Chapter 1

May 1st, 2019

"Look Senator Stephens I don't give a damn what the General says about the mission. You have 24 hours to find me where Ranger is being held or I go to the President. Ranger does not deserve this treatment and I want answers now, am I clear?" I yelled into my cellphone and then threw it on the sofa.

I didn't miss the news that showed the 4 Americans that were held hostage with a black cloth over their faces. Nor did I miss the fact that the kidnappers showed only 3 of the 4. The 4th one was the only one I was concerned about. He was the one that haunted my dreams. This was my Cuban Sex God. This was my Batman. This man whose face was not shown was the father of our son. This was Ranger.

That sonofabitch doesn't know who he is dealing with. This is my son's father, the love of my life. I don't believe he understands that I will fight to the ends of the earth until I have no breath in my body to bring my man home. While I am waiting to hear back from him, I need to get the guys to Miami asap.

"Hey Little Girl, how are you?" Tank asked as he answered the phone when I called.

"Tank, I've had better days. I need you, Bobby and Lester, here in Miami asap. I need you to get contract guys to fill Bobby and Lester's place and I'm sending Ben from New York to take your place for now. I need the 3 of you here asap. Bring your utility belts and anything and everything you can like you are going into battle. I also need Bobby to bring IV packs at least 20, any other medical supplies needed, or he can pick them up here. I also need you to find 2 more guys that have served with Ranger in the Special ops team and bring them with you. We only need 2. The jet is fueled and will be ready to take off at 17:00 hours. You have 5 hours. Dismissed." I hung up before he could even say anything or respond, but I knew that he would do as I say and not question anything. Even though he doesn't know what is going on he knows that I would never put him or any of the other guys in harm's way.

I knew when the guys got here that there would be questions and I hoped to have answers. If not from Senator Stephens, then from the President himself. Either way, I was getting answers and we were going after Ranger.

19:00 hours same day

"Hello."

"Stephanie this is Senator Stephens. I have the information you requested."

"Well, it's about time. So, Senator, where are me and my team going?"

"Ranger is in a camp in Somalia. I can give you a CI in the area that can help you with whatever you

needed. Once you have a plan in place contact me and I can arrange a plan to drop your team within 250 ft of the camp where he is at. The rest of it is up to you and your team."

"So, Ranger and the 3 men are alive still?"

"As far we know yes. The hostage demands gave the U.S. until Friday to put the money in the account and or the 4 Americans would die. Today is Sunday there is still time."

The smug bastard. He said that last part like I was stupid and didn't realize what day of the week it was. I live on 2 hours of sleep a day. I have bags under my eyes that are hidden with concealer. I live, breathe and eat work, raising our son, and fitness/combat. I may not know my name half the time, but you damn straight I know what day of the week it is because I count every day that Carlos is away from us. One more day is one too many.

"Thank you, Senator, for this information. I'm assuming there are pictures or blueprints of where the hostages are at. I need them sent to me asap. I also need access to military weapons. Anything else I need I will let you know once the mission is set up. Are we clear?"

He rattled off a number to a guy at the military base nearby that could supply all ammo or weapons that we needed. The blueprints are being airmailed to me by FedEx and will be here tonight around 1900 hours. He knew I was way beyond pissed. I was on a warpath, and he knew that if I didn't get what I wanted he was on the list with the rest of my targets.

I joined Mama Tia (Carlos' mother) in the kitchen and told her about the plans.

"Mama, I need the whole family here tonight at 7. Anyone and everyone that wants to know what I have planned. Mama, Carlos is alive and I'm going after him." The look on her face was priceless. The tears fell down her cheeks like raindrops from the sky.

"Mi hija, I know you will. You bring him back home to us. He needs to see his son."

"I will Mama, I promise. I got some of the guys coming from Trenton we are setting up an op they will be here today around 5. We need to prepare the hall area to seat everyone and make sure there is plenty of food. I'm going to order pizza and have drinks because that will be easier. Bueno?"

"Si, mi Hija." She hugged me tightly but not before I saw the hope in her eyes that I really could bring Carlos back to all of us.

I saw them as they all got out of the SUV. There were 2 new guys with them that I had never met before. Looks of uncertainty were on their faces, but they knew I had something cooking and I was not going to stir them wrong.

They knew that I spent days trying to find out what happened with the extraction. Tank saw my eyes when he realized that I was determined to find Ranger. He knew I was a woman on a mission, and I was going to get my man back.

I opened the door for them and hugged each one even the new guys. They didn't know me, but they knew Ranger, so they accepted me because I was his. I told them that I would explain everything tonight and for now they could just relax and hold Ricky because they hadn't seen him in a couple of months.

Later, that night at 7 everyone in the Manoso family and the guys that came from Trenton were in the banquet hall to hear what I had to say. I met the new guy's Alex and Stone. Alex, a 32-year-old from Detroit was Bravo 5 from Ranger's group and he always had Ranger's back. He is a 6'5" Indian American with long brown hair that he put in a ponytail. He dressed in all black (not because he had to but because he wanted to). Hey, I guess black is the badass color. When I shook Alex's hand, he looked at me and knew that I loved Ranger and I had something brewing. Alex and Ranger have known each other for 5 years and you can tell Alex looks up to Ranger.

Stone, a 35-year-old from California was Bravo 6 in Ranger's group. He had known Ranger for 4 years and has the utmost respect for him. He a black 6'4" man bald just like Tank and very good-looking. He is built like a bodybuilder and yet he has that aura about him that gives off a teddy bear-type vibe. I liked him instantly.

I walked over to the whiteboard I had set up in the room. I'm facing everyone, I'm in the middle of a half-circle area that everyone is sitting around. It was now time to show my hand.

"Okay, everyone. I want to thank you for coming. Before I start, I want to show you something in case you did not see it earlier on TV." I turned and used the remote for the tv that was hanging on the wall. I had recorded the news I saw earlier in the day from FOX and that is what I was showing them now.

"If you notice these are the 4 American hostages that were taken. I ransom of 5 billion dollars has been requested for their release by Friday or they will be beheaded. I want you to watch this then I want someone to tell me what they don't see."

Everyone watched as the news crew showed the faces of 3 of the 4 hostages. All hostages were on their knees with black cloth bags over their heads. All pictures of the hostages were shown as far as who they were, one was John Livingston, former Navy Seals. Thomas Redding, former Marines. A mystery man whose picture was shown but no name was put to him. The 4th hostage was not shown.

I waited to see who would answer the question I asked of what they didn't see. Tank didn't disappoint in this aspect. "Okay, so they showed 3 of the 4 hostages why not the 4th?"

"Good question, so glad you asked that. I was hoping someone would. The reason why the 4th hostage face was not shown is that he is the best Army Ranger in the world. That my family is Ranger."

Everyone gasps. Some shrieked. Some even started crying. Everyone kept asking me how do I know? I was about to show them.

I enlarged the position of the 4th hostage. You can't see anything but his neck down. But there on his shoulder just below his shoulder blade was one word. BABE.

I waited for a minute to let that sink in. then I walked to the center of the group I rolled up the sleeve of the camo shirt that I had on, and I showed them what was on my shoulder. Directly under my shoulder blade was one word. Ranger

Tank, Lester, Bobby, Alex, and Stone jumped up and raced to me. Tank twirled me around in the air and kissed my cheek. Each guy took their turn hugging and kissing my cheek.

They finally went and sat back down and wanted to know what the plan is.

"Okay, everyone calm down. Here is what is going on." I put the blueprints of the area where Ranger and the other 3 men were being held.

It was a huge 4 foot by 3-foot poster that I taped to the whiteboard. I used a pointer to show off what I was talking about. There was one big building that was made of what looked like straw. It had several openings, one on all 4 ends. The building was huge and was 1200 square feet. It sat in the middle of a wheat field. There usually were about 4 to 5 vehicles parked around the building and usually one of the trucks with the cover of it for if you are hauling things or transporting people.

"Okay so here is the plan. Tank, Lester, Bobby, Alex, Stone, and I will be dropped 250 ft from this location. We will have to walk through a wheat field to get to it. There are 10 guards that work in total. 5 during the day and 5 at night. We will strike at night. The guards will be taken out first. There is one on each corner on the outside of the building. The final guard is in the middle with the hostages. Bobby, I need you to get all medical supplies, especially IVs. Tank I have a number for you I need you and the others to go to the local military base and get any guns and weapons that are needed. We need flash bombs and grenades. Also, each 4 of us myself included will carry a backpack. I will carry Rangers. In each backpack, there needs to be a change of clothes, some shoes, and a gun. Carry as much water as possible. We need to get this asap. We leave at 1300 hours tomorrow afternoon." I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest to wait for a reaction.

"We? As in you too?" Tank asked.

"Yes, Me included. Look I may have not been in the Rangers. But I have busted my ass trying to get information on where he is at. I have worked my ass off trying to better myself. 3 out of the 5 of you know I can kick your ass cause I've done it before, the other 2 will find out if they need to. I shouldn't have to prove myself. If anyone here has a problem with me going, then too fucking bad, because I'm going to get my man with or without you." I stood their toe to toe looking at each one of them daring someone to say something.

All 5 guys looked at each other then looked at me. Tank was the first one to put his first in the middle of the circle. All the other 4 followed as was the last. We counted to 3 and I yelled

"Operation Ranger Begins!"