Ranger's POV

I woke up with Stephanie straddling me. She giggled when I opened my eyes. "Babe?"

"Hey, it isn't my fault. I tried to climb out of bed, but you pulled me onto you," Stephanie said. We made love before leaving the warmth of the bed and taking a shower. I decided to spend time with my wife instead of running.

She watched me dress in my black cargo pants and black shirt. Eventually, I would wear shirts with the Rangeman logo, the customary uniform for the other branches. "Eggs?" I asked, removing the carton from the fridge.

"I'm having a bowl of cereal," she said. Stephanie grabbed a bowl and the cereal from the cabinet. She poured the Frosted Flakes, filling the bowl to the rim. I wondered how Stephanie would fit the milk in the bowl. She grinned and fanned her hand over the bowl, pressing down on the cereal as she added milk.

"Babe," I groaned. Stephanie shrugged and ate her sugary sweet cereal. Since Stephanie wasn't eating eggs, I grabbed the bagels and plain cream cheese. She watched as I toasted my bagel and spread a thin layer of cream cheese on both halves. I took a grapefruit from the fruit bowl and cut it in half. After wrapping one half and storing it in the refrigerator, Stephanie and I carried our breakfast to the dining room.

I left my food on the table and returned to the kitchen to grab our coffee. I shook my head and added the two rounded teaspoonfuls of sugar and cream to Stephanie's mug. I drank my coffee black. "Thanks," Stephanie said, grinning when I set the coffee on the table. She took a sip and exclaimed, "Perfect."

Stephanie and I cleaned up after eating breakfast. She found it amusing that I had some domestic instincts. "We share the workload," I said when Stephanie asked why I insisted on helping her with the dishes. "You mentioned not wanting to be a housewife. Helping you with the dishes and meals shows we are equal in this marriage."

I hoped to have a housekeeper, preferably Ella, cook and clean for Stephanie and me when we move into a permanent home. The apartment wasn't safe despite security cameras protecting Stephanie when I wasn't home.

"Do you need me to pick up anything for you, like a shredder?" Stephanie offered when I tucked the paperwork from the applications into my bag.

"Hector picked one up yesterday," I replied. "We can't leave sensitive data lying around."

"I understand. I will ask people on Stark Street if they know Louis Domingo. Vinnie bonded him without having too much information. I can't comprehend how he makes money," Stephanie said.

Handing Stephanie a business card, I added, "If you need help, call Tank."

"Isn't he busy getting ready to move here?" Stephanie questioned. I took the card from her hand and wrote Mateo's number on the back. "You trust me with your brother's number?"

"Babe, Mateo will ensure you have everything needed to locate Domingo. Stay safe and carry your gun," I said.

Stephanie stared into my eyes for a few minutes. She doesn't want to carry her gun but would holster it if I asked. I silently begged Stephanie to take it, especially if she planned to enquire about Domingo on Stark Street. She was safe enough during the day, provided she didn't enter gang territory on Comstock. "Okay. I promise to carry my gun. Have fun with your meetings. Let me know when I can park the Miata at Rangeman."

"Don't go on Comstock," I warned.

"Why not? Because of the gangs?"

"Yes, Babe. Don't walk past the sentinel at the northwest corner of Comstock and Stark. The man wears a red bandana," I warned.

She kissed me and promised, "I'll stay safe. Hector will watch my back."

I kissed Stephanie until her knees weakened. She looked dazed as I left her standing in the foyer. Chuckling, I locked the door and took the stairs to the parking lot. I caught Stephanie peeking from behind the bedroom curtains. With a curt nod of acknowledgement, I climbed into my Mercedes SUV and drove to Rangeman. I passed Hector's car on St James. My trepidation about Stephanie on Stark Street dissipated, knowing Hector would keep her safe.

The drive to my building on Haywood took ten minutes from the apartment. It was close enough for the men to dispatch if something happened while Stephanie and I were home. I let my mind wander as I anticipated the complications to arise once I got Rangeman Trenton running. When I arrived at the building, I noticed the gate to the parking garage was open. It was supposed to remain closed at all times. The communication box was near the entrance, and the button was within arm's reach.

"Sorry, Mr. Manoso. I noticed you up the road and opened the gate," the property owner, Levi Kohen, said. He passed me the remote to open the gate.

"It needs to remain closed until someone presses the buzzer to request entrance," I calmly stated. "You should have waited until I pressed the communication button."

"Yes, sir," Levi replied, intimidated by the scolding. I must call the Rangeman lawyer to negotiate the purchase of the Haywood building. What was the point of having a security company if the building owner didn't abide by the stipulations in our agreement? I couldn't rent from a man who lacked common sense.

Levi gave me a tour, though I would have preferred the freedom to check everything without him looking over my shoulder. "Did you have issues securing the permits?" I asked upon checking the fourth-floor apartments. Most were supposed to be two-bedroom units. The men would get to choose who they wanted as roommates. A few of the men Tank would interview on Wednesday were friends.

"No problems, sir. The mayor and police commissioner were impressed with your business in Atlanta and Miami. They pushed the permits through," Levi explained. I had expected them to communicate with the other precincts. It took years to build Rangeman's reputation. Maintaining it was relatively straightforward, provided the men followed the protocols and procedures.

"How long until I can move men into the apartments?" I asked. We checked the apartments, and I thought they were adequate for the men living onsite. They had a bedroom separated from the living room. The apartment had a small kitchen containing a refrigerator and stove on the long wall with a counter large enough to prepare food beside the stove. Along the side, creating an L-shaped design, was another counter containing a single sink with the counter extending past the cupboards to create a space for the men to use as a breakfast bar. A few stools would be enough to satisfy the men. It was simple and efficient. I checked the bathroom located between the kitchen and bedroom. The construction crew installed large tiles on the floor and walls. They were missing grout.

"Another week. The tile installers will return tomorrow to do the grout and another few days to seal it," Levi replied when I pointed at the floor. It was soon enough. "The apartments on floors six and seven need more time. I must install plumbing to handle the four washers you requested for the sixth floor. The construction crew installed a separate ventilation for the dryers."

"How many apartments are on the seventh floor?" I asked.

"Three, as you requested. Since you wanted a sizeable laundry room and a commercial kitchen on the sixth floor, we could only fit two," Levi explained.

"Is the laundry area a separate part of the sixth floor?" I didn't want the laundry facility to be part of the housekeeper's apartment, though I wanted her to access it from her unit.

"Yes, sir. I followed your parameters for the space. The maintenance worker can access the laundry facility through the apartment. I have another exit for the room if you want other residents to do their laundry," he explained. Hector would need to restrict access to the facility. I didn't want anyone to access the apartment if the housekeeper left her unit's access door unlocked.

"Are the doors wired for automatic locking mechanisms?" I asked. It was one of the primary items I needed for the space.

"Yes, sir. Hector Alvez ensured the mechanisms worked. He installed the wiring on the fifth floor, as you requested. I have never seen someone work so fast at rewiring a floor," Levi said. It wasn't as impressive as Levi made it sound. Hector got the construction team to install conduits throughout the building with access panels on each floor, making it easy for him to string the cables for the internet and cameras. I wasn't about to tell Levi what I had done. He may have assumed we were adding more electrical wires. Since I planned to purchase the building, I didn't see fit to correct his assumption.

"Are you willing to sell me the property?" I asked, taking him by surprise.

"I was hoping you would be amenable to purchasing it. These renovations were more expensive than I anticipated since you wanted the top-of-the-line for durability," Levi confessed, much to his relief. Javier was right about waiting it out. He knew the type. Greedy men always caved when they couldn't make money. We discussed a reasonable price, which covered the market value and renovations already completed.

Using my phone, I sent Javier a text message containing the details Levi and I negotiated for the sale. "My lawyer will bring the paperwork in an hour," I said once Javier replied.

"Would you like to see the sixth floor?" Levi asked. I gave a curt nod and motioned to the elevator. He proudly showed me the apartment with the entry for the laundry room. It took all my control to suppress the rage I felt upon seeing the opened doorway much too wide for a standard door and too narrow to install a double door.

"There is supposed to be a lockable door here," I said, pointing to the opening.

Levi explained, "Oh. I had my sister work on the design. She thought this would be more efficient for the housekeeper." My mood didn't improve when I noticed the passage door exiting the laundry area. The housekeeper would not have privacy or security in her apartment. People accessing the building could enter her personal space through the laundry room.

"This is not what we discussed," I calmly stated. Levi's face paled, and he promised to fix it immediately. "You installed a basic hollow core door. It and the one opening into the apartment need to be fireproof with locks."

"Yes, sir," he said, sending a message to someone on his phone. I hoped he separated the seventh floor into three units without room assignments in each space. His sister ignored my request for the housekeeper's apartment, and I had no faith that she would follow the instructions for the seventh floor.

I followed Levi into the apartment opposite the elevator. It was smaller than I had expected but still a sizeable unit for Tank. Levi showed the apartment to the right of the elevator. I looked around and thought the two-bedroom unit was suitable for Lester and Bobby. The apartment I was anxious to see was mine, the larger of the three.

"What's behind this door?" I asked, pointing to the one beside the elevator.

"Storage area," he replied. I entered the area and nodded. It was perfect for storing items. "You have one on each floor since the elevator was installed on the inside wall."

Hopefully, Hector would secure those doors, limiting access to the maintenance man and core team. I knocked on the door, hearing the telltale sign of a hollow door. "Why are you installing hollow doors for the storage rooms?" I asked. A solid kick from one of my men would make it splinter. I couldn't afford to have people breaking into the rooms.

Levi opened the door to the largest apartment. "I hope you like the layout," Levi said.

"There's a wall blocking my view of the apartment," I snarled. It was supposed to be an open concept, where I could see into the kitchen from the door.

A woman with brown curly hair and brown eyes was inside the apartment. She walked around the wall and said, "Hi, my name is Hannah. I thought you should have some privacy in your home." Hannah touched my arm and squeezed it.

"You assumed wrong," I replied.

"But I wanted our home to have privacy," Hannah said.

"I'm married. Get out!" I snapped. I called Javier to handle the property sale ASAP and demanded a short closing. Levi let his sister change my floor plans and design vision.

"You're not wearing a wedding band," she said, touching her hip.

"Not all married men wear rings," I calmly replied.

My phone rang before I could forcibly remove Hannah from my apartment. "Hey, Batman. Are you okay? I sensed something was wrong. Hector and I are in the garage. Where are you?" Stephanie asked.

"Top floor," I replied, staring at Hannah and Levi, conversing privately.

"I'll be right there," Stephanie said before ending the call. She arrived a minute later. I opened the door when I heard the elevator chime. "What the fuck?" Stephanie muttered when she saw the wall. "Whose shit design was this?"

"It's a great design," Hannah replied, irritated by Stephanie's appearance.

Stephanie snorted, "Not for a security specialist. This design was popular many years ago. Why did you deviate from the floor plan?" Hannah opened her mouth to speak, but Stephanie ignored her and asked, "Darling, we need a different interior decorator. Do you have one in mind?"

"Yes," I replied. "Hannah's designs for the sixth and seventh floors are flawed."

Turning to Hannah, Stephanie said, "Thank you for everything you have done to bring my husband's vision to life, Hannah. However, your services are no longer required."

"I have a contract with Levi," Hannah argued.

"Let me see it," Stephanie demanded. Her hackles were up, and her spidey sense was off the charts. Something about Hannah irritated my wife. I trusted her intuition.

"I don't have a copy with me," Hannah replied. Stephanie mumbled about it being a verbal agreement.

Javier arrived much sooner than anticipated. He found us on the seventh floor inside my apartment. "The building has no liens, and Levi Kohen is the sole owner. We can complete the sale and registration today," Javier announced.

"What would it take?" I asked Levi.

"Another quarter of a million, and you walk away with this building today," Levi said.

Javier updated the sales contract. Levi and I signed the documents. Stephanie and Hannah were facing off as I completed the business at hand. Levi passed me the keys to the building after confirming receipt of the impressive deposit. Rangeman had enough funds to purchase the building without holding a mortgage.

"Give that back," Hannah frantically demanded.

"No!" Stephanie shouted, refusing to hand over the blueprint. "The floor plan belongs to this building. As of two seconds ago, my husband owns this place."

"I can't have a money-grabbing whore sell my designs," Hannah argued, trying to snatch the blueprint from Stephanie's hand.

Scoffing, Stephanie said, "The only money-grabbing whore in this room is you. Besides, nobody would buy this ridiculous design." The document tore; Hannah had two-thirds in her hand, while Stephanie had the remaining third. "You have your precious design. Now you can leave."

"Fine!" Hannah yelled. She grabbed Levi's arm and stomped from the apartment. Hector and Javier took the elevator with Hannah and Levi to ensure they left the building.

Once the elevator descended, Stephanie burst out laughing. "Babe?"

"The bitch may have the largest piece of the floor plan, but I have this part which is more important," Stephanie said, passing me the scrap in her hand. I stared at it for several minutes, trying to understand what I saw on the blueprint.