So sorry for the long delay - my real life job is sucking away most of my free time so I haven't been able to respond to reviews either so many apologies on that front as well. I do read every one. There is only one more chapter to this but it might be a while before I get it up so I hope you'll hang in there.

JE owns the rights to all recognizable characters.

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Other than the ones I work with, there are only a handful of men I respect and Les Sebring is on that short list. It's the only reason I agreed to meet with him. We arrived at the cafe at the same time, a little hole in the wall half way between our respective office buildings, mostly frequented by locals and family of the owners. Just as I pulled into a parking space next to Les' Mercedes, my phone rang. I gave Stephanie my typical greeting.

"Yo."

"Don't Yo me, Ranger." She was pissed. I would bet she'd finally returned some phone calls after ignoring everyone while she recovered from surgery.

"I'm walking into a meeting, Babe. Can this wait?"

"No, it cannot wait. You need to tell me why my Mother and every other person I know is under the impression I'm married to you." Her tone was tight and clipped and I probably shouldn't have waited to tell her.

Les gave me a look through my windshield and gestured he would meet me inside. I let out a small breath before answering her.

"Does the thought of being married to me scare you that much?" She was quiet for so long I thought I might have lost the signal.

"No," she finally said and I didn't miss the fact her voice had softened. "But…"

"This is a conversation that deserves time I don't have right now, Steph," I interrupted. "I promise to devote this evening to it and you, and please remember that I love you, but I have to go." I disconnected knowing I would pay later for hanging up on her, but I wanted to get this meeting over with and I don't like to be kept waiting so I try not to do it to other people.

Les was seated in a booth in the back of the café when I entered. Knowing my predilection for having my back against the wall, he'd left that side of the table open and I slid into the seat across from him. We shook hands and Les assessed me with intelligent green eyes. "Thanks for agreeing to meet with me."

As always, he looked like he'd stepped right out of GQ magazine in a black Armani suit, leather Italian loafers and his silver gray hair slicked back off his face in the most current style. I gave him a nod and we placed our orders with the waitress that appeared before he slid a file across the table. I picked it up without comment and perused the contents. I knew immediately why he wanted me involved.

"I don't know how much information Marcus can provide. He's been out of the game for close to five years." Being in prison will do that. My cousin was an intricate player in the Cuban gang who's the main focus on the job Les is trying to pull off but he'd been caught in a sting operation and was currently serving a ten year sentence.

Les nodded as iced teas were set in front of us. "Probably won't need him. Jeanne Ellen is fairly certain she knows where they're holding it. She wants you to help her get it out."

I wasn't really surprised. Jeanne Ellen was very good at her job. Unfortunately she was a psycho in every other regard. I squeezed the lemon wedge into my drink before responding.

"How did the En llamas get their hands on a forty million dollar Van Gogh original?"

Les gave me a small smile. "By complete accident, of course."

I had no doubt that was true. They certainly weren't art thieves. "I'm assuming Jeanne Ellen has attached herself to a member?"

"Oh yes," Les agreed with a full grin this time. "She's very good."

"Mmm," was my response as our salad's had arrived. We spent a few minutes eating in silence before Les spoke again.

"I know there is no love lost between the two of you, but if it will get you to agree I'll increase your fee to two and a half and I'll throw in the building on west fifth."

I raised an eyebrow and pushed my plate away. Interesting. I've had my eye on that building for expansion for nearly a year. Didn't think Les would ever give it up.

"You know I've never been motivated by money, Les. Why are you willing to dump the building? If I remember correctly you emphatically denied my request to purchase it last summer."

Les took one more bite of his salad before shoving his plate aside with mine. "This has to remain in the strictest of confidence."

I gave him a quick nod of acquiesce.

He sighed and ran a hand over his perfectly coiffed hair. "I'm getting ready to retire. This job will be my last before I hang it up."

Not much surprised me anymore but that announcement threw me for a loop. I was sure Les would work until his dying breath.

"Shit," he said with a grin, "I actually rendered you speechless, didn't I?"

I couldn't help it, I smiled back at him. "Yep. Not many things can surprise me, but I'm not afraid to admit that was bit of a shock."

"You should have seen the look on my wife's face when I told her." He laughed and took a drink.

"How is Priscilla?"

"Still busting my chops every damn day. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I know the feeling," I said and Les nodded.

"I heard you have a handful yourself."

My phone vibrated for the second time in half an hour and I was going to have to answer it this time. Everyone knew I was not to be disturbed during a meeting unless it was an emergency. I plucked my phone off my belt without answering him and saw Happy's name in the display.

"I'm going to have to cut this short, Les. I can't accept until I have a conversation with Jeanne Ellen so I'll let you know after we talk." I slid out of the booth and shook his outstretched hand before dropping a twenty on the table.

"It's all I can ask for," he said and I left him sitting in the café sipping his tea.

I hit the call back button on my phone as the door swung shut behind me and waited for Happy's familiar timber as I strode to my car.

"You do anything to piss Steph off recently?" He asked when the line connected.

Undoubtedly, but that wasn't anyone's business but mine. "What happened?"

"She was helping Tank with some paperwork and then she shot out of here like a bat out of hell with no explanation."

Paperwork? Shit. Payroll week. Fucking Tank. "Where is she, Hap?"

"Currently she's sitting in her car in the parking lot at First Union Bank. She's been there about ten minutes, just staring at the building."

I bit back a sigh and silently cursed Tank again. "Stay with her."

"You're not coming down here?"

"There is a good chance she'll shoot me if she sees me right now so I'll steer clear. Let me know if she goes inside."

"I guess that answers my question," Happy said and disconnected with what sounded a lot like a chuckle. Happy who never smiles, let alone laughs, was amused. At my expense. Terrific.

This day couldn't possibly get any worse so I called Jeanne Ellen and set up a time to meet her. I would soon remember that things can always get worse.

######

Happy hadn't called me back by the time I slid into a booth at Pino's, my back to the wall and my eyes on the door, which means she either decided not to go in or he decided not to tell me. The bank is where I set up her account and have her payroll checks deposited automatically. We were going to have to have a long conversation later and it wouldn't be pleasant for me, but I made the choice and now I have to deal with the fallout. I ordered a club soda and returned some calls while I waited.

I almost rolled my eyes when Jeanne Ellen arrived in the restaurant ten minutes later. She was late, but that was typical. Jeanne Ellen liked to make an entrance and all eyes were on her as she stalked across the room towards my table.

She was a walking, talking temptation, dressed in skin tight black leather from head to toe which hugged her in all the right places. Every man's head and some of the women's turned and watched her hips sway as she made her way to me on spiky heeled boots.

Thinking she would shock me, she slid into the booth right next to me and pressed herself to my side. I moved my head before she could kiss my cheek and she gave me an impish little smirk.

"Looking sexy as always, Ranger," she said and slid her hand under the table to squeeze my thigh. She left her hand there, way too close to my groin and I counted to five to give her time to remove it before I did it for her. She didn't oblige so I reached under the table and took her pinky in my hand and bent it back just to the point before the bone snapped. She didn't cry out but the pain was evident on her face.

"If you try again, I'll break it." I held it for another five seconds to make sure my warning sank in and then I released her hand. She pulled it back into her own lap and moved her body so we were no longer touching. I watched her swallow twice before she tried speaking and I hoped I got my point across.

"So it's true. You are actually married to that disaster of a bounty hunter." She sniffed her disbelief and finally looked away from my intimidating stare.

She definitely doesn't know when to let things go. "Even if it wasn't true, I still wouldn't want your hands on me. Ever. And if you disrespect my wife like that again, I'll make your life incredibly uncomfortable. Are we clear?" She didn't need to know Steph and I weren't actually married and I hope no one tells her the truth if it means she keeps her claws off of me.

One curt nod and the moment was over. Jeanne Ellen got down to business. "You talked to Les?"

"Yes we had a conversation today. How confident are you about the location?"

She absently rubbed her sore finger and then pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I haven't laid eyes on it yet, but there is really only one option. I've gotten close to one of the crew – Junior Molina – do you know him?"

"I'm familiar with his work." Junior was the reason my cousin was serving time. He got wind the sting was happening and threw Marcus under the bus.

"Junior has a hard time keeping his trap shut, especially when his dick is in my mouth. Three weeks ago he revealed the location of a warehouse in Philly. I followed him out there last weekend."

"How many men?"

"Seven outside and at least that many inside. I haven't been able to get an accurate count as there could be some that aren't allowed to leave."

"Weaknesses?"

"The roof," she said automatically. "No coverage there at all. They also never vary their guard rotation schedule. I've been watching for six days; it never changes."

That was fortuitous. They obviously didn't have experienced men which meant getting in would be easier. "You need to get someone inside to confirm the count and have you procured a blueprint of the building?"

"Yeah. I was hoping that would be you and yes, I have the blueprint." She cocked an eyebrow and waited.

The truth is if it was anyone other than Jeanne Ellen I would have taken this job in a heartbeat but working with her is at the top of the list of things I don't ever want to do again.

I opened my mouth to tell her exactly that when the door to the restaurant opened and Joe Morelli strolled in. As soon as Jeanne Ellen saw him she reached under the table and grabbed my thigh at the same time she licked my neck. Morelli was in full view of her spectacle and flashed me a shit eating grin before spinning on his heel and walking back out.

I grabbed Jeanne Ellen's hand and yanked her pinky back until the bone snapped right at the knuckle and then shoved her out of the booth when she gasped in pain. She was quick enough not to fall on her ass, but just barely.

"You're lucky it was only the pinky. If you ever touch me again, I'll break every bone in your hand. I'll call Les and let him know I won't be able to offer my services for this job." I left her standing there holding her broken finger and trying really hard not to cry.

I hit the parking lot looking for that fucker Morelli and found him a minute later at the back of the lot. Unfortunately his arms were around my woman and my vision was lost in a temporary, blinding red haze of rage.

Before I really knew it was happening, my hands were around his throat and I was holding him an inch off the ground by his neck. He was turning the color of a beet and trying to pry my fingers off his skin.

"Was that your doing, Morelli? Your big plan was to have Steph see me with Jeanne Ellen and she'd assume I'm a cheating asshole like you?" Joe couldn't answer as I was crushing his voice box.

"Ranger!"

Steph and Happy's combined voices finally broke through the fog and I turned to look at them.

"Put him down," Happy said softly and I lessened my hold so he could breathe and dropped his feet back on the ground but I did not let go.

"Listen to your freak show, Manoso. I'm already going to have you arrested for assault. Don't want to make it worse for yourself." Morelli's voice was a harsh whisper because I was making it difficult for him to speak. That's when Stephanie's size seven CAT boot connected with Joe's nuts.

I let him go and he dropped to one knee with a grunt, cupping his crotch.

I looked at Happy and was only mildly surprised to see an ear to ear grin stretching his face.

"Don't ever call him that again, Joe. He's ten times the man you'll ever be. And you didn't really think I'd fall for that, did you? You're such an idiot. If you try to have Ranger arrested, I'll make sure your balls never recover." Steph was staring at him through narrowed eyes and looking like she wanted to kick him again. I could totally relate except I wanted to do way more than a kick to the balls.

"And you," she turned her venom on me. "What the hell was that? Do you want to end up in jail?"

I opened my mouth but she waved my words away before I got them off my tongue. "Don't. I don't want to hear it right now. I'm so fucking mad at both of you."

She turned and stomped toward her new Explorer.

"Make sure she gets home safely," I said quietly to Happy and he gave me a nod before following her to her car.

I turned on my heel and headed for my car. Joe was still on his knee when I pulled out of the parking lot.

I waited until I'd calmed down before I called Les. He picked up on the first ring.

"You aren't handing over the reins to Jeanne Ellen when you retire, are you?"

He was quiet for minute before responding. "No. I'm assuming your chat didn't go well."

"I won't work with her. Not now and not ever again. But, I want that building. I have a guy-Lester Santos- who is, next to me, the best at getting into places undetected. I'll cut back the Rangeman fee to one eight including the building if you can get her to agree to working with him."

"I'll make it happen," he said quickly and didn't ask for details – mostly because he knew I wouldn't give him any.

"I'll set up a meet with the three of you by the end of the day tomorrow."

"Perfect," he said. "I'll send the paperwork over for the building in the morning and I'll have the money transferred as soon as the job is complete."

"Great. Good luck, Les. I hope retirement treats you well.

"Yeah, me too. Thanks."

He disconnected and I drove home so I could spend a lot of time beating the shit out of the punching bags in the gym.