If you recognize them, they aren't mine. This is a repost of one of my original stories... there has been some editing done to it, but only to make it read better. Any and all mistakes are still mine. IF you have read this before, please, please, please, do not give away the story or what happens so that the new readers have the same experience you did the first time this was posted. Thank you all!

My New Life
Coming Home
SapphireJ

I've been out of Trenton for the past 4 years. After my divorce from the Dickhead, I moved to Sedona, Arizona to get away from everyone. I wanted to start my life over and knew I couldn't do it anywhere near Trenton. While in Sedona, I met some pretty nice guys that were Native American ex-SEALs, and turned out to be the best big brothers ever. Because of them and their training, I'm in better shape than I've ever been in my entire life. Not only did they get me in shape, but they also taught me some hand to hand combat moves to protect myself. I now also carry at least one gun and a knife at all times. I guess you could say I am a new woman.

I moved back to Trenton last week. After seeing my family and friends and guaranteeing them I'm fine, I decided it was time for a job. I knew my cousin, Vinnie, owned a bonds office, so I figured he could give me a job. I don't care that I had to blackmail him for it; it's a job and I need money to pay my mortgage. Oh, did I mention I purchased an actual house?

I got out of the shower, dried off, and dressed in my jeans, white button down shirt, and doc martens. I grabbed my keys, gun, knife, and phone and headed off to the office. Connie is Vinnie's secretary and I've known her since high school. Vinnie also has a filing clerk, Lula. Let's just say she's a one of a kind… at least I hope she's one of a kind. She is sweet and not what I would expect for an ex-ho. I think we'll get along just fine.

I walked into the office and saw Connie and Lula eating donuts. I decided I could have one; it's been a long time since I indulged. Ohmigod, it tastes so good. I might just have to have one a day; I can always add an extra mile to my morning run.

Connie started painting her nails; she has such a hard job. "So Steph, are you back for good?"

"Yes. I don't know why, but I figured it was time to come home. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED Sedona and the guys I worked with; can you say HOT! I've invited them to come out here sometime, so hopefully they will."

Connie stopped doing her nails and stared out the door. "Speaking of Hot, looks like it's your luck day Steph. Here come two of Trenton's hottest!"

I turned around to see what she was talking about and ran myself into a brick wall. "Oh, sorry." I looked up into the most stunning green eyes ever.

"Hey there, Beautiful!" Oh god, Mr. Green Eyes has a bedroom voice. "Well, I've never heard my voice described like that, but I like it." He was smiling and wagging his eyebrows.

"Damn, I thought I had that fixed." I swear my cheeks were red as fire. "Um, hi. I'm Stephanie. I go by Stephanie, Steph or One Shot."

"Hello, Stephanie. I'm Lester. Very, very nice to meet you." I could feel his eyes looking me up and down.

Connie saw Lester looking at me and winked. "Hey Lester. Steph here just got back in Trenton last week and tarted working here today. Think you can take her around and show her how to pick up a few skips; you know, show her the ropes?"

"You a bounty hunter, Baby?"

I don't know why he's calling me Beautiful and Baby, but I kind of like it. Not that I would let anyone else get away with it. "Yeah. I needed a job and blackmailed my cousin into giving me this one. I need money to pay the mortgage and get food. When do we start?"

"You got a gun and cuffs?" Lester was looking me over trying to find a gun.

"Yes and no. I have a gun and a knife, but no cuffs. I have a permit to carry concealed, too. Where do I get cuffs?" And can I use them on you? Damn, I hope that wasn't out loud.

"Come with us, and I'll get you a pair. Oh, I'm sorry, this is Tank. Do you want to ride with us or follow?" Damn, Tank is the biggest man I've ever seen. I don't have to wonder how he got his name! I see he can't keep his eyes off of Lula.

"Well, if you are going to show me the ropes, I guess I need to ride with you guys. Connie, can I leave my car here until later?"

"Sure thing Steph." Just then Connie's phone rang. "Plum Bail Bonds. May I help you?...oh, hello Mrs. Plum…"Connie looked at me and I mouthed 'I'm not here' "Oh, no Mrs. Plum, I'm sorry, she left just a few minutes ago…okay, I will. Good bye Mrs. Plum."

"Thank you, Connie. I do not want to talk to her right now. Lester, Tank, are you two ready?" I needed to get out of here before she called again.

"Sure thing Beautiful. Let's roll." We walked out to a black SUV. Lester opened the passenger door for me to get in, Tank went to the driver side, and Lester climbed in the back. "Beautiful, you said you went by Stephanie, Steph and One Shot. Steph I get. How did you get One Shot?"

"Long story. Maybe some night I'll tell you." I don't know why, but I really starting to like this guy. But with my luck, he has a girlfriend or wife.

We headed to an underground garage and got out. Tank took off in one direction and Lester lead me to another. We ended up in a gun range. "You have your own gun range?"

"Well, it isn't mine, but yeah. Ranger owns RangeMan; the building we're in. We do security work and pick up Vinnie's high bond FTAs. We have to stay in shape, so we have a gym and gun range. We're required to have four hours of range time and five hours of gym time a week." He opened a drawer and took out a pair of cuffs and keys. "Here, you can have these for now."

I looked at them and stuck them in my back pocket. "Now, before I can take you out, I need to see you shoot. Do you have your gun on you?"

I reached around to my back and pulled it out of my waist. "You tell me where to shoot, and I'll hit it." I put on the goggles and earplugs. Lester hit the button and the paper target went to twenty yards out.

"How many targets do you want at once?"

I looked at him again. "Like I said, you tell me where to shoot and I'll hit it. However many you want."

He thought for a minute and finally smiled. "Heart, left knee, forehead between the eyes and right wrist."

I could tell he didn't think I could do it. Boy was he wrong. Four shots later, he pulled paper target in. To say he had a shocked look on his face would be an understatement. I had hit all four places he said and only used the four bullets.

"Damn!" He thought for a minute and pulled up a new paper target. This one was just a standard bullseye. "I want you to put six rounds in the center only." I did and he pulled the target in and studied it. He shook his head and smiled. I think he figured it out. "This is how you got the name 'One Shot' huh?"

I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. "I had excellent trainers. They wanted a special name for me and that's what they came up with. I like it, so I kept it. In Sedona, I'm not known as Stephanie or Steph, just One Shot. "

"Damn, Baby, remind me not to piss you off." He took the targets with him and led us out of the range. We walked across the garage towards where Tank had gone. Lester slipped his arm around my shoulders and I tensed up. Noticing immediately, he pulled his arm away. "Sorry, didn't mean to invade your space, Beautiful."

I sighed and kept walking with him. I was use to my brothers invading my space, but that was all. I don't like it when others touch me; it brings back too many painful memories. We got near the SUV and Lester took out his phone and called someone. "You riding... no… surveillance… garage."

"Man of many words I see." I had to tease him, I just couldn't help it. A few minutes later, I saw another muscle bound hunk walk out of the elevator and come over towards us.

Lester came up next to me, but didn't touch me. "Bobby, meet Stephanie, or One Shot. Steph, this is Bobby. He is my partner and our company medic."

tbc... If you're a first time reader, let me know what you thought of it... if you've read it before, let me know if you still like it ;)