Note: Since all the characters (except for Stephanie!) in this chapter would most likely be speaking Spanish to one another, I'm taking the liberty of not writing it in Spanish. Please understand there would be too much room for error and debate on how to say it and I'm not sure the character's meaning or actions would translate properly.

DANGEROUS MERGERS

Chapter Fifteen

"Hola?" Christ, Miguel thought, now what?

"Miguel."

"Padre." Shit, he's early, Miguel thought, and he still hadn't learned anything about the woman.

"You can call off your search now. I have Ricardo's wife."

Miguel felt his mouth run dry. He'd been shown up by a man almost three times his age: just one more humiliation to thank his cousin Ricardo for. "How?"

The old man's chuckle was not a pleasant sound. "Long ears and paying attention to details. A solid network. Determination." A tight sigh came over the phone. "All things I fear you have not developed." Unspoken were the words 'unlike your cousin', but in that small moment of silence, Miguel heard them loud and clear.

"Where are you?"

"The penthouse at the Hotel Melia Cohiba."

He should have known, Miguel thought. His father always traveled in style. "I can be in Havana in less than one hour."

Another humorless chuckle sounded. "No, hijo, you have done more than enough for one day. Tomorrow night, Senora Manoso and I will be heading back to Miami. Tonight, I must meet with some of my supporters. Word has reached me that Ricardo is on Cuban soil. I expect you to find him and observe his activities and learn what you can of his plans." Miguel closed his eyes and waited out his father's long pause. "Assuming that doesn't exceed your abilities?"

Miguel bit down an angry retort. "Not at all. You can count my success."

"Oh, I am, Miguel. Don't let me down, again. It's becoming…tiresome." The line disconnected, leaving Miguel seething. An ugly plan popped unbidden into his head. His dear father would be out tonight? Then Miguel would be paying a visit to his father's haven and show his father exactly what he was capable of and exact his revenge on both his cousin and his cousin's wife.

Miguel smiled the smile of a man well pleased with himself while he began to formulate the details of his revenge.

oOoOo

"Where is she? Where's my wife?" Exercising every last bit of control he possessed, Ranger spoke in a tight, low voice accented by the flash in his eyes.

The man on the floor looked at him, amazement in his eyes. "Is it truly you, our hero?"

Ranger turned to Abrahan. "Who is he? Is he one of ours?"

Abrahan nodded. "Sí, this is Manuel. The boy is Enrique Martinez, Emmanuel's son. The boy is the one who speaks English and the two of them have been helping Stephanie reach safety at Guantánamo."

Ranger sighed and crouched down to Manuel's level. "My name is Ricardo Carlos Manoso. Let me look at the boy." Ranger lifted the towel the man was using to cover the cut above Enrique's temple. "Abrahan, get Pedro here, now!"

Manuel leaned back a bit, allowing Ranger room to examine Enrique. "I've sent for a doctor, don't worry, he should be fine. I want the child checked out and his needs met." Ranger lifted Enrique from Manuel's arms and carried him to the couch. He laid the child down with a gentleness that somehow didn't fit with his tense, muscular body.

"The doctor is on his way," Abrahan reported.

Ranger nodded and turned back to Manuel, "Tell me what happened."

Manuel struggled to stand on his trembling legs and relayed what little he knew. He'd come back from buying food to find Enrique on the floor unconscious and Stephanie gone. "I am sorry I failed you. I will do whatever I can to help you find her."

The stiffness in Ranger's shoulders softened. More than anyone, he knew how hard it was to keep Stephanie safe, despite one's best efforts. This man, who didn't even know her, had already sacrificed a lot, as had the child. He would see that they were rewarded, one way or another, and that they were not subjected to further hardship.

"Thank you, Manuel, for all that you have done. Both you and the boy have done more than could be expected, and I am in your debt. We need to get Enrique examined, then see that the two of you return back home as quick as possible."

"No!" the small voice surprised them all. Enrique struggled to sit, but collapsed back against the couch. Abrahan settled his hand on the child's shoulder. "I will not leave until I know Babe is safe!"

Ranger regarded the small form: pale, eyes closed, but stubborn. He couldn't stop the deep chuckle that reverberated in his chest. He wasn't sure if it was due to his worry over Stephanie or hearing the small boy using the same endearment he called her. What he did recognize was the tone of the young boy's voice. It was one he'd used often enough himself when it came to trying to keep Stephanie safe.

"Son, you and I need to have a little talk about Babe when you're feeling better," Ranger said and turned his attention back to Manuel. "I apologize. Enrique is not a boy, he is a man, and I would be humbled to accept your help if you're still willing to give it."

"It would be my honor to fight with you." Manuel bowed his head.

A moment of uneasiness swept through Ranger, he wasn't a hero. He only wanted to help to stop this injustice. "Gracias."

Addressing Abrahan, Ranger asked him to question the staff once again. Someone had to have seen Stephanie leave and the person she had been with. There had to be someone who was brave enough to talk!

Ranger sat on the edge of the couch and smiled at Enrique. He fingered a lump of curly hair and nudged it off the child's forehead. "Relax, the doctor is on his way and he is a friend of mine." Ranger drew in a deep breath and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Everything in him wanted to run from the room and join Abrahan, but he knew they were close to finding Stephanie, he could feel it and he needed to maintain his cover as long as possible. He punched in Will's number to update him on the happenings so he could pass the information on to Leon.

Ranger sank into his zone. So many possibilities, so little time to narrow then down. His ruminations were interrupted by Enrique's small voice. "Señora Manoso was taken by someone claiming to be your uncle. He gave the name Julio Manoso."

Ranger shot a startled glance at Enrique. The kid was good. With a little training, this one would go far. At that moment, Ranger decided how to repay the young man for his help.

oOoOo

Stephanie paced back and forth across the large bedroom that acted as her cell. At least that's how she thought of it. She knew Julio believed her to be asleep. Her eyes slid in the direction of the large bed. The thought was tempting; after all, in sleep she could escape and hide from all that madness. She stopped pacing and narrowed her eyes in determination. No, not this time. Maybe she'd absorbed Ranger's penchant for planning via osmosis. Maybe being his wife had given her courage she hadn't known she possessed. Maybe it was the seriousness of the situation and others being willing to put their own lives on the line for her and what they believed. Maybe it was the image of Enrique's blood flowing onto the carpet.

Whatever it was, Stephanie realized that she was making plans, unlike in the past she would have given up and hoped for the best. She had smashed her ear so hard against the door when she heard Julio talking on the phone that she had a headache, but she'd managed to learn a couple of things by picking out certain words: she'd learned that Julio was going to leave sometime tonight and that his opinion of her was 'an arrogant American woman'. She'd prove him wrong on that point, somehow. The other thing she'd learned hadn't been said with words, but with a sigh. It was the same sigh her mother emitted when she was disappointed in her. Julio thought his son was incompetent. She knew he'd arrange for someone to watch her while he was gone. She could only hope that whoever her babysitter was, wasn't all that smart.

She rubbed her hand across the pillow covering her abdomen and smiled. What man wouldn't panic at the sight of a pregnant woman going into premature labor? Rolling her eyes, she almost laughed. Most men were helpless morons in the face of 'female' problems. She had to do this right because if this didn't work, she was screwed.

The bedroom door opened while she was rubbing the baby bump and she came face-to-face with Julio. Noticing her gesture, he frowned. "Are you all right?" Stephanie smiled to herself. Good, the shark had taken the bait.

She gave him a tremulous smile. "Yeah, just a twinge." But she made sure the rubbing didn't stop, adding in a wince for good measure.

Julio's frown deepened and he took a step back. "Just how far along are you?"

"Just starting my eighth month." She smiled. "I can't wait for this to be over." And I don't mean the 'pregnancy' either, she added to herself.

"Then you'll be relieved to know that we'll be leaving for Miami tomorrow night."

Stephanie frowned. "Miami? Why Miami? I'd much rather go home to Trenton, and I really want to get in touch with my husband. He must be frantic by now."

"Unfortunately, he seems to be out of reach. I have tried to contact him without success."

Stephanie made her entire face crumble, tears flowing from her eyes. "Oh my God, what if he didn't survive the explosion?" Just the thought of that brought real tears. "What am I going to do?" Pointing to her stomach, she wailed, "What are we going to do?"

"Ricardo was seen two days ago in Miami. That's why I've decided to accompany you there despite the personal danger I myself might encounter. I would assume he's doing whatever he can think of to find you."

"Are you sure? You're not just saying that to make me feel better?" The man was such a snake she could see his scales.

"I assure you that I speak the truth." Oh yeah, she thought, I bet you're the epitome of honesty. "It will be easier for Ricardo to find you in Miami. He would never forgive me if I failed to take care of his wife in his absence." Julio could think of several ways he'd like to take care of Stephanie and none of them involved his nephew.

Stephanie forced the image of throwing up on him into the back of her mind. "Odd he never mentioned you. I wonder why?"

Julio shook his head sadly. "Ricardo is a strange man, one I cannot understand. Even as a boy, he was secretive." Julio shrugged his shoulders in a classic Latin gesture. "We will both have to ask him that question, no?"

Oh yeah, he's got a lot of explaining to do, she thought, but not until Julio paid for the evil he had done to Enrique.

oOoOo

Miguel checked his watch. He was sitting across the street from the hotel in a coffee shop, the same place he'd been in for over two hours. An hour ago, he'd seen one of his father's goons enter the hotel. Twenty minutes later, he'd watched his father emerge from the hotel's front entrance and step into a waiting car. The desire for revenge was burning hot in his stomach and he wouldn't be able to wait much longer. Twenty more minutes and then he'd make his move.