All character belong to Evanovich:

I had broken up with Joe about two months ago and now I have been avoiding Ranger at all costs. I have been going in to the office later than normal to avoid him. Lula had been my back up for all my FTAs. I just couldn't handle the pressure that I knew Ranger would start applying. I hadn't seen Ranger's car when I went into the office, I just assumed that he wouldn't be there so late. I had walked into the office and was talking with Connie and Lula.

"Girl where has your skinny white ass been?"

"I've been busy."

"Yeah sure, you just don't want to tell us that you've been shacking up with Batman." Lula voiced.

"I told you Ranger doesn't want me like that, he only wants it until he gets bored."

"Girl, don't you see nothing."

"Yeah." Connie agreed. "Batman's got the hots for you."

"But for how long?" I asked. "That is what I am unsure of."

"Get it while you can, I mean come on Steph jump his bones already."

I grabbed my files from Connie while I spoke, "I am not doing a one night stand with him, I already did that and didn't like the next morning." Uh-oh. I hadn't told them about that, that had been almost a year ago, and I hadn't told anybody about that. Just then Vinnie's door flew open and there stood Ranger.

"See you later." I said over my shoulder as I ran out the door. I got into my mini, and sped out of the lot. I drove to my parents' house so that I could look over my files without Ranger coming over.

I drove up to my parents' house, and she was already standing at the door. She started before I even got into the door, "Stephanie…"

"Mom, don't start, please. I just can't handle it right now."

"There's chocolate cake in the kitchen if you want some, I had made it for dinner yesterday, but you never showed up."

"Sorry mom I had to work. Can I just stay here for a little bit while I look over some of my files?"

"Sure, help yourself."

I had just finished going over the last file, when I saw a black Turbo come pulling up to the curb. I ran up stairs, files in one hand, purse in the other, and went into the bathroom. I threw the window open just as I heard the doorbell ring, and my mother's response. "Please come in…she was in the dinning room…"

I went out onto the roof and climbed down, dropping the last couple of feet, and landing off balance. I quickly regained my footing and ran through the yards to Mary Lou's house. She was able to get Larry to watch the kids as she dropped me off at the bonds office. I stuck my head into the office.

"Lula, you wanna go pick some guys up?"

"You kidding, we're taking my car as seeing you don't got none."

We had picked up Mooner after a five hour marathon of Star Trek, and then we decided to go after Monty Sylvester. He was a little more dangerous than I would have liked but I need the money. He was charged with stalking, and arson of his ex-girlfriend's home. We pulled up in front of his trailer and I started to get nervous.

"You coming in with me?" I asked Lula.

"I think I'm gonna stay and watch to see if he runs out. And if he does I can get him easily enough."

"You're just afraid." I said trying not to show my own fear.

"No, just go ahead and get you white but in there, I got your back."

I got out and started up the grass toward the trailer. I turned to see Lula sitting behind the wheel still, just hoping she wouldn't leave me. I went up to the door and knocked. No one answered. I tried the door and it was unlocked so I took one last look back towards Lula and stepped inside. I walked through the kitchen which was a mess, dishes and take out boxes strewn everywhere, the little living room was actually in decent shape. I walked toward the back of the trailer to the tiny bedroom and bathroom. I looked in the bedroom first and found nothing but and unmade bed and clothes piled on top of clothes. I opened the bathroom door next. I thought I was going to vomit. He was in the bottom of the shower with his blood surrounding him. I turned to run and found my way blocked by a man that I hadn't seen before. That was when I found my voice. I screamed for all I was worth.

"You shouldn't have done that." He said a little too calmly when I had stopped screaming. I had nowhere to go. He had me trapped. He took a swing, which caught me off guard and I went down like a sack of bricks. But he didn't stop with that.

"You've seen my face." He was still calm. "That means that you can not live."

At that point I fought. I fought with whatever I had in me. He kicked and punched and tried to choke me. But I fought. This was not going to be the end of my life, I need to tell Ranger…