Chapter 5

The week flew by. Ranger and Tank went to Jackson's school and did the show and tell thing. I had Ranger tape it for me because I was holding down the office and didn't get to go. I watched it, however, on Ranger's phone and it was adorable. Looks like they had a lot of fun. Tank brought "Rangeman" souvenirs to Jackson's classmates. That's probably one reason everything went so well.

Everything has been going well lately. I knew it was too good to last. It was a Saturday, and I was at home. Jackson was with Ranger doing guy stuff. They left me to my own devices. Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I called up Lula, Tank's wife, to see if she was doing anything. She said that she was going to go shopping and wanted to know if I wanted to come. Of course, I said yes, because I was bored. I asked her where Tank was at and why wasn't he going with her. She said Tank took their son Matthew with him and they were with Ranger and Jackson.

I told her I would meet her at the Quaker Mall at 11 am, which gave me enough time to get ready. I love going shopping with someone I normally enjoy going by myself, but I love having a buddy to go with sometimes.

After I shower, shaved, and lotioned myself up, I got dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve T-shirt. Hey, it's one of those days that I don't care to worry about what I look like. It was getting chilly outside, so I put on a leather jacket as well. Since we were going to be walking a lot, I put on tennis shoes. Hey, no heels today.

I meet Lula at Macy's. They were having a 60% off sale and you know a girl loves her shoes. I have shoes of every color and I needed more. Lula already had some outfits picked out. Lula was a plus-size woman that wore size 6 clothing. Everything is always tight and colorful. She and Tank are a complete opposite, but they get along great, and you can tell that they love each other.

I found out that they have been married for 2 years and their son, Carlos Matthew, who they call Matthew, is a year old. He is a cutie too. Ranger's middle name is Carlos, and that is who he goes by with his family, so that is where they got Matthew's first name from.

As we were walking in the mall, my Spidey senses were going off. I felt as if something was off. I had the feeling that someone was watching me, but I couldn't figure out where the person was. I looked all around, and I didn't see anyone that looked like they were staring at me. So, I just shrugged it off as my imagination.

We turned the corner to head into a Coach outlet store when I accidentally bumped into a guy. I went to say excuse me and I froze. Lula kept asking me what was wrong as I started hyperventilating. I couldn't say anything. I was shaking too badly.

Dickie recognized me, of course, "Stephanie, where is Jackson?" He attempted to grab my arm and I pulled away from him and I started screaming. I was crying and shaking. I dropped to my knees and sat rocking back and forth.

"Lula, get him away from me. Please… Someone help me…" I was screaming by this time.

Dickie was still trying to get me to talk to him. Lula didn't hesitate and called Tank, "Tank, baby, you need to get Ranger to the mall quick. Steph is freaking out and crying. Some guy here is trying to grab her."

Ranger's Point of View…

What the hell was going on? Tank tells me that Babe is at the mall screaming and crying because someone is trying to grab her. I pulled into a parking spot in front of the mall and jumped out, running inside.

I wasn't sure where they were at. It took me a moment, then I heard screaming. Someone was screaming to help them. That had to be Stephanie. I ran down the floor of the mall, dodging and weaving people trying not to run into them.

I skidded to a stop and saw Stephanie on the floor screaming and crying and a guy trying to grab her yelling at her, "You're a bad wife" "you don't deserve Jackson." Oh, hell no, who the hell was this?

I ran over and pushed the guy off her. I reached down and scooped her up in my arms and sat down with her on a bench that was close by. I spoke to her in Spanish, trying to calm her down. "Babe, shh… I'm here. It's okay. No one is going to hurt you, darling, no one."

I glared at the guy who was watching me while I held onto my babe. "Get your hands off my wife. She is coming with me." I glared at him with clenched teeth. "She is NOT your wife. You lost her when you hurt her."

I pulled out my phone and called Tank, "Where are you?" He told me he was on the way. "I need you here pronto and leave the kids with Lester." There was no way in hell this guy was seeing Jackson.

"Babe, look at me." She raised her head and looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes. "Tell me who this is, darling." I knew who it was, but I needed her to tell me to make sure that she wasn't in shock. She whispered one name "Dickie"

After placing her on the bench, I grabbed Dickie by his collar. I pushed him up against a wall of a store. I just stared at him. "You are lucky you are still breathing. I suggest you leave now because I don't have time to hide your body. The next time you see my woman, you better not say one word to her, hell you better not even look at her, otherwise, I will KILL you. Do you understand me?"

He was shaking and nodding his head. I let him go, and he scurried off. I was going to make sure that he was never around Stephanie again and if he ever showed his face again, I would do just and kill him. Hey, I know how to hide a body.

I walked back over to Steph and pulled her back into my lap. She had calmed down from the crying and was holding my shirt for dear life. I rocked her while talking to her in Spanish. That seems to keep her calm.

"Ranger, where's Jackson?" she raised her head to look me in the eyes.

"Babe, he is fine. He is with Lester. Tank will be here shortly. Are you okay?"

"I am now, yes. Thank you for coming to my rescue." She grabbed tighter to my shirt.

She is so beautiful. I looked into her beautiful blue eyes, and I was lost. She pulled me to her and wrapped her arms around my neck. I kissed her neck and whispered to her in her ear. I wanted her to know that I would not go anywhere and that I would protect her at all costs.

I kissed her from her neck to her mouth, putting all my emotions and feelings in that one kiss. I was hoping she knew how much she meant to me. Reluctantly, I pulled away and put my forehead next to hers. "Dios, Babe. You're killing me here."

I could see her looking around as if she was looking for someone. "Where did Lula go?" Before I could even answer her, Tank and Lula came walking up with Matthew and Jackson. I thought I told him to leave the kids with Lester. Never mind, too late now.

"Mommy, are you okay?" He ran up to Steph and put his arms around her and me. It was hard for him to hug just his mom because I still had her in my lap. With his little arms wrapped around Steph and me, I felt… complete. Where were the thoughts coming from?

"Sorry Ranger, Jackson insisted on coming with me." I just nodded. it didn't matter anyway, Babe needed to see him.

Once Lula and Tank both make sure that Steph was okay, I carried her out to the truck. Tank came in his vehicle. Jackson wanted to ride with his Uncle Tank and Aunt Lula because they were going to take him to get ice cream. He came over and hugged Steph after I placed her in the passenger seat and buckled her in. He turned to me and hugged me next as I picked him up and cradled him against my chest.

"Take care of my mommy. She is sad." He whispered in my ear just encase I didn't know that Babe was sad.

"I got this little guy; I'll take care of your mommy. No one will hurt her." I put him down and he ran over to Tank and took his hand. Tank and I did the head nod that Steph calls our ESP thing and I got in the driver's seat and drove off.

We went back to Haywood so Steph could take a nap. When I pulled up, Les met us at the truck.

"Ranger, what happened to Beautiful?"

"Her dumbass ex-husband was at the mall, and he started yelling at her and telling her she was a bad wife and wanted Jackson. I threatened his life if he ever got around her again." Steph was asleep in her seat. I unfastened the seatbelt and lifted her in my arms.

"I'm going to make sure that he never bothers Babe again. Trust me, I have a plan." We got on the elevator, and I took her to 7. Normally, she would stay at her house, but I wanted her here with me. I laid her down on my bed and tucked her under the covers. I kissed her forehead and turned out the light so she could sleep.

I walked back into the living room. "Les, call up Andres, Cox, and Johnson to see if they want to do some contract work for me. I think it's time that Orr and his partners pay for what they have done to Steph."

"I like the way you think, Ranger. Yes, it is time for a little payback. I'm on it." He fist-bumped and he left to contact the guys I asked him to.

Hey, Babe couldn't get her payback, so you are damn straight we were going to get it for her. I just hope when she finds out she isn't mad at me.