Ranger
"Report," I barked. Stephanie had a rough night. She had the same damn dream repeatedly. I thought Stephanie was stressed, but she insisted it was a warning.
"We researched the names Stephanie mentioned in the articles. I can't find a link between the men and the missing munitions from Fort Braddock," Lester replied.
"There has to be a connection." I pulled the drawing from my cargo pants. "Find this asshole," I said. Hector scanned the image into the computer program. He would search the DMV database for a match. I watched him select the New Jersey records since Stephanie said they attended school together.
Stephanie stumbled from the bedroom. I noticed she wore the shirt I discarded the previous night. Her boy shorts were barely visible beneath the hem. Dios! I had to discreetly fix myself. She approached me, then wrapped her arms around my waist. "I woke up, and you were gone," she explained.
"You need your sleep," I tenderly said. I tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She smiled at me.
"I heard you talking. Can I help?" Stephanie asked.
Hector reached out a hand. Stephanie squeezed me before releasing her grip. I felt chilled from the loss of her arms. She grabbed Hector's hand, then allowed him to pull her onto the couch beside him.
"Donde revisaste?" Stephanie asked. (Where did you look)
"DMV," Hector replied. Stephanie shook her head, then asked about the trio; Kenny Mancuso, Moogey Bues and Spiro Stiva. Hector showed her the search results. There wasn't much information on the three men. I know Hector included Mancuso's military records.
My phone buzzed to alert me of a text. "The TPD just picked up Mancuso. When they got Kenny into custody, they put his gun through NCRC, and what do you think they found?"
"It came from Braddock," Lester replied. I nodded. "Kenny didn't buy that gun on the street. Where did he say he got it?"
"On the street. Mancuso claimed he didn't know the vendor by name and he'd work with the TPD to make an ID," I replied.
"Where are you getting this intel?" Stephanie asked. I didn't want to answer. She didn't need to hear his name, especially after everything he had done to her in the past. "Never mind. I think I know who is sharing their knowledge." Her face scrunched as though she ate something bitter. I watched her chew her thumbnail as she filtered through the information.
"Babe?" I asked when she furrowed her brow.
"I think Kenny and Moogey were involved in the Braddock ammo rip-off," she replied. "I'm trying to figure out how they moved the munitions under the army's nose."
"What was Kenny doing at Braddock? Where did he work?" Lester asked.
"Kenny Mancuso was a shipping clerk. He worked in the warehouse," Stephanie distractedly answered.
"And the missing munitions were stored in the warehouse?" Tank asked. Stephanie shook her head.
"It's an interagency operation. CID wants it kept confidential. Babe, you can't tell anyone."
Stephanie glared at me. "I think we both know that I won't tell anyone. It's not conducive to my survival if I flap my gums," she snapped. "Anyway, I found something. Kenny was stationed at Braddock, which we already know. He got out around four months ago and recklessly spent money. Kenny rented an expensive apartment, furnished it, then filled the closets with new clothes."
"Sounds like he spent money he didn't have," Lester commented. I couldn't have agreed more.
"Are you saying Mancuso is running guns?" Tank asked.
"Yup," she replied, popping the p. "He shot Moogey, which makes me believe the munitions disappeared. But where? How?" Stephanie trailed off as she searched through the newspaper archives.
Her mouth dropped open. I watched her hand move to cover her mouth. "Babe, what did you find?" I asked.
"I think I know how they did it," she whispered.
"Well, how?" Lester demanded when Stephanie remained silent for too long. My cousin was not known for his patience.
Stephanie turned the laptop around for us to see the ad selling basic coffins. The Army had a surplus they wanted to divest. They were the ones used to transport the fallen soldiers home. "What do the cheap coffins have to do with the munitions?" Cal asked.
She clicked on a few more buttons to retrieve a sales receipt. Stiva's funeral home purchased a skid of coffins. "I bet when someone searches the basement of the funeral home, they find the missing weapons," she replied.
"It could be a coincidence," Lester said.
"No. My spidey sense says I'm right. Kenny, Moogey and Spiro were friends since childhood. Constantine Stiva is getting older and likely wants to retire, so he gave Spiro a controlling interest in the business. The first thing Spiro does is purchase the coffins. Why? I recall Con Stiva prefers to up-sell the grieving families. Why would he allow Spiro to purchase those cheap coffins? You have to admit that it's a genius way to transport the weapons without notice," Stephanie explained.
I tapped a message on the phone to order someone from Rangeman to check the funeral home with Detective Morelli.
"Were the missing munitions stored in the warehouse?" Lester asked. I knew they would be stored in another area on the base.
"They got stored in a compound adjacent to the warehouse," Stephanie replied. I knew where this investigation was leading.
"Kenny had access to it," I added.
"Bingo," Stephanie said.
"CID conducted a background check on Kenny, his army friends and coworkers in the warehouse. They couldn't determine how the munitions left the base," I said.
"Didn't I already tell you a viable method?" Stephanie asked. She tilted her head to the side. A slow smile appeared on her beautiful face. "Ah. You've already dispatched a team. Did you know that Kenny Mancuso's mother was a Morelli?"
"We have to wait and see," I replied without commenting on Kenny's maternal connection to the detective. I sent another message to my Rangeman team. They had to be informed that Kenny Mancuso's mother was a Morelli. I didn't want Joseph Morelli to get the upper hand on my men and allow Mancuso to escape. Morelli protected his family above all else. I wanted to kill him for what he had done to Stephanie, but I had promised Stephanie to leave him alone.
Stephanie busied herself with reviewing the intel Hector gathered on Kenny Mancuso. She grunted a few times over what she read but never commented. "¿Qué es esto?" Stephanie asked. (What is this) I looked over Stephanie's shoulder.
"The cameras in your apartment save to an external device attached to your balcony," I replied. "Hector tapped into the recording device to retrieve a real-time video."
"Oh. I didn't know you could do that," she said, then chewed on her lower lip. I explained that Hector and another man, Silvio, worked together to create the technology to piggyback signals without alerting the other perpetrators. We were fortunate to discover the device before the man removed his image from the footage. Hector and Cal weren't on the video andI knew Hector removed that part of the recording. "Handy," Stephanie mumbled after Hector explained in more detail.
Hector grabbed her attention to show her the man caught on camera. The man removed the recording from the device. But since Hector grabbed a live copy, he still had the image. "Dibujo," Hector said. (Drawing) He pointed to the screen.
"Si," Stephanie replied. "Ranger, it's the man from my sketch." I got closer to Stephanie, practically crowding her space. She inhaled, then moaned. I felt myself growing hard.
"You smell amazing, too," I whispered into her ear. She shivered as my breath moved across her ear. Hector grabbed the laptop to add the camera image to the search.
Stephanie's stomach grumbled, reminding us that it was time to eat. The men and I decided to forego our exercise regime for the moment. During the day, we'd take turns using the gym in the secured area. Protecting Stephanie was our priority.
"Babe, the Rangeman lawyer, Marco Alvarez, is scheduled to arrive in a few hours." I checked my watch. It was 0800. "At 0900, Marco is meeting with your grandmother, Edna Mazur, to transfer your inheritance to you. Since you're over twenty-five, she is no longer required to be your trustee. Please, think about who you want to assign as your beneficiary if you pass away. We have to complete this task before leaving the hotel," I explained.
She blew out a breath. "I wouldn't know who to assign other than Isabelle," Stephanie confessed. "But we both know that Helen would manipulate Valerie and Isabelle into giving her the money. Grandma Plum didn't make me the sole heir for Helen to get her greedy hands on the fortune."
I was about to tell her to select Rangeman Securities when she added, "Since you're my husband, I should choose you." Dios!
Room service arrived with our breakfast. Stephanie loaded her plate with scrambled eggs, sausage and pancakes. Lester filled his plate with the same selections. She ate with gusto, making me wonder how she managed to stay in shape. "I exercise three hours per day," Stephanie said between bites. Stephanie smiled at Lester. "Last night you ate a double serving of fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken and two desserts. Now you're eating pancakes?"
"What can I say? I love eating and have a high metabolism," Lester replied while wiggling his eyebrows.
Stephanie
I fought back a laugh as Ranger thought about what I had said. He proved to the hospital that he was my spouse, so why was it such a stretch to make him inherit my fortune if anything happened to me? Hector leaned over to whisper in my ear. I nodded. It would make the process easier. He grabbed the laptop and fingers flew across the keyboard. I kissed his cheek to thank him.
"Excuse me," I said when my phone rang. I entered my bedroom to take the call. "Hello, Pam."
"Oh. Thank goodness I finally got ahold of you. I have another photoshoot request for you," Pam quickly explained.
"Um. Are you working as my agent now?" I joked.
"Ha ha, Anie. You know I've got your back. Anyway, I heard about the Cosmo contract. I'm sorry you lost out. You would have been perfect for the job. Are you available for modelling loungewear and pyjamas?" she asked.
"What about my neck incision?"
"Pfft. We can cover that with a little latex," Pam suggested. "I know we've never used it before, but I can give it a try."
"Bobby said I'm allergic to kiwi. He mentioned something about a probable allergy to latex. Is there something else we can use?"
Pamela gave it some thought. She was an expert at makeup and hair. I trusted her to keep me safe and looking gorgeous. "I can try spirit gum, silicone rubber or body paint. They may have nitrile or polyvinyl chloride based products. I'll check those out and come over."
"I'm not at home, Pam," I reminded her.
"Still? Wow. Would Peter and I be able to come to your location to do the photoshoot?"
"Give me a minute to ask." I left the phone on the bed, then called Ranger into the room. "I've got you on speakerphone, Pam. Ask away."
"Hi, Ranger, right?" Pam timidly asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"Peter submitted Anie's photographs for the magazine ads. Allure and Vogue purchased the latest images. They asked for more pictures of Anie wearing pyjamas and other loungewear. Would Peter and I be allowed to visit your current location to take the photographs?" Pam asked.
Ranger typed a few messages on his phone. He had to arrange something with someone. I assumed he was getting a background check on Peter Lewis and Pamela Daniels. It wouldn't surprise me if he got someone to follow them to ensure they didn't bring my stalker with them. "Yes. I've asked a few of my men to accompany you. Vince Lombardi and Jose Rodriguez. I'll get Babe to send you photos of the men and the address," Ranger replied. He kissed my forehead, then left me to talk to Pam.
"Be prepared for him to complete background checks on you and Peter," I said. I could almost see Pamela roll her eyes. "If you bring extra people, you'd need to clear them with Ranger first."
"No problem, Anie. I think it would just be Peter and me. We don't want to put you in any more danger than you're already experiencing," she said dismissively. That's why I love Pam.
"I guess I'll see you soon?"
"You bet, Anie. Luv ya, girl," Pam replied.
"Back atcha."
"Peter and I will be there in two days. Get your sexy bodyguard to arrange his men."
"Thanks, Pam. I thought my modelling career was over," I quietly added.
"As long as I can cover imperfections with makeup, you're good to go. Peter could also airbrush the images. Whenever you're ready to quit, let me know."
"Thanks, Pam. Bye," I said, then hung up.
"Babe?" Ranger asked as he entered the bedroom. He closed the door, then pulled me into his arms.
"I'm fine, Carlos," I whispered. Ranger wiped the tears off my face. "I thought my career was over. Thank you for agreeing to let them come here."
"No price, Babe." He lightly kissed my lips. I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled him closer. We got lost in our kiss. His tongue prodded my bottom lip. When I opened to him, he deepened the kiss. Someone moaned. I think it was me. Ranger moved his hands to my ass and gently lifted me to wrap my legs around his waist. I felt the bulge in his pants rub against me.
"Please," I begged. "I need you." He broke from the kiss long enough to look into my eyes. Whatever he saw made him press his lips against mine again. I don't know how it happened, but I was naked and felt him push into me. "Dios, Carlos," I groaned.
He peppered kisses all over my face, neck and chest. Ranger reached between us to stroke my clit. When my moans grew louder, he attached our lips to drown the noise. I felt my body convulse around him. He pumped into me a few more times before emptying inside of me. "Carlos, we didn't use protection," I whispered as we cuddled.
"You're allergic," he replied.
"We don't know that, Ranger," I said. He raised my foot and removed my sock. I never noticed the bandage wrapped around my instep.
"I touched the smallest part of a condom to your foot. You got a rash. I grabbed the ointment containing an antihistamine and applied it. I'm clean," he explained.
"Did we just consummate our electronic marriage?" I asked.
"Babe, what did you do?"
"Finished what you started. I never realized Hector had those skills," I replied. "I'm going to shower." I kissed him before climbing out of bed. I wondered if the others heard us.
Carlos joined me in the shower. He displayed more of his skills while we were wet. Dios mío. (My God) Carlos was a talented lover. I lost track of the number of orgasms he wrung from my body before he pressed me against the shower wall to take me from behind. He felt deeper that way. Could you die from orgasms?
"I don't know, but it's a hell of a way to go," Carlos growled. Huh. I must have said that aloud. Carlos gently washed me after we tipped over the edge and screamed each other's names.
"Did we cross a line?" I asked as we stepped out of the shower. I wrapped a towel around my body before I grabbed one to dry my hair.
"No, Babe. As you mentioned earlier, we are married in the eyes of the state. Spouses are allowed to make love," Carlos explained.
"Good answer." I hung my hair towel on the bar to dry. My comb was on the vanity. Carlos removed it from my hand and gently pulled it through my hair. He was surprisingly gentle as he combed through the locks. I turned around in his arms when he placed my comb on the vanity.
His eyes closed as I ran my fingers through his hair. A low growl erupted from his throat. "You love it when I touch your hair," I whispered against his chest.
"I love everything you do," he replied. Carlos walked me back to the bedroom. He pulled on his cargo pants without underwear. How did he make getting dressed look as sexy as getting undressed?
I slipped into a clean bra and panties. Carlos growled and his eyes darkened as I bent over to pull the yoga pants up my legs. He passed me a dark blue shirt to wear. The silky fabric felt soft against my skin. We held hands as we exited the bedroom.
"Where is everyone?" I asked.
"Giving us some privacy," he replied. "Tank and Santos are on the door. Hector, Cal and Bobby are in their suite."
I noticed it was later than I had expected. We had occupied ourselves with sex for three hours. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that it was lunchtime.