Ranger pushed me to the stairs, then picked me up and carried me up to the bedroom. He helped me finish in the bathroom, washed my hands, pulled a blanket over me, and kissed me lightly on my lips, then sat on the edge. "What do you think about this thing with Harry?"
"Honestly? I think our option is the best option. We can't get in trouble, and Vito and the guys can't get in trouble. We aren't even doing anything, and that's the glorious thing about it. I keep thinking about the phrase that you make your bed and you have to lie in it. They made their bed, Ranger. We tried to help, and it didn't work. So now they have to lie in it. And I think that is the way it's supposed to be."
"You don't mind cutting them loose?"
"They have each other. They might both have to work at burger joints, but with the money they have they could do it. We aren't killing them – but we are, knowing their personalities, sentencing them to a living death. Both Val and Steve are the kind of people that are attracted to money and prestige. They like having an endless supply, and they like having the trappings of wealth – the big house, the fancy cars, the golf club membership, the housekeeper and the nanny. The life we are signing them up for won't have any extra cash around. They won't be able to have any of those things. It would be better for them to leave the kids at Albert's and Marie's. They will both have to get jobs to cover their bills, and Val isn't qualified for any big job, and Steve's qualifications have been revoked. This is the life that Steve and Val selected, and it is going to burn their britches to have to live it."
"What did he think that he was going to do?"
"I think he didn't realize the relationship between Guido and Vito. I think that he thought that he was going to waltz in and take over the books for Vito, get back together with Val, get access to his money again, and everything would be back to normal for him. He may even have planned to divorce Val after getting access to his money. He's an idiot, Ranger, and he is showing his idiotic tendencies."
Ranger handed me a painkiller and a glass of water. I took the pill, drank the glass of water, and lay down again.
"Did I ever tell you", said Ranger, "how grateful I am that you are nothing like Val?"
I laughed.
Ranger kissed me softly again and stood up. I shut my eyes, and I heard him walk out of the bedroom and softly close the door. Shortly afterwards, I was asleep.
An hour later, Steve and Val crept into Ranger's and my room. I woke up, stared at them, and said, "how did you get in here?"
Val grinned. "We waited until your guard went to the washroom and, when he did, we asked Grandma to go streaking through the hall. The other goon went after her to try to get her dressed. And we slipped in. Easy, peasy."
I sighed. Ranger would be furious, and heads were going to roll. I hated it when everybody in the playground didn't get along.
"What do you want?" I said.
"We just ran the numbers. We can't afford to live without you helping us."
"Been there, done that, not about to do it again."
"Be reasonable, Steph", said Steve. "How do you think that we'll be able to survive? We have nothing."
"You have a million dollars in the bank. That is a hell of a start-up fund."
"That's my retirement fund."
"So let me get this straight. You want me to fund you so that you have a cushy retirement?"
"Yes", said Val. "If you fund us, we'll get out of your hair."
"No, you won't. There will be a tie between the two of us that we won't be able to hide. That's the first thing. Second, it would be the epitome of stupid to come to Trenton. The mob is gunning for you and will kill Steve upon sight. Third, it would be even more stupid for us to associate ourselves with you. According to the mob, you're a sinking ship and who wants to be associated with a sinking ship?"
Val got mad. "So you're scared of the big, bad mob?"
I sighed and shook my head. "If you had the sense that God gave you, you too would be scared of the mob."
"We just need a few thousand."
"No."
"We would help you if you needed it."
"Like you did when I needed it?" I looked at Steve, and he looked confused. "I was one step away from declaring bankruptcy and what did you say, Val? Don't fucking come looking at you for help, as you didn't work hard to support family members." I turned to Steve again. "That's a direct quote and was somewhat ironic since Val didn't work."
Steve paused for a moment. "You aren't going to let a little tit for tat stop you from doing the right thing, are you?"
"No. The right thing for everyone is to let you loose to live the life that you've chosen. You chose not to go into witness protection", I said. "Now you get to live that life. You've got your degree to fall back on. You'll be fine. As for Val, we paid for her to go back to school. She chose not to go to classes and that is her choice to make. But now she gets to live the life that she chose when she didn't go to classes and chose not to learn any marketable skills. I don't know why the two of you are whining. We are letting you live the life that you chose. We are doing exactly what you wanted."
"It's not what we wanted though", said Val. "Part of the reason Steve came back to me is because I said you'd help out with expenses."
"That was pretty stupid of you. Look, you know that there are members of the mob in the house, don't you?" For the first time ever, I saw worry on Val's face. "You know they want to kill you, don't you? And if we stand in the way, they'd like to kill us as well?" I looked at them to assess the level of understanding in their faces. "You have put everybody in the castle in a delicate position. We have talked to the enforcers and, since you have invited yourselves into the castle, you are going to stay in the castle until we come to a conclusion. This is a conversation that requires careful consideration and negotiation with mob members from both the east and the west coasts. Right now, Ranger and I are the only people that are standing between you and the mob, and we are fighting for you to get everything you have worked towards, everything you have chosen in your life. We are literally fighting for your life. I don't know if we will be able to do it. I think we made a compelling argument and have called in enough favors, but we'll wait and see."
Grant and Gavin walked into the bedroom. "I thought you were told to stay away from Steph", said Grant mildly. "I distinctly remember Ranger coming into the room a couple of hours ago and telling you to stay away from Steph and their children." He turned to Gavin. "Am I remembering things wrong?"
"No. That's how I remember them too", said Gavin. He turned to Steve and Val. "I also remember you being told that you were going to be trusted and, instead of being jailed like you deserve, we were letting you roam free as long as you stay away from Steph and the kids. Isn't that what you remember, Grant?"
"We can't roam free in the castle", said Val with a sob. "There are mob members in the castle."
"Relax", said Grant. "Unless you do something to piss them off, their respect for Steph and Ranger is so high that they will not off you in the castle. They know that would upset Steph, and they don't want to upset Steph." He looked at them. "I'll spell this out for you, because I don't think you realize how much trouble you are in. The mob is here and want to eliminate you. However, they have a good working relationship with Ranger and Steph, and they get along well with them. Because of that, they are currently working out a solution with Ranger and Steph. Ranger and Steph are arguing for your life, and the mob wants to take it. This is a very delicate negotiation and you approaching Steph when you were told to stay away is a very stupid and life-limiting move. As I said again, the mob wants to kill you but, if you hurt Steph, if you even bother Steph in any way, Ranger will want to kill you too, and the mob will happily take care of matters for Ranger to try to win favors from him. In the meantime, Steph and Ranger are the only things standing in your way of being eliminated."
"I don't understand how a group of rent-a-cops can work with the mob. That takes brains and courage", said Steve.
"Not really. You worked with them", said Grant as he smiled and looked at me. "You haven't napped very long. Do you want a longer nap, or do you want to get up?"
I sighed. "I'd better get up. Ranger is going to spew when he found out that Grandma diverted my guards, and I want to make sure that we don't end up going home with two less team members."
"Yeah, that's a real concern", said Gavin. He turned to my sister and Steve. "May I escort you out of the room?" He stood back and stared at them as he waited.
Val stood up. "Steph is my sister, and I should be able to see her when I want."
Gavin sighed. "That's not how we play this game, and I'd advise you to start playing by the rules before you get booted out."
I pulled myself up in the bed as Gavin escorted Steve and Val out of the room. I watched them walk out the door and shook my head. "What the hell are they thinking?"
"I don't think they are thinking at all", said Grant. He grabbed the stethoscope and listened to my heart and lungs and took my blood pressure. "Pain levels?"
I smiled. "The acetaminophen with codeine hasn't worn off. I feel pretty good. About a two? I was thinking of talking to you and Kai about something."
"What's that?"
"The acetaminophen with codeine is what I tend to use in the day. It's not perfect and it doesn't bring it down to a zero, but it does bring it down to about a two or three and I am wondering whether we should start trying it at night. We could at least try it a couple of nights and see what happens, couldn't we?"
"You are very worried about growing addicted to the meds."
"Yes. It is getting to the point that I am looking forward to taking the bedtime meds, but it isn't just because of the pain relief. It is for the emotional relief, and that scares the hell out of me. The meds just make me feel good."
"Okay, I'll talk to Kai and we'll see what happens. However, you're right. You are able to sleep in the afternoon with the milder painkiller, so it makes sense to try it at night." He paused as he picked me up. "It's probably a good thing for you to get up. The Californian enforcers showed up about half an hour ago."
"Oh boy. Is everyone getting along?"
"So far. I don't think that Val and Steve have realized that there are five mob enforcers in the house."
I sighed. "I think there is a lot that Val and Steve haven't realized."
Grant smiled.
