If you recognize them, they're not mine :)
Thank you Margaret for reading ahead as my beta and leading me down the right path for all our favorite characters.
Chapter 26 — Quick Thinking
Ella's POV
Ranger and Stephanie's wedding was less than a month away. Three weeks to be exact and I was getting nervous because Steph still hadn't found a dress. More like, she hadn't even started looking. She said she was waiting for Lula and Tank to come back from the Canary Islands so she would have someone to go with. I could almost buy that if I didn't know that her best friend Mary Lou had tried to take her to an outlet in Secaucus last weekend. Her excuse was that her and Ranger were the guests of honor at the elder Mañoso's for a wedding shower. That was true, but Secaucus is only a fifteen-minute drive from Newark. Mary Lou could have dropped her off at the Mañosos on her way back to Trenton. My guess was that she was afraid that Kraven would be able to target her while she was out and I had a solution: weddingdressesdotcom.
I had the site on my laptop as I knocked on their door. Ranger was in the gym; my cart held breakfast and I already had the perfect dress pulled up in a search. I knew Stephanie's taste as well as I knew my own and if I could only get this in front of her, our problems would be solved. It was slip style, off-white and sleeveless with a low neck and back. It was slightly clingy and sexy as hell. Ranger would approve.
I knocked a second time before using my key to let myself in. She was probably in the shower and if I had to leave my laptop under one of my domed dishes to get her to see the dress, that's just what I would do.
I heard the water shut off as I shut the door behind me. Good, I'd rather do this in person anyway.
"Stephanie?" I called out. "It's Ella with breakfast."
"I'll be right out. Did you sneak me anything good? The twigs and bark disguised as breakfast is getting old," she called back.
I had to laugh at her, that girl had the metabolism of a racehorse. She could eat bacon, eggs, muffins and pancakes for breakfast and still be hungry. Hopefully her metabolism wouldn't head out to pasture one day soon. But I'd come prepared for bartering; I'd replaced this morning's yogurt and granola with chocolate chip pancakes. Well, they were actually the 'good for you' carob chips, but I didn't think Steph quite figured that out yet.
"I made you chocolate chip pancakes with real butter and Vermont maple syrup and while you eat, I want to show you something."
"Ok Ella, I'll be right out. Is Ranger here?"
"He's in the gym dear; he's sparring with Cal. But his breakfast won't get cold, it's his usual."
His usual was a whole grain bagel, low-fat cream cheese and organic Irish smoked salmon from Russ and Daughters. The salmon is imported from Ireland, and the New York City specialty shop cold smokes a side for us on a weekly basis.
I put coffee into the Keurig while Steph got ready. We also get our Keurig K-cups from Timothy's World Coffee shipped weekly. And so far, Ranger hasn't made a stink about all the imported specialty items. As long as they are on his 'approved' list and Stephanie is happy, he's happy too.
Steph came out all dressed, except for shoes, with her still-wet hair tied back in a pony tail. I had an idea for her hair for the wedding. I'd work with her natural curls and add a simple baby's breath band to it...worn hippie-style. In case I couldn't convince her, I had a picture bookmarked. It was such a simple, understated yet sexy look combined with a dress such as I was seeing on her. But then again, this was Steph's wedding and I was just making suggestions; I'd do whatever she wanted.
"You made me pancakes Ella, thank you," she said, taking a bite and moaning once she realized I did dab them with real butter and maple syrup.
"To what do I owe the occasion?" she asked taking another bite.
"I made pancake batter for Louis and I thought you might like some too. And I know you adore chocolate chips in yours. Is it good?"
"It's fabulous," she moaned, "but you can come clean now. I know that's not real chocolate."
"No, you are right dear, I've been replacing all the chocolate at Rangeman with carob for quite a while. Do you not like it?"
"No, I do; but it's uh, not chocolate. Um, so what did you have to show me?"
"Is it ok if I make myself a cup of coffee?"
"Of course Ella. Help yourself to anything."
I put another K-cup in the Keurig machine and pulled the handle down. In under a minute I had my coffee and since I do like a little milk in mine, I used the creamer to add a few drops. My weakness. Once I had my coffee, I settled in next to Steph and opened my laptop.
"I took the liberty of looking for a wedding dress for you and I found this," I said pushing my laptop in her direction.
She took the last bite of her pancakes before pulling the laptop close enough to see.
Stephanie had her priorities. When she finally chewed and swallowed the last bite with a sigh of either appreciation or saddness because her pancakes were finished, she reached over to see what I'd come up with.
"Oh Ella," she simply said. "Oh my God, this is beautiful. Where did you find this?"
"It's a Marc Jacobs but I found it on weddingdressesdotcom. There's also a John Galliano there that you might like." I told her thinking about the dress I considered second if this one was rebuked.
"No, I like this one a lot. It's so simple, yet elegant."
That was exactly what I thought. I wondered if the time was right to show her the baby's breath headband. I made a quick decision, took my laptop back and brought up the hairstyle I'd bookmarked earlier.
"This model has hair like yours and look how pretty this simple style looks on her. We could do something like this too...if you'd like?"
"Oh, I like. Ella, thank you. I haven't even been thinking about my wedding except for noticing all the RSVPs we've been getting back in the mail. And thank you so much for getting the invitations out for us. I don't know when I would have been able to get around to them."
Steph was stalling. Yes, she'd been working full time, but there was always time to address a couple of invitations or go online to look for dresses and shoes. I wondered what was up.
"Is everything ok dear? You're not having second thoughts, are you?"
"We'll not exactly second thoughts. I mean I love Carlos and everything, but what happens when he gets tired of me and my crazy family?"
"I can see the way he looks at you. The kind of love he has for you is an eternity kind of love. He's not going to get tired of you. He looks at you the way Louis still looks at me and we've been married almost thirty-four years. And for you, he'd put up with your family. Louis puts up with mine and my mother is so crazy she should be committed."
"I can't believe that. You're so even tempered..."
"My dad's genes. Trust me. The next time my parent's visit, I'll introduce you. Me madré makes your grandmother look tame."
I hope that worked. We can't have her going into this with all that self-doubt. Les was right; her mother really must have done a number on her.
"You think Ella? You really think someone as worldly as Carlos isn't going to get bored with me?"
"I know Stephanie. He's let you into his life; he hasn't let anyone else in except Tank and to some degree Lester and Bobby. And none of them are marriage material."
She giggled at that one. "Yeah, I can see Carlos and Tank walking down the aisle. Tank in the dress you just showed me. And no, it's not a pretty picture. I'll be fine, I'm sure it's just a case of pre-wedding jitters."
I hoped so.
"Oh shoes! I found the perfect sandals to go with that dress."
I took my laptop back for the second time and went though my recent bookmarks."
"Jimmy Choos. Look, aren't they beautiful?"
"They're perfect. Oh Ella, I don't think I can thank you enough."
"I can order the dress and shoes online, but it might be better if I reserve them and we pay a visit to Neiman Marcus in Paramus in case you want some alternatives. Are you up for a ride?"
"Sure. When do you want to go?"
"How about tomorrow after lunch?"
"Perfect. I wonder what's taking Carlos so long?" she added, changing the subject.
"I'm sure he's showering in the gym and will be up any minute. I should get going."
"Can you send me the links? I want to look at everything a little later."
"Of course dear."
Crisis averted. Thank God.
Stephanie's POV
Ella must have sent me the links as soon as she got back to her apartment because when I booted up my office computer, there they were. I'd had an 8:30 phone call with a potential client so I left before Carlos came upstairs. Data security was booming. I was staring at the dress once again when my cell rang. It was Cal. Last I heard he was sparring with Carlos, I hoped no one got hurt.
"Is everything ok? No one was injured, were they?" I answered.
"If you're asking about my sparring session with Ranger, we're both fine. I may be a little sore tomorrow, but we both came off the mats with smiles on our faces. I'm calling for a different reason."
"Thank God. What's up?"
"There's a skip named Whittier. His first name is Felix. I can't find an address for him but I have a picture, can you do me a favor and help me find him?"
"Burg?" I asked since the name didn't ring a bell.
"Don't know as I'm having a hard time locating him. Breaking and entering, assault with a box cutter; missed his court date. Since he's considered violent, Connie gave him to me."
Connie wielded a lot of power since Rangeman bought out Harry the Hammer. Vinnie still ran the place on paper, but it was Connie that actually ran the place and if truth be told, she liked having all these muscle-bound guys at her beck and call.
"I'll see what I can find out; send me over the picture."
"I can do better than that; I'm down the hall, I'll be over in a few."
"Ok."
As soon as I hung up, there was a knock on my door. I hadn't had a chance to open it after my early morning call and it was locked from the outside.
"Two seconds Cal," I called out, getting out of my chair to open the door.
Cal was standing there with a manila folder in his hands when I unlatched the door. I ushered him in and sat back down behind my desk in case I needed to start a search.
"Show me what you have," I commanded as he sat down in one of my guest chairs.
"This is it. Picture. I don't even know who or how he got bonded out in the first place; there's nothing here."
I took the files from him, scanned the list and then I called Connie. She had to have left off some paperwork, which was unlike her.
"Sorry Steph, what I gave Cal everything I had. Vinnie doesn't remember him or bonding him out either and Vinnie remembers all the sleezy ones. I think something's fishy here. Tell Cal to be careful."
So all I had to go on was a picture. We scanned it in and ran it through the database. Nothing. I was ready to try Plan B when my phone rang.
It was Erik. He and Junior were down by the train station and one of my favorite skips Eula was having a screaming match with another homeless person. Erik said they'd been yelling at each other for the last half hour and she threatened all of them with bodily harm if they came any closer.
"Let me grab my bag and sign out a car. Eula is harmless. She'll come with me for a hot meal or a shower. I'll buy her breakfast and try to find out what all the fuss was about. You don't have to wait around; she'll be happy to see me."
"Want me to come with you?" Cal asked as I gathered my things.
"Not necessary. He probably tried to take her shopping cart or something. I'll be back in an hour."
When I got down to the Amtrak station I heard them before I saw them. I followed the voices around to South Clinton Avenue by the bus stop. I couldn't figure out what they were yelling about, but I'd found Cal's FTA. He was most certainly the guy Eula was screaming at. Before approaching them, I picked up my phone and called Cal who said he'd be right there.
"Eula," I called out.
She turned to look at me and Whittier pulled something out of his coat. I saw a flash of metal and pushed Eula away from him. I knew he'd tagged me before the bleeding started and I knew it was going to be bad. Any cut that takes that long to bleed usually is. When it started sputtering out, I brought my hands to my right thigh to apply pressure and Whittier took off.
"Steph I don't know what to do, there's a lot of blood."
"Take my phone, call anyone and can I borrow your scarf?"
Eula took her scarf from her head and handed it to me. I got down on the ground and elevated my leg hoping that would stop the bleeding. I wrapped her scarf above the wound and tied it as tight as I could while Eula called someone. I hoped it was a Rangeman and not my mother.
"He'll be right here," she said putting my phone back in my bag. "Want me to call 911 too?"
"No. Cal's on his way as well as whoever you called."
"He called me Chica, if that helps."
Hector.
A/N: Sorry for the cliffie. I promise to post another chapter shortly.