Chapter 15: Marco's POV (Wed. Sept. 28th)
Fuck! How did three ex-Special Forces operatives manage to get made? I don't fucking understand it. I swear it was tracking 101 in a Goddamned mall. They should have been invisible. Instead, they fucking get made by that useless bitch who doesn't have any training, mind you. That was supposed to be an opportunity to spook her even more; it was supposed to lend credence to her stalker, but they failed. Now, I can't use them anymore. How hard is it to be invisible?
I need to calm down because I can't afford to arrive at work angry or tense. Ranger will see right through me. That man is annoyingly wise, especially for someone so emotionally closed off himself. Since Babe's 'new stalker' arrived, she hasn't been anywhere alone. Ranger won't let her drive her Ferrari, insisting she take a fleet vehicle. But yesterday, she left in that car. It should have been child's play to leave our message on her car. All they had to do was spot her, ensuring she wasn't returning to the vehicle before they left it. Instead, the three stooges went in together to find her. I heard Ranger mention that he might charge them with harassment. I swear you can't find good help these days.
I'm still waiting on my opportunity to get Babe alone in my penthouse apartment—the things I plan to do to her. When I'm finished, Ranger won't want her. She'll be damaged goods, unworthy of the great Ranger Manoso. He'll dump her ass to the curb, especially once she starts pining for us when she's with him. With her out of the picture, Rita can get Julie. I still don't understand how one man can have so many contacts.
This whole situation is fucked up. When the call came in that the Martines were dead, I thought my time had finally arrived. Yes, I was genuinely saddened by the death of the Martines. They were good people. I know it sounds horrible, but I was hoping that Julie was dead along with them. With her out of the picture and out of Miami, I could have Rangeman, making it my security company and dumping Ranger's stupid ideals. I could make a fortune with my plan to infiltrate high-end residences and then rob them blind. It's easy to find scapegoats, people to leave behind as a frame. No one would expect us, and I'd be a multi-millionaire. Then, Rita and I would move from here, heading for some exotic location, maybe Tahiti, to live out our lives. I'd sell and run off before anyone would be the wiser.
However, luck was never in my corner. Julie had to be the only one who survived. During the investigation into the murders of the Martines, another boy had to be left an orphan. Now, Ranger is here until he can adopt Tommy. Fuck my life. He'd already be in New Jersey if it weren't for Tommy. Initially, I figured he would gladly give Julie to Rita, keep her with the only family she's ever known, and continue providing his monetary support. I never guessed that he would be active in his daughter's life. What shocked me the most, though, was Stephanie Plum.
We've all heard stories of the 'Bombshell Bounty Hunter.' The inept white girl from the Burg who leads Ranger around by his dick. We all were aware that he had a hard-on for the bitch. Ranger is the type of man who takes what he wants. When we first opened here in Miami, he had a woman he strung along. He'd call her up whenever he needed some pussy, and then would leave after taking her. I know there was someone in Boston and Atlanta. We all thought this 'Bomber' was the same.
We all realized that she was different when Ranger got caught up in a mess in Jersey with that mobster. I swear we all told him to turn himself in already; his new reputation was not conducive to business. But he didn't, and he said he had an ace in the hole working to exonerate him. After that, Ranger rarely went out on the town. His woman here and in the other cities were unceremoniously dumped. Then, we started hearing rumors from Trenton about some chick Ranger spent excessive money on and how she was their light. The Trenton men were all pussy-whipped by Ranger's trainee. We never found out the identity of this mystery person until Scrog. We were shocked when Ranger put his untrained whore on the front lines to save his daughter. We all knew it would be a mistake, and it almost was when that stupid son of a bitch walked in unarmed. He's lucky he wasn't killed when she managed to get herself caught yet again.
After years of working to secure my future, it's slowly slipping away from me. Ms. Plum is technically my fucking boss, and Ranger demands that I listen to her. Well, fuck him. I don't take orders from no skirt; women take orders from me. Rita knows her place and her role in my life. I tell her what to do, and she does it. I can be charming when I need to be, and with my lovers, I'm Don fucking Juan. With whores, though, I just take what I want. My musing is suddenly interrupted by the ringing of my burner phone.
"Yo."
"Hello, Marco. I miss you, baby."
"I miss you too, R. Any news for me?"
"I think I found a way to get Julie."
"How?"
"I managed to visit that Terry Gilman. She had a lot of shit to tell me about Stephanie. She also suggested that I contact her mother, who has no use for Stephanie. So I did. Boy, the stories I heard. The golddigger's mother, Mrs. Plum, will send me pictures of her after many of her bounty-hunting mishaps, covered in garbage, torn clothes, and cars blazing. She's also sending me a risqué advertisement for the bondsman she worked for. I can't imagine any judge granting her adoption request. Her mother and sister are willing to fly to Miami as character witnesses. Stephanie can't cook, doesn't know how to keep house, and never did her laundry. Best of all, Steph's sister, Valerie, told me that Stephanie only plans to marry Ranger for his money. He is so stupidly blind to her that he's not signing a prenup. Once married, she's going to let him knock her up so she can divorce him and marry Joe Morelli, that cop from Trenton."
"Are you sure everything they told you is a fact?"
"Why would they lie? They are her family."
"Get the evidence and meet with an attorney. This is our last chance to get custody of Julie. I heard Ranger telling Slick that her adoption will be finalized on October 12th. We don't have much time."
"I'll get right on it, lover."
"You do that. Rita, you better not fail. If there are any doubts or any holes in your information, don't go through with it. We can get back on Ranger without having Julie. In fact, with what I have planned, there is no way a judge would allow Julie to stay in her custody."
"Don't worry. The information is solid."
"Do you mind if I come over tonight, baby? I miss you."
"No, Marco, come on over. I miss you too."
"Okay, I'll see you later."
I hung up with Rita and weighed my options. If this ploy doesn't work, I'll have to eliminate Rita, which will be a shame. I genuinely enjoy my time with her. She understands me, like my wife, Alicia, never will. Plus, she's a little more adventurous in the bedroom. However, she may be collateral damage, especially if Manoso and Plum manage to adopt Julie officially.
The time is coming for me to make my move on Stephanie. I can't let this stalker go on forever. This weekend is their engagement party, and they will be in Atlanta next weekend. Lester and Hector are planning on traveling with Ranger and Stephanie. That will be the perfect opportunity to put my final plans in place. I think I'll set up the ambush for the week of October 17th. That will give me plenty of planning time, which I'll need so that Wrench, Carter, and Max can get into the building and up to my apartment.
Ranger has been having many closed-door meetings about Stephanie's stalker, none of which I am privy to. However, I know all about their plans thanks to my little bugs. Ranger must be going soft since this plan he's constructing is one of the worst scenarios I ever heard. Then again, I shouldn't complain. He's only going to make it that much easier to get his bitch where I want her to be. Fun times are coming.