Boston RangeMan, the same evening
Stephanie
Dinner was simple, a rich chicken vegetable soup and a garden salad followed by dessert consisted of a layer cake, pastries and home-made cookies. Both Rita and Leo ate like starving children.
Rita confessed that she never ate well during finals. "I just have no appetite during exams."
"It's hard not to just have take-out for every meal during finals week." Leo stated. "None of it is what I would call healthy- most of it has been deep fried. But it's fast and easy."
"We don't have fresh baked anything, really. No oven." Rita continued. "All of this is so fresh and delicious."
"Well, you will eat well at RangeMan. The staff cook all three meals every day for the men and women on duty- and there are always snacks available. The focus id on health fresh made options every day." I sighed and indicated the cake and pastries. "And of course for me, there are sweet things. I have a terrible sweet tooth."
Leo laughed. "And we are both grateful for that.
After dinner was finished and the clean-up was done, we sat, me on the loveseat and the kids on the couch and I asked, "So how did you two meet?"
Leo snorted a little and Rita told the story. "Well, as a freshman, I needed a calculus tutor, but with my heavy class load, I couldn't find one who was available when I was free. Leo was in my class and overheard me and offered to help me."
"I had already taken Calculus in Spain, so I knew the work already," Leo tried to dismiss his assistance.
"Of course, my girlfriends all thought I asked him because I thought Leo was so cute. They all had a crush on him" Rita blushed. "I mean, of course, he's gorgeous, but I really needed a tutor."
Leo looked a little pink in his cheeks as she continued. "At the time, I had no idea he was some kind of math genius. But he had a way of walking me through even the toughest problems…"
"They are like a puzzle to me. I just have to unlock them." Leo looked uncomfortable with her praise.
"And then, when he agreed to become a pirate with me, I knew it was love." Rita smiled as I burst out laughing, "Pirates? You're having me on!"
Leo shook his head. "It's true. In fact, we should have our Pirate Certificates soon."
Rita explained, "MIT tries to get the students to engage in physical and mental fitness activities so they offer the Pirate Certificate. You have to pass a course in Archery, Fencing, Shooting- of course it can be either an air pistol or a rifle and Sailing, which you can't take till you do your swim test."
"So, nobody drowns if they fall off a sailboat." Leo interjected.
"Hush you!" Rita told him. "Even if you don't take sailing, you still have to pass a swim test. I had no idea before I enrolled at MIT but every student has to. I was a little freaked out as I am NOT the strongest swimmer. But the test only requires that you swim a hundred yards- there is no time limit so you can go as fast or slow as you want. The requirement has been on the books since the '40s."
Leo smiled at Rita. "I learned to swim as a child and learned to sail when I lived in Greece. My big struggle was shooting. I don't like shooting."
Ranger's son doesn't like shooting. I just CANNOT! "I am not a big fan of guns in general but it is a handy skill. My shooting skills have really improved over the last few months."
"I just find it a little too much of a reminder that I am being hunted." Leo rubbed his temples. It was the first time he spoke about his vulnerability, and my heart ached for him.
He continued. "I have been running for years, ever since my parents and brother died. Always waiting for the other foot to fall. And I have felt alone after Maria, my nonna died and I first came to MIT." Rita squeezed his hand. "But now I have Rita."
There was a knock at the door and I went and let Tank in.
"Stephanie, we need to change our plans for tomorrow." Tank seemed to hesitate.
"It involves them so just spit it out? They will need to know what's going on."
"I had our guys look around a bit today and it seems this afternoon has seen an influx of Russian enforcers at various entry/exit points around the city. The bus station, the train station, and the airport are all being surveilled." Damn! They were closing in an Leo and Rita. I tried to steady my breathing, but the thought of these two nice kids landing with Russian enforcers made my heart race. How could we escape if we couldn't fly…
"Did you reach out to our friend in the harbor?"
"Little Girl, great minds think alike. It will delay getting back to Virginia but from a safety perspective, I think it's our best option."
"Well, that has the added advantage of allowing me time to consider I don't actually want to kill Lester, Bobby and your fearless leader." Tank looked like he considered laughing and Rita and Leo looked confused.
I explained that instead of flying out tomorrow, we would take a very nice yacht to leave Boston. To Tank I said, "Both Rita and Leo have experience sailing, so there should be no issues."
"It will be safer for both of you." Tank told them. "I am going to stay here and finish up our annual reviews but Stephanie and her father will travel with you."
"Along with who, Tank?" Because I knew we would have RangeMen with us in addition to Alexander's men. "And who will have your back?"
"Eagle will team with me here, while Ramon and Cal will cover you. Alexander and his crew will be staying behind- he has some business to address and cannot change his plans. Cal got a couple of the RangeMan Navy guys lined up to take you and they will return here after dropping you off. Ram, Zip and Zero will meet you when you dock."
Cal was a Navy Seal and could pilot the yacht, Ram was a sniper and Zip, Zero and Ramon would be our bodyguards. "Sounds like a party. What's the ETA to the Chesapeake?"
Tank laughed. "Little Girl, you would be aboard a week if you sail the whole way. Cal is going to take you to New Haven, which takes about 25 hours. He can be ready to leave whenever you get to the dock. And I think if you leave tonight, it will be less conspicuous."
Tank had a point. Alexander Ramos sailed a yacht that people would remark on. It was huge and over the top in every sense- a beautiful indulgence.
"It is up to Leo and Rita if they are up to leaving tonight." I looked at the couple.
"We can be ready in fifteen minutes." Leo said firmly. "Putting distance between us and the people looking for me and keeping us safe is all I care about."
Rita said only, "We can sleep on the boat."
Tank moved toward the door. "Great, I will get the kitchen to pack food and have the cars readied. Meet you in the garage in fifteen."
"And my Dad?"
"He's already packed. He figured you'd like this option." My Dad knew me well these days.
So shortly afterwards, Leo, Rita, my father and I were aboard the MARIA and Cal had us underway. Shortly after we rounded Cape Cod, my dad kissed me goodnight. "Pumpkin, I'll see you in the morning."
It wasn't long after that Rita excused herself. I think we all knew Leo had more questions for me, and my Dad and Rita wanted to ensure he could ask them with some privacy.
It was quiet for a while, and then Leo asked, "Did you know my biological mother?"
Well, that was diving in at the deep end. But I promised I would tell him the truth.
"No, I only found out about Ana a little while ago. But I know a couple of people who did know her, and when we get to Virginia, you'll be able to talk to both of them."
"Do you know who my biological father is?"
I nodded.
"Does he know about me?" He looked nervous. And a little hopeful, perhaps?
"He does… And he is anxious to meet you. He regrets not having been involved sooner." I could see the relief on the young man's face. God, he was so like his father in so many ways.
"What can you tell me about him?"
What couldn't I tell him… But I needed to give him the background he craved.
"He was your age when he met your mom, and she was a few years older. At school- like you, he was in advanced classes. They had a mad affair and he loved her and wanted to marry her…" I sucked in breath to continue. My heart ached saying those words. "He had no idea she was married. He knew nothing about about the criminal nature of her family business or the criminal enterprise run by her husband."
"Oh my God." Leo whispered. But he didn't stop me, so I kept going.
"He was warned to get away as quickly and quietly as possible and some friends helped make him difficult to track. He joined the military, served his country with honor."
Leo looked at me, his eyes asking for what I didn't yet say. "It crushed him when he found out your mother, that Ana, died a couple of moths after you were born."
"On March 13th." He whispered.
"He still struggles on the anniversary." I stated.
"The man who acted as my uncle died on March 13 this year…" Leo pressed his palms to his eyes.
I paused and took a deep breath. "And your father was shot the same night by a different man. But he survived."
I saw when the information registered. "Your fiancé?"
"Yes, my fiancé Ricardo Carlos Manoso, who founded RangeMan with some of his military buddies." I swallowed hard. "He's your father, and he can't wait to meet you and introduce you to your whole big Cuban family."
"So that's why they wanted me to come to RangeMan." I nodded.
"I am sure it is the main reason- who better than you father to take over keeping you safe."
"Do you have a picture of him?"
I showed him the photo on my phone from last year, before the shooting, before life changed. It was taken after I accepted Carlos's proposal and we had celebrated and woken up in one another's arms. He got up and dressed for his morning run and I took a picture. He looked so rested. So relaxed. I hadn't realized how big a change there had been since...
"And Tank says you are the image of Carlos when he was your age. Except that he has chocolate-colored eyes."
"And I have Ana's eyes… my mother's eyes." And the tears fell now and I wrapped my arms around Leo, Ranger's son and held him for a long time..
Ranger's boy was going home to him at last.
