Disclaimer: I don't own these character, I'm just playing.

Thank you to my wonderful Beta Heather (Txbabefan) for helping me out with this story and all my others!

Chapter 12

Band-aid Level Injuries

Angst Warning

Steph POV:

I sat at the counter as Carlos set the plate in front of me. "Is that all Hector did?" I asked.

"So far," Carlos answered with a grin. I smiled and shook my head.

"When will you all Perez back?"

"Soon," he said sitting across from me at the island. Our knees touched and we faced each other. His hand found mine and he laced our fingers. We both turned to our food, after a few moments I looked up at him. He raised an eyebrow.

"You should call him soon," I urged.

"Babe." He said. I rolled my eyes and he chuckled.

"After we finish lunch, I will call him and set up a meet," Carlos said. I shook my head.

"I'll tell Taylor when we get the meet set up." I said locked eyes with him. "We're going to have to watch our asses. How are we going to know if anyone comes into the apartment while we're gone?"

He smiled and walked into the bedroom bring back out the bag from earlier. He pulled out a few trinkets and objects and set them on the counter. "Cameras, Babe." He said.

I watched as he placed them around the apartment. "We'll get an alert through the app Hector made," Carlos said. I nodded.

"I'm going to get dressed," I called, leaving him in the living room. I walked into the large closet and gazed around. The clothes were all beautiful, expensive and designer. Yet they weren't me, they were Ari's. In the coming weeks I would have to make sure to keep my cover Ari and my real life separate. I was afraid of them blending together and not being able to separate myself from the ruthless persona that was Ari.

I let out a shuddering breath. I didn't know how Carlos and all of his men did it. Just the few days I had been pretending to be her weighed on me. I found a tight red blouse that hugged my body. The sleeves cuffed around my wrist, there were slits in them from the shoulder to the cuff. I found a pair of black leather pants that laced on the sides. I slipped into them and checked myself out in the mirror.

I had to admit I looked good. I found a pair of black heels and carried them into the bathroom with me. I styled my hair into curls and fluffed my hair. Applying bright red lipstick and a smoky eye, I looked at myself in the mirror. This was Ari Daniels. I slipped on the shoes and stared at myself. Carlos came up behind me and wrapped me in his arms.

"What's wrong, Babe?" he asked, softly in my ear, pressing a gentle kiss under my ear.

"How do you do it?" I asked him.

"Do what?"

"How do you keep your cover identity separate from the actual you?" I asked him. Carlos's arms tensed and he spun me around pulling me into the bedroom. He sat on the bed and brought me into his lap to straddled him.

"You don't really," he said softly. "The cover is a part of you. When it's set up, they try and keep it as close as possible to your real life. That way it's easier, but it doesn't make it easier. Not in the long run, Babe. Your cover can either be a part of you or you can be a part of it. You cannot allow it to bury who you really are."

"Ari is cold and heartless, Carlos. What if I start becoming her?"

"You could never Babe. You are neither cold, nor heartless. You are the warmest, gentlest, loving person I know. Ari Daniels is a role. A role you slip in and out of. She is a small part of you. She doesn't control you; you control her."

I nodded and he kissed me softly. "You look gorgeous, Babe."

I smiled and he helped me off his lap. "You're not looking to bad yourself, Carlos." He really wasn't.

He wore a black silk shirt, the top three buttons undone showing a large expanse of chest. His slacks were charcoal grey, and his shoes were black Italian loafers. I slipped a holster to the back of my pants and pulled my leather jacket over the top of it before raising an eye at Carlos. He raised his pants leg to show me the clutch piece at his ankle. He looped his arm through mine.

We walked to the elevator and rode it down to the second story in the garage. We slid into the Speedtail and Carlos revved the engine, and took my hand. We were silent driving to the meet with Perez.

"Carlos, I have a bad feeling about this." I said biting my lip. He ran his thumb over the back of my hand.

"We're covered Babe. We're going to be extra careful."

"Who is supposed to be our customer? What if Perez wants to meet them?" I asked.

"Taylor and Les will be posing as our buyers. Tank and Rage will be our hands. They'll be moving the product," Carlos said. I nodded.

When we arrived, we got out of the Speedtail and walked to the door. We were searched before being allowed through. Again, Carlos was wearing the watch. His arm around my waist as we walked to Perez's office. He motioned for us to sit.

"We've pushed the shipment forward. It is arriving tonight." Perez said. "Will that be a problem?"

"No." Carlos said. "Ari would you mind contacting the client?"

"Hmmm." I hummed in response.

"You could have just told me that over the phone. What else is there?" Carlos arched his eyebrow and waited for Perez to answer.

"Your are correct." He said. "I would like to meet your client. Not to steal them out from under you; just to verify you have a client."

I felt Carlos squeeze my thigh in his hand. "That can be arranged," I said. "I handle client deals. When I speak to them, I will tell them you would like to meet them. They are very private people so I can't guarantee that they will want to meet you."

Perez nodded. "Mr. Gonzales I would like to speak to your fiancé alone."

Carlos looked at me and I nodded. "I'll be fine, Ric," I said locking eyes with me. He knew I wore the earrings that he had given me, but he still seemed hesitant to leave me alone with Perez. Carlos squared his shoulders and kissed me softly.

"I'll be waiting outside," he said. His hand left my shoulder as he walked towards the door. It was shut behind him, leaving me alone with Perez.

"What is your angle, Ms. Daniels?" Perez asked, his hard black eyes locked on me.

I cocked my head and uncrossed my legs before crossing them at the knee to sit up slightly higher. "I don't have an angle, Mr. Perez." I said.

"Why are you the one to handle the clients?"

"I'm a contract negotiator," I said. "Ric is a business executive. I keep everything in line he keeps the clients happy. I have no angle, Mr. Perez."

"Let's level with each other." He paused, raking his eyes over me. "You use your feminine wiles to draw men in. I assuming that is how you got this client. I will be hard pressed to continue to sell to your fiancé if I'm not impressed by your client. While you have impressed me with your skill set, I will not deal with a person that is playing at an angle to undermine me."

I sat forward to look at Perez. "You misunderstand Mr. Perez. We approached you because we were assured you were a good businessman. One that knew what he was doing and wouldn't be afraid to deal with a person after they proved themselves to you. We have other contacts that want to work with us, but we already fulfilled our end of the deal, killing the cop for you. Now you are going back against your word."

I stood to look down at him keeping a neutral expression when really, I didn't know what the hell I was thinking, other than the fact I wouldn't be called a whore using my feminine wiles on men. I would stand up for myself without blowing this operation. "I trust that we can go will the deal tonight and from their reevaluate our deal. If we are still doing this tonight, what time do you expect the shipment to be in?"

"Eleven o'clock." He ground out.

"I'll be sure to leave my feminine wiles at home as to not distract you men." I said. I turned on my heel and walked to the door. "You'll have your money tonight, Mr. Perez. I'll speak with our clients. Good day Mr. Perez."

I opened the door and stepped out. Carlos waited for me. His arm found its way around my waist. He nodded to the guards at the door before leading me outside.

"What happened in there?" Carlos asked packing out of the spot. I shook my head.

"Perez ran his mouth," I said. "Did you know that I use my feminine wiles on men to get them to do what I want?"

Carlos chuckled. "Feminine wiles?"

"That's what he said." I shook my head and took Carlos's hand. I kissed the back of it, and he smiled at me.

We heard a ringing, and I opened the glove box. My phone rang reading out Taylor. I picked it up and answered it, placing it on speaker.

"Steph you really stuck it to him, didn't you?" Taylor said, I could hear the smile in his voice.

"All in a day's work," I said. I could almost hear an eyeroll.

"Well since everything has been accelerated, we're scrambling around here. Tank and Rage will meet you tonight before leaving to go to the waterfront. Lester and I will meet you there at eleven fifteen, or 2315 as Lester keeps saying." Taylor said sounded exasperated about dealing with Les.

I laughed quietly and the corner of Carlos's lips were tipped up. "That sounds fine," Carlos said. "Send me the plans for where our teams and snipers will be. I will review them."

There was a clattering and then an argument on the other line. Carlos raised an eyebrow and then Les's voice came over the phone. "I'm sending you the recording from Beautiful's meeting with Perez."

"Lester Santos!" I growled.

"Why're you trying to keep it from the bossman?" Les taunted, laughing. "Afraid he'll listen to it and ravish you?"

"Oh yeah because I'm afraid of being ravished by Carlos, as you put it." I said rolled my eyes.

"Santos! Mats when I get back to Rangeman," Carlos said. He squeezed my hand in reassurance.

"Give me my phone back," we heard Taylor say.

"Gotta go! Boss, Beautiful," Les said before disconnecting. Carlos shook his head.

"At least he's not my problem for a few days," Carlos muttered. I smiled and looked over at him.

"Until Taylor or Tank shoot him," I said. Carlos narrowed his eyes at me and shook his head.

"Abuela would kill me." He sighed. I laughed as he pulled into the parking garage. He walked around to help me out of the car when there was the sound of squealing tires and Carlos's head spun before he took me to the ground. Shots rang out as a car sped past us. I could hear them dinging off the cars around us.

Carlos gun in hand, laid on top of me. He got up and motioned for me to stay put. I pulled my gun and shook my head. I crouched behind him, and Carlos looked at me and then the stairwell. He held up his hand, five fingers up. Then four, three, two, one. Carlos motioned for me to run, and I gave him a look telling him he better follow me. I ran to the stairwell door and heard his footsteps thundering behind me a few second later. He fired off two rounds before following me in.

"Call Tank, Babe." Carlos said grabbing my hand and hauling me up the stairs behind him. I ran in the heels I was wearing, thanking God I was a Jersey girl. The door at the parking garage slammed open and Carlos pushed me ahead of him.

"Go!" he growled. "I'll take care of them."

"No." I said. I squared my shoulders to stare him in the eyes. He smirked before nodding.

"Alright, Babe. Get down make yourself smaller. They're still not sure if we went up or down. When I tell you, lean through the railing and fire." He said. He brushed a kiss against my forehead before putting a hand on my shoulder as I squatted, making myself as small as possible. Carlos stood a few stairs up from the landing, looking down. I glanced at him, and he nodded. They were coming up the stairs.

He held up three fingers and then closed his fist. There were three of them. I let out a breath. "Now," he said softly. I leaned through the railing holding onto one of the rails. The first one I saw was bald a tattoo of a skull and dagger on his neck. I aimed and sent three rounds into his chest. He jerked and the echo of the gunshots alerted the other two. They looked up as Carlos took out the second that wore sunglasses and a long beard. The other sent three rounds towards me and I flinched as I felt one clip my shoulder, the one holding me up.

I fired the rest of my clip sending them into his chest as Carlos did the same. My hand found my phone and I pressed the speed dialed three button, which was Tank's number.

"What the hell is going on, Bomber? We just received reports of gunshots at the condo. The feds outside are coming upstairs."

"We're not upstairs," I said. I stood and glanced at Carlos. His eyes locked onto the blood trickling from my shoulder.

"Babe, you're shot!" Carlos said.

"It's a flesh wound," I answered. "Band-Aid level injury."

Carlos glared at me.

"What the hell is going on?" Tank yelled.

"We're going to check the pulse for these three guys." I said. I pinned the phone between my shoulder and head as I released the mag from my gun and changed it for my spare. I led the way down the stairs.

"What happened? Why are you checking pulses?" Tank asked.

"We took fire in the parking garage. We made our way to the stairwell and three assailants followed us," I reported. I bent down with Carlos covering me to check the pulse on the first man. The one with the tattoo. I shook my head at Carlos.

We moved to the next.

"I'm two minutes out."

"North stairwell." I told him before hanging up. The second and third had no pulse either.

"Babe, you need to sit down. You're bleeding. Let me check your shoulder." I shook my head at him.

"Let's get their ID's first. I want to know who the hell these guys are and who the hell sent them," I said. I found the wallet of one in his jacket pocket. Carlos helped me roll the other two to get their ID's out of their pockets.

I finally sat down a landing up from the last body. I heard the door open, and Carlos looked and told me it was Tank and some of the men. Carlos ripped the sleeve off of the shirt to glance at the wound.

"Through and through," He said. "It barely missed your collarbone."

"You're not going to make me go to the hospital, are you?" I asked. I really didn't want to go. He chuckled and kissed my temple.

"We'll talk to Bobby," he said as Tank, Taylor, Rage, and Lester flooded the landing we were on. Bobby and Yates were only steps behind. Bobby shoved his way through and set his bag down.

He snapped on a pair of gloves to examine me. "This was a close one Bomber," he said. I shook my head.

"I've had worse, Bobby," I answered.

"I would feel better if you went to a hospital but the only one that wouldn't know you is an hour and a half away and we don't have that time. I'm going to bandage you and put your arm in a sling. Ranger can help you with anything you need to do. There are waterproof bandages upstairs. I've got to stitch you up. Do you want to do it down here or upstairs?"

"Upstairs," I said. Carlos lifted me into his arms, and I rolled my eyes.

"Let me take care of you, Babe," Carlos said softly against my temple. I smiled and nodded. I pressed a kiss to the base of his neck. He carried me the rest of the way up the stairs with an entourage.

We got upstairs and Carlos laid me on the couch slipping my shoes off. Bobby opened his kit and started by pulling out a syringe and vial. I glared at him, and he chuckled.

"Local anesthetic," He said. I gripped Carlos's hand tight as Bobby measured out what he needed. Tank stood vigil behind the couch watching. Taylor stood at the end waiting. Finally, it looked like he couldn't wait anymore.

"Who the hell were those guys?" He asked as Bobby sunk the needle into my skin. I glared at Bobby, who gave me a sweet smile, before answering Taylor.

"We got their wallets," I answered. Carlos tossed them to him before squeezing my hand. I smiled gently at him and looked away as Bobby stitched me up. I might not be able to feel the pain, but I could feel the needle going in and out of my skin. I didn't want to look and feel it.

"I don't recognize the names. I don't think they're linked to Perez." Taylor said. I locked eyes with Tank and then Ranger. They both nodded. This had Morelli written all over it. The question was how much did he know about this op? How did he know we were here? Who the hell were the guys he sent after us? And how the hell were we going to tie this to him?