Ranger's POV
"Babe, are you okay?" I asked when I slid into the driver's seat of my Mercedes.
"I'm fine, Carlos," Stephanie huffed, staring out the windshield. She was reticent, which accentuated her frustration with Helen. I studied Stephanie's face and saw she was close to tears. Her hands crossed her chest, and her posture was stiff. I offered her an open palm, which she readily accepted. Stephanie relaxed when I placed our joined hands on my thigh.
My beautiful wife held in the tears until we entered our apartment. Once I confirmed it was clear, she broke down. I held her in my arms on the couch until the tears subsided. Her face looked blotchy and swollen from crying. She grimaced when I passed her the tissue to wipe her nose. Stephanie's blue eyes appeared brighter in her red, swollen face. I loved the colour.
"Carlos?" Stephanie asked, staring at the corner.
"Babe?" I replied, earning a smile from my beautiful wife.
"Why do we have security cameras in our home?" she queried. Stephanie looked around the room and found every camera in the living and dining rooms. Damn! Busted! I should have known my wife would see every minute change.
"Hector installed them at my request. They will only monitor our apartment if someone breaks in," I replied. "Protecting you is my top priority."
I stood, letting Stephanie's body slide down mine until she was on her feet. She held my hand as we walked around the unit, with me pointing at the panic buttons in strategic locations.
"Carlos, have you forgotten I have a panic button from Dad?" Stephanie asked. She doesn't sound angry; she's just curious about why I had to add more to our home.
"I know, but these will send me a message. Hector lives a few blocks away and could provide backup if necessary," I explained. "When you press one, the cameras simultaneously record. It wouldn't hurt to have video proof when someone breaks into our home." I didn't mention that Rangeman Miami monitored our apartment and would receive the footage. She narrowed her eyes, and I read her thoughts. My wife knew I withheld information. Silently, I begged Stephanie to let me protect us. I was relieved she never pressed the issue of who would record the proof.
Stephanie acquiesced but made me promise to discuss her security before deciding what was best. It was a learning curve, but I was willing to meet Stephanie halfway. Her happiness was too vital for me to go caveman on her ass.
My phone chimed, interrupting our conversation about the merits of putting a gun inside the nightstand drawer. "Is something wrong?" Stephanie asked when I raised a brow. She tugged her shirt off and tossed it into the hamper. I grinned, making her trip over her feet.
"Everything is fine, Babe," I replied, catching her. I pulled her tightly against my chest. Her nipples hardened to a point through her bra. I felt the heat emanating from her body, and the faint scent of her arousal hit my nose. Dios! My wife was always ready for me.
Stephanie shook the sexy thoughts from her head and pushed back slightly. Her eyes narrowed as she demanded, "What happened?" I knew we wouldn't be having sex until I answered her questions.
"Your father left with packed bags," I answered apologetically. Tears filled Stephanie's eyes. I know she felt guilty about her father leaving her mother. It wasn't her fault. Helen was a Burg shrew. She only believed lies and conjecture over verifiable proof. I wondered how Helen reacted to how Stephanie lost her virginity. Why does Stephanie hate Morelli? I had to know if Morelli was responsible for writing Stephanie's phone number in the bathroom stall at the sub shop. "Babe, what happened between you and Morelli?"
The feral cat returned as Stephanie glared at me. "That asshole stole my virginity on the filthy bakery floor and wrote about the encounter for all the other Burg scofflaws and lowlifes to read. Too many men, mostly swine, tried to get a chance at fucking me, to see if my "plum" tasted as "sweet" as Morelli claimed," Stephanie snarled. Dios! That was the poem in the bathroom at Mario's Sub Shop.
"Babe," I said while stroking her cheek. Her expression relaxed. I had to know if Morelli sexually assaulted Stephanie. She claimed Morelli stole her virginity. In my opinion, that meant forcibly, but I needed her to confess. Cupping her face between my hands, I gazed lovingly into her eyes and quietly asked, "Did Morelli rape you?"
Stephanie nodded as she angrily wiped a tear off her cheek without pushing my hands away. I kissed her, tangling my fingers in her curly locks. When I broke the kiss, she whispered, "That's not all."
"What did he do?" I asked through clenched teeth. I wanted to kill Morelli after separating his fingers and dick from his body. The man molested Stephanie when she was six, then raped her ten years later on a filthy bakery floor. It wasn't a pleasant way for a woman to lose her virginity. I couldn't believe Joseph Morelli became a respected detective. He never should have risen through the ranks with sexual assault accusations. "Babe, did you charge him with rape?"
"No," she whispered, averting her gaze. I wanted to see her eyes. "My mom wouldn't take me to the precinct to file charges. I was grounded for the summer and unable to talk to anyone outside the house. When Dad got home, he lifted the punishment." Mentioning Frank made me wonder why he never took Stephanie to the precinct. She was sixteen and only needed one parent with her. I was about to ask that very question when she added, "It was too late to gather evidence. My injuries healed, and Mom tossed my clothes."
Morelli wasn't the only person I wanted to kill. Helen deserved punishment for dismissing her daughter's distress during a difficult time. Any boy who harmed my daughter wouldn't see the light of day.
Stephanie buried her face in my chest. I waited until her sobs subsided. "I'm damaged goods. You probably regret marrying me," she cried. "Mom was right. Nobody in their right mind would ever love me."
"Babe," I sternly said, making her gasp from the harshness of my tone. It was the only way to get her to stop rambling. She let me lift her chin to see into her gorgeous blue eyes. "Nothing will change how I feel about you. A parent is supposed to believe their child. You are a strong, independent and resilient woman. Always remember you are so much more than the bad things that happened to you. I am proud to call you my wife."
Her eyes met mine. Stephanie searched my eyes for the truth behind my words. I dropped my blank mask, allowing her to see into my soul. Our gazes held until she rose on her toes to press a watery kiss to my lips. Stephanie sighed, opening her mouth for my tongue. I deepened the kiss and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around my hips as I carried her to our bed. I made love to my wife, showing her how a man was supposed to love a woman. In my heart, I know I loved her. It was much too soon to say the words. I could tell Stephanie was falling in love with me, too. There was no rush to express our feelings outside of what we shared physically. Something told me Stephanie wasn't ready to hear the words.
"What's on your mind?" Stephanie asked while tracing circles on my skin, playing with the sparse hairs on my chest. I don't have to wax my chest like Lester and Bobby.
"Planning my week," I replied, keeping the thoughts of murdering Helen Plum and Joe Morelli to myself.
"In your head?" Stephanie teased, pressing her warm palm against my chest. She smiled when I chuckled.
"For now. I have a few high-bond skips to find tomorrow," I informed Stephanie.
"Fun. I'm going after Lonnie Dodd. Dad warned me to be careful," she reminded me. "I don't think I'll need help."
"Babe, call me if you have problems. Lonnie Dodd isn't a nice man. He's more dangerous than his rap sheet indicates." She gave me a dismissive pat on my pecs. Discussing Lonnie Dodd could wait for the morning.
Stephanie kissed my chest before climbing out of bed. I interlaced my hands behind my head, closed my eyes and patiently waited for her to return. She used the washroom before entering her kitchen, where I heard the cabinet close and the silverware clang against a bowl. Stephanie returned with a bowl of ice cream.
I opened my eyes when the bed dipped. "Do you want any?" Stephanie asked, handing me a spoonful of Cherry Garcia. Her eyes sparkled in amusement when I accepted the bite without shifting positions. Stephanie ate several bites before offering more. "Shit!" Stephanie said as melted ice cream landed on her breast.
"We can't let that go to waste," I commented, sounding like a predator. Stephanie moaned as I licked her breast clean. She released her grip on the bowl. I caught it before it landed on the blankets, setting it on the nightstand.
"Carlos," Stephanie moaned. "I need you."
Unable to resist my wife's request, I rolled on top of her and made her scream my name many times until we fell asleep, exhausted from making love.
I woke up before Stephanie. After arranging for Hector to keep an eye on the apartment, I went for a run. Stephanie may not enjoy exercise, but she would have joined me this morning had I asked. However, her legs wobbled when she used the washroom a few hours ago. I was too afraid of her injuring herself by running on weak legs. The thought made me smile since I was the cause of her weakened state.
My mind wanders, analyzing the past few days and the incident with Jeanne Ellen. During the night, I received a call from Tank. "Jeanne Ellen had entered your hotel room, having received a key from the concierge after she claimed to be my fiancée and locked herself out of the room," Tank said. "She had already accessed your room by the time you checked out and left. Jeanne thought you stepped out for a few minutes until security arrived to remove her before she caused damage. I disabled the cameras after talking to the concierge."
"The car trackers?" I asked.
"Santos monitored them. Ramon was in New York and planted a tracker on Jeanne's car. She's following the Mercedes to Chicago," Tank replied.
Stephanie stirred. She moaned, "Carlos." I wondered what she was dreaming about.
"Keep an eye and let me know if anything changes," I said.
"Did you marry Stephanie?" Tank asked, changing the subject.
"Yes," I replied and hung up when I heard him laughing.
The apartment building came into view. I smiled when I saw Hector's face in the dining room window. He wanted me to know he was inside my apartment with Stephanie.
"Hey, Carlos," Stephanie said when I opened the door. She had freshly showered and was ready to start the day. "Hector and I are making breakfast."
"Thanks, Babe," I replied. I kissed Stephanie, keeping my distance so I didn't moisten her shirt with my sweat. She pulled me against her, not caring that I drenched my shirt. Her fingers tugged the leather strip from my hair, releasing my dampened hair. Stephanie tugged my hair as her tongue licked my lips, demanding entrance. We got lost in the kiss before Hector cleared his throat.
"Sorry," Stephanie whispered, blushing a deep red.
"Help me," Hector ordered. He looked at Stephanie and tapped his toe. Hector's posture indicated annoyance, but his eyes betrayed his amusement.
Stephanie rolled her eyes, unaffected by his portrayed impatience. She kissed me chastely and swatted my ass. "Get showered, Batman," she huskily said. "Breakfast will be ready soon."
I grinned as I went to the bathroom to shower. It was a shame Stephanie wasn't joining me, but she was helping Hector make our breakfast. I was capable of toasting a bagel.
When I met Stephanie and Hector in the dining room, I noticed they made eggs, toast, turkey bacon and sausages. "Your eggs are under the lid," Stephanie said, pointing at the object with her fork. I raised the lid and grinned. "Hector said you preferred egg white omelettes with peppers and mushrooms, no cheese."
"Did you make these?" I asked after taking a bite. It was delicious.
Shrugging, Stephanie replied, "With Hector's assistance. He made sure I didn't burn them. I cut the vegetables."
"Babe, it's delicious," I said. Her radiant grin brightened my day.
I helped myself to the turkey bacon and grabbed a piece of unbuttered toast. Stephanie moaned as she ate sausages, an omelette loaded with cheese and toast with peanut butter. It was an odd combination, but not as bad as peanut butter and olive sandwiches.
Stephanie was still eating as I enjoyed my coffee. She popped the last bite of sausage in her mouth and sighed. "Thanks for helping me cook breakfast, Hector," Stephanie said. "You can come over every morning while Ranger runs." She winked at me after her last statement.
"That stuff will kill you, Babe," I said, grinning.
"I'll run with you tomorrow morning. We should use the track at the high school," Stephanie said. I quirked a brow. "Or buy a treadmill, and we can run here."
"I agree," I said. Stephanie grinned and finished drinking her coffee. She checked her watch, then helped Hector collect the dirty dishes. I joined them in the kitchen after I emptied my mug. Stephanie washed dishes while I dried them. Hector wiped down the counters, stove and table.
Before leaving, he kissed Stephanie's cheek and said, "Call when you need help." To me, he said, "I'll see you this afternoon." Hector used his key to lock the door.
"What's on your agenda for this morning?" Stephanie asked. She emptied the water from the sink and rinsed it. After wringing out the sponge, she placed it on the edge near the faucet. I passed her the towel to dry her hands, kissing me instead of saying, "Thanks."
"I have a few meetings this morning, through lunch. My afternoon is fairly open, outside capturing Alphonse Ruzick," I said.
"What did Alphie do this time?" Stephanie asked. I quirked my brow. "What? He lives in the Burg a few blocks from my parents' house."
Reciting the intel from memory, I replied, "Armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He's two hundred and thirty pounds."
"Most of the weight is in his gut," Stephanie snorted. "You won't catch him at home. He works at the butcher across the street from Giovichinni's Meat Market. His shift usually ends at five, but he doesn't leave until closer to six."
"Parking?" I asked.
Smiling, Stephanie replied, "Around the corner at the grocery store. He drives a dark blue Ford F150."
"His file mentioned him driving a silver Honda," I replied. Stephanie shook her head, disagreeing with the vehicle.
"Hang on. I'll confirm it," Stephanie said. She grabbed her phone to call someone. "Hey, Grandma. Do you remember Alphie Ruzick?" "Yes. The man who works at the butcher by Giovichinni's," Stephanie replied. "Does he still drive the Honda?" Stephanie asked. "Hang on, Grandma. I need you to repeat it to Ranger." Stephanie passed me the phone.
"Good morning, Mrs. Mazur," I politely said.
"I told Stephanie that Alphie's Honda broke down after getting released on bail. He's driving a dark blue Ford F150 these days," Edna replied.
"Thank you," I said. She hung up without saying goodbye. I smiled and passed Stephanie the phone.
"Told you," Stephanie singsonged.
"How did you know about the truck?" I asked.
Stephanie laughed, "I saw him driving it yesterday while I lured Morelli."
"Proud of you, Babe," I said. "Who else do you have besides Dodd?"
"Louis Domingo," Stephanie added. "Huh. He fits the description of Morelli's missing witness."
"Babe, be careful," I warned.
"I promise to call if I need help," Stephanie said. "I have a third FTA."
"Who?"
"Willie Wankmuller," she said, snorting at his name. "His parents must have hated him."
"What are the charges?" I asked. Stephanie was laughing too hard to tell me. She grabbed her messenger bag to pass me the file. I quirked a brow at the charges and grinned.
"That should be fun," I joked.