Chapter 33

Angel and Bobby sat on either side of me, each holding a hand; they'd been with me ever since we'd left that warehouse. I'd been in a hell of state, I couldn't get my breath and was close to passing out, Angel threatened to sedate me, until through sobs I'd pulled myself together a bit, but the tears wouldn't stop and my heart wouldn't slow down. It felt just like the time Morelli had rushed me to the hospital when Carlos was shot. I couldn't walk, too weak, and overcome with a deep-seated dread in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't loose him now, I'd only really just found him, we were going to live together, and he was my life. At the hospital Carlos was taken straight to the emergency room and then into the theatre. Nurses came in and spoke but I didn't hear their words, only when a doctor came in and asked for his next of kin did I feel myself taking notice. Tank stood me up, with an arm round my waist, to hear what he had to say. I heard the words broken ribs, broken arm and dislocated shoulder? So why was he still in theatre? Internal bleeding, loss of blood and bone fragments to remove, that was what they were worried about, at least four hours until they would know how he would be. The time floated past slowly, the room now filled with men in black, each tried their best to console me, to say something to get a reaction from me, but I was lost. Lost in memories, feelings and an overwhelming feeling of fear and despair. I couldn't eat, drink or sleep even though I knew my body needed something, I felt physically sick at the thought of anything.

"Steph"

I looked up at the sound of the voice to see Mary Lou stood in front me; she bent down and hugged me.

"He'll be all right, Steph, he's strong"

"Thanks Lou, why are you here?"

"Everyone's heard what happened, look, others are here for you as well"

I looked around the now packed waiting room to see Lula and Connie sat next to Tank, Eddie sat with Lester. The doors banged open causing everyone to go quiet, hoping that the doctor was returning. I heard the words before I looked.

"Stephanie Michelle Plum, what are you doing here with these thugs, you need to come home now"

As I looked up into the face of my mother all I could see was fury emanating from her.

"Do you realize what you've done? Who you've put into mortal jeopardy? You are a selfish child, how can you sit here with the likes of these criminals and miscreants? You should never have been born"

My Grandmother and father followed her in, my father taking hold of her arm and turning her toward him.

"Ellen, you leave Steph alone, in fact if you don't put a stop to your outrageous talk, I'll drag you out myself"

I wasn't the only one to stare at my father in disbelief, but my mother wasn't in the least bit fazed by his words.

"She needs to leave and come home, she needs to learn her place if she wants to stay part of this family. All she does is get other people hurt and ignore her family"

As she made a move toward me several things happened all at once. Bobby stood up to shield me from her; Dad pulled her back and then my mother collapsed onto the floor, with Grandma stood over her holding a stun gun in her hand.

"I don't know where she came from, she's no daughter of mine, and I raised her better than this. Frank get her out of here"

Several Merry Men came forward and helped my father to lift her up and remove her from the room; Grandma came and sat next to me, thankfully putting the stun gun back into her bag.

"Oh Baby Girl I'm so sorry, she's lost it, I know that's no excuse but I don't know why she's so vindictive. Hell Ranger and these men have saved you over and over again, it's so obvious they care for you, certainly more than she does"

"Thanks Grandma"

I didn't really know what else to say. Was I that bad that she would disown me?

"Frank's had enough of her, and even that older sister of yours. Val's been filled with your mothers lies and between them they're the talk of the Burg as being the worst people around for how they've treated you"

I simply looked at her; my Grandma had always been there for me, even when I was little she'd keep me at her house making sure my mother left me alone.

"Frank got me a phone so I can given my number to that big, fine specimen of a man, Tank I think he's called. Call me when you need me, I'm staying with Mavis for the time being"

She hugged me and I kissed her on the cheek, it felt so natural to do, was it just my mother who didn't show affection? Or was it that she didn't really love me? The low buzzing of talking came back and I settled back onto my seat, this time Kade sat with me, with Angel on the other side, Bobby must have left, hopefully to get an update on Carlos.

At last the doctor returned with Bobby, and as he turned to Tank, tears began to fall down my cheeks, I knew he was alive, I'd feel the loss of him wouldn't I? Resting now, in ICU, only two visitors? Yes he was going to be all right! I allowed Tank to lead me to the unit, looking through the glass panel all I could see was Carlos.

"Ma-am?"

"Sorry"

"He's still very weak, blood pressure and oxygen levels are still low, so I'll only allow you a few minutes with him"

No, he had to be kidding; I was going to be with him until he woke up. Tank picked up on what I wanted and needed; he led the doctor to one side and returned with a smile on his face.

"You can stay as long as you want Little Girl"

"Thanks Tank"

I stood over Carlos, tracing fingertips over his cheek and jaw; a sheet was lying across his hips leaving his chest uncovered. Oh god he was bruised all over with dressings taped to his side and under his arm, an IV attached to his hand with three bags steadily feeding the drip, a cast on his arm. I pulled the chair to his side and sitting on the edge, lent over with my head next to his hand, one hand resting on his head and a hand in mine. The beeping became hypnotic and I dozed between watching his chest rise and fall. People came in and out but I didn't notice, Bobby and Angel took turns sitting with me, trying to persuade me to eat or go out for some fresh air, but I refused to move. As I continued to drift I dreamed, hands in my hair a caress of my cheek, I moved in to the touch and looked up to see a pair of beautiful brown eyes looking back at me. I cried with joy.

"Happy tears querida?"

"Oh Carlos, Te amo, I've been so worried"

"I'm fine, just a few weeks to mend, everything is going to be okay"

I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding, grasping onto his hand afraid to let go.

He slept a lot the next the day, but the doctors were pleased with his progress; in between we talked about our future and us together, he told me about his family, his family! I looked to Bobby when he came in.

"Steph, what's wrong?"

"His family, do they know?"

"Yes, Juan flew in from Miami this morning so he's going to pick them up and come over this evening"

"Thanks Bobby"

Juan arrived that evening with a couple, I assumed were Carlos's parents and two of his sisters. I recognized all of them from when Carlos had been in the hospital after Scrogg shot him. I made to get up and leave but the older lady swept me into her arms.

"No, hija, you must stay, I've heard all about you from Juan and how much you and Carlos are to each other. You are part of this family now"

"Thank you Mrs. Manoso"

"No, hija, you are a daughter to me now, call me Maris"

His family chatted with each other and with me, when Carlos was showing signs of being tired they left, making me promise to stay in touch and to visit them soon.

By the second day I'd relented to Carlos telling me to go home and get some proper sleep and eat a meal. Lester was with me as we drove into the garage at Rangeman.

"Why are we here?"

"Because Beautiful this is where you belong, go eat, shower and sleep then meet in Rangers office in the morning, OK?"

"OK"

The apartment on seven seemed so empty without Carlos there, I was still in a daze as I nibbled on some cheese and crackers then showered and slept. Boy did I sleep; I was out for over twelve hours. I still didn't feel totally right but right enough. I met Lester in Rangers office the following morning, surprised to see the whole team there, they must have been waiting for me to emerge from the apartment.

"You sleep well Bonita?"

"Yes, I was out for the count"

"Little Girl why don't you sit down?"

I stood still, had something happened to Carlos, was he ill again?

"No Beautiful, Ranger's fine, in fact he asked us to give you an update on what happened after we found him"

"Oh"

Kade pushed me down into the seat of the couch and knelt down so he could look into my eyes.

"Ranger had called in a high ranking official before he was kidnapped so he took over after we got him and you out. He arranged for Elspeth to be arrested and she's now in prison awaiting trial. We found her through the trackers in the jewelry. Steph, your mother also had some pieces of the jewelry so she was arrested as well"

I didn't expect that, I mean did she take them as payment, because she felt they were hers? Or was it because she didn't want me to have them? And how did I feel about that?

"I'm glad Elspeth is behind bars, I don't know how to feel about my mother"

"She betrayed you Bonita and there's no right or wrong way to feel about that, the courts will decide her fate"

"What about those bikers?"

"Arrested, most had charges from other states, so they'll be away for a long time. One of them admitted to following you in Miami and he sabotaged the plane. His excuse was that Elspeth had given the orders for Ranger to be killed. You know how much they hated anyone who wasn't white? Well Elspeth had the same feeling of hatred against Ranger because of his color and race"

"Don?"

"Well, after the General listened to him and looked at all the evidence he won't be charged, but he'll be taking a long sick leave and looking at options outside of the agency he worked for. Though he was responsible for that dam EMP devise getting into the hands of Elspeth"

"So everyone who's been a part of her vendetta is now dealt with?"

"Yes, everyone, you're free of any threat"

"There wasn't anything in those documents was there?"

"No, it was exactly as Thomas Grossman told you, a copy of one of Shakespeare's plays"

"So what happens to the jewelry?"

"Nothing, they belong to you"

What would I do with them? I didn't deserve them. Hector made a move to bring me out of my thoughts.

"Estefania, time to go to the hospital"

I looked up at Hector and stood up to leave, then turned to the men who stood around me.

"Thank you, all of you, for being there when I needed you, for trusting me and helping me, you are the bestest of friends I have ever had"

So with a lot on my mind I went to seek out the only person who knew me well enough to talk through a lot of this. I fell into a pattern over the next few days, sleeping and eating at Rangeman but being at the hospital as Carlos woke until he fell asleep at night.

A week later Carlos was back home, I'd never known him be so grouchy, but then I suppose I was the same if I couldn't do the things I wanted to do. He was still in a lot of pain but refused any of the medication the hospital sent home with him. His lower arm was in a black cast, but because of the injury to his shoulder and ribs the arm was strapped across his chest. He complained that everything he wanted to do required two hands and he hated having to ask for help. He forced me to go out, to give him some peace from my hovering, I'd never had anyone I cared enough about to hover over before. So after two days of us being together all of the time I spent the afternoon with Grandma at my old apartment, showing her the letter and the jewelry.

"Baby girl what he said was true, you are so much like my mother, your eyes and your spirit. I am so disappointed with your mother, she became a bitter, selfish woman"

"I'm sorry too Grandma, I wish things had turned out differently, is there anything I can do for you?"

"You keep that jewelry, they're your inheritance and you must carry on the line from Hungary, tell your children the story of how we got here and be proud. It's something I should have done"

"But they are yours Grandma"

"No, I'm too old now, you have your whole life ahead of you"

"Is there anything I can do for you, or that you need?"

"Baby Girl, what you doing about this apartment of yours?"

"Do I get the feeling you want it?"

"Well I aint living with her no more, there's plenty of old folk here, and some of them fellas have got cars"

"Fine by me, it's all yours. Give me a shout when you want help to move in"

"Tomorrow OK?"

Wow she was keen to move in.

I hadn't been back to my family home, Val had totally ignored me and was trying hard to say everything was my fault, Dad, well he was shocked. He didn't blame me and he tried to explain that my mother had always tried to manipulate me to be someone she wanted, to be like her, but I was never going to be as good as her, was she just jealous of me? The marriage to Dickie, wanting me married with children, cooking meals and being the perfect Burg housewife was her dream. She couldn't cope for me to inherit the jewelry because in her eyes that meant I was better than her, and she wouldn't tolerate that. So Dad and I came out of this with a stronger, more equal relationship, each respecting the other. He'd moved out of the family home and was thinking of going to live near his brother in Florida, his main regret was not seeing his grandchildren, but then Val wasn't being nice to him either. I hoped that the girls would escape the tyranny that Val seemed to have inherited from our mother. Grandma moved into my old apartment, with my help and a lot of the Merry Men, on the condition she didn't grope any of them. I spent my afternoons meeting up with friends, my father or Grandmother, I was still picking up skips but Carlos insisted I took a partner with me. Kade and most of his men had returned home as they had business to pick up on, we had a riotous evening before they left, using one of the conference rooms to hold a banquet in their honor. Dad and Grandma came to give their thanks and say goodbye. Bobby was the least jovial of us all and then I realized the reason when I caught him with Angel by the stairwell, I was pleased they had eventually got together, but sorry that distance could be a problem. As we bid them farewell in the garage each one came up to me to say their own special goodbye.

"May the force be with you Padawan"

"Bonita, I expect to see you soon"

Gaz, Sam and Jobe each gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek, and Angel, well we'd spent the afternoon together, trying to come up with ways to spend more time together, but for now it was Face time and phone calls. When they had gone it seemed so quiet, I missed having my training with Tobi so I asked Lester and Ram to work with me.

I had told Carlos I wanted to attend the trials of Morelli and my mother. Morelli was being charged with discharging his weapon, grievous bodily harm and breaking and entering with theft and destruction of property. It would be taking place exactly two weeks after Carlos had left the hospital. I was so nervous as we prepared to leave Rangeman. I'd chosen to wear a conservative skirt in dark blue, with matching jacket and a pale blue blouse with matching shoes. I'd had an appointment with Mr. Alexander the day before and he'd trimmed my hair, then Mary Lou and I had gone to a local spa for a body massage and our nails done. I felt more like myself and Carlos said he loved the feel of my curls. As we travelled to the courthouse I felt nervous, I'm not sure why. Lester was driving as Carlos had another week before he was allowed to even remove his arm from the sling. He held my hand all the way and through out the trial. Morellis appearance and demeanor shocked me. He was pale and looked gaunt, his hair was disheveled and he now wore the beginning of a beard, his clothes hung loose on a body that had lost weight and his gait was slow and stooped; he really was a broken man and I saw nothing of the man I thought I once loved. In a low gravelly voice he pleaded guilty to all charges. His sentenced, even taking into account his lawyers account of his mental instability, was to serve ten years in an open prison out of state. I don't think he even saw me, and that was fine by me, I felt nothing as he was walked out of the court in shackles, no sense of loss or regret.

Chapter 34

Steph had been unusually quiet since I'd come home from the hospital, I knew she was worried about the up coming trials and I wasn't sure about her going, but she seemed to need to go, so I supported her. She still hadn't got her appetite back properly and was tired a lot so I'd planned for us to go away straight after the her mothers trial, it was going to be a surprise, going straight to the airport and flying out. Morellis trial had been sobering, he'd been such a good cop, and he'd lost himself. Maybe it was the conflict of duty and his loyalty to Steph, but in the end he hadn't really been able to accept his final decision, and it had broken him, literally. I don't think Steph felt any resolution, she has a kind soul and whilst she wanted closure I'm not sure she achieved it. Her mother's trial would be more difficult, but Steph felt that she now knew why her mother had acted as she did, and that it answered a lot of the questions she had, about how her mother had treated her. I felt closer to her now she was living here and relished our private time together, moments like sharing the bathroom to wash and brush our teeth, her things and mine next to each other. I still wasn't cleared for any thing physical, so sex was out, but it didn't dampen our relationship, in fact it was stronger. Lester drove us to the courthouse, although my arm was free of the sling having Lester with us gave another layer to the security I wanted. Steph had been okay with that, she was close to him as a friend and felt comfortable with him. I'd also asked Tank to send Ram and Vince to make sure there were no surprises waiting for us as we entered or left the courthouse. There were the usual reporters that shouted out to her, some seemed sympathetic others trying to bait her. Steph seemed to be in a trance as she walked with us, totally unaware of the noise and scuffling around her. She had dressed as she had for Morellis trial, I'd wanted to buy her new clothes, hell I could afford it, but she refused. So here we sat waiting for her mother to enter the courtroom and for the judge. Mrs. Plum wore a dark brown suit with cream blouse and looked the epitome of a good wife, mother and housewife. There were a lot of people here for this trial; many, I felt, were only there for the eventual gossip that it would produce. It could take a few days for it to be completed; it really depended on how Mrs. Plum's lawyer advised her. When the charges were read there was a lot of noise from the spectators, obviously they didn't know the depth of her involvement. The main thrust of the charges lay in the conspiracy between Mrs. Plum and Elspeth Langman, that there had been an agreement between them to commit a crime, even if this was to accomplish a legal end through illegal actions. She had also conspired to injure, threaten and intimidate which carried a very hefty fine or prison time. The fact that Steph had been followed and stalked, been in a plane that was sabotaged seriously enough for it to crash and then seriously injured only added to the penalty that could be given. And let's not forget that Mrs. Plum had been caught red handed with the evidence of the fake gems, adding conspiracy to kidnap, of both Steph and myself. As the charges were read Stephs demeanor became more confident as Mrs. Plums plummeted. The courtroom was absolutely silent, waiting for her to say out loud her response. Guilty. Now that was a surprise, maybe her lawyer had taken a plea bargain for lesser charges if she turned as a state witness against Elspeth. Steph stood up and turned to leave before the judge announced his judgment.

"I don't need to hear that, knowing that she says she's guilty makes me feel better, so let's get out of here"

I helped her as we exited the courtroom, no one said a thing, but they watched as she left, Mr. Plum nodded at me as we passed. I'd spoken to him on a few occasions, as he was concerned for Steph and how she was coping. Hector was driving the car we got into outside of the courthouse, Lester was riding shotgun, and soon we were headed toward the private airfield. I'd packed enough clothes for both of us and the bags were already with the plane.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way back home"

"Surprise Babe, we both deserve a break"

She didn't look surprised as we walked over toward the jet and seemed to be happier than she'd been in awhile, but the sparkle in her eyes was still missing, when she entered the cabin she turned, looking right at me.

"So where are the parachutes?"

There was laughter from the cockpit and a head peered out.

"On the right, we had one made especially for you"

"Oh no, not until he's fully recovered, then I'll give it a go again"

The flight was long but smooth, I'd made sure all of Stephs favorite films were onboard but after a meal she slept and slept more deeply than I can remember. The landing was a bit bumpy and as we taxied toward the hanger there were the jeeps waiting to meet us. The smile on Stephs face was brilliant, I was so glad to have made the decision to come here.

"Welcome back Bonita, but I'm gonna get a reputation as being a convalescent location"

"Kade, I'm so pleased to see you"

"Good, so how are things going?"

"Good, today I feel lighter and that maybe now I can start to look forward with my life"

"I'm pleased, Angel is waiting at the house, and you're in the same rooms as before"

"Hey Padawan, you ready to take me on yet?"

"Tobi you're here as well, that's amazing!"

"Come on, I'll take you on a scenic route round the island, that's if Ranger trusts me with you?"

He came up to me and we fist bumped, and then I turned to him with a serious face.

"I trust her with you, you I'm not so sure about"

We laughed and Kade and I watched as Steph and Tobi climbed into his jeep, laughing and joking.

"So Ranger, how's she doing? I got an update just before you landed of the trials in Trenton"

"I don't know, it's been hard on her. I don't think there was any strong reaction toward the outcome for Morelli, she'd almost resigned herself to that, but he wasn't the same person that she knew. Her mother, well as you'll know we left before the sentence was given, but Steph has spent a lot of time with her Grandmother, and I suppose she has reconciled how her mother treated her all of her life and now feels that it wasn't her fault, it was her mothers selfishness"

"Well for your information she got fifteen years, but with the possibility for early parole"

"What about the others"

"Oh they got the book thrown at them, all sorts of priors came out of the woodwork, Langman and Langley had a list of charges as long as your arm, and as both were high visibility members of government groups they each got life for treason. The bikers varied from attempted murder, kidnapping and assault plus lesser charges they won't be out for a very long time. What happened with that lawyer?"

"We couldn't really pin anything on him sufficient to get him charged, but the State of New Jersey has disbarred him, not sure what he'll do now, but I know he's moved out of state"

"Good, so now you and your lady can relax here for as long as you want"

"Thanks Kade, for everything"

We'd arrived at the bay by now and I saw Angel come out to meet us.

"Ranger, how're the injuries healing?"

"They're healing, sometimes too slow for me"

"Well I can probably give you some physio to help?"

"Yeah that sounds good Angel"

"How's Steph?"

"Let's walk and talk, she's with Tobi on a tour of the island right now"

"Sounds like fun, walk along the beach then"

We walked through the house allowing me to drop our bags in our room, I lost my shoes preferring to go barefoot, but decided changing clothes would be too much for me with my arm and ribs. As I came out of the house Angel was waiting, she walked up to me and taking my T-shirt by the hem slowly helped me to take it off, one arm at a time.

"Thanks Angel, I'm still struggling with the most basic things"

"Then you'll have to learn to ask for help won't you? How about we get rid of this cast then you can start to exercise that arm?"

In the main house she had everything ready, the cast wasn't heavy or thick, it was there mainly to give support while the bone in my arm healed. She used snips to carefully cut down each side then opened the cast to release my arm, god that felt better; I flexed my hand and arm, feeling it with my other hand, no pain just a little stiffness. Angel smiled at my obvious pleasure that the freedom brought.

"Ready for that walk now?"

I laughed with her as we walked down onto the beach; Angel stopped and sat down, waiting for me to join her. Sitting next to her I tried hard to put my concerns into words.

"I'm worried about her. It's the little things, she isn't really eating as she used to do, doesn't show her enjoyment at the tastes. Sometimes she 's tired and can sleep for hours, then she'll have nights when she can't settle. I know I haven't helped with these dam injuries, sometimes I feel so frustrated"

"Ranger it's been stressful for both of you, now that everything is finally resolved give it time, I'll talk with her as well"

"Thanks Angel, she means everything to me"

There was the sound of laughing from behind us and Steph came onto the beach being chased by Tobi, my heart warmed at the sound of her laughter. She came up behind me and sat at my back with her arms circling me, her legs either side of my hips, her lips caressing my neck.

"Missed you already mi amor"

"Missed you too Babe"

"Tobi why don't you go take Ranger and show him our new gym facilities, I'll catch up with you to start some physio in an hour, that OK with you?"

"Sounds like fun Angel, maybe you can help me with my gear first Tobi?"

I picked up my T-shirt and Tobi and I headed to ward the house.

"That Angels way of getting her time with Steph?"
"Yeah, though I could do with a hand to sort out some gear"

On the way to the gym I collected some gear to wear then followed Tobi into a very well equipped gym, I groaned, god how I wished I could just spend some time here working out properly, I was into my sixth week so my shoulder and ribs were healing well.

"You'll get there, just start slow and build up"

"All right Tobi lets start with what I know I can do, I've been doing shoulder-blade squeezes and deep breathing exercises, leg presses and leg lifts"

"Okay then lets get you walking on the treadmill, but avoid high-impact activity, like running, that jars your rib cage. We'll get you back into upper-body exercises, but slowly. Start lifting 10-lb. free weights and see how it feels. Gradually increase the amount by 5lb, then by easing back into your normal routines, you'll continue to heal without losing much momentum"

"I can work with that"

After an hour I'd done some time on the treadmill increasing my speed as I went along, then pushed myself with my leg exercises, lastly I was lifting 15lb easily but I was beginning to feel the effects of my exertion through my chest. As I finished my last lift and stood up Angel came in.

"How's it been?"

"Hard, but feels good"

"Good, now go get showered and changed, then we're having dinner in the main house"

I entered the cottage quietly and went straight into the shower, my muscles were beginning to tighten and I needed the warmth to relax them, I used my Bulgari soap, then dressed in board shorts and managed more successfully than usual with a T-shirt. I found my Babe outside asleep on a sun chair so carefully maneuvered myself behind her. She stirred and turned to look at me.

"You smell scrumptious and oh so sexy"

"Glad you like it Babe"

"I feel more relaxed now"

"You talk with Angel?"
"Yeah"

"Anything I can help with?"

"No, I'm fine, everything's good"

"Well we're due to have dinner in the main house soon, you ready to go?"

"Just let me freshen up and I'll be with you"

I watched as she moved into the bedroom and then into the bathroom, and sighed, I couldn't reach her and yet I knew something was worrying her, maybe my plan for tomorrow would bring us closer together again. I couldn't loose her now; I just hoped she needed me as much as I needed her.