Chapter 20

While we were at the bar, Bobby received a phone call. Only a few of us had phones on hand. I always carried my phone in case of an emergency. Bobby shut down his satellite phone after his conversation. "We should return to the hotel. General Palmer is waiting for us," he told the group. Some of the guys finished their drinks while others abandoned theirs.

Lester waved over the waitress to settle our bill. I noticed her slip him a piece of paper as we were leaving. Our resident lady's man has collected a new phone number. A while ago he told me it was the thrill of the chase he found exciting. Once he caught the woman and they had sex, the thrill was gone. One day Lester Santos is going to meet his match. I could hardly wait to see it happen.

"What do you need?" I asked Uncle Alex when I approached him in the hotel lobby.

"You have an appointment in a few minutes," he replied as he directed me and Carlos back to the parking area. We climbed into the back of Uncle Alex's car. Bobby ran out and sat beside him in the front. I shrugged my shoulders when Uncle Alex caught my eye in the rear view mirror. He put the car in gear and drove us a few blocks away.

A pale grey building with a few parking spots was in front of our parked car. The plaque indicated it was a private woman's health medical centre. We exited the car and walked towards the main entrance. A young kind looking teenager opened the door for us. "Mom will see you in a few minutes," she said leading us to the waiting area.

"Dr Janice Summers?" I asked when I realized she looked too familiar.

"Yes. She's my mom. I'm June Summers. I was told this appointment was confidential so all the normal staff was sent home. Only mom and I are here today," she added. She briefly left to inform her mom I was here for my appointment. "Follow me," June said when she returned.

Carlos and I followed June to an examination room. I already knew the routine, so I stripped off my clothes and pulled on the soft cotton gown. Dr Summers knocked on the door before entering the room. "It's a pleasure seeing you again Stephanie. Are you ready to see your baby?"

"Always," we answered in unison. We want to know the gender if the baby cooperates. She laughed before turning on the machine. I lifted the gown and used the small towel to cover my pelvic region.

The gel was cold on my abdomen. I felt the baby move when I flinched. It was more than just the fluttering I felt during the last few weeks. "Here's the spine, heart, brain. She's very healthy and the placenta is firmly attached," she said as she pointed out each area. I heard the machine whirl to produce a plastic negative film like image. Dr Summers passed the plastic sonogram photo to Carlos after she printed a duplicate copy for me. He placed the picture in his wallet. It barely fit. He could always trim the edges to make it fit better.

"A girl just like in my imagination," I whispered.

"Our daughter," he was excited. The image of us running our own security company with our young daughter and son was firmly seated in my mind.

"She looks like her dad," Dr Summers managed to get a clear view of her face. Bobby was brought into the room to hear the doctor's recommendations. I needed to get plenty of rest, eat healthy and drink lots of water. Reducing stress goes without saying.

I thanked Janice and quickly dressed. Carlos and I held hands as we walked back to the waiting room. Uncle Alex was pacing the room. He looked worried about the appointment. "Everything looks good. She's developing on schedule," I waited for my words to sink in.

"It's definitely a girl?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied. Uncle Alex pulled us into his embrace. We somehow managed to make our way back to the hotel.

The men were waiting impatiently for us to return. "It's a girl. Healthy and strong. Developing on schedule," he said getting to the point. They listened as Ric told them about the company we wanted to start. With the money we earned from our missions, we could put a down payment on a building. We needed more capital before we could open shop. "We all have five year contracts?" he asked. Everyone nodded. It was the minimum time we were required to serve for the special ops program. "Reconvene in four years before we sign another contract?" Another round of nods. I was planning to continue my contract for an additional five years when this one ends. My contract was changed. I couldn't go on missions as a Ranger.

Carlos and I snuggled in bed after a few rounds of sex. He was amazing as usual. "I can't get enough of you," he whispered into my hair.

"You're my own personal sex god."

He laughed, "I believe you already told me." I had told him before and at the time he replied saying I was his sex goddess. He didn't disappoint me this time either, "You are definitely my sex goddess. The things you do to me."

"How many years?" I asked to change the subject.

"Another five year term after this one," he answered honestly.

"Me too. Mama and Papa will watch our baby," I told him.

"From Newark?" he asked.

"If that's what you want. Did you know we can move?" I hoped he noticed that paragraph in his contract. We could live anywhere we want, provided we check in regularly and drop everything for a mission. Our contract doesn't permit us to refuse a mission we're assigned. We are bound by contractual obligation. It's a clause we want changed in our next contract. We'll need to hire a contract lawyer before signing another one.

"I do know. If our daughter lives in Newark, I want to be living with you and her. Tia Ella and Tio Luis will only watch our child while we're deployed," he stated. There was a very small chance we'd be moving back home.

"I agree. When is your next mission?" I asked. We had to report to Fort Benning soon, where we'll receive our next instructions.

"Probably in a few months. They like to give us time to train and decompress before sending us away again." He certainly did his homework. We talked about our options. I was working in the office, so I could either live close to base or move to DC. Given a choice, I would move to DC... less travel time to receive our new orders. We fell asleep while thinking about our future. I dreamed we were living in a large house with our team. Having our team close by sounded amazing. I already see them as family.

A few weeks after we returned to Fort Benning, we were packing our belongings to move to DC with the guys. Carlos and his men need to spend a few months training before leaving for their next job. I was benched since I announced my pregnancy. If I want to join the Ranger team after I give birth, I'd have to train again. There's still plenty of time for me to make a decision. All I could think of was sleepless nights. Training was brutal. There's no way I could retrain and raise an infant. I think the decision has already been made.

The time for their mission finally arrived. Carlos' team have been training for two months while we continued to do our required military jobs. Uncle Alex approached me with a low risk mission. This mission was a bit unorthodox, but I really wanted to stop these people from stealing babies and selling them. For the sake of my baby and all other mothers, I really wanted to participate.

Carlos and I were asked to pose as a married couple to infiltrate a baby smuggling ring. Jeanne Ellen was originally planned for the role, but she refused to feign a romantic relationship with her cousin. I couldn't blame her. Another female officer was willing to get cozy with Carlos, but he stood his ground. "Either my REAL wife comes with me or select one of the single men instead. My contract clearly states I will not be asked to participate in a role that will undermine my wedding vows," he quickly produced a copy of his contract to show his handler. I was secretly hoping they would select a single man instead.

General Rogers arrived during the showdown. "Officer Jenkins, dismissed." The woman looked completely pissed off. Either she didn't know he was married or she didn't care. I was determined to find out which category she fell under.

Carlos and I would be leaving early the next day for our covert mission. I reviewed the intel and determined both my baby and I would be safe. If I had someone with me at all times, I would happy. Bobby was playing the role of my doula. The other men would be our security team. We each had our role to play. After our brief, I realized I needed a female aide... a personal servant to help me bathe. Maybe we could use Jenkins on this mission after all. First I needed to see if she was right for the role.

I was walking towards the infirmary when I heard Jenkins say, "They aren't wearing wedding bands. How was I supposed to know he was married?" She honestly sounded embarrassed. "I kept throwing myself at him since he moved here."

"They don't wear their rings while on the job. Just be glad Fannie didn't kick your ass," a man named Binkie said.

Her face drained of colour. She asked, "That's Fannie Palmer? The best sniper and only female Ranger? Everyone calls her Wonder Woman?"

"Correct. You shouldn't underestimate her. At six and a half months pregnant she could still kick your ass," Binkie championed for me.

"I want to be just like her when I grow up," she joked. She knew I wouldn't be able to kick her ass while pregnant.

I walked past them and made my presence known. "Afternoon Binkie, Jenkins."

Jenkins whispered, "Do you think she heard us?"

"I did. I'm pregnant, not deaf," I joked. "May I have a moment of your time Jenkins?"

"Yes ma'am," she promptly replied. Binkie left to give us some privacy. "I'm very sorry ma'am. I don't flirt or sleep with married men. I didn't know Major Manoso was married." She kept talking and was clearly embarrassed. I believed her and my spidey sense didn't register any dishonesty. Jenkins could easily pass as my sister. Her hair was the same colour, eyes a few shades lighter and we have the same olive skin tone. She was tiny, maybe five foot three inches tall if she fully extended her spine.

"Attention!" I ordered. She quickly closed her mouth and waited for her next order. "At ease and follow me." Jenkins fell in line and remained silent. I waited until we were in a secure room before explaining myself. "During my brief, I discovered I'm in need of a female aide. Someone to help me shower and dress. I've been authorized to approach you." I asked Jenkins some questions to see if she'd be right for the role. She signed the nondisclosure documents before I could tell her anything regarding the mission. Jenkins listened as I outlined the requirements and what I expect of her. "We will be undercover for at least two months. I'm relying on you to help protect my daughter."

"I would be honoured to serve with you and your team," she gushed. This was going to be a very interesting mission, especially when she started asking me about Santos and Ram. She's a bit fickle. A trait she'll need to suppress. Kiera Jenkins is of Irish and Italian heritage. Her mother is Italian, father is Irish. Both nationalities are known for their short fuse. I wanted to get to know her better so I invited her home with me. She didn't have time to grab her luggage.

"We're going to get along just fine," I laughed. "Both of us are from families with tempers. I like you and we're going to become good friends." I could see it too. Jenkins and I were going to be close. I brought her home after visiting the infirmary for my pre-mission check. Jenkins accompanied me while I had my sonogram.

"She's beautiful," she said with awe. "You and Major Manoso make beautiful babies."

"Thank you." I pulled my clothes back into position and sat up on the examination table. "Did you want to feel?" I offered. During the sonogram I saw her hand inching towards me as the baby moved.

"Can I?" she smiled.

"I wouldn't have offered if it wasn't okay." She tentatively reached towards my belly. I grabbed her hand and firmly placed it at my right side. Jenkins giggled when she felt the baby move. "We need to meet the team, they're expecting us. General Palmer has papers for you to sign."

She followed me back to the massive house we were renting. It has seven bedrooms. Jenkins will be staying in the guest room until early tomorrow morning. Since she fits into a size four which was my pre-pregnancy size, she'll be borrowing my clothes. I helped her pack everything she'll need for our trip. "Exactly how many new pairs of panties do you have?" she asked as I handed her ten pairs with tags still attached.

"Too many," I laughed. My face turned bright red. Carlos had a habit of tearing my panties off my body. I always had extra panties to reduce the number of times I needed to shop. Buying new panties was becoming an expensive habit. Kiera shook her head and finished packing her bag. We had a few hours to go through the plan, eat dinner then catch some sleep before our 0300 departure.

After we finished everything on our agenda, I needed to take a shower. "Hey Kiera, you need to help me." This was going to be a challenging part of our jobs. I'm playing the part of a young pregnant princess, Misha Pardo. My husband, Carlos aka Marco Pardo, is a Spanish Duque. The family we are going to befriend was responsible for kidnapping children and selling them to royal families who couldn't conceive. There was a small possibility my baby would be in jeopardy. It's the main reason I needed a personal servant. She'll be travelling with me everywhere.

"What do I need to do?" she followed me into my bedroom.

"Help me shower. I know it's going to be awkward, but we have to do whatever is expected of us. We'll be living in their house, so we have to abide by their rules," I explained.

"We're about to get very personal aren't we?" she joked.