esta noche hasta que Estefania esté a salvo en la cama por la noche". (I know what the plans are for today. I want to be part of them. I will take the vacation next week and that will be enough. I will gladly go and watch the women tonight until Stephanie is safely tucked into bed.) Hector agreed.
"Gracias" (Thank you.) He was relived.
All my men were bad asses and killers but some of them like Cal and Hector looked like they could fuck you up and Hector is a mean fucker. Putting aside the fact that he had recently beat the shit out of him. Ranger knew that he let him kick his ass because he knew he had done wrong by keeping things from him. Plus, Hector knew how wound up Ranger had become from searching for them day after day with no results and he had let him get that wound up by being silent. So, he knew he deserved to get his ass kicked.
Despite that, Ranger knew better than to cross him. At one time he had saved Hector's life and gave him an option to get out of the gangs but that didn't mean Hector wouldn't teach him a lesson with his knifes. Hector hanging around Stephanie will keep other men who will try to hit on her and problem makers away and he knew Stephanie, she doesn't mean to, but her and Lula always seem to find problem makers.
He looked over his men and picked someone that wasn't part of the twelve going to Mexico. "Chester Duce, you are with the women from eight till two. Martin and Mario, you have the two AM till eleven thirty shifts." His men nodded their assent and he turned to Krystal. "Put that down on your roster. At eight PM and two AM we have to have shift change of men to meet up with the women."
"Got it, I even got the men who will be changing. Trust me Carlos, I do this for a living. I will keep everything under control." She assured him and he had to wonder. She was dressed like a call girl or someone going out to hook up at a club. But she did seem to have this under control. At least for the moment.
Then she continued her roll call. "I'm going to call you all alphabetically. I want you to raise your hand and say here. I have to get to know each of you. Binkie...here… Bones... here… Brett... here… Caesar... here… Cal – you said is on Bride Watch till eight – next I have Chester Duce… here… – you go on Bride Watch at eight PM."
"Call me Chet ma'am." Chester said and she wrote that on her list.
"Erik… here…" Erik was from the Boston office and was on the Russian trip, but Ranger didn't know him well. "Hal is currently on Bride Watch." She was making notes as she talked, and I tuned out all my men. I knew who they were I didn't need to see them making eyes at her or waving their arms in a come-hither fashion that for the most part she seemed to be ignoring.
"Hank...here… Hector… here…– has Bride Watch at eight PM." She wrote down. "Next I have Jose… here… Junior... here… Manny… here…. Mario... here… you have Bride Watch at two AM. Mark... here… Mark was also from the Boston office, but we had worked together in the Rangers I could see why he would want to come party with me. Martin... here… you are also on Bride watch at two AM. Manuel... here… Miguel… here… That is a lot of M's." She commented as she continued to make notes.
"I have a bunch of R's – Ram... here… Ramon... here… Raphael... here… Raptor – I already called you... Rodriquez... here… Romeo… here… and Ryan… here… Finally, I have Slick... here… Travis... here… Travis was also from the Boston office, but he had originally been hired here in Trenton and transferred over there. He was a good worker and I hoped a sane partier. I never remembered any problems with him while he lived here so I hoped he kept his partying under control.
Vince... here… Victor... here… Woody... here… Zero... here… and finally Zip… here…. Total, right now I have thirty-five men including the groom; but Ranger's brother is joining up later. Tank since two men will always be on Bride Watch and your brother is not joining us till dinner; for the day, we are only going to charge you for thirty-two people." She made another note on her paper.
"All right everyone sit down, there are water bottles there you can pass around. We have a little trip before us but don't say anything because it is a surprise for Carlos." With that announcement she sat across from me at the end of the bench and smiled alluringly at me and I just shifted my eyes away to tell her subtly that I'm not interested.
To be continued…
A/N Several ladies wanted a pinterest board for this story so I have just finished it. It has pins for the whole story. For those who are interested here it is: www dot pinterest dot com/rangerbabe21/gone-girl/
As always, a BIG THANK YOU for reading and reviewing.
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