I do not own JE's characters. Anything you recognize is not mine.

Thanks for reading and for all of your reviews. I have Frank and Vinnie in this chapter. The wedding is next.

Frank POV

I sat back and relaxed on the recliner while I puffed my cigar. I had not had any charges pressed against me. There was not even a restraining order. Now there was hardly any gossip because everyone is talking about Valerie's second divorce that was all her fault for cheating on her husband.

That Alphonso was really an alright guy. It's a damned shame he is leaving the family now. Since he got himself together, he turned into someone I could enjoy a game with. He told me he was all messed up and he was tired of his life so he made some changes and he suggested I do the same. He said if I used to be an Army Ranger, then why was I letting Helen be in charge of my life.

I took a good look at my life and I did not like what I found. Stephanie told me in her letter to me when she left that she thought I should have stuck up for her, but that she had forgiven me. I knew she would not forget. She said that I had to live with Helen and that was all the punishment I deserved. She did say that if I ever found my balls again, I should live my life for me, not the shrew I was married to and I should watch out for Mary Alice and Angie.

I contacted Ranger and he said he did not know where Stephanie was but he could pass on a message through a friend. I gave him all the documents my Pumpkin used to ruin Helen's image all over town. It did not bother me.

Everything she said in that interview was true. I did not care that she was adopted. I still provided for her just as much as I did for Valerie. I did not know about Valerie being a Morelli, but I was not really mad. I started working out and getting my papers together. It was like I was just going with the flow for so long, but finally I have stopped. I may have lost both of my daughters, but I would be there for my granddaughters.

I am not usually a violent man. The reason I hit Helen is because she has been drunk for the past 15 years and I felt like it was just one 'why me' too much. I had already planned to leave her. My important papers had all been moved to a safe deposit box along with all the pictures that Edna packed. She told me she was going to AC, but she was not coming back. She said if I was smart, then I would not come back, either. She was really funny. The more Helen acted like a prude, the wilder Edna became. I only complained because there are some things you don't want to know about your mother in law.

Now I am sitting in the guest house at Joe Juniak's estate relaxing. Helen told me to stay away from her for a week and that she was staying with Valerie. That was perfectly fine with me. I do not want to see her anymore. She changed so much from when we first met. Did I ever really know her?

I told her that I was handling the paperwork for the house and she said she would do the arrangements for the car. I would split the insurance check from the house 65/35 and she would get served the divorce papers at the same time.

Thanks to good advice I received years ago, I kept a separate account that she does not know about. I am moving in here with my buddy and I will continue to drive my cab. Helen won't want to be seen around town because of the gossip. I cannot wait to see the papers in the next few days. If Ranger is smart, he will find Pumpkin and marry her. She deserves to be happy.

Vinnie POV

I sat in the chair hold my hands in my lap. I was scared shitless of what would happen to me. The events of last night and today were all anyone would talk about and I am just thankful that Lucille and I were at the Rangers' game. She loves hockey and she nagged me until I said I would go with her. Now I am glad she made me go. I did not enjoy the game, but the food in the box was great.

When we got up this morning, Lucille was getting all kinds of calls, and then she told me the bonds office burned down, and my car blew up. I don't understand why someone is out to get me, but I remember what Harry told me when I married Lucille. He said I had to support her or else.

Lucille was getting updates all day of what happened around town. We were not the only fire or the only cars that got torched. Plus, that whole drama with Aunt Helen and Uncle Frank! Wow. I knew Valerie was not Uncle Frank's. She did not look like him. She was such a stuck up phony bitch. I definitely liked Steph more. Everyone that had an accident last night had done Steph wrong. They did. I never did her wrong because if Harry or Uncle Frank didn't kill me, then Ranger would. She was adopted? Wow.

"Vincent, do you know why I have called you here today?" Damn he is a scary mofo. I try to come up with a reason. I got nothing. I decide to bluff.

"Yes, you wanted me here because of the fire at the bonds office, Harry." I tell him and I swallow painfully over the lump in my throat. He hands me some papers. "Vincent, when you told me of your accounting irregularities, I at first thought you were making excuses for being a poor provider. I had the books audited and found embezzlement."

I sit there in shock. I was making excuses, but I still did not know why the books were messed up. We had a pretty good solve rate when Steph was working there and Ranger and his guys were doing the other cases. I look at Harry. Embezzlement?

"Your worker Constance Rizzoli stole $2.5M over the past three years. I referred the case to the FBI because we are a bonds business and that is regulated. It means the wages and taxes of all of you were wrong for the past three years. I worked with Manoso on this and Constance has been arrested." Geez.

"You will sign those papers stating that you had no idea about the stealing and you will not go to jail. You will also not pursue the person or persons responsible for burning down the building. You will work with Sebring from now on. I am now a partner in his business. You may not hire that Lula woman. Do you hear me, Vincent?" I nod very fast and sign those papers. Wow. Connie was a thieving bitch! I only hired Lula because Steph saved her life and asked me to do so. She did not really do much work and she was a liability.

He is not through with me. "Vincent, the next time Lucille wants to go out, you will not complain. You will say yes on the first try. You almost missed your alibi." Alibi? What? Sure, whatever he says. I have a new job and I will not be punished. So he knew who burned the business down?

"One last thing, Vincent." I was standing up, but I froze in place.

"I am watching you and there will be no ducks, no skanks, and no eavesdropping on others. You will behave or you will die. Do you feel me?" I smiled and sweated, but I nodded while I was sweating.

"Yes sir." I can definitely go straight. This is like an eye opening experience. I could be on the news, in the newspaper, or the topic of the town gossip right now. I will be a better husband.

"Stephanie says thank you and that she will let Ranger get you the next time you step out of line. You should have made those girls stop talking about her a long time ago. She was your family, Vincent." He is right. I nod and turn to leave. Lucille wants to go play mini golf.