At the end of her first day working, Casey was exhausted, but happier than I'd ever seen her. She was so tired that we ended up eating leftovers I heated in the microwave. Then she fell asleep on me while we were tucked together on the couch watching television.

Ella's surgery went off without a hitch. After recovering for a couple of days, she began having Louis take her down to the industrial kitchen on the third floor. Where she taught Casey her secrets and recipes from the comfort of her wheelchair.

In turn, Casey was like a happy little sponge, who soaked up every bit of information offered. While I was worried about her pushing herself too hard, I had to admit, Doctor Cochran was right. Working was good for her mental health.

Five days after Ranger and Steph's return life threw us all yet another curve ball. It was about ten in the morning when Ram showed up in my office doorway. "Ramon just called up from the lobby. There's a general on his way up to see Ranger."

That had me popping up from my seat in time to see a man dressed in his service uniform step off the elevator and cross the control room floor. My stomach dropped at the sight of him. "That's General Vandenberg." He was one of the Generals Ranger reported to when he was still doing black ops missions.

"Shit," Ram muttered as we watched Ranger appear from inside his office and shake the General's hand. "I remember him." He cut his gaze from the general to me. "This can't be a good visit."

Before either of us could speculate any further, Bobby appeared. "Ranger wanted me to grab you, Ram, Cal, and Junior to join him and Tank in the strategy room."

My heart sank. I had to agree with Ram. No way was this going to end well.

We followed Bobby into the strategy room on Five and Ranger motioned for us to close the door.

"Men," he said. "You all remember General Vandenberg."

We all nodded, taking turns shaking the general's hand as we each moved further into the room.

The tension washing off Ranger as he motioned to the chairs only served to up my anxiety. Whatever the hell was going on wasn't good. "Everyone, have a seat."

I slid into the empty chair next to Ric and glanced over at my cousin. His lips were thinned into a fine line and the tiny worry lines around his eyes were more pronounced.

The general looked around the table and then began to speak. "I've checked and you've all retained your security clearances, which is why I allowed Major Manoso to have you present."

Ranger leaned forward to rest an arm on the table. "Since I'm no longer under contract. I have to ask, what's all this about, General?"

"Striker has gone missing during his latest mission. Intelligence sources have confirmed that he and one of his men have been captured by insurgents."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as dread coursed through me. Garrett Striker was the last living member of our ten-man elite team who remained under contract and on active duty. Aside from myself, Stephanie, and the other men at this table, Garrett was the only other person Ranger completely trusted.

"What does that have to do with me?" Ric asked.

"He left explicit instructions with his men that if he was ever captured, you should be contacted, as he believes you're the only one skilled enough to retrieve him alive."

"That is if he's still alive," Junior said.

"Our sources have confirmed that he is alive," the general replied. "Though he probably won't stay that way if we wait too long to try and extract him."

The tension in the room grew as Ranger stared at the general. "Sir," he began. "I have a wife, who is still recovering from an auto accident that nearly took her life a little over six months ago."

"I know about the accident," the general nodded. "And I realize you've built a life for yourself, and at this point, you don't owe the Government anything. Just know, I wouldn't be here asking for this favor if we knew of any other way."

"Garrett chose to stay in," I said from where I sat. "He knew the danger and consequences of continuing his contract. It isn't fair to ask Ranger to upend his life."

Ranger lifted a hand, stopping my rant. "Garrett would do the same for any of us if we were in his position."

"What about Stephanie," I asked. While she'd made huge progress in her recovery from the accident back in March, she was still far from being completely healed. Just what would it do to her mental health and her continued recovery if he went into the wind again?

He sighed as he looked at the general. "This decision is no longer my own to make. I need to talk to my wife about it."

"This is classified information," the general replied. "She doesn't have clearance."

"No offense, Sir, but you haven't gone into any detail about his mission, who is actually holding him, or why you're so desperate to get him back. Everything you've said so far is neutral information, which I should be able to share with her. If you don't want an automatic no from me, then you'll allow me to bring her into the conversation."

After a moment, the general nodded. "Fine. Bring her in and let's discuss it."

Ranger nodded to Bobby, who then pushed away from the table and disappeared out the door. A couple of minutes later he returned with Beautiful. Slowly, she walked into the room, her terrified gaze shifted from Ranger to the general and back. "Carlos?"

I stood and motioned for her to take my seat. She eased into the chair, her attention never leaving Ranger's face. "What's going on?"

Ranger spent a few minutes explaining the situation to Steph and I watched as her fear heightened, then a slow resolve settled over her. "You have to go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you don't, the guilt and regret will eat you alive."

I stared down at her from where I stood behind her chair, then glanced over at Ric, who caught my gaze. She had to be the most amazing woman I'd ever had the pleasure of knowing. He really was one lucky son-of-a-bitch.

"I won't go if you don't want me to," he said to her.

She shook her head. "Don't do that, Carlos. Don't put that decision on my shoulders. I don't want to be responsible for your friend's death and I also don't want you living with that regret."

"I made a promise to you with my wedding vows," Ranger replied. "I don't want to break that promise."

"For better or worse," she replied. "I made that promise too. Just like when Julie got sick, and I told you to go to her because she needed you more. Right now, your friend needs you more." While the words were spoken with conviction, I could hear the emotion building in her voice. It isn't going to be easy on her if he does this.

"What about you?" he asked.

She shook her head. "As I've said before, I have a building full of people to watch over me."

"If you go," Tank said from where he sat at the other end of the table. "I'm going with you."

Ranger shook his head. "I need you here to run Rangeman."

"I'll run Rangeman," Steph said. "I can use the extra work to keep me occupied. Besides, I'd be more comfortable with you going if I knew Tank is there to have your back."

"I just need someone to take care of my cats," Tank said looking in my direction.

I held up a hand and shook my finger at him. "Oh no. I'm not going anywhere near that demon you try to pass off as a cat."

"Applepuff isn't a demon," Tank shot back. Funny how he knew which of his cats I was talking about. "She's just a good judge of character," he went on to say.

"Hey!" While I appreciated his quick wit, it didn't change the fact that I was offended by his dig.

"Enough," Ranger snapped as he shifted his gaze between us. "We need to focus."

"Cal can take care of them," I said. "For whatever reason he loves the little assholes."

"I'd be happy to take care of them," Cal said from where he sat, then smirked at me. "You know what they say about animals being a good judge of character."

When I was sure my cousin wasn't watching I flipped Cal the bird and murmured. "That's dogs, you shithead." Geez. What is it about the big bald men in our company and cats?

"That will work," Tank said. "I trust Cal."

Ranger glanced up at me. "If Tank and I both go, that's going to put more pressure on you and Bobby."

"I can handle it," I replied and placed a hand on Steph's shoulder. "We've got Steph's back too."

Bobby nodded from where he sat. "You go get Garrett back. We've got Bomber and Rangeman covered."

"There will be a nice payout for you and Pierre both," General Vandenberg said. "We can have two contracts written up for this single mission."

While the money was a nice incentive, it wasn't like Ranger needed it. After all, this wasn't the old days when we were all plowing our mission money into building the company. Though, if I were a betting man, which I am, I'd go ten to one that he takes this mission's money and puts it toward the building expansion.

"When would we leave?" Ranger asked.

"I can give you a few hours to get things in order here, but the sooner the better," the general replied.

Ranger turned his attention back to Steph and took a deep breath. "You're sure?"

She nodded. "I'll admit, I'm not happy about it but, I am sure."

Ranger turned back to the general. "Give me three hours to get things in order."

"Done."

Ranger stood, then helped Steph up. "Let's go up to Seven. We can talk and you can help me pack."

I almost grinned at his statement, knowing there would be a lot more than just talking and packing happening in the next couple of hours. Once they'd left the room I turned back to the general.

"You should know, they just got back less than a week ago from their honeymoon. Which had to be delayed because of his father's heart attack and then her car accident."

The general nodded. "I understand your concern," he said.

I shook my head. "No, offense, Sir, but I doubt you do. Carlos and Stephanie are like one person. The connection they have is unlike anything I've ever seen or experienced and if anything happens to him, you better be prepared to bury two, because I can tell you she won't survive the grief."

"Then we just have to make sure he comes back in one piece," the general said.

Three hours later, I stood in the garage and watched as my cousin gave his wife one last kiss. "I love you. Don't go crazy," he said.

She huffed out a teary laugh. "I love you too. Don't get shot."

He pressed one final kiss to her lips, then turned and climbed into the vehicle with Tank. I moved to stand next to Beautiful as the Jeep pulled out and disappeared through the gate. Once the vehicle was out of sight, Steph turned to me, buried her face against my chest, and cried.

Steph isn't one to cry in front of us. The fact that she did just that when Ranger left, had all of us who know her worried. Once she went up to Seven for the evening, Bobby, Ram, Hal, and I held an impromptu meeting. We all know the best way to help Steph was to try and keep her occupied.

With Casey still new to Rangeman, she could use a female friend other than Ella and Steph would benefit from the distraction. I just had to play my cards right, so Steph didn't realize what I was going to ask her to do would be just as much for her benefit as Casey's.

The next morning, I decided to catch her before she came down to work. It would be easier to convince her to go along with my plan if she wasn't already in her office.

I knocked on the door and waited. When it swung open less than a minute later, I was a bit surprised. It was, after all, only seven in the morning. Most times Steph didn't get up before eight and we didn't see her on the control room floor before nine.

"Come to check up on me?" she asked.

"Sort of," I said as she stepped back and motioned for me to enter.

She closed the door behind her. "Lester, I'm fine."

I knew better and I was damn well going to make sure she knew that I knew her line was bullshit. "No, you're sad and worried and stressed and you're trying to be fine because you don't want any of us to worry."

"What's wrong with not wanting you guys to worry? You all have enough on your plates without adding me into the mix."

I helped myself to the carafe of coffee Casey had brought up to her, then eased onto the bar stool. "So, you think that we're just supposed to go about our normal routine when you're worried and stressed and have all kinds of shit on your plate?" I shook my head. "Not gonna happen, Beautiful."

She grabbed her mug of coffee then eased onto the bar stool next to me and sighed. "I know if I had asked him not to go, he would have turned the general down. I also know he'd live with the guilt of it for the rest of his life. I couldn't do that to him."

"You know him well," I said. "Hopefully, since Tank is with him, they'll be able to make quick work of the situation and be back before you know it."

"Hopefully," she said as she fidgeted with her mug, by slowly moving it in a circle.

"In the meantime." I shifted so I was facing her. "I have a favor to ask."

"What's that?"

"Well, Casey is still very new here and as I'm sure you've noticed over the last few days, she could use some solid girlfriends.

Steph nodded. "Considering everything she's been through; I think she's doing pretty well."

"Having something to make her feel needed has helped a lot. Not that any of us wanted Ella to get hurt, but if it had to happen, the timing couldn't have been better."

"True."

"Anyway," I continued. "She's a little low on clothes, shoes, and all that girly shit you women like. So, I was thinking what a great bonding experience it would be for the two of you if you took her shopping."

"Oh, you did, huh?"

"You are the queen of shopping," I replied. "So, don't even try and tell me that you don't want to go. "

She lifted her mug to take a drink, then paused as she gave me a side-eye. "Do I get free reign to make Casey over, if she's agreeable?"

"I'll even give you my credit card," I offered. "But she's still easily intimidated and impressionable. So, don't try to talk her into something it's obvious she doesn't want."

Both Steph's brows went up in response as she set her mug down. "I, of all people, know what it's like to be coerced. Don't worry. If she's not completely on board then we won't do or buy it."

I removed my wallet and handed her my Visa card. "Whatever she wants."

Steph grinned. "You're really hooked on her."

I rolled my eyes and held up a hand. "Don't say it."

"Say what?" she asked.

"You know what."

Her smile grew. "Oh, you mean I told you so?"

I tilted my head back and stared at the ceiling. Ever since she and my cousin had finally admitted their feelings to each other she'd been telling me how I'd just know when the right woman came along. "I thought I told you not to say it."

"You did, but since when have I ever listened to orders?" Boy, was she right about that.

"Well, listen to me when I tell you that Ranger would kill me and dismember my body if I let anything happen to you while he's gone. Since I also don't want anything to happen to Casey, you will be taking bodyguards with you."

Steph rolled her eyes. "Fine. Who gets Bomber duty today?"

"I'm gonna send Zero and Hal with you," I replied. "Zero is currently serving as Casey's bodyguard when I'm not around and she's already met Hal. So, she's comfortable with both of them."

"What are you going to do about Casey's work?"

"That's what we have contract workers for," I replied. What I didn't tell her was that I'd already called our subcontracted cleaner and caterer. Everything was under control.