Chapter 16
April found Stephanie inside the office later in the afternoon. She got busy helping Zero with his physiotherapy and a few other medical checkups that she didn't have time to find Stephanie earlier. "Finally," April said, entering Stephanie's office.
"Hey, what's up?" Stephanie asked. Julie turned in her chair slightly to hear the conversation.
"Are you busy tonight?" April asked.
"Nope," Stephanie replied, patiently waiting for April to get to the point.
"Hal and I are getting married in Atlantic City tonight," April stated.
"Carlos and I will be there," Stephanie automatically said.
"I can stay with Tia Ella," Julie announced before taking off. "We'll buy your dress." Julie and Ella had fun finding the perfect dress for April to wear. The cream-coloured dress would fall to mid-calf. A band of delicate cream and pale blue lace covered the bodice to give the dress texture to its simple style. "April will love this dress." Ella found blue dresses for Robin and Stephanie, assuming the women would accompany their friend.
Julie and Ella returned to Rangeman a few hours after they had left. Ella's favourite dress shop had everything she needed for the women. She didn't buy shoes for Stephanie since the perfect pair of heels were already in her closet.
Ranger packed the car, hanging the dresses on the hook in the back. He decided to take one car to drive everyone to Atlantic City. They would witness Hal and April's wedding, stay the night and return in the morning. Ella, Luis and Julie went in a second vehicle after Stephanie said they had to attend.
April asked Luis to walk her down the aisle. She wanted her family at the wedding. "You look beautiful," Ella said. Ella braided pale blue ribbon into April's hair. "The dress is new. You have a blue ribbon in your hair."
Stephanie grabbed an old lace handkerchief that belonged to her great-grandma Plum. "April, this belonged to my great-grandma. It was a swatch cut from her mother's wedding dress and passed down the generations. Please use this as something old," Stephanie explained.
"I can use it as the borrowed item, too," April said.
"No, you can't," Robin stated. Robin gave April a box.
"Robin, this necklace is gorgeous."
"The necklace and earrings belonged to my mother. I got them cleaned for you to borrow today. Please wear them as your borrowed item," Robin begged.
"Of course, Robin. Thank you, guys. You're the best friend a girl could have," April said.
"Don't cry," Stephanie said.
"I'm not crying. You're crying," April cried.
The three women hugged as their emotions ripped through the group. Julie and Ella joined and hugged them tightly. Luis knocked on April's hotel room door. "Are you ladies ready?" he asked.
"Yes, papa," April replied. Ella quickly fixed April's makeup before opening the door to Luis.
"You look beautiful, hija," Luis said before he kissed April's forehead. Luis pulled April's hand into the crook of his arm. He guided the group of women to the main floor chapel.
Hal grinned as he waited inside the chapel for his bride to arrive. "Thanks for doing this for us, Ranger," Hal said.
"I would do anything for the woman who took wonderful care of my Babe," Ranger replied. Ranger clapped Hal on the shoulder when the group exited the elevator.
Hal watched April approach the chapel. She was a vision. An angel. Everything he wanted and needed wrapped in a gorgeous package. He couldn't wait to slowly remove the dress and untie the ribbons from her hair.
"Is it hot in here?" Robin whispered to Stephanie. April and Hal blushed.
Stephanie only had eyes for her husband. Ranger wore a black Armani suit, black silk shirt and textured black tie. He looked sexy. She wanted to remove every stitch of clothing and lick her Cuban popsicle. Ranger groaned.
"Yup. It's boiling in here," Robin said slightly louder.
"Did I say that out loud?" Stephanie asked Ranger.
"No, Babe. Your face is expressive," I could see what you're thinking.
Hal and April decided to skip the preliminary portion of the service and got the officiant to get to the vows. April and Hal were wearing matching blushed cheeks, as Julie pointed out more than once. He kissed her passionately when they got pronounced husband and wife. Ranger gave Hal a key to the honeymoon suite.
Stephanie and Ranger had a gift left for them in their room. They gave the couple a two-week honeymoon in the location of their choice. The Rangeman jet was at their disposal, ready to whisk them away towards their destination. Neither Hal nor April noticed the envelope on the dresser when they entered their room. They got too consumed by their need to consummate their marriage.
Ella, Luis and Julie stayed in a room on the fourth floor. They wanted several hotel floors between their room and the other couples' rooms. Vince and April shared a room, not like they had another option.
Ranger walked Stephanie into their room. He pushed her back against the door. His hands fisted into her hair, pulling the pins from her hair. Her curly locks fell down her back. "Babe," he growled.
"Carlos," she moaned when his hands moved along her body. He kissed Stephanie, stroking his tongue along her bottom lip. Stephanie gasped as he possessed her mouth. Their tongues duelled for control. Her bare skin rubbed against the soft fabric of his suit. "Where are my clothes?" Stephanie asked.
"Babe," he moaned. "The things you do to me." He rested their foreheads together, breathing in her scent. Stephanie removed Ranger's tie and threw it over her shoulder. Ranger shrugged out of his jacket. Stephanie ripped his shirt open. Buttons flew around the room. He dropped Stephanie onto the bed before removing his pants.
"Please touch me," Stephanie moaned. She needed to feel his hands on her body as much as she needed air to breathe. Her skin was sensitive. Every touch, lick and kiss set her on fire. "Carlos, I need you."
"I need you too," he groaned. They made love for several hours, slept a few hours and continued the pattern until it was time to go home.
April and Hal left for Jamaica in the morning. She found the gift when she woke up for a bathroom break. Hal sent a text to the pilot to secure the jet for the morning. He called a hotel in Jamaica and got the best room in the resort. April sent a text to Stephanie to let her know they were leaving at 5 am.
"Are we waiting for Hal and April?" Vince asked.
"No. The newlyweds left on their honeymoon a few hours ago," Stephanie replied. "Ella, Luis and Julie left at 6 am. They had to get back to Rangeman."
A few weeks later, after April and Hal returned from their honeymoon, Stephanie made arrangements for a night out with the girls. She knew the men wouldn't let them go without a team to watch over them.
Rangeman was having trouble pinning down Brando and Thompson. The men weren't where the guys expected them to be. Stephanie knew Brando liked to hang around a different nightclub in the area. She figured they could kill two birds with one stone. They could have a night out while capturing Brando.
Stephanie and the girls went to the new club a few miles outside of Trenton. She was on alert for Don Juan Brando and Ivan Thompson. Ranger, Hal, Vince and six more of the Merry Men decided to join the women. Another team of men got situated at the club before the women arrived. "April, Robin, are you dressed?" Stephanie asked on the way to the club.
"Of course they're dressed," Valerie stated.
"Sweetie, she meant weapons, not clothes," Mary Lou said. Valerie blushed from embarrassment.
"Yup," they chimed.
Ranger raised an eyebrow. "I got dressed too," Stephanie proudly announced. She didn't like carrying her gun, but it was important for Rangeman employees to be armed while on the job.
Robin, April and Stephanie wore similarly styled dresses. The bodice was form-fitting, and the skirt was flowing to a few inches above the knee. "Where's your gun?" Valerie asked.
Ranger's hand dropped to Stephanie's leg. He shifted his hand under the hem of her skirt. His movement stopped when he reached the gun strapped to her inner thigh. "Babe," he groaned.
"Is it hot in here?" Robin asked, fanning herself. Stephanie blushed as Ranger pulled his hand from beneath her skirt.
"Are they always like that?" Valerie asked. She was surprised Ranger was so forward in front of other people.
"Yup," Robin and April replied. "You should see Hal and April together. Mention the word sex, and they blush at the same time," Robin added.
"Why did you have to say that?" April groaned.
"Synchronized blush," Robin replied, giggling. "Oh, Stephanie's gun is in the same location as our guns." Robin pulled up her skirt to show Valerie.
Her mouth popped open. "When Ranger put his hand up Stephanie's skirt, he was checking for the gun?" Valerie asked.
"Yup. But he makes it look sexy," Robin said.
"Girls, we should go over the plan," Stephanie added. "We're there to have fun. But be on the alert for Don Juan Brando and Ivan Thompson. Memorize their phots."
Stephanie gave the other women pictures, earphones and mics. "Why do we have these?" Valerie asked.
Mary Lou rolled her eyes. "For our protection, Val. We wear the earphones and stick the mic in an inconspicuous place," Mary Lou explained. Stephanie passed the medical tape to Robin. "Take a small piece of tape to attach the microphone under your breast." Mary Lou showed Valerie what to do.
"Remember to turn it on. There's a small switch on the side," Stephanie added. "If you see either of those men, mention your location and maintain a safe distance."
"Are those men going to be there?" Valerie asked, shaking as she slipped the microphone beneath her right breast.
"Not likely, but we should be prepared in the event they appear," April answered.
"There's something else you should know," Robin said. "Those men were indirectly involved with Stephanie's kidnapping. They didn't prevent Bianchi from taking her."
Valerie and Mary Lou got angry. "Val, Lou, please don't do anything stupid to avenge me," Stephanie stated. "Brando and Thompson may not be at the club."
They arrived at the club. It was noisy and dark, with lights intermittently flashing. Ranger placed his hand on Stephanie's lower back as he guided her towards the bar. Her spidey sense was on high alert. "Babe?" Ranger whispered in her ear.
"They're here," she replied. "I can feel them."
Brando approached Mary Lou and April on the dance floor. "Hello, sexy," Mary Lou greeted when Brando placed his hands on her hips. "I'm married, but I'll still dance with you."
"Is your husband here?" Brando asked.
"Nope. I'm here with my friend, having some fun," she replied. "What's your name?"
"Don Juan," he answered. Mary Lou giggled. "My mom had a strange sense of humour."
"Do you have eyes on Thompson?" Mary Lou heard through the earphone.
"Are you with friends tonight?" Mary Lou asked.
"Got a buddy roaming around. He likes chubbier women," Don replied. "Looks like he found a live one." Don pointed towards the washrooms where Valerie was attempting to detach herself from Thompson.
"The man by the washroom? Ah. I think I know the woman," Mary Lou added.
"Val, please stay calm. I put men outside the door. If you can, get him to take you out the side door," Ranger instructed.
"Fine!" Valerie snapped. "I'll go with you."
Ivan Thompson felt that he won the lottery. The woman holding his hand was blond, brown-eyed and had large breasts. She was sexier than the last woman he screwed. "My car is outside this door," Ivan said, leading her outside the side exit.
Valerie felt strong arms pull her away from Thompson. Her eyes moved up the man's muscular body to see the flaming skull tattoo on his forehead. "I've got her," Cal announced.
"Thank you, Cal," Stephanie replied.
Mary Lou danced with Brando. He got a little handsy which made Mary Lou uncomfortable. "Hands off, buddy," Mary Lou said. "I am happily married."
Stephanie made her way towards her friend. Brando kept grabbing at Mary Lou's hips. "She said hands off," Stephanie said, standing behind Brando.
He turned around and jumped. "I thought you were dead," Brando stuttered.
"In your dreams," Stephanie responded. She grabbed Brando, dragging him towards the door. Brando was too shocked to react. He returned to her senses when she pulled him out the back door. Brando backhanded her across the face.
Stephanie knocked Brando to the ground and punched him in the face. "Get off me!" Brando yelled as he hit her in the face again.
She barely controlled the anger as she punched Brando, breaking his nose. "Why didn't you stop him?" Stephanie asked.
"Tony only wanted to play with you," Brando replied. "He said you died."
Ranger wrapped his arms around Stephanie, pulling her away from Brando. Zero, Tank and Lester grabbed Brando to take him back to jail. Stephanie straightened her dress before pulling Ranger back into the club. "You owe me a dance, Batman," Stephanie huskily said.
"Babe," Ranger replied, his pupils dilated as he thought about her body pressed against his firm body. "You maintained control."
Stephanie shrugged. "April and Robin worked hard to get me here," Stephanie said dismissively.
"Proud of you, Babe," Ranger said. He pulled Stephanie tight to his chest as they danced. His thigh slid between her legs. She ground against him as they danced the bachata.
"Holy crap! Those two are H O T," Valerie stated.
Robin approached Valerie and dragged her to the washroom. She locked the door behind her before reaching into Valerie's top. "You forgot to turn off the mic," Robin stated. Valerie removed the earphone. "I'll take that too." Robin stashed the items inside her clutch.
The group stayed at the club until they closed. Valerie accepted a ride home with Cal. She wished that she had met the gentle giant before meeting Albert. It wasn't that Val didn't love Albert because she did. Valerie and Albert didn't have the same kind of love she saw displayed between her sister and Ranger.
"Val, we're here," Cal announced. She looked at the house that she knew was empty. Albert was staying at his mother's place with the children.
"Oh. Thanks. Um," Valerie didn't know what to say.
"Would you like me to stay?" Cal asked. Valerie nodded. Cal exited the car with Valerie. He waved at the men in the SUV before guiding her to the door. "Is everything alright?"
Valerie waited until they got into the house. "Not really. Albert isn't staying at his mom's house for the night. He moved back home. We're getting a divorce," Valerie confessed.
"I'm sorry, Val. Is there anything I can do to help?" Cal offered, pulling Valerie tight to his chest.
"I honestly don't know," she replied.
Cal went by instinct. He tipped Valerie's head up to look into her eyes. "You're a beautiful woman, Valerie."
"I'm fat," Valerie stated.
"Voluptuous. I like curvy women," Cal said before pressing his lips to hers. Valerie let Cal kiss her. She tingled from her lips to her toes. "Tell me to stop."
"No. Never stop," Valerie moaned. Cal lifted her into his arms and carried her to bed.