CHAPTER 9

I finished my breakfast, rinsed the dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. Ranger gave me a quick kiss then left for his 9 am core staff meeting. Grabbing his laptop, I sat on the couch, logged into the Rangeman database to begin my research. Ranger said they disabled my cameras using Vaseline, but they weren't caught on camera. Which means they needed a way to launch the Vaseline. How can you launch Vaseline? Suddenly, an idea popped into my head... was it even possible? When I was in high school, Eddie, Carl and I used to go to the paintball bunkers. Either Eddie's dad or Carl's dad would drive us there and bring us back home. They helped me hide the secret from my parents. We would spend our allowances, in my case it was money from Grandma Mazur, on renting paintball guns and buying various cheap paintballs. After a few visits, I would always buy the thick walled paintballs because they would hurt more and often left bruises. At $50 for 100 paintballs, we could only afford to go once a month. My spidey-sense was telling me I was on the correct trail. A paintball gun and paintballs were likely used to disable the cameras. I used google and researched various paintball manufacturers. There had to be one that offered customized paintballs. I checked out a dozen stores, but most of them were out of state. Okay, so not a store, I keep searching. Something grabs my attention, what's this obscure company? I click on the website link... Eureka... I found an online site that ships from Newark. Paintball Emporium advertised specialty paintballs filled with anything liquid or gel. They manufacture their own paintballs in the warehouse and don't have a store front. All merchandise is manufactured then shipped from the warehouse. For a quick order to shipment turnaround time, you had to pay a premium. The fee for customized paintballs was exorbitant and there was a minimum purchase order required. Reading through the website, I saw they offered reusable, metallic shell, pearl shell or glow in the dark. With customization, you determine the type, filling, thickness of shell and you could even add a logo. But you had to order a minimum of 150 paintballs. Filling out the form for thin pearl shell, Vaseline filling, single use and no logo, the cost was $500 plus shipping, not including the paintball gun. Since I selected the thin pearl shell paintballs, they recommended the $550 paintball gun. If I chose a thicker pearl shell, the paintball cost increased to $600 but I could purchase the $150 paintball gun instead. The range is between $750 and $1050 for both paintballs and gun, $550 to $600 for just the paintballs. Regular shipping cost is $80. To have your order expedited, the fee plus shipping was an additional $200. I selected regular shipping and printed off both orders without completing them.

Barely containing my excitement, I texted Ranger 'Could they have used Vaseline filled paintballs to disable the cameras?'

It took a few minutes for Ranger to answer. 'Hal says it's possible. Why did you suspect paintballs?'

'I used to go to a paintball bunker with Eddie and Carl. Depending on the paintball gun and paintballs, you can hit a target between 80 and 100 feet away. Since cameras have a hard surface, the paintball will break upon impact. If you have a gelatinous filling, it would leave a thicker more condensed splatter and a liquid filling will have a thin, but spread out splatter. I found a website to order customized paintballs. Is there a way we can order some so I can show you the difference between the two?' I waited for Ranger to reply. Within a few minutes Ranger, Hal and Tank rushed into the apartment. Tank saw the order forms on the coffee table and read them. He grabbed the laptop and quickly placed the order with expedited processing and delivery. Once the new forms were printed, confirming the order, Tank and Hal left. What was that all about?

Ranger sat on the coffee table and grabbed my hands. "We were trying to figure out how the cameras were disabled. The paintballs were immediately dismissed since they are typically paint filled. I had no idea customizable paintballs existed." I smiled feeling proud of myself. Ranger's lip twitched. "You don't like guns, but you have no problems with paintball guns? Why?"

I giggled then put on a serious face. "Paintball guns can't kill anyone."

He shook his head "I was wondering how you managed such a high accuracy rate in the gun range. You had lots of practice."

I pulled Ranger's face closer and kissed him. "Now you know all my secrets."

"You never disappoint. Mi amor eres asombrosa. (My love you are amazing)." He kissed me softly. I didn't understand what he said to me, but whenever he speaks to me in Spanish, I swoon.

According to the website, the paintballs will be ready to ship tomorrow afternoon and should arrive by 9 pm. Tank ordered both the thin shell and the thick shell Vaseline filled paintballs, but no paintball guns. "Ranger, why didn't Tank order paintball guns?"

"Babe." I took this to mean, 'because we already have paintball guns'.

"Oh. I didn't realize you already have paintball guns."

His lip twitched. "Every 6 months we go to the paintball bunker for practice drills." I mentally slapped my forehead... of course they do. With a wicked gleam in his eye he said, "Next time you're coming with us." Oh boy. Ranger grabbed my hand and led me to the elevator. When we arrived on the fifth floor, he took me to his office and sat me on his chair. "I would like you to finish your research here."

I looked around his office. Sitting in his chair makes me feel like the boss. "But where are you going to work? This is your office," I questioned, wondering why he would give up his office.

"Tank's office is next door. He's leaving for patrol duty. I'll use his office to complete the paperwork. I need to keep you close." He said as he kissed my forehead. I wonder what that's all about.

Five o'clock rolled around faster than I anticipated. My stomach was growling so loud that several men at the monitors and Ranger could hear it. Lester strolled into the office "Beautiful, did you forget to feed the beast again?"

"No, I ate lunch at one because I needed to take my meds. I was too busy to grab a snack," I quickly replied.

"What did you eat?" he asked.

"Twigs and bark," I said seriously. He looked confused so I said, "Turkey sandwich with low fat mayo on whole wheat bread." Lester laughed at my description. I always call 'healthy food' twigs and bark. Ella provides a hot breakfast, healthy sandwiches at lunch and hot dinner for all Rangeman employees. She used to bake cookies, brownies and cakes, but Ranger banned them when the men gained too much weight. If I wanted to have sugar in my coffee or Tastykakes, I had to buy them myself and hide them in the kitchen. Lester held out his arm for me as he invited me to dinner at Shorty's for pizza and beer with the guys. Readily accepting both his arm and invitation, we headed towards the elevator with the other men.

Ranger pulled me close, gave me a quick kiss and said, "Stay safe," using my line.

I smirked and replied, "Don't go crazy," which he usually tells me. His lip twitched in amusement as the elevators closed. Ranger rarely attends dinner out with the guys. He knows when the men need bonding time and the opportunity to talk freely with each other. Since the Merry Men treat me like their little sister, Ranger doesn't mind me going out with them. He knows they will protect me.

Lester parked behind Shorty's where staff usually parks. "Why are we parked back here and not in front?" I asked.

"We're sneaking you in."

My jaw dropped and before my anger could rise to the surface, Cal said, "He's kidding. Shorty told us to park here if you come with us."

"Oh." I realized they didn't really answer my question. When Bobby, Cal, Hal, Lester and I exited the car, the men arranged themselves around me in a protective bubble. Lester in front, Hal in back, Cal and Bobby on either side of me. I started to laugh. "I feel like a celebrity. I even have my own bodyguards."

Hal snickered. "If anything happens to you, the boss will kill us."

I muttered, "protective much?"

Lester started to laugh. "You could say that again." We entered Shorty's through the back pantry. Shorty led us to a private table in the back, separated from the main dining area.

Within minutes, Shorty brought us six pizzas and three pitchers of beer. "Tank called in the order. He wanted you to spend the least amount of time here as possible." The men looked among themselves. My spidey-sense was telling me that someone has some explaining to do. Chances are it involved me, but I really don't appreciate having others making decisions for me. Looking around at the other men, I realized, they were in the same boat as me. They have no more information than I do. Keeping the evening light, we joked around, enjoyed our food and each other's company. Before long, Shorty returned and said it was time for us to leave. When I checked my watch, I saw we were only there for an hour. Lester took out his wallet to pay, but Shorty waved him off and said, "The bill has already been paid."

Huh... I wonder who paid the bill. The answer was evident when we exited through the back door. Ranger was leaning against his Porsche 911 waiting for me. "Babe." He looked at Lester and said, "She needs to come with me." Lester nodded his head then jumped into the driver's seat of the Cayenne, Hal and Cal in the back with Bobby riding shotgun.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I playfully asked Ranger. He pulled me against him and kissed me passionately. My knees felt weak and the heat of the kiss warmed my lady parts. We need to get home and get home fast. Walking with me to the passenger side, he opened the door and assisted me into the car. Apparently we were on the same wavelength. As soon as he was in the driver's seat he raced out of the parking lot. We arrived back at Rangeman within 10 minutes. Luckily, every light was green. Once we parked and in the elevator, Ranger scrambled the camera and pulled me into a searing kiss. Somehow we made it to his apartment still fully clothed. As soon as the door closed behind us, we ripped off each other's clothes and lost ourselves in the passion. He pressed me against the door and wrapped my legs around his waist. "Ranger, I'm still wearing the boot cast."

"It doesn't bother me, Babe." He continued kissing me, our tongues touched and with ferocious intensity he entered me. After a few thrusts, I cried out in ecstasy. I could feel his smile through his kisses. He walked us, still joined, to the bedroom. Carefully he placed me on the bed and gave into the impenetrable desire until he released, causing me to scream again in ecstasy. We made love a few more times during the night.