Ranger, Stephanie, and all familiar RangeMen, belong to Janet. The inevitable mistakes are mine.
"Nice of you assholes to join me," I said to the two fuckers who are about to regret the day their mother had them ... no matter how white they are or entitled they feel.
It took my entire childhood, and some years beyond them, but I've become comfortable in my own skin. My skin being darker than Raphael's had two lips curling and one mouth opening to say something no one here will tolerate.
The only time I enjoy being called names is when it's by Morelli because it further shows Stephanie his true personality and lack of character. It doesn't suck to see how quickly, fiercely, and hear how lovingly, she defends me either. But these fuckers don't deserve my amusement or my anger.
Kane, however, disagreed. "You'd better shut your pie-holes, Pussies, before I beat Ranger to shutting it permanently," he ordered them. To me he said ... "Harp would have my ass for saying that. 'Calling someone something female is an honor, not an insult' is what she'd tell me."
"I don't disagree with your wife," I told him, "since mine can take a bullet without flinching. She takes exception to the phrase 'Fight Like A Girl', stating women have to fight harder than most every single day. Plus, she doesn't need to rely on a surprise attack or a 2x4. She can kick anyone's ass without help and celebrate with cake afterwards."
"Steph's tougher than these fuckers," he agreed.
"That's not saying much ... or giving Stephanie enough credit," Tank said, breaking his threatening silence, folding his arms across his chest in preparation of intimidating and educating some ignorant motherfuckers.
Minds may not be changed as a result of this, but bodies will definitely be aching.
"Do you have anything to say for yourselves?" I asked the two non-men. "I like to think I'm a fair man, so if you'd like to plead your case, or plead for your life after apologizing for putting the life of one of my men in danger, I'll give you two seconds of my time."
"Damn right I have somethin' to say," Dickhead one started with. "This is our country and he should speak goddamned English in it!"
Both Tank and I agreed that was the exact wrong thing to say. My boot sole to his gut shut him up, while Tank gave a five-knuckle warning shot to the fucker's brother, followed by another set of five from his left hand. Tank and I decided early on that becoming ambidextrous would only improve our chances for survival.
"What ... were you on fire and he didn't 'understand' your request for a fucking hose down?" Kane asked the douchebag. "Seriously ... what the fuck's it to you what the hell he was saying or to who? It's assholes like you that make me regret defending your right to be. I've been to more hellholes than anyone should ... it seems just to keep pathetic-assed wannabe tough guys like you pricks curled around teddy bears here at home. I'm currently rethinking my years of service if this is the thanks we get for it."
"You aren't regretting anything," I said, calling him out on his bullshit. "We don't get to pick and choose who we defend the freedoms of, just as they shouldn't be deciding who deserves them. They don't have the power to make you question everything you fought for. In fact, they have no power at all."
The threat is real and so is the promise of plenty of pain to come. They got a few minutes reprieve when our party was crashed.
"You expecting someone?" Kane asked me.
"Yes."
Though it hadn't been discussed or agreed to out loud. I opened the door and allowed Lester to escort Stephanie inside.
"Looks like you can multitask," I said, giving her a brief kiss.
"Yup, I got to catch up with Harper, get to know Kenzie and Aubrey a bit, and sweet-talk the three of them into amusing our babies so I can add my two cents to this particular discussion."
"Babies?" Kane asked.
"Yeah ... Olive, Gunny, and Mo," she answered, as if she were explaining why vegetables are supposed to be important to Olive.
"Of course," he replied, with his version of an eye roll. "Can we get back to some butt-kicking now?"
"That's why I'm here," she told him. "Did they apologize yet for hurting our good guy?"
Tank all but snorted. "Not hardly."
"Well they will now," she said with complete confidence, as she turned to them and pushed them back an inch with a poke to each with a finger I know from experience can leave a dent when she's pissed.
A flash of something inappropriate appeared on asshole one's face. I punched it off.
"Look at my wife like that again," I warned him, "and you'll be shitting teeth for the next week."
"My hero ... in many ways," Steph said, pretending to fan her face. "Too bad these jerks can't understand you because they're only fluent in asshole. You idiots should be aware that Raphael, yes he has a name and a family that loves him, was speaking Italian to his dad's friend ... not that he doesn't have the right to speak whatever the hell he wants to. That's why my husband became a Soldier, so everyone in our country can always be treated respectfully and equally, not be bullied or silenced for our differences. Guess who else is Italian besides Raphael?" She isn't interested in an answer. "Yep, me. You gonna beat me up too now? Honestly, I'd love to see you try just so I can take both of you down myself."
"That'll get them sent straight to hell faster than just about anything else," Santos correctly stated.
"Hell's the right place for them," she replied, before turning back to our 'guests'. "I'm also half Hungarian ... so like you, unless you can ace a blood quantum test for at least one Native tribe, I'm also a product of immigrants. I may be the palest person on the planet, but I know the only thing that makes me superior to someone else is that I don't judge people based on appearance, I base my opinion solely on their actions. When I look at my husband, I don't see a 'Cuban' or 'Latino Hottie' ... I see the person who risks his life everyday for people who likely don't deserve the sacrifice. Staring at you two, I see two dickless cowards because that's how you acted."
"Well said, Steph," Kane said, risking a brotherly kiss to her cheek. "Those of us who have dicks and balls, big ones at that, know you don't prove it by hiding behind a door before whispering a surprise 'Boo'. We kick the fucking door in, demand answers, and leave bodies behind when we exit. Right, Bro?"
"There have been a few damaged doors in our day," I acknowledged. "I've since created an opportunity to introduce those to the pleasure of trying to stay alive against all odds."
One of the properties I own doesn't have a safe house or Rangeman building on the two hundred acres it includes, instead it houses a more extreme version of an obstacle course with mountains to climb, small outbuildings to clear, 'abandoned' vehicles to search, and ice cold water to cross ... that by day is used by civilian paintballers looking for an hour or two of adventure. At night ... or 2300 on ... it turns into a place to train for serious combat. And dozens of Special Ops personnel who I've trained, or fought with and trust, will relish using the facility to stalk those who are a danger here at home as much as the terrorists we hunt overseas.
"If you think it's perfectly acceptable for people to go through every day of their lives worried that someone will take issue with how they look or what they say," I told the already bleeding bastards, "I believe the two of you should get to experience what having to watch your back 24/7 feels like. And I should warn you, the people ready to ambush, chase, and fight, you at every turn and shadowy corner are all colors and come from everywhere, and are all extended members of my unique family who don't appreciate an attack on one of their own."
"I've met them, they're all scary as hell. I know I wouldn't want them coming after me," Steph was helpful in pointing out. "I suggest peeing yourself and begging for mercy the second you're tossed out of the vehicle."
"I've arranged it so neither of you can be reported missing for five days," I informed the pitiful excuses for men. "The fun for me will be seeing if you can survive them."
