Chapter 34
"Can I help you!" Stephanie said with a frown.
"I can help you." The lady said with a nasty smile. "You can give us that little rat you are hiding or we will bring that building down brick by brick."
Stephanie sat back startled for a moment. If she looked afraid they would take that fear and run with it. So, she decide to channel the guys and went for sarcastic indifference.
Stephanie smiled back at her, "I would sure love to see you try but that building is pretty special."
The lady narrowed her eyes, "And we will start taking out every man that comes out of the building... one by one. My boss wants something that little rat has."
Stephanie narrowed her eyes back at her, "What makes you think I won't just stop you now? See this room, it's full of cops that know me and trust me. So, if I tell them to hold you they will." Stephanie sat back in her chair, "Plus that LITTLE RAT." She said with a sneer, "Doesn't have your chip, the police have it in their evidence room." She watched the surprise go over the woman's face, "Yes I know all about what you want."
Stephanie leaned forward in her chair, "You don't scare me and you won't scare anyone in that building. They can and will find you and destroy you and your boss." Stephanie looked over the lady's shoulder to see Lester coming out of the bathroom and frowning at her. She watched as the lady slid out of the booth and look down and say, "This isn't over."
Stephanie stood in her booth, "Your right, because we are coming for you." Her look nasty.
She watched the lady walk out the door as Lester walked up.
"Who was that?" He asked looking at her face.
Stephanie's bravery and anger melted away to leave her slightly shaken. "Timmy's boss's girlfriend." She looked at him with large eyes, "Threatening you... all of you." She mumbled with a shaky breath.
Lester looked at her then to the door trying to decide to stay or go after the lady. His decision was made when Stephanie reached out and grabbed his arm, her face pale.
"Lester, I think I messed up." She said with a whisper, "I told her to fuck off when she said she was going to come after us. That we weren't scared of her."
Lester gave her a grin, "We are not scared beautiful." He said giving her a hug.
"I am." she whispered back while holding him tight. "What if one of you gets hurt... or worse."
He tightened his hold on her, "I can promise we have come across worse them... plus, we are on the hunt for them now. That can't hide much longer." He pulled back to look at her face. "Come on we have to tell Ranger and the guys about this."
Stephanie's eyes got large when she fully realized what just happened. "Fuck he is never going to let me out of the building now."
Lester snorted, "At least you will live, I am going to die for leaving you alone."
Stephanie shook her head, "I will protect you."
Lester gave a full belly laugh, "I don't think you can... no one can." He said with a grimace at the end.
She gave him a grin. "Your probably right." She patted him on the back, "Just stay behind me when we get there."
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"Why the fuck was she left alone?" Ranger growled.
Stephanie watched as Lester flinched and shifted back and forth on his feet, "I had to pee." He mumbled.
Rangers eyes narrowed to the point they looked like they were going to close, "You what?" He said dangerously low.
At this point Stephanie took a step forward and put her hand on Rangers chest. "Hay now, look at me." When he didn't listen, she put her hands on his face to make him. She could feel the anger rolling off of him. But she also knew that it was mostly fear…. Fear that she could have been hurt.
"He had to pee and he waited all morning at every stop until it was safe for him to go." She said softly.
"Safe?" He questioned. Ranger raised an eyebrow, "Yet that was the place they got to you."
Stephanie raised her eyebrows, "Yes in a room full of cops... I was never in danger. I only let her go so she could go tell her boss what happened. I figured you could use that to your advantage.
Ranger clenched his jaw, "I never should have let you out. I should have made you stay in."
Stephanie took a step back and narrowed her eyes, "You didn't let me out. Just like you can't keep me in…. Sweetheart." She growled hands on hips.
"Now if you are done being crazy, it's my turn to freak out because I basically threw you all to the wolves and double dog dared them to hurt you." She finished the last word with a small hitch in her voice, "So now if anything happens to any of you it will be my fault... shit all of this is my fault."
Ranger took a breath to calm down after seeing her begin to freak out, "Babe you did fine, better then fine. You got information that they are following us around already and you didn't let them see that they intimidate us... because they don't. It will make them re-think their plan." He ran his hands up and down her arms. "I am so proud of you Babe. Even if it was all talk." He pulled her to sit on the chair at the table as Bobby, Tank and Hector came in to sit down.
"Now can you tell us what happened again?" He said sitting down next to her.
She gave him a small smile, "Only if you promise to leave Lester alone ... it was not his fault in anyway. Even you have to pee sometimes Batman."
Ranger raised an eyebrow at her assertiveness. "Fine on the condition that until this is finished you take two men IF you have to go out." He stressed the if. "That way when one has to be human and pee you still have someone. … Or better yet you just stay inside."
She snorted, "Two men it is then... nice try and I am impressed with the options."
Ranger raised an eyebrow, "I knew there was no way you would just listen to me so I gave you an option. I still prefer the second option."
She gave him a grin, "How about I stay in more often. And when I do need to go out I will take 2 men."
Ranger closed his eyes and leaned over to her, "You will be the reason I die... I am going to have a panic attack or a heart attack. I can see it happening." He whispered into her ear when brushed a kiss across her cheek. "Now what happened exactly." He said loud enough for the men to hear around the table.
Stephanie told them the conversation word for word, not leaving anything out. When she finished she looked around, "I am So sorry, now they are going to come after you guys."
Tank looked at her and said, "Naaa little girl, you did good. Told them to fuck off, without saying fuck off ...almost what we would have said."
Stephanie raised an eyebrow, "Almost?" She questioned.
He gave her a grin, "We would have just told them to fuck off." She smiled back at him.
Lester leaned over to talk to Hector in Spanish. After a moment Lester nodded and turned back to the table, "Hector has an ideal to flush them out. Stephanie said that they were already watching us right. So, let's lead them to where we want them to be, when we want them to be there."
Ranger gave a nod, "That could work."
"We don't have anyone close to Timmy's size in the building but I know a guy close. We can make it look like they worried us and we are taking Timmy to a safe house. Let them follow us with him and then capture them in a surprise ambush." Bobby said.
Tank gave a nod. "Send out Ram, Hal, Cal and Binkie waiting for us there hidden. Have the fake Timmy leave the building with us in a big show. They will think they are ambushing us, when we will be ambushing them."
Ranger gave a nod, "Set it up, but I want you to stay here with Stephanie, Bobby. I don't want her left alone."
Stephanie finally sat up, "No!"
They all turned to look at her, "If someone gets hurt, you need Bobby there. I will stay on 7 and not move, I swear it. You need everyone there watching each other's backs." She said in a rush. "I swear I will not sneak out or try anything."
Ranger gave her a small smile, "It is more than that Babe. In the off chance that they get into the building I don't want you alone."
Stephanie shook her head, "The building won't be empty." She argued.
Tank looked over at her, "But all of the core team as well and all of the secondary team will be gone. We trust the other men but know that they don't value you the way that we do."
Stephanie shook her head again, "You all go or I go with you guys. I will not let you leave man power here to protect me in a secure building when you are going into an ambush!" She finished with her arms crossed.
Hector held up a hand and spoke rapid Spanish to Ranger who gave a small nod, he turned to look at Stephanie. "Looks like Hector came up with a compromise."
Stephanie raised her eyebrows and waited.
Her stubbornness made Ranger give her a small smile, "His hardware room locks from the inside and the door is a panel that is hidden unless you know it's there. He said you can stay in there while we go. It's basically a safe room with a bathroom, small fridge with food and water and all the systems for it are separate."
Stephanie nodded in agreement, "I will go in before you leave and won't come out until you come back. As long as all of you go."
The men gave her a grin, "You are a bossy thing." Lester said, "So let's plan how this is going to work."
Ranger looked at his watch, "We will do this at 20:00 hours. That should give us enough time to set up everything and let the police know."
Stephanie looked around with started eyes, "Wait tonight? So soon?" She said in a panic.
Ranger looked at her, "We want them to think that made us worry and running to hide in a panic. It has to be tonight."
Stephanie nodded and looked around her, these men were her family and she was terrified of losing them. "Ok, what do we need to do?" She asked determined to help them in any and every way.
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Stephanie could feel the panic as she watched the men that were going in the convoy began to dress. As each one pulled on their Kevlar vest and strapped on guns and knives she remembered the same feeling a few hours ago when the other men left one at a time. Only their gear was in their trunk and they looked like they were getting off work. They had left to lose any followers and go ahead to the spot and get set up.
First Bobby with medical supplies and smiles, "Making me miss my date on Wednesday." he said with a grin. "Want to tell me why you have to see her again so soon."
She decided to throw him a bone, "You might get to be an uncle sooner. My levels came back really high, too high for a 3/4-week pregnancy." She said with a small smile, "So hurry back so you can take me."
She gave him a hug, "Plus I figured out how I am going to tell Ranger. So, I need to run to the store tomorrow."
Bobby raised an eyebrow, "I never agreed to shopping."
Stephanie gave him a grin and a kiss before he got on the elevator, "To bad, I volunt-told you. So, come back safe."
He gave her one of her smart-ass salutes, "Yes ma'am." He said as the doors slid closed.
She gave Hal, Ram and Binkie the same kiss and good luck speeches as they left one by one. In street clothes and personal cars.
However, when it was decided that Hector would need to go early she started to panic. She watched as he put equipment into his bags.
"OK, I change my mind. I will stay here if you stay here." She said eyes watering. Her hormones are really starting to fuck with her.
Hector looked over at her with a grin, "Are you going to say that to all the men or just me?"
He asked.
"All of them." She said quickly, "I change my mind. This is entirely too dangerous."
Hector walked over to her and pulled her in for a hug. "Mi Chica…. Hermosa. I am going ahead of time, because I'm going to scout the area and set up surveillance and get everything ready. We've done this a million times. And everything is on our terms. We are safe, I promise." He said gently.
"Are you sure?" She whispered. "Because I can't lose you, any of you." Her panic coming forward.
"The only thing that has me worried…... is you." He said with a grin, "So swear to me that once you go in this room, you won't leave it until we tell you too. Then I won't worry about you and I can just worry about what's going on."
Stephanie nodded her head yes, "I swear I won't leave it, plus I'll keep the communication device on me the whole time. So anytime you want to hear my voice just talk to me. Plus, then I can hear what's going on with you."
Hector gave her one last hug and showed her the room one more time. Making sure she could lock it and stay safe. Then he turned and got on the elevator, "See you tonight Hermana." He said with a smile.
She waved as the door closed.
Now hours later she watched as the new guy that resembled Timmy pull on a jacket and a low hat to hide his face. As Hal, Lester and Tank pulled on gear, as well as a few others she didn't know her panic began to creep back up.
The other men had been at the fake safe house for hours, setting up traps and surveillance. The plan was to make a big show of three black SUVs pulling up here at the building and Ranger and Tank putting "Timmy" into the middle one. The other men following in front and behind. The hope was that by doing it this way it would draw out the men who had been setting everything up. Follow "Timmy" and try to take him back.
"Babe." Ranger said softly from behind her, making her jump. "We need to go in 10, but I need to make sure you are safe in the room first."
She turned to give him a look but before she could open her mouth he pulled her in for a kiss. "We will be fine." He whispered as he pulled away.
"We are all more worried about you." He said tucking a curl behind her ear.
She looked over to see Tank and Hal watching them, "I swear to all of you, I will stay in that room until you tell me I can come out. I only want you worrying about each other not me!" She said firmly.
That seemed to be enough to satisfy Tank and Hal as they each gave her a nod. She rushed over and gave each of them a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before turning back and going to Ranger. "Want to walk me down and lock me up." She said with a grin. Her intentions worked as he grinned back.
He followed her into the elevator, "Can I lock you up later when we get back... maybe with handcuffs?" He said with an evil grin.
She said is the door slide closed, "We'll see how fast you get back."
She just held his hand as the elevator slid down to the basement and they walked over to the panel on the wall. When Hector brought her down earlier she couldn't even find it until he pointed out where it was.
One small seam is all that showed, when pressed just in the right spot a hand print scanner slid out of the side wall. Stephanie placed her hand on the pad and watched as the door slid open. She turned to kiss Ranger full on the lips, putting everything she had into it.
When she pulled back she could see his eyes are dilated. "Stay safe and come back to me." She whispered. "Make sure all of you come back to me."
Ranger lean down and kiss her gently this time, "We will all be fine Babe. I swear it to you." He brushed his fingers down her cheek, "Besides you still owe me an explanation on what you have been hiding... there's no way I'm going anywhere until I get that." He said with a grin.
She closed her eyes then opened them, tears glistening in the light, "I already decided to tell you on Wednesday night. I have it all figured out." She whispered.
He leaned down to kiss her again, "Good…I can't wait." He whispered as he pushed her into the room and handed her an Earpiece and Mic, "You will be able to hear all of us and talk to all of us with this. So, if we ask you a question make sure you answer so we don't have heart attacks. But try not to talk too much because you can be distracting." He said with a chuckle.
This time his intentions worked as he saw her frown and crossed her arms, "I am not distracting…. I'm interesting." she finished with a grin.
She laughed as he rolled his eyes and pushed her all the way in the room. "Stay woman. I will be home for dinner and sex later." And he pushed the button to slide the door closed before her grin could leave her face.
Stephanie put the earpiece in her ear and clip the microphone to her shirt. "Can you guys hear me?" She questioned softly.
She heard A chorus of hellos and what's up. She also heard Ranger, "I told you not to be distracting." He said with a chuckle.
She gave a snort, "I'm not being distracting. In fact, it's the exact opposite. All the guys want to know that I'm safe... locked in this room. So now they all know I'm safely locked in this room ...hence not being distracting." She smiled as she heard all of the laughter.
"Be safe you guys, I love all of you." She whispered a bad feeling forming in the pit of her stomach.