I took a deep calming breath before opening the door. Was I really ready for this, to see my former mentor and close friend, or more importantly was I ready to face the man I once loved. We'll I guess we're about to find out. Oh joy.
I walked quickly into the door Nathan close on my heels. Ranger didn't look any different from the day he left 18 months ago. He was still a Cuban sex god. Good thing to know not everything changed. Two of Rangers men were also in the room; Tank Rangers right hand man and Lester Santos. Lester sent me a quick smile before scowling at Nathan.
Nathan and the core Rangeman crew, Ranger, Tank, Lester and Bobby had dealt with each other before. Many years before I became a bounty hunter someone ordered a price on Ranger head, and Nathan was one of the hit men after him. Lucky for Ranger the business man that had ordered the hit was found dead a week later. Nathan of course stopped going after Ranger when there was no money to be made by killing him. So to say there is bad blood between the two would be a huge understatement.
Ranger was the first to speak. "Hobbes, Babe." He greeted us with small head nods.
"Manoso." Nathan did the same head nod.
"Ranger. Boys its nice to see you." I say smiling at Lester and Tank. Over the past year I didn't really see any of the Merry Men. I mean they would show up at a crime seen I was at and would ask if I was okay but that was basically it. "Ranger I heard you had my FTA files. Can I have them?" I ask as nicely as I can. I just wanted to get my skips and leave.
"Babe they are pretty high skips for you." He stated meeting my eyes. My hand twitched to grab my gun.
"No really I thought my bank account was just magically growing by itself." I said my voice icy. "Just give me my skips. I have things to do."
"They can kill you." Ranger stated again. Nathan snorted at that. I have to say it is pretty funny considering that when I worked for Ramos I had to kill more dangerous people than those skips.
"Something funny about Bombshell dieing Hobbes." Lester said irritated.
"No, not at all. What I find funny is you thinking a two-bit criminal could kill her when she's killed some of the most dangerous mob bosses on the east coast."
"Nathan." I said in a warning tone. He was letting far to much information out to them. I mean I was still working for Alexander and I don't need one of my covers blown.
"Stephanie is not a hit man like you Hobbes." Ranger said getting up.
"Actually she i-" I cut Nathan off before he could let out anymore information.
"Ranger just give me my skips." I say heaving a sigh.
"Babe I'm not giving them to you." This time I couldn't stop the twitch and had my Sig Sauer aimed at Rangers head and my Glock at Tank.
"Wrong answer." I said my eyes and face emotionless.
"That's my girl." Nathan says wrapping an arm around my waist and kissed my temple. "But its not nice to hold the men in black at gun point. They get angry." He said trying to get my to put my guns away. No way in hell was I doing that. I'm not the same weak defenseless little Stephanie that I was 18 months ago. That night when Gregory Grant tried to kill me changed my life forever.
"Shoot me all you want Babe but you are not getting skips that are too dangerous for you." He said his blank face in tacked.
"First of all Ranger they are not to dangerous for me. In the past year I have killed 27 people. So don't you even say they are dangerous for me because I'm the only one dangerous. I'm a trained killer and don't think I wont kill you." I clicked the safety of of the gun with out even taking my eyes off of Ranger. "Secondly I'm not that defenseless little girl you once knew."
"Sol this is not Gregory." Nathan whispered in my ear softly. That snapped me out of the zone I was in. I quickly put my guns away and looked back to Ranger.
"Have the boys inform you about what has been happening in the life of Stephanie Plum and if you change your mind on the skips drop them off a Vinnies." I said quickly leaving the office.
Did I really just pull a fucking gun on Batman. Holy Crap. Nathan pulled me close to him as we walked though the building making sure I didn't pull a gun on anyone else. Once we got to my car I started to laugh my ass off. "I need Ben and Jerry's." I said between laughs.
"Right on it. I wouldn't want you to pull a gun on me too." Nathan said laughing himself.
"Oh come on you're the one that called them the men in black."
Two hours later we had finished a pint of Ben and Jerry's each and had finished ghostbusters. It was nearing six and I still had to get ready to pick up a skip. Now most the time I just force my way in a pick the skip up with force but once in awhile I will do a distraction job. Tonight I was to be a bartender at a local gay/lesbian club called Body Shots. I was close friends with the owner and she said that my FTA frequented the bar often. The only hitch was that Liz Smith my FTA was into the Gothic type of girl.
I took a quick shower and dressed in a black and dark purple corset that was very painful but showed a lot of my cleavage and a black tutu skirt. I have to say I looked pretty fucking good. I added fish nets and black thigh high boot with a 4 inch heel and I did my make up dark and heavy. To finish the outfit I added a wig with black straight hair that went all the way down the my waist. I walked out to Nathan and he was practically drooling. I laughed and patted his cheek.
"Do you think a girl would fall for me?" I asked doing a quick spin.
"I think Morelli was a complete dumbass for cheating on you. You look terrific."
"Thanks we have to go." I said dragging Nathan out the door with me. He would be my back up for tonight. Ha ha really I didn't need back up I just wanted to see his face when a guy hit on him. Yes I know I'm pure evil.
By eight I had been hit on multiple times and even had chatted up my target Liz. It looked like everything was going great that was till I saw Tank, Bobby and Lester in the bar. Crap why the hell were they here. I thought about it for a couple minute while tending to the other costumers and figured I could work this to my advantage. While I was talking to Liz I looked over to Tank and did a fake gasp. I swear I should have been an actress instead of a bounty hunter.
Liz reached over a grabbed my hand. "Whats wrong, sweetie?" She asked concern in her voice.
"Its just you see that I guy over there?" I said nodding to Tank. "He's my ex husband and he's been trying to get me to come back to him even after I told him multiple times that I didn't like men anymore." I said my lip slightly quivering. "He said that next time he came for me I wouldn't get away from him." Tears welling up in my eyes.
"Oh sweetie do you want to head back to my place he wont get you there." I nodded smiling gratefully at her.
"Thank you so much I don't know what I would do with out you."
"No problem sweetie. Just go tell the boss you're leaving." I nodded and quickly told the other bartender that I was going to head out. I jumped over the bar my skirt flying up as I did so. I blushed lightly as Liz licked her lips looking at my legs.
"Sorry." I say acting bashful. We headed out the front of the door as Liz grabbed my hand pulling me to her car. "Liz I have something to tell you." I said as she was leaning closer to me trying to kiss me.
"Whats that?" she asked her hand cupping my cheek.
I slapped the cuff on her wrist and had her pushed up against the car. "I'm a bond enforcement agent and you skipped out on your bail, Sweetie." I say cuffing her other writ.
I pulled her to my car and deposited her in the back seat. I closed and locked the doors leaning against the door waiting for Nathan. He came out a few minutes later fallowed by Tank and Ranger. I hadn't even seen Ranger in the club. Dammit I'm getting week on my skills.
"Ranger, Tank what are you guys doing here?" I ask a tight smiling on my face.
"We saw your car." Tank shrugged. "Thought you might need help with a skip." Tank said looking in the back seat of my car. "I see you got it handled."
"I always have it handled Tank."
"Babe can we talk." Ranger said looking straight at me.
"Am I going to have to pull a gun again."
"You have a gun somewhere." Nathan asked looking me over. Tank and I laughed but I nodded. I pulled my S&W from my thigh holster and placed it back quickly.
"Yep." I smile at them.
"Babe, talk please." Dammit he knows he can get me with saying please. I sigh lightly but nodded. "I'll drive you home."
"Yeah Sol I'll drop off Lizzy here at the cop shop and have Alexander send your car back." I nodded and kissed him on his cheek lightly.
"Thanks Nate."
"No prop, Sol but remember if you need anything Alexander and me are just a call away." I smiled and nodded again.
"Okay. Lets get going." I say following Ranger to his truck. The drive to my apartment complex was completely silent. He was in the zone and I was just avoiding conversation. As we made it to my apartment I pulled out my gun and surveyed my parking lot before stepping out of the car and making my way to the elevator. Ranger was beside me the whole time observing my acts with out asking questions. I searched my apartment and made sure there was no one trying to kill me under neath me bed. Thank I quickly changed.
I grabbed two water bottles from the fridge and threw one to Ranger and sank down on to my couch, my gun next to me.
"So I assume that the Alexander Nathan was talking about would be Alexander Ramos." Ranger asked sitting next to me. I nodded. "So you trained with him?" He asked and I nodded again. "Worked for him?" he asked and I nodded yet again. "Doing what?"
"I cant answer that Ranger."
"Why?"
"Because if I told you I'd have to kill you." I said using one of his famous lines.
"Babe."
"Just drop it Ranger."
"Okay fair enough. What happen with Morelli?" He asked.
"Don't you already know?"
"I do but I want to here it from you."
"What do you want to hear that I found him fucking Terri in my bed or that he said him cheating on me was all my fault because I wouldn't quit my job. Or how about the fact that he told me I was just an easy lay for everyone even you." I say though gritted teeth. I really didn't want to live though this again. I just takes me back to the weak Stephanie.
"Babe. You would never be an easy fuck for anyone. That night we spent together it was more than just sex it was a night of passion and love." He took my hand and I quickly pulled it away.
"Again Ranger don't." I sighed looking over at him.
"Okay, Babe. I just have one more question."
"Yeah?"
"Who's Gregory Grant?" He asked
I stiffened as the name came out of his mouth. "Get out." I said sternly.
"I'm not going. Answer Babe." He said kneeling down in font of me. "What did he do to you?"
"He tried to kill me but cutting my heart out. Is that what you wanted to hear?" I ask taking a deep breath.
"There is more to it then that. I know there is. Tell me."
"Fine you really want to know what he did to me?" I take another deep breath. "He raped me." I said looking him straight in the eyes, my face blank. "There you got the information you wanted. Happy? Now leave." I got up and locked my self in my room, my eyes streaming with tears.
AN:Thank you so much to everyone that review. I hoped you all liked the new chapter. Tell me what you think.
