Ranger
"He disowned you for hitting Morelli with his car?" I asked, assuming that was the reason for their estrangement.
"Not exactly. He said that no daughter of his would harm the father of his granddaughter," she explained. She rolled her eyes and angrily sniffed.
"Stephanie," I said.
"Please, call me Steph or Anie. Anything but my full name," she begged. "It reminds me of all the times that psycho bitch Helen yelled at me."
"Okay. Steph, is Isabelle your daughter?" I gently asked. A tear ran down her gorgeous face. Her eyes were puffy from crying, but she didn't seem to care. Stephanie straightened her shoulders and looked at me.
"No. She belongs to Joe and Valerie," she lied. I could tell she was holding something back, but I didn't want to pry. Stephanie would tell her story whenever she was ready. Maybe if I shared my story, she'd be willing to tell me more about the child. Her daughter.
"When I finished my first tour in the Army, I went to Miami to celebrate with my friends. I met an attractive Latina woman named Rachel. She was willing and able to spend a few hours with a horny soldier. We screwed like bunnies in her car. Rachel said she was on birth control, but I insisted on using condoms. I only had two and those were donned, filled and discarded in my pocket within the first fifteen minutes. The third one she gave me was a bit small, so it broke. I didn't think anything of it until she contacted me three months later. She learned my name from a bartender at the club, then called the military base to send me a message. During my next break, I married her to provide for my unborn child. After Julie's birth, Rachel and I divorced. I learned through mutual friends that she was not taking birth control, and she punctured the condom, guaranteeing she'd get pregnant. She wanted the money a soldier's wife would receive if I died while deployed. I sent most of my cash to her every month to support my daughter," I said.
"Do you visit her? Your daughter?" Stephanie asked.
"Whenever her mother and father grant me permission," I confessed. "Ron adopted Julie when she was three. I signed over my rights, but I'm still paying support."
"Why? You're not financially responsible for her anymore. Once the child gets adopted, the new parents assume all rights and financial responsibilities for the child. You should contact your lawyer to stop payments. According to the law, Julie is Ron's daughter, not yours," she replied as though speaking from experience. "Your name got removed from her birth records."
I took advantage of her swirling emotions and asked, "Is that what happened to you?"
"No. I got forced to give her up," she said before slapping a hand over her mouth. "Please, Ranger. Nobody knows she's mine. I prefer it to stay that way." Her expressive blue eyes begged me to promise that I'd keep her secrets.
"Your secret is safe with me, Babe. But you must promise to reciprocate," I said. She cringed at my nickname, but didn't ask me to call her Steph or Anie. "Only my closest friends, Lester, Tank and Bobby, know I have a daughter."
"Nobody will learn about Julie from me," she agreed. I saw a smile appear on her face for the first time. Even with puffy eyes and a tear stained face, Stephanie was radiant. Her inner beauty shone through. She enjoyed having a secret to keep.
"Will you tell me what happened?" I asked.
"I may as well. In for a penny, in for a pound, right?" she asked. I nodded. "Okay. I mentioned that I ran over Joe Morelli with Frank's Buick, but I didn't tell you what happened over the following two weeks. Frank's best friend, Joe Juniak, got the charges reduced to negligence. I would only have to serve six months of community service. Helen made me claim temporary insanity. If acquitted, I would be free from jail and community service. I was naive when I trusted Helen. With the plea change, Helen was granted power of attorney for my medical, financial and legal decisions. When the courts determined I was not guilty due to temporary insanity Joseph Morelli sued for custody. He used the verdict to receive immediate, permanent custody of Isabelle Plum. Frank and Helen, mostly Helen, got me to sign over my rights, allowing Valerie to adopt. The day Frank removed my crying daughter from my arms was the day he stopped being my father. I disowned him and my family. Well, most of them."
"I'm sorry," I said. I didn't know how else to comfort Stephanie. She didn't tell me which family member she didn't disown.
"Why does General Plum think I'm in danger?" she asked. I could tell her curiosity was piqued.
"Not here. We need to talk in a secure location," I replied. I called Lester, asking him to get Tank and Bobby. We arranged to meet at the safe house. "Do you mind stopping in Hamilton Township for an hour?" I know we could have taken Stephanie there to stay, but she insisted on returning to New York.
"As long as we don't see anyone from the Burg," she said. "I don't want to risk getting recognized. I worked too hard to maintain anonymity."
"Babe," I said. I saw the photographs of Stephanie at eighteen. She was a pretty woman then, but she's gorgeous now. Her body toned to perfection. I didn't detect an ounce of fat while I watched her through the binoculars. The blue bikini covered the essentials but highlighted her full breasts and hips.
"Down, soldier," Stephanie said out of the blue.
"Babe?" I asked. I was surprised she didn't tell me to stop calling her Babe again.
Stephanie straightened her fingers, brushing across my erection. "What were you thinking about?" she asked.
"Your photoshoot," I honestly replied. Stephanie tipped her head back and laughed.
"Wait until the swimsuit issue comes out," she teased with laughter. "You may need a few cold showers."
"Are you married?" I asked.
"Nope. Never," she replied. "I only had sex once." Her confession was spoken quietly, as though she accidentally shared her thoughts. I could tell her only experience was not a pleasant memory.
"Once? Seriously?" I asked, shocked. Stephanie was gorgeous. I wondered why no man asked her on dates.
"Shit! I didn't realize I said that out loud," she confessed. "My first modelling contract prohibited dating and sexual promiscuity. Nobody knew I had a child. The scar from the c-section is hidden behind the bikinis I model and I didn't get stretch marks during the pregnancy."
I saw the faint scar in the natural light. The photographer must airbrush the images before selling them to the magazine. "Are you still under contract?" I asked.
"No. I'm freelance now. My contract ended on my twenty-fifth birthday," she replied. "How old are you?"
"Thirty," I replied. "And you?"
"Thirty. My birthday is October 12th," she said. "When is yours?"
"Two months earlier," I replied without thinking. Stephanie gasped. "Is something wrong?"
"No. I just remembered something," she said but didn't elaborate. I waited half an hour before she added, "It's strange. I never thought it would happen."
"Babe?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. She shook her head, either telling me no or clearing her thoughts. "You're not going to share?"
"I'm trying to remember her exact words," Stephanie replied. "They're on the cusp of a memory, but I lose them whenever I try to focus." I was about to recommend meditation when she started talking again. "I'll call Edna from the burner phone. She has them recorded somewhere."
I searched my memory for the name Edna. Only one woman came to mind. Edna Mazur. She was an elderly woman living in the Burg with her daughter Helen. "Steph, what is Edna's last name?" I asked.
"Mazur," she quickly replied. "She's Helen Plum's mother. Why?"
"We know Edna," I answered. "She's bruised many asses belonging to my men."
Stephanie giggled. "I'm not surprised. She loves firm, sexy butts. I wonder why she started pinching men?" It was obvious she didn't know.
"Her husband, Harry, passed away two years ago. She moved in with Helen and Frank Plum once the estate got settled. Edna sold the house," I replied. Stephanie snuffled. She pulled her hand from mine and wiped her eyes. I saw her crying again. "Use this," I said, passing her a handkerchief.
"Thanks," she mumbled. She wiped her eyes before blowing her nose. I removed another one from my pocket for her to use. "I didn't know he died."
"Don't you read the paper or obituaries? Why didn't your family contact you?" I stupidly asked.
Stephanie squared her shoulders, then turned in her seat to glare at me. Her eyes filled with fire. I felt myself growing hard again. The woman turned me on like no other. "I left everybody in Trenton. Nobody had my phone number. I didn't keep up with the Burg gossip since most of it were just lies about me. Reading obituaries, hoping to learn a loved one died is macabre," she said, getting louder as she talked. "Grandpa Harry was my only supporter."
"You're wrong," I quietly told her.
"Ya. Whatever," she snarled. Stephanie was adorable, grumbling like an injured kitten. I reached into my jacket pocket to remove a letter. It was in a sealed envelope addressed to Stephanie. "What's this?"
"A letter," I replied as she took it from my hand. She gave me the "no shit" glare.
"From whom?"
"I don't know. General Plum told me to pass it along to you," I said.
She hesitated before taking the letter. I could tell Stephanie recognized the handwriting. Her hands shook as she ripped open the envelope. When she tipped it, two letters fell into her lap. Stephanie opened the letter that had a small symbol instead of her name.
I continued driving while Stephanie read the first letter. Stephanie sniffled several times. The sound of tears hitting paper distracted me. I wanted to ask her what was inside the letter, but I didn't want to invade her privacy.
"It's from Mary Lou. She got married to her high school boyfriend and had three boys. Mary Lou reminded me of a carnival we attended in Point Pleasant," Stephanie replied. She didn't give me any other clues about what Mary Lou said in the letter. I guess I'd have to find out another way.
Stephanie opened the second letter. It made her cry more than the first one. Her hands shook as she held the paper to read the words. "Pull over, now!" Stephanie demanded. I pulled onto the shoulder of the highway, then put the car in park. She opened the door to vomit at the side of the road. The seatbelt prevented her from falling out when she leaned over.
I unfastened her belt and pulled her onto my lap. Stephanie wrapped her arms around me and cried into my shoulder. I felt her tears soak through my coat. The letter got abandoned on the passenger side floorboard. I couldn't reach it from my position. "Do you want to talk about it?" I asked.
"No. Let's get to a secured location first," she replied. I released my grip and helped her climb over the console to her seat. "Sorry."
"What for?" I asked.
"Crying on your shoulder and making the soldier stand to attention," Stephanie answered, pointing at my crotch. "Boy, is his soldier huge." I wasn't supposed to hear her size comment, though I was pleased Stephanie noticed. She licked her lips. I know she felt my erection pressed against her thighs. Not to brag, but I was well endowed. More so than the average male.
Stephanie buckled her seatbelt and moaned as she rubbed her thighs together. I could see she was thinking of me pressed inside of her. "How do you find release?" I huskily asked.
"Shower massager," she replied. Her hand flew to her mouth as she blushed. I reached for her hand and entwined our fingers.
"Can you show me sometime?" I asked. I could picture her in the shower with the water beating against her, stimulating her clit until she moaned from the pleasure the pressure caused.
She released my hand long enough to grab the letters she dropped in her quest to expel the donut and coffee from her guts. Her face was flushed in embarrassment. Stephanie was looking out the window when she quietly mumbled, "Only if you're a dirty boy." I didn't think she meant for me to hear it. Her words made me hard again. Dios! I reached for her hand and entwined our fingers before resting them on my thigh.
Stephanie knew how she affected me. Her finger kept stretching to touch my erection. Only one man? Everything about Stephanie screamed sexy. I wondered if she was a sex goddess. Babe, let me be your pillow. Anything you want, you've got it. Her touch strengthened the tingling sensation at the base of my skull. Mi Abuela warned me it would be like this when I met my soulmate. Abuela Rosa had also said I couldn't keep secrets from the woman destined to be my life partner.
I held Stephanie's hand until we arrived at the safe house. She groaned when our skin-to-skin contact ended. I rolled down the window to enter the code for the gate. When it swung open, I could see Stephanie leaning forward to see around the curved lane. Her gasp when the house came into view made me smile. I had lied when I said it was a safe house. It was my home.
"You live here," she said.
"Can you read minds?" I asked.
"No. But I know this is your home." She glared at me and added, "Don't even think about denying it."
I couldn't stop myself from pulling her close and slamming my lips against her mouth. Stephanie moaned and licked my bottom lip. I opened my mouth for her. She tentatively touched my tongue. I deepened the kiss.
My hands moved beneath her jacket to trace her sexy, trim waist. We stopped kissing when she gently pushed my chest. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were a deeper shade of blue. "I'd like to continue this, Batman, but your sidekicks are staring at us," Stephanie said. I looked outside the windshield. Lester, Bobby and Tank were standing in front of the SUV with their arms crossed on their chests.
I released my grip on Stephanie. She climbed from the SUV on shaky legs. "Do you care to explain why you're kissing our client's daughter?" Tank demanded.
"No," I replied. I walked around the front of the vehicle to guide Stephanie inside my home. She didn't comment as she looked around the foyer. The staircase curved to the second floor. My house had the original hardwood flooring throughout. Area carpets were beneath the beds and main floor coffee table. The kitchen was upgraded but kept with the style of the century home.
"Ah. Cameras," Stephanie said. How did she know they were there? She waved toward the corner as though someone was watching her. My phone buzzed.
Hector asked, "How did she see the camera? It's hidden."
"Ranger, I'm a model. I can detect a camera anywhere," she replied. "Tell your friend I say hola." Stephanie walked into the living room and took a seat.
"I have to know. How did you know where the camera was located?" Bobby asked.
Stephanie's stomach grumbled. "Do you have food here? Because I need something to eat before we get down to business."
"Yes," Lester replied. "Ella filled the refrigerator with fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs. She put casseroles in the freezer."
"Hmmm. Do you have a lasagna?" Stephanie asked. Lester nodded. "Okay, someone put the lasagna in the oven, and I'll tell you where every camera got installed in this house."
"We'll be here longer than an hour," I said.
"That's fine. Nobody knows I'm here unless you notified General Plum," she replied. I shook my head. Stephanie removed her jacket and passed it to Bobby to hang in the closet. I was shocked when Stephanie found every camera Hector installed in the house.
"How?" Tank asked. I shrugged.
"Do you mind if I use the upstairs washroom to freshen up?" Stephanie asked. She batted her eyes at me. I felt my pants get tight. Dios! Everything she does makes me hard.
"Go ahead," I replied. We listened as she climbed the stairs to use the washroom.
"Holy shit! She's that model in Allure," Lester said. "General Plum's youngest daughter is hot."
"Santos, we're here to do a job, not fall for or seduce the woman," Tank snapped.
I heard the toilet flush, followed by water running in the sink. We waited for Stephanie to come back downstairs, but she didn't. Tank and Bobby prepared to run up the stairs, but I pressed a finger to my lips. There was obviously more than meets the eye. Perhaps Stephanie's gasp wasn't from the house size as much as familiarity.
Stephanie was inside the guest room I assigned to Lester. She was standing on the nightstand, reaching into the closet. I waited as she pulled something from above the door. "I can't believe nobody found this," she whispered. I moved to stand outside the bedroom door. Stephanie looked around and hummed before she placed the flat metal box on the bed. She removed a small key I had never noticed from around her neck and stuck it inside the small lock.
I watched her remove pictures and letters from inside the box. She flipped through the papers until she found one. "You may as well come in and close the door, Ranger," she surprised me by saying.
"How did you know I was here?" I asked.
"The same way I knew you were the man watching me on the beach," she replied without explaining anything.