Chapter 56

I wasn't sure who was the most surprised as we stared at each other. and was amazed when neither of us said a word. I felt Coleman take hold of my arm and pull me further into the room and noticed that Chan Roan, Jin Reyes or whatever he was called, glimpse into the cupboard where I'd been and as he swept his eyes up and down my body.

"Have you hurt her Noah?"

"No. If she can be used then that's what I'll do"

I was pretty sure that Narong couldn't produce that program again, but I didn't want him to be put into that position. He'd already been through enough worry when his son had been taken by Coleman. I also wasn't too sure that I was important enough to sway Narong into doing anything. The only thing that Coleman's suggestion would do would be to give me time, time for Ranger to find me or even for me to make my escape from him.

"That won't work Noah, he's gone. After the meeting he went straight to the airport. He's covered his tracks, so I have no idea where he went"

I felt Coleman's hand digging into my arm when he heard that and to be honest, I was feeling that things couldn't get any worse for me. I had no idea who Chan Roan was or what he would do. When we'd spoken to him in Cambodia, he'd told us that he was with the South Korean National Intelligence service and that he was tasked to collaborate with special access programs, IN-SAP. Was he lying to us in the hope that we would tell him where the drive was?

Hell, he'd sounded so sincere when he'd spoken to us, but here he was, and obviously he knew Coleman well, well enough to call him Noah. So, what the hell was the relationship between Coleman and Chan Roan? Was he a prospective customer of Coleman's who was willing to pay for information from it? I supose he may well work for his government because I suppose even governments would want to know who their enemies were.

"Then I'll deal with her"

Came from a very annoyed Coleman. It seemed we'd come full circle now, back to him wanting to kill me, so I looked across to Chan to try to plead with him with my eyes to help me. I thought that Chan was hearing my plea because he stepped forward toward me but the sight of the gun in his hand had me suddenly panicking. Would he shoot me instead of Coleman? This was my last chance to try and do something because time was running out so I used one of the moves that Ranger had taught me against Coleman, grabbing hold of his wrist I pulled my arm down out of his grasp. Just as I'd released myself from the hold I heard the loud explosion of a gun being fired. I was back on the floor sprawled out when all hell broke loose, and my vision was filled with the sight of black boots running across the floor.

I felt hands on my shoulders, turning me and helping me to sit up. My ears were ringing from the gun firing so close to me, so any sound seemed a bit muffled and to be honest I was beginning to shake a bit.

"Babe, look at me. Please"

It was the voice and the feeling of being safe that had me looking up, up into a very concerned Ranger. There was a blank face to be seen, as he started to run his hands over me.

"Brown, Steph's hurt"

That surprised me because I wasn't feeling any pain anywhere and that's when I realized that the blood all over me was probably what Ranger had seen.

"It's not mine, I'm not hurt"

I saw the confusion as both Ranger and Bobby looked at me and realized that they needed an explanation.

"Pagna, Coleman shot her, it's her blood"

That had me remembering that Coleman and Chan had been in the room making me wonder who was the one that had fired. I looked round Ranger and saw lots of men in the room, but it was the sight of Chan that made me move closer to Ranger. The move didn't go unnoticed by Ranger and as he stood up he brought me to my feet with him, his arm around my waist holding me close to him.

"Babe, Jin was the one who worked out where you were and insisted that he came in to get you out"

I felt bad for doubting Jin but how the hell was I supposed to know he was here to help me, I mean the way he spoke with Coleman it made it sound as though he was in collusion with Coleman. I watched as Jin walked over to us and as he and Ranger did some sort of private conversation with only a was Jin who spoke first, almost as if he needed to apologize to me.

"Steph, I'm sorry, but there was no way that I could warn you of what was happening"

"How. I mean what happened?"

I turned from Jin to Ranger for that information wondering what had happened at the restaurant.

"The smoke had a gas mixed in with it which caused people to start feeling ill. The doors had been jammed shut and after people started panicking, they then became drowsy. I lost you in the panic and ended up knocked out. When I came too you were gone, but I knew how to find you"

I watched as he fingered the necklace around my neck, making me wonder how the hell he knew that I'd wear this one from the choice that I had? Never mind, he probably had trackers in everything that I owned and to be honest I wasn't annoyed because it had helped him to find me it.

"I went back to Rangeman and we started to put a plan together, that was when Jin contacted me. He had eyes on Coleman, so seeing as how Coleman knew Jin as an ally he came in while we prepared to storm the place"

I looked over to Jin curious as to what his role really was and exactly who he was working for. I saw Jin look at me and watched as he seemed to think things through.

"I'd like to know Jin"

I said, hoping that he would open up and tell us what his part had been in all of this.

"I do work for the South Korean National Intelligence service, but wasn't working with your government. I was tasked with getting that drive from Coleman so went undercover working here at Hisence with him. He promised me a lot of money and the promise of a partnership to design and manage a protocol for dealing with potential clients. I wasn't sure what had happened at that hotel when you met him or if you gave him the drive"

"So you didn't know that it wouldn't work?"

I asked not knowing if that would have made a difference to what might have happened tonight.

"I never really believed it would work but my handler insisted that I got hold of it. To be honest I just wanted it destroyed, and would have done that, but you didn't hear that from me"

Thinking about what he'd just said I suppose he was very much like Ranger, he seemed to have a moral compass regardless of what he was told had to happen. I watched as he and Ranger shook hands and as Jin disappeared from the room. I wasn't too sure what would happen next, seeing as we had two dead bodies, and to be honest didn't really care. I felt myself breathing easier as though a weight had been lifted from me and I suppose it was because we seemed to have eventually resolved the problems that had been facing us for so long.

"Let's go home"

I was so into that happening. I felt sure that I looked an absolute mess and really wanted to get out of these clothes and wash away all of the blood and even some of the memories of what had happened tonight. I allowed Ranger to guide me to the elevator, not really surprised when we ended up with two men in there with us. Coming out onto the street I turned to look at where we'd been, my eyes scanning the glass windows of the floors as they rose up into the darkness of the sky. Lafayette Street, the place where this had all begun so it was probably a fitting place for it all to end.

Three hours later I was wrapped around Ranger as we lay in the king sized bed at the house. He'd been so gentle with me, almost as though I might break, which wasn't at all likely, well not yet. I'd soaked under a hot shower as he'd washed the blood from me and then while I soaked away any aftereffects in a tub of hot bubbly water, well that was what he told me it was for, he'd prepared some food for us. Yeah, I'd suddenly felt really hungry remembering that we'd missed out on our meal at the restaurant.

As I lay in bed I fingered my ring, remembering the song that we'd danced to and how he had proposed. If I hadn't had the solidity of feeling the ring on my finger I would have thought it had been a dream.

"What are you thinking Babe?"

I lifted my head from his chest to look up into his face thinking how to answer his question.

"I loved the restaurant and the memory of you asking me to marry you, it seemed so magical, as though we were floating on clouds"

"I'm so sorry we couldn't finish our evening"

To me what time we did have was important and now we were free of people chasing us or at least chasing me. That did have me feeling weird though.

"What happens now?"

"Well, I seem to remember that someone owes me 24 hours, so starting in the morning I plan on keeping you to that"

I smiled as remembered that he'd disappeared when I was sent to get ready and was back to wanting to know what he'd planned.

"So what do I need to know, you know, so that I have what I need with me?"

"Nothing, all I need is you. The rest will just happen"

Damn, I wasn't going to find out anything. And knowing Ranger he could have planned absolutely anything. Whatever it was though I knew that he would never hurt me or expect me to do something that I was uncomfortable with. Thinking that thought I fell into a deep sleep.

I woke feeling refreshed but on my own. Stretching and feeling the empty space next to me the sheets still felt warm so maybe Ranger had only just got up. Looking to the end of the bed I was surprised to see some clothes set out so more out of curiosity I crawled down the bed to take a look. I wasn't overly impressed with what was there, not if this was the beginning of his 24 hours and to be honest a twinge of disappointment went through me. I went to the bathroom first to freshen up, noting that the shower was still steamy, and then got dressed in the underwear, jeans and sweater that had been left.

As I went down the stairs I came to a standstill, the smile on my face disappearing when I saw Hector stood leant against the kitchen counter. I looked around the living area and outside but there was no sign of Ranger anywhere. My heart missed a beat as I suddenly started to worry about where he was. Surely he hadn't had to go into work had he?

"Estefania. Nothing is wrong, don't look so worried"

Yeah that was comforting to know, like not at all.

"Where's Ranger?"

Hoping that he wasn't delaying the 24 hours that I owed him.

"Coffee and breakfast first"

I couldn't believe what Hector was saying to me, how could I just sit and drink coffee while I ate breakfast, though I have to admit that I did enjoy the pancakes that Hector had cooked for me. I decided that the saying que será, será was probably going to be a good mantra for me today. I tidied my dirty dishes into the dishwasher just as Hector came back through the door, hell I hadn't even realized that he'd left the room.

"Now we go"

Go where? was what I wanted to ask but decided that if Hector wanted me to know that then he would have told me. He led the way out of the front of the house where the blue SUV was parked, reminding me of an age ago when Hector had driven me to the railway station. Once in the car we were soon travelling away from the house. Even now I was sure that I'd never find my way here on my own. We didn't seem to travel very far before we were leaving the main road and travelling down a quieter road. I recognized this road and looked over to Hector, at least he had the sense to ignore me. I couldn't work out why we were going to the private airfield, or was this all part of Ranger's plan, that he'd meet me on the plane?

Boy was I disappointed as I climbed the steps and onto the plane. No Ranger, in fact it seemed that we had the plane to ourselves. I turned to look at Hector as he followed me in and opened my mouth to ask what the hell was going on. All he did was place a finger against my lips, it seemed that I wasn't going to get any help from him.

I tried to make out landmarks as we flew but the clouds obscured my view and when I felt that we were slowly descending that was when Hector actually came and sat next to me.

"Do you trust me Estefania?"

"Yes, why?"

"I'm going to blindfold you"

I knew that I was staring at him as he said that, absorbing what he was asking of me. Why would he need to blindfold me?

"Ranger said to say, 24 hours to you, and that you would understand"

As I heard Hector say that it suddenly became clear that this was all of Ranger's planning. For some reason he wanted me somewhere, where I have no idea, but it started to feel very special. I nodded my head and allowed Hector to place a blindfold over my eyes. It was a damn good one as well because not a slither of light was able to penetrate through it. I felt as the plane landed and was feeling nervous, I suppose of the unknown, and was soon holding onto Hector as he led me down the stairs from the plane. I felt warmer but not for very long before we were seated in a car with the air conditioning running.

I was lifted from the car, I was sure by Hector and carried somewhere. That was when he removed the blindfold from my eyes. I blinked at the brightness of the light coming in through the windows but was soon looking around where I was. I had a feeling of familiarity go through me, not that I'd been here before but the layout of the place and the way that it was furnished. A voice had me turning my head toward where I was almost certain the stairs would be.

"Well aint this a pip, I got to look through his closet and drawers"

"Grandma!"

I wasn't sure whether to hug her or tell her off but ended up in her arms anyway. I was so pleased to see her that it took me a moment to realize that she was actually here with me, and asking her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Come on, we don't have much time"

Was all she said as she started to make her way back up the stairs. For an old woman she could still move fast when she needed to and it seemed to be her way of avoiding having to answer me. As I followed her into a room I came to halt, not because the room was unusual or anything, I mean it was just a bedroom. Okay it was a lovely room with soft coral on the wall and a darker coral on the drapes and matching couch. I wasn't really looking at those, I was looking at the bed and what was laid out on it.

"Grandma?"

"Go shower and then you need to get ready"

I was going to say ready for what, but looking at a dress draped over the bed I felt my heart start to flutter. Was I being stupid for what I was thinking, could this really be happening or was I just dreaming?

An hour and a half later, I was stood in front of the mirror looking at the reflection of myself. Grandma was stood next to me, an enormous grin on her face which hadn't left her face since I'd arrived. And for the first time in her life she hadn't said anything to let me know what was going to happen, though the reflection gave it away.

"Okay, now what Grandma?"

I asked as I looked at her.

"You look so beautiful Steph and so happy. I'm so glad to be here, to be a part of this. Now let's go. People will be waiting for us"

I walked out of the room and down the stairs to see my Dad stood waiting for me. He hugged me carefully but didn't say anything as he looped my arm through his and started to walk us through the door. It was as we were walking down a pathway that was adorned with flowers that he stopped and turned me toward him.

"You did good Pumpkin. I always knew you had it in you. Ranger told me the story, maybe a shortened version, but I'm so proud of you. He's good for you, he lets you fly but is there to catch you"

I never had a chance to respond before we were walking again and as we walked through a final archway, I'd forgotten what I wanted to say to him. My attention was captivated with the scene in front of me, well the man in front of me. The waves were gently lapping at the sand as the sun behind me started to sink. It was perfect and I was pretty sure that we were maybe at his house in Miami, something I'd ask when the time was right.

I was aware of people on each side of me but my eyes never left his as I walked toward him. He was dressed in a white linen shirt and pale beige trousers and he suddenly became my favorite looking Ranger, no that was wrong.

He was my Carlos, my new future.