I finally followed through on a story continuation. I have two more chapters already written for this one before I call it 'complete' again. All familiar characters are Janet's. The mistakes are mine. Warnings for light smut.
Chapter 2
Seeing Stephanie's physical reaction to my bloody shirt had me deciding to take the time to go back to Rangeman and change into a clean uniform. And while I'm already there, I'd throw a few things into an overnight bag in case she doesn't change her mind about wanting me with her tonight. If she does ... we may have our first fight. A fight I will ultimately win.
I parked in my usual spot and took the stairs up to my apartment, getting stopped twice ... once by Bobby, then Cal, asking about the men. Steph casually throws around the phrase 'Rangeman family', but in truth the men here have formed a surrogate family for those who wouldn't otherwise have one. I quickly swapped out my blood-caked clothes for fresh ones and had a bag packed in less time than it took to head back out. Ella caught me just before I reached the garage.
"I was hoping I'd be fast enough to catch you before you left." She handed me two cards and two tins filled with something I'll no doubt disapprove of. "Can you give these Snickerdoodles to Binkie and Banger? I know they won't be up to eating cookies for a few days, but I want them to know that I'm thinking about them and wishing for them to be well enough to be back here."
"I'll pass that and these along to them," I promised her.
She smiled, gave my arm an affectionate pat, and took the elevator back upstairs. I headed to the hospital again and Tank stood when he saw me.
"Rooms 206 and 211," he told me, before I had to ask. His eyes then dropped to my hands. "Ella?"
"Yes."
He nodded, not surprised that Ella would immediately put together a 'care package' for the injured men.
"You see Stephanie?"
I was the one nodding this time. Again, Tank didn't look surprised.
"Binkie's numbers are being monitored, but he's doing better than expected," he told me.
"Banger?"
"He's sore and also pissed that he got tagged this soon after getting hired."
My mouth was suppressing a grin. "He'll never live it down."
"But he knows he got off easy, so he won't be a pussy about it."
I'd called in Santos so Tank could get some sleep once his replacement gets here, but I didn't leave the hospital until I'd spoken to both Binkie and Banger. The staff knows what it's doing, but I wanted to hear from the men themselves that they will make it through this with little more than a couple new scars and a driving need to do better on their next job.
"Steph plans on visiting you in the morning, so you'd better be recovered enough to put some fucking pants on before she arrives," I told Binkie, but there was no heat in my words.
After the surgery he'd just been through, he won't be moving around enough to do much of anything, but I know from experience that implying he could will make it possible soon enough.
I spoke to Tank one more time, and also to Santos who'd just come in, and then I drove on autopilot to Stephanie's apartment. I handled her locks myself without the use of a key and went inside. I seldom knock or give a heads up that I'm here, and I don't see the point of doing either now.
I spotted her immediately. She was leaning against her kitchen counter with her back to the door, staring absently at a bottle of Merlot. I took only one step before she was turning around.
She didn't freak about my latest B&E on her place, didn't ask how I was doing, or question me on the condition of my men. She tipped her head to the side and took in my appearance. She then crossed the few feet to reach me and slid her arms around my waist, giving me a sympathetic yet loving hug just because she knows today hasn't been the best one for me.
As my own arms held her tight, I had to acknowledge that there had been a huge fucking bright side to this day. I finally get to enjoy this woman with no complications, explanations, and without any restraints.
"Do you feel like talking?" She asked after a minute.
"In a few. Why don't you pour us some wine and then we can talk."
She did, but left the fruit and sandwich tray she must've recently picked up sitting on the counter. The fact that she also has no appetite at the moment is a good indicator that she sees my men as an extension of me. And, like me, she doesn't appreciate them requiring hospital beds right now.
"After I managed to shut Connie and Lula up about us," she explained, when she saw me looking at the tray of food, "I hit the store and ran into about twelve people who wanted details."
"About me?" I asked.
I tugged her into the living room and didn't let up on her arm until she was sitting down on the couch beside me, half reclining onto me.
She turned her head to smile at me. "Most of them just wanted to know what kissing you is like."
"What did you tell them?"
"That you're magic."
"That's it?"
She gave me another flirty smile. "Believe it or not, that actually satisfied half of them."
"And the other half?" I asked her, taking a sip of wine before kissing her curls.
I needed to keep contact between us and her body all along the length of mine still doesn't seem enough for me.
She shrugged her shoulders under the arm I had around them. "They were more interested in what my mom and Joe will be feeling than the good mood I was suddenly in."
Her old neighborhood never gives a fuck about what's right for Stephanie, they only care about what she gives them in terms of gossip ... which is something they need in order to make their own lives seem bearable.
"Did you have to talk to your mother or Morelli?"
She sighed. "My mom called even before I got my ass out of the bonds office, followed shortly after by Joe."
"I'm sorry."
I'm not sorry about kissing her so everyone could see exactly what she means to me, but I hated that she'd be dissected for something I did.
"I'm not sorry at all ... so you have no reason to be."
"What were the two cents your mother and Joe had to add?"
"Let's just say that both would've been happier hearing that my car blew up again, than about you 'claiming' me in the middle of the Burg. According to Joe, starting something with you requires more preparation and far more protection than facing the apocalypse."
"That's ironic since getting out of a relationship with him can be looked at as surviving one. And we were inside a building, Babe, when I kissed you, not standing in the middle of Hamilton Avenue."
"The second time we were outside. It doesn't matter either way ... with the connections Connie has and Lula's overwhelming need to overshare."
"Is this going to be a problem?"
"The Burg?" She asked, looking up at me.
"Yes."
"It won't be an issue. If you kissed me like that then took off for God knows where, that would be tricky - and not at all pleasant - to explain. As long as it doesn't appear like you were just flipping Joe off by kissing me, the rumors will die down after a few days."
"That soon?"
She smiled. "Yeah. Once Connie was done grilling me, she gave me a tasty little gossip morsel about someone else. Joe's sister-in-law kicked Anthony out of their house again for hitting on a waitress over in Hamilton Township, so I may actually come out of this better than going in. A decent percentage of Burgers will say I saved myself a lot of grief by getting far away from the Morelli family while I still could. Enough about me, how are the guys?"
"Getting better as we speak."
"Good. Tell me about Banger. I know there's a story there."
"I thought you weren't going to ask."
She lifted a shoulder. "I'm nosy. Sue me."
"He moved here from London a little over a year ago ..."
"Oooh ... he's got an accent? That explains the nickname."
"How so?"
"Ninety-nine percent of women think accents are hot. So Banger could be taken as 'bang her', as in ... sees a lot of action."
"He's only officially been an employee of mine for two weeks, and there are stories already circulating."
"See?" She said. "I'm just glad your accent only comes out when you want it to, or my nickname would have to be 'Kill 'er'."
I dropped a kiss on the top of her head. Steph would likely maim - but probably not outright kill - someone she saw trying to get too friendly with me. She's got a jealous streak almost as serious and dangerous as my own.
"Why wouldn't the guys dub him 'London' or 'Brit'?" She wanted to know. "For a minute there, I was thinking there might've been a gang connection."
"There may have been one of those as well," I told her, "before he decided to clean himself and his life up."
After seeing how beneficial Hector has been to my company, I don't require a gang-less background for potential employees.
"So he was a gangbanger before joining Rangeman?"
"Alleged gangbanger before leaving New York for a better life in Jersey."
I could actually feel her eyes roll at that one. Most people did the opposite ... flee Jersey for just about anywhere else. I might as well add to her enjoyment.
"Woody may have also overhead a seemingly intense discussion Banger was having with Ella as they compared recipes for 'bangers and mash'."
"I'm getting the picture now. Like some of the less fortunate, and less violent, guys ... he got a nickname that's at least partially embarrassing. Woody would be the one to decide on it, too. Isn't he the one who came up with 'Binkie' in the first place?"
"Yes. If he has to live with being called 'Woody' every day, he was taking someone down with him."
"The guys are great, but they're all a little sadistic."
"They'll be glad to hear that you think so," I said to her.
"Can I tell two of them tomorrow?"
"I already let Binkie know that you'll be coming with me."
I saw her blink rapidly to keep her emotions from spilling out. "How is he really?"
"He's young and strong. He'll bounce back quickly."
"I still can't believe he could've died today."
"It's a risk we all take, Babe. You included."
"I know. At least in movies, only the bad guys get dead."
"Real life seldom mimics Hollywood."
"The fact that it doesn't kinda sucks rocks, especially in this case."
I'm in total agreement with her there. She doesn't - and will never - know that the men responsible did pay a high price for their crimes.
She took a healthy swallow of wine before putting her glass down on the coffee table.
"I know it's wrong, because I don't ever want anyone I care about getting hurt, but I'm so glad you weren't the one who responded to the call."
That one we definitely disagree on. I'd rather stop ten bullets with my body than have to tell the family of someone who works for me that they've been injured when I should've been there to prevent it. Binkie's good, but he'll never be me.
I tightened the arm I had circling her shoulders. She responded by pulling away from me. I'm not about to let her put any kind of distance between us, but that hadn't been her intention. She was only shifting her body so she could sit in a way that allowed her to straddle my lap.
"I love you," she whispered against my mouth.
"Steph ..."
She started shaking her head. "I didn't say that because I'm scared of losing you ... even though I am every day. I said it because it's true ... and you needed to know."
"I already did."
Then I kissed her. My hands went to her ass and I slid her forward on my lap so my dick was where it wanted to be. This is what I'd hoped for when she said to meet her here, but I know it's dangerous and also extremely stupid to count on something you've spent too long only dreaming of.
My dream became a reality as she moved against my zipper ... like she couldn't get enough of me. The feeling is very much mutual, and I'd rather be in her bed than on her couch when she realizes that. I moved to the edge of the cushion and then got to my feet, which made her thighs instantly grip my hips tighter. I walked purposely and quickly down the short hallway to her bed. She's the only one who can make me lose it ... in the bedroom and out in public ... as Connie and Lula witnessed earlier.
I decided being completely naked isn't a requirement this time. The leisurely lovemaking will come after, so as soon as her ass hit blanket, I was on her. I peeled her shirt off and freed her breasts so I'd have something to kiss while I got her legs out of her jeans and her thong off her body. Once my pants were mostly undone, her thighs were separating for me again and I slid fully into the hot, wet heat of her.
I consciously tried to keep my thrusts slow yet deep, but she wasn't willing to cooperate for long. Steph dug five short yet effective fingernails into my ass and five more into my back, which automatically made me move faster and plunge harder.
Neither of us lasted long after that. Her muscles stroked me from the inside out and I emptied myself into her. A part of me realized that was risky even with her being on birth control, but I've never been more pleased at not having to wear a condom. Loving her is not something I want protection from anymore.
Her arms caught me as I fell into them. I barely had any breath left in my lungs and I could feel her chest still rising and falling as fast as mine ... into mine.
"Oh, God," she panted.
"I doubt he stuck around for that, Babe."
"Well ... he missed something pretty freakin' incredible then." She brought her hands up to her face. "My mom would have a coronary if she heard me link sex and God in the same sentence."
I rolled us, still connected, so she could take deeper breaths than the ones my weight had been preventing.
"She isn't here, either," I said. "Since I'm the one who actually inspired the religious musings, let's talk about us instead."
She pressed her face into my overheated skin. "Is there really anything that needs to be clarified after that?"
"No."
She sighed softly into my neck. "I think I could stay right here with you and not care at all about never getting up again."
"You don't have to get up again until tomorrow morning."
"So you're sleeping here tonight?"
"Yeah ... I'm staying with you."
She expelled more air against my skin, but it was a much happier sound than the last one.
"If Tank calls, or there's another emergency, don't leave without waking me first. Okay?"
"I won't," I promised her. "Go to sleep, Babe."
I curled my arms around her now relaxed body and I counted each breath she took until she was completely asleep in my arms. Though my eyes remained closed, sleep took much longer to come. My mind shot back to a past battle just as bloody as the scene had been today, when two members of a different team did die for being half a mile closer to the intended target than I'd been.
