Stephanie's POV
I watch in horror as the garage behind the late Rose Morelli's house burns. Valerie and Joe are inside. The footage caught by Tank contains the conversation between Joe and Valerie. They confess to kidnapping us, though they did refer to us as vermin. It's sad when an innocent life dies. Valerie's unborn son will never get a chance to live.
"That's so wrong," I cry. Carlos lifts me onto his lap. I tuck my head in his neck and unleash the sobs.
"Babe, they can't hurt us anymore," he says. I know he's right, but my heart aches for my unborn nephew.
Carlos grabs the remote to turn on the news. We watch the footage from another angle. Someone else caught the events on camera. I realize it's from the second floor of the house behind Rose's townhome. "Did Rangeman provide the video?" I ask.
"No. Bradshaw's Alarm Services," Carlos replies. Bradshaw was Rangeman's top competitor in Trenton. I wonder if they will purchase the Trenton branch from Rangeman and ask Carlos if it's possible. "We can give them an offer they can't refuse."
"Like letting them keep the technology provided at the client's businesses and homes?"
"Something along those lines."
"How many men got injured?" I ask, pointing to the television. The guys wore their gear, but nothing was one hundred percent effective in protecting them from harm.
Carlos checks his phone when it pings. "Ringing ears and some insignificant abrasions. Cal broke his arm," Carlos replies. I tense from fear. "I'll bring him here."
"Thank you," I whisper, relaxing in his arms.
Lester and Bobby enter the living room. "You saw it," Lester says.
"Yes. Are the kids ready for a bedtime story?"
"They fell asleep after the first page," Bobby replies. "Soph and Mat barely slept the past few nights. They were too worried about you."
Carlos and I spent hours alone with our children. They clung to us like spider monkeys. When the children got their fill, they got Lester and Bobby to play outside.
"Soph wants a baby brother. She wants to be the only princess," Lester said, grinning. "What are we watching?"
The new station replays the footage. Lester's eyes are wide and Bobby is staring at the television. "Did Valerie survive?" he asks.
Anchorwoman Celine Stanton declares, "Authorities declare two dead at the scene. A pregnant woman and a man. Sources indicate the remains are for Joseph Morelli and Valerie Kloughn, who are residents of Trenton." Celine continues with the report on the explosion.
I listen as Celine says, "Preliminary investigation indicates the explosives used are similar to the remnants found on Comstock earlier this morning. An eyewitness to the first explosion didn't see anyone enter or leave the scene. Tim Traverson is up next with his interview with Angie Morelli."
The view shifts to an interview with Angie Morelli. "How are you feeling about the news of your son's death?" Traverson asks.
"Obviously sad. I don't understand why Joey was at Rose's house," Angie replies.
"My sources indicate Joseph Morelli inherited the property when Rose Morelli passed away," Tim says. Angie looks surprised. She didn't know. Tim smiles. "Are you pleased Joseph doesn't have to appear in court for the kidnapping charges?"
"It was a misunderstanding. The charges got dropped," Angie replies. "You can't kidnap your own child."
Traverson raises an eyebrow. "Not according to police chief Ryan Mackenzie. Joseph Morelli, an ex-police officer and detective at the Trenton Police Department, was relieved from duty after kidnapping Stephanie Plum's son, Mateo Manoso. Rita, show side-by-side photographs of Morelli, the child in question and Manoso," he requests.
I saw my handsome boy's face appear on the television. Joe's picture is on the left, and my husband's on the right. Traverson glances at the teleprompter screen and smiles. "As you can see, the boy resembles his father, Carlos Manoso."
Carlos taps on his phone. Tim's brow furrows as his device buzzes in his pocket. I stare at my husband, who grins. "Well, what do you know? I just received a message from Mr. Manoso himself. He confirmed the child is biologically his and shared the paternity test as proof. There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, the prince of the Burg lied to his mother. I wouldn't be surprised if Joseph Morelli is responsible for the disappearance of Stephanie Plum and Carlos Manoso. The couple hasn't been seen since they attended dinner at Rosini's three nights ago. Back to you, Rita," Tim says. The camera zoomed in on Angie's fish face impression before it cut back to the studio.
"I thought that's why you got the paternity test done. Why would Joe claim Mateo was his when we broke up almost a year earlier?" I ask.
"Maybe he didn't remember who he fucked?" Lester asks.
I roll my eyes. "You're probably right, Lester. He was drunk most of the time. I feel sorry for the girls," I reply. Lester and Bobby raise an eyebrow. "It's not their fault Valerie was promiscuous. Living in Trenton is going to be rough."
"Do you want custody of them?" Carlos asks.
"Not really. I'll take the girls if nobody else can afford to raise them," I reply. "I wonder if Mom and Dad will take custody."
"What if they don't because they can't afford it?" Lester asks.
"It really isn't my problem. I just don't want the girls separated or put into the foster care system. I'd rather give Mom and Dad the cash to raise them."
"Whatever you want, Babe," Carlos says.
~~~~~
It took several months for the story to air on the Trenton news. It isn't from lack of evidence since the investigators proved the explosives in both garages were identical. Someone turned over footage of Morelli rigging the garages to explode. I saw a video of Carlos and me escaping the Comstock Street building through the window. The news station blacked out our private areas before showing them on air.
A man from Philadelphia purchased the news station and newspaper a few months after the incident. He wanted the men and women living in Trenton to see what their precious Burg detective did to upstanding community members. Stan Draper, the proud owner of the Trenton news - television and print - found the incriminating videos hidden in a storage room. Someone had gone out of their way to keep Morelli's dirty laundry from getting aired. Stan completely overhauled the newsroom, firing the biased reporters. I was happy to see Tim Traverson as the news anchor.
"Did you know they had footage of our escape?" I ask Carlos.
"No. I saw cameras in the area but assumed they were only for show," he replies.
"I noticed them too and came to the same conclusion," I confess. "It's nice to have proof of Morelli's crimes. I can't believe the previous owner hid the evidence."
"Too much influence from the Burg," Carlos says. He's right. The Trenton Times and the news station were practically run by the Burg gossip mill, only reporting what the residents allowed. I'm glad we live in Miami. Rangeman Trenton is gone. Bradshaw owns the building and equipment inside Haywood.
Carlos rubs my baby bump. We had our gender reveal party the night before. Our son is a twin. The doctor heard two distinct heartbeats, but it took until my thirty-two-week check-up for our second boy to reveal himself. I guess he was shy.
"Do you mind if the girls come here to live? Dad divorced Mom after she refused rehab for drinking. He has custody of my nieces."
"Yes," he replies. I smile at my husband.
"Okay, now that's settled, can you drive me to the hospital?" I sweetly ask.
"Babe?"
"I'm in labour. It's time to meet our boys."
"Mattie's fifth birthday is tomorrow," Carlos reminds me.
"Yup," I reply, checking my watch. "Unless I have these babies in the next three hours, they will share his birthday." I made it to thirty-five weeks, which is ideal for having twins.
Carlos calls Lester and Bobby to watch our sleeping children. He drives us to the hospital with Hector and Tank keeping us company. I'm breathing with the contractions while Hector rubs my back.
Tank contacts the hospital to have a team ready to deliver my twins. He quickly swaps places with Carlos when we arrive at the hospital entrance. I'm guided inside by Hector and Carlos. I feel the gush of amniotic fluid soaking my pants as I step through the doors. "Okay. Someone is impatient to meet his papa," I joke.
We make it into the delivery room in time for Ricardo Hector to be born. His brother, Frank Pierre, was born a few minutes later. My twins are gorgeous. I had to know if they were identical or fraternal since the doctor couldn't tell on the ultrasound.
At the twins' two-month check-up, the doctor tells us that Frankie and Rickie are identical twins. Their personalities were direct opposites. My youngest, Frankie, is a quiet observer like his papa. Rickie is an attention grabber. He laughs at everything.
Carlos and I watch the guys entertaining our children. "Man, having four kids, five and under, is going to be the death of us," I whine. Frankie and Rickie are on their backs, lying beneath a mobile with lights and stuffed weapons.
"But I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dad and the girls live a few blocks away from the Rangeman headquarters. He drives a cab while the children attend school. The girls love living in Miami. They never visit their grandparents in Trenton. Helen passed away after choking on her vomit after an all-night bender. Dad and I never went to her funeral. Angie Morelli left Trenton with Anthony's family after Bella's death. I shake my head.
"Everything's changing," I mumble.
"Is it a bad thing?" Carlos asks.
"No. It's different, and I like it."
"Me too, Babe. I love you. Happy anniversary," Carlos says. He passes me a gift bag. I raise my eyebrows, pulling the tissues to reach the presents.
Carlos bought me a gorgeous necklace with our family's birthstones. It's on a thicker chain to prevent the twins from breaking it. I opened the ring box to see the onyx and sapphire ring I found the previous week in the jewelry store. It reminds me of us.
I tug the gift from my purse, then pass it to Carlos. He opens the flat box to remove my present to him. "Again?" Carlos asks.
"Yes. I think you still had a few swimmers," I reply. "Are you mad?"
"No, Babe. I love you."
"As I love you."
Thankfully, Lily Claire was our last child.
Epilogue
Fifteen years later…
"Welcome home, son," Carlos says as he embraces Mateo.
"Is mom here?" Mateo asks.
"Yes," I reply. I shove the tissues into my purse. "Thank you for coming home."
"I loved Grandpa Frank," Mateo says. "He was a lot of fun. How are my cousins?"
"Devastated. Mary Alice is trying to come home. She's stuck in Ireland. The flights got grounded. She's trying to find another way home," I reply. "I'm afraid we're going to be a bit crowded. We have Lisa, Anna, Angie and her boys at the house. You'll have to bunk with Tio Lester."
"That's fine. He only lives next door," Mateo says. "Did Sophie come home?"
A blur of purple flies past and smashes into Mateo. "I'm glad you're home. How's Carter?"
Mateo grins. "He misses you. Carter apologizes for not coming home. He couldn't get the time off for the funeral since he isn't family," Mateo replies. Sophie shrugs. She met Carter when Mateo brought him home for Christmas after their first tour. My daughter fell in love with the handsome red haired boy. Carter lost his family as a young child and got raised by his uncle.
Lily approaches her brother, then punches him in the stomach. "That's for telling Christian that I had a crush on Sebastian," Lily snarls.
Carlos raises a brow. Mateo shrugs. "Lily, do you have a crush on Sebastian?" I ask.
"Yes, but he didn't need his older brother to tell him," Lily replies. "Now that skank, Sabrina Langton, is all over Sebastian. It's not fair." Lily storms away to find her Tio Hector.
"Mom, would it help if I call in a few favours to bring Mary Alice home?" Mateo asks.
"Save those for a rainy day. Your father reached out to people we know in Europe," I reply. I grab my husband's hand and gently pull him toward the elevator. "Let's go home. I have a lot to prepare for the funeral."
Mary Alice arrives early the following morning. She's home in time to attend the funeral. I notice the young man following her. "Do you have a stalker?" I joke.
"No. This is Liam. My husband," Mary Alice replies. I hug my niece and congratulate her. "I met him in Liverpool two years ago. We were partners on the excursion."
"So you eloped?" I tease. Mary Alice grins.
"Yup. Just like my Aunt Steph," she replies. "Why wait when it's right?"
"Do you need a room for the night?"
"No. Liam and I are staying at Grandpa's house. We're going to pack up his belongings for you to sell the house. Angie, Lisa, Anna and I talked after you told us about Grandpa. None of us want to live there. We want you and Uncle Carlos to sell the house and keep the money," Mary Alice explains. "Aunt Steph, we know you and Uncle Carlos paid for the house."
"I'll set the money aside for the kids," I offer.
"It's your money to spend as you please," Mary Alice says, laughing. Mary Alice hugs me before finding her sisters. I know Mary Alice misses her grandpa, but she didn't live with him as long as Lisa and Anna. Dad was like a father to them. At least, he was the only father they remember.
Angie, my oldest niece, is sitting on the ground with her boys. Her husband left during her second pregnancy, claiming he was too young for a wife and kids. Angie doesn't want to remarry or follow in her mother's footsteps. I feel bad for my niece. She was wild and got pregnant with Michael during her first year of college.
"Deep thoughts, Babe?" Carlos whispers.
"I'm worried about Angie. Selling the house puts her on the streets," I reply.
Carlos nods to Blake, who is only a few years older than Angie. Blake's older brother is Hal, one of my favourite Merry Men. I smile when Blake sits beside Angie. She rests her head on his shoulder as he wraps an arm behind her back. "I think Blake can handle her. He has room in his house for Angie and the boys."
We return home, where Hector and the others set up a celebration of life for my father. I feel honoured to have my Rangeman family celebrate the joys and losses in my life. Carlos and I couldn't have found a better family.
