Freedom
Chapter 3
Previously:
When it was time for bed, I decided I really needed a shower. I was just too nervous to take one by myself, still feeling shaky. "Ranger, would you care to shower with me?" He looked over at me with a wolf grin "Babe, do you even have to ask?"
SPOV
All the times Ranger teased me that he was good in the shower, I have to admit I was disappointed. He kept it platonic, much to my disappointment. By the time we got out, I was humming with need. "Ranger, I need you." I was looking at him as seductively as I could, hoping to convince him this was a good idea.
"Babe, I won't take advantage of you when you're vulnerable. I'm not going anywhere, we have lots of time for this." "Ranger…" Time to change strategies. "Carlos…"
"Babe, you're playing with fire."
"Who says I don't want to get burned?"
"Babe…" I left him speechless.
I dropped my towel and was standing in front of him, naked. "I want you more than I've ever wanted anything. I haven't been able to do anything I wanted for the last few months. My apartment has been destroyed. My life as I knew it is over. Please, don't take this away from me too." Before I could even take a breath, Carlos picked me up and placed me in the middle of his bed. He stood back, just looking at me with such…such adoration. No one's ever looked at me that way before. He slowly undressed and started climbing up the bed until his lips met mine.
After a kiss that made me want to melt, he stopped and in a low voice said, "Babe, I love you more than life itself and nothing would please me more than to make love to you, but if you're even slightly unsure, now's your chance to say so. Because once I start worshipping your perfect body, there's no going back."
"Worship me, please. I need you. I love you." I pulled him into a kiss that I hoped had showed him just how much.
Hours later, after being made loved to for the first time in my life, I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. I woke to find a note on Carlos' pillow.
Babe,
You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn't have the heart to wake you after last night's workout.
Call me when you wake up or come on down to my office.
Breakfast is in the kitchen.
Love, Carlos xo
I couldn't wait to see Carlos after last night, so I quickly dressed and ate part of a muffin before pouring some coffee into a thermal mug and going down to his office. I gave my little finger wave to all the Merry Men as I passed by and I knocked on Ranger's door. The door flew open and I was pulled into Carlos' arms and kissed until I was breathless. Guess he saw me coming.
"Babe, did you sleep well?" He asked with a smirk.
"Of course I did, after all the exercise I got last night. I slept like a baby." I couldn't help but smile, remembering the last few hours.
RPOV
"What would you like to do today, Babe?" I was hoping she'd be content staying at Rangeman, to allow her some time to relax.
"Well, I'd like to do some searches for you if that's ok. I was hoping to talk my old employer into hiring me back part time. It seems I have a whole lot of items to replace and an empty bank account."
"Babe, nothing would make me happier than to have you working here. Although I do have one problem." Her face dropped. "As much as I like the idea of you coming back part time, I would love it if you'd back full time. You can keep finding skips for Vinnie if you want, but through Rangeman. And with a partner. I'd like to know you're doing your job as safely as possible. Also, if you'll think about it, I'd like for you to learn more of the business. Your instincts are invaluable and I really need you."
"Carlos, are you sure? I mean, I'm a magnet for disaster. I don't want to be responsible for bringing your business down. Wait… you need me?"
I gave her a hug, trying to reassure her. "I don't take risks. And I believe in you and your skills. We do need to improve your physical abilities so you'll be safer and your partner will be able to rely on you." I saw her relax slightly. "And yes, I need you." There's the smile I know and love.
SPOV
"Do you have time for me to ask you a couple of personal questions, or do you want to wait until later?" I don't want to interrupt him for too long while he's at work, but I know I'll just stew about this if I don't attempt to find the answers.
"I have a little time before I have a client coming in." I set his paperwork down and guided me over to the leather couch in his office. We each sat down, I scooched to the edge and turned to face him.
"First of all, I started calling you Carlos without you prompting me to, is that alright?"
"Babe, I like to hear my name on your lips. Although I liked it even better last night when you were chanting it." I smiled,thinking about the first time I called him by his given name and then repeating it over and over last night.
"Is there a time when I should call you Ranger still?" He smiled when I bit my lip and looked up at him.
"I would prefer you calling me Ranger in front of skips." Ok, I can understand that.
"This next one is really hard to ask. I…well…uh…never mind. Just forget I said anything." I started to get up and he pulled me onto his lap.
"Babe, there isn't anything you can't ask me. Just take a moment, collect your thoughts and ask."
Hmm, that is so much easier said than done. "It's not really a question as it is an option for you. If you want to walk away from this, from me… I mean, I know this isn't how you imaged us being together, and I don't know how much more you can handle." His blank face just slammed down. "Don't do that! Don't shut down on me, just hear me out. I've given this a lot of thought. I called Mary Lou today to hear from her what's going on out there. I know you're protecting from bad news and rumors when I'm here, but she said Joe has been spreading rumors about you brainwashing me and holding me against my will. I'm sure he's trying to save face so he won't have to admit that I've dumped his sorry ass. He's also spreading rumors about your company not operating on the right side of the law. I won't… I can't be responsible for hurting you or your company."
RPOV
Lord, this caught me off guard. I have the most beautiful, sexy, intriguing, intuitive woman sitting on my lap, and she asks if I still want her. I've wanted her for so long, I can't remember a time when I didn't. "Babe, I see I have my work cut out for me here. I will never change my mind on you, on us. I love you with every fiber of my being. I've loved you since I first met you and it has only deepened with time. Like I told you before, when I thought I lost you, a big part of me died. I was surviving, going through the motions of life, but I stopped living." She was looking at me with such sad eyes, absorbing what I'm saying to her. "I can't live without you, Babe. The question is, do you still want to be with me?" I assumed after last night that there was no way either of us could go back. She wasn't smiling, she was making me nervous, and I don't do nervous.
"Carlos, I have loved you for so long, but didn't think you wanted me, not all of me. Not for keeps." She sighed deeply and then continued. "I knew if I let go of my fears and let myself love you, gave myself to you, and if you rejected me, I wouldn't survive it. So I protected my heart from being hurt by also surviving, but not fully living. I knew when I broke up with Joe that I would be alone, but I didn't care. Being alone was better than living a lie. When you made love to me last night, I knew I was home simply because I was with you."
Those were the magic words I was hoping she's say. "Babe, would you move in with me…permanently? I want you… all of you, forever. I'd like to make you my wife when this mess is all over, but that is up to you…" I had hardly finished when Steph turned and clutched me, as if for dear life, then kissed me with more urgency than I've ever felt from her before.
"Yes I will move in with you, and when the time comes, I will be happy to be your wife. I love you!"
SPOV
"Babe, I hate to interrupt this, but I have to get ready for this client meeting. I would very much like for you to sit in on it with me. I was going to take you out to a nice restaurant and speak with you about this, but now seems to be the right time. You would be a real asset in so many ways for me. There are numerous clients that are a bit intimidated by myself and Tank. A woman would help put them at ease, and people are so naturally drawn to you. Would you like to?"
Wait, he wants me to take a more active role in his business? He wants me to be out front and represent his company with clients? "Yes, Babe. I do." Crap! I said that out loud.
"Babe, I want you as a partner in every way. And you'd never meet with clients alone. Either myself or Tank would always accompany you to explain the technical side of the job to the client. It would be nice to work with you more. I miss being with you. This would give us more time together."
Wow! My life, just a few days ago was such a polar opposite of this moment. I felt like I was on a practical joke show. But when I looked into the eyes of the man I love, I knew he was being honest. This was real. I just hope the other shoe isn't about to drop. "Carlos, give me a couple of minutes to change, and I'll join you for that meeting."
The meeting went well. The client signed, thankfully. I didn't think I would give much input, but found myself talking quite a bit. In a good way. The client was eager to have Rangeman provide services for them and I could tell by the glances I got from Carlos, that he was proud of me. Hell, I was proud of me. It was a high that I enjoyed feeling, knowing I was contributing in a lucrative way to the man who was always bleeding money to protect me. It was finally time for me to give back.
I had felt quite content staying in the building and I had no reason to leave, but I was starting to get antsy. I needed to go shopping or to go out to lunch with the girls… or something… anything! I knew Carlos and the core team were working on proving it was Morelli who vandalized my apartment, but they couldn't. Sure, his fingerprints were all over the place, but he could easily explain that away since we were (supposedly) engaged. I was hoping he would forget about me and move on, but unfortunately, there was no way of telling if that was going to happen without going out in public again. I didn't know where my first outing should be, so I decided to start small and go to the bonds office to visit with the girls. Tank offered to take me…I think he just wanted to see Lula anyway. We called Connie to see if they would mind me bringing lunch over. Of course they wouldn't refuse food! Tank and I picked up lunch at Cluck in a Bucket. I was so excited! I hadn't had their greasy goodness in too long! Tank asked me why I was beaming. "Well, the last few weeks before I moved into Rangeman, I was hardly making any money, and for Lula and I, we don't get paid and there's no Cluck in a Bucket for anyone." He started laughing. "Hey big guy, laugh it up! Not all of us make a boat load of money and can afford to eat three meals a day." His expression turned almost sad with my words. I could tell he hadn't thought of mine and Lula's life like that before.
We had hardly pulled up to the curb out front of the bond's office when Lula came running up to us. "White girl! Where you been?" Lula gave me a big hug.
"Lula, I can't breathe here!" I barely was able to choke out.
"You been holdin' out on me white girl. I hear you shackin' up with Batman now." I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Lula to turn something so amazing into something that sounded almost crude.
"I am with Batman now in every way. I'm happy. For the first time in my life, I'm truly happy."
Connie chimed in next "Steph, you look amazing. I've never seen you glow like you do. Whatever Carlos is doing for you, or to you, it seems to be working for you."
I could tell she was genuinely happy for me. It was nice to spend some time catching up with two of my best friends. We had been there for about an hour and was laughing about some of the 'burg escapades and gossiping about people we mutually while we enjoyed our food knew when the front door to the office was thrown open with such force it seemed to suck the air right out of the room. I turned around from where I was sitting to see none other than Joe. Tank was immediately over at my side, using a stern arm to lift me and place me behind his large body. I couldn't even see Joe past Tank.
"Cupcake, stop this nonsense and come with me, NOW!" Where did he get off ordering me around, and in front of Tank and my friends.
"No, Joe! I'm not going anywhere with you, ever again!" I leaned over to one side and could see Joe, hands made into fists with white knuckles, barely keeping his temper in check. His face was red and he was seething.
"Cupcake, you belong to me and you will be leaving with me." I couldn't believe this caveman routine!
"I'll do nothing of the sort! I broke up with you almost four months ago Joe, but you wouldn't listen, you wouldn't let me go! I've moved on. I'm with Ranger now. Let me go Joe, please…just let me go." I didn't realize this would be so emotional, but by the time I got my last words out, I was crying, pleading with him.
"You're with Ranger? I don't think so! He's a common criminal! You've let that bastard put his hands on you?"
Tank spoke up next in a low, baritone voice. "Morelli, if I were you, I'd forget all about this little girl here. If you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and walk out that door and never come back."
Joe tried to get at me by first faking he was going to the right and then ended up going left. After feeling his fist make contact with my left cheek bone and then grip my arm, he was jerked off of me by a fiercely angry Tank and four more men in black backing him up. I don't know at what point they came in, but they looked furious. I was picked up and carried out to an awaiting truck by Lester and saw Hal was already behind the wheel, waiting to get us out of there. I was grateful to get away from Joe but was very worried about what was going to happen to Tank, Ranger, Hector and Bobby who were still there with him.
"Don't worry about them beautiful, they know how to handle themselves, staying just on the right side of legal." Joe's still a cop and I didn't want them going to jail for me. I could picture Ranger behind bars and the thought had me panicking. I was gasping for air.
"What if he gets arrested, what if he … what if…" I can't imagine him being taken now that he's mine.
"Cousin, you need to get back home, Steph is getting real worked up." Lester's call to Ranger was appreciated, but I didn't know if Ranger would listen. We pulled into the secure garage at Rangeman and Hal and Les escorted me to the apartment.
"Lester, how did you guys know Tank needed backup?" I was grateful, but curious.
"We knew first of all because Tank activated his panic button. Secondly, Connie called, frantic, to alert us." I wasn't surprised Tank activated his call button, but the last time Connie was frantic was never.
"Stephanie, your hurt. Will you let me look at you?" Hal lifted me up to sit on the bar and started poking around my cheek that felt like it was swelling already. "I'm going to put some antiseptic on it and then give you an ice pack to hold to it. The cold will hurt, but it will help with the swelling. I'm afraid you're going to have a nasty bruise though. What happened?" Hal hasn't talked to me much lately and every time he passed by my cubicle, is pace seemed to speed up, avoiding me.
I was confused by his show of concern. "Joe showed up and told me I was leaving with him. I told him I was with Ranger and he blew. He dodged Tank and gave me this." I gestured to my cheek. "Then grabbed my arm and tried to take my forcibly. That's when you all arrived."
"Steph, I know this is uncomfortable, but would you have left with him? Is there any chance of you going back to him?"
"What? What the hell Hal!" I jumped off the bar and started ranting, complete with arms flailing. "I can't believe you'd even ask! What do you think I'm just a tramp, staying in Ranger's bed for awhile only to back to that scum?"
I was so mad, the room started spinning. I fell to my knees, my hand going to the ground in front of me, and I saw two black boots appear before me. I cowered, slumping back, bracing for impact.
I heard Carlos bark out, "Explain yourself Hal!" Thank god he's here! But the black boots before me belonged to Hal who dropped to his knees and tried to gather me in for a hug. I pulled back further, covering my head with my arms.
"Steph, I'm so sorry! I…I just couldn't stand the thought of you going back to him, to let him hurt you anymore."
"Hal, I said, explain! I heard what she was yelling at you…why? What the fuck did you say to her?" He gritted out.
"Shit! I didn't mean to.. I…" Hal jumped up and stormed out of the apartment.
"Bobby, make sure he gets to his apartment and stand guard outside his door until I find out what's going on!"
RPOV
I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I unlocked my door. And to walk in and see the woman I love on the floor, cowering to one of my men had me seeing red! "Babe, it's ok." I got down on the floor with her, sitting with my back to the wall cradling her, rocking her slightly. "No one's going to hurt you. Stop crying, mi amore." She was tembling, obviously shaken.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Carlos! Please don't be mad at me."
"Babe, I could never be mad at you. What would make you think that?" She looked up at me, mascara streaming down her face. I took the hem of my shirt and wiped the make-up away.
"I don't want to come between you and Hal. He's a friend and one of your core employees. I'm sorry for…"
"Babe, whatever just happened just needs to be clarified. I'm not mad at anyone, just frustrated trying to figure out what I walked in on. Why were you afraid of Hal?" I looked up and saw Tank and Lester standing off to the side, but on alert. I'm sure they would take care of any threat to me, even if it was one of their own.
"He asked me if I would have gone with Joe today, if I was going to get back together with him. I got so mad, and I couldn't breathe, and I fell to my knees and when I saw his boots in front of me, I thought.." Ahh. Now it makes sense.
"You thought it was Joe. Maybe not Joe specifically, but you thought what was coming next was what Joe would do to you." No wonder.
"Yes. I would never think that any of your men would hurt me, but in the heat of the moment, and not being able to see him, I panicked."
"Babe, we need to talk about Hal." I carried her to the living room, keeping her on my lap, sat on the sofa and told her everything I knew about his sister and the abusive marriage she was in and how he blamed himself for not seeing the warning signs. I told her he blamed himself for not seeing them with her either, since he'd already been through it with is sister. I told Steph that he was very protective of her too and would never hurt her. When I was done, she obviously understood, but now felt bad herself for letting him think he was capable of violence towards her. I phoned Bobby. "Send him up."
Moments later, Hal walked in with Bobby, Tank and Lester. He looked defeated. I was surprised by what happened next. Steph walked over to him and gave him a tender hug around the large man's waist. He noticeably relaxed and simply hugged her back. She was the first to break the silence.
"I'm so sorry Hal! I understand now why you asked those questions, but at the time it really hurt that you could think that of me. I don't love Joe, I never did and I don't want to be with him, now or ever again. I'm in love with Ranger, always have been and will be until I die."
"Steph, I'm sorry for asking those questions. My sister went back to her husband time and time again and it was so painful to watch. Until he almost killed her was she able to admit she had to escape. I couldn't watch you do that. I had to know you wouldn't."
I understood why when he explained, but I needed him to really understand, "Hal, I wasn't abused until after I broke it off with Joe. He held me captive so to speak with threats against my life. I was stuck. My car exploding was a gift from God, because it brought you all to me. You came to my rescue for the umpteenth time from what you thought was just another car explosion, but you really rescued me from a fait far worse." I took a deep breath and continued. "I knew you wouldn't hurt me earlier, but in the moment, all I could see was Joe's boots walk in front of me, and I was preparing for the worst. I had a flashback that felt so real."
"You're right Steph. I would never hurt you! Ever! I will do everything in my power to protect you." My heart felt so much better now that that was cleared up.
"Friends?" I knew the answer but still needed to ask. "Do you even need to ask?" I guess not.
"Let's break it up already! I need some time with my woman. I'm offline the rest of the day." Ranger herded the men to the front door and locked it behind them.
"Carlos, you cannot waste the rest of your day babysitting me, we're in a secure building for crying out loud." "What makes you think I'm babysitting. Maybe I want to spend the rest of the day with the woman I love. Holding her ice pack, watching movies, making love." With those last two words his voice was low and husky. Vavavoom!
"Okay, I suppose I believe you. But you have to tell me what happened after we left."
"Let's just say that Joe has a few new bruises in places that can't be seen outside his clothes." I smiled.
"Sounds like you gave him a taste of his own medicine." "Something like that. He left in a hurry. I hate to tell you this, but he kept going on about me keeping my hands off you…" I could almost hear him saying it.
"Carlos?"
"Yes, babe?"
"Would you please lay your hands on me… all over me?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
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