Chapter 10

An attractive Italian man stood beside the bench. He was wearing dark jeans that accentuated his muscular thighs. Without looking, Connie could tell he had a firm ass. She was a sucker for a sexy ass in fitted jeans.

Lorenzo couldn't help noticing the gorgeous woman who resembled his favourite cartoon character, Betty Boop. He could tell she had a voluptuous figure before getting pregnant. His intuition guided him towards her to talk. She looked broken.

He asked, "Is this seat taken?" Connie shook her head. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked while pointing to her stomach.

Before she could stop herself, she spilled the whole story. "I betrayed my friend and made a complete fool of myself," Connie finished.

"Are you homesick?" he asked.

"No. I'm sorry for the verbal diarrhea. My name is Constance Rosolli. Everyone calls me Connie."

"Lorenzo Bartinelli," he stated. "I just returned from a military mission. You don't have an Italian accent. Where are you from?"

"Jersey," she replied. "My family emigrated four generations ago."

"Ah. I thought I detected the Jersey slang. I'm from North Carolina," Lorenzo stated. Connie felt comfortable talking to the man. He was built like the men from Rangeman. "May I take you to dinner?"

"Sure," Connie said as she blushed. They got to know each other better as they ate.

"I have a proposition for you. My family wants me to get married and have children. I'm unable to sire due to an injury. They are unaware of the trauma I endured. If you marry me, I could give them the grandchild they desire," he suggested. "Provided your baby daddy is out of the picture."

Connie was shocked. "I don't want that man anywhere near my daughter," she replied. "I have one question for you."

"Ask away," he said through a grin, sensing the question she was about to ask.

"Does it still work?" Connie asked. Her aunt once told her that you don't buy a car without taking it for a test drive. It's been too long since Connie got sexual gratification. Morelli was a selfish lover. He only cared about his pleasure. Connie needed a man to put her pleasure above his own.

"Come home with me, and I'll show you," he replied.

After several hours, Connie laid in Lorenzo's bed completely sated. He was a remarkable lover. "Yes," Connie answered. "I will marry you." A few days later, Lorenzo Bartinelli and Connie Rosolli exchanged vows. Moving to Italy was the best decision Connie made.

Stephanie enjoyed Hector's company for the past week. She didn't realize how lonely she was until he arrived. Hector updated her with the current events. Most of the time, the men were fielding complaints from Morelli. He was driving the men crazy through his lies and accusations.

A week later, while Stephanie was showering, she felt a sharp pain move across her abdomen. "Hector," she screamed, hoping he could hear her through the running water.

Hector heard Stephanie start the shower. She was within a few weeks of her due date. He moved closer to the master bathroom in case Stephanie needed help. When she called for him, he picked the lock to enter the room. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I think I'm in labour," she groaned as another contraction went through her abdomen. Hector wrapped a towel around Stephanie and carried her to the bed. He called the number he found for Carrie to tell her it was time. Carrie was busy delivering another baby and couldn't make it for at least an hour.

Hector googled how to birth a child in case he needed to help Stephanie. He ran to his car to grab the spare tarp. Stephanie was panting as Hector pulled his oversized shirt over her head to cover her naked body. Hector lifted her off the bed so he could protect the mattress with a tarp. He covered it with sheets before laying Stephanie back on the bed.

His mind raced as he grabbed everything he needed to help deliver Stephanie's baby. The video instructions played as he got Stephanie into position. When Carrie arrived, Hector was placing the baby on Stephanie's chest.

"I've got it from here," Carrie said as she bumped Hector out of the way. Carrie used the small suction device to clear Ricky's nose and mouth of mucus. After making sure the boy was breathing, she returned to help Stephanie deliver the placenta.

"He's gorgeous," Stephanie cried. Ricardo Carlos Manoso IV was born on December 12, 2015, at 1 am. He weighed 8 lbs, 13 oz and 22 inches long.

Hector took the baby gently wrapped him in blankets to keep him warm. "Ricky is handsome. The boss needs to know," Hector said as Stephanie shook her head.

Within a few hours, Stephanie was nursing her son after Carrie cleaned him. Hector sat beside Stephanie and watched in amusement. He stayed for the next week as planned.

"Will you be his godfather?" Stephanie asked. "I promise to tell Ranger about Ricky."

"Yes, Hermana," Hector replied. He kissed Stephanie's forehead before kissing his godson. With a heavy heart, Hector left Stephanie in Maryland.

Stephanie waited for Ranger to contact her. It was a couple of months before she received an email. She cried as she read his words.

Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2016

From: Batman

To: Wonder Woman

I'm back from my mission. I missed receiving emails from you.

Your apartment is still intact. No fools firebombed the place.

I'm lying in your bed, wishing you are here.

Soon, Babe ~B

Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2016

From: Wonder Woman

To: Batman

I have something to tell you, but you must promise not to do anything unless it's what you truly want.

I'll be waiting for your reply.

Your Babe ~WW

Ranger's heart pounded a staccato beat in his chest. He wanted to know what Stephanie's cryptic message meant. "I promise," he replied, curiosity getting the better of him.

He opened the following message that contained ten photos attached. When he opened the first one, to see Stephanie standing in front of a mirror. Her abdomen swollen from her child. The next photo showed a sonogram image. "Boy," was typed across the top.

Tears streamed down his face as he opened the other photos. One picture after another showed his Babe holding the boy. He knew it was his son without being told. The last attachment was the results from a paternity test. Ranger replied to the email to ask, "My son's name?"

"Ricardo Carlos Manoso," Stephanie emailed back.

Ranger wanted his family home. Whatever Babe wanted, he would give her. He wants to marry her, but not because she birthed his child. "Babe, please come home."

Stephanie smiled as she read the email. She grabbed her phone to call him. "Yo," Ranger automatically said as he answered the phone. Her breath caught when she heard his voice. She missed him more than ever.

"Carlos," Stephanie whispered. "Bring us home." Stephanie hung up before Ranger had the chance. She smiled as she imagined his irritation. He does not like people hanging up on him. Stephanie sent Ranger the address in a text message. He was surprised to learn she was only a few hours outside of Trenton.

Ranger drove to Rangeman to grab the items from his safe. He had copies of her passport, license and divorce papers. Without talking to anyone, Ranger disabled his car trackers and drove to West Ocean City, Maryland. He used cash to purchase an infant car seat for the SUV.

Smiling, he rubbed his front pocket as he parked in front of the beach house, where his Babe lived for the past ten months. Ranger could have let himself into the house, but he knocked. "One minute," Stephanie called out as she laid Ricky in the bassinet.

"Babe," Ranger said when she opened the door. He pulled her against his chest and took in her scent. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said as she buried her nose into his neck. Stephanie didn't realize how much she missed his musky scent mixed with Bulgari. She broke their embrace and led him to the living room.

A tear ran down Ranger's cheek as he lifted his sleeping son from the bed. "Is he the reason you left?" Ranger asked. Stephanie loved seeing Ricky meeting his father for the first time. She told him everything she knew about Carlos.

Ranger looked as though he lost a few pounds. His hair was long enough to pull back into a ponytail. He was as handsome as ever. "Partly," she replied. "My mom found the pregnancy test. She was trying to force me to marry Joe. I couldn't do that to you or our son."

"Nobody could force you to do anything. Rumour said I hid you away to make you my sex slave. Morelli claimed your job at Rangeman would kill you," Ranger explained.

Stephanie laughed. "If I stayed in Trenton, Morelli's lies would have killed me. Morelli and I haven't been together intimately since Hector caught him sleeping with Barnhardt over a year ago on Thanksgiving day," she said as a shiver passed through her body.

"I have something for you. It's in my front right pocket," Ranger said as Ricky opened his eyes. "Babe."

"He has my eyes and curly hair. Everything else is you," Stephanie stated. "I got the paternity test done to prove to everyone that Ricky is your son."

"I knew he was mine before I saw the test results. He looks like Julie," Ranger confessed. He was holding the most gorgeous baby he had ever seen. Ricky's large blue eyes held his and mesmerized Ranger as Stephanie's eyes did years earlier.

She reached into Ranger's front pocket and removed the black velvet bag. Stephanie recognized the rings inside the bag. "Carlos?" she asked.

"These are the rings we wore in Hawaii. I bought them the day after we met. Babe, I want to marry you. Not because of Ricky, but because I'm in love with you. I'm ready to start our someday," Carlos replied.

"Okay," she replied.

"Now," he added as his son smiled.

"Works for me," she stated.

Ranger packed Stephanie's belongings while she grabbed Ricky's clothes and diapers. Stephanie left Carrie a message that she locked the house and dropped the key into the door mail slot. She knew they wouldn't be returning.

While Stephanie buckled Ricky into his car seat, Ranger arranged a private flight to Vegas. He drove to the airfield and parked his SUV in an empty hangar. The pilot fist-bumped Ranger and helped him load the luggage into the plane.

Stephanie wore a white sundress with tiny red roses and white sandals. During the flight to Vegas, Stephanie styled her hair for the wedding ceremony. She piled her long hair on top of her head, leaving a few curls to drop to her shoulders. Ranger wore black Armani pants with a crisp black shirt. He left his hair tied back into a low ponytail. Ricky was wearing his Batman onesie. Carlos held his son as they stood in front of the officiant.

At 2350 on February 14, 2016, Carlos and Stephanie got declared husband and wife. Stephanie gave Carlos the birth certificate for Ricky to file with the state. She wasn't ready to go back to Trenton, so they stayed near Rangeman Atlanta.

Ranger arranged to have his SUV returned to Rangeman Trenton. He called Tank to announce that he was working out of the Atlanta office, hoping to whip the branch back into shape. Something was going on in the office, and he was struggling to uncover the issue. They moved into an offsite house to keep the men from knowing Ranger's marital status.

Every morning, Ranger reluctantly removed his wedding ring. He added it to the chain holding his dog tags around his neck. The ring fell next to his heart, sitting behind the ID.

Stephanie stayed at their home to take care of Ricky. Ranger went home each day for lunch to spend time with his wife and child. Ricky smiled when Ranger lifted him from the crib. "Ricky," Ranger said as he stared into his son's eyes. Ranger changed Ricky's diaper and outfit. After washing his hands, he carried the child to get fed by Stephanie.

"Hey, Carlos," Stephanie sleepily grumbled when Ranger sat next to her on the bed. "I was taking a nap when Ricky slept."

"He woke from his nap. I've changed his diaper. You get to feed him," Ranger said as he lifted Stephanie's top to place Ricky at her breast.

"You just want to watch him eat," Stephanie joked. She was trying to wean Ricky from the breast. In the evenings, Stephanie pumped milk for the night feeding. Most times, Ranger carried Ricky to their bed to place him on her breast. She'd soak the sheets with breastmilk if he didn't do this.

"Babe," Ranger groaned. "The Trenton team is getting restless."

"You've only been gone for a few months," she reminded him. Stephanie knew it was time to let them back into her life. Carlos can't stay away from Trenton forever, and neither could Stephanie.

"They want to know if I located you," he added. Ranger didn't want to keep Stephanie hidden. He wanted to shout from the rooftops that he married his Babe. Ranger had to tell Stephanie he got deployed again, but he didn't know how to say the words. They've been married for two months. Technically, they were still in the honeymoon phase.

She giggled. "Well, you have. When do you leave?" Stephanie asked, suspecting there was another reason for staying at home for a few extra hours.

"Tomorrow at 0200," he replied. "I'm having my brother, Mateo, come stay with you and Ricky."

"Okay," she replied. It would be better if someone she knew got to stay with her. Ranger must have his reasons for having his brother come to Atlanta.

"I could have Lester come here, but he's too close to you," Ranger stated. "My brother is less likely to spill our secret to your Merry Men."

"You're not worried about the news getting back to your parents?" Stephanie asked.

"Mateo will stay quiet," Ranger said. His phone pinged with a message. "He's here. You'll like him."

"Carlos, what is the real reason for Mateo coming here?" Stephanie asked, sensing he was deflecting to protect her.

"I need his help handling the Atlanta branch. Something feels off. Mateo can help you find the problem," he confessed.