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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 30—Delivering on a Promise

Ranger's POV

I walked into the blood center to thank Jace for his donation to Steph when I overheard him and Sy talking with Raphael on speaker. And I wasn't too happy with what I was hearing; it sounded like Hector was being reckless.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked them, taking two steps forward so I could get into their faces.

Jace took point, seemingly not afraid of my anger. And I noted that Sy was placing another call.

"I had one of those 'feelings'," he said using finger quotes, "so we called Hector. He didn't answer so we tried Rafe. Hector has Whittier in his sights, which is what I was probably sensing. They're following him, driving in his blind spot, until he stops somewhere. Cal and Ram are most likely a few miles behind them and we were just going to call Hal to ask for reinforcements from Newark."

"I hope Hector knows what he's doing. Especially now that there are two insane people after him and Steph," I told them. "The reason I came in here was to thank you for your blood donation, now if what you say is true, I should probably be thanking you for being conscientious."

I could tell they weren't bullshitting me and I heard Sy connect with Hal and ask him to send backup from Newark to Hector's coordinates. I had good men on my team; I needed to trust them more.

"I'm sorry," I amended my previous statement, "I jumped to conclusions when I overheard Rafe say something about safety being thrown out the window since he was with Hector. I can assume by the rest of this conversation that what he meant was that Hector is on Whittier like a pitbull. Keep me abreast of this, please."

"Absolutely," they told me in unison. I guess I can still scare the shit out of my men.

"Is Steph in a room yet? Can I see her?" Jace asked, throwing me for a loop. I knew how much they'd avoided one another until recently.

"They were just wheeling her into room 402. Probably by the time you're done with your donations she'll be settled in. Is this a courtesy call or do you want to pick her brain?" I asked, eyeing Jace specifically.

"Maybe a little of both," he answered, seemingly honest. "I'd like to know if she's feeling what I'm feeling."

"Which is?"

"Apprehensive. Nervous for Hector. And just as afraid for her. Kraven, Whittier, whoever seems to have gotten more aggressive. I feel they are being targeted and I don't know how to protect them because I don't know where the next threat will be coming from."

"And you think Stephanie can help?"

"I think Stephanie and I need to put our heads together."

Honest answer.

I nodded and walked out of the room. The nurses were probably done with Steph and I'd promised her I wouldn't leave her side.

When I got back to her room Lester was there. I thought I told him not to come until his shift was over. I gave him one of my 'if looks could kill' faces and walked over to Steph.

"Manny took my shift, he thought Steph would want to see me," was his explanation.

"Ranger, he's only being a good friend...and look, he brought me a present," Steph interrupted, obviously sensing the fact that I was pissed off.

She was holding up a little teddy bear wearing a black Rangeman T-shirt. "Isn't this the cutest?"

"Where did you get that Santos?"

"I bought the bear and Ella made the shirt for it. It's been sitting in my Rangeman apartment for a while and I thought it would make Beautiful happy."

"You're lucky I'm feeling charitable today Santos."

"Ranger, please. He was just trying to cheer me up. Don't give him a hard time."

"Jace and Sy were planning to stop by. Do you feel up to talking, or should I send them away?"

"I can talk until the pain killers kick in, the nurse just gave me one with water since I can't tolerate that stuff in the pump."

Glad she knew her limits. I nodded and settled into the chair next to her bed.

Hector's POV

The training we had was unquestionable. I knew how to stay in Whittier's blind spot, mile after mile. He never saw me even though I noticed him checking his mirrors often. My take on it was that obviously he had a lot to hide. He wasn't homeless if he owned a car and he seemed to have a destination in mind. In my mind that destination was 'home' and what better place to get a person unsuspectingly. He got off the Palisades' at exit 7 and we followed. Streets were narrow once we left the interstate and staying in his blind spot was not an option. So I let a car get between us and followed him to his final destination, a 1950's ranch in Clarkstown. We went around the block and after we were sure he was inside, parked across the street and a little down the block.

I called Cal to let him know where we were and about five minutes later a black SUV stealthily drove by. I picked up my phone.

"You found us amigo. Whittier is inside the house; number 14. We're ready to ambush when you are. We hit the front door, you the back?"

"He may have his sights on you Hector. How about we reverse that? Ram and I hit the front and you come in from the back. We don't need him taking pot shots at you."

He had a valid concern. After all, we thought he and Kraven had some sort of a connection.

"Ok," I responded. Reluctantly, I might add.

Ram drove around the block and parked, most likely, on a side street. After all, two black, shiny SUVs would probably draw a little attention.

When we saw Ram and Cal approaching on foot, Raphael and I got out of our car. Rafe went left, I went right and we approached the house from the back. From where we were positioned we could hear Cal and Ram at the front door.

They rang the bell.

"Felix Whittier?" Cal's voice carried.

"Yes?"

"Cal Harris, Rangeman security. You're wanted by Trenton police on assault charges and we are under authority to bring you in."

"That's bullshit," he said and slammed the door. I heard someone's foot kick the door back open. We expected Whittier to come out the back in three, two, one...

I nodded to Rafe and as the door in front of us flew open, we grabbed him. I had him on the ground, cuffed and was not too gently shackling him as Ram and Cal came out to help with the apprehension.

Ram and Rafe went back inside to see if anyone else was in the house while Cal and I walked Whittier out to Cal's car; the least conspicuously parked of the two.

We'd gotten him shackled into the back when Ram and Rafe walked over.

"The house is clean," Ram told us, "but we grabbed his laptop and some handwritten notes we found on the kitchen counter. Maybe there's something there that will tie him to Kraven. Have either of you spoken to him yet?"

"We just Miranda'd him. Let TPD ask the questions when we bring him in," I muttered.

The real reason I didn't want to talk to him was that I'd probably kill him if he said anything derogatory about Stephanie. And this time we needed to bring a live body to Trenton. But if anybody could get anything out of him it would be Cal. He was Rangeman's top-notch interrogator.

"Want me to have a go at him?" he asked, looking way too happy with the prospect. "And since it should take us at least 24-hours to even find him, we can take a detour to one of our holding cells for the night. I'm pretty sure I can get him to talk."

"Be my guest; just remember we need to deliver him to TPD."

"There will be something to deliver. I can't promise more than that."

Ella's POV

Even though I had it all squared away with Ashley to put on a fashion show of gowns and shoes, I knew today was not the day to do it. I wanted to visit Steph though, so I could see for myself that she was alright. Louis was going to be doing some boiler maintenance this evening, so I took that as my cue to head to Philly after dinner. I'd also have a chance to talk to Ranger about my offer to Eula. I only hoped he'd agree to let her stay on four temporarily or we'd have a big problem.

I bumped into Ernie, our on site mechanic, on my way to the garage.

"I just got a call from Santos," he told me for no reason in particular. "Looks like he may have found me an assistant. And timing couldn't be better. Ranger's ordered the 2015's and we need to get the old cars ready for sale."

"Really. Anybody I know?"

He shook his head. "Nobody I know either. Some guy Santos knows, I guess."

"Well I'm heading to the clinic to see Steph. I'm sure Lester will be there. I'll give him the third degree for you."

"Appreciate it Ella. And take care driving, that bridge gets slippery in the rain."

"It's not raining," I stated, looking at him quizzically.

"It's supposed to later. Just take it easy; and drop your car off for maintenance when you get a chance, Louis says your engine light keeps coming on."

"Yeah it does, but it's been doing that since we got it. Our old mechanic, Mario, said its faulty wiring."

"Let me check it out to be on the safe side. Can you drop it off tomorrow? I'll give you an Explorer in the meantime."

I shook my head a little. "I really hate those things, they're just so big."

"Then take my Prius."

"You sure?"

"Yep. I'll take the Explorer I was going to give to you. It's no problem. In fact, take it tonight, this way I'll be able to start on your car later."

Who could argue with that. Ernie's car was a 2015 top-of-the-line Prius, loaded, from what I'd been told. It certainly wouldn't be a hardship to drive it.

We switched keys and cars in the garage and I texted Louis with the info so he wouldn't freak out if he saw our car still parked downstairs.

I was almost at the clinic when it hit me: I really liked this car. Of course it was economical but I really liked the way it handled. It was peppy and fun to drive. Our car was only two years old but I'd talk to Louis about the possibility of trading it in when I got home. I did a lot of driving and not only would a car like this save money on gas but it could fit anywhere; it was a lot smaller than the Murano and I wouldn't have to worry about that stupid engine light.

I had a smile on my face as I parked the Prius and pocketed Ernie's keys. Yeah, I'd talk to Louis about it first thing.

I found Steph's room easily. Who could miss the two massive walls of men standing guard outside of it. 'My men,' I thought, then smiled again.

"Hi Ronaldo. Ramon."

They both politely nodded to me and smiled. "Hi Ella," they said, practically in unison.

I saw Ranger sitting in the chair next to Steph's bed and Lester was standing, pacing. Of course I noticed the Rangeman teddy bear Steph was cuddling and recognized my own handiwork.

"Ella," Steph called, catching sight of me. "I just love this little shirt. Oh my God it's sooooo cute. Thank you."

"You're welcome dear," I said brightly. I thought Lester was going to give that teddy bear to Autumn? Hmmm, wondered if I'd be making another one soon. "How are you feeling? I had to come see for myself that you were ok. You gave me quite the fright."

"I guess the news has spread."

I knew what she was worried about. She didn't want to be in the spotlight once again. I couldn't help with that. If TPD had shown up on the scene, it was already all over Chambersburg.

"The only news that's spreading that I care about is that I finally hired an assistant."

"You did Ella? Who?" she asked, her eyes getting wide.

"Eula."

"Eula? My Eula?"

"Yep," I said, borrowing a mannerism from Steph and snapping my 'p'.

I glanced over at Ranger and noticed that he had one eyebrow raised in question. Either this was going to go over well, or it wasn't.

I quickly told my story as Lester smirked. Obviously if he hadn't brought Eula to my apartment I wouldn't have an assistant now.

"But Ranger," I added, "she needs a place to stay. I was hoping we could give her the empty studio on four for the time being. She can't be on the streets and work for us."

I didn't state the obvious that having her on the streets wouldn't look good for him either, but he knew what I was saying.

"Does she have a driver's license?"

I didn't know why he was asking but I figured I'd go for broke.

"I doubt it. And because she has no address she hasn't received a social security check in probably years."

"Put her on four. And both of those things need to be rectified. Immediately. I want to give her an apartment in the safe house down the street from Shorty's...and she'll need a car to get to and from Rangeman."

I had just the plan.