Bethanne turned off the shower when she heard the apartment door burst open. Shouting in the living room startled her. She grabbed a towel to wrap around her body. "Leave him alone," Bethanne cried.

"Who are you?"

"His girlfriend," Bethanne replied.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen," Bethanne said. She wasn't about to tell them she was only fifteen.

An officer stepped forward, blocking her view. "Bethanne? Is that you?" he asked.

Bethanne dropped her chin, then tightened the towel around her breasts. Clarissa's older brother, Fred, was the officer on duty. "Yes," she whispered.

"Why are you here alone with this man?" Fred asked. He noticed Bethanne only wore a towel. Torn lacy bra and panties were on the floor. The apartment smelled of sex. Fred knew what Bethanne had done before showering. Bethanne shrugged. "Tom, we have to add statutory rape to the charges. Bethanne Daniels is only fifteen."

"It was consensual," Bethanne replied. "He didn't do anything I didn't want."

"She's under the age of consent," Fred said.

"Are you sure?" Tom asked.

"Positive. Bethanne and Clarissa are best friends. Their birthdays are a week apart. My sister is fifteen. Bethanne babysits for her neighbours." Tom shook his head and added the rape charge to Steve's list of offences.

"We should send a team to notify the wife of his arrest," Tom said.

"I'll do it."

"Do you know the family?" Fred asked.

"Yes. I'm her cousin," the man replied. "Davin Ramsey, but everyone calls me Ram. I know where Valerie lives." Ram glared at Steve and shook his head. He thought Valerie marrying the lawyer was an epic mistake. Valerie lived to receive praise from her mother. Helen had two strikes against her. Stephanie and Valerie married lawyers at Helen's insistence, and both marriages ended with the men cheating. At least Stephanie didn't have kids with her ex-husband.

"I'll come with you." Ram and his team took Steve Sutton to the unlocked police cruiser. He shoved Steve in the back. The men stood guard, waiting for the officers to arrive.

"Us too."

Fred grinned at the soldiers, impressed by their camaraderie. It was one of the many things he loved about being a police officer. The men watched each other's backs. "Bethanne, get dressed," Fred ordered. "I'm taking you home." He sighed when his phone rang. Fred listened to the detective on the other end.

"What's up?" Tom asked. Fred pulled him aside when Bethanne disappeared into the bedroom. They were on the seventh floor, and the building didn't have fire escapes. Fred knew Bethanne couldn't leave through the window.

"We have to arrest Bethanne," Fred quietly replied. "Sterling Trust and Loan provided the security tapes showing Bethanne opening an account in Valerie Sutton's name. The investigators contacted the branch manager when the wife stated she was in Florida on the day in question."

"Are you sure the wife didn't open the account?" Tom asked, ensuring they received the correct intel.

"Positive. The wife's social media page confirms the date. She posted a photograph of the airline ticket after boarding the plane heading home," Fred replied. "I suspect Bethanne didn't understand the consequences of her actions."

"The law is the law," Tom said. "We have to arrest her. It's a shame she threw away her life for a married man."

Bethanne exited the bedroom. She glanced around the room, looking for Steve. "I didn't get to say goodbye," she mumbled. Her lip quivered from sadness.

"Bethanne Daniels, you're under arrest for embezzlement and fraud. You have the right to remain silent," Tom said as Fred cuffed her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her breath hitched.

"He said we wouldn't get caught," Bethanne cried. "I wore her clothes to the bank. We could pass as sisters."

Fred wondered if Steve Sutton forced her to open the account. "I had it all planned," Bethanne cried. "He takes money from her account and deposits it into mine. It should have worked. I had everything planned for months." Bethanne kept talking, incriminating herself more. Everything she said got recorded. Fred willed her to stop talking, but Bethanne didn't get the mental message. "I don't want to raise our baby without him," Bethanne said when they approached the cruiser. Fred was furious the predator got the teen pregnant.

Tom shook his head in disgust. The fifteen-year-old girl was the mastermind behind the fraud. He refused to believe it. Was she taking the blame to prevent Steve from going to prison? Hopefully, the detectives would get to the bottom of the mess.

The detectives arrived with a forensics team to process the apartment. "There's a laptop on the couch," Tom said to the passing officers.

"Thanks, man," the lead detective replied. He gave a prompt salute with two fingers, then went inside the building.

Bethanne sat in the backseat with Steve Sutton. She faced the window, avoiding his stare. "Did you squeal?" Steve demanded.

"Don't worry. I took the blame," Bethanne said. "You can't go to prison for embezzling or fraud. They'll send me to the juvenile courts, and I'll get a slap on the wrist."

"You took the blame?" Steve snarled. "Was that some fucking attempt to throw me under the bus? Baby, you are to blame. It was all in your plans to get me away from my wife and daughters. I fell for you. Hard. My career is over because you assured me that we could escape free and clear. Even if they don't charge me with embezzlement or fraud, I'm still going to jail for having sex with you. You're fifteen. I knew better than to get involved with an immature teen. You may be a genius in school, but you're stunted in real life."

"We still have the money," Bethanne said. "I could use it to raise our child."

"There is no money!" Steve yelled. "Someone took it all."

Bethanne snorted. "Did you move it to another account I can't access?"

"No, because that was not in the plans," Steve snapped. Bethanne's face turned white. They were broke? Who took the money?

"Wait! How did they catch us?" Bethanne asked.

"The twenty grand was a trap," Steve replied, resigned. He wondered if Valerie caught onto the scheme. Who set the cleverly laid trap? "You should shut up. Do you realize we incriminated ourselves?"

"Pfft. Fred and his partner are busy talking to the soldiers. They aren't paying attention to us," Bethanne foolishly said. Steve rolled his eyes. He needed to figure out who knew about the money. Valerie was too stupid to trap him.

~~~~~

Valerie heard a knock on the door. She wondered who would be calling at nine in the evening. It wasn't the proper time to entertain without previous arrangements. Angie and Mary Alice were in their bedrooms, winding down for the night. The girls enjoyed their downtimes before falling asleep.

"Coming," Valerie called when someone knocked again. She opened the door and gasped. "Davin? Why are you here?" Valerie opened the door to her cousin and his team. The man following Davin through the door made Valerie's heart race.

Davin and his team removed their boots and sat in the living room, leaving the chair for Valerie. "Val," Ram said, "Steve got arrested twenty minutes ago."

"What are the charges?"

"Embezzlement, fraud and statutory rape," Ram replied. Valerie's mouth popped open. She was shocked.

"But it was the household money. How is that embezzlement or fraud?" Valerie didn't comment on the other charges. She knew the babysitter was underage.

"Bethanne Daniels opened an account in your name. Steve transferred the funds from your personal account to the fraudulent one, then moved the money to another in the Cayman Islands," Ram explained.

"Is that why Steph asked me about the Sterling Trust and Loans account?"

"Yes. Your brother-in-law, Carlos Manoso, called in a lot of favours to receive cooperation from the branch manager and us," Ram replied, pointing to the other men.

"Stephanie's married?" Valerie asked.

Ram shook his head and laughed. "That's all you got out of it? Yes, Valerie, Stephanie remarried. We call her husband Ranger."

"Ma'am, Ranger is an honourable man. We would do anything for him and his family," the attractive blond said. Valerie looked at her cousin, hoping for an introduction to the men.

"I'm sorry. What's your name?" Valerie asked when Ram didn't say anything.

"Martin Romeo," the blond replied. "Everyone calls me Marty."

"Chester Deuce."

"Martin Beam, but everyone calls me Beamer."

"Roger King."

"Sybo Diaz."

"Slick."

"Okay. Thank you. I'm Valerie Sutton, but you probably already know that," Valerie awkwardly said. "What am I supposed to do about Steve's arrest?"

"File for divorce. He works for a law firm, so you don't need to hire a lawyer," Ram replied. "We're moving you and the girls to Trenton. Do you mind if we stay here for the night? We can sleep in here."

"Sure, but keep in mind, I have two daughters aged nine and seven," Valerie said. "Close the door when using the washroom, and no walking around in your underwear."

"Yes, Ma'am," Marty said. His cheeks turned pink when Valerie issued the warning. Ram grinned, then slugged his shoulder.

"We've got a busy day tomorrow, Val. I'll stand watch to protect the girls," Ram promised, realizing Valerie was worried about the men spending the night.

"Thanks, Davin. It was a pleasure meeting everyone," Valerie said. She glanced at Marty before leaving the room.

"Shit, man. Wait until she's officially single," Ram said.

Marty blushed. "Sorry, Ram. Your cousin is hot. I love the hair and her light blue eyes. Didn't you feel the electricity in the air?" Marty asked.

"No," Sybo replied. "You've always been a sucker for a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman, Marty."

Valerie closed her bedroom door. Her heart raced after meeting Martin Romeo. His blond hair and blue eyes made her ovaries scream in excitement. The sparks flying through the air made the hair on her arms stand at attention. Valerie's soul demanded her heart and mind to let Marty in.

She had trouble falling asleep. Her mind, heart and soul were arguing, trying to prove they were right. Valerie dreamed of a wedding in a chapel. It wasn't the affair she had the first time. Stephanie was there, holding an adorable little boy. He had Stephanie's curly hair and blue eyes. Another boy was in a man's arms. Valerie couldn't see his facial features, but his skin was several shades darker than the child he held. A gorgeous little girl was in the arms of another woman, who was pregnant. Stephanie kissed the little girl's curls, calling her hija. Valerie remembered hija was Spanish for daughter. The girl was Stephanie's daughter, and the boys were her sons. Valerie concentrated on her surroundings.

Angie wore a tiara of small white flowers in her hair. The dress was pale blue. Mary Alice wore a dark blue dress with high-top sneakers. Valerie smiled at her tomboy with wildly curly hair. Mary Alice resembled Stephanie as a child.

Valerie rubbed a hand down her baby bump. Wait a second! She was pregnant? Valerie took a closer look at herself. She couldn't see her feet past her protruding stomach. "Val, Lisa's fussing," Davin said.

"I've got her," Stephanie announced, trading children with Davin. Lisa immediately settled for Stephanie. Valerie thought motherhood looked good on her sister.

She returned to the events happening around her. A man touched her elbow. "Are you ready, my love?" he asked. Valerie turned to look at her fiancé.

Valerie sat up in her bed. "Marty," she cried.

Unable to shake the dream, Valerie changed her clothes to face the day. It was five in the morning, but she was used to waking up early. She sat on the top step, waiting for the girls to awaken.

Marty looked up the stairs. "Are you okay? I heard you calling my name."

"Oh. I'm sorry. It was a dream," Valerie said. Her cheeks turned pink at her confession. Marty extended a hand. Valerie looked toward the other bedrooms before standing. She reached for his hand and felt sparks. It was unlike anything Valerie had experienced before.

"What was I doing in the dream," Marty asked, tucking loose hair behind Valerie's ear. His fingers left her skin tingling.

"Marrying me," she whispered. "I know it isn't real because I'm still married to Steve."

"Not for long," Marty reminded her. "Roger King is a family lawyer. He prepared the divorce decree. That's if you want it."

Valerie nodded, "I'm divorcing Steve's lying, cheating, thieving ass. I want sole custody of the girls." She wanted to end her failed marriage. It was not in the plans when she married Steve, but it was definitely the right decision.

"You'll get custody because Steve had sex with a minor. The state will award you custody. However, he could petition for supervised visitation," Marty said. "Come with me. I'll help you cook breakfast for the guys."

Ram watched Marty and Valerie walk toward the kitchen and shook his head. "He's got it bad for your cousin," Sybo said.

"I can see that for myself," Ram replied. "Valerie isn't used to being alone. She enjoys working part-time to be at home for the girls. I'm afraid she'd get hurt."

"With Marty?" Sybo scoffed. "You know he's been saving himself for the right woman."

Snorting, Ram said, "How do you know his words are true?"

"Ram, I've known Marty for my entire life. We've been friends forever. He dumped girlfriends for trying to initiate sex," Sybo replied. Ram shook his head in disbelief.

"It's true," Chester said. "I was there during the last breakup. Marty said he didn't feel a strong connection. She bitched about not having sex, and they'd have a stronger connection if they'd do the deed. Marty said he refused to stick his dick in a woman he never intended to marry. Why sample the free milk?"

"Who was that?" Ram asked, wincing at Marty's announcement of not taking the milk from a cow he refused to buy.

"Haley Roberts," Sybo replied. "The model. He never did anything except kiss her. No touching. No oral. Nothing. Marty refused to let her give him a blowjob."

"Shit!" Ram exclaimed, shaking his head. "I never thought he was still a virgin."

"Completely innocent," Sybo said. "Never got past first base with a woman. Marty and I have been roommates since we joined the Army. He never let a woman sleep over or enter his bedroom. Marty's as pure as they come."

Valerie and Marty listened to the conversations in the living room. She looked at Marty in shock. "Is that true?" she whispered. Marty nodded. "Not even oral sex?" He shook his head. "Have you touched a breast?" Marty blushed, making Valerie grin.

"She put my hand there," Marty whispered. He touched Valerie's face. She pressed her cheek against his hand. "You're different. Special. My soulmate."

"I'm not that innocent," Valerie said.

"I don't mind. You can teach me. Love me. Show me what you like," Marty replied, increasing the temperature in the room. Her face flushed with her heart racing. Valerie wanted him. Steve popped into her mind. Shit! She was married.

Marty leaned in to kiss Valerie. "Please wait until I sign the divorce papers," she begged. Marty reluctantly took a step back. "Can you grab the eggs and sausage from the fridge?" They worked together, preparing breakfast for everyone. Valerie put the plates and cutlery on the table, leaving them for the girls to finish the job.

Angie and Mary Alice entered the kitchen before Valerie finished cooking. They immediately got to work setting the table. "Woah. That's a lot of food," Mary Alice said, her eyes as large as saucers. Marty and Valerie carried the platters to the table.

The other men grabbed coffee and juice. "I like having help," Angie said, grinning. "Hi. I'm Angie."

"And I'm Mary Alice. Who are you?" she asked, shocking Valerie. Mary Alice rarely spoke to strangers.

Marty smiled at the cute girl. "I'm Marty," he replied. He pointed at the others, saying their names.

"We already know Davin," Angie admonished.

"He's a knucklehead," Mary Alice said, making everyone laugh.

They enjoyed breakfast while teasing each other. Angie and Mary Alice couldn't stop grinning. Valerie loved seeing the girls enjoy themselves. It was about time.