Chapter 11

I woke slowly trying to remember how I had ended up in bed, my last memory was being on the couch with Carlos watching a film, I must have fallen asleep and he'd brought me to bed. I reached over and found the other side cold but my fingers touched a piece of paper. Opening my eyes and with a smile on my face I read the message.

"Babe left you to sleep, Santos downstairs, have a good day see you at 4. Love you C"

I felt good about today until I saw a text from Morelli.

"Pinos at 1, please"

Well I suppose the sooner I got him to back off the better. I showered; shaved, buffed and moisturized leaving my hair to dry on its own, dressed in jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt I made my way downstairs. I decided today to travel with Lester; he was good company and had a way about him to chat up a couple of old folk I needed to talk to.

"Morning Lester"

"Morning Beautiful, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Well I thought we could ride together today, so which car?"

"Yours, it has all the security gizmos on it"

Lester drove to pick up some doughnuts, first to use as a peace offering for having been out of town and not telling them and second if the girls were busy eating maybe they'd keep their questions low key. We parked outside the bonds office, how the Merry Men always seemed to get a good parking space still mystified me. I picked up the box of doughnuts and went inside, Lester stayed by the door while I put the box on Connie's desk. Lula came in at that very moment, as though she could smell the doughnuts.

"Morning ladies, any new files for me?"

"Only one, probably a good job you have company with you today"

"Why, if it's a low bond they're not normally difficult?"

"Yeah well Vinnie being the sleazeball that he is, bonded out this biker guy, taking his bike to secure the bond, no history, no address but was arrested for assaulting one of the girls down on Stark"

"I heard bout that, she's a friend of Jackie's, got beaten real bad"

"Well he was seen by the cops doing it"

"Fine sign the file over and we'll see if we can even find him"

"So white girl, good vacation?"

"Not a vacation Lula, I was helping a friend out"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah"

"So are we gonna go get this woman beater?"

"Not yet Lula I need to find him first and I've a couple of people to talk to this morning"

"Humph, that you dissing me off?"

"No, maybe tomorrow afternoon, OK?"

"Maybe, 'pends what plans I got"

I was so not in the mood for Lula to be off handed with me. I left the office with Lester following and we got into the car, I punched in the address we needed to go to into the sat nav, maybe the changes to this car weren't too bad. Lucky for me the two elderly folk my Grandma had come up with were both living in the same retirement home, it was by a park and looked to have been an old manor house. Once through the door, which entailed buzzing and being let in, the receptionist led us into a lounge area to meet up with Mr. and Mrs. Watkins, yeah they'd been childhood sweethearts forever and eventually got themselves married, though Grandma seemed to think the arrival of their daughter six months later might have been the reason. Regardless I thought that it was still sweet that they could live together and be looked after. Lester and I went over and sat opposite them and I introduced us as friends of Edna's.

"My Grandmother thought you might be able to help find an old friend of hers"

OK just a little white lie.

"Her name was Beatrice and she was good friends with Grandma, but she up and left. Can you remember her?"

"Friends with Edna?"

"Yes, but only for a short time"

"Pretty little thing?"

"Kenny!"

"Hell Vera, it was seventy years ago"

"You remember her then?"

"I do, strange girl, real quiet, especially around Edna, she's mad now like she was when she were a young 'un, marriage sure as hell calmed her down"

I could imagine that, I was probably more like Grandma than my mother. Vera chirped up again.

"I don't remember her"

"Well you only had eyes for me even then"

"Oh Kenny, you old hound dog"

"Kenny, what can you tell me about Beatrice?"

"Very long dark hair, quiet like I said, but she didn't say a lot 'cos I don't think she were all that good with speaking, had a bit of an accent when she did. I was a couple of years older so I noticed things like that"

"You know where she lived, or who with?"

"Adeline Street, one over from mine, I once walked over with her after we'd met up with Edna. Not sure where exactly, she kind of shrugged me away at the end of the street. Don't know who lived at the house, she didn't say"

"She go to school with you?"

"Not ours, sorry that's all I remember"

"You've both been a great help, thank you, if you do remember anything else here's a card with my phone number on"

"OK lass, good luck, say hi to Edna for us"

We left the home and got back in the car, I was busy thinking how to now use the address to find occupants from seventy years ago.

"Beautiful it's another piece of the puzzle, we'll work it and see what comes up. Where to now?"

"I have to meet Joe at Pinos, can you give me a little space?"

"Sure, Steph are you and Ranger, you know?"

"Yeah I think we're on the same page"

"Glad to hear"

Morelli was already waiting for me when I walked into Pinos at a booth we would normally sit at, Lester gave me five minutes then came in to sit at the bar, if Morelli noticed he didn't let it show.

"Cupcake, thanks for coming"

"Joe can you please not call me that"

"Why not?"

"Because it comes from an event I'd sooner forget"

"As long as I live I won't forget that evening"

I just gave him a look and picked up the menu, I wasn't feeling overly hungry.

"Cu.. Err Steph I wanted to talk with you, to get us back in synch, I've missed you"

"Sorry Joe but I don't think I want that anymore"

"What? But you're my fiancé"

"I am not your fiancé, we haven't spoken for weeks"

"That's because we've both been busy"

"Joe when we were together all we did was argue"

"We're good in bed"

"Not a deal breaker Joe, you were always trying to get me to change, my job, how I behaved, hell even how I lived"

"That's not true, I'm only thinking about you"

"No Joe you were thinking about you and what you wanted, marriage, dinner on the table and children"

"Isn't that what all girls want?"

"Not me Joe"

"That's not true, I'm sure you'll come around to the idea"

"Joe!"

"Alright then I'll stop pushing you into those things and you'll see we can be good together"

"No Joe, it's over, I'm over you. I've appreciated the time away from you, because it made me realize that as a couple it wasn't good enough for me"

"I don't think you're thinking straight"

"I am Joe, I want to stay friends but nothing more"

"Who's got to you?"

"No one has, this is my choice"

"It's Manoso isn't it?"

"No, he has nothing to do with how I feel about you. Hell I've been out of town"

At this point I think Joe realized he wasn't going to get his own way. His eyes had gone cold, his face was pinched and his hands were sweeping through his hair. Yeah definitely getting a mad on.

"I won't give you up Steph, I'll fight for you"

"No one owns me Joe, especially not you"

I made to get up and bent to pick up my bag, as I came around the table he grabbed hold of my arm stopping me.

"Steph I won't give up, everyone knows you and me are meant to be married, hell your mother, mine the Burg, even Grandma Bella"

"Joe their opinions aren't important it's not about them, it's about you and me. You once said there was you and there was me, but there just wasn't an us. Move on Joe, find someone who can give you what you want, because it isn't me"

I looked down at my arm, surely he could see that I was serious, surely he could see from my face that I wasn't going to let him man handle me? Joe was still staring at me and I could feel the tension through his grip. He looked down at my arm and tried to pull me out of the restaurant with him. I stood my ground and held back the emotions swirling inside of me. I really didn't trust him not to do something stupid. Would he hurt me? His face came up to look at me and a shiver ran through me, but then after a moment of trying to stare me out, he suddenly released my arm as if it were burning him, taking advantage I made a hurried exit out of the restaurant. My car beeped open so I got into the drivers seat and locked the door. Morelli had followed me out, the look of anger on his face had changed into one of resolve, and he tried pulling on the door, yanking on the handle, then he turned away and walked off toward the back parking lot. I had tears in my eyes and didn't even hear Lester open the door; with a gentle shove he moved me across the seat and started the engine then drove away. I wasn't aware of where we were going, I think that I was just numb, not that I should have been surprised by Joe, I suppose we'd both let our unhealthy relationship coast along without really thinking where it would lead, and was I just using Joe because he was there when I needed him, because I thought he was safe and wouldn't hurt me? Maybe, but the feelings I had for Carlos were so much more, deeper, richer, hell even the sex, which wasn't everything in our relationship, was more profound than I had ever experienced with Joe. The car came to a stop and I looked out through the windscreen onto a little café that sat on the banks of the river, with a small patio outside. I looked at Lester and he gave me a small nod. As I looked again there was Carlos waiting by the entrance. I opened the car door walking slowly toward him as he held open his arms. I collapsed into him and clung to him as the tears I'd held in flowed down my cheeks.

"Hush querida, I've got you"

I couldn't say anything. He was always there when I needed him. As my tears subsided I smiled up at him

"I'm fine, just a bit shell shocked, I didn't expect Joe to react like he did"

"He'll get over it, give him time"

I nodded numbly and followed him to sit at a small table overlooking the water. We ate outside, small tasters were brought out and I probably ate more than I thought, Carlos explained what each dish was, though I didn't really remember. I was thankful that he didn't insist that I repeat the conversation I'd had with Morelli. When we finished he drove me in his SUV back to Rangeman.

"Do you mind if I go get a shower before the meeting?"

"Of course not, what's mine is yours and seven is always there for you"

I thought about that as I went up in the elevator, I'd stayed on seven before, but I always left, until the next time. I left, my decision, I left, not because he told me to go. I left, had I walked away from him? Had I read the signs wrong? It didn't really matter now, because I was here now. I felt much better after a shower and after thinking, dressed in clean jeans and a light jumper I went back down to five and into Carlos's office. He looked up at me as I walked up to him, I knelt between his legs I put everything I had to give him a passionate kiss, and pulling away I whispered.

"I love you so much, you make me complete"

He held my face in his hands, looking into my eyes he whispered.

"Te amo con todo mi corazón, I love you with all my heart"

We were interrupted by a very loud knock on the door and Lester came in grinning, Carlos got up, pulling me to his feet and left the room, leaving me alone with Lester. I walked up to Lester and gave him a hug.

"Thank you Lester for getting Carlos for me"

"De nada, I knew you needed him to ground you, just like he needs you. You're good for each other"

We sat in the couch while Carlos returned with Bobby, Tank, Hector and Ram. Mugs of coffee were handed out and everyone made them selves comfortable. As I was sat next to Carlos I took his hand in mine and smiled, yes I felt grounded now, complete. Carlos took charge of the meeting and it was immediately business as usual.

"Let's start with reports, Ram"

"The history of Hungary during the World War 2 is complicated so I'll try to keep it minimal. Hungarian troops took part in the Nazi invasion and partition of Yugoslavia in 1941. In 42 they conducted brutal anti-Partisan raids and killed over 4,000 civilians, mostly Serbs and Jews. In 43 the Hungarian government investigated the massacres and the leaders responsible were sentenced to death. There was a mass and systematic revenge execution of ethnic Hungarians: around 40,000 civilians were tortured and killed between October 1944 and May 1945. Hitler realized Hungary's intention to make peace with the Allies, so Germany invaded Hungary in 1944 placing their own Nazi-leaning Hungarian Arrow-Cross party in power. With the Soviet army approaching, a puppet Hungarian-Nazi regime was ruling Hungary. Between 41 and 45 more than half a million Hungarian Jews – two thirds of the country's Jewish population – were killed. In Hungary, the lives of Jews were restricted in terms of whom they could marry and what jobs they could do, but for the most part they were surviving. That changed radically when Hitler sent German troops to occupy Hungary in 44. In less than two months more than 430,000 Jews and other minorities had been transported to Auschwitz. The only Jews left in the country were in Budapest, where they were later executed by members of the Arrow Cross during the siege of Budapest in 44 and ended the Nazi occupation. An estimated 120,000 people died through fighting, starvation and sickness, with the death toll shared equally between defending troops (German and Hungarian), attacking troops (Russian and Romanian) and civilians. Half a million Hungarians were transported to Soviet labor camps and tens of thousands of women and girls were raped. However there were other threats and the gendarmerie decided to do their own redistribution of wealth and they went into Jewish homes and stole, looted, demanded valuables beating up anyone who refused. The gendarmes collected rich people, who were beaten and literally stripped publicly of their clothes; if it wasn't the gendarmes then it was the Germans. After the war, many leaders were captured and tried for war crimes."

I sat there reeling from the information Ram gave us, as I looked around I realized that maybe the others had a better idea than I did.

"So the Jews had the Nazis, their own Hungarian power crazed leaders, the gendarmes and the Russians against them within what a five year period?"

"Yes, it's a complex piece of history"

"My Grandmother has never ever mentioned any of this, but she's Catholic and I'm sure that woman is catholic"

"I don't know how she fits in Steph"

"Maybe I need to find out from Grandma why her family came here. So how does all this help?"

"Another piece of the puzzle Babe"

How could people do that to each other, because of their religion, or because they were rich, but I suppose it was still happening now, racism was all around us, hell even my Dad was racist if you weren't Italian. Were the documents showing war crimes, or money that had been stolen?

"Hector, report"

"Estefania got a street name but a lot of records not always public and because paper not there now. Still going through immigration but there are so many mothers with daughters"

"No one really knows who she lived with either, could have been her father or a relative"

Carlos looked at me and squeezed my hand.

"Babe we'll work it out, maybe the safety deposit box holds the answers, so let's plan for tomorrow. Santos you stay as close to Steph as possible and let's have someone already inside the bank, Tank?"

"Vince is probably the better one to use, maybe have Sandor with him"

"OK, Babe what time?"

"10.30? Time for it to be open but after the first mad rush?"

"Will you wear a wire please?"

"Yes, but can I have an ear bud so if something happens out of my sight I'll know about it?"

"Good idea, Hector can you set that up for Steph and upgrade a panic button and some trackers to go on her person"

"Anything else, Tank?"

"I'll put a man at the front and one at each exit, we have cameras opposite so we can monitor the outside as well"

"Babe you OK with this?

"Yeah, the sooner it's over the better"

"Meet in the garage at 1000, suited up, dismissed"

I stood up almost in a daze and turned to Carlos.

"You have the key?"

"It's upstairs in the safe, come on I think it's time to relax and I have a present for you"

Mmm, knowing me he'd probably been to my apartment and rescued my gun from the cookie jar. We entered the apartment and while Carlos went to get the key from the safe I sat waiting on the couch. I emptied my bag on my knee and started to sort out any rubbish. When he returned I'd just binned the crap that I'd collected over the last few months into the waste bin. He handed me a large white box, I shook it but it didn't rattle, too big for jewelry or even a gun, slowly I removed the lid and folded back the tissue paper. Leather? I unfolded the leather to reveal a beautiful black leather coat.

"Put it on"

It fit perfectly, coming in slightly at the waist and ending mid thigh.

"It's not as light as I thought it would be?"

"It's especially made for you"
"Why?"

"A very good friend of mine sent it for me to give to you, the outside is a thin leather, but inside the lining is a form of Kevlar, very new technology and he's in on it"

"Wow, it's beautiful, stylish and protects me, just like you"

As I said this I circled my arms around his waist.

"If I could wrap myself around you and protect you all the time I would, but I think this will do a good enough job, just don't let on to anyone what it is"

I removed the coat looking at the lining, it was tightly woven and felt slightly rough but if you didn't know what it was you'd never realize.

"Thank you, and your friend, it's perfect"

"You're worth it"

"Why did this friend give it to you for me?"

"Because even he realized how much you meant to me and he's well aware of some of the scrapes you get into"

That caused my cheeks to flush; did everyone see how we were when together except us? I needed to change the conversation, and quickly.

"OK it must be time to eat, I'm hungry"

As if on queue my stomach rumbled and Carlos laughed. We found food in the kitchen that Ella had left, along with a small domed plate with my name on it, did I tell you how much I love Ella. Our meal was roasted vegetables and fish with a spicey sauce served with brown rice and warm bread. She'd even provided a small knob of butter for me; my desert was blackcurrant cheesecake with fresh cream. By the time I had finished eating I was full up, but helped clear the dishes before disappearing into the bathroom to take a shower. I'd put the cosmetics I needed out ready to use and had a towel within reach. As I stepped into the water and held my face up to the spray I felt Carlos come in behind me. Neither of us said a word. He lathered up a sponge and in slow circles began to wash my shoulders then down my arms, my back, over my ass and down my legs, at this stage I had leaned my hands against the wall to keep me upright, before I fell down. Instead of turning me around he pulled my back up against his chest, his erection held between us at the bottom of my back, the sponge now moved across my clavicles, down encircling my breast to my stomach and hips. He bent down and continued to soap my thighs, knees and feet. By the time he had completed the cleaning I was humming with desire for his touch in other places. The sponge hit the floor and with soapy hands he moved them down from my stomach to between my legs through my hair and began massaging my core. I tried to open myself but couldn't balance; Carlos realized this and using his fore arm lifted my leg at the thigh placing my foot onto the shelf.

"Bend over to your foot on the shelf, trust me querida" I did a he asked, my face against my calf, feeling totally exposed, but not nervous as his hand and mouth explored my opening from a crouched position behind me. I felt the muscles in my legs tighten as the warmth began to seep though me, with one hand he moved one of my hands to my breast.

"Move with me"

His hand held mine as I massaged my breast

"Show me how you like it"

I tweaked and pulled on each breast causing the nipples to stand out hard while his tongue now entered my opening.

"Now show me how you like to be touched here"

He brought one hand to rest over my clit and with his hand above mine I slowly started to rub against it in circles. As his tongue increased its motion so did my hand until I could feel my inner core begin to spasm, a response to arch my back was controlled by my position, a finger inside pushing against my sweet spot had my inners convulsing and me screaming out Carlos's name.

"Beautiful"

Carlos stood up and moving his shaft between my legs pushed it into me. He was folded over my back and I was folded down to my leg, he had encircled my arms and I couldn't move, Carlos was in complete control, at one time I would have hated this, but here and now I felt cocooned. The movement of his hips dictated the pace.

"Faster, harder"

And he did, slamming into me to the hilt, my breath was shortening and my moans at each slam became louder, his fingers at my clit pinched hard.

"Come with me querida"

With that my muscles totally erupted and I felt a last push before he shouted my name. I couldn't get my breath, either because of the wave of my orgasm throughout my entire body or due to my upper body being restricted, stars crossed my vision until there was no more. When I came to I was wrapped in a towel cradled in Carlos's arms, my body still quivering from the after effects, being gently rocked.

"What happened?"

"You passed out"

"Why?"

"It's called la petite mort, caused by an extreme orgasm"

"I've heard of it but never been close to it, god Carlos that was so intense"

"Bueno, how are you feeling now?"

"Relaxed and tired"

"Good, let's get you into bed"

As my head hit the pillow I was asleep.

Chapter 12

The morning had me waking up to kisses from Carlos on my face and my neck.

"My turn to give you a wake up call"

He made love to me, slow and lazy, with quiet tones and sensual movements, every girls dream come true. As I lay in his arms afterwards I thought about the morning ahead and slowly the calmness that Carlos had elicited from our lovemaking was replaced with dread. I sat up slowly, not wanting him to be aware of my change of mood.

"I'm going in the shower, alone"

"I'll get you some breakfast, what are you hungry for?"

"Maybe just some toast or yoghurt"

Without a backward glance I quickly showered, braided my hair and dressed in conservative grey trousers and a pale blue shirt. Flat black boots suited my mood.

Carlos was his in black Rangeman cargos and T-shirt, cat boots and fully dressed, no doubt two guns and two knives.

"Babe you look pale, are you alright?"

"I feel on edge, my spidey senses are making me nauseous, but I'll work through it, I'll be OK, I can't eat anything, maybe a coffee?"

I drank my coffee stood up, I couldn't sit down and was struggling not to start pacing, Carlos wrapped his arms around me from behind, with his hands splayed over my stomach.

"Breathe with me Babe"

Feeling his chest move, I slowed my breathing to match his, in through the mouth and out through the nose until I seemed calmer, maybe outwardly I was, but not inside.

He helped me on with my new jacket, placed my bag over my head to fall against my stomach.

"All ready?"

"Yes, the key is in the front pouch along with my id"

"Good let's go"

I was glad the elevator went straight down to the garage; I didn't look at the men ready to go. Hector was there and gave me a necklace that was really a tracker, a panic button the size of a dime that went into my trouser pocket and a mic that I clipped under my shirt tucked into my bra. I was set to go. Lester came up to me and holding me tight he kissed my head.

"Everything will be fine Beautiful"

Carlos came and took me in his arms giving me a long slow kiss.

"Hurry back, I love you and miss you already"

"Love you too"

With that said I got into a black SUV with Lester and we drove away.