I had 2 pages of ch. 24 written and my son closed my laptop down & didn't save it so I had to start over. I'm really bummed about it but I'll try my best to make it quality work.
As McKenzie went to clean her room, the rest of us sat down at the dining room table where Mac had coffee and sweet rolls and fruit for us. Yummy!
"So Carlos you gave us the cliff notes of what is going on, but we really need you to fill in the gaps so we can get started on your case" Mac said as she filled everyone's coffee cups.
Harm had a legal pad and was jotting things down as Carlos began.
"About 6 months ago I let my handler, Randolph, know that I wouldn't be renewing my contract with them and he tried to talk me out of it. I told him no and thought it was a done deal, then about 3 weeks ago I got a call from him out of the blue asking me to come to DC to discuss some things. When I got there he started in on me about renewing my contract. I told him I was not going to renew but I offered to train people to take over for me. He got really ugly with me and started trying to intimidate me. He gave me all the 'you owe it to your country for training you and making you the man you are' bullshit as well as trying to guilt me with 'it's your Patriotic duty to continue to serve until all of your fellow soldiers are home from the Desert'. That really pissed me off and I told him that I had done my Patriotic duty and then some and I had almost lost the love of my life due to my commitment to the government and that I wasn't about to lose her just to go off and do the government's dirty work. He threatened to have me sent on 1 last mission overseas saying that by the time I got back the love of my life would have moved on so there would be no reason not to resign. I then reminded him that I had already fulfilled my overseas obligations and would finish out the last 3 weeks of my contract stateside. He was fuming by then but I told him we were thru and walked out. I guess I should have realized he knew who Step was and would try something but I was so pissed I just wanted to leave without killing him" Carlos said as he squeezed my hand he had been holding the entire time.
"According to the documents I had sent over, you contract expired last Thursday so there is nothing they can legally do to you, however as you know they can try and make your life miserable for awhile" Harm said while shuffling thru some legal documents.
"We're gonna call in a couple of favors in DC and find out exactly what Randolph has up his sleeve" Mac said while picking up the phone.
"Hey Bud its Mac. Yeah everything's fine. Yes he's good. Yep they're good. How are Harriet and the kids? Tell her I'll call her soon so we can catch up. No that wasn't what I called about. We have a friend, a retired Army Coronel who is having some issues getting the government to understand that he does not want to renew his special ops contract. I need you to get me some Intel on a handler for special ops named Randolph. I want personal details too such as his marital status, kids, bank records, the works. He's harassing the Coronel's fiancé and we want some ammo to use against him. That's fine Bud, just email it when you get it. Yes that's who it is…LOL….yes I'll tell him. Thanks Bud, bye now.
Mac hung up the phone with a smile and looked over at Carlos and said "Bud says it's about time you got your head out of your Six and married the girl."
Harm started laughing as Carlos glared at him and said "at least it didn't take me 10 years to pull the trigger." Mac laughed loudly while Harm turned red and I just watched them all. I knew there was a story here and I'd love to hear it.
"While we're waiting on Bud to get back to us with the Intel, how about we go over what happened last night at the club" Mac said as she refilled our cups.
"We're not sure what happened at the club because we were at home all night. Our flight didn't get in til about 7pm and we stopped by to see Julie then went straight to the house. The first we knew of any issues from last night was this morning on our way into Rangeman. Lester called and told us what was going on. We called our corporate lawyer and had him file paperwork against Nikki for slander and the guy impersonating me was arrested for identity theft because he was stupid enough to have an id on him claiming to be me. I also had them file for a restraining order for both Steph and I" Carlos growled and squeezed my hand.
I laid my other hand on his arm and felt him relax.
"Don't worry Carlos we will make the paper retract their story and if we can tie Ms. Estrada to Randolph somehow then they will all go down together. What did you do to this woman to piss her off so bad?" Mac asked with a slight grin.
"I turned her down, several times. Plus I know the guys from Trenton made a couple of comments about how she was no Stephanie when it came to distractions and they sure wished Steph was there to do the job. That might have made her mad. I'd still like to know if she really is pregnant or if she was just using an insert. If she is pregnant then I want DNA testing done to prove I am not the father. I know it and Steph knows it but I want proof for the rest of the world" he said smacking his fist on the table to emphasize how mad he was.
I hugged his arm and whispered in his ear "relax Baby you and I know the truth and that is all that matters. I'm sure it won't be the last time some skank tries something like this. Just remember I love you with all my heart, my body and my soul and no one will ever come between us. You are stuck with me for life" I said the last part with a laugh.
"Love you too Babe. I'm not sure what I did to deserve you but I do thank God daily for bringing you into my life" he told me as he caressed my face. I felt tears spring up in my eyes and blinked them away as he laid a gentle, loving kiss on me.
"Ok you 2 we don't have time for that, we have work to do" Harm said with a smirk. I gave him a one finger salute that had both Mac and Carlos laughing at the shocked look on his face.
"Sorry I'm used to messing with the guys at the office. They are used to my finger waves and 1-finger salutes" I told him as I felt myself blush.
"Good job Babe" Carlos told me with a grin.
Just then Mac's computer dinged letting her know she had an incoming email. I watched her read thru it and saw her face light up. This ought to be good.
"Bingo baby! We hit pay dirt here kids. It seems that one Nikki Estrada is the niece of one Howard Randolph, government handler for Special Ops. It seems that she was sent to Miami to infiltrate Rangeman in hopes that she could get close to Carlos and separate him from Stephanie. Carlos do you have an employee by the name of Gil Stevens at any of your offices?" Mac asked as she was reading.
"Yes he works in our Atlanta office, but he's been off on 3 month suspension, why?" Carlos asked.
"Because Ms. Estrada is actually Mrs. Stephens and her husband is not very happy with you or your company. He has tried to file a wrongful suspension suit against you in Atlanta and Miami but no judge will grant him a hearing" Mac told him.
"I am waiting for the criminal case to be heard before I terminate him. I don't want to give him any ammo for a wrongful terminations suit. Something tells me I may have more grounds for dismissal after this is all over" Carlos said with a frown.
"You are correct Carlos. It looks like Mr. and Mrs. Stephens had decided to try to blackmail you with her pregnancy and the look-a-like. It seems she spilled her guts once they served her papers this morning. She said the guy came to her and asked her to pose with him to stir up trouble for you with your girlfriend. Turns out he's a Spook" Mac said with a frown.
"Should have known, damn Spooks are nothing but trouble" Harm said with a snarl.
I looked at all of them with shock on my face. I'd never heard such blatant racism in my life. Carlos noticed my face and looked puzzled for a minute before smiling at me.
"Babe Spook is a nickname for a CIA operative, it's not a racial slur" he told me with a grin.
I blushed and bowed my head and said "sorry I didn't know."
"Oh Steph its ok. You had no way of knowing. We have all dealt with a slimy CIA operative in the past and so we're not real fond of that branch of the government" Mac explained with a smile.
"Sounds like an interesting, you'll have to tell me about it sometime" I told her with a small smile.
"Yeah sometime when we're bored I'll tell you about the jackass we all had dealings with in the CIA" Mac said with venom.
Damn I didn't want this woman mad at me! Harm had been quiet while Mac was telling us about Nikki and her husband trying to blackmail Carlos but he had a thoughtful expression on his face as he looked at Mac and said "honey how would you like to get dressed up and go out to a club tonight" with a grin on his face.
"Well dear as much as I'd love to go dancing with my sexy Flyboy, that look on your face tells me that you are up to something" she said with a loving smile towards Harm.
"Well I know how much you love Spooks so I thought we'd go hunting for some tonight. I know our Ranger look-a-like isn't the only one in town. I figure maybe we can spot some others" he said with a shit eating grin on his face.
He turned to Carlos and me and said "how about you 2, are you up for some Spook hunting tonight?"
My sexy soldier looked over at me and raised an eyebrow. I grinned and said "of course any excuse to get dressed up and get close to my man I'm up for."
"Great so I think we need to get the word out that the real Carlos Manoso and his lovely fiancé will be out and about this evening" Mac said with a sly gleam in her eye.
"I think we need Lester, Tank and the rest of the Merry Men with us Carlos. I will feel much safer" I told him as I thought about what might take place this evening.
"Sure Babe, I'll take care of it. You need to concentrate on your afternoon plans to find a dress" he said kissing my temple.
"I just want this to be over with. I'm sick and tired of people screwing with us and our happiness. First Joe and my mom, then the stalkers I've had and now the freakin US Government is screwing with me and I AM NOT HAPPY" I shouted. I caught my breath and looked around. Harm looked shocked, Mac looked amused and Carlos looked equally amused and turned on. Damn man just looking at him made me ruin another pair of panties.
He must have read the look on my face because he pulled me into a hug and whispered "Babe go in the bathroom and take your panties off for me. I know they're wet and have to be uncomfortable for you as well."
Holy Hot Flash Batman! I pulled back and leaned up to kiss him hotly. Hearing McKenzie singing as she came into the room pulled Carlos and I out of our lust induced haze. Harm cleared his throat to get out attention as McKenzie came into the room.
"What was that loud shouting? Did something bad happen? It sounded like Aunt Steph was hollering" she asked while looking around at the adults in the room.
I got red faced and looked down as Mac said "everything is fine Princess. Aunt Steph was upset but she's ok. Did you get your toys picked up so we can go dress shopping later" Mac asked her while pulling her up on her lap.
"Yes mommy I got all my toys picked up and I picked up my dirty clothes and put my shoes in the closet too" she said in a proud voice.
"What a good girl you are Princess. Would you like to help me get some snacks and drinks for everybody" Mac asked as she stood up.
"Oh yes mommy let's bring in some of the chocolate chip muffins Daddy made last night" she said while rubbing her tummy and licking her lips.
We all laughed as her and Mac headed for the kitchen to get us a snack. I asked Harm where the bathroom was and he pointed down the hall.
A/N Sorry for stopping there but I need to get this chapter posted and my muse is on vacation. My dad had the upper lobe of his right lung removed Thursday due to cancer and so I am at the hospital with him and he's having a bad reaction to the pain meds. He's very agitated and incoherent and doesn't know where he's at right now. I'm not pleased with this chapter but I am posting it anyway. I know where I want to take this story I just feel I may get a little too bogged down with the details I mean it did take them 18 chapters to get from Trenton to Miami….LOL…thanks, Lauri