Stephanie's POV

I sense someone watching us. When I sit up, I see a young boy sitting on his bicycle. "Do you have a phone I can borrow?" I ask. The boy looks around and shrugs. He grabs the device from his pocket and looks around again before passing it to me. "Thank you."

After dialling the familiar number, I wait for two rings before he answers, "Hola."

"Hector, necesito ayuda," I reply. Carlos issues instructions in Spanish without taking the phone. (I need help). Hector hangs up without responding. I knew he would send a car.

"Thank you," Carlos tells the boy. "What's your name?"

"Juan Cortez," he replies. Carlos nods. I knew my husband would send the boy a gift.

"We appreciate your help," I say, returning the phone. The boy looks familiar. I wonder if he's the boy in Mary Alice's class at school. It doesn't matter. We have to leave.

"Please, don't tell anyone you saw us," Carlos warns.

"I didn't see anything, sir." The boy waits for our ride to arrive. He nods once before leaving.

"Hola," Hector says as he rolls down the window of his car.

"I'm happy to see you," I whisper, climbing into the backseat. "Take us to our children."

Carlos catches Hector's eye and nods. "How long?" Carlos asks.

"Three days," Hector replies, giving up the pretence of not understanding or speaking English. "Mary Alice visited Rangeman. She was worried about you, Stephanie."

"Why?"

"She overheard Joe Morelli and her mom discussing the rodents they locked away without food and water. Your niece loves animals," Hector explains. I knew that about my niece. She wouldn't want any human, animal or species to suffer.

"Where are the girls?" I ask.

Understanding I'm asking about Valerie's daughters, Hector says, "Living with Angie Morelli. Valerie dropped them off yesterday after Mary Alice came to Rangeman. We can't locate Valerie or Joe. Albert Kloughn knows Lisa and Anna aren't his children. The paternity tests determined he was not their father. Lisa, Anna and Angie belong to Joe Morelli. Mary Alice belongs to Lenny Stankovic."

"Wow. I never saw that coming," I reply. "How did the lab get a sample?"

"Mary Lou ran the paternity test when Valerie moved to Trenton a few years ago," Hector explains. It coincides with the time my friendship with Mary Lou went south. Mary Lou likely blames me for her husband's infidelity.

Hector drives to the private airport where the Rangeman jet awaits to fly us to Miami. He parks the car inside the hangar. We board the plane and buckle the seatbelts. I can hardly wait to see my babies. Hector gives Carlos a phone to contact everyone.

Carlos calls Tank, who answers, "Hola."

"We're moving to Miami," Carlos says. "Close down Rangeman Trenton."

"Yes, sir," Tank replies. "What about the accounts?"

"Keep enough men in town to manage them until the contract expires," Carlos orders.

I hear Tank clicking on the keyboard. He laughs. "It will take seven months, sir. I'll cancel the appointments for contract renewals. Why now?" Tank asks.

"Staying in Trenton will be the death of us," Carlos answers. "Keep your eyes open for Morelli and Valerie Kloughn."

"Tank, did you run a BGC on Joe Morelli?" I ask.

"I sure did, Little Girl," he replies. "We could use your special skills to find his hiding place."

"Send the file to this number. I'll read it over and let you know where to search," I suggest. Carlos ends the call.

The phone vibrates in my hand. I opened the link to the document, thankful Hector has the app on his phone to view the file. Hector tugs the phone from my hand, then forwards the message to the iPad. "Larger screen," Hector explains.

"And it leaves the phone for Carlos to call Lester and Bobby." Hector grins. He moves to the chair beside mine when the pilot permits us to walk around.

I watch Carlos move to the back of the plane to call our children. He wants me to concentrate on finding Morelli and Valerie. "Babe," Carlos says, handing me the phone.

"Hello," I say.

"Momma," my children cry. "Home?" Mateo asks.

"Yes, baby. I'm coming home. Papa and I will be home in five hours," I promise. "Behave for Tio Lester and Tio Bobby."

"Okay, momma. I wuv you," Mateo replies. I hear Sophie saying, "Ya," in the background.

"I love you too. I'll give you lots of hugs when I come home."

"Pwomise?" Mateo asks.

"Yes, baby. I promise."

Carlos removes the phone from my hand. "Mateo, your momma needs to work. Be good for Tio Lester and Tio Bobby," Carlos reminds them. He tells our children he loves them and says goodbye.

I smile when Carlos sits beside me. He gently tugs the iPad from my lap. "Have Tank search Rose Morelli's house on Slater Street. She passed away recently." Carlos nods, then sends Tank a text message.

"Babe, are you okay?" Carlos asks.

"I'll be fine. Is this the corporate jet with the shower?" I ask. I was desperate to wash away the stench of urine from my skin.

His eyes darken as he leans over to release the seatbelt. Carlos didn't find the need to answer my question. He had a plan. I giggle when Carlos tugs me to my feet. He lifts me into his arms and carries me to the bedroom in the back.

I quickly strip when he sets me inside the bathroom. The shower is large enough for us to fit. He gently washes every inch of my heated flesh before dropping to his knees. Carlos kisses my abdomen, where evidence of our baby is on display. "Te amo, hijo," he whispers.

"You think this one's a boy?" I ask.

"I know it is," Carlos replies. We make love, then wash again.

My legs are weak from the pleasure of multiple orgasms. Carlos always knew how to satisfy my desires and lust for his body.

I dress in the clothes Carlos grabs from the duffle. "Ah," I moan, slipping the panties up my legs. Carlos has me turn around to look at the cut on my left asscheek.

"It isn't deep," he says. I let him attach the bandage to my ass. It will become uncomfortable, but Carlos assures me keeping it covered for a few hours was necessary.

Hector grins when Carlos and I return to our seats. "Do you feel more relaxed?" Hector asks, making me blush. He passes me a granola bar and water. I smile when Hector passes some to Carlos.

"Yes. Thanks for not giving up on us," I reply, changing the subject. "I have to call the district attorney."

"Tank handled it," Hector says. "He knows Morelli kidnapped you. I found your purse. Your keys were missing. We found them inside Morelli's house. The fobs for Rangeman weren't on either set of keys."

"Can he get inside Rangeman?" Carlos asks.

"No. I deactivated that part of the fob," Hector explains. He was missing something. The fobs have built-in trackers. "The fobs were left at Rosini's."

"How does that prove Morelli kidnapped us? He could claim someone planted the keys at his place," I ask.

"Your keychain was last seen with Morelli's keys," Hector replies. He shows me the image on his phone. It is a still shot from a video surveillance camera. My keychain is in Morelli's hand with his keys.

"When?" I ask.

"You and the boss were missing for a day," Hector replies. "We watched the ex-cop."

Joe is angry at me for losing his job. It wasn't my fault he tried to kidnap my son a few months earlier. The guys caught it on video. Even wearing a disguise, we knew it was Morelli in the footage. Mom is never allowed to have my children without their bodyguards. I don't trust her to keep my children safe.

Carlos feels me tense. "Babe?" he asks, tugging my bottom lip free from between my teeth.

"What if we can't find them?"

"We will," Hector promises. "Tank is organizing a team to visit Rose Morelli's house. They plan to attack from all sides."

The plane lands in Miami. I'm happy to see my children waiting for us at the airport. Sophie tugs her hand free from Bobby and runs to me. I meet my daughter halfway as Mateo launches into his papa's arms. "Momma," Sophie cries into my neck. Her body shakes from sobbing.

"I'm home, Sophie," I whisper. I rub her back. She calms enough to reach for her papa. Carlos and I trade children. Mateo tries to be brave, but he cries when I embrace him. "Mattie, I'm home. Everything will be okay."

"Did you catch the bad guy?" Mateo asks, looking into my eyes. His action reminds me of Carlos.

"Not yet. But Tio Tank will catch him soon," I reply. Mateo seems to be happy with my answer.

My head feels fuzzy like I'm about to pass out. Bobby and Lester rush forward to grab Mattie and catch me. "Have you eaten?" Bobby asks.

"A granola bar," I reply.

"Only a granola bar in three days," Carlos adds. "She's pregnant." It isn't how I wanted to announce it to our friends, but Carlos is only looking out for us. Hector grins at the news.

"I have food in the SUV," Bobby says. He lifts me into his arms and carries me to the vehicle. I roll my eyes, making Sophie giggle. "I have sandwiches in the lunchpail."

"Thank goodness. I'm starving." Carlos shakes his head and climbs into the back with Sophie. He buckles our daughter in the car seat, then reaches for Mattie. My son taps Lester's cheek before going to his papa. Bobby waits until my seatbelt is secure before passing me a sandwich.

"Hungry," Sophie calls from the back. I pass my sandwich for her to eat and wait until Bobby gives me another one. He tosses food in the back for Mateo, knowing I plan to pass the second sandwich to my son.

~~~~~

Valerie's POV

Something is terribly wrong. I can feel it in my bones. Yesterday, I received a copy of the paternity tests. I swear Lisa and Anna belong to Albert Kloughn, but the DNA tests prove they are Joey's children. How is Mary Alice Lenny Stankovic's daughter? I slept with six men at a bachelor party for Lenny's brother, Gary. Why Lenny? How did his sperm fertilize my egg? Mary Alice is supposed to be Dickie's daughter. Dickie was my first lover that night, and Lenny was the sixth.

I rub my hand down my protruding baby bump. It's finally a boy. Mom is happy. She gets the Morelli grandson she wants. God knows Stephanie is never going to divorce Ranger. I have a plan in place. Spare Stephanie's life if Ranger divorces her to marry me. Ranger is loaded. I want my hands on the limitless funds. Oh, I also want to run my hands over his luscious body. Grandma saw him naked once. She claims Ranger has a big dick. It's something I need to see for myself. Don't get me wrong, Joey's hung, but his seven-inch dick is narrow. I can spend all day comparing my lovers' sizes. Alas, it's depressing. None of them can satiate my sexual hunger. I need more. I deserve more. I should be married to the millionaire hunk, Ranger, not my ugly sister.

Snapping in front of my face interrupts my thoughts. "Are you listening, Val?" Joe asks. He doesn't have a nickname for me. I wonder if Vinnie's available for one more round. Yes, he's my cousin, but we've experimented a lot while growing up. I taught him how to pleasure a girl. He had me practice fellatio until I perfected my technique.

"I'm sorry. I got distracted," I reply.

"Where are the girls?" Joe demands. "My daughters better be safe."

I roll my eyes and snarl, "With your mom. I told you that yesterday. Honestly, Joe, didn't you hear a single word I said?"

"Not when you drop important information in your dialogue," Joe replies. "I tune out after a few minutes. As I was saying, we need to leave tonight."

"Whatever," I reply. "Did you remember to feed the vermin?"

"No. I want them to suffer for a few more days." Joe smirks, making me wonder what he did to Ranger. I couldn't care less about my ugly sister. "Manoso was in the Rangers - a special operations group in the Army. He can survive days without eating. Cupcake, however, is used to having three square meals a day. She's the one I want to crack," Joe explains.

Snorting, I reply, "Let me at Stephanie. I can get her to divorce Manoso. Then you can have all the Cupcake you can handle."

Joe leers. He's excited by the proposal. "Is the kid Albert's?" Joe asks, pointing to my stomach.

"That's what he believes. He's your son," I reply, grinning. Joe struts toward me. I feel my body temperature increase, anticipating him raising my skirt to fuck me hard.

"We'll see after he's born," Joe says.

"What are you implying?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him. Joe shakes his head and refuses to answer. He knows I slept around. The timing is perfect for the baby to belong to him.

I look around the garage behind Joe's Aunt Rose's house. The windows got boarded up over the years. "Can we remove these?" I ask, pointing to the windows.

"No," Joe replies. "Nobody can see the light with them covered."

"And we can't see outside," I remind him. "What if someone sneaks up on us?"

Joe laughs for several minutes before replying, "I have a few tricks up my sleeve." I raise a brow, waiting for him to elaborate.

Sighing, I sit on the bench along the wall. I look around the garage, seeing enough explosives to launch the garage into outer space. "Um. Are we rigged?" I ask, my voice shaking with fear.

"Nah. I had extra supplies from the chop shop. Anyone entering the garage through the doors will get blown to smithereens," he gleefully replies. My body shakes. Joe doesn't want Ranger to survive. "If I can't have her, nobody can," Joe says, speaking Italian. I understand the language, but I don't speak it.

"Do you think Stephanie suspects my involvement?" I ask, wanting to understand how much danger I was in from the employees at Rangeman. The men protect Stephanie like she's a celebrity. It's disgusting.

"She isn't that intelligent. Stephanie barely passed college," Joe replies. Stephanie's funding got cut to pay for my ghastly wedding. Her work schedule didn't allow Stephanie to study for her exams. She was either working or attending classes.

"Did you hear that?" I ask when a twig breaks outside the window. "Someone's here."

"Shh," Joe snaps, covering my mouth with his hand. "Say goodbye, Valerie."

"Why?" I mumble behind his hand.

"Because this is the death of us." Joe removes the gun from the back of his pants. He points it at the pile of explosives, then pulls the trigger.

The noise was deafening. Intense heat engulfed my body. I'm in too much pain to speak.