Here's the last installment from Ranger's perspective (unless enough of you want me to continue, which in that case, I will! I live to please!). Enjoy! I didn't really edit it, so sorry if it's unreadable! Let me know what you think!
Not mine.
"Hey Bossman." Lester said as I joined him on the elevator. Mark and I had finished preliminary plans earlier that morning and he was on his way to set things up.
"Lester." I replied with a nod.
"How was the mission?"
"Successful."
He nodded. "Bombshell has been working here part time."
I nodded. "She here now?"
"No, I think her and Lula are out catching skips."
"Good. I want a meeting with the core team in ten."
The doors opened. "You got it, boss." Lester took off to find Tank and Bobby.
I continued to my office and groaned at all the paperwork. I was gone for a week and all this work piled up? I knew that Tank hated paperwork, but this was just sad.
"Heard you were back." Tank said from the doorway. "You can always tell when Ranger's back. Everyone hides under their desk."
"Thanks for the welcome home present." I shot back.
He chuckled and sat down in the chair. "Lester said you're calling a meeting."
I grunted, not looking up from the paperwork.
"Is is about Stephanie?"
I looked up. "Can't wait eight more minutes?"
"Nope." A big grin split on the man's face and I wanted to smack it off. "About time, man. I was wondering how long you were going to pine after her."
"I. Was. Not. Pining." I said through gritted teeth.
"Please." He rolled his eyes in a gesture worthy of approval from Stephanie. "You can't deny that this whole office has changed since she came into your life."
I wasn't going to deny it because it was true. In some small way, she has changed every one of the men's lives. Made us more of a family.
"That's not why I came here." Tank said.
I raised an eyebrow at him.
"You have a visitor."
"Who?"
"Joe Morelli."
The cop? Why did he want to see me? "Send him in." I said, trying to keep the shock from my voice.
Tank nodded once and went to get Joe. I stood as Joe entered the room.
"Please, have a seat." I said to him. He nodded and sat down.
We stared silently at each other for a moment.
"You're probably wondering what I'm doing here." He said. I nodded waiting for him to continue.
"It's about Stephanie."
I stopped breathing. Was she dead? Hurt? Pregnant? Engaged? I kept my blank face on and waited for him to continue.
"You win."
What?
He went on. "Stephanie has feelings for you. I won't deny that. I also think that they are stronger than she lets on. I can see that you also share her feelings. I also love Stephanie, but I've come to realize that I don't love her in the way that you can. She's an independent person, and I realize that now. And whatever we do, we won't work.
"You can take care of her in ways that I never could. You love her in the way I wish I could. That's why I know that you're going to take great care of her."
I knitted my brows together. "I don't understand."
"It means I'm calling a cease fire. No more fighting over Stephanie. Don't screw it up, because if she comes back to me, I swear to God, I won't let go again."
"You're letting her go?"
"Yeah. I want her to be happy and apparently that's not with me."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Joe nodded his head once and got up to leave.
"Wait." I called.
He turned around.
"Why now?"
"I know that it was you that outbid everyone and I think she knows it too. In that moment where she thought it was you, she looked happier than all the years she was with me." He left then.
I couldn't believe it. The thought of me made her happy? I wanted to ponder that thought some more, but it was time for the meeting.
I let the guys in on the big plan and I'd never seen them smile so much.
"Finally." Bobby said. "We're so glad that you finally came to your senses."
"Better late than never." Came from Tank.
Lester stayed quiet and smiled. "What do you want me to do?" He asked.
"Okay, this is what I need you guys to do." I started. And we all got to work.
We arrived back at the house as Mark was pulling up.
"Nice timing, man." Lester said.
Mark smiled. He turned to me. "I got everything set up. Now we just need to work out some minor details."
"Let's get to work." I said.
We sat around the table. Lester came up with the idea that Mark would pose a secretary of sorts, but would also be her bodyguard. He knew how to protect her and himself, which is why I hired him. We also agreed that I should stay out of the way and pretend to be in the wind. It was going to drive me insane, not to be around her, but I knew it would be better in the end. The smile on her face when she found out it was me would be worth it. She deserved the spa day and the shopping and the roses. She deserves everything and anything that her heart desired. And I was willing to give it to her.
"Do you think you guys can keep it under wraps?" I asked. They nodded.
"Your mom is going to be so happy that you're finally going after her." Lester said.
I mentally rolled my eyes. My mother just wanted me to give her more grandchildren. That's where her mother and mine wanted the same thing. They both wanted more grandchildren, but my mother wanted me to be happy, not just married, like Stephanie's mom. But if she wanted to get married, then I'd get her a ring. That got me thinking.
"Are you guys okay here?" I asked.
"Sure," Mark said.
"Good." I got up and grabbed my keys.
"Where are you going?" Tank asked.
"Tiffany's."
They looked at each other and smiled. I jogged out to the car. The Turbo was flying low today.
"Can I help you?" A blonde woman asked me.
I smiled. "I need to look at engagement rings."
Her smiled faltered a little, but she kept her composure. "Follow me."
I looked in the case until I saw it. The ring. Her ring. It was screaming Stephanie from the way it was simple and tasteful, yet complex. Kind of like our entire relationship.
"That one." I said to the woman without taking my eyes off of it.
It was perfect for her.
