CHAPTER THREE

I went upstairs to my room grabbed the duffel under my bed. It hasn't been unpacked and it held all mission equipment. I was gonna have a safe put in this week, but looks like that is gonna have to wait until I return from my mission.

I packed up all my equipment that would be needed, changed clothes, put on my GPS watch and went downstairs. Aaron had just got all his stuff packed and set by the door; it was now a little after nine. I figured I better call my dad and let him know that I was leaving on a mission. I bought him a cell so I didn't have to speak to my mother while I was away. I called my dad and after three rings he answered.

"Hey pumpkin."

"Hey Daddy. I just got called away. I don't know how long I will be gone and this is a no contact mission. So, as soon as I'm back stateside I'll call you. I wanted to let you know, I love you daddy."

"I love you to, baby girl. Be careful and stay sharp."

"I will Daddy. See you soon" And I hung up.

Aaron and I sat on the couch and watched ESPN until about 11:25 then locked up and headed down the driveway and out the gate. Tank pulled up just as we got out the gate

"Nice place Bombshell."

"Yep. Too bad I'm not getting to enjoy it longer. It will be nice to come back to it."

"So, how long are you going to be gone?"

"Unknown." He looked over at Aaron.

"Keep her safe. We just got her back." Aaron nodded.

"You underestimate her. She's good. And I do my best to keep her safe." Tank nodded at that and we were silent the rest of the ride to Haywood.

When we pulled into the underground garage, I noticed Lester and Bobby were waiting outside the elevators for us. I nodded at them, grabbed my duffels and walked to the elevator with Aaron and Tank right behind me. We rode the elevator in silence. We got rooftop just as the heli had landed. I gave the guys hug without any words and climbed on the heli with Aaron and we left for Iraq.

As we arrived in Iraq I broke into a sweat that followed me throughout the entire mission. Our objective was simple enough, and the intel was unusually accurate. My target was a group of 3 men who are higher operatives of Al- Qaeda. They thought they were safe in that bunker outside of Mosul…but Aaron and I found them quickly with just a few bribes. After all this time, it's amazing that a man could turn on an idea that he swore his life to over something as trivial as a couple cell phones and a laptop.

Positioning ourselves on that rooftop for twelve hours paid off, as I pulled the trigger dropping all three within seconds of their departure of the bunker to their next safe house. Rolling into the FOB after it was complete, a mere twenty-four hours after our arrival, lifted a huge weight off my shoulders, and the tension that I had been carrying since I arrived melted as we loaded into our ride back to Washington D.C. to debrief.

That was the worst we were stuck there for two weeks because they fucked some paperwork up. So, we had to debrief twice. Leave it to the suits to fuck everything up when we just want to go home. Finally after two weeks, we are heading back to Trenton. This time we are flying into Newark and I called my dad who is gonna pick us up. Once we get home, Aaron and I are vegging out for at least a week.

Dad picked us up at the airport and stopped at a grocery store in Newark to pick us up some groceries so it didn't hit the Burg. We grabbed the staples that we needed and quick meals, and finally we were heading to the house. We got to the house went through all the security measures and I decided to call Tank. His phone rang about three times before he answered.

"Tank."

"Hey Big Guy. I thought I'd let you know I made it back. Just got back to Trenton and now I'm going to veg out for about a week before I even think about letting people know I'm back. Mission was easy and over in less than two days, but debriefing was hell and took almost two weeks."

"Glad your back and safe, Bombshell. What would you say to me and a few of the guys bringing pizza and beer over tonight as a welcome home again?"

"That would be fine but please this time just you, Les, and Bobby. I got some questions for you anyways."

"Alright. I'll get with the guys we will be there by 7." and he hung up.

I went upstairs took a shower and got dressed in sweat pants and a tank top, threw my hair in a ponytail, and deemed myself ready for the guys to come over. I just came back from a mission and am not in the mood for looking nice.

The guys showed up with pizza, beer, and movies. I gave them a tour of the house; which they all loved and then we all set down on the couch for my welcome home again party. After watching 'The Departed' I started asking questions.

"So, guys be honest with me, what happened while I was gone for over a year?"

"Well, we looked for you for about a year, with no luck. So, we still looked just not as hard. Alexis moved here from New York and applied for a position. She was hired, and her and Ranger started dating that was about three months ago." Lester said looking a little nervous.

"Really it's fine. I left. I knew that this would probably happen and I'm okay with that. Hell, I'm not serious relationship material right now. I'm a free agent and have missions I do that I very well may not come home from and the government wouldn't even acknowledge my death. Not exactly someone people want to get involved with. I'm okay with that. I like what I do and I'm damn good at. This is the life I chose and honestly it works for me. I wouldn't change it." They all nodded and Aaron excused himself to take a phone call and as soon as he was out of hearing range the guys decided they wanted answers.

"So, what's going on with you and Tripp?" asked Tank.

"Well, we aren't a couple if that's what you want to know, but we take care of each other's needs. We are monogamous though. I don't sleep with anyone else and neither does he. It works for us. Plus he leaves in a month to go back to Florida and I'm okay with that."

"So what made you decide to become a free agent? Why not just come home?" Asked Bobby.

"I had been training for awhile, six months I believe, and Aaron was called out on a mission and asked Boss if I could go. Boss agreed. I went and loved it. When we got back I spent three months training as hard as I could and then signed my contract." They all nodded.

"Well guys I'm sure you are dying to see what I learned. I have a gym in my basement. Let me go get changed and I'll meet you down there and we can spar." They all smiled as they took off towards my basement. I took off upstairs to change and noticed Aaron was sitting on my bed staring off into space.

"Aaron, What's up?" I said he slowly looked up at me.

"Honey, do you really not see us as a couple?" I sat down on the bed next to him.

"No. I know we have a monogamous relationship but we both live very dangerous lives. So, no. I don't see us as a couple." He looked at me and I could see hurt in his eyes.

"Steph, you realize I love you don't you?"

"Yes, and I love you too but I that's not enough. I don't want marriage or kids or anything like that. And you know I still love Ranger. We've talked about this before. Whatever we have going on right now, I like. It works, but keep in mind in a month you leave and we'll probably only see each other on missions." He smiled.

"I like it, too. I just never realized you didn't see us as a couple and I try not to think about when I go back to Florida." I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

I got up quickly and put on my shorts and a tank top before going down to the gym.

"Nice gym, Bomber." Bobby said as I walked in.

"Thanks, this body didn't come easily" They all laughed.

"Alright fellas, who wants to go first?" I said as I got on the sparring mat.

"I'll go first." Said Les as he pulled off his utility belt and took off all his guns and then removed his shirt. Damn his body is still hot. He walked over to the mat and did his stretches while I did mine. I looked up and noticed Aaron had come to watch and he had a big smile. We finished our stretches and started circling each other. We went back and forth for an hour; both of us landing good kicks and punches. Finally, I was ready for a drink of water. So, when he went for a left hook, I blocked and swung my feet out and was on him as soon as he hit the mat. One down two to go. I helped him up and smiled at him.

I repeated this same thing with Bobby. Tank was a little more difficult we sparred for about an hour and neither of us had taken the other down so we called a tie and stopped. We all went back upstairs and collapsed on the couch until Tank's phone range. I heard his part of the conversation and didn't gather much other than he was talking to Ranger. When he hung up, he looked defeated.

"Sorry, Bombshell. We have to go. Cal was shot on a takedown. One to the chest and one to the leg, it's pretty bad." He looked at me.

"Shooter Dead or in Jail?" I asked.

"Dead. Hal shot him after he shot Cal because he turned the gun on Hal. Hal shot first."

"Give me a minute to throw some clothes on and I'll follow you to the hospital."

"Bombshell, you sure that's a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be? You think Ranger or his girl will get pissed, because if so they can both kiss my ass. I've been gone for eighteen months and I always thought of you guys as brothers even when I was gone. But, I'm back now and I've missed my guys. So, I'm going to the hospital and if Ranger or his girl Alexis have something to say, they are more than welcome to say it but they may not like what I say or do in response. Cal wasn't mad when he saw me when I first got back so I'm going."

The guys looked at me all dumbstruck. I guess they aren't used to my mouth the way it is now. It tends to piss a lot of people off. I ran upstairs and put on a pair of black cargoes and a red tank top with my black Cat boots. I tucked my Glock in my waistband, put my Sig Sauer in my ankle holster, put my knife on my belt and fixed my ponytail and took off down stairs. The guys just looked at me like I was crazy. I think they are still adjusting to me only really wearing cargoes and always having guns on me and loaded. I just smiled at them.

"Let's roll. What the hell is the hold up?" They all started walking and I looked at Aaron.

"You coming or staying?"

"I'm going to stay here, Honey. Go be with your friends. I'll be here when you get back. I think there are some things I should tell you about me and Manoso." I gave him a quick kiss.

"I'll be back as soon as I know Cal is okay." He nodded at me as I walked into the garage and got in my car.

I turned on Killswitch Engage while I drove to the hospital to get me calm. Most people thing its crazy because it's very heavy metal but it centers me. I pulled into the hospital and got a spot up front. I knew as soon as I got there that there was gonna be some drama of some sort I could feel it. I got out of my car and walked into the hospital and saw the sea of black. Lester who had walked in shortly before me walked over and put his arm around me.

"Tank is trying to find out what is going on. I will warn you boss man doesn't look real happy at the fact that you are here and neither does Alexis." I shrugged off Lester's arm and walked over to Ranger and Alexis. Looks like he's gonna find out how much I have changed today. I put my hands on my hips.

"Any particular reason either one of you are staring at me?" I said with my blank face firmly in place.

"Just wondering why you are here?" said Ranger.

"Lets see if I can remind you. I was very close to these men. Then, left to become a better me. I got back, was catching up and then had to leave to go do a job. But, let me tell you something. I never, not one fucking day, stopped thinking about my friends. But I did what I had to. Does that answer your question?"

Alexis decided she was feeling brave. "I doubt any of these men even want you here and then coming in here like you own the place." That was it this bitch was going to get a rude awakening.

"Let me tell you something. For one, you better watch what the fuck you say to me because you won't like the consequences of pissing me off. Secondly, considering three of these men have been at my house hanging out all evening I'm pretty sure they don't have a problem with me being here. So, my advice to you is keep your fucking mouth shut, or I can permanently shut it for you. I don't deal well with people who think they have something to say but nothing to back it up." I said it very menacing then smiled at her before I turned around and walked back over to Les, Tank, and Bobby, who were all grinning like mad.

Ranger's POV

Damn, Boss wasn't kidding when he said she had a temper on her. I was not expecting it, I couldn't even think of anything to say and then Alexis had to and spout off. I had to keep up appearances with Alexis. Wouldn't for anyone to know that she was just keeping my bed warm, I know some of the guys suspected that I was just using her but they never said anything.

I looked over at Alexis and whispered in her ear, "Don't piss her off. She is a very dangerous person and probably wouldn't hesitate to hurt you. You shouldn't speak for my men either, they can speak for themselves and you don't know them well enough to ever say who they do or don't want to see. They consider her their sister and it won't bode well for you to try to cause problems between them."

She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Great, now she's going to want to argue when we get back to the apartment. I would break up with her but with Steph just getting back I think it could cause problems. Alexis would blame Steph and who knows what she would try to pull.

I'll get her to leave though, just have to figure out a way to pull it off without her suspecting what I'm trying to do.

Alexis's POV

I can't believe Ranger took her side, telling me not to piss her off. What is so special about her that makes her so dangerous. I don't see it, she doesn't seem very lethal to me. So she has a temper, who cares.

I know most of the guys don't like me and I know it's because all they wanted is their Bombshell back and I'm nothing like her. I'm more sophisticated and beautiful. I've heard stories about her, she was a bumbling idiot. I can't imagine anything changing so much that she is now dangerous.

He probably just wants her back at Rangeman, well if he thinks he's going to get rid of me easily than he is going to have a rude awakening. I'm not going anywhere, at least until I have some money.

That's a plan, I can start taking money from him and Rangeman and then once I have enough, I'll leave him and Rangeman and make a new life for myself. I'll have to wait a while before I start and really love on him so he won't suspect a thing.

I'll be set for life soon and maybe move to the Caymans. This is gonna be easy.