CHAPTER ONE
I woke to the sound of my phone chirping. Notification after notification pinged as if my phone was seizing.
"Holy crow!" I ground out reaching for my phone and swiping over to messages. The phone froze as it continued to ping over and over again. Messages received went from 30 to 150 in a matter of seconds. "What the hell is going on?"
I swiped again, but it was no use. My Facebook app joined in the party as the number of messages began to rise higher and higher. When my email started to join in I gave up, flipping it onto my bed and deciding to take a shower. Hopefully the chaos would be done by the time I got out.
*RING RING* My home line began to go berserk.
"What the fuck is going on?" I groaned, pulling the phone line from the wall and heading toward the shower. I racked my brain trying to figure out what the hell I did that would cause such a ruckus. The moment I closed the bathroom door and flipped on the exhaust fan the sounds from my phone seized.
I took a long shower: shaving, scrubbing and moisturizing every inch of me. When I was done, I stayed in my haven and took my time doing my hair and makeup. When there was nothing more for me to do, I sighed and heaved the door open.
"AHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, jumping a foot off the ground as I ran into what I could only describe as being a wall.
"Babe." Ranger chuckled, wrapping his arms around me.
"FUCK!" I shouted, trying to get my heartbeat back to normal. "You seriously need to stop scaring the shit out of me."
"I knocked." He smirked and I rolled my eyes. I unwound myself from his arms and headed toward the kitchen to start coffee. Next to the coffee maker was a large cup of mocha and a white pastry bag. Shaking my head I tipped off the cup's lid and took a deep breath.
"Thanks." I turned and leaned against the counter, enjoying the first drink of liquid ecstasy. Opening the pastry bag, I moaned as the smell of chocolate and custard assaulted my senses. "You are a God amongst men, Ranger."
He chuckled, mimicking my stance and leaning against the counter across from me. He watched with a half-smile on his face as I wolfed down the two Boston Cremes and suckled at the coffee like a lifeline.
"You don't normally come over this early." I noted, licking the chocolate off my fingers. "Is it something to do with the insane amount of messages I got this morning?"
"So, you don't know?" He tilted his head and squinted, almost as if he didn't believe me.
"Uh…no." I rolled my eyes. "I can't think of anything that I did that was so wrong to get this kind of response."
"Well, you didn't do anything wrong." He shook his head and picked up the now empty white pastry bag, crumpling it into a ball before tossing it into my wastebasket.
I waited for him to enlighten me, but being Ranger, that didn't happen.
"You gonna tell me?" I laughed, finishing off the last of the coffee and tossing it on top of the pastry bag.
He let out a big sigh and ran his hands through his hair. Uneasy Ranger was not something I saw often and I can honestly say that it kind of freaked me out. I must have shown my unease, because he reached out and took my hand; leading me into the living room to sit.
"This is actually my fault." He sighed again, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing my knuckles softly. "I became complacent and wasn't careful. I have no idea how it happened, or who is behind it but I will find them and I will fix this. I know that you are going to get the brunt of the drama and I want you to know that I am truly sorry."
"You're starting to scare me." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I felt his hand on my cheek and I opened my eyes. His blank face was gone; only Carlos and his concern and guilt showed on his face.
Ranger opened his mouth to speak when there was a pounding at the door.
"OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR, CUPCAKE!" Morelli screamed as he pounded on the door; which seemed to make the entire apartment shake in his fury. "I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR OR I'LL BREAK IT DOWN!"
"Fuck." Ranger growled and stood. I jumped up to reach the door before him, but he beat me to it.
"Morelli." Ranger's voice was calm and controlled; the opposite of Morelli who seemed to only get worse.
"You got to be fucking kidding me!" Joe ground out, pushing past Ranger and stalking into the room. "Where the fuck is she?!"
"What the fuck, Joe?" I shrieked as he stalked into the living room. His eyes locked on me and I swear I saw them flash red. His lip curled in disgust as he stomped over to me. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could get a word out Joe's hand slapped my face.
Ranger roared, tackling Joe and holding him down on the floor with a hand to his throat. Joe sputtered and swept his arms out hitting Ranger. I rushed over, forcing myself not to cup my burning cheek, and grabbed Ranger's shoulder. He looked at me, flinching when Joe's fist met his ribs.
"Let me up you fucking coward!" Joe gasped as he continued to struggle. "She deserved it and you know it!"
"Let him go, Ranger." My shoulders slumped, my brain still reeling trying to figure out what was going on.
"Babe?" Ranger looked at me and I nodded, gasping when Joe's fists once again met Ranger's ribs. Shaking his head he snarled and released Joe, standing up in front of me as to protect from any more attacks.
"Joe, I have no idea what the hell you are going on about?" I watched as he gasped for air and slowly got to his feet. His shoulders slumped menacingly, his fists held tightly on his sides and his face in a vicious snarl.
"You don't know…" He laughed manically and shook his head. "That's typical. Stephanie Plum actually taking responsibility for her actions…I should have known better than to expect that."
His words stung almost as much as the slap. I looked at Ranger. His eyes never left Joe. He watched him as if he was a wild animal, and I was glad. Right now I was terrified.
"Morelli, you need to take a breath." Ranger finally spoke, his voice clear and calm. "She doesn't know that.."
"She doesn't know what?" He screamed, his arms waving. "That she fucked you like a dog in heat…in public!"
"What?" My heart stopped in my chest and I felt my brain scream. I glanced at Ranger who had a painted expression on his face.
"Let me guess, she doesn't remember gagging on your cock in the parking lot of the precinct either." It wasn't a question, but it left me with more questions than answers.
"Morelli, you don't know what happened." Ranger shook his head and I could feel his body tense even more.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I screamed, putting a hand on either side of my head as pain radiated through it.
"You're a fucking trip." Joe snarled back. "I saw it. You fucking him." He motioned at Ranger. "You fucking his men. The drugs…the…shit. I saw you.." Joe ran his hand through his hair, his face flushed bright red. "Cheating on me with him is one thing, but fucking the whole team I just can't wrap my head around it."
"I never…" I started frantically, tears rolling down my face. Joe stopped his rant and looked at me confused as if he was finally starting to think that I may not know what is going on.
"Morelli, You need to leave." Ranger took advantage of Joe's moment of calm to gather him up and push him out the door. The moment the door closed, Joe began banging again. Screaming disgusting and vile things about me. I slumped to the floor and cried, confused as to what the hell was going on.
"We need an extraction."
I looked up and saw Ranger standing over me, his phone to his ear. He nodded and slipped it into his pocket.
"Ranger.." I sobbed, my breath hitching as I hiccupped.
Pulling me into his arms he wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. He whispered into my ear that he's sorry and that he will make it right. I couldn't stop the sobs that tore through me. The confusion and hurt I felt was overwhelming.
There was a knock on the door; three taps followed by two slow bumps. I jumped, but Ranger just stilled.
"Ranger, it's all clear. The cop is being detained. We don't have long though." Tank's voice echoed through my apartment.
"Come in." Ranger ordered, picking me up and carrying me bridal style into my bedroom. Tank strolled in, following us. "Get the hamster and anything she might need. We need to find someplace safe until we figure out what is going on."
Tank didn't speak, but nodded and turned back into the apartment. I could hear him gathering up Rex's tank and food.
"Stephanie, I know you are confused and scared and hurt...but I need you to trust that right now we need to get you out of here." He had my face in his hands, gently running his thumbs over my chin. I nodded and sniffed back a sob. "I'm going to pack a bag for you; can you grab your phone and anything else you might need?"
I nodded and stood, teetering slightly. I picked up my phone and slid it into my pocket as he pulled out a duffel bag from my closet and began tossing clothing into it. I could hear Tank in the bathroom and knew that he was packing my toiletries. I took a deep breath and pulled my laptop out from underneath the bed, wrapping the cord around it and shoving it into the bag Ranger was stuffing with clothes. I pulled out a backpack I had stuffed under the bedside table and pulled all the files I was working on as well as the printouts that were stacked on the chair by the window. Lastly, I slipped my hand into the bedside table and pulled out my gun, clipping it to my waist.
Ranger handed me a pair of sneakers and motioned for me to put them on. I did as he finished zipping up the bag and looking around. I was still hiccupping but I had the sobbing under control. There are times when my ability to go into denial was helpful.
Pounding footsteps rushing into my apartment caused me to jump and yelp. Ranger quickly wrapped himself around me and braced me from whatever was coming through the door.
"BEAUTIFUL!" Lester's voice rang through the apartment. I sighed in relief.
"Fucking Santos." Ranger ground out, picking up the duffel bag and sliding the backpack over his shoulder. Taking my hand he led me into the hallway where Lester was talking animatedly to Tank.
"What the fuck?" Les screeched. "Who the fuck would do that?"
Tank shoved a duffel bag in Lester's arms and shook his head, stepping around him and through the front door.
"Santos, get yourself together." Ranger growled out. Lester saw me and sighed, his shoulders immediately slumping. "We need to get out of here now. Until we figure out what is going on, I need you to keep your emotions in check, your eyes open and your gun in your hand. Got it?"
Lester nodded and turned walking out of the apartment. I could see Cal and Hal standing in front of my door keeping the elderly residents of the building from crossing in front of the doorway. I sighed, my bottom lip trembling as the feeling of despair consumed me.
"Here." Ranger grabbed the black Rangeman sweatshirt off the hook by the door and slid it over my head, pulling the hood up so that my face was hidden. He tossed the duffel toward Hal and picked me up cradling me tightly against his chest.