Chapter 10
Marco's POV
I contacted Uncle Sam about Rangeman accessing my file. "What would you like me to do?" Uncle Sam asked.
"Stop Rangeman from accessing my files. I don't want them to view my personnel or military records. Unless I give written proof followed by my security code, I don't want anyone to view my file," I replied. We set up a complicated security code.
"Anything else?" he asked.
"Yes. I want Stephanie's name to get redacted from the mission involving Gomez. It wouldn't surprise me if Manoso attempted to access my data through her."
Uncle Sam sighed. "I don't like people misusing their access to the military databases. It was time to review the contract signed with Rangeman and modify accessibility. Manoso won't like the terms, but he abused his rights one time too many," Sam explained.
"In the meantime?" I asked.
"His access to your file got denied," he replied. I thanked Uncle Sam for his help and said Stephanie and I were moving to Trenton.
"We'll live in her apartment until we get the renovations completed on the house. Buck and Tim still live across the hall. They'll watch our back," I said.
"Take care of Stephanie, son. I'll talk to you later," he said before hanging up. I finished packing my clothes, hoping Stephanie thought to grab the perishable food items from the kitchen.
When I got downstairs with my bags, I saw Stephanie pile the food totes in the entryway. "I thought we should donate this food. We can go shopping when we get home," she said. She called the lawyer to get a copy of the documents emailed for us to electronically sighed. Stephanie said our friend Hector would retrieve the paperwork and keys. She stifled a laugh when she described Hector to the lawyer. We imagined the man pissing his pants in fear.
I quickly hugged her before we carried the items to the car. Stephanie organized her car as I made the necessary trips from the shack to the house. Once I locked the house and secured the alarm, I got into the driver's seat to go home. I expected Stephanie to complain about me driving her car.
Stephanie started laughing. I wondered what was funny. "You're my brother. I wouldn't think of complaining when you're driving my car. It's not a macho thing with you," she explained.
"Did I say that out loud?" I asked.
"Nope. We're twins. I noticed we have a telekinetic connection. It's like we can read each other's thoughts," Stephanie replied, grinning. She looked pleased with the possibility. I could almost hear her tell me that she was ecstatic.
"Huh. I see what you mean. You like this connection, don't you?"
"Yup. It's the best." She flicked her radio to the 80s channel and sang along to the Bon Jovi song, "Livin' on a prayer."
We stopped at the soup kitchen to donate our perishables. They were pleased to receive the food. I was relieved they would give the food to the homeless mothers with children. Jeanne Ellen listed me as her beneficiary. I would donate the money she left from her failed mission contract to the soup kitchen and the women's shelter. Both organizations tried to help those who fell on hard times. I know Stephanie would support my decision. I have more than enough in my savings account without adding Jeanne Ellen's money. After everything the woman did to Stephanie, I didn't want her money.
"You're thinking awfully hard there, Marco," Stephanie said.
"I want to donate my inheritance to the soup kitchen and the women's shelter," I replied. Stephanie nodded, letting me know I had made the right choice.
She grumbled when I parked her car near the back door. I almost laughed when Stephanie explained that I had excellent parking karma like the Rangeman. Buck and Tim were waiting inside the lobby for us to arrive. My buddies hugged me when I approached.
"Who is this gorgeous woman?" Tim asked.
"His sister, you idiot," Buck replied. "Can't you see the resemblance?"
"Girl, you and I have to go shopping," Tim said, ignoring his husband.
"I could use some retail therapy," Stephanie said. Tim laughed as he repeated her words.
"You and I will become great friends," Tim said, linking Stephanie's arm to his. Stephanie looked over her shoulder and winked at me. I followed them into the elevator to the second floor. Stephanie used her key to unlock the door, but it didn't work. Tim pulled a key from his pocket to give her.
"Did you change my locks?" Stephanie asked.
"Yes," Buck replied. "Your old one took me less than a minute to pick. I wanted my sister to be safe." Stephanie looked at me, wondering why my friends had adopted her into the family. Buck waited until we entered the apartment, and I swept the unit to declare it safe.
"Come with me, girl," Tim said, pulling her towards the new comfortable couch. "Yes. It's new. We selected one that pulls into a queen-sized bed. Please, sit for storytime."
Stephanie grinned at Tim. "Stop pretending to be flamboyant," she said, slapping his arm. He laughed and agreed to behave.
"Marco, Hawk and Charlie are the only family Buck and I have. Our families disowned us when we announced our relationship. We grew up in strict Catholic households. Neither of our families would conform to the newer beliefs. They still don't accept gay marriage, but we don't need the church to bless our union. When Marco told us to protect your apartment, I thought he was crazy for doing so much for his latest fling. He quickly corrected my belief when he said you were his twin sister. I see the resemblance," Tim explained.
"It would be my honour to have you and Buck as my brothers," Stephanie replied. I was surprised she liked them instantly. "Marco, I like them because they are your family. They moved across the hall to protect my apartment. It makes them good people." Stephanie surprised me by asking Buck, "When do you get deployed?"
"Next week," he replied. "We leave for a nine-month tour."
"Are you keeping your apartment?" I asked.
"No. Tim and I paid the rent to the end of the lease. We'll need to store our furniture somewhere."
"Marco, do you mind if they take the granny suite in the basement? We can move their furniture when I move into our house. It would save on the moving truck expenses," Stephanie suggested.
Buck and Tim's mouths dropped open. Stephanie just met them, and she was inviting them to live in our house. I was going to ask her if we could offer them the invitation. My wonderful, amazing, generous, and loving sister just won the hearts of my best friends.
"Ouch. Watch my shoulder," Stephanie grumbled when they sandwiched her between them.
"What happened to your shoulder?" Tim asked as he pulled on her shirt. Before she could stop him, Tim pulled it off her body. She wore a shorts bra to keep the straps off her shoulder. "Girl, I need to clean this up for you. Did they give you antibiotics?"
"No. My boyfriend changed the dressing last night and applied antibiotic gel. Is something wrong?" Stephanie asked.
"It's looking a bit red, and I can feel a bit of heat. Did you keep it dry when you showered today?" Tim asked.
"Not really. I took an extra long shower," Stephanie confessed. "I can have my friend Bobby come over. He'll have antibiotics for me. We waited for Stephanie to call her friend. She left the room for privacy.
"How did your sister get shot?" Buck asked.
"We went after Armando Gomez before he could find her. One of his men shot her," I replied.
"Did you kill the asshole?" he asked. "Because if you didn't, Tim and I would hunt him down to kill him."
"No. Stephanie killed him. Then she killed another man who tried to shoot me in the back," I explained.
"Does she have military training?" Tim asked.
"Nope. She's a natural with her gun. We trained for months before she found him hiding in Philadelphia. Hawk and Charlie came with us to take out the trash," I replied. "My sister saved my life."
"Your sister has a gravitational pull. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone loves her," Tim stated. I had to agree with my friend. Stephanie is one of a kind, and I'm proud to be her brother.
Bobby's POV
"Brown," I said when my phone rang. I didn't recognize the caller ID, but it wasn't unusual for the men to call me on a stranger's phone.
"Hey, Bobby," Stephanie said. "I'm in my apartment. Can you come over with some antibiotics? Tim thinks my gunshot wound is infected."
"Sure. I'll be there in ten minutes," I replied and hung up. I grabbed my supplies, including the hypodermic with the liquid antibiotic. After searching my medicine cabinet, I found a bottle of penicillin I keep on hand. I quickly added her phone number to my contacts, assuming she wouldn't mind because she didn't block the number.
As I drove to Stephanie's apartment, I wondered who Tim was. I know Tank spent the night with Stephanie, eliminating Tim as a boyfriend. She wouldn't step out on Tank. When I parked in the back lot next to her car, I remembered Tim was the tenant across the hall from her apartment. I ran up the stairs to get to Stephanie.
Marco, Stephanie's brother, opened the door when I knocked. "Marco," I said. He nodded, then opened the door wider.
"Thanks for coming, Bobby. Tim, Buck, this is Rangeman's medic, Bobby Brown. He fixes me up whenever I get injured," Stephanie explained. She pointed to each man so I could tell them apart. Tim had buzzed blond hair and green eyes. He was an attractive man.
His friend, Buck, wore his black hair slightly longer than Tim. Buck's eyes were a stormy grey. I could tell from their stance that Tim and Buck were partners. "I checked her wound. It's red and feels hot. I've cleaned the wound with the antiseptic in Stephanie's medicine cabinet. The antibiotic gel expired. I didn't chance using it," Tim explained.
"It would work in a pinch, but its effectiveness would be reduced," I replied. I checked the wound. The front looked fine, but the exit wound showed signs of infection. "I have to flush it out. One of the stitches pulled."
"Just get it over with, Bobby," Stephanie said between her clenched teeth. She laid across the coffee table to make it easier for me to work on her shoulder. Tim sat between the table and couch to hold her hand. I smiled as Buck took the same position on the other side of the table.
"Have you known Stephanie very long?" I asked the men.
"No. We just met Steph today," Tim replied.
"She's remarkable, isn't she?" I asked.
"I can hear you, Bobby. More work, less chatter," Stephanie said. Marco shook from silent laughter. I wondered if Marco knew she was difficult while injured. "My brother already knows I'm a horrible patient."
"I'll buy ingredients to make you the chocolate cake with fudge icing," Marco promised.
Stephanie moaned, causing my pants to get uncomfortably tight. "Yes, Marco," she groaned. "Your chocolate fudge cake would help." Stephanie yelped when I poured the antiseptic wash over her wound. "I wonder how the cake would taste if I ate it off Tank's ripped abdomen," she mumbled.
"Too much information, sis," Marco replied. "Yes, Steph. You said that last thought out loud and gave Tim and Buck wicked ideas."
She laughed and turned her head towards Tim. His eyes were glazed over, and he was licking his lips. "Sorry, guys. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Stephanie said. "Marco, you need to buy baking pans. I don't have any in my kitchen."
"I'll be back, Steph. I'm going to grab groceries," Marco said. He grabbed Stephanie's keys and left the apartment. He peeked in the door to add, "I'm going to the Stop and Shop down the street. I don't have a key to get back in, so listen for my knock."
"Got it. See you," Stephanie called out. "My brother makes the best chocolate cake, Bobby. It's better than Ella's."
"How did you meet Stephanie," Buck asked.
"My boss, Ranger, hired her for a redecorating job. She climbed in the front seat of the SUV while Tank, Lester and I were squeezed in the back. We barely had enough room to breathe. Stephanie had no idea what the job involved because she was underdressed," I explained.
"She was wearing skimpy clothes?" Tim asked.
"No. I didn't have any weapons," Stephanie replied.
I chuckled at the memory. "Anyway, we get into the apartment after Ranger had to show off to the girl. Tank grabbed the crackhead and tossed him out the window. Stephanie ran to the window to look outside. She was relieved the man landed on the fire escape," I said through laughter.
"Did Tank know there was a fire escape?" Buck asked.
"Nope," Stephanie replied. "He seemed as surprised as me." We laughed for a few minutes. Stephanie winced as I pressed the gauze onto her wound to dry it. "Keep telling the story, Bobby. They need to hear the ending."
I smiled and continued as Stephanie requested. The men were surprised Stephanie went to the third-floor apartment with the crackhead. They were impressed that she didn't get blown up from the bomb attached to the druggie.
"Wait a second," Buck said. "Is your nickname Bomber or Bombshell?"
Stephanie groaned, "Unfortunately, yes. I hate those names." I was surprised because she had never complained about them before. "They remind me of the many times I was a complete disaster magnet. I have no idea how many times I had my cars get bombed, set on fire or got hit by a rocket launcher. Not to mention how many times someone launched a Molotov cocktail through the window here. I must have replaced my furniture four times already. I'm glad to be moving out of here soon."
"That's not all that happened in this apartment," I added. "You found a dead man on your couch. There was a bloody rabbit costume in your closet. An enemy of Ranger's named Orin blew up in your foyer. Ranger got shot and almost died. You killed Jimmy Alpha after he shot you in the ass."
"Good Lord," Tim said. "I don't know any woman who could live through your experiences."
"Stephanie is unlike any woman I know. Tank is lucky to have her heart," I said. Stephanie had no idea that Lester and I were in love with her.
"As long as I have an emergency stash of TastyKakes, I'm good," Stephanie added. "Man, I could really use a donut."
I laughed and pulled the bag from my medic pack. "I grabbed this for you on my way here."
"Bobby, thank you," Stephanie said as she opened the bag. I got her three Boston crème donuts. She ate them as she moaned.
"Too many sweets aren't good for you, sweetie," Buck said.
"Do you know what happens if I don't get my sugar fix?" Stephanie asked. Tim and Buck shook their heads. "Bobby, how tired did Tank look this morning?" she surprised me by asking.
"He had bags under his eyes and had to drink four cups of coffee to wake up," I replied.
Stephanie laughed. "Ya, I wore the Big guy out."
"How did you wear him out?" Tim asked. Stephanie grinned and waggled her eyebrows.
"We went six rounds last night before he fell asleep from sheer exhaustion," Stephanie proudly said. "Marco's been making sure I ate my required amounts of sugar while we trained. When I went without," Stephanie got cut off when Marco entered the apartment.
"She beat my ass into the ground. I made sure she had at least a sugar-laden treat per day. Six times with Tank? Wow, Steph. You're a machine," Marco joked.
"The next time I ask you to stop for donuts, you better listen," Stephanie said. "No sugar makes me horny. I couldn't have sex with my brother so I took it out in the gym. Marco raised his hands in surrender. I prepared Stephanie's arm to inject the liquid antibiotic.
"It should start working in a few hours. I have penicillin for you to take. One pill three times per day until they're gone," I explained.
"Yes, Bobby. I remember. Thank you for coming here tonight," she said. Her arms wrapped around my neck to hug me tight. "I love you too, Bobby. It's just not as much as I love Tank," she whispered. I kissed her cheek before packing my medic bag to leave.
"Thanks for helping my sister," Marco said when he saw me to the door. I walked down the steps thinking of ways to punish Ranger for hurting my kindhearted friend. Stephanie didn't deserve how Ranger treated her. Tank is a lucky bastard.
