Freedom
Chapter 19
Previously…
As much as I'd love to enjoy each other's company today, I have a super secret meeting with Tank at 11 o'clock this morning. Carlos has a meeting outside the building, so he should be none the wiser. Although Tank has been in on my plans for the super secret surprise gift for Carlos, it is finally time to let the rest of the core team in on the plans.
SPOV
"It's good to see all of you this morning. As you all know, Carlos is at a client meeting with Tank and in his absence, he has graciously allowed me to conduct this morning's meeting. As Tank has informed you, we have a mission we're leaving for this afternoon at 1pm. Here is a list of what you'll need to pack." I looked up at the confused faces of Bobby, Lester, Hal, Hector, Woody and Ram. "I know you're used to getting a file with detailed information about your missions, but this one is special." I looked each man in the eye as I looked around the table. "This mission is called 'Carlos' Birthday Surprise' and I'm the one planning it… with help from Tank. I will give you more information as we progress into the day, but I need to know you're all open to anything I have planned. Carlo's birthday is tomorrow and I want to make this a special weekend. Of course with the whole Joe issue, it makes being out and about a little tricky, but knowing you guys, I think you're up for the challenge. Please pack as instructed, both personally and your professional essentials and meet in the garage at 1300 hours."
"Steph, did you just use military time?"
"Why yes I did, Les, you got a problem with that?"
"Nope. Not me. Is the meeting over? I can't wait to get this show on the road!"
"Yes, you're all dismissed. I don't think I need to ask you all to keep this hush, hush from anyone not in the room. Cal and Junior will be staying behind to help run the office. They both had personal reasons to stay behind. Also, Marko, Carlos' brother from the Miami office and two members of the core team from Miami will be here shortly after we leave. They'll help keep the office running smoothly while we're gone."
Hal spoke up "Damn, Steph! You're really going all out for this."
"Well, Tank and I have been planning this for a few weeks now and have tried to keep in mind any problems that might arise and we both thought Carlos would feel more comfortable relaxing if he knew we weren't just deserting Rangeman. Marko wanted to come into town to visit family anyhow, so it seemed ideal that he could pinch hit for us."
With that said, we all left the meeting, each attending to our own duties for the morning. I had to quick pack and hide the luggage in the back of the Escalade we were taking to the airport. Ella already offered to pack for Carlos, which made my life a little easier.
I met Carlos in our apartment for lunch and just before it was just about time to leave, and our meal was finished, I approached the subject of the weekend delicately. "You trust me, right Carlos?"
"Of course, babe. Why do you even have to ask?"
"Do you trust me enough to do something I want and not ask questions?"
He sat there looking at me, obviously thinking over his response carefully. "Yes, why?"
"I have something planned for us this weekend and I need you to trust me, to allow me to have my fun, knowing this isn't something I'm taking lightly, but have put a lot of thought and planning into. It means a lot to me that you go along with me on this."
"Does this have something to do with your behind the door conversations with Tank?"
Winking at him, I stood up to clear the table and before he had a chance to say anything else, I grabbed my purse and asked him to meet me in the garage in ten minutes telling him over my shoulder that everything else was taken care of.
The guys were already in the garage waiting for me when I came down, no doubt anxious to find out where we were going. "Carlos will be down in a few minutes, so let me quickly tell you the details. As you all know, Carlos and I are big hockey fans and one of his favorite teams, the Boston Bruins are playing tomorrow night at the Boston Garden arena against the Tampa Bay Lightning which we all know is a big time rivalry against his other favorite team, the Miami Heat. Anyhow, since this is the NHL playoffs, I got us a suite to watch the game. We fly in tonight, go out to dinner, then you guys have some time to yourselves while Carlos and I stay at the hotel. Tomorrow, Saturday, we let him help decide what to do before the game although I think he's going to want to be low key. We come home Sunday mid-day. What do you think?"
Lester picked me up and spun me around. "What do we think? That you're the coolest fiancé ever! My cousin is so damn lucky and we're all glad to be invited!"
Tank came up and put his arm around me. "I've been helping with the execution of this mission. We're registered under alias' at the hotel, the suite belongs to one of our clients, all we have to do is enjoy ourselves and provide back up and protection duty for our little Bomber here. Are we all in?"
Hands were joined together in the middle of our circle and the men all shouted 'Hooah' right when Carlos stepped off the elevator. We quickly dispersed and the men went to their vehicles. We were taking two Escalades to the airport. I took Carlos' hand and pulled him to the Escalade Tank was driving, pushing Carlos to sit in the front seat beside Tank. I sat in the back between Lester and Hal. Carlos was being a good sport, but I could see his jaw was stiff and he was fighting the urge to ask where we were going.
When we arrived at the airport, and everyone had their luggage loaded and were climbing the stairs to the Rangeman private jet, Carlos grabbed my hand and asked "Babe, where are we going?"
"You're just going to have to wait and see. Trust me. I know you, and you'll enjoy this."
I heard a faint shit! come from him and he followed me up the stairs. He knew I had him there. We had a nice flight, everyone catching up on their personal lives, and before I knew it our short flight was over and we were landing. Carlos took a look out the window and asked, "Boston?"
"Yes. I'll tell you more at the hotel." He raised an eyebrow to me and shot a look to Tank who simply looked at him for a moment and nodded. Their ESP is remarkable, as I saw Carlos visibly relax some and exited the plane behind me.
We had two Rangeman Boston SUV's waiting for us at the airport for us to use during our stay. A detail not missed by Carlos. "I know what you need in order to relax. Charles and Chase brought them from your Boston garage." He nodded as he squeezed my hand, knowingly.
Tank again drove the SUV we were in followed by Bobby who picked up the follow truck. It didn't take long for us to wind through the quaint streets of Boston before we arrived at our hotel, the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common, a hotel Tank said Carlos had always wanted to stay at. We managed to reserve half the Club Level, Carlos and I staying in the Deluxe Suite and the guys each bunking two to a room except for Hector who stayed in his own room. I heard through Bobby that Hector has a 'friend' who he might be seeing while he's here in town, and that probably is why he really wanted a room to himself. I'm happy for him, he seems lonely.
As Tank checked us all in and handed out room keys, Carlos and I made our way up to our suite. "We have about an hour until dinner. You don't mind if I lay down for a bit, do you?" I batted my eyelashes at my sexy fiancé and started stripping my clothes off, dropping them on the floor, making a trail into the bedroom.
A strong set of cuban arms picked me up and threw me onto the the middle of the bed. I giggled as I bounced several times from the impact of the toss. "I've been a good sport so far, babe. It's time for some answers." He had my arms pinned above my head as his teeth began nipping through my bra to my taught nipples.
"This is so not fair."
"Spill it, babe…"
"Alright, alright, but not with you on top of me like this." He slid off me and before he knew what I was doing, he was on his back and I was straddling him. "Hmmm, I think I like this position a little better…"
I knew I was trying his patience, especially the way I was spread on top of him, my skimpy thong not leaving much for the imagination as I ground myself into him. "We're celebrating your birthday. Tonight it's simply dinner and we're coming back here so the guys can go out and enjoy a night on the town. And we get to enjoy each other… alone. Tomorrow we can do whatever you want, then we'll go out to dinner at a restaurant I hear you like and then we go see the Boston Bruins vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL playoff game."
Waiting for a response, my fiancé decided to pull his blank face routine with me as he lifted me off him and got off the bed, leaving me alone in the room. I ran after him, thinking I'd made him mad. I was shocked at what I saw next. Carlos was sitting in on the edge of the loveseat in the front room, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. "Carlos, I'm sorry. I just wanted to surprise you like you always surprise me. I didn't mean to…"
When he looked up at me, there were tears in his eyes. Oh shit. What have I done. I stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do next. He started talking in such a low voice, I almost didn't register that he was speaking to me. "No one has ever done something so thoughtful like this for me before." What? "No one has ever put so much effort into my birthday, into doing something special like this for me… surprising me… why are you doing this?"
"Don't you know by now you big lug, that I love you more than anything and want to show you in any way possible how much you mean to me? It's no different than what you do for me all the time."
"Thank you, babe. I can't wait to see all your hard work play out." We spent the next half hour holding each other, making out and enjoying the intimacy this day and this surprise has brought. I knew Carlos would be uncomfortable with a surprise, but didn't realize I'd catch him so off guard.
Before we knew it, it was time to get dressed for dinner. Tank made reservations for us at the Union Oyster House. After hearing the waiter explain the house special, we all eagerly ordered the Shore Dinner with clam chowder, mussels and oysters, lobster, corn, potatoes and Indian pudding. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. And apparently the guys thought I had too by the looks they were giving me. Guess I was moaning a bit more than usual. "No worries, babe. As long as you moan louder than that under me tonight…" Carlos whispered in my ear and I'm afraid my cheeks might be sporting a shade similar to the lobster I just enjoyed.
After dinner, we went directly back to the hotel and told the guys to have a good time. Even though this was a fun trip for us all, I knew they were still on guard and ever watchful for my safety. To thank them for coming and allowing me to take their weekend, I thought going out without worrying about my safety was the least I could do. Plus, I couldn't wait for some alone time with my fiancé.
I was barely in the room before Carlos was unzipping the back of my black, skin tight dress. I stepped out of it as it pooled at me feet and turned to look at my future husband. "I don't know what I want to do tomorrow, babe. But tonight… tonight I'm going to ravish you, make you beg me for mercy. You've tortured me today with thoughts about what you were up to this weekend, and now it's my turn to make you squirm." Oh, boy.
"I can't tell you how much all this effort into my birthday means to me. Like I said before, no one, family or friend, has ever done such a grand gesture for me. You mean the world to me, babe."
Carlos ordered room service, requesting my favorite wine, Red Sangria and a fruit, cheese and bread basket. Guess someone thought we'd need fuel. And did we ever. I know I've told Mary Lou and Lula this before, but I truly didn't know what love was until I met Carlos. I didn't know I could have the depth of feelings for someone so deep that I would rather die than live without them. I thrive when I am in Carlos' presence and absolutely fly whenever he's touching me, sexually or not.
Tonight's decision to stay in and let the guys go out was the perfect decision for us. I didn't think it possible, but every time we have time cut out just to focus on each other, we become more as one and tonight did not disappoint.
Our first day has gone by like a blur. I can't believe how much fun Boston is, especially when being escorted around by such sexy men. I felt like a movie star. Carlos and I had an amazing night making love in the bed, the love seat in the front room, against the wall, in the Jacuzzi tub, in front of the full length mirror in the changing room. Oh. My. God. I don't think he'll ever forget this birthday, I sure as hell know I won't. And I'm sporting enough hickies on my body to remind me of the magic we made together, for weeks to come.
Much to my surprise, Carlos decided to hang out at our hotel for most of the day on, just enjoying each other's company. We even made it down to the pool and ended up having a picnic with the guys poolside after playing a game of pool volleyball. I haven't felt this relaxed in a while. It's been nice to have a change of surroundings and enjoy some uninterrupted down time with my favorite guys.
After taking a short nap, we decided to meet before dinner in our suite since it's the largest and has a big living room with two loveseats, two wingback chairs, and a window seat that spans the room. The guys strolled in, each looking ready for a fun night out. I'm so used to them all wearing their standard Rangeman black attire that it always catches me off guard when I see them in civilian clothes. Each of them wearing perfectly fitted jeans and shirts that were button down, henley, or polos, pulled across their muscles, of course. We were going to cause a stir in Boston, I can just feel it coming. Carlos stepped out of the closet wearing a pair of faded blue jeans that were tight in the butt and loose fitting on the legs. Damn! His navy blue button down shirt had the top two buttons open, just giving a hint of sexiness. I chose to wear a pair of tight dark hip hugging jeans, my long brown boots that Carlos helped me pick out over a month ago, and a white button down top that I tucked in the back and tied the front together in a knot, allowing a little skin to show. I wore my hair down long and worked some magic into the curls, making them look more defined than usual. All conversation stopped when I walked into the room.
"Damn, beautiful! We're gonna have to beat them away with a stick tonight!" You'd think I'd be used to their catcalls and whistles of appreciation after all the distractions I'd dressed for, but I'm not and probably won't ever be.
"Santos!" One thing that will never change is Carlos' irritation with his men's eyes roaming my body.
"Sorry cuz, but hell, it's gonna be hard to watch the game with…"
"Thank you Les. Maybe I should go change?" I asked with mock modesty.
"Not on your life, babe. You look stunning. Now, let's go before I decide to stay in and keep you all to myself."
I couldn't help but smile at the attention I was getting. I was just trying to make myself feel good, but the reactions I got had me floating on cloud nine. Since we were all dressed and ready for a game and a casual, relaxed evening, we decided to have a simple dinner at a local steakhouse. Dinner conversation for some reason gravitated towards me as the guys decided to razz me about my career as a bounty hunter before I started working at Rangeman. I was being a good sport about it, but some of the stories were a little embarrassing. "Most of it really wasn't my fault, guys."
Hal took pity on me. "We know Steph, but what we admire so much about you is every time you had a car blow up or you got kidnapped or blew up a funeral home, you got up, brushed yourself off and went back to work. Most women would've been at the button factory after the first car blew up. Hell, most men would've run for the hills after being kidnapped, but not you."
"Thanks guys. I just didn't know any better, I guess. I knew what I wanted and I wasn't about to let anyone try to stop me."
"Proud of you, babe." Carlos pulled me closer to him and I snuggled into his side as the conversation turned to the upcoming hockey game and the Bruins' hockey year, bringing them to this stage in the NHL playoffs. I admit, I zoned off and closed my eyes, just enjoying the closeness and love of the men surrounding me.
"Babe, it's time to go to the game." I opened my eyes and kissed his cheek.
"I wasn't sleeping, I was just absorbing this perfect moment."
"I know what you mean, babe."
At the arena, we quickly found our way to the suite which was right above the center line. Perfect. Even Carlos smiled when he saw the location. And we were facing the team's benches, which will be fun. I love watching the coach's pitch fits when they don't agree with the ref's calls. The company whom we were using their suite, treated us to quite a spread of snacks. We had chips with chile con queso and guacamole, empanadas, taquitos, a veggie platter and a tub of ice filled with several different kinds of beer.
"Ooooh, I think I've died and gone to heaven."
"Babe, you just ate an eight ounce steak with all the fixings."
"I know, but I love junk food at a game. I usually get a pretzel, or nachos, or something… it's the atmosphere. You can't just drink beer and not pig out on junk food."
"Only you, babe… You're just so irresistible. Is there anything you won't eat at a game?"
"Cotton candy. I hate cotton candy. Everything else is fair game."
"Bossman! Some seats we've got here! The game's about ready to start, where do you and Steph want to sit?" Woody was practically bouncing, anxious to find his own seat.
"We'll stay up in here where we have a little more privacy, you guys can take the luxury seats in front of us."
As we all got situated and the lights dimmed, it was a humbling experience to hear the national anthem with my ex-military men surrounding me. I couldn't help but get choked up at how proud I was of each and every man I knew that had put their lives on the line for our country's freedom, much less the thousands of men who are still doing it to this day.
When the lights came back on, the crowd went wild as the starting line was announced for the Bruins. I felt goose bumps in anticipation. Part of the reason I love hockey is it's such a high paced sport. Unfortunately, the guys aren't all that sexy to watch since they're so padded and their uniforms so baggy. The fans are so passionate, especially at a playoff game, the energy high, the volume of the music and cheering making my body practically vibrate.
Carlos and I were always within touching distance of each other as we sat together. I could tell he was enjoying the game immensely, even though he was still alert to our surroundings.
By the end of the second period, the Bruins were up by three points and they didn't look like they were backing down any time soon. The second intermission had me laughing until my sides hurt. They had six men dressed in sumo wrestler fat suits try to play hockey and score against each other. The thing is, these guys must not have been good skaters, because they would fall over, and when they did, they laid there like turtles on the ice, flailing. Needless to say, none of them ever scored a goal. I didn't have a chance to take a potty break and by the time the 3rd period started, my bladder decided it had to visit the restroom. Hector and Les were my appointed escorts and walked me to the nearest women's room, standing on each side of the doorway as I went in.
After taking care of business and washing my hands, I turned around and bumped into an old high school classmate, Missy. We didn't exactly get along in school, so I made quick pleasantries with her, told her to enjoy the game and turned to walk away when she grabbed my elbow. Pushing me into the handicapped stall, my head hit the cement wall behind me. "You took him from me, you bitch! And now you're going to help me get him back."
"What are you talking about, Missy? Have you lost your mind?" You have got to be fucking kidding me! Here? Now? I officially have the worst luck in the world!
"I always loved him. He was supposed to meet me the day before he left for the Navy. He went to the Tasty Pastry to get us a dessert for our date, and he never showed. I made us a picnic, had our first time together all planned out and you ruined it! You seduced him and made him turn his back on me. The next day he was gone. I heard some guys at school talking about what he wrote about you in a public restroom… it was about that night. My night!"
"Joe? You're mad at me about Joe? He forced himself on me that night at the Tasty Pastry. I didn't take him from you."
"That's not what he told me. He came to me a few days ago and told me he wanted me all along. He's wants to give he and I a try, but I had to help him get you alone to set you straight first. So he could tell you to leave him alone."
"Missy, you've got to believe me. I'm engaged to another man. I don't have any feelings for Joe. I want nothing to do with him. He's all yours."
"He won't move on until I bring him to you. He needs to tell you about us before we can be together."
"This is insane. He's just using you…" She slapped me. Missy, psycho girl from hell, just slapped me.
"Shut up and do as I tell you. You're going to go back to the suite you're in and tell those thugs whatever you need to, to go off by yourself for a few minutes. You're going to meet me outside the East entrance and if you don't, Joe has a man in a suite across from yours that will take out your man. He is the one in the navy shirt, is he not?" Crap! Think fast, Steph.
"Think about this Missy. You don't know who you're dealing with…"
"No, you don't know who you're dealing with! Do what you need to do, you have ten minutes."
I stepped outside the stall and out the restroom. Hal asked if I was okay and I simply nodded, not sure what to do. I know I should alert the men, but how do I do that without risking their safety? I made it back to the suite quickly, plowing through the crowd in the concourse and I knew I only had a few minutes.
"Ranger, I need a few bucks to go get something to eat." I held my hand out, impatiently.
"Babe, let Hal get you something."
"No!" I felt bad, the startled look on his face almost too much for me to continue. "Just give me a few dollars so I can go get some cotton candy." I reach for his wallet, pull out a ten dollar bill and turned back to him and in my most bitchy tone told him, "I'm going alone! Stop smothering me Ranger!" I leaned in to kiss him and feeling pulled in half whispered, "I love you…more than anything."
RPOV
What the hell? She wants to go alone for candy? She knows how dangerous going off alone is. How badly could she need…cotton candy. Shit! Reading her signal about cotton candy, and her using Ranger instead of Carlos instantly has me on alert. When she leaned in and told me she loved me, I winked at her. Someone had gotten to her. Having caused a scene in front of my men who are now watching our every move, I nodded for Hector and Les to follow close behind after she exited the suite.
Hal approached me and said Steph looked peculiar as she left the restroom and her cheek looked a bit red. "I asked her if everything was alright and she said she was fine, but what she said and the expression on her face didn't line up."
"Someone got to her in that restroom and the only way she'd leave here by herself is if one of us were threatened. Let's get out of here where we're sitting targets and find out what the hell is going on."
JPOV
This is just too fucking easy. When one of my old informants who works at Logan International Airport spotted the Rangeman jet, I had him follow Cupcake and that gang of losers she's always hanging out with to their hotel. As soon as I found out where they were, I hightailed it up to Boston and did some of my own surveillance. I had just the patsy to help me with my plan to finally get Steph alone. I ran into an old highshool classmate, Missy last week at Pino's. She offered what was obviously a mock congratulations to me on my engagement to Stephanie, and when I told her the engagement was off, she was hanging all over me. I dismissed her since I was picking up a pizza and heading home where Joyce Burnhart and I were hooking up. Joyce is always open to fulfill my desires and she didn't need any priming or coercing to get her ready for action.
I called Missy when I heard from my old informant and it wasn't too hard to convince her to go with me once I explained to her that I had always wanted her but Stephanie had ruined our chances. She was eager to help me with my plan, or at least the one I told her I had. Once we arrived in Boston and were tailing Stephanie and Manoso's crew, I laid it on just thick enough that she was practically begging me to take her right there in the SUV I borrowed from impound. I told her my plan to get Stephanie away from those men that were smothering her so I could tell her once and for all that we were done. Of course the stupid cunt went for my plan, hook line and sinker. Missy isn't hard on the eyes, but she's no Cupcake. Manipulating someone like Missy isn't too hard as long as you dangle the right incentive in front of them. I of course haven't fucked her yet, telling her I had to get rid of Stephanie first. What a loser, a desperate, pathetic woman who I can get to do anything I want. She'll be a great lay, letting me do anything I want of her. Hell, she'll do anything to me that I want. She's so desperate for me to get in her pants, she won't be able to refuse when I tell her Cupcake will join us just once as a good bye fuck before I get rid of her. Of course Missy doesn't know that she's going to take one step too many off the Lower Trenton Bridge, which is just a rock bed below this time of year, once I have Cupcake back at home where she belongs, her usefulness of course no longer needed.
There they are. I've been watching Missy standing outside the East entrance for the last five minutes, doubting how convincing she was. I can't fucking believe it when I see my Cupcake walk out the doors, looking as sexy as ever. My dick is twitching in anticipation. Missy must have been pretty fucking convincing to have Cupcake follow her outside so easily. I can't believe how fucking simple this is. I don't even have a man on the inside, making the whole threat to Manoso up! Stephanie is so naive and as I watch them approach, I know that in just a few more yards, she will be all mine.
RPOV
What a turn of events. My own birthday, and that fucking asshole thinks he can just swoop in and steal Steph right out from under me. Egotistical, maniacal, self-serving bastard that he is will not get away with it. Steph knew to alert me that something was wrong, signaling me to follow her. That's my girl. I have to assume someone was watching us for her to not be able to tell me what was happening.
Hector and Les are my two best men at following undetected and not losing a target. I trust them both to protect her until we can take out the threat. Following from a distance, I see Steph meet some woman I don't recognize outside one of the entrances. She walks slightly in front of her and I see the woman point to a truck. Low and behold, I see Morelli in the driver's seat, grinning from ear to ear. What he doesn't see is Hector who had run up ahead, circling around the SUV the bastard was sitting in. Tank, Hal and Bobby ran ahead to one of our vehicles. Trying to keep my distance and not be spotted, I find myself profoundly proud of my men who now have Morelli surrounded. Hector has his gun to Morelli's temple. Unfortunately, the woman Steph was with decided to cause a scene, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Rape! He's trying to rape me!" just as Les tried to separate her away from Steph.
Bobby and Hal jumped out of the SUV that they and Tank had ran for and went in for the grab, pulling Steph into our vehicle. I could hear Morelli screaming, "You're mine Cupcake! You'll always be mine!" I know she heard him by the expression on her face.
The Boston Garden security pulled up, detaining Hector and Les after Morelli showed them his badge. Woody held back to wait for them to be released while the rest of us took Steph back to the hotel. When I jumped in the SUV, I looked in the back to see Steph staring out the window, shaking.
We got back to the hotel in record time since the game had not yet ended. Steph flew out of the truck when we arrived, shaking off my advances to hold her hand. She walked into the hotel like a zombie, eyes lost to the world. About an hour after we arrived at the hotel, Hector, Les and Woody had joined us again, telling us they had been detained by the Boston Garden security. With the security credentials they were carrying, they were able to make up a story about how they were trying to help the poor woman and in her fear, she was confused. Morelli, unscathed as usual, told them he and Missy were there to watch the game. Stephanie was still sitting in the corner of the room on a wing back chair, legs pulled up under her, staring blankly at a flower arrangement on the side table. Figuring she'd had enough time to stew, I decided to approach.
"Babe, what are you thinking about?" I knelt down in front of her, reaching to cup her cheek so she'd face me. She flinched and jumped up, fleeing the room. I picked her up and carried her to the room my men were in, holding her to me, her back to my front, my arms crossed in front of her.
"Let me go!" She's clawing at me to release her.
"No!"
"Dammit, Carlos, I ruined everything, now let me go!"
I spinned her in my arms, holding her firmly in place. "Babe, what did she say to you to convince you to follow her?"
She dropped her head and in a low tone, answered, "she said there was a shooter in the suite across from ours and if I didn't do as she said, the shooter would take you out. She knew what you were wearing."
"I figured as much." She looked up at me, confusion written across her face. "Babe, you did what you had to do to protect me. To protect the guys. You gave me distinct clues to let me know you were in trouble so we could assist you. You did everything perfectly. I don't understand why you're beating yourself up."
"Because we were having a perfect night and because of my ex, it was cut off. Because even though I planned for everything, I didn't plan on him being here and mostly, because you could've been shot tonight because of me." She was crying be the last part of that admission and really, that was the biggest fear we both had… losing each other.
"Babe, I've had a perfect weekend, and a great time at the game. The Bruins won by the way. They scored again while you were in the ladies room and were up by four when this whole thing happened so we really didn't miss anything. We just had a little excitement to finish out the night."
"I need this to be over. I need Joe locked up. I need my life back!" She was practically screaming.
"We're there, babe. Let's try to get a statement from the woman that was helping him and see if we can get her to turn on him. If we can't, no worries, we've already got all we need to put him away for life. We've already turned over copies of statements, evidence, and surveillance of everything we've collected on Morelli over these last couple of months to the attorney just this week and upon final review, we'll contact Internal Affairs and the FBI. Morelli is on his way down, babe. He won't be able to get to you anymore. By this time next weekend, charges will have been pressed and I doubt any judge will allow for bail with the amount of felonies he's committed and the flight risk he presents."
"Thank you! Oh god, I need my freedom back… so bad" I was getting sympathy glances from my men as they watched my spitfire of a woman crumble and weep in my arms, desperate for the freedom she so rightfully deserves from this nightmare.
"It's pretty late, why don't we call it a night and we'll regroup for breakfast in the morning. I'll call ahead for room service, why don't we all meet back here at nine." The guys nodded in acceptance and quietly let themselves out.
I drew Steph a bubble bath and lit a few candles in the bathroom as an effort to calm her, while I checked in with Trenton, apprising them of the evening's events. When I stepped back in the bathroom twenty minutes later, I couldn't help but stand there in the doorway and appreciate the beauty in front of me. Sure, some of the bubbles had disappeared from her body, revealing her sultry curves. More than that, though, I'm stricken with her inner beauty which, when her guard is down and she is relaxed, makes her positively glow.
"Babe, are you ready to come out?" I knew she wasn't sleeping, but didn't want to touch her and startle her from deep thoughts. She nodded and stood up, pulling the plug in the tub. I wrapped a plush towel around her and carried her to the bench at the end of our bed, taking my time to dry her off.
"Carlos, would you… I mean, could we…"
"What? Anything you want Babe, you just need to ask."
"I know it's been a long day and a stressful night, but would you please make love to me?" The innocence in her eyes at this most intimate of questions has me melting.
"Babe, you have been driving me crazy all night, you are so sexy and your confidence so alluring. And watching my own men's envy of the incredible woman on my arm, much less every other man around us has me in quite the state. If we do this, I don't know how much control I'll have. I need you, Steph. So bad… don't ever forget it."
"I need you too. Please…" She stood and dropped the towel. "And I don't care if you lose control. Actually, I'd rather you did."
Dios!