I was determined to get back to this story eventually. When I did, I realized I'd have to write a transitional chapter instead of what I wanted to, so posting an update took even longer than I would've liked. Everybody and anything familiar belong to Janet.

Chapter 7

Tank's POV

The fifteen minute drive across town relaxed moods and more importantly … attitudes. By the time our convoy parked in the underground garage, all except Mr. Plum was back in a celebration mode. The poor bastard is so concerned about fitting in here, he's not even thinking about what he started and what will be unleashed when he returns home.

Despite him being a pain in my ass, it seems unfair that Monroe is kept on a leash outside the building to keep the peace, but Frank's freak of a wife is allowed to roam free, shitting on everyone she's got a problem with.

"What are we supposed to call you now?" Zip asked Stephanie once we got everyone out of the vehicles and into the newlyweds' home base.

The lobby of Rangeman is just that, a generic lobby, so it didn't surprise me that conversation picked up only after we made it to the fifth floor and control central.

I'm here every day and I'm still impressed with the highly respected empire Ranger has built.

Steph's eyebrows started traveling up towards her curly hair. "Is that a trick question?"

"No. You married the Boss … that makes you Missus Boss, which carries some weight around here."

"I'm happy you think so, but nothing's changed except you'll probably see more of Grandma Mazur. She'll use being the Grandma-in-law of the big Boss as a reason to hang around the building."

"You got a problem with that?" Edna asked her.

"No, but I'm used to you. The guys may not enjoy the undivided attention though."

"Why wouldn't they? I'm a hoot."

She's something. I'll give her that.

"Down, Monroe," Ranger ordered, as the mutt tried to get Stephanie's eyes back on him by going up on his hind legs and putting his front paws on her back.

The hellhound is so big, he nearly blocked her completely from view until Ranger spoke. Then his jowls rearranged into the canine equivalent of a pout. He respects Ranger but doesn't like that to interfere with his adoration of Stephanie.

"At ease both of you," Steph countered. "There's more than enough of me to go around, since only Julie and Monroe would help me eat our wedding cake."

"That shit ain't good for dogs," I pointed out. "Probably means it's not good for you either."

"Cake is like Ranger, if it wasn't good for me … it wouldn't taste so good."

She effectively shut me up. I'm happy for them, but I'd donate my left nut to science to avoid hearing about how 'happy' they make each other between the sheets.

"Nice place you got here," Mr. Plum said to distract himself from Stephanie's statement.

Thank fuck he was as uncomfortable as I was with it. Could be he wasn't even paying attention to her since his eyes were running all along the monitoring station, taking in the pristine environment that Ella prides herself on and the high-tech equipment Ranger continually adds to keep the competition away.

"It's not just five floors of Rangeman," Steph informed Frank. "The sixth floor is a luxury penthouse where Ella and Louis live. And the same for Seven where Ranger lives." She paused to correct herself. "Where Ranger and I live."

"I've only seen the outside when I've had to drop you off," Frank added, not hiding how impressed he is. "I've never seen the inside of the place."

I wanted to ask, 'Who the fuck's fault is that?' but Stephanie would likely elbow me.

She's not even half my size, but her elbows are fucking pointy. And she knows just where to jab them for maximum impact. The guys always discuss her knee and how it can rearrange reproductive organs, but I'm smart enough to watch out for any part of her that can lash out. But I may have underestimated how cutting her words could be.

"You were welcome to visit anytime, Dad," Steph told her father. "Before we started dating, Ranger and I were close friends. The three of us could've done stuff together if you would've shown any interest in my life or the people I love in it."

Ranger dropped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer, causing the mutt to bare his canines. Lucky for him, Monroe doesn't know that Ranger's bark and bite are far worse than his.

"Stop," Ranger ordered the dog. Monroe whined pitifully but did as he was told. "Your father is here now, Steph."

She smiled. "He is. I just don't wanna get my hopes up higher than they already are."

"It took me a while, but I'm coming around to my own way of thinking," Frank admitted. "Your mother is wrong about this … about the two of you."

"I know," Steph told him. "In fact, there isn't much she's been right about. Ranger is a good guy, the best. I'm lucky he didn't give up on me when I actually believed the crap Mom was saying about me."

Frank took another look around before meeting his new son-in-law's eyes. "You've done well for yourself."

The way Steph's mouth dropped open clued us in that her father's words are high praise from someone like him.

"I'm good at what I do, and it pays," was Ranger's answer.

He's a humble fucker, I'll give him that.

"You don't need to worry about your daughter. I'll make sure she's always taken care of."

The following response came from Stephanie, not Frank.

This should be good. As Lula would've said, Ranger is the shit because he's never worried about his now-wife's reaction … and I'd bet he's the only one who isn't.

"Hey, I can take care of myself," she assured them before turning personal. "I married you because I love you, not because I'm interested in what you can buy me."

"Don't write off his money," I interrupted. "You could let him buy you a different dog or pay someone to take this one off your hands."

Since Ranger called him off Stephanie, Monroe had sidled up to me. And his breath was wetting my pants … like the stare Steph's now giving me tends to do to her skips when it's turned on them.

"No. I love our dog. He looks like Rangeman material but he's a major sweetheart. A lot like you guys if you ask me."

A stampeding rhino would've made less noise than the uncomfortable shifting of boots belonging to all the men on duty. Dying for - or on - the job, they can handle. Stephanie calling them 'sweethearts' they don't know what to do with.

She sighed. "Well, something I said made everyone speechless, so I guess that means I'm officially back in the building."

"To stay it looks like," Zero said, glancing pointedly at her left hand.

"Yep. Ranger married me so you're all stuck with me."

"And me too," Edna added. "My granddaughter may be taken, but I sure ain't. I'll even let one of you get to second base during this movie if you play your cards right."

They'll be a line to burn 'their cards' hearing that.

"Jesus, woman," Frank told her. "Don't say stuff like that. You're old enough to know better by now."

"Damn tootin' I am, but I've got a young spirit tellin' me not to care."

Against my better judgment, I grinned. The old broad really is a 'hoot'. Scary, but still amusing.

"Clearly, Grandma Mazur gets the throne," Steph told the room, making up a reason for her grandmother to sit by herself, far away from everyone else.

"I'm on it," Zip told her, no doubt heading straight to where Louis keeps the office supplies to get an office chair Edna will be swallowed up by.

"Do we get that pizza now or later?" Edna asked.

"We'll need to give Shorty time to make multiple pies, so it'll be a little later," Steph reasoned.

"How 'bout popcorn then?" Edna pressed, looking around like she was expecting a concession stand to rise from the floor.

"There's snacks in the kitchen," I informed her, watching Zip following behind us with a premium gaming chair. "But you'll find your ass being wheeled out of here if you're too loud with it."

"We have rules we have to adhere to," Zip agreed, cutting his eyes my way.

I narrowed mine at him. "I don't make the rules, I only enforce them. Take up any complaints with the Boss."

"The Boss is currently busy," I was told by Boss Lady, "waiting for you all to sit down so we can get the show started."

"I was there," I reminded her.

Steph tapped the cushion on the other side of her. She had to reach over Monroe's oversized body to make contact with it since he still doesn't believe in personal space when it comes to the newly minted Mrs. Manoso.

Ranger didn't make the room we use to view locations or building layouts as comfortable as a home theater, but it's a far fucking cry from the hot and claustrophobic rooms we were always stuck in getting briefed before or after a mission. There are two rows of two basic sofas, along with straight-backed chairs three in a row on each end of the couches.

"You were, so you can add commentary when someone has a question. I saved you this special seat and everything. I wouldn't want Monroe to get lonely while I'm cuddling up to Ranger."

"It's hard for him to get lonely when he's all over you all the time," the Boss noted.

"Guess he's picked up some traits from your husband after all," Lester added, unfortunately parking his ass on the chair beside me

"There's a father present," Steph reminded him. "No saying things like that … no matter how true they may be."

The last part of that was said into Ranger's shoulder but we still heard it. With any luck, Mr. Plum is as unobservant as his old lady. He sat on the seat closest to the screen, like he didn't want to miss anything. Maybe there's hope for him after all.

As I told the woman, I was there so I only flicked my attention to the screen when it was coming to a section of the course I hadn't been able to remember on my own. The rest of the time, I was scanning the room and gauging the men's reaction to a competition very few ever experience.

The sound of grunts and curses from a race that felt like I'd participated in years ago instead of days were mirrored with "Fuck!" or "Damn, that had to hurt" comments from the men here who wandered in as their shifts ended. "Did you see that?" was also a favorite during a particularly grueling challenge.

Stephanie was taking turns glancing at Ranger to try to read his face and smiling with pride whenever the guys complimented us. While she was doing both, one of her hands stayed securely tucked in Ranger's and the other tunneled repeatedly through the crazy canine's short coat.

Edna earned points by feeding the mutt pieces of whatever she could toss over to him, but even she appeared as interested and impressed as Mr. Plum is. I was expecting Mrs. Plum's reaction, but I had not anticipated this one from her father.

As if my thoughts summoned the demon, Steph shifted uncomfortably as her cell rang.

"Damn," she said, unearthing it from somewhere between the dog and the couch to check the screen. "I knew this was too good to last."

"Your mother?" Ranger asked.

"Yup." Frank began to get up until Steph pointed a finger at him. "There's at least twenty minutes left. You don't want to miss the best part. I'll handle mom. Hello?"

There was a definite tone change from the voice she used on Frank versus the one her mother received.

"I would like to speak to your father. Him not wanting a cell phone for personal use continues to inconvenience everyone," Mrs. Plum said, her voice could be heard throughout the viewing room.

"Not really," Steph replied. "You could've had a nice, rational conversation with Dad before he left. You're the one who inconvenienced all of us by pitching a fit."

"I did no such thing."

Steph shrugged under Ranger's arm. "Go ahead and keep deluding yourself. It doesn't affect me either way, but I will step in if you give Dad crap for having an opinion and doing something about it."

"Why do you always have to be so dramatic? I asked Joseph to leave. What more do you want?"

"You to understand why Morelli being at my parents' house was wrong in the first place? Or maybe, you hearing yourself say that you 'asked' him to leave instead of ordering him to go away, followed immediately by correcting yourself and your future behavior? Those would be a promising start."

"Honestly, Stephanie. You're a married woman now." The way she said that made it clear that she's already reframed Stephanie marrying Ranger in her mind into a new manipulation tool. "You shouldn't be thinking of Joseph at all."

Ranger's hand squeezed her shoulder while Monroe left the drool that'd been leaking out of him on my leg before transferring a pristine jawline to Stephanie's lap. I know Ranger can read body language, and a situation, like no other but I'm surprised the hellhound followed so quickly in his footsteps when it comes to Steph.

Though it shouldn't be shocking. Both are alpha males, and both are in love with the woman. And since she answered on speaker so there would be plenty of witnesses, I guarantee every man in the room has just upped their opinion and protection of her.

"I don't give a damn about Joe. I'm talking about my mother here. You're supposed to be on my side, but more and more it feels like you wish Morelli was your kid instead of me."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not," she told the shrew. "I'm being honest. But since you called to talk to Dad, not me … I'm just wasting my breath. Unless he wants to hang around and see how things work around here, you'll see him soon. He's being driven back so I suggest you be on your best behavior. Ranger's cars have eyes as well as ears."

"Are you bringing him home?"

"No," Ranger answered for her. "One of my men will be making the return trip. My wife has had enough 'family' time for one day."

The missus fanned her face with her hand after he ended the call. "My hero … this time. But beware, there's probably going to be a time when I get pissed if you speak for me."

"I'd be concerned if you didn't get pissed. But be warned right back that I will do anything I have to in order to ensure you're safe."

She sighed, though didn't argue. Ranger doesn't discuss his personal shit, but I knew exactly what Lester was thinking when I felt his eyes on me. Steph has been on her own as much as we'd been before we met Ranger. We've all learned and accepted that being part of this company means looking out for each other off the field as well as on the job.

Stephanie being Ranger's woman automatically put her in a separate category over all our other duties. Though getting to know the nut also made her someone each and every one of us would kill for. I'm not proud of the fact that I could put a bullet in the cop and her maternal monster without losing sleep. But I feel honored to be able to call her a friend.

A dewclaw dug into my forearm, bringing me back to the present. The mutt either strongly agreed or disagreed with my thoughts.

"You're scaring Monroe," Steph accused. "Rearrange your face into a happy one or he'll be trying to follow you home."

"You were onto something earlier. I'll pay you whatever you want to make that happen," Ranger told me.

Steph elbowed him but didn't seem annoyed by the attempted bribe.

"Pass," I told them. "He's your problem, not mine. Send him home with Mr. Plum if you want a honeymoon night."

Steph looped her arms around the mutt's neck. "My mom doesn't deserve him. Now stop being difficult and let everyone see you cross the finish line. Your heads don't need to be any bigger, but you guys really are the Best Rangers. I didn't need a competition to tell me that."

Ranger used the arm he had around her to tip her towards him so he could kiss her temple. "Your opinion is prejudicial, Babe."

She shook her head and pointed towards the floor-to-ceiling screen. "The finish line begs to differ."

"And since we've reached it, that puts an end to the fun and games," I told the room. "Now we're back on the job and it's business as usual."

Steph glanced at the screen that still had some footage of us accepting our congratulations. "You think that was fun?"

"There's nothin' like it," I told her, shifting my eyes to Ranger.

A decade and a dozen missions flashed between us before he turned back to Stephanie. He kissed her mouth as she looked up at him with two eyebrows raised in question. Maybe Ranger did stumble onto something just as action filled as our Army days.

Steph is a one-woman battlefield … hard to survive yet impossible to give up in place of a 'normal' life.

Something hit my leg, and I glanced down to find the fucking mutt had tagged me with another wad of drool. "Keep it up," I threatened.

The fucker didn't even blink, but Stephanie laughed. "Monroe's not the only one who can sense what you're thinking. Ranger seems ready to do damage to your body not just your clothes like Monroe does. Were you cursing me out in your head again?"

I realized I could be completely honest and still not give anything away. "No. I was actually giving you a compliment. The highest one in our world."

"How so?"

I used my index finger to include every man in the room. "You keep things interesting around here."

"That's what you consider a compliment?" She asked.

Like it was planned, every man nodded his head at the same time.

"Boredom equals danger to men like us," Lester added.

I know Ranger will keep her from ever knowing the details behind those words. We've lost more Army buddies than we could help.

"I thought being partnered with me was the danger you all have been trying to avoid," Steph responded.

I cut my eyes to the hellhound. "I know which day with you I would've liked to avoid."

She stood and called Monroe to her before glaring at me. "You don't deserve Monroe snuggles either."

Since Ranger was now in his feet, it was wise to follow suit. He can beat the shit outta me, has on a few occasions, but I still prefer to start off on equal footing. Luckily, having Mr. Plum here kept the Boss focused on protecting Steph from him rather than defending the mutt to earn husband points.

"I didn't know how this would go," Frank now said, "but I had a good time here."

"You sound surprised," Steph said to her father.

"He is," Edna added. "I told him he was being dumb for not payin' you a visit."

"Why didn't you want to?" Her granddaughter pressed.

I wanted to punch myself for suddenly understanding why Ranger went to hell and back to protect her. I'd noticed my hand had formed a fist that was ready for action if he said anything to hurt her.

"I know you've always wanted a boy …" she continued before he could form a reply that wouldn't get him shot.

"I didn't …"

Steph held up her hand to stop him. "I liked everything you were interested in, Dad, so I didn't really understand it. But it doesn't bother me anymore. Now that I've been hanging around these guys, I admit having a brother might not have sucked after all. Though it would've been nice to go fishing or to a hockey game with you once in a while."

The man looked genuinely puzzled hearing that. That's not surprising considering they had lived in the same house for eighteen years but lived completely separate lives.

"You were never home," he told his daughter.

I gestured to the men to get the hell out of here so the family can deal with this shit in private. I could feel Ranger's look. I raised my brows in response, but I'm not planning on going anywhere. His wife stuck me with the dog, and he stuck me with her, so they can deal with me sticking around during potentially explosive 'family' discussions.

"Can you blame me? I was trying to avoid Mom and the stuff she thought I needed to be doing," the new missus told her father. "We could've helped each other out by doing things together away from the house."

He was quiet enough for us all to hear Monroe's snuffling Steph's hand in search for a treat or even more fucking attention.

"Was this a one-time thing?" Ranger prompted, helping the poor bastard out.

As if snapping out of a trance, Frank nodded. "No. I mean, I'd like to come back … if you want me to."

Steph nodded. "I do … as long as it's just to see me or do something fun here. I'm not interested in someone acting as a spy for mom."

"And we won't take kindly to anyone treating the Boss Lady as a means to an end," I added.

"Jeez, Tank," she said. "Ranger's stare is intimidating enough; you don't need to add to it."

I shrugged. "You married into the family, you don't get to decide how we take care of it."

She terrified me by holding out her arms. "Come on … you want a hug, don't you, Tank? Admit it, you like me."

Finally, the mutt did something useful. He jumped up and put his front paws on her shoulders to catch the hug she was throwing away.

"Jesus H. Christ," Frank said, still a little in shock. "He's bigger than you are."

Steph wiped the dog slobber off her face onto Ranger's shoulder before heaving Monroe off and away from her. Which meant he sat at her feet and wagged his tail, expecting praise for being so annoying.

He got it as Steph's hand returned to his head for a few scratches as she addressed her father.

"Lucky for everyone, Monroe may be bigger than me … but he's way nicer."

"You wish," I told her, hooking my arm around her neck and rubbing my knuckles into her hair until it started to stand on end.

Instead of the mutt coming to her rescue, Ranger dug two fingers into a particularly sensitive pressure point and my arms fell uselessly to my sides.

"Take a chill pill, guys. We're all friends here," Steph said, trying to be the voice of reason for once.

No surprise, Edna wasn't. She wedged one of her bony arms into my side. "Do me next."

"No."

The threat Grandma Mazur brought to our play put an abrupt end to it.

Either Frank has had enough or was worried we'd had enough of Edna, because he made a point of looking at his watch. "We should be getting out of your hair. You just got home; you must be tired."

"I wasn't kidding, Dad," Steph told him. "You can stick around if you'd like. At least wait for the pizza to be delivered. You could bring some home to have for breakfast tomorrow in case Mom goes on strike."

"Not tonight. But is it alright if I," he paused to glance over at Edna, "we … come back tomorrow? Maybe take you out to dinner or something?"

Steph's poker face still sucks, but at least she didn't cry or get emotional at the progress they've made today.

"Drop by whenever you want. Even if we're out on a job, there's plenty of things and people around to keep you busy until I get back. You also have my number if you want to use it."

"You'd be okay talking to me?"

"If you plan on actually talking. As a heads-up though, living here means my vehicles are well maintained, so you'll have to get a little more creative with the things we can talk about."

It's interesting to see his shoulders tense as his face relaxed into an almost smile. "I'll work on it." He cut his eyes to Grandma Mazur. "You ready to go home?"

Her rolls of gray/purple curls didn't move when she shook her head in the negative. "No. But as long as you promise to bring me back tomorrow, I'll go peacefully."

"That'll be a first," Mr. Plum replied.

"I didn't want Mom waiting up thinking she could start a second round," Steph was saying, clearly worried now, making the mutt whimper and nudge his nose into her leg in some fucked-up version of comfort. "But I," she glanced over at Ranger like Frank had done with Edna, "we, can take you back to the Burg if you want."

"I'll be fine. I can handle your mother."

"Since when?" I said loud enough for only Ranger to hear me.

"I'll call you tomorrow to finalize a time," he continued. "I know you two are busy."

Edna's dentures had their own soundtrack as they took a tour of her mouth. "And if you wait until after a job to call, we can get the details before anyone else."

"You mean you can get the truth of what happened," Ranger corrected.

"Yeah, yeah. Sure. Let's get a move on, Frank. I got a lot to say and do before the Bingo gals hit the hay."

"Grandma …" Steph warned.

Her grandmother patted her arm the way she'd tapped Monroe's giant head. "Don't you worry. You'll be coming out of this on top."

I saw Ranger lean down to whisper something in Stephanie's ear. Although I didn't want to know what he said, I'm not his partner due to faulty hearing.

The bastard's getting started on his honeymoon in the middle of a conference room.

"Play your cards right, Babe," he'd whispered, "and you'll find yourself on top in every way we can manage it."