Chapter 2
I stretched lazily curled up against Tomas's side and glanced at the clock. Hmm six am, I got here at three pm and we spent most of the after noon and night 'catching up'. I heard Tomas groan as his phone went off, throwing him out of sleep and he answered the phone sleepily and I could hear male laughter on the other end.
"What the fuck you want Bobby?" Tom growled and then threw a quick glance at the clock. "Be there in fifteen." He hung up and then sat up before looking at me. "Just like old times Angel, you made me late for work." He chuckled.
"I did my best." I grinned at him as I climbed out of bed and slowly got dressed and walked over to him, giving him a slow deep kiss and dropped a card on his beside table as he stood up and headed for the shower.
"What was that?" He asked pausing at the door.
"Cell number and where I am staying." I shrugged as I pulled on my calf high boots. "I thought since I was going to be in town for awhile you might want to know where to find me." I stood up and grabbed my purse and dug through it as one of my phones started to ring. "Grenzlo" I answered it as I heard the shower start up.
"Am I speaking to Ms Tori Grenzlo?" A tired male voice asked.
"Yes you are, may I enquire as to who you are?" I asked as I let myself out of Tom's apartment and out of the building to my truck and climbed in.
"My name is Charles Henderson, I work for Talen and Co."
"As in the Lawyer firm in Miami?" I asked still confused as to why he was calling me and at six in the morning too.
"We have only recently been informed of your parents passing and I have been track you down for the last two months, you are one hard person to find." He confirmed.
"And you are calling me because?" I asked rolling my eyes as he babbled and turned over the engine.
"Your parents left some things that they wished you to have, would it be at all possible for you to swing by our offices any time soon?" He replied.
"Well not today no, I'm in Trenton, New Jersey. It may take me a few days to get a flight out." I sighed, it didn't want to leave town just yet, I'd only just arrived after all. I pulled my note book out of my bag and found a pen. "Give me your number Mr Henderson and I'll call as soon as I can get a flight out and let you know when I can be there." I jotted down the bunch of numbers he threw at me and bid him a good day before hanging up and clipped the phone in the hands free kit and sat there for a few more minutes before I threw the car in the drive and headed for the hotel. I needed a shower and change of clothes and then I would call the air port.
I pulled into the parking lot and headed into the lobby stopping at the desk.
"Any messages for Tori Grenzlo?" I asked as I dug through my bag for the key to my room. I was handed three pink slips and a parcel with familiar hand writing on it. I thanked the guy behind the desk and hurried up to my room looking over the messages, all three were from Andy asking me to call him back. I unlocked my door and slung a do not disturb sign on the handle and headed straight for the shower.
I made it a quick one and dressed in tight fitting black jeans and a black singlet and pulled my calf high black steel caped two inch heels back on and hit speed dial five.
"Leadman." He answered a little sleepily before I realised the time difference.
"Sorry Andy I forgot about the time difference I just got your messages." I apologised as I sat down on the couch and ran my brush through my hair. "If it was so urgent why didn't you call my cell?"
"I did there was no reply." He replied sounding as if he was still trying to wake up.
I glanced around the room and sighed. I'd left it behind. "Sorry, it seems I left it behind in my room, so what's up with the file?"
"Boss want you to take it to RangeMan for him, last he heard Ranger was out of town and he didn't know who to give it to, he knows that you know most of the guys so he figured you would know who to give it to, to make sure that it got the right attention." Andy replied through a yawn.
I didn't both correcting him that Ranger was back in town, or if he had even left or what ever. "Yeah sure, I'll take it over in a bit." I agreed as I found a directory and looked up the airport. "How's the rookie going?"
"He is driving me nuts, all brawns and no brains I swear." Andy groaned.
"Well jus remember what we used to be like and cut him a little slack." I urged him with a chuckle. "I'll talk to you later, you watch you back."
"You too." He replied and I hung up.
I picked up the hotel phone and dialled the airport and booked a flight out to Miami for tomorrow night and called Henderson back and told him when I would be landing, he said that he would arrange a hotel close by for the night for me all paid for and would call me back with the detail and I hung up.
I dialled room service and ordered breakfast and a pot of coffee.
It didn't take me long to eat my food but I lingered over my coffee and scooped up my phone with out looking at it when it rang.
"Grenzlo."
"Angel."
"Gee did you miss me that much?" I asked with a chuckle. "I've only been gone two hours." I set my cup down as he chuckled.
"Seemed like a life time with all the flak I've been getting from the guys."
"Aww, poor honey, don't worry you're a big tough guy you can take it." I laughed.
"I got quiet a bit of shit when they saw my back."
"Hmm, sorry about that, Tom, guess I got a little carried away." I chuckled as I apologised. "Hey I gotta swing by, I got a special delivery for Ranger."
"I'll meet you in lobby."
"Meet with a large mug of coffee and I'll love you forever." I said.
"Promise?" His voice deepened a little.
"Yeah, that's a promise lover." I smiled as I picked up my purse and the package and headed out the door with my car keys in my hand.
"Your place for dinner tonight?" I heard a faint snigger and heard him growl.
"Sure thing, we'll order room service." I agreed as I climbed into my car. "I'll be there in five."
"I'll have the coffee waiting." He replied and hung up.
I couldn't believe the amount of traffic on the road for a Monday morning, but no one seemed to be in a great big rush to get any where fast, so it was easy for me to cut through the traffic and stopped in front of the building. I grabbed everything and hurried into the lobby and grinned as Tom waited in the elevator with a travelling cup which from the smell of it was full of coffee.
"Thanks Tank." I said sipping a few mouthfuls as we headed up to the fifth floor and I followed him into the control room. I noted the guys I had already met and spotted Steph in her own little cubical on the far side of the room lost in what ever was on the computer screen. "Ranger" I greeted him with a small nod and handed over the package unopened. "Special delivery from FBI headquarters, seems they think you are out of town still." I explained with a small shrug as he raised an eyebrow. I gulped down a few more mouthfuls and finally felt my mind waking up properly and saw Steph staring at me talking to Ranger and an eyebrow raised at the sight of Tank's hand on my hip. I sent her a sly wink as both guys were involved with opening the package and looking over the file. I snuck over with out them noticing and lent against her desk. "How you feeling today?" I asked, she looked like she hadn't slept well last night and I handed her my coffee at which she gave me a grateful smile and gulped some of it down.
"Better, it took me all day to shake the damn hang over though." She replied with a grin and handed the coffee back.
"Anything I should know about?" I asked when she hesitated.
"I think some one was watching me last night and I don't think it was any of the guys." She told me softly so her voice wouldn't carry.
We both looked towards the guys as I heard my name and Tank frowning at where I had been and gave them both a little finger wave as they spotted me with Steph.
"Meet me for lunch?" I suggested as they walked over. "Pino's?"
"Sure, I'll tell you about the time I got Tank stranded at the airport." She chuckled.
"Sounds interesting" I grinned.
"I take it you two know each other." Ranger raised an eyebrow.
"Went to school together." We both replied at the same time and grinned.
"Babe." He almost smiled. "Don't forget we have a ten o'clock in the gun range." He reminded her.
"I won't forget." She nodded.
"Tori a word?"
I followed Tank and Ranger out into a private office and Tank closed the door.
"I take it that you didn't get good news in that file." I commented as I lent against the desk.
"No I didn't." Ranger sighed as he sat down behind the desk. "Seems history does repeat it's self. This file doesn't just concern me but you as well."
"How so?" I asked my eyes narrowing.
"Contella just broke out of prison." I felt my face pale a little and raised a hand over my left cheek and I caught the glance Tank threw Ranger before he approached me and removed my hand tracing the faint scar that he hadn't noticed before. It was only faintly visible when I was sick or went pale. "He will be out to get both of us, you'll have to warn your family."
"I don't have any left." I told him quietly with a small shrug. "They all died over a year ago now. I'll have to warn my partner and tell him to watch himself though…" I hesitated a moment. "When did he break out?"
"Four days ago."
"Then it won't be long before he strikes at us, it might be harder for him to get at us if we weren't both in the same town." I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"It'll be easier for him to get at us here yes that's true, but it will also be easier for us to stay alive with my people keeping an eye on him." Ranger nodded but he disagreed.
"I'll make a few phone calls…" I nodded slowly.
"Would you consider staying here until he is caught?" Ranger asked with a raised eyebrow. "Staying at a hotel right now would be inviting trouble."
"Might be an idea." I nodded. "But I have to fly to Miami tomorrow night, my family's lawyer rang me this morning, I have a few things to clear up."
"I'd suggest calling the company direct and make sure that it was them that called and not Contella pulling your leg." Ranger warned.
"Yeah I was going to do that." I agreed. "You know any where around here where I can get my security on my truck upgraded?"
"Yeah Eddie can do that." Ranger nodded. "I'll get him to do a house call."
"Just tell me how much and I'll write a cheque" I nodded in thanks and headed out of the office. "Steph…" I stopped at her side. "This is important, I know you don't want Ranger to worry about this person watching you last night but tell him and tell him now." I urged her when I was sure no one was near enough to over hear.
"Why what's going on?" She asked looking a little confused.
"Just trust me on this. If you don't tell him then I will." I warned her.
"That bad huh?" She sighed. "This stalker business is getting really old." But she stood up and I followed her back to Ranger's office.
"Problem Babe?" He asked as he hung up his phone.
"Tori seems to think so." Steph nodded and let out another sigh. "Some one was watching me last night, you know how good I've gotten at knowing when I am being watched over the years. I didn't see anyone, but I could feel it."
"Why didn't you say something earlier?" He asked calmly but I saw his jaw tighten.
"I just figured it was one of my usual stalkers, and as I hadn't gotten any threatening messages of any kind I figured I was safe for now." She shrugged looking a little blaze.
"Boss…." A young looking Hispanic guy stepped into the office and hesitated as he saw the group assembled.
"What is it Hal?" Tank asked, just waiting for the shoe to drop.
"Some one just broke into Ms Plum's apartment."
"Well scratch off threatening messages then." I commented with a shake of my head. "If it's who I think it is then there is now either something dead in there or something explosive."
"You know his profile better then anyone Tori where would he put it?" Ranger asked suddenly looking like he hadn't slept in days and his voice and eyes were emotionless.
"Something dead? Then probably in her bed or bathroom. Explosive?" I paused to think. "Fridge, oven, couch or under the bed."
"Tank take a team out and check it over." Ranger ordered.
"Just don't open the fridge or oven." I warned him and followed him out into the control. "And check her hamster cage, he likes to be cruel." I added quietly.
"Got it. Les, Bobby, Cal you're with me." He called out and they all left the office.
"And here I thought today was going to be a good day." I sighed and pulled out my phone and dialled the operater in Miami. "Talen and Co please." I waited as the connection went through.
"Talen and Co, how may I direct you call?" A chirpy female answered the phone.
"Hi I have an appointment to see a lawyer and I can't remember the time or who it was with I was wondering if you could look it up for me?" I asked leaning against the nearest wall.
"Your name please?"
"Tori Grenzlo." I replied spelling out my last name for her.
"You have an appointment with Mr Charles Henderson Wednesday morning at eight. Is there anything else I can help you with?" She enquired.
"No thank you that was all." I thanked her and hung up and paused out side Ranger's office as I heard Steph arguing with him, I sighed, Ranger was losing patience. It went quiet for a few moments and I heard Ranger ask her something in an almost pleading tone and her quiet reply. I lent against the wall and waited not hearing what they were saying but from the quick conversation it was important to them both that this got done now.
I shook my head as three of Ranger's men tried to see him, warning that he didn't want to be interrupted and waited, finishing off my nearly cold coffee.
I watched as Steph stalked out of his office twenty minutes later and headed straight for the gym, instead of out of the building like I thought she might try to do.
I stepped into his office and saw him run his hands through his black locks in frustration. "You want me to talk to her?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No she has agreed to stay in the building until Contella is caught." He shook his head. "I just have to find away to keep her occupied so she doesn't go nuts."
"Rent her some movies, a few games, beer, Ben and Jerry's, some training and work." I suggested with a small smile. "Just keep her busy, it's not hard to do. I called the company, it's legit." I added changing the topic. "I'll tell you one thing though, now that I know Contella is out there I do not want to go." I sighed and sank down into a near by chair. "I might see if I can get him to come here, saying I can't leave."
"That might be for the best." Ranger nodded in agreement. "Tank called, just before you came in."
"So what was it?" I asked feeling a little bit of dread creeping into my heart.
"Bomb strapped to the bottom of her bed, they have the bomb squad there right now, Les will stay and deal with them, Tank had packed up some of her things and checked them over so they are clear." He replied with a shake of his head. "He'll stop by your hotel and grab you gear too."
Out of habit I let my left hand pat my pocket and frowned when I realised that my keys were gone. "He picked my pocket?"
"No I did." Ranger gave me an amused look.
"That's just cheating." I shook my head.
"Yo" He answered his phone and listened for a moment before he hung up. "Eddie is here, Hal will take your keys down to him so he can install the new systems." Ranger informed me as Hal stepped into the room. I handed my keys over with out a second thought and suddenly felt like kicking something.
"I'll be with Steph in the gym while I make a few calls." I told him as I left him to it. I made a quick call to Andy and told him that Contella was on the loose and that he should watch his back. I settled on a bench at the back of the gym and watched as Steph punched and kicked at a punching bag while I called Mr Henderson and told him that something had come up and I couldn't leave Trenton for some time and if there was any chance he could come to me.
He assured me quiet happily that he would be able to come to me and he would make arrangements right away and would call back with the details. I told him that I would have some one meet him at the airport and I hung up.
I walked over calmly to where Steph was still taking her frustration out on the bag and braced it for her, not saying anything.
"What did Tank find?" She asked calmly between hits.
"Bomb taped to the bottom of your bed." I told her and moved to her side as she stopped and her shoulders dropped. I wrapped a arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. "This guy is not very nice, Steph and he will do anything to get back at Ranger and me."
"Why you?" Steph looked at me in surprise.
"Because I helped Ranger capture him." I shrugged and I absently ran a finger over my scar.
"He did that?" She asked quietly catching sight of it.
"Yeah, he kidnapped me and cut me for the fun of it, he wanted Ranger off balance and thought by taking me he would have that." I chuckled slightly. "He thought I was Ranger's woman you see, he didn't realise that it was a pose to catch his attention. We just didn't know at the time how dangerous he was, we knew the full extent of it afterwards though." I shook my head and sighed.
"Ranger doesn't go off balance when people he knows are in danger he gets focused." Steph told me firmly with a smile. "And pushy." She added with a frown.
"He is used to ordering people around and getting results, it comes from being in the army, Hon, don't take it so personally." I studied her for a moment. "He doesn't just want you safe for your sake but for his too."
"I know." She sighed and then lost the battle and smiled. "At least this time he asked me to stay inside the building, I don't follow orders well."
"Hon you never did." I burst out laughing.
"True enough" Steph giggled "Ben and Jerry's party at my room tonight?" Steph asked. "Well as soon as I find out where Ranger is going to stash me."
"Not tonight." I shook my head and gave her an apologetic look. "I've already been booked for the night." A let a goofy smile cross my lips.
"Tank?" Steph smiled.
"Yeah, we'll probably have dinner at his place, some wine, maybe a rented movie followed by quality time in the bedroom." I grinned as Steph burst out laughing.
"I heard all about Tank being late for work this morning." She continued to laugh. "They guys were all picking on him, though it was Ranger that was joking about the state of his back, when they went to the gym at seven to train."
"Yeah well Ranger always did like teasing Tank, but don't worry Tank gives back as good as he gets he just bides his time." I grinned evilly.
We looked up as Ranger approached and he eyed me warily. "I know that look, should I be worried."
"Not yet." I chuckled.
"You going to bunk in with Tank?" He asked.
"Might as well." I nodded. "Why pass up the chance of a life time?" I grinned.
"Fourth floor or Seventh?" He turned to look at Steph. "And would you join me for dinner?"
"I'd like that." Steph nodded. "I'll stay on the fourth floor for now until this crazy is caught." I studied her for a moment and knew that she wanted to stay with Ranger with just one look but she was holding back for some reason. "But for now I better get back to work." She hurried off before Ranger could say anything else.
"Please tell me you didn't give her that reel of I don't do relationships, Ric." I said with a small sigh, and I knew he had when he just looked at me. "Okay I understand that at the time it was the right thing to do because of Morelli, but he isn't in her life now." I chuckled as he raised an eyebrow. "We kept in touch over the years and she filled in everything that I missed out on."
"She's not with Morelli?" He asked looking a little surprised.
"No she's not." I shook my head. "She hasn't been for three months, I know this because I got caught in the middle of a fight between them on Saturday. They've tried to patch things up but I think there were a few bumps that he can't get over." I stood up and slowly stretched. "She is waiting for you to make a move, and from what I just saw she will hold back until you tell her that you are ready."
"And when did you become so good at reading people?" He asked with a small shake of his head.
"I was a profiler Ric, remember. It was my job and I've known her for what seems like forever. Court her, show her that you are human." I told him before bending down and pulled off my boots and headed over to the matts that were empty of people, dropped my jacket and gun at the edge and began doing a few gymnastic moves, flips, stretches, poises, cartwheels and walking on my hands.
"And how do you know that I am interested?" He asked, his face blank.
"Well for one, your face is blank." I commented, keeping apart of my attention on staying up right and walking perfectly balanced on my hands, and not looking at him. "Two, you give her anything she needs whether she asks for it or not, and Three you offered her to stay in your own apartment." I counted off the points and did a few back flips until I was facing him. "And four, you asked her to stay. If you didn't care you would have ordered her to stay and not made any compromises and you wouldn't have told her who was out to get us." I studied his blank face for a moment, he may have thought that he was covered but I could see the emotions flicker through his eyes. "You forget Ric, I've known you for years, before you became Ranger, before you joined the army and learnt to hide everything away. I've seen you at your best and I've seen you at your worst, I know you through and through, just like you know me." I smiled as he slowly nodded and his lips tilted up slightly in a smile. "If you like her as much as your actions say you do don't play with her, dinner is a good start, you are as good as me at reading people some times better, use that to your advantage. I've known Steph a little longer then I've known you, and I know for a fact that she won't wait around for you forever, she has made her decision, she wants you. But if you take too long she will think that you don't want her and she will find a way to move on." I paused watching him closely. "Even if it breaks her heart." I picked up my gun and jacket, grabbed my shoes and left him standing there lost deep in thought and took the stairs down the fourth floor and tapped on Tank's door. I knew some one was in there, I could hear some one moving about. I grinned as he opened the door and waved me in.
"I got your things for you, and a spare key." He handed the latter to me and then raised an eyebrow as he saw me carrying my shoes.
"I was in the gym." I explained as I dropped my jacket on the back of his couch but pull my gun hip holster back into place.
"Eddie finished with your car." He added handing me my keys and I add his key to the six others on the ring. "He said you can pay later when things calm down. He put a better alarm on it, a bomb detector and a tampering gadget to let you know if some one has tapered with it at all."
I winced. "That's going to cost me." I sighed.
"With GPS."
"Double it." I sighed again. "Oh well it was something that I was going to get done anyway at least it was by some one I trust and can rely on." I looked down at my watch as my stomach rumbled. Lunch time.
"The kitchen is open on fifth if your hungry just remember that it's all stuff that Ranger will eat." Tank told me with a smile as my stomach growled again.
"At this point I think I could eat nearly anything." I shrugged and pulled my shoes on.
"Shall I cook us dinner tonight?" He asked as we left his rooms and headed back up to the fifth floor.
"Only if you make your boston mud cake for desert."
"Deal." He chuckled and kissed me on the cheek before disappeared into an office.
I headed to the back of the communications room and found the kitchen easily looking over the ready made lunches and chose chicken salad roll and an orange juice and ate it over the bench listening to the faint sounds of talking from the main room. I knew from experience what it meant when it went quiet, it meant that Ranger was in the room but there was a steady stream of chatter when he wasn't.
"Grenzlo." I said as I answered my phone as it chirped. I listened as Mr Henderson told me everything that he had arranged. He was flying out in an hour and would arrive in five hours, deliver everything and fly out again three hours later. I told him to watch for an intimidating man or men dressed in black clothes when he got to the terminal and hung up. The room went deathly quiet and I stepped out of the kitchen and spotted Ranger having a quick word with Les to one side of the room and Tank heading towards me. "Need a favour hon." I said as he nudged me into the empty kitchen.
"What do you need?" He asked with a smile.
"I need two guys to pick Mr Henderson from the airport, he knows to look for two intimidating men in black, he'll land in six hours." I asked.
"I'll see who is off shift who doesn't mind." Tank nodded. "Dinner will be served at seven, but for now I gotta go do some work." He kissed me deeply and then was gone. I had to admire him for such a big man he sure could move silently.
I kept my self busy for the rest of the afternoon by returning to the gym after I changed into skin tight leggings and a sports bra. I started on the tread mill for a five mile run, moved on to weights, then to the punching bag. Only once I felt all my muscles were working properly and completely did I moved to the mats and found Ric doing push ups near by.
I didn't say anything but raised my eyebrow in a questioning manner and he joined me a few moments later.
We circled each other warily, the last time we had a match, six years ago he had broken my arm and I had fractured three of his ribs and we were coved in bruises and both had been sent to hospital after we had dropped in exhaustion. It wasn't that we had anything against each other or anything but we had both been on edge, frustrated, terrified and angry so we had taken it out on each other. That had been a few days after we had gotten Contella put away for life and had silent agreed not to spar like that again.
I let him make the first move so I knew at what level this was going to be. I blocked the heavy blow that was aimed at my ribs and easily judged the strength being half and returned in kind.
I may only be five foot nine, and lithe but through all the exercise I had as a child and the training I had put into my body I could be as deadly as anyone I knew. I could have easily joined the army and become SF but it hadn't been my thing so I went for FBI instead.
I could toss a man three times my weight, not easily but I could do it.
After a few rounds had been passed we on silent agreement sped up the movements, so it went from teaching to fast sparing in twenty minutes.
We both ignored the crowd that was gathering, as his men recognised the skills that we were showing off, I wouldn't have been surprised if there was a crowd gathering around the monitors in the control room.
I rarely showed off what I could do, hell I rarely showed half of what I could, mainly so people would underestimate me. It made my job easier for one thing and for another I didn't like to brag.
I grunted as I landed hard on the mat, air rapidly leaving my lungs leaving me coughing and gasping for breath, but it didn't stop me from catching his foot as it came down to catch me in the chest. I held it before twisting it and jerking him off balance and knocked his other leg out from under him, and smiled faintly as he landed with a loud, satisfying thud and I heard the breath leave his lungs. I easily flipped to my feet and was about to take a step away from him when he slapped the mat three times calling an end to the match.
I relaxed my stance and bent forward a little to catch my breath properly.
"I see you haven't lost your touch, Tor." He commented with a two hundred watt grin as he slowly sat up and winced as his back protested. "I didn't think you had, but it seemed like a good idea at the time to see if you had." He continued as he slowly got to his feet.
I smirked as I saw money exchanging hands, most of the men looked stunned but those who knew me, mainly Bobby, Cal and Tank who had shown up at some point were grinning and collecting money.
I touched my right side tenderly and explored it with firm but gentle finger tips and glad that I found nothing but painful bruises and I chuckled as I saw Ric doing the same.
"Remember the last match?" I asked with a small shake of my head.
"Yeah, three weeks in hospital." He grinned as we slowly began stretching to cool down so we wouldn't cramp. "Broken bones, fractures, internal bleeding, bruises that didn't fade for weeks."
"Let's hope we don't have to do a repeat." I sighed as I spoke quietly. "But you feel better now?"
"Yeah, thanks Mi Cara." He nodded.
"Alright you two hit the showers, then I want to make sure you haven't fractured anything." Bobby ordered as the crowd dispersed.
"We're fine Bobby." I waved him off as we both stepped off the mats.
"Sure, then why are you limping?" Bobby snorted.
"Huh?" I blinked and took a few tentative steps and winced as my left ankle protested, I hadn't noticed it before as I had concentrated solely on Ric's movements and everything else had become second. Including pain.
"You both remember last time, you didn't realise the damage you had done until an hour later." Bobby reminded us with a shake of his head. "You two are going to bloody sore in the morning."
"Yeah but right now I think it was worth it." I chuckled as we left the gym. I let Ric and Bobby headed up to the seventh floor and waited for the lift to come back down. "So how did it look from where you were standing?" I asked casually to Tank.
"Honestly it looked like you two were trying to kill each other." He snorted. "But it was a great show of skill and strength, though you frightened Steph. It took both me and Bobby to assure her that you two were just working off nerves." He chuckled. "She made a comment of not getting either of you pissed off, and really didn't want to see either of you in a real fight. And then called you both idiots."
"Each to their own." I shrugged as the elevator opened and we went down one floor and into his rooms. I grabbed a change of clothes and hit the shower. As I dressed I began to feel some of the bruises forming properly and winced a few times as they pulled the wrong way. I limped back to the lounge and sat down with my left foot elevated, I knew I had done something to it as it was beginning to swell. But after have my own fair share of broken bones and fractures I was confident to call it lightly sprained. Painful yes, but once taped up and iced it would be fine after a day or two.
I patiently put up with Bobby's examination when he arrived carrying his little doctor kit, he ended up taping up my left ankle and my right wrist and place two ice packs on my ankle to keep it from blowing up too much.
"Ric isn't in much better shape." He told me with a shake of his head. "Twisted ankle, bruised ribs, black eye and three sprained fingers…or in a way you won this round, you are in better shape."
"Good to know." I chuckled softly.
"Sprained ankle, wrist, bruised ribs and a bruised cheek." He told me firmly what he had found wrong with me.
"Hey at least we didn't end up in hospital again." I told him cheerfully.
"Well that's something at least." He sighed and stood up. "I think some times we should keep you two away from each other. One day you two are going to do permanent damage to each other."
"No, we won't." I said quietly, my hand absently stroking my upper arm where a thick fat bandaid sat, when people asked I just said that it was a cut. No one actually knew what was under there but me, Ric and Tom.
"Arm sore?" Bobby asked looking worried.
"What?" I asked coming out of my memories.
"Is your arm sore?" He repeated stepping closer to have a closer look.
"No, it's fine." I shook my head and waved him off. "Thanks, hon." I said as Tank brought in a cup of coffee for me. "Bobby it's fine." I protested as he lifted up the short sleeve of my shirt.
"Then why is there a huge bandaid on it?" He scoffed.
"It's from before I got here, it's fine." My voice dropped the playing tone and was serious.
"At least let me look it over." He continued.
"Leave it Bobby." Tank spoke up in a end of discussion voice.
I ignored Bobby's frown as he glanced between us as I took a few mouthfuls of my coffee and lent back in my seat with a happy sigh.
"What's the time?"
"Six, Henderson will be here in thirty." Tank spoke up still staring Bobby down.
Bobby sighed heavily and picked up his kit. "Well let me know if anything gets any worse." He said as he left, looking a little hurt.
"Is what I think under that?" Tank asked quietly.
"Yeah." I nodded slightly.
"You haven't told anyone about it?" He sounded a little surprised.
"Only you and Ric know about my second life when I was younger Tom." I shook my head. "Not even the FBI know about it, though I would probably get kicked out for it if they ever found out." I sighed.
"Not even Steph?"
"No, she never knew and I never told her. She might have known something was going on but never asked." I shook my head and stared in to my cup. "If it wasn't for you and Ric I would most like be six foot under by know." I smiled up at him, my eyes going for cold and hard to warm and gentle.
"You know you never told me how long you were at it before we caught you and helped you turn your life around." He commented quietly as he sat down beside me, an arm around my shoulders. "all you would say was long enough to be good at it."
I stared back down in to my coffee, it was true. Tomas may have known what I was but he didn't know the details.
"I was eight when I first joined, running errands, picking up things for them, easy stuff at first. I really didn't know what I was getting into, but who looks at an eight year old kid?" I started slowly. "When I was twelve things started getting serious, a gang was moving in on their territory and they were down nine members, so they started training me and always told me to make sure that I wasn't seen coming and going. I was thirteen when I killed my first person, I was their ace in the hole, their mysterious member." I took a slow breath. "No one but fully trusted and loyal members knew about me, I was an unknown to every one else. I was a natural marks man, gun or knife it didn't matter. I was initiated three weeks after I killed for the first time." I took a long drink. "It didn't bother me at the time, it was as if I was living two separate lives, almost dreaming. I some how managed to keep it from every one that I cared about, my family, my friends, my teachers. It was almost as if when it began to get dark I became some one else completely." I shook my head sadly. "I just didn't care, I had seen the harder side of life and knew that it was kill or be killed out there. I was always careful when I went to check in each night, I received my assignment and I'd head out to track them down with no one to help me. I didn't needed, the file they'd give me would have everything thing in it, including favourite haunts. It would rarely take me longer then a week to complete it when I was starting out, after my sixteenth birthday, I had made myself a name with in the group. Hells Angel." I smirked. "They said it was because I was beautiful, charming, but I had claws and I was deadly. I used everything I had as a weapon…as you well know." I smiled slightly at him and then frowned slightly. "How old was I when we met?" I asked, I honestly couldn't remember.
"You were fourteen, Tori." He reminded my with a kiss on the cheek. "We were eighteen."
"That's right." I smiled. "You two were amazed that anyone that age could be that flexiable. You guys went on to collage and I continued on with my double life, sure that no one knew what was going on. After I turned eighteen I signed up for collage with Steph, we had a few classes together but other wise we were doing totally different courses. There was a rumour going through the streets that there was an assassin in town to take out Hell's Angel, bought and paid for by one of the rival gangs. I knew that it was going to be hard for them to track me down and kill me if they didn't know who they were looking for." I finished my coffee and set the empty mug on the table and was about to continue when some one knocked on the door. "Talk about bad timing." I muttered as Tank got up to see who it was. I heard a few murmurs and then Tank returned.
"Henderson is here, they put him in conference room three."
"Right…Henderson." I sighed and slowly got to my feet testing my ankle and pulled on a pair of flat heeled slip on shoes. "I'll be back in a bit." I promised and kissed his cheek. I took the elevator down to the second floor and entered the room third on the right. A chirpy looking five foot five guy in a black suit stood up as I entered, his blonde hair looked like a birds nest, his blue eyes looked tired but wide awake. "Mr Henderson, thank you so much for coming."
"It was no problem Ms Grenzlo." He assured me as we shook hands. "What happened to you if you don't mind me asking." He asked as we sat down looking a little worried.
"Oh…" I smiled. "I got a little carried away when I was sparing with a friend. Believe it or not he is in worse shape then me." I replied as I made myself comfortable. "Now, what is this about?"
"Your parents will. They changed it a few weeks after your sister died and have left everything to you." He stated as he got down to business and pulled out two envelopes, he slid the first one over to me. "That one is everything that they owned, accounts, properties, it is now up to you what you want to do with it all."
"Accounts and properties?" I asked stunned. "When we were growing up we barely had enough money to us through school, at least that was what they kept telling us." I stared down at the envelope but I didn't open it.
"It was the way they wanted to live, the money was for emergencies." Mr Henderson informed me with a small shrug. "Who knows how other people think." He looked down at the second envelope. "Now I don't know what is in this one, they wouldn't say, just that you were to have it when they died." He slid it over to me. "They were both ill for some time but they didn't want you to know, they said you had enough to worry about." He pulled out a sheet of paper. "I just need a signature saying you received two unopened envelopes."
I checked the envelopes and then signed the paper after reading through it carefully and handed it back. "You father asked me to tell you one more thing." He added as he closed his brief cases and stood up ready to leave. "I didn't understand it but said you would. 'The past works in circles, it always comes back no matter what we do to prevent it. Hell is in danger of freezing over and will need protecting. Find Coyote an old friend of yours, it is the other name of the one in the second envelope. Watch your six, you've made us proud.'" He quoted off a small piece of paper and then slid it over to me and left.
I sat there stunned. My father knew. He knew that I was Hell's Angel. He knew I was in a gang and didn't say anything? And how did he know about Coyote? My brain shrieked at me. Not many knew about Coyote just like they didn't know about me, some times we tag teamed… I shook my head and opened the second envelope and stared, tears of shock welled and slid down my cheeks.
Adoption papers, birth certificates, papers with names and out of date addresses…and they were mine.
I was adopted and they never told me, I had another family out there and I didn't even know them. I stared at the names, which didn't mean much to me, next to the parents name in an even scrawl that belonged to my father was one word and dates. Deceased…but I had a brother that was still alive.
I turned to the note my father had left and it suddenly clicked.
Coyote is my BROTHER? My mind went blank and I slumped in my seat. Wait he said Hell was freezing over…the gang is in trouble again. I sighed and sat up and collected up the papers and limped my way to the elevator. Looks like I'll have to go back again, protect my family. Just like I've been doing for the last ten years. I sighed a little heavier as I stepped off the elevator and let myself back into now our apartment and dropped on the couch. I could hear Tomas in the kitchen, sounded like he was serving up dinner. I may have left but I never turned my back on them and they knew that. They knew that I needed to appear to have a job and they respected my wish to retire for a time until they needed me. They've only called on me a few times over the last decade, mainly for a bit of information or to help a brother out of trouble. I slowly opened up the other envelope and looked over the file that was inside. Numbered accounts with their amounts in them, along with the cards and pins to access them, all done up in my birth name. Torina Telini.
I continued to look over all the paper work leaving the cards attached. Wow, they were really loaded. I shook my head slightly at some of the figures I saw and then thought about the message. Father wanted me to be protected, I can use some of this money to do that. I closed the file after picking three of the cards and jotting the pins down on my ever present note book, along with the few ID cards that father had done up for me.
I dragged my small duffle bag from beside the couch on to my lap and stuffed everything into it and looked thoughtfully at the message.
Hell freezing over…the gang…will need protection…Hell's Angel is needed…Find Coyote…Find my bother, tell him what I know, team up and find out what exactly is causing the trouble. I mentally decoded the messages in the one note. Watch your back, people who were thought were gone are still around causing trouble and are looking to kill you…..Right got it Papa. I sighed and slipped the note into my pocket.
"You alright Angel?" Tomas asked coming into the room.
"Yeah I'm fine." I gave him a bright smile, though inside I was still trying to figure out everything I had been told. I needed a way to find Coyote with out attracting attention and then I needed to get out of RangeMan and away from the guys with out being seen…But Contella was out there… "It was just about my parents will that's all."
"You look troubled that's all." He commented. I didn't say anything as he set the table and then brought out dinner. "Don't want to talk about it?" He asked.
"Not now." I shook my head as I got up and joined him at the table. "Just out of curiosity, I know the building is wired, but are the apartments?" I asked as I started eating the chicken and mushroom pasta.
"They are, but mine is disabled." He nodded. "why?"
"Oh I just didn't want to think that every one was crowding around a monitor with pop corn thinking they are watching a TV soap." I grinned as he burst out laughing.
"No we are safe, there is only one camera active in here and that is at the door so they can see who comes and goes and when." He assured me.
Shit. I cursed but kept my smile in place. But at least I can make phone calls in private.
"I got a call while you were in your meeting, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to cut this evening short, one of the guys got injured and can't do his shift so I'm gonna have to take it." He said quietly.
"Oh…" I was really disappointed, I was looking forward to a fun evening. "Well that just sucks." I sighed.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise." He squeezed my hand.
"Just shows you that life isn't predictable huh?" I gave him a small smile and a look that told him that I understood with out having to say anything. "This is just as good as I remember." I complimented his cooking. "If it is even possible it tastes better."
"Thanks Angel." He chuckled. "I know it is one of your favourites." He glanced up at the clock.
"How soon?" I asked looking down at my plate.
"Half an hour, but I'll have to go in fifteen." He sighed.
"It's okay, we can do this another night." I assured him with a grin, and hoped to high heaven that I wasn't lying. Especially if my old family was in trouble, I was going to have to go, and essentially disappear from their radars to help them. We will have this dinner again….it will just have to be postponed a little longer then either of us can guess. I promised myself and watched as he finished off his meal and headed for the bedroom and changed from jeans and silk shirt to his black combats and body hugging black top. He pocketed his phone and holstered his gun, kissed me on the forehead.
"Don't wait up, I don't think I'll be home until three."
"Watch your six, Tomas." I told him before he headed out the door. I left the rest of my dinner untouched and quickly found my everyday phone, that I knew no one could tap into. I needed information and dialled a number that I hadn't rung in over a year, hoping that he was still alive. The phone picked up but no one said anything, I could hear the heavy boom of club music in the background. "Kinto." I said firmly.
"What do you need?" A deep yet dangerous voice asked.
"Information, I heard a rumour that I need confirmation on." I said sitting down on the couch. "How is the family doing?" I don't know if I was hoping for him to deny it or the confirm it, but I could feel my blood stirring, like it only ever did when I was protecting my family.
"Word out is there a bit of a problem, some one has just started hunting them. So far only two are confirmed dead…The family are looking for you and an old friend, they didn't say names but I caught what they were sayin'" He told me, his voice lowering as he spoke.
"When did they start spreading the word?" I asked, wondering if I could get away with using RangeMan computer system and not get caught looking for Coyote.
"Last night, they've been in a bit of trouble for the last few weeks but nothing urgent."
"Are there any there tonight?" I asked thinking hard.
"Two, they are pretty high up, they've been turning up every night."
"I'll be in contact old friend." I promised. "I have a few things to settle first."
"I'll pass it on." He confirmed that he understood and hung up.
I made my way up to the control room and sat down in front of a computer that wasn't being used and used my old passwords to get access and smiled when I saw that it hadn't been revoked. I searched through a few different things before getting the point, just trying to cover my trail and quickly found what I was looking for and jotted down the relevant information before shutting down the window I had open and pulled up any info that they had on Contella and browsed through it. It wasn't anything I hadn't seen before, but I wanted to make sure and logged out.
Once I was back in the lounge room I pulled out my phone again and took a deep breath and punched in the number I had found. Again the phone was picked up with out a greeting, just like old times.
"The family needs us." Was all I said, still trying to think of a way to get out of the building with out being stopped or seen.
"I was wondering when I was going to hear from you." A male voice said dryly. "I heard last night, I'm already in town I was just waiting to hear from you."
"I'm in town already but I have a slight problem." I said with a sigh. "I've been here since Saturday, for a vacation but real life work stepped in and now I need help getting away."
"The FBI's work is never done." He chuckled slightly. "Where are you?"
"That's the problem. I'm in lock down at RangeMan." I told him with a frustrated sigh.
"Shit." He sighed.
"You heard about the deal with Contella a few years ago right?"
"Yeah."
"Well he broke out of prison and is now after me and Ranger for revenge." I told him as I walked into the bedroom and changed. I pulled on tight fitting leather pants that had been well worn so they moved with me like a second skin and a leather vest that was in the same condition, put my calf high boots on.
"You never can do things the easy way dear." He sighed.
"Is there any way you can scramble their systems for fifteen minutes?" I asked pulling my dark golden brown hair back into a braid, tying what looked like just two balls on the end but they were solid and spiked when they needed to be, good for turning my braid in to a weapon. Two eight inch blades got strapped to my ankles, another was tied around my waist so I could pull it from over my shoulder. A webbed utility belt went around my waist with four semi's, a dozen clips fully loaded clips, two twelve inch blades, pepper dust, and tiny little bombs that when they exploded made big clouds of smoke and were good for covering get aways.
"Yeah I should be able to do that, when you want it done?" He asked as I stepped into the bathroom with my make up case and I quickly lines my eyes with black eyeliner and put on blood red lipstick, both items went into one of many pockets, along with two very small guns, and various little throwing knives.
"Ten minutes." I told him, not giving myself a chance to back down, but using Contella or Tank as an excuse. I walked into the lounge and wrote out a quick note to Tomas and Ric, basically apologising for disappearing but I was urgently needed else where and I would contact them when it was safe to do so and asking for forgiveness.
"Be ready." He said before hanging up.
I dug through my suitcases and found my ankle length leather coat with a deep hood and pulled it on, emptied out my duffle bag but left the envelopes and added changes of clothes, all black and brown, pulled on fingerless gloves, a few more weapons that I pulled out of secret compartments and zipped up the bag and stood by near the door ready to go.
I glanced at my watch and started counting down and was out the door and down the stairs as the entire building went dark. Exited out the garage, where a guy dressed in leathers was sitting on a silent bike with a helmet in his hand. I threw my bag over my shoulder and took the offered helmet and climbed on to the bike and held on as he sped off just as four men bolted out of the building.
"We need to make a safe side stop so I can double check my gear for tracers." I told him, glad I didn't have to yell over the wind, the helmets were wired so we could communicate.
"On it." He nodded and we pulled into the back of a motel and stopped. He handed me a hand held device that I waved over and through my bag and then my clothes. I pulled two tracers out of my bag and one out of my bra, before getting back on the bike and we sped off again. I glanced at my watch.
"Their system should be coming back on line now." He told me with an amused chuckle.
"How'd you do it?" I asked.
"Over loaded their power supply, with the system they have, it shuts everything down when it over loads to stop it from destroying the system…including all of the back ups, all that stays up is the alarms, no cameras, no sound and no tacking system."
"Very clever." I laughed as we made our way through to the seedier area of town. "Do you know where they moved the base to?"
"Yeah, cheeky little buggers moved in right next door to Boomers and no one knows they are there." He said gleefully, cutting his lights off so we were travelling dark.
"Now that is cheeky, they are still on their turf but on the edge of Ghosts." I laughed with a shake of my head. I kept my eyes open for trouble as we approached a club with a bright flashing sign. VIBES. "Shit." I swore.
"What?" He demanded.
"Three black SUV's, parked around the building. RangeMan is here, they must be one a job, it's too soon for them to be on to us unless I missed a tracer." I told him.
"Even if you missed a few that's device doesn't only pick 'em up but it scrambles the signals." He assured me. "Think anyone will recognise you?"
"Yeah, pretty sure of it." I nodded as we rolled to a stop and both got off. Using darkness and him as a shield I pulled off my helmet and pulled up the hood before digging through a pocket and pulling out a silver chain with a charm on it. It was of flames with wings. I attached it around my neck and saw his was already in place. I tugged my jacket off my shoulders and removed the bandaid. "Don't ask." I told him as he raised an eyebrow. Under neath was the same symbol as on my necklace, the fire red and orange looking like real flames, black wings but in the background was crossed swords, showing that I was a protector, and four dark circles around it told anyone who knew what they were looking for that I was high up in the ranks. I glanced at his right shoulder was the exact same image. We were the only two in the gang with crossed swords and we are highly guarded secret.
I pulled my jacket back into place and made sure the hood hadn't slipped.
"Perfect, can barely tell you're a woman, bar the heels." He told me with a faint chuckle. While the club was open to every one, problems were left at the door or you were asked to leave, politely of course, but it was Hell's territory.
"Man on left at the door, he's RangeMan." I told him softly as we approached and I recognised Cal. We didn't get in line but directly approached the two bouncers, the man on the right while I didn't recognise him, the half hidden necklace told us he was family.
He studied us closely as we approached but waved us through as soon as he saw Coyote's charm. He gestured to Cal to open the door and glared as Cal frowned a little before opening the door.
"Newbie" The right bouncer muttered to us as we passed us as way of explanation and apology.
We weaved our way through the dancers to the bar, both of had our eyes searching, but I knew how to pick out RangeMan people. I almost faltered a step as I caught sight of Tomas behind the bar standing right next to the one person we needed to talk to.
"Problem?" He asked me out of the corner of his mouth.
"I know him and he knows me very well." I replied quietly. "You'll have to do the talking."
"Always told I was good at it." He grinned at me.
"What can I get you?" The bartender next to Tomas asked him, he was built slim and had golden brown skin, his brown eyes sparkling with laughter and life.
"Kinto." Coyote nodded slightly to him. "We'll have two bloody Angels with the swords." He ordered our drinks, cutting a quick glance at Tomas while he wasn't looking and Kinto caught on quickly.
"coming right up." He quickly poured out to blood red vodka drinks with cherries on toothpicks.
"My brothers in yet?" Coyote added casually, leaning forward to claim the drinks as they were placed on the bar, exposing his charm and his tattoo.
I watched Tomas out of the corner of my eye and saw that he was listening carefully. His eyes were taking in everything, and they kept flicking towards the booth on the left in the shadows. I tapped Coyote on the shoulder.
"Move down to the end of the bar." I whispered to him and he gestured to Kinto to join us. I scanned the near by area and spoke only once I was sure that there were no RangeMan people about. "Are there any FTA's in the family Kinto?" I asked speaking only loud enough so he could hear me. I saw his eyes widen a little but other wise didn't let on anything was out of the ordinary. "Two, one of them is here tonight, back booth on the left."
"Tell him to leave using the back way." I said firmly, knowing there was a trap door in that booth.
"There is no bounty hunter here, hon." He tried to assure me.
"You're wrong." My voice was cold as I spoke a chuckled. "The way open through the hall?" I asked as Kinto called over a waitress and scribbled down a quick note and gave her a beer to deliver with it.
"It's always open for the family." Kinto nodded suddenly looking nervous, and headed back to the middle of the bar.
We sipped out drinks while watching the left booth in the shadows as the drink and note were delivered, it was so artfully done that unless you knew there was a note being delivered you wouldn't have seen it.
"I'd give her a raise." Coyote said impressed, looking like he wanted to applaud. I didn't blame him I knew I wanted to. A few moments later two young women dressed for the slut of the year award came out of the booth and were heading for the toilets.
"Now we wait." I chuckled under my breath.
"For what?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"For panic and frustration." I replied, thoroughly enjoying myself. I couldn't help it, while I owed Tomas and Ric a lot, when it came to protecting my Family that had taught me everything about real life, I would break every promise I had ever made to keep them safe. It was one of the reasons that I didn't join RangeMan when I was asked to, because I knew I would get caught in the middle again.
The women returned and disappeared into the shadows only reappear a few seconds later looking confused and asked a few of the closer dancers where their companion had gone, judging from their gestures. I turned to put my half empty glass on the bar and saw Tomas's eyes narrow in such a way that I knew he was cursing internally and he wondered down the bar away from Kinto, I could see that he was shaking, probably with frustration, and three guys appeared out of the crowd and converged on the dark booth.
"I see what you mean, just beautiful" He chuckled.
"Let's go." I turned towards the shadows and we both headed for the door that was hidden there and walked through a dully lit hallway but didn't stop at the door on the right but the blank wall directly in front of us and knocked out four, two, one, four and waited. It didn't take long for a door to appear and open, all it took was our charms to be shown and we were heading down another corridor that headed to the left, through another doorway that was guarded by two men and into a warehouse.
The middle set up a lot like the control room back at RangeMan, monitoring the club, the outside car parks and as far away as four blocks in every direction, slightly to the right was a line of phones that linked them into an informant net that kept them up to speed on all rumours and going ons in town, including police scanners. On the far right was set up like a café.
On the left was a solid wall, behind that would be comfortable rooms where people could crash for a few nights before moving on to another base. Behind the rooms was a large conference room that could easily hold over a hundred people all seated for meetings, with a small one for private meetings of every kind. All the bases were set out like this, the hard part was finding them, which could be quiet hard if you didn't know where to look, because they were always in places no one expected.
"Haven't seen you two before." A man in his late twenties, built a lot like Tomas said as he approached, his member tattoo in plan sight, he was only two circles. Mid-level.
One circle meant you were new, two meant you have proved yourself, three meant you were in most meetings and could disagree with plans, four meant you were trusted completely and were in on everything and could say no to assignments. Five meant you were on the panel that made all the decisions, of the gangs doings, comings and goings and set the assignments and if it was four with thick lines through it like mine and Coyote's were you were Family to the leaders, trusted with everything, you could go any where, get help when required. Mainly you had to have been with the gang for more then five years to even be considered Family.
Coyote let his jacket slip again like he had at the bar showing his tattoo and we watched in amusement as his eyes widened as he recognised the coding and then looked to me. I didn't push back the hood but slid my arm out of the sleeve showing my own code.
He nodded and headed for the phone and hit an extention and spoke quickly when some one picked up.
"Private conference room." He turned back to us and informed us where to go.
"Thank you." Coyote nodded and I followed him through a door, a long hallway and we paused at a graffitied door. We both had out jackets back on.
"I can't wait to get into this meeting." I sighed. "I'm boiling in here."
"Patience hon." He chuckled and knocked twice, then one, then twice.
"Enter." A voice called out.
