I do not own these characters. They belong to Janet Evanovich. I hope that you all like the way the story unfolds. This might take some time to get all the preliminaries set up, so have patience please. Please leave reviews to let me know if I'm going in the right direction. Sometimes your reviews give me an idea that will completely change the direction. Thank you all again for your support.

Chapter 3

Stephanie's POV

Stephanie Marie Richards Martinez. That is who I'll be until further notice. We were on a plane to Key West, and it was the middle of the night. Ranger, Lester and Bobby all had their eyes closed, heads back against the seats, while I was becoming familiar with who I'm supposed to be. The excitement I had felt earlier was steadily being replaced by bone crushing fear. I was now supposed to be from New York. My father died when I was a child, and my mother was a teacher. I had a younger sister, Vicky, who just had a baby a week ago. A boy 6lbs 4 oz, 19 inches long. His name is Frank, named after my father. She is unmarried and the baby's father "disappeared" when he tried to run out on them. It is to be insinuated that Lester and Ranger, or Les and Carlos as I now am to call them, had him taken care of.

I had just gotten to the part in the file about how Carlos and Stephanie met and my heart stuck in my throat. This Carlos and Stephanie met in high school. Carlos took a path that led him towards organized crime and I went to college to study business. We lost touch, but ran into each other again six years ago at a bar in Manhattan. Carlos remembered me instantly, and I played hard to get. By the end of the evening, however we were on our way to Atlantic City for a quickie marriage and have been practically inseparable ever since.

As I finished the file I looked at Ranger. He looked younger, peaceful. I don't know how long I stared at him; it could have been days, it could have been seconds. I was completely lost in his face.

"Babe, you're staring." Ranger never opened his eyes.

I laughed. "I wasn't staring."

"Yes you were."

"How do you know I was staring? Your eyes are closed."

A small smile pulled up the corner of his mouth and he opened his right eye. "I'm Batman, remember."

I focused my attention back to the file. It was hard to concentrate because now Ranger was the one who was staring.

"You're making me nervous. I don't know how I'll remember all this." Reality was starting to hit me. One mistake and I could kill all of us. I couldn't fight the tears as they fell down my cheeks. Ranger reached over brushing them away. He pulled me into his chest and I let his stability steady me.

"Stephanie, I'll be with you. When or if the time comes when you have to spend time alone with anyone, you will know this version of events inside and out." He gently lifted my face so I was looking into his eyes. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine. There was an urgency on both of our parts that took me by surprise. When the kiss ended, our eyes locked on each other. "I need you to know Babe I would give anything for you not to be in this situation. I also want you to know that I trust you. And that I love you."

At that moment, the need for clarification took over. "Which version of you are you talking about? The man I've known for the past three years, or the man I am now married to?"

He brought me into another deep kiss and then whisper into my ear "ambos". I heard Lester clear his throat and I returned to my sitting position, but Ranger kept his arm around me.

"Look at you two, still acting like newlyweds after almost six years of marriage. So when are you two going to make me an Uncle?" Lester laughed and didn't seem phased by the daggers that were being thrown at him from Ranger's eyes.

"What time is it anyway?" I was feeling disoriented.

"2:30. We are beginning our descent. We should be landing soon." Ranger stood and stretched. "Ok Babe, quick test. Your name?"

"Stephanie Marie Richards Martinez."

"My name and relation to you?"

"Carlos Martinez and you are my husband." I blushed as I said it and Lester gave me a wink.

"His name and relation to you?" Ranger was pointing at Lester.

"Les Martinez and he is my brother in-law."

"His name and who is he to you?"

"Robert White and he is my security."

"Where did you grow up?"

"In New York City with my mother and my sister Vicky. My Father, Frank died when I was six."

"How is the baby?"

"He is beautiful. Vicky really appreciated me staying with her, although I missed you like crazy." I gently ran a finger from his belt up his chest. Ranger's eyes darkened and he smiled.

"I missed you too Babe." Then his blank face slammed back into place. "You guys ask her questions, I'm going to check in with the pilot." He left and I turned my attention to the boys.

"Beautiful, you will have to make things up on the spot. And you will have to play along with what Carlos and I say." He waited for me to acknowledge what he said and when I didn't they decided to step up the game.

"So tell me Stephanie, why haven't you and Carlos had children yet?" Bobby asked and he eyes got hard. I became instantly nervous, but I had to remember that in a matter of minutes, this is what I would have to do. I would have to lie to stay alive.

"Well Mr. White, Carlos and I have been trying. Hopefully we won't have to wait much longer." Bobby smiled at me and winked.

"Tell me Stephanie, how have you managed to resist that handsome brother in-law of yours all these years?" Lester was still being Lester and that made me feel slightly better.

"Really that is not difficult at all. If I found him even remotely attractive, I can see there being a problem, but I know him too well and he would have to boil every inch of himself before I would touch him." I smiled at him and he looked wounded.

"Ouch Beautiful. We are family remember."

The seat belt light dinged and Ranger returned to his seat. He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. "Just stay close to us and everything will be fine."

The plane landed and as we were taxing to the hanger, suddenly Bobby hit the table in front of us.

"Shit, we've got company. Looks like the welcome wagon has come to meet the Mrs." I looked out the window and saw three black SUV's parked outside the hanger, each with a very large man standing by the back passenger door.

"Well Babe, not time to acclimate. Looks like we're on." Ranger stood and took my hand to help me up. He returned to the cockpit and as I was watching him walk away, I realized he never answered my question from earlier. Well he did, but not with an answer I understood.

"Hey Les? What does "ambos" mean in Spanish?"

Lester looked at me confused, but smiled. "It means both Beautiful. Why?'

I felt at that moment like I could do anything. Was I scared, hell yes, but Carlos, my Carlos loved me.

Just then the door to the plane opened and a Hispanic man in his forties walked into the cabin. He was about five nine and thin but in an athletic way. His black hair was short and slicked back. He was not unattractive, but then again next to Ranger anyone would appear unattractive. He had on a very expensive suit, but no tie. A smile crossed his lips, but something in his eyes made my stomach turn. He crossed to me and took my hand.

"So you are Carlos' little witch. I can see now what all the fuss was about. I am so glad we waited for you before leaving for Havana. You will make the trip so much more enjoyable." He raised my hand and gently kissed it while his finger ran the length of my palm.

I smiled but internally it was taking every ounce of strength I had not to throw up on his shoes.