This is just a little short about what Ranger was doing the night of the auction and how some of his decisions came to be. Hope you enjoy! The next chapter is almost written, so it should be out soon!

Not mine.


Ranger's POV

"Shit." I said, looking at my watch. There was no way that this was going to work. The auction was tonight and I was never going to make it. The last place I wanted to be was right here, sitting on a small hill waiting for a skip to show.

"Something wrong, Captain?" Private Green asked me. We were watching a house, waiting for the enemy to show. I shook my head. He smiled.

"Missing your woman?" He asked.

I glared at him. "Shouldn't you be watching the line?"

We were silent for a minute.

"What's her name?"

I looked at him. Sighing, "Stephanie. Her name is Stephanie."

"She hot?"

This time I glared.

"Oh, she must be to get that look." He chuckled.

When did I become less menacing?

"I've been with mine for two years. Best woman I could ask for." He handed me a picture of a beautiful blonde.

"Pretty." I said. I handed the picture back

"I'm going to ask her to marry me when we get back."

I was shocked. Not many men in this line get married. "Congrats."

We were quiet again before he started asking questions again.

"How long have you two been together?"

"There's our man." I said. We jumped into action.

A few hours later, we were on our way to DC with our man. I pulled out my cell and dialed.

"Yo," Tank said.

"Report." I barked.

"Everything is set up for tomorrow. Are you going to make it?"

"I don't think so."

"I'll talk to Juniak for you."

"Does she know what's going on?"

I could hear the smile in his voice. "She doesn't have a clue."

"Good. Keep it that way."

Stephanie. My babe. She had been on my mind ever since I left on the mission. I was glad that this was my last one because I didn't think I could spend one more day without her being mine. She broke up with the cop right before I left and I knew that this was my chance. However, the army had more plans for me.

I thought about Green and his woman. He was already thinking marriage. I had always been about the job until I met Stephanie. She changed everything. Usually I kept people at arms length, but no matter how hard I tried, she ended up in my arms. I don't know how she did it, but she changed my life. She changed it so much that I would think about marriage and having children with her. God, she'd be so beautiful carrying our child…or children. However many she wanted was enough for me. None, one, a million…whatever. I wanted to make her happy.

When we finally made it back, I was hoping to get started and get back to her soon.

No such luck.

"Captain Manoso, we'll start the debrief tomorrow." Agent Brown said when we made it back. "We'll escort you to the hotel."

Nodding, I followed the agents to the car. When we got in, I felt my phone buzz.

It was a picture message from Lester.

A picture of Stephanie.

Christ. She looks amazing. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places.

"We'll get you in the morning." One of the agents said when they dropped us off. We went to our rooms and waited.

There was a gift from Tank on the bed. So you can hear what's going on. Juniak has a line set up for you to call, the note said. Being one of the biggest supporter of Juniak and the police force has its perks. I pulled out the earpiece and put it in. I called Tank.

"Hear everything okay?"

"All clear." We hung up.

Joe started bidding and my fist clenched. Damn him, he was not going to get another chance. Another man made his bid and then Joe made another.

"Eight hundred." I heard Diesel say. I set Tank a text: Get Diesel out of there.

Woody upped the bid and I called mine in.

"Eleven hundred!" Lester called. What the hell? My fists clenched again. I called another bid.

"Twenty-six." Lester said. I texted Tank: If you want to keep your balls, stop. I called in another one.

I got a text from Tank: You got her.

If I was a kind of man that dance, I would right now. I was finally going to get my chance. Now I just had to get out of DC. I placed another call.

"Mark? I'm going to need your help."