Author: plumfanatic
Title: Ikergyermek Rokon
Rating: NC-17 SMUT (Sooner or Later)
Spoilers/Warnings: possibly any and all books
Disclaimer: Most of these characters belong to Janet Evanovich and I am not profiting from the use of them, except of course Ranger and maybe some of the Merry Men and that is not financially.
Thanks Always to Trish, my wonderful friend and Beta
Prologue (1933)
Marta knew the woman's time was near. She could feel it in every pore of her body. Soon, very soon, her dreams would all come true. The woman had no idea there were two. She would panic because it was too early for them to come.
Marta hurried to find Nikola. He had to get the man away so that he couldn't intervene. She only wanted one, but the man would never understand. If he wasn't there, then he and his wife would never know. How could they know? They didn't need two, they already had others.
Nikola already had his diversion planned. He had the dogs ready to scatter the sheep as soon as Marta gave the signal for him to open the pens. He was as anxious as his wife to meet their child. They had waited so long. It had been five years since they had lost their beautiful little Kasha, and though they tried there never came another. With any luck the sheep would spread all the way from here to Budapest and that would give them plenty of time.
Marta and Nikola Gulyas had been doing odd jobs for the family here in the Buda Hills, near the Palvolgy Cave, for almost three months. It was a very long time for them to stay in one place. It was necessary; they would catch up with the rest of the band easily. They had chosen the family well. Marta had been a mid-wife since she was very young. She knew that there would be two this time. Not everyone knew, but she could tell. Every time she had been right. This time not even the woman suspected.
Marta could tell that the woman's time was upon her. She took the quilt they had chosen as the signal, washed it quickly and hung it on the line to dry. Nikola would see it and begin the diversion to get the rest of the family away from the house. Marta would be alone with the woman very soon.
The woman had been in labor for some time Marta had noticed. The woman wasn't saying anything because she knew it was too soon. But Marta knew, with two they often came early. The woman had no choice except to put her faith in Marta.
When Edna came into the world the woman was ecstatic. She held the baby close to her and cried because she was perfect despite being three weeks early. A massive pain came over her and she drifted into unconsciousness.
It only took Nikola and Marta three weeks to find the others. Everything had been so perfect except for those few moments when the woman had awakened. The woman was groggy but clearly saw that there were not one, but two beautiful little babies. But Marta had given her some herbs and she would forget. The woman had her Edna to make her happy. Nikola and Marta finally had their Eva. All was right with the world again.
Ikergyermek Rokon
Chapter One (present day)
Joe Morelli dragged himself out of the chair, shut off the lights and left his office. It had been one hell of a day. The Rangers were playing tonight and he just wanted to go home and snuggle with Steph on the couch to watch the game. He hoped she wasn't out doing something crazy to ruin his plans for the night. How and why he loved her was beyond explanation, but it didn't matter. It was just the way things were. Someday, maybe, she would be ready to quit her joke of a job at Vincent Plum Bail Bonds and settle down. Then she wouldn't need to spend so much time with her lunatic friends. More importantly, she could stop finding excuses to work for Manoso. Joe suspected that Ranger Manoso, CEO of RangeMan, fabricated the occasional jobs he hired Stephanie to do so they could spend time together.
As he turned a corner, he saw Steph looking as if she was searching for him. He hurried to her, gathered her up in his strong arms and kissed her lustily. Man, he couldn't get enough. But she wasn't kissing him back. As a matter of fact, she was fighting him off. He couldn't understand what she was saying since his mouth was plastered on hers.
What the heck was this all about? He broke the kiss and released her. She unleashed a full tirade of gibberish that he couldn't even begin to recognize. It was like she was speaking in another language, but Steph was positively not bi-lingual. And then she slapped him hard across the face.
"What in God's name do you think you are doing, sir? I know this is the land of freedom, but I did not expect to be attacked in the police station!" she growled at him. "I pray that yours is not the standard of behavior in this country." She was shaken to say the least. He had taken her by surprise, but oh, what a surprise. He looked just like one of those gorgeous men she saw in American movies. Her body reacted to him unlike any man she had ever known. Hopefully he didn't notice.
Joe looked at her with obvious shock and disbelief. Where did Steph get the accent? She must have been working on that for a really long time, because it was good. Hmmmm, maybe this is part of some kinky twist to their sex life she has planned. He could get into making love to her while she screamed dirty things in another language or even just with that accent. Shit, he was getting turned on.
"Cupcake, I like the accent, but did you have to hit me so hard? And in front of the guys? This is going to be all over Trenton in ten minutes. Are you finished here? If we leave now, we'll have time for some hot sweaty sex before the game. He was leaning close, talking softly in her ear.
The chills he sent up and down her spine had made her slow to react. She pushed him so suddenly and violently that he tripped and ended up on the floor just as Andy Roche, a Federal Treasury Agent, and Meri Maisonet from the FBI came around the corner with Captain Santiago.
"So, Morelli, I see you have met your new partner already." his captain said. "It's amazing isn't it? I was taken aback myself."
Joe quickly got up, brushing himself off, looking dazed and confused.
"Sir?" he managed to get out, "I don't quite understand what you are talking about? I don't work with a partner, and if I did, why would I be partners with Stephanie?"
They all smiled and looked at the woman as she asked, "Who is Stephanie? This man is rude and vulgar. Where is my partner?"
Zigana, get a grip, she thought to herself. Lord, please don't let it be him. She would melt if she had to look into those dark chocolate eyes too long.
Andy stepped up quickly to put out the fire that was about to erupt and introduced them, "Joe Morelli, meet Zigana Kovacs, your partner for your new assignment."
"Very funny, sir; who put you guys up to this, Juniak?" Does he miss life down here in the trenches so much he had to send a reminder that he is sitting on a higher throne? Cupcake, I never knew you were such a good actress. You had me going there."
He moved to pull her closer as he spoke and before he knew what had happened she had his arm pinned behind his back.
"Touch me again, Mr. Morelli, and next time I won't be so gentle."
He tried to free himself, but her hold was unyielding.
"Fine, I don't know what's going on here, but you can let me go now."
Zigana dropped Joe's arm and stepped out of his reach.
"Joe, Ms Kovacs has just arrived from Hungary. She is working on a very high priority case and we need you to be her liaison. Since she bears such a strong resemblance to Ms Plum, her cover should be very easy to maintain." the Captain explained. "It's late now, but we all need to go to the conference room and discuss the basics. We will get into more detail in the morning."
Joe and Zigana gave each other the once over as they walked warily side by side to the meeting room.
In the room, Joe took a seat quietly across from the Stephanie imposter and watched every move she made. Damn, she looked just like his Cupcake, her beautiful blue eyes, the curly hair, her mouth, but she had moves. Steph never could have gotten the upper hand on him like this woman had. How is this possible? They say everyone has a double, but this is way beyond the realm of possibility.
Zigana was feeling very perturbed. They had sent her in here blind. If she hadn't wanted to come to America so desperately, she would have demanded they tell her the entire scenario. Her superiors insisted that they were concerned about leaks in the department. They felt her cover would be compromised if they had discussed more than was necessary. All she knew was she would be undercover as the girlfriend of a cop in Trenton, New Jersey. They would work on the diamond smuggling case together. Obviously, they hadn't told her she was chosen primarily because of her looks and her ability to speak flawless English.
Agent Roche began, "Joe, Ms Kovacs is a special agent from Budapest. She has been sent here to track a diamond smuggling ring believed to be negotiating with someone in the Trenton area. We believe they are coming through Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal and then being transported to Trenton. Ms Kovacs is a diamond specialist and a highly trained field agent. She drew this assignment for those reasons and the unmistakable resemblance to your girlfriend. That is how you fit into this project. You will be her cover. Ms Plum is being advised of the situation as we speak. Once she agrees to our plans, Ms Kovacs will be moving in with you."
Zigana cursed to herself. This was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done. She was going to live with this man for how long posing as his girlfriend, who somehow looks enough like her that they believe this whole thing to be possible.
Captain Santiago's phone rang. He answered it, listened to whoever was on the other end and hung up with an amused grin on his face.
"That was Mr. Manoso, of RangeMan. He has given Ms Plum the basics of this operation and says she would like to meet Ms Kovacs before making her final decision. She is a bit concerned about interaction with her family for some reason."
No shit, Joe thought. How do you explain Stephanie's family to anyone, let alone this poor woman? She has no idea what the hell she is in for.
"Excuse me, sir; what does RangeMan have to do with this? Why is Manoso briefing Stephanie?"
"RangeMan has been contracted to work with us. Mr. Manoso and Ms Plum will be working as a team in New York City. They will be posing as a wealthy husband and wife wanting to purchase some diamonds. Mr. Manoso has contacts in the city and will be able to create a nice cover."
"Sir, I really don't think that is a good idea; Manoso is a loose cannon." And ready to explode any time Steph is around. No way can this happen.
"Joe, everything has already been arranged. The only question is if Ms Plum will agree to surrender her identity to Ms Kovacs for as long as it takes to break down this ring. RangeMan is already involved and has begun laying the groundwork for the operation in the city."
Joe was seething. Stephanie and Ranger were going to be living in the city and posing as husband and wife for God only knows how long. There was no way to get out of it. When did his life spin out of control? His boss was telling him to turn his girlfriend over to the Big Bad Wolf!
They discussed the major details for the next half hour. Everyone had a fair sense of what was happening. A meeting was scheduled for 11:00 the following morning. Hopefully Stephanie would agree to the plan and they could discuss the remaining issues.
"We need to be very discreet about this Joe. Ms Plum and Ms Kovacs can not be seen together and they can't be spotted in two places at one time. For the next couple days Ms Kovacs will be staying in an apartment at Rangeman. Ms Plum will be able to spend the time needed to familiarize Ms Kovacs with family, friends, work and all other aspects important to assuming her identity. Ms Maisonet will be acting as liaison. Now, if the rest of the questions can wait until our meeting in the morning, the two of you need to get over to RangeMan. Mr. Manoso has arranged for dinner there so the four of you can get together. Most important is for our two Stephanie Plums to meet."
Chapter Two
Joe put his arm around Zigana and led her to his car. He talked to her in a low voice so as not to be heard. He told her they needed to start acting like a couple or it would look strange. Of course he didn't tell her that throughout the whole meeting he had odd feelings and couldn't wait to touch her again. There was a very bizarre thrill running through him seeing her as his cupcake, and knowing she wasn't.
Zigana could only wonder at the jolt she got every time this man touched her. He sent lightning bolts through her system. This reaction to a complete stranger was something completely new to her. She had to get a grip on herself, they were going to be together for quite a while and he belonged to someone else.
Joe pulled out of the parking lot and headed for Haywood Street.
"I owe you an apology Ms Kovacs. I was way out of line, but I truly had no idea. You look so much like Stephanie that I am still finding it hard to believe."
"It's alright; this has been quite the surprise to all of us. I was not informed of the similarities either. It's Zigana, by the way, please call me Zigana."
"If we can start over, I'll call you Zigana and you can call me Joe. Nice to meet you, Zigana."
"The pleasure is mine, Joe." Too bad you are already spoken for because the pleasure really is all mine she thought.
They made small talk until they got to RangeMan. The seven story building housed RangeMan offices and apartments. There was an underground garage with an iron gate at the entrance. Joe pressed the button on the intercom and identified himself. The gate rose and they passed through. By the time he parked and opened his door Tank was there to meet them.
Tank was Ranger's right hand man. He was a six foot six inches tall black man without an ounce of fat anywhere. His head was shaved; he was very large, rock-solid and built like a tank.
Zigana got out of the car checking out her surroundings. Tank's usually impassive face flashed a sign of amazement when he saw her. The boss had told him to expect a woman that looked like Ms Plum, but this was unnatural. He regained his composure rapidly and led the way to the elevator.
"They are waiting for you in the apartment; it will provide the most privacy. All RangeMan employees are aware of this project. You can move freely and securely throughout the building. Please be aware, Ms Kovacs, that I am sure you will be mistaken for the Bombshell quite often. Some of the guys may try to pull some practical jokes even though they have been forewarned. Let me know if you have any problems. I will be in charge while the boss is away."
Zigana looked at him quizzically and asked, "What is a Bombshell?"
Joe laughed and said, "I'll explain later, it will take a while."
"The control room, conference rooms and gym are on the fifth floor. Your apartment will be on the fourth floor. Ella and Louis are on six. Ella takes care of us and Louis takes care of the building. If you need anything along the line of food, laundry, shopping or repairs you will just dial 6 on your phone. Ella will provide anything you want for your meals as long as you let her know in advance; otherwise you will get whatever she is preparing for the day. You will be mostly confined to the building until Ms Plum leaves town with the boss."
Joe's stomach constricted and he wished he had his Maalox. It was not going to be an easy thing to remain composed while Stephanie left town as Ranger's wife.
Tank handed Zigana a cell phone and showed her how to speed dial him if she had any questions at any time. They reached the seventh floor. Tank knocked on the apartment door instead of letting himself in with his key.
Ranger answered the door and showed them into the dining room maintaining his blank face.
Stephanie and Zigana gawked at each other. Stephanie speechless was a sight to see. Both women just stood there for several minutes absorbing the odd sensations overwhelming each of them. They both immediately felt the need to ask the other a zillion questions, but now wasn't the time. Finally, Stephanie broke the gaze and went into a fit of laughter.
She turned to all three men with tears of amusement in her eyes and said, "One Bombshell is enough, how in the hell are you guys going to keep up with two of us?"
The guys all joined her laughter, which they all considered a great relief from the tension. Zigana, however, failed to see the humor.
Stephanie gave her a warm smile and said, "Girl, we have a lot of chatting to do, unfortunately it will have to wait. I'm sure the boys here will be more than happy to explain that one however."
Zigana was overwhelmed. So many things were happening so fast. All of the training in the world could not have prepared her for this encounter with her mirror image. This woman could be her. So many questions came to mind but she had to push all of her curiosity and emotions aside for now and get through this meeting.
"Later," Joe said, "We have lots to discuss right now." He went to Stephanie, drew her in for a possessive kiss and pulled her to a chair at the table beside him as they all took a seat.
Ranger's housekeeper, Ella, had prepared a meal for them. Joe made the introductions while they ate and got to know each other. Zigana was feeling a bit unsettled sitting across from Stephanie. She just listened as intently as possible and answered questions asked of her. The men were doing most of the talking. Zigana was wondering if Stephanie felt the same as she did.
They moved to the living room after they were through with their meal. Ranger took control of the conversation.
"Stephanie and Zigana are a bit shell shocked, but we have very little time so we need to get right down to business. This is going to be a very complicated assignment, especially for Zigana. She may be a well trained agent, but as we all know nothing could prepare her to fill Stephanie's shoes."
"Excuse me, just what do you mean by that Ranger?"
"Babe, she is going to have to live your life. She will have to convince everyone she is Stephanie Plum, Bombshell Bounty Hunter. She will have to eat dinner with your parents, bring in skips with Lula, take your grandma to viewings, climb out of dumpsters, and eat donuts. I watched her eat Babe; dessert is not the base of her food pyramid."
"Are you suggesting there is something wrong with my family and my life? " Ranger was actually grinning; he was enjoying all of this. Okay, she thought, he's right, but that doesn't mean he can act so damn smug about it. "I am sure she will have no problem fitting into my life. She will love my family and when I am through with her no one will suspect a thing."
Joe was sitting next to Stephanie with his arm draped around her. She felt his body stiffen as he said, "Cupcake, are you saying you are really going to do this? Do you realize what this means? You are going to let her assume your identity and take over your life. Shouldn't we discuss this first?" He knew his words were poorly chosen as soon as they left his mouth. Stephanie didn't like his controlling nature and he knew it. He felt her tension, but was surprised how calmly she reacted.
"What is there to discuss, Joe? First of all it is my life and my choice. When have we ever discussed your undercover assignments? I never have any input on those. It's your job and so you do it. Well this is my job Joe, which makes it my choice. I want to do this. It's a great opportunity, not to mention what it will do for my bank account and credit card debt. It will be a break from psychos, skips, stalkers, being pursued by rabbits, kidnapped, getting shot at and food fights with Joyce." She spoke evenly, trying to hide the fury she felt at Joe's implications.
There had never been any doubt in her mind that she was going to accept the job. When she met Zigana, she knew it was the only decision to be made. Besides, this was about as close to a vacation as she could see in the future and she really needed a break. Going to the city with Ranger would be a real hardship, but she would endure it for the good of all. Of course, it was not going to be easy keeping her hormones under control posing as the wife of a Cuban Sex God whom she happened to love.
Stephanie had admitted to herself a while back that she loved both Joe and Ranger. She just didn't know where she stood with Ranger. Joe loved her and wanted to get married, have babies and have a stay at home wife. Ranger loved her too, but that didn't include marriage and babies. The big question was; what did Stephanie want?
"Steph, think about…"
"Joe, there is no time to think about this. The decision is made. We have to act fast. It is going to take some time filling Zigana in on my life and we are wasting precious minutes."
The room was quiet and Joe decided it was futile to try to change her mind. This whole thing was ridiculous. She is going off with Manoso and I can't do a damn thing about it he thought. And he is sitting over there looking like the cat that swallowed the canary. Shit.
"Babe, how do you want to handle this? You and Zigana need to get started, it's still early. The two of you can't leave the building at the same time but you can use any resources we have here to familiarize her with the area. She will have to go out with one of us for a few hours each day to get a real feel for her surroundings. We can't do that until she can identify just about anyone you know well. I think that is where you should start. You can use the computer in my office here in the apartment. We have created basic files for everyone important in your life and gathered pictures of many others."
"That would be great, thank you Ranger. It's only seven; we can get in a couple hours if she isn't too tired."
"No, I am fine." Zigana said. "I want to get started as soon as possible. I need to adjust to the time zone anyway, so we should probably work until a normal hour for me to go to bed."
Stephanie gave a snort at that. "Most people won't use the word normal around you when you are me!"
"From what I have heard so far I believe you." Zigana smiled at her. Some of the stories they had told during dinner had her feeling a bit anxious, but she found herself starting to feel a bit more at ease. She had already decided that although Stephanie didn't appear to be a well trained professional, she obviously had a lot of skills and qualities to earn the respect and trust of all of these people around her. It might even be fun to be Stephanie Plum for a while.
Steph got up and motioned Zigana to follow her to the office, leaving the three men to compare notes on what they knew of the operation. The office was located off the bedroom. While the computer booted up and she located the files Ranger had compiled for her, Stephanie wondered how it was possible to be sitting here with this woman who looked exactly like her. It was all too bizarre even for her. She didn't want to work right now; she wanted to ask a million questions. Maybe they would have time to do some chatting before she had to leave for the city.
"Ranger told me you are from Hungary, is that right?"
"Yes, I live in Budapest. I have traveled throughout Europe and I have always wanted to come to the United States. I love to travel; it's the gypsy blood in me."
"Are you kidding? Do you really have gypsy blood? My grandmother is Hungarian, but I don't think she came from a line of gypsies. More like a line of crazies. Is your entire family gypsy?"
"I'm not really sure about my ancestry. The family never agrees on our genealogy. It is something that I am studying and part of the reason I chose my line of work."
"Okay, the first thing you need to know about being me is that I am insatiably curious. Wait, that would probably make you think I am intellectual. Let's just say I'm nosy. People in the Burg expect it. So being the Burg girl that I am; what do you mean by that? How does your ancestry fit in with your job?"
"Gypsies are great storytellers," Zigana began. "The problem is that over time details and facts of families become distorted and blend into the stories. There are many tales of intrigue in my ancestral line. One story is of a diamond that belonged to my great, great, great, great paternal grandmother. It was given to her by a prince and passed down through the years. During WWI it was stolen. It is a very distinctive Miner's Cut Diamond. As a little girl I was so enraptured with the romance of the story that I just knew when I grew up I was going to find the diamond. Of course as I got older I realized how futile that dream was, but I still studied and worked hard to know everything there was to know about diamonds. I also had a drive to be a part of law enforcement. I don't often get to use my knowledge of gems in my work, so this case is just perfect for me. Who knows, maybe we'll find the Kovacs Diamond." She laughed.
Stephanie was awe struck. "You are really going to have to tell me more about your family sometime, it sounds fascinating. I don't understand how we can look so much alike and be so different. You decided what you wanted to do when you were young and went out, studied and prepared yourself. I, on the other hand figured out I wanted to be a super-hero and jumped off of the roof. Glad one of us got the brain."
Zigana didn't really understand Stephanie. "I am not sure why you would say something like that. From what I have seen and heard, your friends and co-workers think you are very smart and a great asset to law enforcement."
"Well, actually, they think I am great entertainment, and truthfully I am probably just more lucky than anything else. Who knows, maybe someday I'll truly be good at my job." When pigs fly she thought to herself.
"So, let's get to work. We'll start with my family and if that doesn't make you run for the first plane back to Hungary, nothing will."
Zigana was overwhelmed and thought that Stephanie had to be exaggerating about her family. Her grandmother surely hadn't shot a chicken on the dinner table, stun-gunned Steph's father and there is no way she opened a coffin and took pictures. Her mother did nothing but cook and iron and she had a niece that thought she was a horse. Her sister Valerie looked very little like Stephanie. They looked normal enough, but then she herself knew that very little is ever as it seems.
Zigana memorized faces and names. She listened to the things Stephanie told her about each of the people in her life. There were so many people; this wasn't going to be easy. She also had to be attentive to Stephanie's mannerisms and speech patterns. She could speak English with the American accent, but the way everyone here was talking had its own distinctive character.
The conversation in the other room wasn't quite as amicable. No matter how many times they all went through it Morelli always came up with a reason why Stephanie shouldn't be involved. He even came up with the brilliant idea of putting her in a safe house until it was all over. Ranger and Tank just stared at him and then burst into gales of laughter. Joe eventually joined in with the laughter. The thought of Stephanie Plum being held at bay was way beyond comical. However, Joe was still not happy about her working with Ranger.
"Joe, we have gone over this for two hours now. Zigana needs to be in Trenton to do the investigating. Stephanie is not trained to do anything this complex and answering to so many agencies. Her instincts are incredible which will help in New York City, but not here. You will need to help Zigana find out how they are bringing in the diamonds, who is involved in Trenton and when they are going to be sold. The only thing we know for sure is that there will be a private auction in the city sometime within the next few months. That is where we need to make the bust." Tank patiently told the cop.
He couldn't believe he had to explain this to a detective. "I know you understand all of this. It is necessary and you need to put the personal stuff aside and do the job. These guys aren't nice. They don't play fair and they don't mind having associates missing in action. And once they are MIA, they stay that way. Zigana can do the job in Trenton. Stephanie is perfect for the distraction and getting into the buyer's circle. When the take down comes Zigana will replace Stephanie at the buyer's auction. Stephanie will be safe and Zigana can do what she has worked and trained to do."
Ranger thought to himself that nothing in this world could persuade him to be the one to tell Stephanie that she wouldn't be in on the take down. He just hoped that whoever did tell her would be wearing full body armor. And wouldn't it be great to be a fly on the wall. Nothing was more exciting to him than seeing her temper flare.
"That is if she accepts the job. She and I are going to have a nice little chat about this before we go any further." Joe said just as the two women came back into the room. "Hey cupcake, it's getting late, we should get going, have you two talked enough for tonight?" He was praying that she hadn't heard his last comment.
"I have my own car here Joe, if you are ready to leave that is fine. I have a few more questions and arrangements to make with Ranger. I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow."
Joe grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door for privacy. "I thought you would be coming to my house tonight, Bob misses you Cupcake." He told her quietly.
Bob was a large hairy orange Golden Retriever mix, who would eat anything, throws up a lot, howls when left alone and can't swim. He belonged to Morelli, but he had sort of been Steph's first. She loved the dog but Joe usually just used that as a ploy to get her to spend the night.
"No, I have things to do and you need to take a step back and think about this before we talk again." She had heard his comment and was not in the mood to listen to his warped logic tonight. It would be better to discuss it tomorrow after the meeting when hopefully he'd be calmer. "You go on. I think I'll stay with Zigana while she gets settled downstairs. I think it's best we spend as much time together as possible."
"Right," Joe said. Damn, there was not going to be any way to get her out of this. Once she was into something she was like a mad dog with a bone. She would never let go. He kissed her thoroughly and he was gone.
Stephanie leaned her forehead against the closed door. Why was it always so complicated? Why did Joe resent her job so much? His job was a lot more dangerous than hers and she never said one word about it. This job certainly didn't appear to be too terribly risky, so why was he making such a fuss. After all he was going to be on the same job as her. Why should it be any different? Of course if she were to be honest she knew it wasn't as much the job as it was the fact that she was doing it with Ranger; the job that is.
A while back Stephanie realized that she loved both of these men. It was a cruel joke being played on her by some morbid deity. Probably the goddess of Deprivation and Overkill. She went for almost three years without any man in her life and now she was sort of involved with two at the same time. Why me, she thought as she lightly banged her head on the door.
She felt strong hands on her shoulders. Ranger. He wasn't known as The Wizard for nothing. He knew she needed comforting. He massaged her shoulders a few minutes to help her get a grip on herself.
"Come on Babe; let's get Zigana settled in her apartment. He'll be fine once the project gets under way. Right now you need to focus on giving up your identity." He turned her around and gave her the 'I have faith in you' smile. "Let's make our guest comfortable."
Great, she thought. Who in their right mind would just give away their identity? Mental head slap, Stephanie Plum, of course.
They all went down to the fourth floor apartment. Tank and Ranger excused themselves after making sure her luggage had been brought up and that Zigana had everything she needed.
The studio apartment was utilitarian, but still comfortable. Ranger had a computer and other office equipment set up for her use. The small refrigerator was well stocked and Zigana started to feel a little more at ease in her own space. She was accustomed to being away on assignment, but this one was becoming more bizarre by the moment.
"So, Gypsy, what do you think so far? I would be running for the door myself at this point." Stephanie laughed.
"I doubt that very much, I can see the strength in you. I just wish I didn't feel like I was walking around with a mirror in front of my face. How about you, don't you find it a bit unnerving?"
"I do," Stephanie said, "but I am sort of like Scarlett O'Hara; why think of it today when I can think about it tomorrow. Have you read Gone with the Wind? I actually don't read, but I have seen the movie."
"Yes, I have read the book. I know exactly what you mean. You'll have to teach me how to do that sometime too." Zigana thought it was fitting for Stephanie to compare herself to that character; a woman with more intelligence, strength and determination than she thought possible. Zigana was really starting to like her facsimile.
The women talked and laughed while unpacking and arranging Zigana's things. They seemed to feel an easy bond forming. Stephanie thought it was strange that she felt so quickly at ease with the other woman who would be living her life for possibly months. This included spending lots of time with Joe, and somehow she was okay with that.
When they were through they grabbed a snack and sat in the small living room and got to know each other a little more. It was almost eleven o'clock when Steph finally said goodnight and left. Zigana looked over at the computer and looked into the bedroom and decided sleep was the winner. She had been running at full speed for the last week and if she was going to be at the top of her game, she had to sleep.
Stephanie saw Joe's truck in her parking lot and cursed out loud. She did not want to get into this tonight. Sleep, she wanted and needed sleep. The mental fatigue was worse than anything physical. Meeting your doppelganger
and agreeing to give her your identity is cause enough for major stress. She didn't need Morelli anxiety on top of it all.
She braced herself when she entered her apartment. Joe was pacing and it threw on the 'pissed off button' in her head.
"Look Joe, I said we could talk about this after the meeting in the morning, what the hell are you doing here?"
"Cupcake, we really need to talk about this before the meeting. You can't go in there and agree to this. They can work something else out." He was getting louder and increasingly agitated. "You are getting in way over your head on this one. You are totally unqualified for this type of operation. You have no training and these people are potentially dangerous."
"Be careful Joe, you don't want to go there." Stephanie felt her blood start to boil. Why did he always feel that it was necessary to make her feel totally incompetent? She was quite capable of feeling inept on her own.
"Stephanie, this is a bullshit setup and you know it. Manoso had something to do with it. I am sure he somehow is at the bottom of this whole look-alike thing. He's trying to move in and push me out."
"Now that is closer to the truth Joe. It's not that you are worried about me not handling the job, it's about Ranger."
Taking her hands in his he tried to lead her to the couch. "Cupcake, you know he does everything in his power to work with you and interfere in our lives." She refused to sit, so he just held onto her not wanting to lose the contact.
On some level she thought he might have something there, but hey, Ranger's an opportunist. But this was even a bit more than The Wizard could pull off.
"You think he searched the world looking for my exact duplicate who just happens to be working on a case that brings her to Trenton so that he could whisk me off to New York? That's stretching it a bit thin don't you think?"
"Fine, you're right. I don't want you going off with him. I don't want to lose you. I can't stand the thought of you spending what could be months with him. He wants you bad. I know that you have feelings for him too, you can't deny that. I'm sorry, I am human after all. How do you expect me to feel?"
Stephanie's stomach did some weird flip flops and she had to submit. He had a right to his feelings every bit as much as she did her own. Lord knows she felt enough guilt for her feelings.
"Why didn't you just say that instead of attacking my part in this job? Do you think I haven't given all of that some thought? I do have feelings for Ranger, he is very important to me." Now would not be the time to say 'and, oh, by the way, I'm in love with him'. "I am not taking this job because I want to be with him." Liar, you know that is part of the reason, she scolded herself.
"How many other women are you going to find that look just like your girlfriend? She will be working with you Joe, because she looks like me and you are one hell of a detective. How do you think I feel knowing you will be here with her? Has that occurred to you? I love you and I really don't want to be thinking about any of this." Denial, that is always good. Deny there is a problem and it will go away. Right, as if that has ever worked before she thought.
Joe pulled her in close and held her tight. He was calmer but she was shaking like a leaf.
"I'm sorry Cupcake, I just see red whenever you are with Manoso." He said as he tucked her head into his shoulder. His hands were massaging her back and she was settling down.
She felt his lips placing little kisses on her neck and she shivered. No matter how he pissed her off he could still send chills down her spine. He knew how to soothe her; he had enough experience considering the number of arguments they had.
It didn't take long before the kisses became more aggressive and urgent. His mouth found hers. The kiss was no longer apologetic. It became raw lust. One hand found her nipple and the other was pulling her shirt out of her pants for better access.
She tried to stop him, "Joe, I really don't feel like sex right now. It has been a very long and emotional day for me." She was surprised that she really wasn't in the mood. Normally her hormones just went into hyper drive and she was right there with him. "Please Joe; you really just need to leave now."
"Cupcake, you want me and you know it. You are just trying to punish me for being jealous. I'm sorry, but the man drives me nuts and the thought of him acting like your lover and touching you …" he didn't finish. He had to have her now. She needed to know she belonged to him.
He had her clothes off in no time despite her protests that she wasn't in the mood. She would be very shortly; he just had to show her what she wanted. He tore off his shirt and jeans. He lifted her up and her legs automatically went around his waist. He was rock hard and ready. He walked them to the wall and was inside her so fast that she winced.
Nothing like good old balls to the wall sex to make things right Joe thought. God she felt so good and she belonged to him. She could never deny the electricity between them.
Stephanie had given up her protests and just hoped to get it over quickly at this point. It would just make matters worse if she fought him now.
It didn't take more than a few minutes before Joe exploded inside of her. His head dropped to the wall and he waited till his breathing slowed. His mouth found hers and he kissed her more gently now.
"I love you cupcake, you know that don't you?" He panted in her ear.
"Yeah" she said as he pulled out and eased her down.
Joe grabbed his clothes and went into the bathroom. He returned a few minutes later, kissed her lightly on the mouth, said he would see her at the meeting and was out the door.
She stared at the door for a few minutes in disbelief. How did he go from asshole to remorseful and consoling and straight to 'let's fuck' in a matter of minutes? He didn't even care if she'd had any pleasure from the fucking he just gave her. Bastard. And why had she been so complacent? She knew the answer. It was the job. The truth of some of the things he had said. She was aware that deep down inside she was really looking forward to not only the excitement of the job, but spending so much time with Ranger. She just wanted to get to know him better she told herself.
As she climbed into bed she thought, sure, that's it, I just want to get to know him.
Chapter 3
Zigana's alarm went off at six. She never required a lot of sleep, no matter how tired or stressed she was. However, this morning she might have thrown the stupid thing out the window if she wasn't on the fifth floor of a security building. She scanned the room and decided it wasn't a dream, she really was in America and her lifelong dreams were a reality. Things were happening so fast. She had planned to stay in the states after the job to investigate her ancestry. Is it possible the answer had just fallen into her lap? It couldn't be so easy after a lifetime of listening to the folk tales. Of course, just because she and Stephanie looked like twins didn't come close to proving the stories were true.
No time to dwell on that right now, there would be time after the operation was under way. If she were right about her suspicions, she would know soon enough. Right now, she needed to get coffee and find that gym Tank mentioned. She had been unable to work out for a week now and was really feeling the need to get back to some kind of physical routine.
She didn't have any trouble finding the gym. The size of the room and the amount of equipment available was impressive. This private security business must pay off rather well she thought. She decided on several different machines and went to work. It felt so good even if she had lost a bit from being sedentary for a week. She ended her routine with five miles on the treadmill listening to music from home on her headset.
Ranger watched her for a while. It was very unsettling to say the least to see this woman doing reps on a weight machine when she looked just like his Babe. He wasn't sure he liked the way she confused his senses. Moreover, he definitely was not liking the physical effect she was having on him. He knew she wasn't Stephanie, but seeing a stranger in his gym looking like her was arousing, whether he liked it or not.
He had come in from his run and thought he would put in some time on the machines before heading upstairs. He stood mesmerized at the door for at least twenty minutes when he realized Tank had come up behind him.
"Man, this is gonna be one crazy Op. It's kinda spooky seein' her work out. Can you imagine Bombshell working out without a bribe? Wonder if this one eats donuts after her workout?" Tank asked.
That almost brought a full smile to Ranger's face.
"No, she has a bit more self-discipline, but she hasn't been exposed to the Burg way of life yet. We'll see how the discipline holds up after she has been here a while working with Lula. On the other hand, maybe she'll have Lula in here working out with her."
"Don't even think about it man. Lula is plenty fine the way she is. There's just more to love, and I like her like that."
Ranger looked up at his friend with the full on smile this time.
"I can see that you do. Haven't ever seen you smile so much. She's good for you, makes you laugh." The same as Steph does for me. Watching this woman, so similar to his Babe, made warning beacons blare in his head. I guess I can't blame the cop too much for his resentment, he thought.
She was still wearing her headset and concentrating on her cool down so she was mildly startled when the men walked up to her.
"Good morning," she said standing up, looking at Ranger and hoping she wasn't gawking. Last night she had noticed his striking good looks, now seeing him in sweats that were hanging very low on his hips, perfection was the only word that came to mind. He must have been running outside, lucky him. She was already feeling caged. Tank wasn't looking too bad either. Do they breed these guys on a farm? It's really going to be a challenge to keep my focus on the job. Damn hormones.
"I hope you don't mind that I am using your gym. I haven't had a good workout in a week and I was feeling pretty stiff."
'Me too' came to Ranger's mind. "I'm sure Tank told you to feel free to use it anytime. He will take you on a more extensive tour when you finish. It won't take long. There are a few things you should be aware of regarding safety and privacy during your stay."
She was having a hard time finding her voice, so she just nodded her agreement.
He thought it was odd that being this close to her she didn't remind him at all of Stephanie. Still, she was raising his testosterone level. Better get back to my workout.
"How is your apartment? If you need anything at all, let Tank or Ella know."
"It's just fine. I really appreciate how thorough you are in preparations. The food in the kitchen is exactly what I would have stocked. The electronics are top of the line and the programs on the computer are the best. Do you ever miss a detail? I see why you are such a success Mr. Manoso."
"Paying attention to details keeps us alive in this business. If you need me, my number is in your phone. Since you can't leave the building, the meeting will be in the conference room down the hall at eleven. I'll see you then." He nodded and headed towards a weight machine. He had a desperate need to work off some built up energy and clear his mind.
"I'll see you in about half an hour at your apartment." Tank told her and left.
She slowly gathered her things being discreet as she sneaked a look or two in his direction. It was imperative to the job that she knows everything possible about those involved, right? She took in as many details as she could. His skin was dark of a Latin persuasion but his features were Anglo. Even while sweating his long straight black hair looked like silk that you wanted to run your hands through. His body was a tour de force. She thought it was a good thing they were on the fifth floor. It would cause a riot if women on the street could see that body in motion the way it was now.
She called out her thanks to him as she left. Ranger was relieved when she was gone. He felt a bit disturbed being around her like this. He should probably get up for his workout earlier until it was time to go to the city. No need to borrow trouble.
Stephanie slowly came awake with the sun shining in her eyes. She stretched and rolled lazily around in her bed until she saw the alarm clock. Nine o'clock, she must have turned it off and gone back to sleep. Her plan was to get to RangeMan early enough to spend some time with Gypsy before the meeting. Oh well she thought, it's probably for the best. Gypsy, as Steph had begun to think of her, was more than likely exhausted and needed to sleep in today.
She dragged herself from the bed and got ready for the day. It was going to be a tough one. By ten Steph was pulling into the garage at RangeMan. She could only hope that Joe was calmer and more receptive to the operation this morning.
Stephanie went up to the fifth floor to check in with Ranger before she went to find Gypsy. She waved to the guys on duty in the control room and headed to Ranger's office.
Lester was manning the nearest set of monitors and the elevator. "Yo, Bombshell," he yelled as she zipped by him. "The boss is upstairs, go on up."
"Thanks Lester." She said, thinking that was odd at this time of day.
She got back on the elevator and used her key fob to go up to the seventh floor apartment. This was Ranger's apartment with very limited access It was a mix of antique and modern. The furniture was expensive; it felt masculine, but not rugged as might be expected of a mercenary. This reflected more of the business side of the man.
"If you're naked and chained to a shower curtain rod you have about three seconds to cover up." She yelled as she let herself in. "You wouldn't want me to…" She stopped dead in her tracks as she turned into the living room and saw Ranger and Zigana sitting on the sofa facing each other. They were awfully close she thought. Her stomach clenched and her breath hitched. What was up with that?
"Oh, sorry, they didn't tell me you had company. Am I interrupting? I just wanted to ask you a couple questions before the meeting. I'm sorry; I should have called up first. I'll leave and you can page me when you have time for me." Shut up Stephanie, you're rambling and sounding like an idiot.
"Hi Gypsy, I didn't mean to barge right in, I should have knocked." Oh shit, she thought, just close your mouth, turn around and leave. It was just too strange to walk in and see them sitting on the sofa. It was as if she saw herself for the first time with Ranger. They looked so good together. Is that really what it looked like when she was with him? Calm down; breathe deep.
She turned to leave but Ranger had her arm and spun her around. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and pulled her gently into the living room.
"Babe, we were just going over some of the plans for the Op before the meeting. Sit down; we can use your input. I'll get you coffee." Ranger said with a slightly amused look on his face. He went to the kitchen.
"I'm so sorry Stephanie, is there a problem with me being here?" Zigana asked, feeling awkward.
"No, it was just a bit of a jolt to see me, I mean you sitting there next to Ranger. If it wasn't for the hair I would have thought I was dreaming." Yes, there's a problem. I'm the only woman he brings up here besides Ella, right? "So, how has your morning been so far? I'll bet you slept in, I sure did."
"Actually I got up at six, I really didn't want to, but I was too restless to sleep. I went to the gym and worked out. Tank took me on a tour of the building so I could get comfortable. He introduced me to the employees and explained the control room. Everyone is so nice. Then Ranger invited me up here to have breakfast with him. It has been a very interesting day. Ranger has told me so much about Trenton and some of the people I will meet. He is so helpful."
Ranger talking, that's a good one.
"Okay, I wouldn't be telling too many people about the working out part. That will be a dead give away that you are not Stephanie Plum. And I never get out of bed before the sun is up unless Ranger makes me run."
He came in with her coffee and smiled at her. "Babe, what you do can't be considered running."
"Hey, are you making fun of me?" she said as she slapped him on his arm.
"Babe." He went back to the sofa almost laughing.
Stephanie sat in a chair across from the sofa. He always knew when she was waging a war within herself. It was as if he could see right into her mind like he had ESP or something. Probably it was just because he took Mind Reading 101 when he attended the University of Mercenaries and Vigilantes.
Ranger grew up in the Cuban section of Newark. He had spent time in juvenile detention for stealing a car. After his release, he went to live with his grandmother in Miami. He was Special Forces in the Army, and now the CEO of RangeMan Enterprises. He does bond enforcement for Vincent Plum Bail Bonds when Stephanie is in over her head. Vinnie is Stephanie's cousin. She got her job as a bounty hunter by using Vinnie's relationship with a duck as blackmail.
Ranger studied Stephanie for a few minutes and asked, "Things alright between you and Morelli? He wasn't too happy when he left last night."
"Fine, we settled things last night, I hope." She said with a little more venom in her voice than she had intended.
Ranger looked at her with the 'don't make me ask you to explain' look.
Stephanie sighed heavily. "He was at my apartment when I got home last night. He wasn't very happy about you and me going to New York together." She said as Ranger's mouth started twitching. "And you can wipe that grin off your face right now buddy. Don't start anything with him today. I need him to trust me while we are gone and you don't need to make it more difficult."
"Babe, I never signed on to Morelli's trustworthy friends list." He reminded her with another wicked grin.
Shit, she was getting nowhere. Maybe the men could stay in Trenton while she and Gypsy go to New York. Damn straight, road trip, woohoo. It's the twenty first century; we could pose as a couple just as easily.
She just rolled her eyes at him and said, "Can we move on to business please?"
Stephanie turned to Zigana. "Ignore him, he's a man."
Zigana had to laugh at that. "I noticed." was all she could manage to say.
She had been feeling a bit uncomfortable listening to this conversation. However, it was helping her to absorb more of Stephanie's personality, not to mention learning that there seemed to be something going on between these two. Interesting, another are to explore.
"I called Connie and told her I was taking a few days off. She can let Joyce scare the hell out of the FTA's for a while. Oh, sorry Gypsy, that is failure to appear. When a person doesn't show up for their court date that is what we call them. Then we have to find them and get them re-bonded and re-scheduled."
She stopped talking. Zigana was laughing.
"Did I say something funny?"
"Yes," she said, "You keep calling me Gypsy. It truly is my name. The name Zigana means girl gypsy. I am sorry for laughing; there is something amazing about you. You are extremely perceptive. You just seem to know things without being aware of the knowledge. Am I making sense?"
Ranger smiled and nodded his head slightly. Stephanie just stood there with her mouth open.
"That's a good thing, right?" Steph asked. "Do you mind if I call you Gypsy?"
"It's definitely a good thing." Zigana was still laughing and nodding her head. "And no, I don't mind if you call me Gypsy."
"Good. Now, I am free for a few days and we can spend lots of time together before we send you out into my world."
Ranger's phone rang. His end of the conversation consisted of a yes, no, and be there in two. Back to one syllable Ranger. He got up to leave.
"Need to take care of some things. See you in the conference room in twenty minutes." He said on his way out the door.
The women chatted for another fifteen minutes before going down to the fifth floor. When they got off the elevator every eye in the control room stole a quick glance at the pair. Stephanie hoped there weren't any crimes happening on those monitors since they all did a double take.
Meri Maisonet, Andy Roche, Captain Santiago, and Joe were talking in the conference room when they entered. The room went silent.
Chapter 4
The silence was deafening. Embarrassing. "Maybe they're just thinking they should run for cover now." Steph whispered, looking at Zigana. "Double trouble with two of us in the room."
Joe had to look twice himself until he remembered that Zigana's hair was quite a bit longer. He walked over to Stephanie and nudged her into the hallway. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
"Cupcake, I'm sorry about last night; I was irrational, jealous and a complete idiot. You're right, this is a job and we need to be professionals. This entire operation was just so unexpected and absurd. I didn't have time to think about it. How about Pino's tonight and a sleep over so I can make it up to you?"
"Joe, you weren't just a complete ass last night. You were rough, abusive, degrading and let's not forget invasive, crude, insidious, self-serving and insulting. I am through having this discussion. I'm not quitting my job. I am through making excuses for my job. I won't have you tell me which jobs I can take or how to do my job. If that doesn't work for you then we need to step back. I'm capable of making my own choices. Do you think this situation hasn't sent my head into a spin? I just met a person who looks enough like me to be me. Not to mention that I am handing my identity over to her." She spoke through gritted teeth, and was struggling to keep her voice down. This wasn't her style of fighting. She needed to yell or something.
"Fine, maybe we do need to step back. I can't deal with it anymore either Cupcake. After this operation, we need to make some decisions. I can't live a life worrying about my wife while I am on the job. You can't expect me to live with that kind of distraction Steph. I'm a cop for Christ's sake." Why couldn't she see that he wanted her to leave her stupid job so she would be safe? She needs to be at home, so I can take care of her. Is that really asking too much?
She fought back the anger. They were standing outside a room full of people waiting for them and he wanted to give her ultimatums. He just called me his fucking wife! Oh, to hell with it she thought.
"No need to wait Joe, I've made my decision. I'm not quitting my job, I don't want to get married and I really do not see babies in my immediate or even distant future. I love you Joe, but I'm not signing on to the agenda you want. If you can't take me as I am, then we need to end it now. We tried, the sex was great and we had lots of fun. It's over." Oh my god, I think we just broke up for good. Did I say that out loud? Damn, where are the donuts? A Boston Cream would be so fine right now.
"Stephanie, you are emotional right now, let's talk tonight. I'll pick up the pizza and we'll meet at my house." He wrapped his arm around her waist and tried to pull her in for a kiss. Her hands went to his chest and she pushed herself away.
Emotional? What the hell was I supposed to be? "There's no more discussing. I just can't do it any more Joe. I'm sorry." She had known last night after he left that she was done with the relationship. She hadn't seen it happening like this however.
She looked beyond Joe and saw that Ranger and Tank had come around the corner. They were heading this way; the meeting was about to start. She turned to go back into the conference room. Joe grabbed her arm roughly.
"You can't just say something like that and walk away Stephanie." Joe fumed.
"Let go Joe, we have a meeting to attend." She snapped quietly and jerked herself free of his grasp. There was going to be a bruise there later.
"Morning, Tank. How's Lula this morning?" Stephanie said pleasantly as Tank and Ranger reached them.
Joe cursed silently. He hadn't realized they were coming up behind him.
"Morning Bombshell. She's mighty fine. Told me you aren't going to be working for a few days and she is already asking me if I know anything about that." Tank said with a laugh.
"Well just wait, it's going to get worse, I promise." Steph said. Lula is going to be the hardest person to convince since Gypsy will have to work so closely with her, Steph thought.
Tank opened the door and motioned for Steph to go first. She was glad to end the conversation and hoped Ranger hadn't heard any of it. Tank held the door for the other two men. Ranger followed Joe barely containing his anger. What did Morelli think he was doing manhandling Stephanie that way in my building? Maybe the cop needs a lesson or two in decorum. Ranger made sure to get a seat across from Stephanie when they all sat down and signaled Tank to sit next to Morelli.
"Ms Plum, do you have any questions before you make your decision?" Captain Santiago asked, effectively starting the meeting.
She wanted to ask where the hell the donuts are. She decided that probably wasn't what he meant. She saw Ranger mouth, 'sorry, no donuts'. Damn ESP.
"No, I believe Mr. Manoso has answered all of my questions so far," she said while glaring at Ranger.
"Have you come to a decision?" The Captain asked.
"Yes sir, I would like to join the operation and allow Ms Kovacs the use of my identity for the duration." Stephanie said with as much courage as she could muster. She didn't know if the trembling was from her unexpected break up with Joe or the fact that she just gave Zigana rights to her most intimate secrets and control of her life.
The tension in most of the room dropped considerably. They would have to develop a new plan if she hadn't consented. The relief was palpable.
"Wonderful, let's get to work, time is of the essence." Captain Santiago said. "The Trenton team will have full support of the police department. RangeMan has many other resources that we will use as well. The New York City team will be working with the Federal Agencies. Local authorities will not be involved."
They spent the next two and a half hours listening to plans, discussing strategies and logistics. The feds thought the diamonds came in through Port Newark-Elizabeth but so far had been unable to find any other leads. Zigana and Joe would need to discover how the diamonds were coming into port and if possible find the core of the ring. The word on the street was that there was a bit of unrest happening in Trenton's mob families. The Feds believed it was a very small group of enterprising men trying to get a bigger share of the wealth by expanding into the diamond market. In the grand scheme of things, the bits of mob activity in Trenton were inconsequential. However, this new interest in diamond smuggling was bound to cause major tremors in the hierarchy of the Families. The Feds and the locals all wanted to avoid a mob war.
Stephanie and Ranger were to go to New York City and work their way into the buyer's circle. Their job seemed simple and Steph wondered why Joe had made such a big deal out of it. Right now, she didn't really care about any of it because there were no donuts at this meeting and she was starving.
"We will need to do a test run on Ms Kovacs' transformation in three days. How do you think that would be best accomplished Ms Plum?" asked Andy Roche.
Stephanie snapped out of her daydream of meatball subs and TastyKakes when Zigana nudged her. She thought really hard and realized what he was asking her.
"First of all, I think we should probably all start using the proper names so that it feels natural, not forced. What is my name supposed to be?" Stephanie asked, thinking how weird was that question?
Andy told her that Ranger would be keeping his own name. The premise being that he maintained a questionable reputation and was free to travel in many circles. "Your last name will be Manoso naturally. You just need to choose a name that will be easy enough to remember and close enough in case you fumble. Keep it simple."
"I guess I will have to consider that for a bit. I have come to think of Zigana as 'Gypsy'; I just can't bring myself to call her Stephanie. It doesn't really matter what I call her since I will be in the city." Thank God, because this is too freaky. "From now on though everyone should begin calling Zigana, Stephanie or Ms Plum and I suppose I need to get used to responding to Mrs. Manoso." She felt a thrill go up her spine and goose bumps form all over her body as her eyes automatically made contact with Ranger. He had a bright gleam of amusement in his eyes and the hint of a smile on his face.
Joe had been vaguely aware of the dialogue. He was lost in his own thoughts when he heard 'I need to get used to responding to Mrs. Manoso'. His head shot up and he saw her locking eyes with Ranger. He wanted to jump up and wipe that smirk off the face of that self-serving bastard.
Zigana spoke up in agreement. "It would be very helpful for me as well to get used to answering to the names Stephanie goes by, especially since there are so many. Steph, Cupcake, Bombshell and I guess whatever other names I haven't heard yet." This got a bit of a chuckle from everyone.
"Alright then Mrs. Manoso, do you feel Stephanie will be ready in three days for a trial run?" Captain Santiago asked.
"I'm sure we can if we work at it, but sitting in a meeting isn't going to get us too far. If you are through with us, I would like to take Gypsy and get to it. I am sure my husband and Stephanie's boyfriend, Joe, can fill us in on anything we need to know." Must play the part she thought and best to get Joe comfortable with it now. She didn't look at either Joe or Ranger. Joe would be seething and Ranger would be amused. Then to her great embarrassment, her stomach growled loud enough for everyone to hear, which of course, lightened the mood and she laughed along with the others.
"See what happens when you have a meeting without donuts," she chided.
Ranger shook his head and Stephanie saw him break out the full 200 watt smile that she loved so much. She shot him a look that said 'don't start with me, I'm starving and nothing comes between me and my food'.
"That's a good suggestion Mrs. Manoso. I think we will break for lunch at this point and we can work out more details without the two of you," Andy said managing to suppress most of his own laughter.
Stephanie and Zigana decided to have lunch in the fourth floor apartment. Joe caught them before they could get too far. Touching Stephanie on the shoulder, he smiled at Zigana and said, "Please excuse us for a few minutes Zig…I mean Stephanie. I need to have a chat with my girlfriend." He pulled her back into the now vacant conference room ignoring the looks of protest Stephanie was sending his way.
"I'll see you in my apartment." Zigana said while thinking how lucky Stephanie was to have such a man. He was so nice and appeared to be very loving, not to mention hot enough to send heat throughout her body every time he was near. There were so many gorgeous men in this building, but Joe Morelli was so much more.
"Cupcake, we have to talk this out. We can't just call it quits out of the blue like this. Let's go get some lunch and discuss this in a civilized manner." Shit, wrong thing to say he realized as he saw the venom flare up in her eyes. He released her arm and backed up to give her room, hoping she wouldn't feel as provoked.
"Civilized?" she yelled. "You want me to be civilized after last night Joe? I've done everything in my power to stay calm about the fact that you all but raped me last night both physically and emotionally. I didn't want to talk or fuck and you forced me to do both. Then you pushed the issue again this morning. No more Joe. I am done with the arguing. I am not going to give up this or any other job for you or anyone else. I don't need nor do I want a house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a husband with domestic expectations." She paused for a moment, closed her eyes and said softly, "I love you Joe; we have created so many good memories. I would like to part without creating any more bad ones, please." Sadly, she just wanted it to be over now.
"Steph, I said I was sorry about last night. Are you sure, this is what you want? We can discuss options about your job…" he tried in a last desperate pitch.
Taking in a deep cleansing breath Stephanie moved towards him and gently put her hands to his face. How she loved his movie star handsome face. His eyes were so dark and full of pain that she knew was partially her fault. "Joe, I want to move on. You need to move on. We aren't going anywhere. You will always be my first love. Now, I need you to be my friend." She had tears in her eyes for the loss of something she had imagined she wanted. It was suddenly clear to her now that it was what others had expected of her. It wasn't anything she had ever desired or considered necessary in her life.
Joe gave a deep sigh, put his hands over hers, squeezed lightly and brought them around his neck. She resisted slightly and he shook his head. His hands went to her back pulling her closer. He too had tears in his eyes. "Okay, if this is what you truly want and believe is for the best. Of course, we will be friends. I can't live without you in my life Cupcake, even if it is just as friends. I love you."
She was surprised at first when his mouth was suddenly covering hers. She tried to pull away until she realized he was saying goodbye. Stephanie allowed him to deepen the kiss and felt the passion rise. There would always be strong desire, arousal and love, just not the kind of love they each needed. It was a kiss filled with all of the mixed emotions they both were feeling. When they broke apart, they were both sad and surprisingly relieved. Everything would be all right in their world.
Ranger heard the loud voices coming from the conference room and knew it was Steph and the cop. He couldn't make out what they were saying but decided it would be best if the whole office didn't hear the yelling. He went back down the hall to close the door. He couldn't help looking in and immediately regretted it. Evidently, they were already in make up mode and were more than likely going to consummate their reunion right there on the table. He desperately wished he hadn't seen that. Quietly he closed the door and felt the stab of one more knife to his heart.