A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
CHAPTER 1
Ranger's POV
My name is Ranger Manoso, and I own Rangeman security firm, a company that does the security for most of Trenton. I also go after high dollar skips, meaning criminals that are bonded out of jail and then "forget" to show up to their court date. Our job tonight is to recapture one such stellar individual, Chad Borne. Borne is some white collar fancy assed punk who had a little too much fun with the ladies and the powder one night, and was arrested by Trenton's finest. Then he skipped town, and is hanging out in Philly at a club called Dante's Inferno, which brings us to my night tonight.
On these types of set ups I usually bring along a female bounty hunter we work with sometimes , Jeanne Ellen Borrows, to have her snare the target, but she had some sort of emergency and had to leave the country so I'm down to just my guys. Cal is at the door, working as a bouncer and I have about ten guys scattered around the club to watch for the skip to show up. I'm not hopeful that we can catch this guy with no incident, but we'll see.
After about an hour of waiting for him to show up someone else catches my eye. A woman, about 5'6 with a head full of wild curls and wearing something that might get her arrested for indecent exposure if she bends over appears in my peripheral vision. My pants immediately got tight , and an image flashed in my mind of those curls making a curtain around my cock as she went down on me. Holy shit what the hell was that? I shook my head and heard the voices of my core men in my earpiece, apparently they saw her too.
"Fuck who is that?" Lester Santos, my cousin, ever the eloquent speaker.
"She's got an ass you can bounce a quarter off of." Bobby Brown, our resident medic. He is usually more formal than that, so the fact he just commented on her anatomy that way kind of shocked me, and pissed me off.
"And her legs in those heels? Can you imagine them wrapped around your waist…" Tank, my second in command ,spoke low and all the men groaned.
"Enough." I hissed as quiet as possible. "We are on the look out for Borne, not your next lay." To be honest I was jealous that they all were looking at her that way, I wanted to say "I saw her first" but that sounded like we were in middle school, and we were far from that.
"Cuz you can't say you didn't notice her. She's fucking hot!" Lester spoke up again. He's never really learned when I say a command to just follow it. It's been that way since we were kids, him fighting against me and my natural authority.
"Les fuck off." I watched the woman sipping on her drink at the bar. My eyes followed her as she got up and moved to the dance floor with a man who looked familiar but I couldn't place his face. I could hear the growls in my ear piece come through loud and clear as we watched the man put his hands on her hips and she got up close and personal with him as they danced. As we were lost in thought watching her I heard Cal come over the ear piece.
"Ranger, target has arrived." I immediately sat up straight and found the target, Borne, coming in to the club. His eyes widened when he saw the brown haired temptress on the dance floor, and he went straight to her. She smiled shyly and nodded at him, allowing him to put his hands on her. I could hear more growls in my ear, louder that earlier, although maybe that was because I was growling along with my men. Something about this woman, I needed to protect her. The urge came over me as soon as I saw her, I've never felt that way about anyone but my daughter.
We watched them dance for a few songs, and before I could help it I found myself standing and gravitating towards them (well, her). I could see my men start to move forward but I shook my head. This wasn't about Borne, this was about her. As I approached I locked eyes with her and found myself staring at the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen, they reminded me of the ocean, but even that wasn't a fair comparison. They sparkled and the color was deep, with flecks of grey and green mixed in. I gathered my wits and tapped Borne on the shoulder. "May I cut in?"
The woman looked me up and down and those eyes darkened. I saw her tongue poke out and sweep across her lips Holy fuck why did that just make me almost cum in my pants like a horny teen? She looked back at Borne who had a rather nasty look on his face but to his credit walked away from us towards the bar and I stepped in front of her.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and I pulled her close to me, bending down to whisper in her ear. "I don't mean to scare you, but that man is a criminal and I'm here to take him back to jail." I heard her snort snort? What the hell? As she pulled back and stared into my eyes I could see a look of … wait is she laughing at me?
"Duh." Talk about being a teenager. "I know exactly who he is. But I don't know you…" she glanced around the room to keep an eye on Borne while we danced. "Stephanie Plum, from Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. And you are?"
I was speechless for the first time in … well ever. After a second of her staring at me with those big blue eyes I regained my power of speech. "Ranger Manoso of Rangeman Security. And a BEA… for Vincent Plum." Her face twisted before she let go of me and stormed off. I had to run (okay not run she was in 4 inch FMP she wasn't going fast ) to catch up to her. I gently grabbed her arm and turned her around . "Miss Plum we should probably talk."
She glared at me. "Why? My pervert cousin obviously didn't trust me to catch this guy, so he brought in the big guns." Her eye caught my men starting to walk towards us. "Holy hell, is it a requirement of your company that everyone looks like Gods?" I snickered and she clapped her hand over her mouth, I guess she hadn't meant to say that out loud.
"No babe, but it helps." Babe? Where the hell did that come from? She glared at me again at the sound of the nickname.
"Well BATMAN, I hate to break this little tête-à-tête up but I have a man to capture. This has been fun, we should do it again sometime." And with that she spun around on her heel and walked back to Borne at the bar. Within a few seconds he was following her outside like a lost puppy.
"Pack it up, our target was apprehended by another party." I told my men and we walked outside after her to see her cuffing Borne and putting him inside her vehicle. One that looked like it wouldn't get to the corner much less the PD in Trenton. "You need some help babe?" If looks could kill I would have been on the ground with a knife in my heart.
"No, thank you." She gritted her teeth and I saw the man that she had originally been dancing with inside at the wheel. "See you around Batman." I caught a gleam in her eye as she shut the door and they drove away.
Stephanie's POV
I spent the last hour getting ready for my job tonight, and stepped back to admire myself in the mirror. My curls had been tamed, my skirt was short and my legs looked incredible paired with the FMPs that I had on. When I stepped out of the bathroom and into the living room I heard a low whistle. Grinning I turned slowly. "You like?"
"Cupcake it should be illegal for you to look that good." Joseph Morelli, my best friend in the whole wide world and one of Trenton PDs finest decided it would be a good idea that he tag along tonight with me while I apprehended the skip I was going after. He helps me out sometimes if the skips are bigger or we feel they might put up a fight. The whole showing up before leaving and watching me get ready thing was new though. He and I were close when we were kids, even throughout high school but it never turned sexual. We tried kissing once when we were both drunk and it was too weird. He's like the brother I never had, and the son my mom wished I had been. His nickname for me was due to the fact that he thought I was too sweet for my own good. He had no idea how wrong he was.
"You sure you're up for this Cupcake? The guy is scum…"
I rolled my eyes at him and grabbed my purse. "Joey, this guy will be putty in my hands before midnight. Let's go." He just grinned at me and shook his head, and we walked out to my vehicle.
"Please, let's take my car. I can't be seen in this death trap." He turned to me with pleading eyes and I shook my head.
"Your car screams cop. How would that go over? Besides Bertha here has gotten me from point A to point B for 6 months now, and she hasn't given up on me yet. Deal with it." I didn't blame him for trying to change my mind. The car had rust spots covering it that you could see from space, and there might even be a hole or two in the floorboard. No matter, when I got this guy to jail I would be cashing in a big enough check that I could find myself a better car.
We got in and Joe handed me the file on our skip, in case I needed a refresher. I didn't but I appreciated the thought. Chad Borne, 25, high and mighty playboy wannabe found himself with a bunch of women and high as a kite when Trenton PD arrested him 2 months ago. Joe had been the lead detective on the case. Then my no good cousin Vincent Plum went and bailed him out of jail, and Borne ran (they always do.) That brings us to tonight. My job is to track him down and bring him back to jail. I'm a bail enforcement agent, or BEA for my cousin Vinnie. Weird career choice right? Yeah it wasn't the first option I had chosen.
A few months back I had a great job as a lingerie buyer for EE Martin, until they got shut down by the government for embezzlement and fraud. So annoying, I liked that job and I got free lingerie! Joe liked me having that job too, I brought home free pieces for him to give his girlfriend whenever he was in the dog house with her. I like her, she's an elementary school teacher and from what I can tell they're getting serious. He asked me for my opinion on indoor vs outdoor venues and cake flavors. Why he's asking me about that stuff when he hasn't asked her the important question is beyond me, but hey if I get free cake out of it I'm all for it!
Not too long later we pull up in front of the club for tonight's apprehension, Dante's Inferno in Philly. So not only did the guy not show up for his bond hearing, he also skipped across state lines. BIG NO NO. I familiarized myself with his picture and stuffed the folder into the glove box, while Joe came around and opened the door for me. Holding out his hand to me I smiled and took it, unfolding my legs from the cramped spot and standing. "Shit Cupcake." I looked into Joe's brown eyes and was surprised to see them dark.
"What? You've seen me dressed for distractions before…" I trailed off not understanding what his deal was.
"Yeah well, for some reason tonight it's getting to me. Sue me, I'm a guy and you're hot." He leaned down and gave me a kiss behind my ear, making me shiver.
"Quit that! I haven't had sex in months, and you know how I get." I slapped him playfully and we walked to the front door of the club. I was feeling like Wonder Woman until I saw the line of people waiting for entrance and the bouncer at the door. I tripped over a non existent crack in the parking lot when I saw him and Joe has to rescue me by wrapping is arm around my waist.
"If you wanted my hands on you Cupcake you just had to ask." He winked at me and I rolled my eyes.
"Door." I gestured with my head and his eyes got narrow when he saw the man standing there. It appeared he recognized him, but that couldn't have been right. The man had a flaming skull tattoo right near his forehead and looked like he could kill someone with one finger, I didn't see Joe being friends with him. "You know that guy?"
"Mhhmm. Come with me." He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the door, where the behemoth standing looked down at us with a stone face.
"Morelli." Oh he speak! And his voice was almost musical! I tried not to drool as I saw him up close. His shirt was tight across his chest, and his muscles appeared to have muscles of their own he was that stacked.
"Cal. This is my friend Stephanie." He does not look like a Cal, but whatever. I threw him a smile and did a finger wave at him and I swear he cracked a small smile as he undid the rope and let us through, much to the disappointment of the other wanna be club goers waiting to be admitted. I heard the grumbling of someone in line but it stopped quickly with one look from Cal. He just nodded to us and we walked into the club.
The night started slow. We waited for Borne to show, I had my limit of one drink while Joe drank water. Technically he was "on duty" so no alcohol for him nah nah nah boo boo! I was sitting there nursing my drink when I felt the weirdest sensation on the back of my neck. The whole thing tingled, like I was being watched. I scanned the room but didn't see anything or anyone out of place, so I just went back to happily swirling the straw in my drink with my tongue making it appear I was already drunk. I heard Joe clear his throat as he grabbed my hand. "Let's dance."
I'm not graceful by any means. In fact I'm kind of a klutz in my normal every day life… but dancing? Something about the music and the way I let it sink into my system… I move like no one is watching me… like I'm the only one in the room. Sometimes I even forget I have a partner. Joe knows this, he's been out with me and seen my moves so I'm surprised he wants to subject himself to that but whatever, apparently he's a glutton for punishment tonight. Our dancing didn't last long, Borne came in shortly after and made a beeline for me, cutting in. Joe knew his part, he went to sit back at the bar while watching my back (backside maybe). I immediately felt icky when Borne put his hands on me, but it wasn't anything a hot shower couldn't fix later. We danced for a few songs when I felt the tingle in my neck start up again, this time going full force. I heard a voice say "May I cut in?"
Borne moved and I caught sight of the most delicious looking human being I've ever laid eyes on in my life. Involuntarily my tongue poked out and swiped across my lips, and the mans eyes went dark as he watched me. Borne grumbled under his breath and went to sit at the bar. I wrapped my arms around the mans neck as he put his hands around my waist.
"I don't mean to scare you, but that man is a criminal and I'm here to take him back to jail." I couldn't help it, I let out a very undignified snort.
"Duh. I know exactly who he is. But I don't know you…" I glanced around the room to keep an eye on Borne while we danced. "Stephanie Plum, from Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. And you are?"
He waited for a moment before responding. "Ranger Manoso of Rangeman Security. And a BEA… for Vincent Plum." My face got hot and I knew I was going to go into full on Rhino Steph , so I took off. He caught up to me (granted I wasn't moving all that fast in my pumps ) and grabbed my arm to turn me towards him. "Miss Plum we should probably talk."
I glared at him. "Why? My pervert cousin obviously didn't trust me to catch this guy, so he brought in the big guns." I saw a group of men walking towards us and deduced they were his employees. "Holy hell, is it a requirement of your company that everyone looks like Gods?" He snickered and I clapped my hand over my mouth. Damn it that was out loud !
"No babe, but it helps." Babe? Where the hell did that come from? I glared at him again at the sound of the nickname.
"Well BATMAN, I hate to break this little tête-à-tête up but I have a man to capture. This has been fun, we should do it again sometime." Where I came up with that name for him I have no idea, I guess because he was dressed all in black and very mysterious. With that I spun around on my heel and walked back to Borne at the bar. Within a few seconds he was following me outside like a lost puppy.
"What the hell was that Cupcake?" Joe met me outside as outside as I was cuffing Borne and putting him inside my vehicle. I didn't get a chance to respond before I heard a voice from behind me. "You need some help babe?" If looks could kill Joe would be arresting me for murder of this tall dark stranger.
"No, thank you." I gritted my teeth as Joe slid behind the wheel. "See you around Batman." I looked straight at him as I shut the door and we drove away.
A/N2: Whatcha think? Yay? Nay?