"Yo," Tank answered. Tank remained silent as he listened to Ranger's instructions to organize the security rotations in six-hour shifts for the hospital room when Stephanie got moved.
Frank raised an eyebrow when he entered the room, hearing the tail end of Ranger's phone conversation. He sat on the chair Ranger abandoned, smiling when Ranger climbed back into the bed with Stephanie. "The bed is barely large enough for you," Frank joked. He was amused by Ranger's need to stay close to Stephanie.
"Stephanie relaxes when I'm beside her. Tank is organizing the security detail for tomorrow. Dr. Burt plans to move Stephanie to another floor if her stats remain the same until the morning," Ranger explained. Ranger wanted Frank to remain informed regarding Stephanie. It guaranteed the lines of communication would remain open. Frank appreciated the updates. He could trust Manoso with his daughter's care.
"Music to my ears," Frank replied. "I can't stay long. I've got a fare soon." Frank checked his watch, then excused himself. He had to drive Ed Crandle to the airport.
"I'll keep you updated, Sir," Ranger promised.
"Please, call me Frank, son," Frank replied. Ranger nodded and watched his father-in-law kiss Stephanie's forehead before exiting the room. It wasn't the first time Ranger saw Frank show Stephanie affection. Ranger got the impression Stephanie's parents never embraced or showed they loved her.
Ranger stayed in Stephanie's room for most of the day. He left to use the washroom and shower when Dr. Burt and Janet arrived to check Stephanie's abdominal incision. "How is it?" Ranger asked upon his return. Dr. Burt had left the room.
"Everything looks good, and starting tomorrow, the incision and cuts don't need to get covered. We're reducing the sedation," Janet replied. "Hopefully, she wakes up in a few hours." Ranger nodded in thanks, then climbed back into the bed. He could hardly wait to see his wife's blue eyes. Janet updated the chart. She smiled at Ranger before leaving him with Stephanie. Janet returned a few minutes later, carrying a jug of water and ice. She set them on the bedside table with a cup and straw, then disappeared.
The fog partially lifted from Stephanie's mind. She heard Ranger's sexy voice talking beside her - closer than she anticipated. Stephanie wondered why Ranger was in her bedroom. Ramirez's face suddenly appeared. She moaned and tried to move away. Her legs refused to work, feeling like weights were holding them down. Searing pain shot through her vagina. She had caught a glimpse of the broken beer bottle before Ramirez shoved it inside. A few seconds later, Stephanie heard a gun discharge.
"Querida, you're safe. Babe, I've got you. Ramirez can't hurt you again. He's dead," Ranger soothingly said. Stephanie felt Ranger running his fingers through her messy hair.
Another image assaulted her mind, though it was pleasant but unrealistic. She was lying in a hospital bed, exchanging wedding vows with Ranger. Scribbling her name on the paperwork was seemingly too real for a dream. Stephanie swore she must have dreamed that part. Ranger kissed her before everything went dark.
Was she married to Ranger? Why did she marry him? Was anything in her mind real? Where was she? Was she in the hospital? Why was she in the hospital?
Sensing her distress, Ranger talked to Stephanie. She could only understand the odd word, which was similar to Italian. "Lo siento. I'm sorry," Ranger whispered. Why was Ranger apologizing? "I was across town when you called. We couldn't get to you in time."
It was real? Holy crap! Stephanie willed her eyes to open. Her eyelids felt too heavy to move. A thin line of bright light broke through the darkness of her eyelids, reflecting the part concealing her eyes a shade of pink. Stephanie squeezed them shut. "Mmmm," Stephanie moaned.
"Babe, you're awake?" Ranger asked, his voice thick from unshed tears. Ranger quickly wiped the tears before they slipped down his cheeks. Badasses don't cry.
"Mmmm." Her throat felt parched. The warmth beside Stephanie disappeared, making her groan from the loss. She tried to smile when the familiar scent returned beside her. The pleasant aroma of Ranger's body wash or cologne tempted Stephanie to open her eyes. She tried to make the lids open to look into his handsome face.
"Take a sip," Ranger ordered. He held the straw against her lips. Stephanie took a few sips before the straw disappeared. "Please, open your eyes." Ranger pressed the call button for the nurse. He tried to climb off the bed, but Stephanie grabbed his arm, tightly squeezing the muscles in his forearm.
"Is there something you need?" Janet politely asked over the intercom. She hoped it was Ranger announcing that Stephanie woke up.
"Stephanie's awake," Ranger replied, making Janet smile. Ranger sent messages to his core team and Frank Plum, keeping them updated with Stephanie's progress.
Janet entered the room and turned off all lights except the one above the bed. She dimmed it to protect Stephanie's eyes, knowing they would hurt from the light after being closed for so long. "Okay, Steph. I turned down the lights. Can you open your eyes?" Ranger gently removed Stephanie's hand on his arm. He moved off the bed to let Janet examine Stephanie. The scraping of the chair on the tiled floor let Stephanie know Ranger was moving closer.
Stephanie's eyelids fluttered a few times before she was able to open them. She attempted to smile at Janet. Stephanie turned to the right, where Ranger was sitting in the chair. "Where am I?" she asked. Stephanie kept her eyes on Ranger.
"Hospital," Janet replied. "How are you feeling?"
"Groggy," Stephanie replied, refusing to take her gaze off Ranger's face. He looked tired and emotionally drained.
"That's to be expected. I'll be back in a few hours to help you use the washroom," Janet said, sensing Ranger and Stephanie needed to talk. Stephanie weakly nodded, then closed her eyes. Keeping them open required more energy than she wanted to spend at the moment.
Several minutes passed before Stephanie asked, "Why are you here?" She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see the expression of pity on his face. The image of them exchanging vows entered her mind. Stephanie refused to watch as he rejected her.
"Do you want me to leave?" Ranger asked, feeling the sting of Stephanie not wanting him in the room. He stood up and walked the short distance to the bed. Stephanie could feel the heat of his body moving closer.
"No," Stephanie replied. Her brain got addled by the sedation. Stephanie found it challenging to string the words together.
"Are you asking why I'm here and not working?" Ranger asked, climbing into the bed and gently pulling Stephanie until her body pressed against his. She nodded. "I couldn't leave you." Ranger stoked her jaw, silently pleading with Stephanie to open her eyes and look at him. Stephanie kept her eyes closed. She didn't want Ranger to feel sorry for her.
"Oh," she gasped, opening her eyes and looked into his concerned ones. Stephanie wasn't expecting that response. "Did my parents visit?"
"Only your dad. He purposely kept your mother away to avoid upsetting you," Ranger explained, wanting Stephanie to know her mother wasn't harassing the hospital staff.
"Thanks for telling me." Stephanie sighed in relief. She didn't have the energy to handle her mother.
"What do you remember?" Ranger asked. Stephanie was suddenly wide awake and aware of every inch of Ranger's body pressed against her side.
"Ramirez, walking into my bathroom," she answered. Stephanie squinted, trying to pull another memory to the front. "I had a strange dream. How long have I been here?"
Ranger swiped the hair off Stephanie's forehead and tucked it behind her ear. He caught a glimmer in her eyes. "Two days. What did you dream?" he whispered, curiosity and amusement colouring his tone.
"It's silly and not probable," Stephanie said, blushing. Ranger kissed her forehead before gently kissing her lips. "Ah. That was part of the dream." Her voice was breathy and laced with desire.
"What. Was. The. Dream?" Ranger asked, separating each word with a kiss. Stephanie's heart fluttered rapidly. The warmth and tenderness of his soft lips on hers made her feel loved.
"We got married," Stephanie whispered, desperately willing it to be true. A tear slipped from her eye. She didn't believe it was true. Stephanie barely knew anything about Ranger, but she loved him when they first met.
Ranger kissed away the tear and gently wiped the moisture from her temple. "Babe, would you be upset if I said we got married?" Stephanie shook her head. She felt her face flush.
"Did we?" she whispered. "Get married?" Please say yes, she silently begged.
"Yes, Babe. We got married," he answered. Ranger stroked her nose with his, then kissed her lips. "I wanted to help with the medical bills." Ranger chuckled. "I couldn't say no when you asked."
"Is that all? I was a charity case? You said yes out of pity?" Stephanie quietly asked as more tears ran down her temples, soaking her curly hair. She was too exhausted for her rhino mode to engage.
"No, Babe. You mean more to me than a tax write-off. My life doesn't lend itself to relationships, but I want one with you." Stephanie snuffled. "I'm doing this all wrong," Ranger mumbled. He slipped a hand into his front pocket, removing the rings he got Tank to grab from the safe.
"Where do we go from here?" Stephanie asked. She didn't want to get divorced a second time. Ranger was too attractive to be married to an average woman with small breasts and a huge ass.
"Home, together as husband and wife," he replied, holding up the rings for her to see. "Please, Babe, call me Carlos when we're alone. Let me love you." Ranger laid his heart in Stephanie's hands. She literally held the power to destroy him.
Ranger raised an eyebrow and slipped the engagement and wedding bands over the first knuckle on her left ring finger. Stephanie nodded. He kissed her palm, then left his ring in her hand. Stephanie's hand shook as she slipped the ring onto Ranger's hand.
"Okay. I'm allergic to children," Stephanie joked.
"Babe," he whispered. Stephanie felt a tear drip from his eyes. "I'm sorry. You can't carry children. The doctor had to remove your uterus."
"That's okay, Carlos. I don't want to have children," she replied. "But if we decide to have a child, we can adopt or hire a surrogate." Not wanting children and being unable to have children were completely different things. Stephanie was upset her choice got taken away by Ramirez.
"Babe, I have a ten-year-old daughter. Her name is Julie. I was young and stupidly slept with a woman while on leave from the army. Rachel and I married to give Julie my name and medical coverage. We got divorced after Julie was born. I signed over paternal rights for Ron to adopt her. When we get home, I'll tell you more about Julie and my family," Ranger said.
"Thank you for telling me, Carlos." Stephanie was worried Carlos would divorce her once she got better. She turned her face away, afraid he'd read the thoughts and insecurity displayed on her face.
Gently turning Stephanie's head to look into her eyes, Carlos whispered, "Babe, our marriage will last as long as you want to be with me."
"I'm okay with being married to you, but not about what Ramirez took from me." Stephanie tried to turn away, but Carlos refused to let her. He gently held her chin, then pressed his lips against hers.
"Babe, It's okay not to be okay. Life is a journey filled with a lot of beautiful moments but also with many difficult times. There is only so much you can handle, so be patient because eventually things will get better, and so will you." Ranger said, reciting the Roger Lee quote.
"Who said that?" Stephanie wondered.
"Roger Lee," Ranger quickly replied.
"It's surprisingly appropriate."
Ranger stroked her face before pressing his lips against hers. "I couldn't agree more," he replied. Stephanie snorted, then groaned. "Babe?"
"I'm fine, Carlos. You don't need to hover," Stephanie whispered through the pain. Ranger reached toward the pain medication dispenser. "No. I don't want whatever the doctor put in there."
"It's morphine," Ranger said. "Your father and I didn't want you on opioids or fentanyl."
Stephanie shook her head. "I appreciate that but I don't want the morphine either. I'll take Tylenol for the pain. I don't want anything stronger," she insisted.
"Has anyone called you stubborn?" Ranger joked. Stephanie's lip twitched as she tried to stop herself from smiling.
"Maybe a time or two," she replied. Ranger laughed and gently kissed her temple. Stephanie felt content. "When do I get out of here?" Stephanie didn't want to be confined to a hospital bed any longer than necessary.
"In a few days," Ranger said. He couldn't wait to get Stephanie home. His men had to redirect a few reporters who tried to slip into the room.
"I don't like hospitals," Stephanie mumbled, rubbing her throat. Ranger could relate. He had spent his fair share recuperating in hospital beds. Ranger couldn't reach the water from his position, so he got off the bed.
"You want to go home?" Ranger asked. Stephanie nodded. She wanted to go home until she remembered what happened inside her apartment. Her face paled.
"Babe?" Ranger asked, "Is something wrong?"
"My rent is due in a few days. I can't afford to pay rent and the hospital bills," Stephanie whispered. "The bounty for capturing Morelli would have covered me for a few months."
Ranger climbed back into the bed with Stephanie. He carefully pulled her into his arms while pressing gentle kisses to her temple. "Babe, the insurance covers the medical expenses. Lester paid your rent for the month. Once the police release the scene, Lester and the others will clean your apartment to remove the reminders," Ranger explained. "We can live there together if that's what you want."
"Why would Lester pay my rent? He doesn't know me," Stephanie whined. She felt uncomfortable being indebted to a stranger. Having Ranger cover her hospital expenses was not in the plans. Then again, neither was getting horribly traumatized and injured by Ramirez thanks to fucking Morelli.
"Lester knows enough," Ranger explained. "He watched my back in the cafe."
"The blond-haired man at the counter?" Stephanie remembered seeing the attractive man with spiky blond hair. Ranger nodded while gently stroking Stephanie's arm. "He heard our conversation?" she whispered. Ranger continued to caress her arm, gentling her as her heart raced. Stephanie closed her eyes and enjoyed Ranger's touch as she got lost in him. She almost believed he loved her.
Frank smiled as he entered the room. Stephanie's head was resting on Ranger's shoulder. "How is Pumpkin?" Frank asked. Her father was in the room. It was too true to believe that her father, Frank Plum, had willingly entered the hospital to visit her.
Stephanie's eyes flew open. Her bottom lip quivered as she whispered, "Daddy."