We located Jasper Coulridge where I said we would find him. "Do you know his guest?" Ranger asked, speaking Spanish over the comm unit.

"Yes," I answered. "He married my sister."

"Shit," Lester replied. "What are you going to do?"

"Continue with our mission."

Ranger moved around the building through the darkening alley on the right. I followed on his heels. Lester and Manny went to the left, walking around the building to the side street exit. Sybo and Binkie remained in the front. We needed to capture Jasper without incident. Nobody could see us.

I recognized the man Jasper was entertaining. How could I tell Valerie that her husband was hanging around a known embezzler? I hoped Steve didn't learn tricks from the criminal. God knows what havoc Steve could create by stealing from his bosses.

"Two," I suddenly snapped. Ranger used his taser to stun the man at his two o'clock position. The other man heard a commotion and bolted. I recognized Steve's car speeding from the parking lot. "Did we get him?" I asked Ranger.

"Affirmative," Ranger answered.

"Your brother-in-law didn't see us," Lester added.

"I planted a tracker and bug on his car," Manny said. "He's calling your sister."

"Record everything," I ordered. I noticed Jasper pissed his pants. "Damn it. I hate when their bladder releases."

"We have blankets and kitty litter," Ranger joked.

Manny's face paled as he listened to the conversation. I instinctively knew Steve was not calling Valerie. We don't have time to deal with his infidelity.

Ranger cuffed and shackled Jasper. He asked Binkie and Lester to carry the criminal to the car. I grabbed the blankets from the trunk to cover the seats. Whoever collected the car could launder the blankets.

I called our contact in the LA office. He dispatched two men to recover Jasper Coulridge. Ranger ensured Jasper got appropriately shackled in the van before returning to my side.

We returned to our hotel room. Ranger checked for bugs and cameras. Once he confirmed the room was clean, Manny played the audio track.

When the recording ended, I was seeing red. Steve told the woman that he had the money needed for them to escape to Peru to start their lives together. The woman asked about Valerie and the girls. Steve answered, "I don't give a fuck. Valerie will have to move out of LA. Everything she owns, except for the clothes, will get repossessed. She has no clue that I'm leaving her destitute."

"How will they get home?" the woman asked.

"That, my dear, is not my problem. She can prostitute herself for all I care," Steve replied, making the woman giggle.

"Whatever did you see in her?" the woman asked.

"She was a great fuck until you came along. I hoped she would work full-time when the girls went to school, but her fucking harpy bitch of a mother talked her out of it. That's when I turned to you," Steve explained.

"You are a thorough lover," she purred. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow afternoon," Steve replied. What was happening tomorrow afternoon?

I removed my secured phone from my pocket and dialled Valerie's number. She answered on the third ring, sounding way too chipper for my liking. "Hi, Val. It's Steph. Don't say anything. What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?" I asked, hoping she wouldn't get suspicious.

"Taking the girls for their dental appointments. Are you in town?" Valerie asked, sounding hopeful.

"For another day," I answered honestly. I wanted to catch Steve and his mistress in the act of stealing from Valerie and the girls. To do that, I needed access to their bank accounts. "Please, Valerie, don't tell Mom I'm here. I have a job to do for the government."

"What does it have to do with me?" she skeptically asked.

"It involves your daughters," I replied.

"Okay. How can I help?" Valerie asked. I breathed a sigh of relief. Valerie would do anything for her children.

"I need access to your accounts. All of them," I replied. Valerie scoffed and retrieved the information. I memorized everything she said. Her gasp caught my attention. "What did you find?"

"Nothing," Valerie cried. I heard a snuffle. "My accounts are empty. The last transfer was ten minutes ago." I waved at Ranger, who immediately called Hector.

"Hang on a second, Val," I said. I muted my phone and relayed the account information to Hector. Ranger took over the call and went to his bedroom to continue his conversation. "Okay, Val. Does your bank track when you log into the account?" I asked.

"No. It only dates and time stamps transfers, deposits and withdrawals," Valerie replied. "Does that matter?"

"Absolutely. Valerie, I'm begging you to pretend everything is fine. Don't confront him about the money. Do you still have your jewelry?"

Valerie went to her bedroom to check her dresser. "Yes. Everything is here. Why?"

"Pack it in your purse to take with you in the morning. But not until the morning, or he'll get suspicious," I warned.

"Why are you doing this for me?" Valerie whispered.

"You're my sister, and I care about my nieces." Manny waved and motioned someone driving. "I've got to go. Remember, Valerie, don't say anything," I said before hanging up.

"Do you think she'll follow your instructions?" Manny asked.

"She better," I sighed. I shuddered and went to my bedroom to change. Hector's shirt smelled of Drakkar noir. I loved how he wore a few shirts to make me feel him when I had to sleep alone at night. Hector planned to sleep in the spare apartment at Rangeman. He refused to sleep in our bed without me. It was sweet, and I loved him more.

Binkie knocked on my door thirty minutes later. "Hey, Steph," he said, "I have food for you."

I opened the door and exited my room. The others were sitting at the table, eating the food someone picked up from the local Chinese restaurant. Several takeout containers were placed in the centre, opened and ready for me to help myself. I noticed all my favourite menu items were available. "Don't worry about taking too much. We ordered extra," Manny said, pointing to the bag on the counter.

Ranger nodded when I caught his eye. He expensed our meal to Rangeman. Technically, we are away on Rangeman business. "Hector should have come with us," I announced, sitting beside Ranger.

He smiled and passed me a paper plate. I returned his smile and loaded my plate with the delicious food. Manny waited until I placed the containers back in the middle of the table before deciding to grab the second bag of food. It didn't take us long to consume every morsel. I patted my stomach, feeling content and full.

"We have an early morning. Hector found the money in a holding account and stashed it for Valerie. He also learned Steve stole money from the law firm where he works. In the morning, the senior partners will receive a detailed report of the money siphoned," Ranger explained.

I stretched and yawned. Manny and Sybo cleared the garbage, leaving Binkie to relax on the couch. He grabbed dinner, so the other two had to clean. It was a ridiculous arrangement, but it was what they preferred. They never let me help.

"See you in the morning," I mumbled. Ranger chuckled as I walked past and touched his shoulder. Working together made us close friends. We were more alike than we realized.

I learned more about Ranger's relationship with Rachel. She lied about being on birth control and got pregnant when the condom broke. Ranger didn't want history to repeat itself, so he got a vasectomy after proving Julie was his biological daughter. He confessed that Rachel had slept with a few other men after him. I was shocked he married Rachel to give her medical coverage during the pregnancy. Rachel used his medical insurance to cover Julie's doctor appointments until she married Ron and got Ranger to sign over his parental rights.

However honourable it might be for him to pay for Julie's education and support, it would be a dangerous move if someone uncovered that tidbit. Ranger assured me that only the core members and a select few other men knew about Julie. I never mentioned his brother could have told all of his enemies. Unfortunately, it was something we would find out the hard way. When I met Julie, there was no doubt about paternity. Julie was a gorgeous girl. She resembled Ranger in more ways than just her appearance.

Before I closed my eyes, I called Hector. He answered on the first ring. We talked about our dinner plans the following evening. I wanted a quiet dinner at home. Hector promised to make the taco pizza I loved so much. We exchanged our love and ended the call. Hearing his voice gave me the calm I needed to fall asleep.

I woke up to the smell of coffee. When I opened my eyes, I found Ranger smiling as he waved the cup beneath my nose. "Rise and shine, Stephanie," he singsonged. It sounded strange coming from him and made me giggle.

"Thanks for the coffee," I said, sitting up in the bed and accepted the paper cup. Ranger sat on the edge and reached for something on the nightstand.

"Hector said this will help you wake up," Ranger teased. He passed me a bag from the local bakery. I opened it to find two Boston cream donuts inside. "Are you okay?" Ranger asked as he wiped a tear from my eye.

I looked into my friend's face and smiled. "Hector always knows what I need," I replied, feeling oddly emotional.

"Are you sure you're not pregnant?"

Smiling, I replied, "Positive. The birth control shot affects my hormones as much as Lester drinking Red Bull makes him overly hyper." Ranger chuckled. He knew what I meant. Lester consuming that energy drink makes him loopier than I get on heavy pain medication. I wasn't surprised when Ranger banned it from Rangeman.

"We leave in twenty," he said before leaving my room.

I practically inhaled the donuts and burnt my tongue on the hot coffee in my quest to be ready in time. After pulling my hair into a messy ponytail, I was prepared to leave. Ranger pointed to my CAT boots near the sofa. "Thanks." I smiled and sat to put them on.

Manny announced that Steve's car left his home at 0600. We decided to drive past Valerie's house to see where we could position ourselves without being seen. A young blond peeked through the curtains of the house across the street. Something about her set off my spidey senses. "Steph?" Ranger asked upon noticing the goosebumps on my arm.

"It's the girl across the road. I bet she's the one Steve talked to on the phone," I replied.

"Are you sure? She couldn't be more than sixteen," Manny said.

"Not one hundred percent, but I'm pretty sure. My intuition indicates I'm right," I replied. Ranger turned the corner and went up the street behind Valerie's house. He grinned before pulling into the driveway of the house directly behind Valerie.

"Nobody lives here, and the houses on either side are undergoing renovations," Ranger stated. He pointed to the bin on the lawns for the construction waste.

We quickly got into our positions around the house. Ranger gave me a boost over the back fence. I caught a girl staring at me from the second-floor window. She grinned and waved. I pressed a finger to my lip and motioned for her to duck down. The girl smiled and followed my instructions. I recognized her as my niece, Mary Alice, from Dad's pictures.

After hiding in the shed, I texted Hector, asking him to check on the family across the road from Valerie. Several minutes had passed before my phone vibrated in my pocket. I removed it to read the instructions. Hector said the husband and wife worked long hours, often leaving their fourteen-year-old daughter, Alicia, alone at home. Alicia babysat for several families with small children in the area. As of a few weeks earlier, Alicia babysat exclusively for the Suttons.

I knew my initial assessment of the young girl was on point. However, I never expected her to be so young. Fourteen was not the age of consent in California. I hoped Steve wasn't stupid by sleeping with the girl. Statutory rape was the least of his concerns. Steve would land himself on the registry for sex offenders. Alicia was only five years older than Angie.

Ranger moved silently through the backyard. I felt him before he entered the shed. He jutted his chin at my phone. I showed him the message. Ranger's face showed his anger before he locked away his emotions. We had to get Valerie and the girls to safety before Steve uncovered our plan. Ranger handed me the comm unit I forgot to grab.

When I placed the earbud inside my right ear, Manny announced, "He just left the firm. We have twenty minutes."

Ranger picked the lock on the back door. I quietly opened the door and approached Valerie in the kitchen. "Hey," I said, startling her. Valerie clutched her chest.

"Why are you here?" Valerie hissed.

"We need to leave. Did you pack your jewelry?"

"Yes," she replied, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. Valerie went to the living room and handed me her purse. I peeked inside.

"Valerie, none of this is real," I said. "Did he buy these?" I dropped the fake jewelry back into the purse before quickly sending Hector a message. He would check Steve's purchases at the jewelry stores.

"Yes. I never realized they were fake." Valerie worried her bottom lip as I often do. She tearfully looked at me. "Steve got them appraised last month," Valerie said when the message from Hector arrived.

"He got the gems swapped out," I read. "I'm sorry, Valerie." I briefly hugged my sister before dragging her upstairs. She protested for a few seconds until I urged her to pack the girls' bags. We haphazardly shoved their clothes and prized toys into large suitcases. Mary Alice's bag was too full, and I couldn't zip it closed.

My amazing nieces noticed my dilemma and sat on the case, making it easier to zip. "Are we going on a trip?" Angie asked.

"Yes. I'm taking you home with me," I replied.

"What about Mom?" Mary Alice asked.

"She's coming too," I promised.

"And Dad?" Angie asked. I shook my head. She sighed and climbed off the bed. Angie mumbled something about her dad and the babysitter. Oh boy.

I tapped Mary Alice's knee. She moved off the suitcase and grabbed my hand. Mary Alice reminded me of Aria, making my heart ache for my daughter. I had to shake away the thoughts of Aria. It wouldn't help the current situation with my sister and nieces.

My phone buzzed again. I read the message from Hector. "Do you have a printer?" I asked Valerie. She led the way to Steve's home office. I wirelessly connected to the device to print the papers.

"What are these?" Valerie asked, picking up a page as it printed.

"A petition for divorce and sole custody of the girls," I replied. "Sign them."

Valerie wiped the tears from her cheek before following my instructions. She realized her marriage was over. "What would Mom think?" Valerie quietly asked. I added my signature as a witness. We left the documents on the desk.

"Mom's opinion doesn't matter," I replied. Valerie needed to protect the girls. I needed to get them out of the house.

Valerie and the girls followed me outside through the back door. "What about my car?" Valerie asked.

"It's getting repossessed tomorrow. Steve never paid the loan," I answered. Valerie wiped another tear off her cheek. My sister needed to grow a backbone. She was too emotional in her escape from Steve.

Mary Alice grinned when she saw Ranger waiting at the fence for us. "I'm going to lift you over the fence. My friend, Binkie, will catch you," Ranger explained. Mary Alice gigged when Ranger lifted her. Angie nodded at Ranger when it was her turn. Valerie glanced at the house before accepting the boost from Ranger.

I heard Valerie and Binkie gasp at the same time. Ranger helped me over the fence before jumping over it like a pro. He looked at Valerie and Binkie. Smiling, he shook his head.

"Guys, now isn't the time to acknowledge your connection. We have to go," I hissed, breaking them from the spell caused by the cosmos.

Binkie assisted Valerie as she climbed into the car. I rolled my eyes when I caught him staring at her ass. "Nice," he whispered. Mary Alice heard him and giggled.

Thank goodness we had room in the SUV for everyone. We packed in the vehicle like sardines. Binkie sat beside Valerie with Angie on her other side. Mary Alice sat between Manny and Sybo. I sat in the front with Ranger to coordinate the flight home.

Valerie and Binkie murmured in the backseat, planning where Valerie would live with the girls. I thought moving into Binkie's house was too soon after leaving her husband. Who was I to judge? Hector and I got married before knowing each other for a year.

Social convention dictated that a woman should wait until she legally separated before dating another man. The Burg would not accept Binkie as a viable partner for Valerie. I had to admit the two blonds looked adorable together. My sister and Binkie? I never thought it would be possible.

"Val, who monitors your house?" I asked.

"What?"

"Which security company watches your house?"

"Oh. Bellamy," she replied. I sent Hector the message. Five minutes later, he provided a link to the feed. I connected it to mine and Ranger's comm units that we still wore since Hector said the cameras had audio transmission capabilities. The others had removed theirs when they sat in the vehicle.

Ranger and I heard Steve screaming about Valerie taking the cash from his desk. I took it, not Valerie. Steve called Alicia and said it was time to leave. "Are they in position?" I asked Ranger. He nodded and gave me his phone. I unlocked his phone by typing his daughter's birthdate. "You need to change your password," I mumbled as I texted Ranger's contact at the police station. He chuckled but promised to fix the issue.

We continued to listen to the audio as I watched the video. By some miracle, a cruiser was in the area. I watched the officer approach Steve and Alicia as they opened the doors to Steve's car. The officer closest to Alicia asked for identification. "I'm eighteen," she screamed.

Instead of contacting the precinct through his radio, the officer called from his phone. He shook his head and tucked the device into his pocket. "Not according to your DMV record," he said.

"Steve, you're under arrest for embezzlement and fraud," the other officer announced.

"Let go of my fiancé," Alicia cried. "I'm pregnant with his baby."

"Shit!" I gasped.

The man holding Steve said, "I am charging you with sexual interference and statutory rape."

"I want my lawyer," Steve shouted. I wanted to feel bad for Alicia and Steve but couldn't. Steve took advantage of a minor. He groomed her to satisfy his perverse needs. Alicia probably wasn't pregnant. Steve had a vasectomy after Mary Alice was born.