Chapter 24

Jeanne Ellen took Julie home for me. "I'll watch her tonight. You two need time alone," Jeanne said as she removed Julie from her dad's arms. Ranger and I definitely needed to have a conversation. Now that Julie has met her father, he needed to have an active role in her life. I also wanted to know why he was in Trenton.

Ranger gently grabbed my arm and led me to his black SUV. I hopped in and patiently waited for him to say something. He closed the drivers door and started his car. We entered an underground parking area sealed off by a large metal gate. I saw him press a button on the dashboard to make the gate swing open. A few expensive cars were parked next to an elevator. The black Porsche 911 turbo was absolutely gorgeous. I would love to take a ride in that bad boy. Wait a minute... I change my mind. I want to ride on that sleek black Ducati. It was sexier than my bike. Jeanne Ellen and I got our motorcycle licenses in the spring. My dark blue Kawasaki was parked in the garage at home.

"Where are we?" I asked when he parked.

"Rangeman," he simply replied.

"Ah... the security company. Why are we here?" I asked hoping to get more than a one word answer from him.

"Babe," he answered. Nice... another one word answer. If he doesn't say more than one word, I was going to leave. He rounded the SUV to open my door. His hand reached for mine. I felt the electricity flow between us as it did many years ago. He reached into the car and unbuckled me from the seat. His eyes softened when my body brushed against his while I exited the car.

Without meaning to, I leaned in and pressed my lips against his. He returned the kiss with unbridled passion. I felt my panties dampen as his hand moved down to grab my ass. We broke the kiss and stood with our foreheads touching. Once we gathered our bearings, he led me to the elevator. We exited on the seventh floor. The apartment was very masculine. Black leather sofas were in front of a large screen TV. A beautiful dark mahogany table with matching chairs was in the dining room. His kitchen had stainless steel fridge, stove and dishwasher. It was absolutely gorgeous.

"Nice digs," I mumbled. "Who lives here?"

"I do. It has two bedrooms," he answered. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me tightly into his chest. I felt him kiss my neck. He nuzzled into my neck. I squirmed when he sucked on the skin at the junction of my neck and shoulder. My body instinctively reacted to him. He lifted me into his arms and placed me on the softest sheets I have ever felt.

I pulled his shirt from his pants and ran my hands over his rock hard abs. He reached behind his head and pulled off his shirt. His body was more gorgeous than ever. When he removed my shirt, we let our passion take over. "There hasn't been anyone since you," I admitted.

"Not for me either. I'm clean, are you?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm clean." I was so wrapped up in our passion I completely forgot I wasn't on birth control.

It's been so long since I've been with him. "Babe," he growled as he entered me. "I'm not going to last."

"Me neither," I moaned as he shifted our positions. Within a few minutes I was screaming his name as a powerful orgasm ripped through my body. When he released into me I froze. "Carlos! We forgot to use protection. I'm not on the pill." I quickly thought about my last period.

"Babe. I love you and I never stopped," he said without addressing our current issue.

"I love you too Carlos. I always have and always will," I confessed.

"We're still married," he announced. What the fuck? I thought our divorce was finalized years ago. "Never filed the paperwork," he answered my silent question.

"But I received documents saying our marriage was dissolved... actually, I never did receive those documents."

"Babe, I want you in my life and in my bed. I want to raise our daughter together." He stroked down my stomach. "I want our son too. Please Babe, give us another chance. I don't want to live another day without you."

It was too soon to jump back into a relationship with him, but I love this man more than ever. Of course I would give us another chance. After all, we're still married. "Yes, Carlos. The answer will always be yes," I repeated the same words from many years ago.

"Babe," he moaned before plunging into me again.

"No protection," I said on a moan.

"My son," he said as he pumped into me. We made love for a few more times before taking a shower.

While Carlos was washing my body, I wondered why he never contacted me about my application. Before I could get too upset he said, "The job is already yours. It was our dream." He brushed my wet hair off my shoulder to kiss my neck. "We opened the Trenton office because you are here. I want to be wherever you are."

"Batman." I wasn't sure how to respond.

"Move in with me. I want you and Julie here. Please," he begged.

"Okay. We'll move in here with you. Julie will be thrilled," I caved.

I dressed in clothes I found in the dresser and closet. Everything was in my size and my style. A knock on the door echoed through the apartment as I was pulling on my cat boots.

"Carlos," Mama called into the apartment. "I have your dinner."

"Mama?" I ran to the door. "What are you doing here?" I called her when I moved back to Trenton, but I was too busy with Julie to maintain regular contact.

"I work here hija," she answered. "Carlos offered Papa and me a great job. Are you two back together?"

"We are Mama," I answered.

"She's working here too," Carlos announced as he wrapped his arms around me. "These belong to you." He slipped my rings back onto my finger. I felt him press his band into my hand. As I did many years ago, I slipped the ring on his finger.

Carlos and I ate dinner before making a trip to the fifth floor. He wanted to introduce me to the men on duty. I recognized most of the men on duty. A few were introduced as Vince, Woody and Snake. "Men, this is my wife Stephanie," he said with pride. They seemed to be shocked.

"You're married?" Vince asked Ranger.

"Eight years in July," he replied. His expression prevented the men from asking further questions.

"Angel," I heard from behind me. Hector had his arms open wide. I released Ranger's hand to give Hector a hug. The men gasped as I held him tight. He loosened his grip to look in my face. In Spanish he said, "I missed you hermana."

"I missed you too hermano." I kissed his cheek and stroked his teardrop tattoo.

Carlos grabbed my hand and led me to the elevator. He nodded at Tank as the elevator doors started closing. In the garage I pointed to the Porsche 911. "Can we take that?"

"Babe," he said on a sigh but was sporting a huge smile. He opened my door for me. I slid into the seat. The leather was very soft like butter. It smelled new and like my husband. His shower gel, Bulgari green, mixed perfectly with his own musk. My panties dampened when he started the car.

"Batman, this is a very sexy car. One day we're going to christen it," I said as I rubbed my hand up his thigh, stopping short of his crotch. His pants twitched.

"Soon Babe," he growled before pulling out of the spot. We had fifteen minutes to sign our statements at TPD.

Randall Bartoli went to Trenton Central. He was a year ahead of me. When we were in high school, he gave me and Mary Lou goosebumps. Something about him was very unsettling. I couldn't believe he was the man who attempted to abduct my daughter. After reading the my statement, I signed and dated my signature as September 14, 2012 in the indicated spot.

Carlos was having an argument with Morelli and Costanza. I went to his side and slid my hand into his. "What do you want?" I asked.

"They want Julie to pick out the man in a lineup," he growled.

"Are you fucking serious?" I yelled at the two officers. How much more can these two men do to me? Haven't they done enough to fuck up my life?

"Cupcake," Morelli started.

"Don't EVER call me that again," I growled. He wisely took a step away from me.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "We need Julie to pick out the man in a lineup."

"She's four years old. You have many eyewitnesses who are capable of identifying him. Leave our daughter alone." Carlos pulled me into his side.

"You have a daughter with that thug?" Morelli shouted. I couldn't understand why he was behaving this way.

Carlos answered in a too calm of a tone, "Our daughter is off limits. Ask another witness." He pulled me towards the door.

"Stephanie? Is that really you?" I heard a familiar voice ask.

"What do you want Costanza?" Carlos snarled. His patience was obviously wearing thin.

"We used to date in high school. I just want to catch up," he answered. "Are you available this weekend? We could go on a date to see if we're still compatible."

"I'll pass, but I don't think my husband would like me dating other men." I raised my left hand to wiggle my fingers.

"Helen is going to flip," Morelli laughed. The laughter didn't reach his eyes. He looked more angry than amused.

"My incubator has absolutely no say in my life. She signed away those rights eleven years ago," I shouted.

"Officers!" I heard a man yell behind me. Captain Joe Juniak stepped between me and Morelli. "My office. All of you," he ordered. Carlos and I followed him to his office. I heard Morelli and Costanza dragging their feet behind us.

We entered the office and stood by the door as Morelli and Costanza took a seat. Carlos pulled my back against his chest. His hands rested on my lower abdomen as his thumbs gently stroked my toned abs.

Juniak stared at Morelli until he cracked. "I requested Julie pick the perp from a lineup. Miss Plum refused cooperation."

"What's the problem?" he asked not knowing who Julie is.

I replied, "It's Guzman... actually Guzman-Manoso. Julie is our four year old daughter."

His face turned beet red before shouting, "Morelli, are you seriously asking a four year old girl to pick out her kidnapper from a lineup?" Juniak was furious.

Morelli grumbled something that sounded like, "She looked to be at least seven." My daughter was tall for her age, but there's no way she could pass for a seven year old.

"Morelli was informed at the scene she was only four," Carlos growled. I was extremely pissed off. Reaching into my purse, I retrieved her birth certificate and a recent photo. Carlos released me long enough to pass it to Juniak.

"Do you have anything to add Costanza?" Juniak asked after reading the document and returning it.

"No sir. I too thought the girl was seven," he stated. He was backing up his partner. Just fucking great. Two of the three men who fucked up my life were working together. Seeing Carl again reminded me of the words he said as he got me to orgasm our one time together. They were similar to the words Joe used as he was raping me. I don't react from the rape anymore. Sure, I still have the occasional trigger, but Carlos expertly replaced those memories with good ones.

"I'm calling bullshit! There is no way my four year old daughter looks seven. Even five would be pushing it. Are we done here?" I snapped. My patience had completely left the room. Carlos wrapped his arm around me, I instantly relaxed from his touch. I want to go home to see my daughter.

Juniak showed both Morelli and Costanza the recent photo of Julie. "Is this what Julie looked like earlier?" he asked.

"Yes. Exactly like that photo," they replied.

"I agree with her parents. There's no way she looks older than five. Her cheeks still have some baby fat. If you were paying attention, you would have noticed. Do not approach her again. Did I make myself clear?" he asked.

"Yes sir," they answered.

We were dismissed while Juniak continued to rake Morelli and Costanza over the coals. "I need to see Julie," I told Carlos when we left the station.

"Me too." He drove to the house I shared with Jeanne Ellen.

"Daddy!" Julie screamed when we entered the house. It was past her bedtime but I let it go because I wanted to see her. "Can you stay tonight?" she asked giving us her puppy dog eyes.

"Sure hija, I can stay tonight." Julie grabbed our hands and pulled us towards my bedroom. She was already bathed and wearing her pyjamas. I changed into a large T-shirt. Carlos smiled when he recognized his Army shirt. "So you're the little thief," he joked. He used the washroom to remove his clothes. I was worried until he entered my bedroom wearing a pair of black boxers. "I'm always prepared," he whispered.

"Okay Julie. Do you have a book for me to read?" I asked.

"No book. Auntie Jee Jee read to me already. I wanna cuddle," she said jumping on my bed.

We climbed into bed with Julie laying between us. "Nite daddy Batman, Nite momma Wonder Woman," she said before yelling, "Nite auntie Cat Woman."

I heard an answering, "Nite Batgirl." Carlos shook from silent laughter.

"I love you Julie. You too Carlos," I kissed my daughter then leaned over to kiss my husband.

"Love you Babe and little Babe," he returned my kiss and kissed Julie on the forehead.

"I love you my superhero momma and daddy," Julie said with a yawn.