Disclaimer: I own nothing, if I did do you really think I would be posting my pathetic stories on fanfic? I would be a millionaire and most importantly…the creator of Ranger. Oh, the possibilities…

A/N: Just finished Twelve Sharp and I got an idea, a very long, confusing, idea. Enjoy!

SPOILER WARNING!

This story contains spoilers for Twelve Sharp, if you have not yet read and do not wish to spoil the entire book please look away, as for those of you who want to spoil the book, SHAME ON YOU! Lol, just look away people who haven't read it.

Thirteen: Locked and Loaded

Prologue

Once upon a time I had just divorced my lousy husband, Dickie Orr, for infidelity and was alone for a long time, celibate for an embarrassingly long time.

Now?

Now I have not one but two men who, I was pretty sure, loved me and I returned the favour, for both of them.

Now I am completely uncertain of who I want to be with because of my mixture of feelings and I was willing to bet my bottom dollar that I was going to have to decided which one very soon.

Who are these unlucky men, do I hear you say?

Man no.1 is Joseph Morelli, my current on-again, off-again, boyfriend. He is an Italian bred alpha male that can make my knees buckle witha singletouch. He was voted Trenton's best ass for as long as I could remember and he was one of the best cops in Trenton PD. He has unruly dark hair that is in constant need for a cut, brown eyes that turn to molten chocolate when he's aroused and a cheeky personality that, when he shares with me, makes me blush at his wild thoughts.

I'd known Joe all my life and he was my high school crush, he's a great guy with a caring, protective attitude that is in complete contrast to his wild youth.

I love Joe, I have for a long time I think but I know that I cannot just keep going on being his girlfriend when I know that I love another man.

Who is he, I hear you query?

Well…

Man no.2 is the mysterious Ricardo Carlos Manoso, his street name, Ranger. He's second generation Cuban American with skin the colour of mocha and an almost legal more morally right attitude that makes me respect him implicitly. He has dark eyes that turn black when aroused and long straight black hair that he keeps held back in a pony tail. Not much is known about Ranger, only that he has a daughter called Julie, who I met not long ago on more unfortunate circumstances, he has four sisters and one brother, he's two months older than me and he is an ex-ranger (hence the name).

Ranger is a bounty hunter like me and showed me the ropes when I first started and so being the first person to support my career choice. He's always there when I need him and he helps me most days with just a smile, making my attitude brighten up from then onwards. Recently Ranger had been shot because of this whole business with a certain weirdo who was trying to copy him by kidnapping me and his daughter, Julie, and ending up trying to kill him.

Those were the most scary few hours of my life ever, when I was in the waiting room waiting for results and information on Ranger's condition and stability.

Joe supported me then, even when I knew he didn't want to.

See, Joe disliked Ranger…a lot.

Joe thinks Ranger is crazy and is out to poach on his territory (which he sorta is) and doesn't trust him one bit but he does appreciate what he does for me, never turning down my query for help, always getting me out of the trouble I get myself in, somehow.

Ranger is my rock, the guy I can always lean on for support and comfort.

Although I get support and comfort from Joe it's usually ended with a pat on the back and a quick kiss that soon ends in getting under the bed covers hastily.

Joe doesn't really support me being a bounty hunter, in fact he is totally against it. He wants me to get a job for the button factory (these are also my mothers wishes, as she keeps reminding me) or for Maceys, something normal and something that is not going to get me killed.

This is usually one of the things we fight about, my job, that and mine and Ranger's relationship.

Joe wants me to become the perfect housewife but that is just not who I am, that is just not what I want.

I want to have a stable relationship that may or may not result in marriage and kids, just to wait and see.

Ranger's idea of a relationship with me is to get lots and lots of condoms. I asked him once and he said 'It doesn't come with a ring but condoms might come in handy.'

Ranger wanted a loose, sex-based relationship and Joe wanted a married couple, 3.5 kids and soccer mom relationship.

I wanted more that what Ranger wanted but a lot less than what Joe desired.

It's like a girl can't win, right?

Chapter 1

I woke up to the sound of my alarm buzzing.

I groaned and rolled over, pulling a pillow over my head to block out the screaming.

When the sound didn't deaden or stop I rolled back onto my back, now wide awake and angry, whacked the stop button on the alarm, maybe using a little more force than necessary, staring up at the ceiling with my eyes narrowed to slits trying to get my body to move and cooperate.

I lifted a leg off the bed and walked to the bathroom in hope that a shower would lighten my mood and maybe awake the still asleep parts of my body and brain.

An hour later I was rushing around the apartment trying to find my keys for the Mini thatI had recently acquired,I just couldn't put up with the Buick for any longer.

I'd found a note left by Joe saying he'll see me later but no little post-it's from the refrigerator fairy telling me they moved my goddamn keys.

I let out a groan as I finally found them in one of my coat pockets and I rushed out of the door, waving to Rex as I went.

I did a little detour to the office and went to the Tasty Pastry in search of some breakfast.

I pulled up with a smile on my face as I walked inside to find no queues and plenty of tasty treats on display.

I drooled over them all and finally made my choice of a box of assorted donuts.

"Can I have the assorted box, please?" I said to the shy teenager behind the counter.

She hurriedly passed me the box and collected the money off me fast, smiling shyly, reminding me of me when I worked at the Tasty Pastry…ahh the memories; that was, of course, before i got sacked for having a little roll around with Joe when I was 16 next to the eclair case, another thing to blame Joe for.

I shook my head and let it go as I continued on with a bright attitude.

I ate, or rather inhaled, two donuts in the car while I drove to the office and when I had pulled up I had eaten another.

I was feeling pleasantly full when I opened the Bonds Office door, a smile plastered on my face.

"Hi Connie, Lula not in yet?" I asked the woman behind the desk in the office. Connie was not an overly large woman she just had huge breasts which can sometimes restrict what one can wear; Connie on the other hand never lets herself become restricted, she wears anything she wants which can sometimes 'cause full blown traffic jams and accidents on the main street when Connie walks to the Bond Office from her house down the corner.

She looked up at me from the stack of files in front of her,

"Hey, Steph. You got any of those donuts to share?" she asked before swiping the box off me and chomping on her first.

I rolled my eyes and went over to the old couch in the office and sat down.

"Lula?" I prompted Connie who has forgotten about my question in her haste to get to the chocolate and jelly filled treats.

"She's never in yet, besides she had a date last night and if any of the hints she dropped meant anything he's still there, if you know what I mean." She said with a cheeky glint in her eyes.

I grinned, "Good for Lula. Who's the guy?"

Connie shrugged, "Some guy she met once on a takedown."

I narrowed my eyes, "What takedown? Was I there?"

Connie shrugged, "I dunno, ask her when she comes in."

I sighed and leaned back into the couch, my curiousity was tugging at my brain, picking at it trying to think of any men that Lula might have talked to on the takedowns.

A grin blossomed onto my face as I hit jackpot.

"It's Tank, for sure." I said smugly.

Connie raised her eyebrows and bit her bottom lip smiling widely,

"Really? How do you know?"

I held up a finger to signal quiet and whipped out my cell phone and dialled Batman.

He picked up on the first ring,

"Yo"

"Yo, yourself. I've got a question."

I could sense his amusement, "Babe, you've always got a question."

I smiled despite his little remark, what can I say, the man makes me happy with just his voice even if he says something that is slightly insulting...it's disgusting how muchI am in love, isn't it?

"Is Tank in right now?" I asked, crossing my fingers and hoping I'd find the culprit.

Ranger hesitated, "Why do you want to know? Do you need help?"

"No, I'm fine, it's just…Lula had a secret date last night and I wondered whether it might be Tank." I said smiling and winking at Connie.

"Babe, your curiosity get the better of you again?"

Goddamn the man for knowing me so well,

"No!" I said defending myself, "I just…want to know."

I heard him chuckle on the other line, "He's not here but his shift doesn't start until 11."

I smiled evily and nodded to Connie who, then, grinned maliciously and start jumping up in the air, punching her fist in the air too.

"Thanks Ranger, you've told us exactly what we needed to know."

"We?"

"Well…Connie as well." I said sheepishly.

I could sense Ranger's amusement again, "Babe. Are you free later for lunch? I need to talk to you."

I frowned, "Yeah sure, where to?"

"Shorty's."

"Okay, see you then…"

But he had already hung up.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, one day I am going to teach that boy some phone manners and make him use them.

Hmm…

Ways of making him filled my mind and a small smile floated on my face.

"Steph?"

I blushed as I was brought back to reality,

"Yeah?" I said as nonchalantly as possible.

Connie raised an eyebrow but said nothing, "Do you want your files?"

I nodded my head, hoping to shake my thoughts out of my mind.

She handed two files and I flicked through them.

They were all pretty easy files…

Jerry Lopez, arrested for assault and illegal drug usage. He went insane when a bouncer stopped him from going into this club because he was high.

I rolled my eyes, stupid bastard should have just walked away…instead he got two black eyes for his efforts and the bouncer got suspended.

Next up was…Mooner, again.

Mooner was easy money because he was a friend. Mooner often went FTA more often than not for just forgetting about his court date.

It must have been 'I Dream of Genie' day or something.

Two pretty easy skips, not bad, not normal.

Suddenly I heard the bell ding for the door and in came Lula, a permanent smile on her face.

"Hey, ya two." She said to us smiling.

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Connie who was struggling not to laugh.

"You get lucky last night?" I asked her and returned back to my seat on the couch, waiting to hear this story.

She just smiled and wandered over to other side of the couch, plonking her happy self down.

"Oh yeah…" she breathed, her voice light and dreamy as if she was reminiscing.

"Say hi to Tank for me when you see him next, 'kay?" I said to her, waiting for her reply.

She nodded and smiled then froze,

"How d'ya no it was 'im?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

I smiled mysteriously, "I have my ways…"

The bell dinged again as the door opened and the office went quiet.

Lula's eyes widened, as did Connie and stared at the figure that entered.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled up and a small shiver ran through my body.

"Yo." I said to Ranger as I turned to him.

"Yo, yourself, babe." He said, the edges of his mouth twitching, which is the equivalent to a Ranger smile.

I turned back to Lula,

"So...? How was it?" I said to her smiling at her excitement.

She sighed and fanned herself,

"Honey, it ain't nothin' ya can put into words…" she said grinning.

I laughed, happy for my friend, "When are you going to see him next?"

She smiled mysteriously, "Actually later for lunch, he's got a surprise for me…"

I grinned even wider, "What do you think it is?"

She shrugged, "I dunno, Ranger, d'ya know?"

We all looked at Ranger like the holder of the information to become a millionaire.

Ranger smiled a handsome 100-watt grin but shook his head,

"He hasn't told me anything."

I narrowed my eyes, "You're sure?"

He smirked, "Pretty sure, babe. Can I talk to you for a second?"

I frowned but nodded and followed him outside,

"See ya later, girls." I shouted over my shoulder as I followed Ranger out towards the alleyway.

"What's up?" I asked him.

His face looked masked, like usual but his eyes told me he was unhappy, maybe even angry?

"I've got to cancel for lunch, a job has come up so i'll just tell you now. I've got to go away for a job and I'm not sure how long it's going to be. It's a real mess and I'm the only chance of cleaning it up well. I'm leaving tonight so take care of yourself and if you need anything call Tank or RangeMan." He said and waited for my reaction.

I sighed, Ranger always had to go away, it was part of his job,

"Where are you going? Or if you tell will you have to kill me?" I asked studying his eyes again.

"Los Angeles, hopefully it will wrap up in two weeks or so but if things get any messier it could take a while. Make sure you alive and well hen I get back." He said to me leaning in a little closer.

I nodded, "I'll try to stay out of trouble."

He leaned a little closer still, so close I could feel his breath on my face and his lips were a mere couple of centimetres away from mine.

I was telling myself I should step away from him because I have a boyfriend but I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried to move I couldn't, partly because half of me didn't want to.

"Try not to get shot." I said to him, seriously.

"Try not to get too crazy…" he muttered, brushing his lips against mine sending lightening bolts of electricity all over my body.

He pushed his lips against mine and pushed my body up against the wall behind me, his thigh between my legs, his hands holding my arms back, high above my head.

I nibbled his bottom lip and he groaned, slipping his tongue into my mouth and deepening the kiss.

Our tongues battled and I moaned as he sucked mine.

One of his hands slipped down from holding my limp arms, towards my shirt. He gently skimmed the bottom of my breast underneath my shirt and it pulled me out of my state to reality.

I pulled away and struggled to catch my breath,

"You're poaching." I murmured to him and he smiled.

"You didn't seem to mind, babe."

I rolled my eyes, "Don't get dead."

"Same goes for you, babe." He said then disappeared, leaving me breathing heavily, cursing my stupidity.

TBC

A/N : So? What do you think? There is a plot to this, before you ask and I do know where I'm going it just might be a couple of chapters before it heads straight into the story. Call it a long intro…grin. I much appreciate reviews hint, hint. Lol. If you have the time or you want to say anything just pop one in, it's amazing how much better you can feel from just one nice comment. Hope you like the 1st chapter!