Chapter 11

The next few weeks careened by. After a few weeks Ranger let my personal bodyguard drop down to one Ford Explorer. This was on the condition that I wore trackers and panic alarms in my earrings. I agreed but I was still counting it as a win for Stephanie. Ranger had finally agreed a week or two ago that I was ok to go to new instal sites again, but now every client was run vigorously through our search programs, which in turn generated a lot more work for me. Sugar got roped into helping me and learning how to run searches. He had passed on the physicals but he was definitely still on probation. Sugar was determined to earn his place. He volunteered to cover any shift going, and so far, he hadn't so much as stepped a toe out of line.

Ranger was satisfied that the new process, though time consuming, was worth it to ensure no other future ambushes happened like that. We ran through the fake account that tricked us and sure enough there were a number of red flags, including significant debts and several recent run ins with the law. Ranger rolled out the new process to all of the other Rangeman branches, so I couldn't bitch he was just doing it to keep me safe, it was for all personnel.

At our 20 week scan the baby stubbornly laid down the wrong way so we couldn't see the angle of the dangle, or you know, no dangle. Everything else was checked out ok, the heart and lungs and all essential organs were developing A-ok.

We went back to the clinic at 22 weeks and then again at 24 weeks. Whatever baby was, he or she was a monkey.

Finally, at 26 weeks we had our answer. We were expecting a little girl! Ranger grinned broadly. "You're not disappointed?" I asked, "You already have one of those."

He shook his head. "Half of you, half of me. All brand new. I was hoping for a girl. A daughter like you. She's going to have me wrapped round her thumb, just like her mama."

I smiled brightly, "She's going to be beautiful."

"Yeah." Ranger agreed smiling.

After the hospital Ranger took me out to eat an early dinner. Sugar, Cal and Tank were on guard duty. Sugar was always the third on any wheel, I guess the trust wasn't there yet, though I think the men were certainly getting there. It would take Ranger longer. Technically, Raul had kidnapped me, and Ranger wasn't good at forgiving. Though I appreciated he was trying, for me.

I was eating a lovely salad full of halloumi and mint and other good things that probably weren't healthy at all. It was the only way I ate salad.

"I haven't met your family." I said as casually as I could, as I took a slurp of my lemonade.

Ranger blinked twice. "My family don't really get me." He finally said. "I like them, but they're just a bit bemused by me. I only see them once or twice a year."

"Bemused how?"

"I'm a bit quiet." It was such an understatement that it made me smile.

I shook my head, "only if you're listening for words." I said, reaching out and taking his hands. His lips tipped up in a smile.

"That's kind of what they listen for." Ranger humor.

I rolled my eyes. "Their loss." I took another slurp of my drink. "I want our baby to know your family though, if they're not flat earthers, conspiracy nuts or abusive."

I was amusing Ranger again. "None of those." He promised.

"Ok, so can I meet them sometime?"

Ranger pulled out his phone. "Hola Mama. Si es Bueno. Puedo ir a visitarte? Si, ahora. Adios." He hung up. Hi Mama, Yes I'm good. Can I come for a visit? Yes, now. Bye.

My jaw was dropped…"er Ranger?"

"No time like the present Babe." He threw down a wedge of money onto our table and grabbed my hand and took us out to his Porsche.

I was in my usual uniform of jeans and a jumper. The jumper stretched nicely over my bump, leaving no doubt as to my current state.

Ranger drove us to a nice but not fancy side of town whilst I desperately used my handbag make up supplies to pretty myself up.

We parked up and Ranger stilled my hands. "You're beautiful the moment you wake, to the moment you sleep."

I leaned over and kissed him. "I don't know what I did a past life but I sure was a good girl."

Ranger grinned at me.

"I know, I know." I huffed, "I've been a bad girl this time, next life I'll probably be a snail."

"Think of all the shells you could wreck." Ranger countered, more Ranger humour.

"Ha ha. Just for that I'm going to explode one of your cars soon." I paused, "It's honestly been a while, I must be due an explosion."

"Just make sure your trackers aren't in the car so I don't have a heart attack."

I nodded. "10-4."

The banter had eased my nerves, as Ranger had no doubt intended.

He knocked solidly and I gave the waiting black Ford Explorer a nervous looking finger wave.

The door opened and a woman about the same age as my mom opened the door. Her hair was dyed black and the lines on her face were artfully disguised with make up. Her clothing was motherly and she had a small middle aged spread, thank goodness she had some flaw. Her kohl lined eyes were wide as she took in my stomach.

"Carlos?" She simply said, awaiting an explanation.

"Si, mi bebe. Mi Hija. Y este es mi amor de mi vida, Stephanie." Yes my baby. My daughter. And this is my love of my life, Stephanie.

Her eyes filled with tears, "Oh," she exclaimed, pulling me into her arms for a warm hug "Gracias a Dios." Thank God.

"Mama, English please." Ranger said gently.

"Si, yes, of course." Said the woman still hugging me. "You picked a busy time to visit, but come in to the madness, please." She stepped back and gestured for us to come in, but then she caught sight of Rangers weapons.

"No son of mine is wearing guns in my house. You know the rules." She said firmly.

Ranger hesitated, jaw clenched. He gestured for the men to get closer to the house. They decanted from the car and spread out. Mama Manoso frowned more. Ranger undid his gun holster and held it out to Tank who was moving closer. I snagged it instead and put it on. Ranger would not relax unarmed. And he had a deep seated need to protect me too. He would feel naked and stressed unarmed. So I slung his weapons on, at least they we would be near him, and I raised my chin and dared Ranger's Mama to argue with me. "I am no son of yours." I pointed out with a little insincere smile.

For a long moment she stared at me, before finally she smiled. "Gracias a dios. Una Guerrera." Thank God, a warrior. She stepped back again, holding the door open. I checked the safety was on again, on both guns, and then I followed her in. I guess Mama Manoso doesn't know about Ranger's knives.

If the sight of a heavily armed pregnant woman gave the masses of children pause, they didn't show it. Ranger handed me his jacket and I tossed it on to help look less terrifying. Man I wished I had some dutch courage to get me through this one.

Mama Monoso ("Aleja" Ranger murmured) introduced me to Ranger sisters, Celia, Aymee, Safia and Gisele. His brother, Alejandro and his dad Pedro. The kids were myriad and largely miscellaneous. Purely because my memory wasn't up to the task. It was a rowdy Sunday dinner. I'd been here all of an hour and I already had a much greater understanding of Ranger's solitude. For a soldier too, this environment after action would be fraught and tense. Even now, we had settled down in a loveseat in the corner of the room so Ranger had complete coverage of the room. Frankly, that Ranger was relaxed next to me spoke volumes of the comfort he got from having Tank, Cal, Hal and Snake out front.

"It's not them." Ranger said, murmuring to me, reading my thoughts on my face. "It's you. Wearing my guns like a sexy bad ass."

God helped me I liked it. "Definitely a snail I my next life." I whispered back and Ranger let out a little laugh at me, pressing a kiss to my lips.

The raucous room fell silent like a switch had been thrown. Aleja was welling up and she turned to Pedro to have a comforting hug. In the sudden silence it was easy to hear her quiet, "Carlos laughed, did you hear him laugh?"

Ranger looked at me with wry humour. He didn't like being the centre of attention. "Want me to strip?" I whispered to him. And that did it, he burst out laughing again, this time almost bent double.

When he got himself under control he was still grinning, "Imagine telling the baby, and then Mama met Abuela and started striping."

I gave him a rueful smile, "We're going to have to censor a lot of stories."

I took a sip of my soft drink and then Ranger said "I vote we just cut the alley completely", making me snort my soft drink almost out of my nose. "Oh my god." I said mortified, glaring at him. "You did than on purpose Ranger Manoso!"

He grinned at me and kissed my forehead, a perpetual get out of jail free card if ever there was one. "Yeah yeah," I sighed, "laugh it up. We're still going to have words when we get home."

He dropped his voice for my ears alone, "words about how naughty you are?" he whispered playfully. I felt a bolt of heat go right to my doodah. "uh oh." I said faintly. Ranger snickered next to me.

I turned hot eyes on him. "I think we need a detour on the way home. To the Alley." His eyes lost all humour and filled with something dark and sexy and all Ranger.

He kissed my hand and pulled me up from the seat. I guess it was time to go. We had places to go, alleys to nefariously visit.

Ranger announced to the room at larger. "Mejor nos vamos. No quiero abrumar a Steohanie en sue primera visita." We're going to go. No need to overwhelm Stephanie for her first visit.

We got a chorus of adioses and goodbyes as we made our way out.

Aleja waved us out, "Vuelve con ella pronto." Bring her back soon.

Ranger nodded and we made our escape. Once we were safely in the car, I went to give him back his jacket and his guns.

"Leave them on." He replied hotly as he peeled the car away.

Oh boy.