Disclaimer: Don't own them. Not making any money.

A/N: This is for the AMAZING MerryMan contest on RWE. Devon happily lives in the darkness. Can anything or anyone bring him out?

Warning: THIS WILL BE A BABE FIC. It may not seem like it, especially in later chapters, but please bear with it.

Hope you like it! Thanks for reading.
-Cyn

Ghost of Darkness
Chapter 1

I must say that although I've had my share of women for targets, the one in my scopes lens right now has to be the most interesting. She was beautiful in a simple way. Mass of brown curls, small chest, round ass, sun kissed skin barely covered in a red tank top, a pair of flip flops, and jean shorts. Nothing really stuck out about her. She was just a seemingly random girl walking her orange blob of a dog. But it's only in her eyes that she is a random woman. To everyone in my line of work she is his. The one true weakness that he has. After the Scrog incident it became very clear just how far he'd fallen for her. Stephanie Plum managed to do what many thought was impossible. She got Ranger to love her.

Reflexively my finger tightened a hair on the trigger.

I could easily solve this right now. Make Ranger's life so much easier. He would thank me in a couple years. The pain would dissipate to other areas. It would make him stronger in a way. He'd know enough this time to never make the mistake of loving someone again.

Stephanie was right in front of a small row house now. A man, her cop boyfriend, opened the door and the huge dog she was leading took off towards him. He moved out of the way just in time, letting the fur ball fly through the open doorway. Seconds later it was back wrapped around his legs.

Stephanie was still rooted in place in the yard. Her eyes swept around the neighborhood. She paused by my area but I knew she would never be able to see me from this distance on the roof building, blocks away. The cop must have said something to her because she turned and quickly walked into the house. I could just picture her locking the door as if something as feeble as that would protect her.

I smiled at her naivety. I had to give her some points though. She has some good fucking instincts. Not many people have been able to feel death so close to them. I am the Ghost. You fear me, try to hide from me. Nothing and no one will be able to help you though. I'm an invisible force. I can penetrate any wall that is created to get to you. And when I do, you better pray to God for a short death.

After I packed and loaded up my rifle into my car of the week, a black 4x4 in honor of the main man himself, I headed down to Rangeman. Oh the sweet joy of seeing Rangers face when I tell him everything. It's not often an average man can surprise him. Then again, I'm not exactly an average man now am I?

The drive was short and done in complete silence. Can't say I thought about much either. Driving is my way of relaxing. My mind basically goes into standby. I can process where I am, what I'm doing and where I'm going but other than that it's like someone clicked my off button. Doing this calms and recharges me.

I drove right up to the gate and used my key to get in. It's funny how Ranger thinks his codes are completely safe inside this place. I hacked into the system and downloaded the newest ones a few hours ago from a hotel in Argentina. I can access any part of the building now with one click of a button I'm not supposed to have. Aint life grand?

There was an empty spot near the elevator. Swiftly backing into it, I shut the car off and got out. The elevator was already here with its doors open. Guess daddy knows I'm here. I got in and waited patiently as I was lifted right to the 5th floor. Ranger and Tank was waiting for me when I stepped out. Without the preliminary greetings, Ranger turned and started for his office. Tank waited until I moved to follow before moving in behind me. You'd think they didn't trust me. I think my feelings should be hurt.

Oh well.

Ranger sat behind his desk while Tank's back was pressed against the closed door. I sat without being invited and smiled at the main man. "How's life?"

He completely ignored what I asked. "What do you want Devon?" His voice was tense.

"Now now Ranger," I put my right hand over my heart, "what makes you think I want anything? Cant a guy just come and visit some old pals once in a while?"

He actually sighed and I'd swear I heard Tank make a similar sound. "Cut the shit Devon. I don't want, nor do I have the time, to deal with your games today."

To piss him off further, or to tell him the truth? That is the question. It was hard to decide since I'd get joy out of both but time is always an issue.

I smiled and slouched in my chair. "You got it man," I said nearly high with excitement. "It seems you've been a bad boy again Ranger." I watched with glee as his face went blank.

"You got a hit on me?" he asked slowly. I heard Tank shift and I knew he had his gun pointed at me.

"Put the gun down Pierre," I practically snarled. Having a gun pointed at you can ruin anything. "No, I wasn't offered a hit on you. Or any of your men," I added after a second thought. His shoulders relaxed slightly. "It's even better actually." My smile was back and even wider. His entire body went still. "It seems your little girl toy is paying the price for you."

There was only a few seconds pause that I was able to brace myself when the words finally clicked. Ranger launched his body over the desk and had me pinned to the ground. I let him get one punch in before I easily reversed us and had my right arm wrapped tightly around his neck and my legs in a vise grip around his arms and body. In my other hand I was pointing my Mauser M2 at Tank, who was only a couple feet closer.

My voice was quiet when I spoke, all traces of humor gone. "I let you get one shot in because I probably deserved it," I just wish he hadn't split my bottom lip open with it, "but if you go after me like that again I'll fucking put a bullet in you and your buddy, understand amigo?"

"You'll be dead before you can try," Tank spat out.

I dug my fingers into Rangers hair, getting a good grip before tugging hard, forcing his neck into a bad angle. "Not before I snap his neck." I tightened my grip when Tank's muscles twitched. "Call off your guard dog Ranger."

"Did you . . . kill . . . her?" he barely managed to wheeze out.

"If I killed her I wouldn't be here, now would I?" As an act of good faith I, slightly, relaxed my grip on his neck.

Ranger took a second to think about that. "Put your gun away Tank."

Reluctantly Tank did as he was told and helped Ranger up when I swiftly released him. I gave him a minute to collect himself as I grabbed some napkins that were on his desk, probably from his lunch, and pressed them to my bleeding lip after running my tongue over it. It wasn't that bad of a cut, just a centimeter or so on the right side.

We all went back to our earlier positions before and got back down to business.

"Who?" Ranger asked.

"I'm still working on that one," I told him honestly. "They offered me two million, half up front to be wired into my account. The other half wired when I completed the task. In exchange for that more middleman were put in between us."

His eyes went black at the thought. "Time period?"

"Three days from the transfer. You got a day and a half to prepare for the others."

The room went silent for a minute. "Why didn't you fucking call?" he exploded, standing up and smacking his desk with his hands.

"I wanted to see her." That was the truth. Stephanie Plum is practically a legend in our area. Plus I just wanted to fuck with him.

His hands gripped the desk. "Take Bobby and get her here Tank."

"Boss," Tank began but was cut off.

"Now." Ranger voice dropped low and hard as he glared at his mountain of a friend.

The door opened and closed. He stared at it a moment before focusing back on me. "You saw her?"

I nodded.

"Talked to her?"

"Kind of impossible from the distance."

Ranger understood immediately what I meant. It took him everything he had to not go after me again. "Stop fucking with me Devon. This isn't the time."

I tipped my head in acknowledgement and stood up. "When I have the name I'll call you."

I was almost out the door when he spoke. "Devon," he paused unsure, "have they hired others by now?"

Turning back around, I just looked at him. The answer was obvious to us both. If that much money was offered right up front there was no doubt I wasn't the first or would be the last person they contacted. This was pure hate and revenge. They would take no chances.

"Fuck," he swore loudly. I knew what he was going to ask before his mouth even opened. This woman was definitely under his skin. His eyes showed everything. "I need you man. I need Ghost. Nothing can happen to her." His voice dropped low. "I can't lose her like this."

"I kill people Ranger, I don't keep them safe."

He walked over to me and laid his hand on my shoulder. "You know I wouldn't ask if I could help it. You have more connections to this and I'll need all the men I can get."

After thinking about it, more like letting him stew in his rapidly declining pride, I shrugged my shoulders. "Guess I could try something new."

He nodded and tightened his grip in thanks before releasing me.

"Let's get my Babe safe and take it from there."

A/N: So what do you think of Devon? Will he really help Ranger? Or does he have something up his sleeve?