Steve
Natalia said our lives were in danger. She told me that Valerie hired someone to follow her. I couldn't believe Valerie would do that, but Natalia found proof. She showed me the email and text messages from Valerie's phone, threatening to kill Steve for ruining her life. I had a sizeable stash of money in my offshore account. The money was sitting there until I wanted to move to the Dominican. Valerie couldn't access my bank. That got terminated before I left my wife.
When Natalia returned, she removed latex gloves from her hands and shoved them into a plastic bag inside her Hermes bag. My gut flipped, warning me of impending danger. Natalia got inside the driver's seat. I tried to open the door. It was locked. She smiled at me. It didn't reach her eyes, which looked cold.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To a safe house," Natalia replied. "Steve, we need to leave before they find us. She's getting closer." Natalia stroked my thigh as she reached across my body. My body automatically reacted to her touch, masking my fear. Her hand moved across my lap, touching my erection pressed painfully against my zipper. I felt a tug before something clicked.
I looked at my waist. Natalia chained me to the seat. "Help!" I screamed. Something pinched my leg.
"Shh, baby. You're going to sleep for a long time. My husband, Jorge Araya, thanks you for your contribution. He purchased many weapons for that cash," Natalia said. She grabbed my phone and used my fingerprint to unlock the screen.
Pain filled my heart until I couldn't breathe.
~~~~~
Valerie
The girls enjoyed spending Christmas inside Rangeman. Ella and Luis decorated the control room and the conference rooms. It looked as though Christmas threw up everywhere. Even the cubicles had lights strung over the tops.
Stephanie spoiled the girls. She bought Angie a Kindle loaded with books from all her favourite authors and others Stephanie thought Angie would enjoy. Mary Alice received a plush horse and riding lessons. She was excited to ride a horse. Ricky went horseback riding in the summer before I moved to Trenton. He told Mary Alice about the ponies at the farm.
My girls and Stephanie's children got spoiled by the men. They bought the children toys, clothes and other items they felt the kids needed. It was too much. Tank and I purchased a trampoline for the girls. Angie and Mary Alice couldn't use it without supervision. We always had two of the guys at the house.
Ranger's family returned home on New Year's Eve day to spend the evening with their friends. Stephanie loved her relatives. However, she confessed to being relieved when her extended family had gone home.
I haven't heard anything about Steve's disappearance since Detective Banner interrogated me. The LAPD detective was trying to find Steve Corelli. Nobody heard from him since his disappearance. I promised to contact the LAPD if I heard from Steve. He had no reason to call me, and I told Banner to contact his parents. They may provide more insight.
The first week of January had passed when Detective Banner returned from LA. He had an arrest warrant in his hand. They found Steve's body floating in the ocean. A woman matching Natalia's description was discovered in a vacation cottage. The owners visited the home to celebrate New Year's Eve and found the body in the bed. Local police found a phone with incriminating messages and emails, seemingly from me. I never sent those messages or emails. My email name at the Accounting firm was Val. not Valerie.. It might seem like an insignificant detail, but it wasn't. The proof of my innocence was in those details. Also, my access to the email portal was closed when they fired me.
Detective Banner issued the warrant to collect my phone and computer. They hoped to find the emails hidden somewhere on the hard drive. When I met Hector, he restored my laptop to factory settings after copying pertinent information such as photographs and personal email. The police won't find the evidence on my computer or phone. I never sent those messages. My email address for personal use doesn't contain any variations of my name. Nothing in the messages mentions Steve or Natalia. I only used the email to receive discounts and coupons for my favourite shops in the mall.
"All of your phones," Detective Banner ordered.
"That's all of them. It's the only phone I own," I replied. I never accepted a phone issued by Rangeman. It wasn't necessary since I never worked in the field.
Hector arrived, refusing to let the detective leave the building with my computer and phone. Detective Banner sighed, then contacted his boss. They agreed to let the IT forensics department at the TPD search my devices under Banner's guidance.
Ranger offered the use of the main floor conference room for them to comb through my computer. I always brought my laptop to work, refusing to leave it at home.
The IT men from the TPD arrived, carrying a flash drive and other items to connect to my phone and computer. Hector and Ranger stayed in the room while the men invaded my privacy and life. They opened every folder on my laptop after using the flash drive to prohibit anyone from remotely accessing my computer.
Everything got copied to an external drive. I felt devastated. There wouldn't be anything in my life the men wouldn't uncover. Tank came to the main floor and pulled me away from the windows, where I was looking into the conference room.
"I'm taking you home, Little One," Tank announced. We entered the elevator to take upstairs to the sixth floor. The girls were in the apartment with Lester and Bobby. While I worked, they volunteered to stay with my children during their winter break. Angie and Mary Alice loved their Rangeman uncles.
Six hours later, Ranger called me to the conference room. Tank accompanied me. The girls went to Stephanie's apartment because Lester and Bobby had to work. Stephanie sent Tank a text indicating the girls arrived. Ella made them macaroni and cheese for dinner.
Detective Banner paced the room until I arrived. He approached me, apologizing for accusing me of killing Steve. During the in-depth search on my computer, Banner received a phone call regarding the woman found in the cottage. It wasn't Natalia. The woman was Grace Sanderson. She was Natalia's friend from the accounting firm. I never got along with the woman.
"What does that mean?" I asked when the technician gave me some techno garbage.
"The specialist said the emails on the victim's phone were not from your computer or phone. He indicated the laptop was restored to factory settings several months ago. There was no possible way for you to email from your old work account from the laptop," Banner explained.
"Not to mention, my email at work was different from the one you said got used," I snapped. "My phone?"
"We received a list of calls and messages you sent from your device. None of the numbers matched Natalia Vicenza or Steve Corelli's phone numbers. The technician searched for hidden and archived messages. He couldn't find anything. I'm sorry for disrupting your life," Banner said. "Whoever is responsible for your husband's death wanted you to take the blame."
"Find Natalia Vicenza. She's the woman you want," I replied. I grabbed my phone and laptop off the table and stomped from the room. That fucking cunt Natalia was messing with my life. Someone needed to stop her before she came after me or the girls.
I took the elevator to the top floor. The doors wouldn't open without Stephanie or Ranger's override. Someone must have notified my sister. Stephanie pulled me from the elevator and then passed the laptop to Angie, who took it inside the elevator. My family wasn't the hugging type, but Stephanie held me tightly. The emotions I had suppressed for the past few hours broke free. Stephanie held me as I cried.
The elevator doors closed, then reopened a few minutes later. Tank gently tugged me from Stephanie's arms and carried me down the stairs to his apartment. "It's okay, Little One," Tank whispered. He opened the door to the apartment and sat on the couch. "Steph and Ranger are keeping the girls for the night."
"Okay," I cried. My man held me until I cried myself to sleep.
I didn't wake up until the following morning. Tank's fingers trailed down my back and over my hip. He had removed my clothes and dressed me in his shirt before taking me to bed. It covered me nearly to my knees. Tank was over a foot taller than me, but we made it work. I loved him with all my heart, body and soul. No other man made me feel complete.
"Morning, my love," Tank said. He rolled me onto his chest. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Pierre. Thank you for taking care of me last night. I love wearing your shirts," I replied.
"Anything for you, Little One. I love you," Tank said. It wasn't the first time we exchanged the words "I love you," but they made my heart melt every time.
"Can we go back home?" I asked.
"Of course," he replied. "When I work nights or on call, I want you and the girls to stay here."
I wanted to argue but realized it was a battle I would lose. Stephanie stayed at Rangeman with the children when Carlos worked the late shift. It was easier for the men to watch the family.
"Okay," I agreed. "What about school?"
"I have Manny and Binkie driving the girls to school. They'll stay in the area until it's time to come home. We're hiring more men for the office," Tank replied. I was pleased Tank assigned the men my daughters were most comfortable around. The girls loved Lester and Bobby, but they were needed inside Rangeman. Lester worked in client sales, and Bobby was the onsite medic. Bobby's services were handy when I needed my quarterly birth control shot. Pierre and I weren't in a hurry to have babies.
As usual, Mom lamented her "why me" whenever she heard anything about Stephanie and me. I rolled my eyes at the latest rumour of Stephanie and I sharing the men inside Rangeman. Stephanie and Carlos were devoted to each other. It was the same for Pierre and me.
We had dinner at Mom's and Dad's house once a month, provided Mom didn't invite eligible Burg men for supper. Dad warned us a few times. Eventually, Mom got the message. She wanted to visit her grandchildren, but it had to be on our terms. Stephanie and I didn't want a repeat of when Morelli came for dinner.
Tank and I climbed out of bed when our phones rang. I wasn't sure which to respond to first. Fortunately, Tank answered his cell phone on speaker.
"Thank god you answered," Stephanie said. "Tank, bring Val to St Francis Hospital. It's Grandpa Harry." Stephanie hung up after delivering her message.
I ran to the bathroom for a two-minute shower. Tank climbed inside after I finished. I didn't bother styling my hair or wearing makeup. There wasn't enough time.
"Where are the others?" I asked when we arrived in the garage. The empty spots made my stomach flip. Was Grandpa Harry okay?
Tank only had to stop twice on the way to the hospital. He hit every green light but had to adhere to the stop signs.
My girls ran toward me when I entered the waiting room. Angie and Mary Alice were crying. I couldn't understand what had happened.
"Angie, Mary Alice, I need you to stay with Tank, Uncle Carlos and the others, okay?" Stephanie asked. My girls nodded and clung to Tank. He took them to the chairs while Stephanie dragged me through the examination room doors.
"You made it," Grandma Edna said. Tears streaming down her cheeks was ominous. It wasn't good news. "Your grandfather has a few words." Grandma Edna kissed Grandpa's forehead before giving us some privacy.
"Up," Grandpa said, patting the sides of his bed. Stephanie and I climbed onto the bed, resting our heads on Grandpa's shoulder. We managed to keep ourselves from falling.
"Are you okay, Grandpa?" Stephanie whispered.
"No, sweetheart. I'm dying. The doctor said I needed a quadruple bypass," Grandpa replied.
"But you can still make it," I pleaded. My voice cracked and hitched with emotion.
"I don't think so. My heart isn't the only medical concern. I'm not going into details. Your Grandmother will share the medical jargon with Bobby Brown."
"Why did you want to see us together?" Stephanie asked.
"I'm proud of you, sweethearts. I love both of you and your children. Valerie, stay strong. Don't let your mother bully you into marrying another asshole from the Burg. Pierre's a good man. I know he loves you. It's evident in his body language. Stephanie, I don't have to worry so much about you. I love your determination. You're too headstrong to allow your mother to manipulate you. Protect Valerie and her girls. I sense trouble brewing," Harry said.
"I will," Stephanie promised when I answered, "Okay."
"Valerie, your greatest ally is your sister." The monitors started beeping. Grandma Edna entered the room. She sat at Grandpa's feet. A nurse rushed into the room to silence the alarm.
"It's time for your surgery," the nurse announced.
We kissed Grandpa's cheeks, whispering, "I love you. Goodbye, Grandpa," before climbing off the bed. Grandma kissed Grandpa on the lips and said goodbye. It broke my heart. Stephanie and I clung to each other and cried. We instinctively knew Grandpa wouldn't survive the surgery.
A few days after visiting Grandpa Harry Mazur in the hospital, we buried him. Grandma Edna, Valerie and I got the chance to say goodbye. Mom refused to visit Grandpa in the hospital. She missed the opportunity to talk to her father. Somehow, Mom said it was Stephanie's fault.