Thank you for all the reviews; you guys are amazing:) If you recognize them, they're not mine :)

Thank you Margaret for reading ahead as my beta once again.

Chap 34—A win/win situation

Manny's POV

As soon as Cal showed me the pictures from Whittier's laptop and I noticed the mirror-and the reflection, I had a feeling that something was off. The break-in at Roebling's had me distracted, but once I'd put out all the alerts and sat back to think about it, I knew something was off. Any would-be blackmailer worth his weight in salt, would know to scan a room for mirrors before setting down a tripod.

Also, the Roebling attempted-heist felt like a set up too. We'd gotten the two masked men, no problem, but this was just all too easy. It was as if someone was setting us up for something else. Something potentially bigger.

I knew Hector was on it; well at least he was on putting a name to the man in the mirror, but I felt like I needed to do something too. I figured Cal went straight to bed after our stint but I knew Hector slept little, if at all, so I took a chance and texted him.

'Can u send me the blow up u made?'

A few seconds later his reply.

'Check ur mail'

I did and there it was, just the cropped man in the mirror.

'Any luck with facial recognition?'

'Not yet. I showed it to Rafe 2. Neither of us know him from the streets. Fu or no fu'

'Where r u? Lab?'

'Yeah'

'I'll be right down. I want to run something by u'

'Ok'

You hear a lot when you work monitors and I'd heard about the Ranger and Sotolongo pact a while ago. I had an idea and Hec was the next best person to use as a sanity check after Cal.

The door was open and the lights were on in his lab but I knocked anyway before entering.

"The two men we picked up tonight were Asian," I said hoping it might spark the same thoughts I had.

"And?"

"And from California. Take a look at cowboy again."

Hector took the blow up I handed him and looked closely. The photographer was looking down into the camera on the tripod but if you looked closely at his bone structure, you could imagine him being Asian too. Of course the Fu Manchu helped.

"You think he's Asian?"

"I do and I also think the Marielitas rival gang has arrived. I think this is the beginning of the war Sotolongo told Ranger about."

"But the Marielitas are in Newark. What does Trenton have to do with this war?" Hector asked. Hector, the man who should know better.

"I think they heard about Ranger helping Sotolongo and they are toying with us. We need to find out what Whittier knows."

"You plan on interrogating him?"

"Cal was going to speak with him again in the morning. I guess this can wait till then."

"You afraid of him Manuel?" Hector asked me in Spanish. "Looks like Ella isn't. And

Lula wants a go at him too."

"No, I'm not afraid of him, you ass, but some people are better interrogators than others. Cal is one of the best and everyone, including you, could use some sleep."

A ding came from somewhere at that moment.

"Facial recognition," he said, getting up and going over to a laptop sitting on a counter by itself. "Leonard Ling, also known as Crazy Lenny. He's a member of the Chongos."

"What did I tell you?"

Ranger's POV

My phone buzzed for the third time since I'd taken myself out of pocket to stay with Steph. Normally I'd say 'fuck you' and not bother to answer, but these were not normal times and whoever had the balls to call me, must have really wanted to speak with me.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I looked at the display. Manuel Ramos. Manny was a man who thought things through. If he'd come up with something related to Steph's attack, I wanted to know.

"Yo."

"Boss, sorry to bother you. I know you took yourself off the grid, but this is important."

"Go on."

He relayed his theory to me about Sotolongo, the Marielitas and the Chongos from the west coast. It could be a long shot, it could be the real deal or it could be a lot of nothing. Either way, this was something I certainly did not want to ignore so I told him to hang tight and I'd be back in touch shortly.

"Carlos?"

"Shhh Babe, go back to sleep."

"Who was that Carlos? It sounded like Manny. What did he want?"

My fiancé is very inquisitive and has a stubborn streak that only rivals Hector's. If I didn't at least tell her what I could, she'd be on me until I did, so I shared Manny's theory with her...of course leaving out my involvement.

"Can I see this picture?" Steph asked biting on her lower lip to keep herself from blurting out something else.

I took out my phone, enlarged the man in the mirror behind us and handed it over.

She stared at the picture intently, looked like she going to say something, then thought better of it.

"What Babe?"

"I thought I recognized him for a minute."

If he'd been in Trenton for a while, following her and us around, there was a good chance she might have caught a glimpse of him before.

"From where?"

"I remember the cowboy hat. I think he was at Pino's when I had lunch with Joe that last time."

I took my phone back from her and scrolled through to the picture of her and Joe, then handed it back to her.

"Where did you g-get this?" she stammered uneasily, turning a brilliant shade of red. It was a blush to rival Hal's. "I know what this looks like, but we were just talking. Really."

I knew 'really' because Manny and Binkie both told me so, but I was NOT going to let Steph know that I had her tailed.

"I trust you Babe. Him, I don't trust, but you, I do."

"Ranger, don't get mad. I'm serious; this is not what it looks like. We were just laughing about old stuff...not even Joe and I old stuff. Oh shit," she said, realizing she was getting herself in deeper and deeper.

"It's ok Babe, I trust you."

"This man," she said, pointing back to my phone, "was sitting a couple of tables over from us and I noticed him because of the cowboy hat and his very odd-for-Trenton beard. And how many Asian men do you know that wear cowboy hats anyway?"

Ding. Ding. Ding. Stephanie just added fodder to Manny's theory. The photographer was Asian.

"Babe, I'll be right back. You just confirmed something that could help Manny's case. I need to make a few calls. I'll be right outside."

"Ok. Secret shit. I get it," she said, sounding pissed.

"Babe, you know there are things I can't tell you..."

"And this is one of them? Come on, Ranger. This seems like day-to-day stuff to me."

Yeah, day-to-day stuff that involves the governor and other higher elected officials.

"Babe, if I could talk about it I would. What I can tell you is that I'm on a task force with some very visible people and they need to know what's going on."

"Oh," she responded sheepishly. "I'm sorry Carlos. I thought, you were sneaking out to call Manny or something."

"I'll be back in a few minutes, but I may have to leave for several hours. Will you be ok by yourself?"

"I'm sorry Carlos. That was out of line..."

"It's ok Babe, but you have to trust me and know that I'll involve you where I can."

I couldn't tell her anymore even though I'd love her take on things. This 'task force' was headed up by the vice president of the United States to curb gang violence and although we hadn't met in person yet, we'd spoken on the phone numerous times as I was the New York/New Jersey liaison. Right now I needed to make a call to Governor Christie so he could take it to the top. A 'war' was about to begin.

"Chris?" I said when the phone was answered on the second ring, "It's Ranger. I believe I have the news we've been expecting." It was code to call back from a secure line.

I told him what I knew, then sent him images of the two masked robbers and the enlargement of the photographer.

"I can be at your office with a few of my men in an hour. I'll try to bring Sotolongo too so I can get you both up to speed at the same time." "No he doesn't know where the guns came from. He assumes from me. I would hate to see bloodshed though, so we need to get the feebs on board as soon as Sotolongo leaves." "No, he doesn't know."

As much as I hated being in the middle of this, I hung up with the governor and placed a call to Lolo Sotolongo.

"I have reason to believe the Chongos are here for you. There is someone I want you to meet who can give you limited immunity. Can you be ready in a half hour?" "I'll send a car for you."

Next I called Manny. It was his quick thinking that most likely prevented a covert attack. I wanted him, Hector and Raphael at the governor's mansion with me. Sotolongo would balk if he knew where we were going, so unfortunately we'd have to blindfold him for the ride. I'm just glad he trusts me as much as my men do or this could turn into a huge cluster fuck.

Ella's POV

Now I knew what Stephanie felt like. I wasn't allowed out of the building without two men on me and when I tried to negotiate a trip to Costco earlier to pick up up some bulk items, Erik and Brett took my list from me. This was a little frustrating as I'd made plans with Ashley for tonight. We were going to model some wedding gowns and shoes for Stephanie at the clinic. This is something we'd already put off once and the Mañoso/Plum wedding was now two weeks away. Luckily everything else was taken care of and their pool had already been transformed into a dance floor with blue lights illuminating from underneath. I knew this because Louis was in charge of its construction and sent several images to me earlier to approve.

I had help with the catering now that Eula was on board and the only thing she wanted in return was to see Stephanie get married. Of course, since I held the master list, I made that happen and right now she was busy in the large kitchen on two rolling out savory hors d'oeuvres that we would freeze.

I thought about my plans for tonight again then pulled out my phone to make them happen. First I called Bobby, Ashley's beau.

"Robert, it's Ella." I called him Robert so that he would know I meant business. "I'm having a little problem that I need your help with. It seems I can't get out of this building without at least two men on me," I told him, breaking into the entire story.

I heard Bobby chuckle as I finished my rant.

"This is not funny Mr. Brown. Do I have to get Ranger involved?"

"I'm sorry Ella. I understand your frustration and I didn't mean to laugh. How about I drive you and Ashley there myself?"

"That's very nice of you Robert, but that's not the point. We need a little freedom here. You have Whittier in detention..."

"Whoa, whoa...Ella, he's not the one who blew up your car. Obviously, Kraven has a number of men working for him and we don't know who they are. I'd hate for him to try again and succeed this time. I'd lose you and Ashley...and that's...just...not...acceptable."

"He doesn't know what car I'm driving and our garage is under video surveillance. We know no one is watching us. Do I have to pull a Stephanie and stun someone to have a little girl time? Ashley was going to help me by modeling wedding gowns for Stephanie. How much privacy does it give us to have two men standing over us watching our every move? I assume you want the men to see your girlfriend's assets?"

"Hell no," he responded. "I can see your dilemma and I can also see a need for protection. Ella, I'm torn here."

"Then let me and Ashley leave here in peace. I don't care what you do when we're gone, but I don't want to see a black SUV in my rear view mirror."

Bobby got quiet so it seemed like I gotten in the last word.

Ashley drove into the Rangeman garage right on time. I'd planned to take my car, well Ernie's car, to the hospital. I had it filled with shoes, dresses and some of the hors d'oeuvres Eula and I had made earlier in the day for Steph to try. But at the last minute I panicked that maybe someone had seen me driving the Prius before so I flagged down Ashley before she pulled into a spot.

"Let's take your car. I may have a tail."

"Sure. Can I help you with anything?"

"No, I'm good. Just pop the trunk for me, please."

I had things on hangers, neatly arranged in my back seat so it was easy to make the transfer. Once I had everything in place and myself buckled in, I crossed myself.

"What was that for?" the ever-observant Ashley asked.

"Maybe I'm not as brave as I led someone to believe."

"Want me to ask Bobby for a team on us?"

"No!" I said way too quickly and way too loud, startling Ash. "I'm sorry. Let's just go before I end up eating crow."

Ashley didn't say anything but she put the car in gear and waved to the video camera to let us exit. I assumed Bobby didn't trust her enough yet to give her a fob. Idiot man; she was one of our lawyers for God sake.

There was traffic, so it took us about twenty minutes to get the the clinic in Philly. I had been periodically turning around to see if I caught one of our cars following us but true to his word Bobby kept them out of sight. I knew they were there though.

Ranger was in Steph's room when we got off the elevator. He knew what we were coming to do so I shooed him away so Ashley could have some privacy to change. I took the slip dress out first and watched Steph's eyes get wide as I handed it to Ash.

"What a beautiful dress."

"Wait till you see it on," I told her, taking out the shoes I set aside to go with it.

Ashley took everything into the little bathroom and I helped Steph sit up for a better vantage point.

Ash had pulled her blonde hair into a pony tail so Steph could see how the back draped and I almost didn't recognize her when she sashayed out. She could have been a model.

"Oh my God, Ella," Steph cried out. "This is the dress."

I knew it was too but I wanted to give her other options.

After we'd gone through all of the dresses, all of the shoes and ate all the hors d'oeuvres, Steph looked up at me one more time and smiled.

"I don't know how you do it Ella, they are all so beautiful, but you know which one I'm going to keep, don't you?"

I did, but I wanted to hear it from her.

"Tell me."

"That gorgeous slip dress. The first one Ashley tried on."

A/N To see the slip dress look up top, I've attached it as my story icon (I tried twice to embed, then gave up).