Ranger

I watched Stephanie exit the bedroom wearing a confused look. When I opened my mouth to ask a question, she shook her head no. She didn't want to discuss what bothered her.

We returned to the task at hand. Find the man threatening Stephanie. He had to be someone she either knew or was known to her family. My gut said someone in her family knew the man. I agreed with Stephanie that he wasn't from the Burg.

Lester and Bobby ordered dinner while the rest continued with the research. After eating supper, we called it a night. Stephanie needed her beauty sleep for the photoshoot.

I shared a bed with my wife. She gravitated toward me the second I slipped between the sheets. Stephanie rested her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her tight against my body. She hooked her leg around my waist, then used her foot to push down my boxers. I tore off her skimpy panties, then pushed into her. We quietly made love as we stared into each other's eyes. Her eyes rolled back a second before she shattered around me. It didn't take long for me to follow.

Stephanie sighed when I pulled from her warmth. She rolled over to face away from me. I pulled her close until her back touched my chest. Stephanie fit perfectly against my body. I kissed her shoulder before falling asleep.

Breakfast waited for us when we climbed from the bed at 0600 hours. Stephanie smiled when I followed her into the bathroom. We showered together, then got dressed. I called housekeeping to change our sheets. Stephanie blushed when the small Hispanic woman entered the room.

I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek. Stephanie leaned into my touch. "Would you like me to braid your hair?"

"Not today, Carlos. Pam will style my hair. Though, if she wants the "just had sex" look, I'll get you to mess it up." I couldn't prevent the growl from erupting. Stephanie smiled and pressed a kiss to my lips. "Are you going to watch?"

"Would it help?" I didn't want to interfere with her work, but I was curious how they would pose Stephanie.

A notification interrupted our conversation. Bobby read the attached Newspaper article. Rangeman implicated in the explosion at Stiva's Funeral Home. Two employees with Rangeman Securities breached the threshold to the mortuary where they allegedly exchanged gunfire with Kenny Mancuso and Spiro Stiva. During the rapid shots, a bullet pierced a plain coffin, causing the weapons encased inside to discharge. Experts confirm a round from an Army-issued munition initiated the fire. Since Rangeman employees are primarily ex-military, they are held responsible.

The funeral home sustained over 200,000 in damages. Constantine Stiva, owner of the establishment, stated the insurance on the building is not sufficient to cover the cost of the repairs. He asks that Ranger Manoso, CEO of Rangeman, cover the damages, not reimbursed by the insurance company, directly caused by his employees.

I was livid. My men, Ram and Woody, were not responsible for the fire. The police have their primary and clutch weapons in their evidence locker. Spiro Stiva and Kenny Mancuso were the culprits. I should not have to pay a dime for their carelessness. "Shh, Carlos. Let Bobby finish reading," Stephanie whispered. Her hand rubbed my thigh to calm my nerves. I took a few deep, slow breaths before I nodded at Bobby to continue.

The coroner confirmed the two bodies found in the mortuary belonged to Moogey Bues and Spiro Stiva. Moogey Bues believed to have died a few days ago. There is a warrant issued for Kenny Mancuso as a person of interest and questioning in the murder of Moogey Bues. If anyone sees Mancuso, please notify the Trenton Police Department.

Thanks to Detective Joseph Morelli and his quick response, the patrons inside visitation room one were ushered to safety. I interviewed Morelli and asked why he didn't lead the search inside Stiva's. He said, "I told the thugs to wait for my cue to enter, but they didn't listen. Rangeman acts without following protocol, orders or regard for public safety. Trenton would be a better place if they relocated elsewhere."

Detective Joseph Morelli opened an investigation into Rangeman's involvement. Rangeman Securities would lose the support of the police department should the investigation find them responsible for the fire and death of Spiro Stiva.

I raised my hand for Bobby to stop reading. Stephanie huffed in disgust. "It's just like Joe Morelli to blame other people when things go tits-up," she snarled. "I bet if you check his basement, you'll find Mancuso hiding. The department of the army criminal investigation division should be the one to catch Mancuso."

Tank called our contact, Andy Broderick, for the CID. He went to the bedroom for privacy, when Pamela and Peter arrived for the photoshoot. Lester had placed his hand on Pamela's lower back as they entered the hotel suite. Her blond hair brushed against his thumb. Pam blushed when Lester helped her remove the wool coat from her shoulders.

"They look cute together," Stephanie whispered. "Hey, Pam."

"Hi, Anie," she replied. Stephanie quickly corrected Pam by insisting she called her Stephanie or Steph. "Why?"

"Carlos calls me Stephanie. Hearing my name roll off his tongue makes me hate it less," she explained. Stephanie turned around to wink at me. Pam followed Stephanie into the spare bedroom that Tank had evacuated seconds before. They returned to the living room ten minutes later. Stephanie had a hotel robe wrapped around her body.

I watched as Pamela styled Stephanie's hair in loose curls around her shoulders. Stephanie looked sexy. My fingers twitched with the need to mess up her hair.

The men exited the room when we started tripping over each other. I made to leave, but Peter and Pamela insisted I remain in the room. When the door closed behind Lester, Stephanie let the robe slowly fall down her arms. Peter snapped photographs as Stephanie's gaze held mine.

A sexy smile appeared on her face when Peter said, "Tip your head back. Look at your man through your eyelashes. That's the pose." He clicked a few pictures. "Slowly trail your finger down your neck." Stephanie followed his instructions. Her lips opened slightly, and her cheeks blushed as she remembered the feel of my fingers trailing the same path.

"Perfect," Peter said. Dios! Stephanie made the tank top and boy shorts combination incredibly sexy. "Wardrobe change."

Stephanie

Pamela ushered me into the bedroom, where Carlos and I spent hours satiating our sexual desires. She more or less shoved me into the room. "On the way here, Peter asked if we could get one of the men to pose with you," Pam said as she passed me the silk boxers and barely there silk camisole.

"I don't think Carlos would like that very much. He has a reputation to uphold," I said. "The Trenton Times caused a lot of damage as is."

"He doesn't have to show his face." She removed another article of clothing from the suitcase. "We have silk boxers to match yours," Pam singsonged. I rolled my eyes but agreed it would make a sexy photograph.

"Carlos," I called into the other room. "I have a proposition."

He entered the bedroom and raised an eyebrow. Man, I really wished I could do that. "Babe?"

Pamela passed him the boxers. "These should fit you. Peter and I want to get a photograph of you and her together," she explained.

"No," he replied.

"Are you trying to make my life difficult?" Pam asked.

"The answer is still no."

"Fine. I'll ask Lester if he wants to help out a girl in need," Pam joked. I fought back a grin as Pam and Carlos stared each other down. Pamela played dirty. His eyes briefly flicked to mine before he accepted the silk boxers.

"Leave," Carlos barked. Pamela jumped from the tone. She winked at me, then left us in the room. When the door snicked closed behind us, he asked me, "Are you sure about this?"

"Not really, but it's worth seeing what the photographs show. I can ask Peter to show you the images he planned to use," I replied. Carlos nodded. He removed his shirt and pants. My heart raced, and my panties dampened as I watched Carlos seductively pull the boxers up his muscular thighs. I might have groaned.

Carlos opened the door to Peter and Pamela. They set up the lights in the bedroom and removed all unnecessary items by shoving them into the dresser. Peter posed me on the bed with my back against the headboard. The pillows cushioned my back. "Carlos," Peter said, "crawl up the bed towards Steph."

My cheeks flushed pink as Carlos followed his instructions. I slid down the bed, which made my shirt ride up. Peter snapped photographs until Carlos hovered over my body. I felt the intensity of the glare as Carlos leaned in to kiss me. When his lips touched mine, I completely forgot about Pam and Peter in the room. My lips opened as Carlos deepened the kiss. "Wardrobe change!" Peter shouted to get our attention.

"Holy shit! That was hot," Pamela said when she followed Peter from the room. I couldn't agree more. Carlos and I were seconds away from stripping each other bare and going at it like bunnies.

"You seem to have a problem, soldier," I joked. Carlos looked from my pebbled nipples to the wet spot between my legs. I gently stroked his erection. "Honey, I need to change." Carlos shook his head, then climbed off the bed. He pulled his cargo pants from the dresser.

His sexy, muscular thighs disappeared as the pants moved up his legs. Carlos leaned over to kiss me. He finished dressing and waited for me to change from the slinky silk pyjamas to the flannel loungewear.

Peter got me to pose on the sofa with a book in my hands. I leaned back as he suggested. He took photos of me reading the book, the book on my lap, the book resting on my chest while I closed my eyes.

The best photographs happened when I caught Carlos watching me. His eyes darkened from lust. My body instinctively reacted to his. I gravitated towards him as Peter continued to snap the shots.

After a few more wardrobe changes, Peter called it a day. We poured over the images on his computer. The boudoir photographs were beautiful and erotic. In one picture, you could see the massive erection Carlos sported. "Um. Not that one," I pointed out. Peter looked over the screen of the laptop at Carlos.

"You're one lucky bitch," he joked. "Carlos, do you have a thumb drive?"

Ranger tapped out a message. A minute later, Hector entered the room with the rest of our entourage. Peter looked toward the door when it opened. His eyes took in the man entering the room. "He's single," I whispered.

"The sexy man with the teardrop?" Peter asked. I nodded. "Be still, my heart."

Hector passed Peter the USB drive. I noticed his fingers had gently caressed Peter's palm. Peter inhaled sharply. His cheeks flushed. I watched Peter move most of the boudoir shots onto the drive. He only kept two photographs. Neither image showed Ranger's face. "Don't you want the client to see the other pictures?" I asked.

"No. The photos are too intimate for the sleepwear campaign. I don't want them on my computer to tempt my assistant."

"Pamela couldn't get the makeup or other products to cover the red mark on my neck," I pointed out. "I can still see it."

"I can airbrush the image. You can still model, you know." Peter didn't have to tell me. I knew we could work around the new red scar until it faded.

"True, but it's time for me to move on to the next greatest adventure." Peter paused to look at me. "I'm happy, Pete. Carlos needs my help to repair the damage caused by the bogus Trenton Times article. I still have the issue of a stalker to manage." He understood my explanation.

"I know, sweetie. It's not going to be the same without my muse," Peter joked. I bumped his shoulder with mine. "Keep in touch, okay?"

"Always." I had a feeling it would be easy to maintain contact with Peter.

Pamela and I collected the wardrobe items I didn't use. She hugged me tightly and wished me well. "Can you pass my number to Lester?" Pam asked.

"He has your contact information," I reminded her. I gave her an envelope containing the cash I had borrowed from Carlos. She raised an eyebrow. "It's your fee, Pam. Please, take it. I refuse to accept no as an answer."

"You're too good to me," she replied. Pam kissed my cheek before leaving the bedroom. I watched her leave, then sat on the bed. It broke my heart to close that chapter of my life, but I knew there was more to my future.

Once I gathered my emotions and locked them away, I went to the living room to wish Peter a safe trip. Hector and Lester accompanied them, with Cal following inside a second vehicle loaded with the equipment.

I felt his arms wrap around me as I stared at the snow accumulating on the ground outside. "You'll see them again, Babe."

"I know. Lester better not break Pam's heart."

"Aren't you worried about Hector breaking Peter's heart?"

"Nope. I can see them together for many years. Lester and Pam? Well, I can see how it can be, but Lester has to take the relationship with Pam slowly, or he's going to mess up big."

Carlos kissed my neck. I felt him nuzzle my neck and heard him inhale my scent. It was time to go home. Carlos didn't have to tell me. I knew.

Vince ordered lunch, then kept me busy while Carlos briefed the men upon their return. I knew the answer before I asked, "Shouldn't you be involved in the meeting?" I was there when Ranger outlined the next step.

"Nah," Vince replied. "I already know the plan. Ranger had to brief Lester, Hector and Cal. Are you ready to return to Trenton?"

"Not even a little bit. But we need to catch the man, and going to Trenton will help me narrow down the culprit." I had a man in mind. It would take more than a gut feeling to confirm.

"What are your spidey senses telling you?"

"That there is more than meets the eye. It goes deeper than just a man seeing me and putting his sights on me." I wasn't sure how to tell him who was at the crux of this entire situation.

"Please, tell me?" Vince quietly asked. I looked into his eyes before telling him everything I suspected and how to get the people to reveal themselves.