Chapter 57

LPOV

We went to our apartment to relax. Valerie and Mallory showed up within a few minutes. "Where are the girls?" Stephanie asked.

"Sleeping in the bed. Grandma's sleeping on the sofa bed," she replied.

"I hope Ram has a king sized bed," Mallory joked.

"Where are you going to sleep?" I asked.

"In bed with the girls. We've done it before. I'm more worried grandma will try to cop a feel while Mike's asleep," she honestly replied. Mallory and Stephanie laughed. "It's not funny," Valerie whined before laughing.

"But it is kind of funny," Mallory added.

"Ya… it really is," Val admitted. "Anyways, I wanted to make sure you were okay before going to bed. They wouldn't bring me to see you."

"I was helping the guys," Steph stated.

"Even though I knew where you were, I needed to see you for myself," Mallory quietly added.

I answered the door when I heard a few sharp knocks. Opening the door, I found Craig standing outside. "Do you want to come in?" I asked.

"If you don't mind. I need to see my sisters," he replied.

Mallory jumped from the couch to grab her brother's hand. "You remember Steph?" she asked.

"Yes, hi Steph," he replied. It was unnecessary to remind him. He talks to Stephanie every few days and they text daily. She greeted him with a hug and pulled him on the couch to sit between her and Valerie. He faced Valerie and stated, "You must be Valerie. Mal and Steph told me so much about you and my nieces. Would I be able to meet them soon?"

"You're Mal's brother Craig?" Val asked.

He nodded. "I would like to be your brother too… if you let me," he offered. She noticed Stephanie and Mallory nodding, hoping she would accept him as family.

"I've always wanted a younger brother," Valerie said before giggling. "Since we're all stuck here anyways, do you want to meet for breakfast? The girls would love to meet you."

"I would like to meet them too… and I would love to join you for breakfast," he replied.

Ram, Manny and I gave them some privacy. We went to Manny's apartment to discuss our current situation. They knew I was left in charge of Rangeman again. Other than permitting Ranger and his team to leave, nobody was to leave the premises.

"Stephanie was already feeling the pressure of her confinement. Waiting until it's safe to leave will drive her crazy," I explained.

"Is she serious about leaking that video to Morelli?" Ram asked.

"Yes. It's the only way to stop him. For some reason he thinks he can be with Stephanie after he's released from prison,' I stated.

"I thought he finally conceded defeat," Manny replied.

"So did I, but the letter he sent to Helen states otherwise," I told them.

"He's one sick bastard," Ram observed.

"Stephanie, Hector and Binkie created a video to show Trigger killing her. If he thinks the man he helped Dietz and Dixon release from prison killed the object of his obsession," I started.

"He'll hopefully kill himself," Manny finished. "Do you actually think he will?"

"My wife is convinced he will," I answered. "It goes without saying, this stays between us. You are not to discuss any of this with your wives. I know we can trust Mallory, but she wants to protect her and Valerie."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPOV

I didn't draw attention to our husbands leaving my apartment. They needed to discuss the video I was planning to release to Joe Morelli. He just can't take a hint. He'll be imprisoned for the next 30 years, 25 if he behaves. Morelli wrote to Helen saying he'll be her son in law after he's released from prison. He promised to do anything to get me to divorce my husband and marry him. I was worried he'll hurt my children.

If he thought I was no longer an option because I'm dead, then he'll kill himself. At least that's how selfish I think he is. After all his final words were, 'If I can't have her as my wife, then life isn't worth living.'

Before I gave the men the intel to capture Trigger, I gave dad the name of the man responsible for killing Helen. If you're wondering why I don't call her mom, it's because she gave away two of my sisters and never supported my decisions. Having no mother was better than having Helen as my mother. However, Ella is the best mother I ever had.

Hector also saw the name of Helen's murderer. He was a hit man for hire. A lowlife living on Stark St, waiting for the day he makes it big or gets himself killed. I noticed his silent communication with dad before he quietly left Ranger's apartment. Dad squeezed my shoulder after Hector left. We both knew Hector was protecting me, Val and Mallory as well as his nieces and unborn nephews.

I love my hermano. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to protect his family. Rodrigo Vanderez was a wannabe criminal mastermind. Rangeman had a few run ins with him before. Thankfully he didn't trust anyone to do his dirty work for him. By morning, Rodrigo Vanderez would be no more. I just hope it doesn't tip our hand with Trigger.

"It's getting late and I'm really tired," Valerie announced. As though he knew his wife was tired, Ram returned to collect Val. Manny held out his hand towards Mallory who grabbed Craig's hand. They gave me hugs before leaving for their apartments.

"We're finally alone," Lucas announced.

"What are we going to do with our solitude?" I asked.

"I can think of a few things," he stated before carrying me to our bed. He stripped me before removing his own clothes. "I'll be gentle," he whispered before pushing into me.

"Lucas," I breathed. He gently moved until I shattered around him. It didn't take long for him to release.

"Stephanie, I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked when I winced from him pulling from my body.

"No my love. You didn't hurt me. I'm just very sensitive," I replied.

We quietly talked about the men's mission. He knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until I talked out my concerns. I started giggling when I thought about Trigger's real name. "Who the hell names their child Jareth?" I asked.

"Who is Jareth?" Lucas asked.

"Oh Jareth Dufus is Trigger's legal name," I replied while trying to stifle a laugh.

"You can't be serious."

"I'm not joking," I said before laughing so hare I needed to run to the washroom.

"If that was my name, I'd use a nickname too," he said between laughs.

"Thank you my love. I really needed a good laugh. Maybe I could get some sleep now," I said when I returned to bed.

"I need to hold you," Lucas said when I placed my head on his shoulder.

"And I need to be held," I said with a yawn.

I felt him before I saw him. He was one of the few people permitted to enter my apartment. "Hermana, Vanderez will not be a problem," Hector whispered.

"Thank you hermano. Te amo," I whispered.

"Te amo," he said after kissing my forehead. Hector left as quietly as he entered.

With a small sigh, I pulled Luke's arm over my body, placing his hand on our babies. He pulled me closer, pressing his chest into my back. "Te amo tanto," Lucas whispered.

"I love you so much too," I repeated in English.

"Hector made it safer for you and your sisters?" he asked.

"He did," I replied. "Night my love."

"Sweet dreams."

We woke up early to noises in our kitchen. I climbed out of bed to use the washroom. Lucas pulled on his boxers to see who was visiting us so early.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LPOV

"Sorry my dear, I was trying to be quiet," Ella said when I entered the kitchen. "I didn't interrupt anything did I?"

"Not a problem and no you didn't," I replied. "We were just waking up."

"Hey mama," Stephanie greeted Ella.

"Hija, how are you feeling this morning?"

"Starving. These guys are craving blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage," Stephanie replied.

Ella laughed before cupping Steph's face in her hands. "I have everything we need to make your breakfast. I'll be back in a few minutes. The men will be demanding their breakfast soon," she said while waving to the cart filled with bagels, cream cheese, lox and cereal.

Stephanie and I took a quick shower since we knew our family was going to arrive soon for breakfast. Ella brought more than enough to prepare breakfast for our group. How she knew we were having so many guests baffles me. "Did you tell Ella we were having so many guests?" I asked Steph.

"Nope. Anytime Val and the girls are at Rangeman, we eat together. Maybe she assumed they'll be over for breakfast," Stephanie assumed.

She returned nearly 15 minutes later. Ella cooked so much food with Stephanie's help. When they finished cooking the pancakes, I heard a few timid knocks on the door. The girls giggled when I opened the door. They ran into the kitchen to give their aunt a hug. Ella set places for the girls at the table. Valerie, Ram and Grandma grabbed their food and sat on the couch.

Craig, Mallory and Manny arrived when Stephanie and I grabbed our food. Lisa smiled shyly at Craig. Mary Alice watched Lisa move closer to her new uncle. She smiled and pointed to her food. Taking the hint, Craig used the fork to gather food for her to eat. Lisa opened her mouth wide for Craig to feed her.

Angie giggled and whispered loudly, "MA, Lisa likes him."

"If she likes him, then he's a good guy," Mary Alice whispered back. Their conversation was kind of cute.

"The good guy's name is Craig," he said to introduce himself. The girls giggled before telling their new uncle about all their other Rangeman uncles.

"Who is your favourite uncle?" Craig asked Lisa.

She quickly replied, "Take."

"Lisa means Tank," Angie offered. "My favourite is Bobby. He lets me read his medical books."

"Do you like to read?" he mistakenly asked. Valerie, Steph and Ram all groaned. She talked for nearly half an hour, telling him about all of her favourite books.

"My favourite uncle is Hector," Mary Alice announced when Craig finally asked her.

"Why is he your favourite?" Craig asked.

Mary Alice tried really hard to protect his secret. I wasn't convinced she was successful. "He's teaching me Spanish," she stated. It was actually the truth. Hector was teaching her Spanish, knife throwing and self defence.

"He's teaching the girls self defence," Valerie helped.

"Hector, he's the one with the tear drop tattoo?" Craig asked.

"Yes, but he didn't have a choice," Angie replied before changing the topic. "Are you really my uncle? Or are you an uncle like Tank and Ranger?"

"I'm actually your second cousin. Your mom, aunt Mal and aunt Steph are my cousins. When I was born, I thought Mal was my sister," he explained.

"Okay, so you're our real uncle then," Angie decided. Craig looked confused until she explained. "Mom, aunt Steph and aunt Mal call you their brother, even though you're really their cousin. It doesn't matter to me. I could call you my cousin, but I would prefer to call you my uncle. Right MA, Lisa?" Both girls nodded. "Are you alright with being our uncle instead of cousin?" she asked.

He was taken aback by her logic, but still responded, "I would love to have you call me your uncle." I personally thought it was very well thought out. Her triumphant smile told me it was the precise answer she wanted.

"Well played Angie," Ram praised his oldest daughter. Technically he isn't her father yet. His court date is still seven months away.

After visiting for another hour, it was time for some of us to get to work. I had to call a meeting to announce the temporary change in our core team.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPOV

It took almost a full week for Ranger to catch up to Trigger. They took their time making their way to his location, which happened to be Lebanon Pennsylvania. Coordination with the various county sheriffs was necessary before they could move in on his location. I was relieved when I received the call Trigger was neutralized. Luckily the locals stayed away from the action. There was a shoot out involving the sheriff, deputy sheriff, Ranger and Junior. It ended with Jareth Dufus' death by a well placed bullet from the sheriff's gun. His identity was confirmed using his DNA.

One man down, four more to go. Next on the proverbial chopping block is Diego Dietz. An altercation on the prison grounds ended with three men dead and one in the infirmary. When the man in the infirmary, Wes Stanley, confessed. He said Diego kept running his mouth, saying he wanted to kill a woman and he couldn't let an innocent woman die. Stanley broke the older man's neck to 'shut him up' or so he claims.

Wes' sister was murdered by an abusive boyfriend, who happened to be his former best friend. Charges were dropped when the forensic pathologist concluded it was an accident. Stanley knew better and killed his sister's murderer on a mission. He was immediately charged and imprisoned for murder. Wes died within a few days from his injuries. Damien Dietz used a shiv to stab Wes.

Stanley was too strong of an opponent. He was able to wrestle the shiv away from Damien and use it to stab the man in the kidney. Damien died while they attempted to stop the bleeding.

Greg Dixon didn't take well to being imprisoned. His cellmate showed way too much interest in him, but not in a sexual way. Dixon quickly learned conspiring against Ranger and his men was the epitome of stupid. He made an even bigger mistake by telling his cellmate my true identity. The man was completely outraged and yanked on Dixon's top bunk blanket. Dixon always wrapped the blanket tightly around his boy like a burrito. He couldn't free his hands fast enough to grab onto the bed frame.

Ranger was notified by the prison guards. Rumour was the outraged men tripped while climbing from his bottom bunk, used the blanket to catch his balance and fell. One of the guards told Ranger they 'were not watching' when Dixon 'fell'. The same guard told Ranger he heard Blackburn say, "You'll never hurt her again," before yanking on the blanket. I later learned the Gus Blackburn was one of Ranger's old Army buddies.

Gus found himself on the wrong side of Ranger and his men. He worked undercover for many years before falling in love with his target's daughter. Blackburn helped the daughter escape before learning she was the kingpin drug smuggler. His actions landed him a court marshal. Blackburn plead guilty.