A/N: Thank you for your enthusiastic support. I want to point out that this is an AU story. Angie Morelli is not a Queen Bee in this story. She is completely different from her canon character. Grandma Bella doesn't go around cursing people in this world. Ellen was also not the same. She wasn't pushing Morelli on her like we know she does in canon. In this world, she and Steph had a cordial relationship, and had she lived, would have been disgusted with Morelli. She would not be in his corner. I know it's hard sometimes, but please pay attention to my character development in this story. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 17

When Ranger and Stephanie arrived at the Amtrak station in Miami, they were met by two of Ranger's employees from the Miami branch, Diego and Brian. They handed Ranger a set of keys and a bag.

"Do you need anything else, Sir?" Diego asked.

"No, that's it. I'm offline for day-to-day operations, but let me know if anything urgent arises."

"Got it. A pleasure to meet you, Ma'am."

"Same here," Stephanie replied.

The men went to their black SUV, climbed in, and drove away. Ranger walked Stephanie over to a black Porsche 718 Boxster RS Roadster convertible. Once Stephanie saw the car, she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Holy shit! How many Porsches do you own?" She asked incredulously.

"Four, two Cayennes, the Turbo, and this one. I spend a lot of time in New Jersey since most of my family is there and keep two cars there. Miami is my home. I use one of the fleet SUVs in Atlanta or Boston since I usually only visit for a few days up to a week or two."

"How much money do you have?" Stephanie said before putting her hand over her mouth, her face crimson. "Never mind, don't answer that. That was rude of me."

Ranger couldn't help but smile at Stephanie, chastising herself. "A lot, babe. The government pays me well to do their dirty business, and Rangeman makes a profit."

Stephanie looked confused as Ranger opened the passenger door for her. She sat in the car, and Ranger gently buckled her in. "Are you okay? Are you getting another headache?"

Stephanie gently shook her head, "No. I'm just wondering if my father has a stockpile of money somewhere. He was always money-conscious. I know he paid for my school and Valerie's wedding, but I assumed he was saving from when I was a baby. But, thinking back, we always had a newer car, one less than five years old, but never something high-end. And my father worked for the Post Office for a while before running for Mayor. I never thought about where he got the money to finance his first campaign. I just don't understand why he never had us move to a different neighborhood or get a larger house."

"Not everyone likes to show off what they earn. I only drove newer mid-range cars until Rangeman became profitable. I didn't want to explain where I got the money I earned. People don't take kindly to those of us who are mercenaries. I was a soldier and worked security between missions until Rangeman. As Rangeman grew, I could upgrade my cars and then my home. Now that I have a successful, legitimate business, I can enjoy the fruits of the spoils."

A look of understanding came over Stephanie's face as Ranger spoke. He closed her door and entered on the driver's side. "Babe, don't think poorly of your father. I know some men who never touch their money other than what they need to survive. Some of the things I had to do to get that money, well, in some ways, it's blood money. I'm proud of what I do to keep the people of our country safe, but I'm not proud of what I had to do to those people. I have blood on my hands. It was justifiable, and I got rid of evil people, but it's still blood. There is a part of my soul that irrevocably mimed, but."

Ranger trailed off, leaving his statement unfinished. "But what?"

There was a war going on in Ranger's mind. Should he tell Stephanie what he thinks or not? After glancing at her, seeing the acceptance in her eyes, he decided to finish his thought. "But since I met you, I feel my soul is being healed. You calm and center me in a way that I never felt before. I'm not as tense when I'm with you and not as angry. You keep me centered."

Stephanie smiled with tears in her eyes. "My Dad said the same thing to me. When he would come home, he'd be, what's the word, haunted. I'd sit with him, sharing the gossip from the neighborhood and school, and after a few days, he'd return. When Morelli broke up with me at seventeen, my father told me I was better than Morelli and that I'd find a man who needed me one day. He said that I heal the soul and there would be someone who needed me to make them live again. I didn't understand what he meant then, but I think I do now."

As Ranger started the car, they both got lost in their thoughts. Ranger was known to be impulsive and to do things rashly, especially in his personal life, never in business. Regarding Rangeman, every move was considered, with pros and cons listed and discussed. In his private life, though, that was a different story. He dated Rachel simply because he was a horny twenty-something who liked the package. He wanted her, and she wouldn't put out unless they dated. That ended well. Then, he dated another woman when he first started Rangeman. He purchased an engagement ring and was ready to propose when he found her fucking a woman. He could care less that she was bi, but he didn't share. He felt like Stephanie was the one, but his track record wasn't good. Maybe he should introduce her to Abuela. If Abuela approves, then she's the one.

Stephanie hoped that Ranger was her soul mate. He was everything she always wanted, even though she didn't think she'd get it. He was handsome, ridiculously so. His body was hard and ripped in all the right places. Ranger was kind and caring and understood her need to be in control of her own life.

Most importantly, he respected her. Stephanie couldn't discount his talent in the bedroom. Ranger made her body hum and sing like never before. She had orgasmed with Morelli a couple of times, but he was always more concerned with his pleasure over hers. However, it seemed that Ranger wanted her to be satisfied more than himself. His generosity as a lover was a welcomed change. Even though Stephanie felt their relationship was moving quickly, she wasn't concerned about its staying power.

Soon, Stephanie saw they were driving through an expensive neighborhood. The houses were large, with well-manicured lawns and attractive gardens. High-end cars were parked in the driveway, with the properties enclosed by brick walls, wrought iron fences, or a combination of both. The streets were tree-lined and quiet.

Ranger slowed down as he entered the start of his driveway. After rolling down his window, he keyed his password into the panel, which opened the gates. He drove the car through, and a few moments later, the gates closed as he parked in front of his home.

Stephanie resembled a fish with her mouth opened in a perfect "o" as she saw Ranger's home. It was beautiful and large but in a classic style. You can sense that the owner had money but was not showy or ostentatious. The house was a single-story home with an off-white stucco exterior and a flat tile roof. There was a two-car garage attached to the house. They pulled up in front of a covered walkway made of brinks in the tan and grey family. Two beautiful palm trees were on either side of the entranceway, with smaller flowers and shrubs along the house and driveway.

Ranger parked the car in front of the walkway. "I don't like using the garage for my cars. I'm always concerned that if someone plants something on the car, it could go off and set the house on fire. Paranoid, I know."

"No, I understand completely."

Ranger led Stephanie to the front entrance, opening the large grey and glass door. "All the glass on the house is bullet and blast-resistant. Eventually, they will shatter, but it would give us enough time to get out or into the safe room."

Once they entered the home, the main living space opened up. There was a seating area to the right, with an el-shaped leather sectional and two armchairs stationed around a mahogany coffee table, with an end table on one side of the sectional and between the chairs. There was a small table behind the couch where a few frames were set up. The table contained two draws. To the left was the kitchen. There were natural wood-colored cabinets with stainless steel appliances along the wall. In the center was an island that could be used as a preparation area, a serving area, or a bar table for at least five people. To the left of the table was a walk-in pantry. Straight ahead of the kitchen was a dining nook with a table large enough to fit ten. Behind the living area were sliding doors to the patio.

"This house has five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. There is another half-bath off the kitchen. Next to the garage, I have an office and then a laundry room. There is also a linen closet near the four bedrooms on the left. On the right is the MMMaster suite. You can pick whichever room you want to use or share my room. It's up to you, Babe. Above the garage is another room. It's my library. It is on the smaller side, but it has great natural light and quiet. Half of the garage is a small home gym. I'll show you that later."

Ranger wanted to ensure that Stephanie knew she had choices. He didn't want her to feel pressured to share his bed, but he also wanted her to know it was an option. Ranger preferred that she slept with him, but he would honor her wishes. "From my bedroom is another entrance to the patio."

Ranger brought her out to the patio. There, she saw two sitting areas. One with outdoor furniture around a fire pit/table combination and a long table with a chair for eating. Beyond the seating area was a large in-ground swimming pool. To the right behind the pool was a small building.

"That is the guest house. If I need anyone from Rangeman to stay with me for security, they will stay there. There is one large bedroom with two bunk beds, two bathrooms, a large common area capable of being used as a control room, and a small galley kitchen.

"Oh, you have a pool. I love to swim."

"Feel free to use it whenever you want."

"This house is really nice. Do you spend a lot of time here?"

"Not as much as I'd like to. To be honest, I'm a little bit of a workaholic. I use my penthouse at the Rangeman office more than the house. I primarily stay here when I have Julie or when my family visits. Julie's room is right off the kitchen."

"It's lovely. Um, where are my bags?"

Ranger chuckled. "Maribel will be bringing them here in about fifteen minutes. She got held up at the office. She'll be coming with our groceries and your clothes and toiletries."

"Are there cameras inside?"

"Yes, there are. However, once I put my code in, the cameras turn off, and only motion is detected on exterior entrances, such as the doors and windows. Rangeman monitors for fire and carbon monoxide inside the home. In addition, there are a few panic buttons around the house that I can press if there is a breach and I need backup."

"I thought you said there was a safe room?"

"Follow me," Ranger said as he entered his large closet. He pressed a button behind a box of shoes the size of a grain of rice. "You press this button, and the door opens."

The wall behind his suits opened, and he brought Stephanie inside. He then closed the door and pressed a green button. "This button seals the door so no one can get in. There is a monitor here where I can see what is happening in the house. It is also a way for Rangeman to get inside. The door won't open from the outside when I press the green button. If Rangeman is on the ground and it's safe to exit, they will put in a code that gives me the all-clear. That light, "Ranger said, pointing to a bulb above the door, "will turn green. Then, I press the red button and exit. If someone forces them to give an all-clear, they will use a slightly different code to light the bulb red. Then I know not to open the door until I am ready."

Ranger showed Stephanie a small bench. He opened it, revealing several bullet-proof vests, weapons, ammunition, and what looked like gas masks. In the corner was a small fridge, which Ranger opened to show her water stored there, and on another cabinet, there were some canned goods and other non-perishable food.

"There is enough here to last two days if needed, but I don't anticipate being here for more than a few hours."

"Wow, this is, wow. Do you mind if we get out of here? I'm a little claustrophobic right now."

"Oh, sure, sorry," Ranger said as he opened the door. Stephanie was glad to be out in the main house.

As they returned to the main living area, Ranger heard his alarm sound and looked at his phone.

"Maribel is here. I'll introduce you to her."

A few moments later, an older Hispanic woman entered the house. She had salt and pepper hair that was more salt than pepper, kept back in a twist by a butterfly clip. She was a little on the heavy side but not overweight. She wore black pants and a loose-fitted white T-shirt.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here before you arrived. Today of all days for my crock pot to die," Maribel said as she pushed her cart into the kitchen. On top of the cart were grocery bags, and on the bottom were two duffle bags.

"Hello, dear. My name is Maribel, and I care for Ranger and the other boys. Ranger asked me to get you some clothing and to coordinate with Ella on which toiletries and make-up you use. I hope I got you everything you need. After Ella told me you have curly hair, I got a few products that will help with the humidity here so you don't look like a French poodle that's been electrocuted."

"I'm Stephanie, but please call me Steph."

"I brought over all the healthy stuff that Ranger asked for, but I also have some chocolate, cookies, and ice cream here. I hope you like Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough because that's what I brought. If you prefer a different flavor, please let me know."

"No, that's perfect. Thank you so much."

"Mari, you know that stuff isn't healthy."

"Oh, shush. Women cannot thrive without sweets. We need some dessert to stay happy and sane. Stephanie doesn't look like she has a problem. Maybe you'd be a little happier if you ate some sugar occasionally."

Stephanie was clearly amused at how Maribel dealt with Ranger. She could see that she had a great rapport with him.

"Did you send someone to get you a new crock pot?"

"No, I ordered one on Amazon. It will be delivered tomorrow. Since I knew that I didn't have one available, I adjusted the menu. I did upgrade it, though. It is considerably more expensive than the old one."

"There is no need for you to justify your purchases to me. If that's the one you need, you get it. You know I don't care about the money."

"Yes, I do, but you should. Not everyone is going to be as honest as I am."

"Thank you, Maribel, for everything. We should be good for now."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Steph. Please let me know if you need anything else."

"Same here. Thank you. It means a lot to me to have someone helping me out."

"It's nothing, dear. Goodbye, Ranger."

Ranger escorted Maribel to the door and pushed her cart. He then places the cart in her van. While Ranger was helping Maribel, Stephanie put the food in the fridge and pantry. She then discovered a warm Pyrex dish. Stephanie opened the lid, and the most fantastic aroma hit her nose. She took a deep breath and let out a moan of pleasure.

With her eyes closed, Ranger saw Stephanie breathing in the aroma of his favorite, pollo con arroz. He was glad he asked Maribel to make that for him and Stephanie. "Wait until you taste it. The flavors explode on your tongue and in your mouth."

"What is it?"

"Pollo con arroz. Maribel makes it excellent, but Ella's is better. However, neither of them makes it as good as my Abuela."

"Is your Abuela?"

"Yes, my Abuela Rosa is still alive. In fact, she doesn't live far from here. We'll visit her if I get Julie for a few days. I try to see her whenever I have Julie. I want Julie to have many memories of Abuela. She is the woman who made me the man I am today."

Stephanie was curious about something Ranger had said to her a few days ago. "Carlos, when you told me about your parents sending you here to Miami, you said it was your mother's idea. Why aren't you more upset with her. She basically washed her hands of you."

Ranger sat on one of the stools. "Initially, I was furious with both of my parents. About two weeks after I got here, my mother came to visit. I refused to be in the same room as her, but my Abuela told me to listen to what she had to say. If I was still angry, I could leave the room, but I had to give my Mom a chance to explain.

"My mother told me she was sorry for pushing me aside and didn't realize what she did. She was overwhelmed and was trying to keep things going. My siblings were a handful, and my father was working most of the time. She felt I was the most independent and didn't need her as much since I was quiet. She regrets mistaking my silence for contentment. She begged the prosecutor not to press charges. My mother swore that I would stay out of trouble, that she would personally make sure I toe the line. But my father said absolutely not. He told the prosecutor to throw the book at me. My mother was devastated. To save me, she worked with the prosecutor, without my father's knowledge, to lessen the charges to community service or something similar. My father wanted me to be locked away so I couldn't be a problem again. My mother left the room and called my Abuela in tears, not knowing what to do. She didn't want my life ruined because she wasn't doing her job as my mother. My Abuela understood and agreed to take me. My mom used to call me every afternoon to see how school and my day were going. She would send money to my Abuela behind my father's back. She was proud of me when I told her I joined the Army. Don't get me wrong, she tried to talk me out of it, scared that she would lose me permanently, but when I explained why I wanted to join, she backed me up and supported me. I would write her regularly, and she would respond to every letter. When the Rachel situation happened, she was so angry. If she had seen Rachel, she would have punched her in the face. My problem helped her see how she needed help with my siblings and made her a better mother. Our close relationship was kept hidden from my father because he never approved of me or my choices. Both my mother and my Abuela tried to get my father to see how wrong he was, but he was a man and knew what was best. He would placate Abuela, but he never heard what she said. Their relationship became strained, which I always hated."

"You know that it wasn't your fault. Your dad should have supported you and seen you were lost."

"Logically, I know that is true. But my heart doesn't want to believe it."

They sat silently for a few minutes before Stephanie's stomach growled.

"I think it's time to eat," Stephanie said sheepishly.

Ranger got a couple of dishes out with utensils while Stephanie poured them a glass of water. After they both had a healthy portion on their plates, Stephanie tasted her food. The moan she let out was so sensual. Ranger wouldn't be surprised if she orgasmed. He knew what to expect, so he didn't bite yet.

"You like it?"

"Oh my, I have never tasted anything so good before," Steph said before taking another bite and letting out another moan.

Ranger lifted his fork and had his first taste. While he loved this meal, he couldn't help but think about making Stephanie recreate those sounds. After a slow, painful dinner for Ranger, they finally finished and quickly cleaned the kitchen.

"We are going to have a briefing in about thirty minutes. There is time for you to change into something else if you'd like."

Stephanie was contemplating which room she would take. Part of her felt it would be wiser to take her own room, but she had gotten used to being around Ranger. Sharing a bed with him was dangerous unless he felt the same about her. "You don't mind if I share your room?"

"No, in fact, I would prefer that."

Stephanie smiled broadly. She picked up the bags Marisol packed for her and entered Ranger's room. Steph went through the clothes and found a pair of yoga pants and an oversized, loose T-shirt. She put both on and returned to the living room barefoot, where Ranger had a laptop opened on the coffee table. She sat next to him on the couch crisscrossed. A few moments later, the guys from Trenton were on screen.

"Report."

"Good evening. We have made considerable progress today and feel we have a few good leads," Cal said. "Hector was able to intercept a bunch of emails and text messages between the General and his daughter dating back at least a year. From cross-checking the timeline, the first message occurred about two weeks after the President and Stephanie attended a state dinner at Buckingham Palace."

Ram continued, "The first emails started with how the daughter was sure to be promoted, that she did a great job and would be on First Family duty soon. Then, they turned to how she was wronged and pushed down by one person who thought they knew better. How one person sabotaging her ruined her chance for advancement."

"I'll be damned," Stephanie said, "It can't be Jessica, can it?"

"Who's Jessica?" Ranger asked.

Stephanie took a moment to think back on their trip. Going overseas with her father was the first time she was under the protection of the Secret Service Agency. Anytime the President and his family travel overseas, the Secret Service provides protection. "We traveled to England, France, and Italy on that trip. Dad had his core agents with him, including Morelli, and I was given a team of two: Agent Christopher Wittman and Agent Jessica Morrow. Agent Morrow shared a suite with me when we traveled. At first, when we were in England, she seemed cool and friendly. We got along, and it wasn't a problem being around her. When we got to France, Morelli was given a day off, and he tagged along with me, Agent Wittman, and Agent Morrow as I toured Paris. Then, we went to Italy. In Italy, Agent Morrow was cold and distant. She acted strange and made me feel uncomfortable. I mentioned it to Agent Wilson, and the next day, I had a different agent, and Jessica was sent back stateside. I remember Agent Wilson asking what I thought of her, and I said she was very observant and took her job seriously; she weirded me out. I didn't feel like I could trust her. I guess that went into her job evaluation. I know she was assigned to visiting dignitary duty, which is important."

"That explains why she is fixated on you, then, Stephanie," Ram replied. "We concluded she was behind the threats but couldn't figure out why."

"But who is her father, the General?" Stephanie asked.

"That is where it gets interesting. Morrow is the last name of her mother's second husband, who adopted Jessica as a child. Her father abandoned his wife and daughter for a younger woman. His name is General Dudley. General Matthew Dudley."

"Fuck. Does the General know we are Steph's security?" Ranger asked.

"I'm not sure. Why?" Cal asked.

"Because he knows that Ranger has a home in Miami. He will be the only one who would piece together that Stephanie would be in Florida with Ranger," Tank said.

"Are we safe here?"

"Yes, we are. However, I will contact Marco and tell him to send a team here to stay on the grounds. If Stephanie's headaches go away in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours, we will move to Rangeman Miami."

"We must assume that any attack will not be with traditional weapons of means. We need to think of spy movie shit. Hector needs to dig into whatever the General is working on and what he can access. Who can we contact at the Pentagon to tell them they have a vermin issue?"

"Dad is good friends with General Bogush. They ran some missions together back then and have known each other since basic training."

"Stephanie, can you contact General Bogush without your father knowing?" Ranger asked.

"Yes. Do you want me to contact General Bogush now or wait until morning?"

"Wait until morning. We'll have more concrete evidence then," Ranger said. "Good work. Keep digging. We'll reconvene tomorrow at oh nine hundred."

"Sir," Cal replied before the screens went black as Ranger signed off.

Joe Juniak and Frank were sitting in the billiard room enjoying a cigar and a glass of whiskey. "Why would someone go after Stephanie? I don't get the motivation. I mean, it can't be political. The sympathy you have received since Ellen died is helping in the pools, as the character debate is all but shut down. If, God forbid, something happened to Stephanie, then it would be even more so. That would almost guarantee your reelection," Juniak said.

"I don't know. I don't think it's politically motivated. This seems more personal. More so directed at Stephanie. If someone wanted me out, why did they wait until I was safely in the car to shoot? They could have easily killed me. They could have shot her during the service. But, then, there might have been collateral damage. No, this is directly related to Stephanie."

They both paused, lost in their thoughts. Juniak spoke first. "You don't think Morelli has anything to do with this, do you?"

"At first, I did. I thought Morelli was behind everything, trying to reel Stephanie back in. That is why I was adamant about not having the Secret Service provide her security. He is a controlling, narcissistic asshole I kept around for too long. I didn't protect Stephanie from him as I should have."

"Frank, while there is more you could have said, you know Stephanie. If you outright told her to stay away from Morelli, she would have gone with him even more in spite. Maybe not so much in the last year or so, but she would have rubbed your nose in the relationship before that. She always had issues with authority."

"And that goes back to Ellen, God rest her soul. I wish Stephanie or Valerie told me what Ellen was like when I was away. They always kept it a secret, and Ellen never acted that way when I was home. She hid her other side well when I was home."

"The girls were happy to be with you. They didn't want to burden you with their problems, especially Stephanie. I know Stephanie was able to pick up on your struggles."

"Yes, she was always observant like that. When I told my therapist, he encouraged me to be around Steph when I returned. She, more than therapy, helped me through those dark times."

"I heard Angie and the rest of the Morelli clan completely cut off Joe."

"I don't understand Angie sometimes. When Joe was eight, I first picked up on what was happening in that house. I spoke to Angie once and checked if she was okay. Angie assured me everything was fine and that nothing was wrong. I confronted her, and she pushed back. Anthony was two, and Angie had just given birth to Cathy. She said that having Cathy would fix everything. It did, for a year or two, but then I know Rocco started back. She balked no matter how often I offered to give her money or a safe place to stay."

"Battered woman syndrome. Angie had it. You and I both understand how that works. It's a form of PTSD. But either way, the blame falls on Joe. He can make his own choices in life. He could have chosen to rise above, but he didn't. Joe knew what he was doing was wrong. He just didn't give a shit. Joe made his bed. Now, he must lie in it. Don't feel guilty. You tried your best. Now, Stephanie is away from him, and hopefully, she will find her perfect mate."

Frank smiled, his eyes twinkling. "She already has."

Joe looked at Frank with his head slightly tilted. "Who?"

"Manoso."

"Manoso?"

"Yes, Manoso."

"Are you sure he's good for her? I mean, with his reputation."

"You know that we all have that dark side. You too. We can unleash the beast in us when the time arises, but we know how to contain it. The Ranger who runs ops is not the same man with Steph. If you ask me, that's Carlos. But who knows. What I do know is that if Stephanie and Manoso choose each other, they will both benefit. He will support Stephanie and build her confidence, providing her with the love she didn't have from me and Ellen. For Ranger, Stephanie will heal his soul."

"He's definitely ten thousand times better than Morelli."

"Hell, a fucking cockroach is better than Morelli."