A/N: Hi everyone, I loved the all the responses I got last time. Hope I don't disappoint. Remember, advice is always welcome. This will be a Babe HEA, definitely. Though I will make Ranger work for it. Just to clarify, Stephanie is 28 in this universe and Ranger is 30. Anyway, let me know how I'm going, where you think the story should go, etc, etc. Cheers.
Ignoring the group stare on me, I drop the flowers, turn to the right and begin to take the stairs three at a time. Please, please, god, let this be a terrible nightmare. I'll tell you what, you give me this, and I'll try to be a better person. I'll go to confession once a year, I'll lay off the birthday cake, I'll learn how to cook. Ok, so I wont really learn how to cook, but I'll do the other stuff, I swear. Just cut me some slack. I can hear the heavy footsteps of accompanying Rangemen, but for once I think I might just beat them in a race. Too bad I'm too busy panicking to actually gloat and do a victory dance. I burst through the ground floor door and carrying on walking, not even stopping for a second. Hal was right, a tall figure is casually leaning against a dark silver Porsche, watching and waiting. As I approach, a second, bulkier figure emerges from the driver's side but remains in the shadows. Sensing that this is a safe distance, I come to a halt and let out one word.
RANGER'S POV
As I race after Steph on the stairway, I feel my fear begin to rise. When the first rose had come, I'd instantly assumed it was another stalker. I was pissed. If a stalker knows she works here, this building is no longer completely safe. Even as she was opening the card, I was already making a mental list of the safe houses she could go to. But the look on her face when she'd read the card told me that this was something bigger, much bigger. Despite the fact she tried to convince me it was nothing, I knew that she was upset. I let it slide though, deciding she would tell me when she was ready. But when the second batch came, and she tried to hide it from me, my patience grew thin. I tried to wait her out, but she carried on insisting it was nothing. The problem was, not only was she lying, but this guy somehow knew what she had done with the first rose. Not only does he know where she works, but he knows her actions inside what is meant to be a secure building. I took a mental note of my staff, but I couldn't name one who would betray me. I also couldn't convince myself that someone had hacked into my security footage, it just isn't possible. When the final dozen came, I knew I was taking her up to seven to get some answers. Either there is another crazed psycho, or she has an admirer from the past – personally I'm not willing to stand for either.
Not only was I getting angry, but as the flowers kept coming, I noticed my men getting agitated. Their eyes would flicker from me, to the flowers, and back again. It was easy to see what was going on in their minds. Holy shit, someone's sending the boss's girl flowers. He's gonna be fucking cranky til we find this guy. And I'm gonna be stuck doing over time until either he beats the crap outta him, or his testosterone suffocates us all. Apparently no one has noticed that the typical innuendo and back ally kisses between my babe and me have been absent for a while now. To be honest, I'm glad my men have been so unobservant, I wouldn't want them to get the wrong impression and think babe is available for a relationship. She's not. So why the four months of silence? The first two were observation - I had to be sure that Morelli was out of the picture. The third month I spent in the wind. And the fourth...well, the fourth has been spent trying to figure out how to actually approach my babe. I've been confused. Do I ask her out on a date, start from the very beginning? Or should I skip all that and jump straight into a relationship with her? Has she ever considered me as the relationship kind of guy? Of course not. I've made it clear, condoms are a yes, rings are a no. But that was when Morelli was in the picture. Now that he's gone, every time I pass a jewellery store and see a diamond ring, I imagine it on Stephanie's finger. And how am I meant to convince her that after a year of conditioned love, suddenly I'm up for a relationship? Hell, I'd be doubtful if anyone tried that crap on me.
My conclusion. Congratulations Manoso, you've dug yourself a nice hole here.
Then Hal informed me of the breech and her wide eyed gaze and two words said it all. For a moment we all stared at the staircase, bewildered that Stephanie Plum was actually using the staircase without being told to, asked to, or having an elevator out of order. Now everyone knew something was seriously wrong.
So here we are, rushing down stairs, amazed that we can't seem to catch babe. I hear the door open and my heart beat sharply increases as I manage to push myself forwards. As we reach the ground floor, we pull our guns out and prepare ourselves for the worst.
STEPHANIE'S POV
"Aedan."
It's been so long since I have spoken that simple name. But not long enough. He's just the way I remember him though. Still towering over me at six foot six. Still keeping his black hair reasonably short. And still watching me with glowing amber eyes. At the sound of his name, a smile breaks out across that handsome face. But despite that smile, I can feel his examining gaze and I squirm slightly. I've always been uncomfortable whenever under scrutiny, no doubt he remembers that. Silently, he tilts his head first to the left, then to the right. During this moment, a group of at least ten Rangemen have joined us, guns raised and at the ready. But being the man he is, he pays little attention to the impending threat. After three minutes of silence, that smile suddenly turns into a grin and I realise that he's found whatever he was looking for.
"Princess."
He whispers the word, taking a step forward. I even let out a small sigh at the sound of his Irish accent. But all of a sudden a black blur passes and stands between us. Ranger. "Babe?" He throws a glare in Aedan's direction before his eyes lock onto my own, silently questioning me. Every single pair of eyes is on me at this precise moment and let me tell you, I can feel the pressure. The way I see it, there are two ways this can be done. Either I can lie, bluff my way through this and end up filling Ranger in on the details later. Or I can confess now and get the inevitable over and done with. Being the Queen of Denial, I am very tempted to do the first option. However, the determined look on Ranger's face makes me lean towards the second.
"Everyone, this is Aedan O'Doherty." I sigh, waving unenthusiastically at the pale man in front of me. During my moment of thinking he has drawn his gun and pointed it at Ranger, disliking the sudden barrier between us. All around there are murmurs of disapproval and angry mutterings. The O'Doherty clan does have a rather infamous reputation amongst both those who uphold the law, and those who break it. Ignoring the looks from my co-workers, I brush past Ranger and step closer to Aedan. I raise my eyebrows in question and place my hands on my hips. "What are you doing here? Scratch that. How are you even here? From what I remember, when you took that fall, they said you'd be under glass for at least five years." From out of nowhere, I'm speaking another language entirely. Gang slang they like to call it. It's the language that members of the Mafia use in order to confuse the FBI when they bug conversations. Unless you actually understand the lingo, it sounds like the mutterings of a crazy person. And from what I know, Rangeman has not got an employee fluent in gang slang. Thank god. "Now I'll admit it, you're a stand up man, and you'd rather be a stiff than a suke - so being a canary is obviously not how you got out of the warehouse. Be on the one with me, how did you get out?" In the background, people are nudging each other and asking 'what the fuck?', and to my delight, even Ranger looks stumped. Aedan on the other hand is smirking at my choice of language. "They let me out on good behaviour; I was a bit of a Hobbit you know." This answer has me scoffing in disbelief and shaking my head. "You? A Hobbit, get out of here. Let me guess, you finally gave into the rabbit blood?" He looks offended for a brief moment. "Do I look like I belong in the Great Escape?" "Palm oil. The only other way you could get out was a big fat helping of palm oil." I state, knowing I've finally hit the nail on the head. Aedan's wink confirms my suspicions.
"Ok, so you got out using palm oil, that would have taken you six months max. That doesn't explain why you're here, three years later." This is why I'm confused. I assumed that not seeing him for the first year meant I was in the clear, apparently not. "Six months? Christ, I wish it had been that easy. I was blocked at every turn. Every time I came close my plans were put on ice. I only got out two days ago, Princess." "Two days ago?" My confusion just increased by ten-fold. "Of course. If I had managed to get out three years ago, don't you think I would have come here sooner?" He knows the answer to that question, but he wants to hear the words from my own lips. "Well..." I begin, not too sure how to phrase the sentence. "Princess?" His voice sounds innocent enough but the smirk on his face reveals that he's having fun. "No. I did not think that you would come. Ok?" I sigh, tugging on the hem of my Rangeman shirt. Aedan's mouth opens, but before he can speak a voice cuts him off.
Ranger's POV
"Aedan O'Doherty?" I suddenly ask, trying to keep the confusion in my voice to a minimal. "Yes, Aedan O'Doherty, the Irish Mafia prince, soon to be King." My babe explains, not taking her eyes off of the man in front of her. I know who he is though – everyone involved in the law knows of O'Doherty. Additionally, I know that while babe may be upset at his presence, she isn't disgusted by the sight of him. And that smile she had when speaking that language, I know that that was a genuine Stephanie smile. What I don't know is how Stephanie knows O'Doherty personally. I also have no idea what the pair have just been discussing. "Princess, dad is dying, I am the King." At this comment Stephanie's eyes widen and she takes a step back. Being the Queen of Denial, she shakes her head, brunette curls flying in all directions. That doesn't seem to bother him though. "I came to get you, every King needs a Queen." O'Doherty manages to take two steps closer before I come to my senses and intercept him. I say the first sentence which comes to mind. "She's with me now, clear off."
There's a growl in my voice and I can't help the way my eyes narrow ever so slightly. O'Doherty casts me an uninterested glance, clearly unfazed by me, my men, and our guns. "Excuse me?" My babe's voice interrupts my train of thought and the tone tells me I'm in trouble. Big trouble. "Oh no, I am not with you. I have never been with you. And judging by your past comments and our current situation, I never will be with you." She's walked around to face me now and the redness of her ears tells me I've just triggered the full rhino mode. Before I can defend myself, she carries on. "You know what your problem is Ranger? You only want me when I'm taken. When I was with Morelli, you'd poach every chance you got. Kisses in the alley. Gropes while you wired me for a distraction. Promises to fill my bed if it was empty for too long." She pauses for a moment and the only sound in the entire garage is her breathing in deeply. "And now that Morelli's gone? You don't want to touch me with a ten-foot barge-poll! No more kissing. No more touching. No more nothing. And then Aedan comes along and suddenly, 'we're together'? I don't fucking think so. Do everyone a favour Ranger, and make up your mind. Either you want me, or you don't. And when you figure out which one it is, let me know." There's complete silence as all my men stare at me, waiting for a reply. But I'm stunned. The logic and truth in her argument is undeniable. From her point of view, she has every right to be mad. Every word she's said is absolutely true.
Turning away from me, she looks back at O'Doherty, and I clench my fists at that smug bastards smirk. "I always did bring out the temper in you Princess." He admits, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. I would give anything, anything I tell you, to wipe that grin of his face. Babe holds up a hand. "Don't. Just don't. Get in Porsche and we will continue this discussion back at my apartment." I clear my throat, ready to tell babe that she isn't going anywhere with this guy, but her glare swivels back to me, daring me to challenge her. I decide that giving her some time to cool off might be best. "Oh, and these are for you." O'Doherty adds casually, producing a bouquet of two dozen roses from behind his back. A blush creeps up Stephanie's neck as she accepts the gift. "How did you know?" It's a question that has been bugging me as well, so I pay close attention. "Five guys with high powered binoculars on the rooves of the five closest buildings. Plus I hacked into Rangeman live security feed. But most importantly, I just know you so well." My muscles start to shake from the effort of not tackling this guy. If he thinks that he can just swoop in here, offer some pretty flowers and say some cheesy sentences, and then walk away with my women, he is sorely mistaken. His attention suddenly turns to me. "You should think about investing in some tinted windows and a better security system. Especially since, you know, you are a security firm." There's a collective intake of breath and once again, every gaze is on me, waiting. "Aedan. Stop. Please, for me. Just get inside the Porsche and let's go." Babe is quick to pounce before I can retaliate. O'Doherty gives her a nod, opening the back door. "See you guys on Monday." Babe quietly promises before sliding in. The bastard follows quickly, along with the second man who has remained in the shadows. I stare as a bulky arm casually leans out of the driver's window and swipes a card through the security mechanism.
Son of a bitch.
A/N: Just thought you would like a translation for the gang slang. Which is a real thing btw. Normally different countries and different Mafia's use different languages, but I'm combining words from different systems. Also, I know things aren't clear but the discussion in the next chapter should hopefully clear most things up.
Take a fall – get arrested or put in prison
Under glass – to be in prison
Stand up man - a gangster who will never inform on fellow gang members (even if cut a deal by police
Stiff – a dead body
Suke – an informer
Canary – a police informer
On the one – to be honest
Hobbit – a person who keeps their head down and does their time.
Rabbit blood – a strong desire to escape from prison
Palm oil – a bribe
