Chapter 7

Danny stared as we approached Rangeman. He looked around for some indication that this was the correct location. Not finding any plaques or signs, he rubbed his hand down his face.

"Wow," Jack said as Woody parked the SUV. "Look at the line of black cars."

"Snazzy place," Danny whistled when Woody parked in the garage.

"Sweet ride," Sean said as he exited the car. He was staring at Ranger's Porsche 911 turbo.

"Indeed," I said as I grabbed Sean's hand and pulled him to the elevator. We were meeting Zip and Zero in the lab on the second floor. "I hate needles," I mumbled as we entered the lab.

Bobby was waiting to draw the samples from Danny and me. He took mine first, then took Danny's sample before handing them to Zip. We sat on the metal stools as Zip and Zero processed the blood.

Jack, Sean and I played twenty questions while waiting for the results. The game involved taking turns asking each other questions, and you replied using the first thing that entered your head. Woody laughed at the questions Sean asked and my answers. "I'm going to need a drink after this game," I groaned when Sean asked about Ranger.

"Is Steph happy?" I heard Danny ask Woody.

"Yes," Woody replied. "Happier since she met your family." Woody caught my eye and winked.

"It's her family if the results come back with a match," Danny stated. I already knew it would match because I had a copy of the results. However, I couldn't blame my father for running a second test.

Sean and Jack laughed as they listened to some of my more colourful stories as a bounty hunter. They thought some got fabricated until I showed them the supporting articles in the Trenton post.

"That really happened?" Jack's eyes went wide as they looked at the photo of me standing next to Sally Sweet. They read the article and said I was a tough woman.

"Wonder Woman," Woody added.

"The results are ready," Zero said as he gave the document to Danny.

He read the results and announced, "You're my daughter. Welcome to the family." Danny hugged me tight and whispered, "I needed to see it for myself."

"I understand, Danny," I stated. "Do you mind if I call you dad?"

"It would be my honour," Danny replied.

"We'll drive you back home to get the car. Would you like to stay for dinner?" Woody asked. "I'll grab a Shorty's pizza on the way home."

"Better make it four if you expect to eat any," Danny joked.

While we ate dinner, Jack and Sean told me about their mother, Linda. She sounded like an amazing woman. It was a shame she died before I got the chance to meet her. "You would have liked her," Jack stated.

"Your mom sounds like a wonderful, kind woman," I said. "I'm so sorry you had to lose her."

Danny, my biological father, waited for the boys to engage with Woody before he pulled me aside. "Stephanie, now that I know you're my daughter, I'm going to worry about you. Stay safe while you're chasing after the bad men and women out there."

"I got trained by the best, dad and I can take care of myself. Would it make you relax if I checked in with you daily?" I asked when his face clouded over with worry.

"It doesn't have to be daily," he said as he smiled. "But it won't hurt."

"Dad, I wear a tracker," I stated as I texted him the device number I had memorized. "Feel free to check in on me anytime." I wondered if I should add him to the notification list if my tracker goes offline.

Danny and I talked for hours before he decided to head home. He kissed my cheek and told me to stay safe. Sean and Jack hugged their father before Danny left. I was sad he couldn't stay longer, but he could get called into work. He had to go on duty in the morning.

"What's the deal with dad and detective Baez?" I asked Sean.

He rolled his eyes before answering, "Dad's in love with her. When he told her how he felt, Baez friend-zoned him."

"Ouch," I replied. "Unrequited love. Is Baez the first woman since your mom?"

My brothers nodded. Jack added, "I doubt they crossed the line. Dad respects Baez too much to take an unnecessary risk."

"Don't discount that an intimate relationship could affect their ability to work together," I said. I had first-hand experience, but I wasn't willing to share that information with my brothers.

Detective Morelli caused me more grief than I could handle. The moron thought he could get away with harassing me. Woody was working while I took a few days off to show my brothers around Trenton. Sean, Jack and I went to Pino's for lunch. Morelli strutted towards our table to sit beside me. He draped his arm across my shoulder. I cringed when he attempted to pull me closer. My brothers exchanged a look before raising their eyebrow for me to explain the man.

"Sean, Jack, this man is detective Joseph Morelli. He works homicide at the TPD. Joe, these are my brothers, Sean and Jack," I politely introduced them.

"You don't have any brothers," Joe snarled.

"Why are you here?" I asked, too impatient to explain the logistics of my parentage.

"Last time I checked, Pino's was open to everyone," Morelli smirked.

"Yes, but that's not what I asked. Why are you sitting here beside me?"

"Bob misses you," he replied.

Joe used that line whenever he wanted me in his bed. I rolled my eyes and replied, "Not interested. Take Bob and your blue balls elsewhere. I don't want what you're offering."

He roughly grabbed my arm and dragged me from the table. I used the maneuver Woody taught me to escape from his grip. Before he could hit me, I slammed my knee into his balls. Joe fell to the floor and clutched his family jewels. I grabbed his foot and yanked him out the door. "What are you doing, Babe?" Ranger asked when he arrived.

"Taking out the trash," I replied. Ranger tipped his head back and laughed. Great! I was amusing him again.

Ranger followed me into Pino's. I washed my hands before returning to the table with my brothers. Ranger sat beside me as I introduced him to my brothers. He didn't comment. I did not doubt that he researched the Reagans.

"Did you receive a favourable result, Babe?" Ranger asked.

"It proved what I already knew," I answered. "Is there a reason for this visit?" Ranger didn't seek my company unless he had an agenda.

"I got a lead on Julio Sebastian. 2200 hours in the Peg-Leg bar at the marina. Dress appropriately," Ranger said as he dropped his black credit card on the table in front of me.

"What was that all about?" Jack asked.

"Sebastian is an FTA that Rangeman has to find before his bond expires at midnight. I get to shop for a distraction outfit," I replied and held up the card.

A cackle followed by Joyce Barnhardt entered Pino's. She had her right arm linked into her escort's arm. Her left hand stroked the arm she clutched. "Her boobs look like two penguins trying to wrestle free," Jack whispered.

"The laugh sounds like a seal getting an enema," Sean added. I fought back my laughter. When I took a closer look, I noticed Barnhardt's escort was Sebastian. What are the odds?

I sent Ranger a text before pulling my taser from my purse. Joyce and Julio sat at the bar to order lunch. I quietly tucked the handcuffs into the back of my pants. Sean and Jack remained silent as I slipped off the chair. I moved the taser into my left hand and pretended to trip over my feet as I passed the couple. Sebastian fell to the floor when I pressed the button. I quickly pressed the taser against Joyce's leg to prevent her from fighting me.

Rolling Sebastian onto his stomach, I pulled his arms behind his back and cuffed him. I sat on his back until Ranger and Tank arrived. With regret, I returned Ranger's credit card.

Sean lowered his phone when I returned to the table. "Please tell me you aren't going to distribute that video, Sean," I begged.

He pressed a few buttons on his phone and stated, "Too late, sis. Grandpa would get a kick out of it."

"Jack, who else?" I asked.

"Everyone," Jack replied as his phone chimed from Sean's message containing the video attachment.

My phone rang when we left Pino's to go home. "Yo," I automatically answered.

"Please tell me you didn't capture Julio Sebastian, one of Luis Delgado's henchmen," Danny groaned.

"It was definitely Sebastian. Should Woody and I bring the boys home?" I asked.

"No. Jack and Sean are just as safe with you as they are with me," he replied. "Be careful, okay?"

"Sure, dad. We'll be careful," I promised. It would take a few days for the news to circulate back to Delgado.

"I'll call if I hear anything," Danny said before ending the call.

A few days later, I withdrew money from the ATM near the bond's office. Woody and I were picking up the FTA files on the way to Rangeman. My jaw dropped to my chest when I saw over 600 000 in my account. I gave the receipt to Woody. "Why do I have so much money?" I asked.

"You had 100K before capturing Sebastian. His bond was worth 500K to Rangeman. Since you caught him alone, Ranger gave you the full amount," Woody explained.

"I can't accept this. The money should go to Rangeman. Sebastian was their skip," I insisted.

"You'll have to take it up with the boss. He warned me that you were getting the full recovery fee," Woody added.

We entered the bond's office to grab the large stack of files off of the corner of Connie's desk. "Morelli's looking for you," Connie said as she pointed out the door.

Joe leaned against my SUV as he waited for Woody and me to exit the office. He gave Woody an imperceptible nod. "Can I have a word?" Joe asked. The vein in his temple pulsed, betraying his anger.

I raised a finger to Woody, asking for one minute. He nodded and got into the driver's seat of the car. When Joe tried to pull me towards the alley, I stood my ground. "Talk here, or I leave," I snarled.

"Julio Sebastian, Cupcake? He's bad news, and the man is connected. Dump your thug husband and marry me. I can protect you," Joe said as he roughly grabbed my arm. He pulled me against his chest. Joe reeked of stale beer, sex and old cologne. The stench caused my stomach to roll a few seconds before I puked on his chest. He shoved me away and screamed, "What the hell, Cupcake? Get away from me, you disgusting whore."

Woody was out of the car faster than Joe expected. He wrapped me into his embrace as two Rangeman vehicles parked behind our car. Ranger got into Joe's face to say something that I couldn't hear. Whatever it was, it scared Joe enough for him to get into his car and speed away.

"How can I help?" Eddie asked when I called.

"I need a restraining order placed on Morelli. He attacked me outside of Vinnie's bond office. My arm got bruised, and my wrist got sprained from his grip. I have video proof," I replied. "I'm at Rangeman."

"I'll be there in a few minutes with Robin to take pictures," Eddie said then hung up the phone.

Woody took me to the hospital to get examined. I didn't have any broken bones, but I had to wear the plastic splint. Thank goodness it was my left arm that Joe grabbed. The doctor ordered blood tests when Woody said I got sick. I already suspected why my stomach was upset, but I chose denial over the desire to know. Dr. Peters wrote the diagnosis on a pad and gave it to Woody with a prescription. I didn't want to read the message.

"Darlin', you need to read this," Woody said as he passed me the note.

"Give me the Coles notes version," I mumbled.

Woody leaned over to whisper, "We're having a baby." I nodded, acknowledging that I heard. He confirmed my suspicion. I hoped it would take longer for it to happen. We stopped using protection last month, and I let my birth control lapse the month earlier. "I know you hoped it wouldn't happen this fast. Are you okay, Darlin'?"

"I'll get used to the idea, Woody. I'm not sure I can be a good mother," I confessed.

"Stephanie, you are a kind, loving and generous woman. Our child would be lucky to have you as its mother. You have your Merry Men and the Reagans to help raise our child," Woody said before we heard a knock on our apartment door.

I got up to let Sean and Jack into the room. "You don't need to knock," I reminded them for the tenth time.

"We do too, Steph. Last time we caught Woody removing your top," Jack reminded me. My face flushed bright red.

"What are your plans for the afternoon?" I asked.

"Cal, Hal, Ram and Manny are taking us to play paintball," Sean announced.

"Ah. Have fun," I replied.

"Actually, we wanted to know if you'd like to join us," Jack stated.

"Thanks for the invitation, but I have a sprained wrist, and I'm pregnant," I added without thinking.

"Does dad know he's going to be a grandpa?" Sean asked.

"Steph and I just found out. We want to wait a few more weeks before announcing it to everyone," Woody replied.

"Sure. You should still tell dad," Jack advised. My brothers left the apartment to meet with our friends. I love how they took the time to get to know my family. It made me love my Merry Men even more.

"Eddie's here to see you, Steph," Junior announced over the intercom.

We met Eddie in the main floor conference room. Robin took photos of my injuries as I gave Eddie the rundown of the events. He had me sign the statement and went on his way.

When I got back to the apartment, I called Danny to give him the news. "Hey, grandpa," I greeted when he answered the call.

"Grandpa? Are you saying what I think you're saying, Stephanie?" Danny excitedly asked.

"I am. Woody and I are having a baby. It's still early, so hold off on telling the rest of the family," I replied.

"No can do. I have to go, Steph. Baez and I got a lead to follow," Danny stated.

"Sure. I'll talk to you later, dad."

"Talk to you later, kiddo," Danny said before hanging up.

Before I went to bed that night, I received congratulatory texts from all of the Reagans. Danny couldn't keep the news to himself. "He told everyone," I groaned as I climbed into the bed beside Woody.

"I would too," Woody whispered as he pulled me tight to his chest.