Disclaimer: I only own Cam and James; the other characters belong to Janet Evanovich

Disclaimer: I only own Cam and James; the other characters belong to Janet Evanovich.

Chapter Two

Aw crap was my first thought waking up this morning. I never was a morning person, and some things never change. I needed to get up and run though, and I was expecting a call from Maestro any time now. I quietly slipped out of my four poster mahogany bed and padded to the bathroom to try to tame the wild curls into a bun. That finished, I slipped into some yoga pants and a sports bra and headed to the gym.

Strange as it is I had actually come to like the gym during training. I still didn't want to get out of bed for it though. Now pineapple upside down cake I would get out of bed for….focus, Steph. I jumped on the treadmill and began to warm up while watching Cam drag herself into the gym.

My cell phone started buzzing at the beginning of my third mile. Maestro sounded about as awake as I did as he greeted me.

"Jesus Steph, you guys really did it this time." Maestro always says that, in hopes that we might get discouraged enough to do safer jobs.

"What's the deal Maestro? Cam and I are a little nervous about roaming Trenton without a clue of what's going on."

"Here's your clue: The Widow has deemed you two more important than the guy that killed her father. She's got all the best assassins lined up to bring you two down. The bounty is two million."

"Our location got leaked how?"

"I'm still working on that, Steph. In the mean time what are you two going to do about the family thing?"

"Well, we decided to call a security company and get bodyguards for the trip."

"Oh, so you called Ranger then? I figured you wouldn't wait long to see him."

"I didn't say that, and no I haven't called him yet. Anyway I gotta go; Cam and I have to spar before I call Ranger. We'll talk to you later Maestro."

"Affirmative." Yeah, Maestro had phone manners like Batman.

"Widow has a hit out on us," I told Cam, "two million this time."

She snorted and almost fell off her treadmill laughing. "Does she think that by upping the ante, we'll be dead sooner?"

"Cam she's got assassins this time."

She eloquently spoke her next thoughts with one very ladylike word, which I won't care to repeat. She got off the treadmill and we walked over to the mat for a little sparring practice to help with coordination and reflexes.

"So when are you calling Ranger?" Jab, cross, bob, sweep.

"After this actually, I wanted to be awake when I did it. I don't expect him to be very enthusiastic with me." Elbow, arm bar, hip thrust, sweep.

Cam submitted when I landed top mount and we went off to shower and dress. I was dreading this phone call to Ranger because of the way I left.

Flashback: I had just finished packing up the last of my things when he walked through the door. He had been "in the wind" for two months and I thought he never looked better. His hair was short, his muscles lean and his eyes were the same smoldering chocolate they had always been. He looked around at the empty drawers and the suitcases open on my bed.

"Babe?" Wow, two months and the only thing he says is 'Babe'?

"I'm going away for a bit, to help myself. I have to learn more if I want to do this job, Ranger."

"Let me train you. The guys back at Rangeman would love to help too, Babe, don't leave. I just got back."

"I can't Ranger. I can't stay here now. I'll be back soon." End Flashback.

I picked up the phone and ht speed dial 1 just like old times and listened nervously as it rang. He picked up on the fourth ring.

"Manoso."

"Hey Ranger, it's Stephanie." I spoke confidently hoping he remembered me.

"Babe?" Oh Thank God!

"Yeah, I'm back in town and I need to talk to you and the guys ASAP." The guys being Bobby, Lester and Tank.

"What's wrong? Are you in danger?" Understatement of the year.

"Um yes, but I can't talk about it over the phone. Can my partner and I meet you and the guys at Rangeman?"

"Sure Babe. Do I need to come pick you up?"

"No it's ok; we'll find our way there. I'll talk to you later Ranger."

Click. See? What did I tell you? I knew he was going to do that.

Cam and I loaded up in the hummer with what we believed to be the bare necessities for the day. We each had a gun at the small of our back, a knife at the ankle, a gun in the console, rifles in the backseat, and one standard issue rocket launcher if things got ugly. We made it to the highway without incident, but as we passed exit 745 Cam picked up a tail.

Assassin number one had stepped up to the plate.