Disclaimer: I'm not making any profit, just having some fun. The characters belong to Janet Evanovich as do any recognizable settings.

I try to edit closely but there will be mistakes. Since it's just a hobby I don't take it too seriously.

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I woke up the next morning to the sound of men talking outside my door. I cracked open one eye and looked around, I wasn't in my bed. Then I remembered Ranger had forced me to come to Rangeman. That ass had handcuffed and threated to remove me from my home by force.

I could hear a phone ringing I stumbled across the room to get my cell phone from my purse. After a few minutes of looking I realized my purse must still be at my apartment. The phone started ringing again and I looked around for the house phone.

"Hello."

"Good Morning. It's Ella. "Would you like breakfast this morning?"

"That'd be great."

"Any requests?"

"Anything you bring would be great. Just no lox."

"Okay I'll be up in thirty minutes. And Stephanie I don't like the lox either," Ella giggled and disconnected.

I emptied the things I would need to get dressed this morning from the duffle I'd packed last night. I hopped in the shower and dressed in jeans, a soft blue t-shirt with a scoop neck, and a pair of cross trainers. I was blow drying my hair when Ella came into the apartment carrying a tray.

"It's good to have you staying with here again."

"Everything looks so good. You're too sweet to me. Really I could have just grabbed something on the fifth floor on my way home."

"Are you leaving today? I was under the impression you'd be staying with us a while."

"I'm not sure; Ranger and I haven't really talked about it. Last night I only agreed to stay until this morning."

"Of course dear, well if you need lunch or dinner just buzz me. I'll come back up later and straighten the apartment."

"Ella that's not necessary. If I do stay another night I don't expect you to clean up after me or cook for me every meal. I can tell Ranger if you need me to."

"I don't mind dear. You're a guest here, and I want you to be comfortable. Also I have my orders; Ranger expects me to spoil you."

"I'm going to make a chocolate cake later. I'll put a couple slices in your refrigerator. Also if you will make me a list of things you'd like to have stocked in the kitchen I'll take care of that today."

"If I stay Ella I'll come up to the sixth floor and leave a list. You're so sweet to take care of me like this," I said.

"It's my pleasure dear. I hope you enjoy your breakfast."

After I finished the waffles with blueberry compote I took my laptop from my duffle using my work credentials I signed on to the wireless network and checked my email and Facebook page. There was only one email from Connie telling me there were no new files today. I emailed her back and told her I'd be in on Monday.

I needed to go to my apartment and get my purse and cell phone. I looked at time on my laptop screen its nine o'clock on a Saturday. Ranger would be in his office on the fifth floor. Only I wasn't ready to face him after last night. My other option would be to see whose home on the fourth floor and ask for a ride to my place.

Lester would be my best chance at getting out of the building. I went back into the bathroom and wiped down the countertop and put my dirty towels in the hamper. Then I gathered my belongings and dumped them into the duffle bag. I crammed my dirty clothes on top and zipped it closed. I rinsed the dishes from breakfast and stacked them neatly in the sink and left a thank you note to Ella for her thoughtfulness. Then I sat the bag next to the door of the apartment.

Lester opened the door to his apartment and gave me a killer smile. Les is sexy, and a huge flirt. He's also a lot of fun and over the last few months he's become a good friend. Lester was dressed in a pair of low slung basketball shorts, a white tank top and running shoes. He was drinking a bottle of water and his hair was damp around the edges.

"Have a good workout?" I asked.

"It's Saturday so I did my long set. Two hours of cardio and heavy weights."

"Is that a yes because it sounds terrible?"

"Yeah, Beautiful it's a yes." Lester said. "Come on in."

I followed Les into his apartment. Considering his reputation as a playboy I'd expected the apartment to be like a college dorm room; decorated with posters of girls in binkies draped across sports cars and neon beer signs. I was shocked to see how tastefully it was decorated. There was a chocolate brown leather sofa with two matching chairs arranged in seating area around the television. The floor was covered by a couple large area rugs that coordinated with the furniture. The kitchen was identical to the one in the apartment I'd spent the night in with the exception of a Kureg coffee maker and a blender. There was a large shelving unit creating a floating wall which separated the sleeping area from the rest of the apartment. The shelves were filled with books and decorative objects. This was the apartment of a well-rounded man not the playboy image he's crafted.

"Tank told me in the gym this morning that you were on lockdown until further notice," Lester said.

My right eye started twitching. I put my finger on it to make it stop. Then I slouched down on the sofa and let out a huge sigh.

"Is this really necessary?" I asked. "I know that the Russian mob is powerful. But aren't they mostly located in Brighton Beach?"

"Years ago that was the case. Now they have a presence in other parts of the country, like Newark, Miami and Las Vegas. Because Petrov is a dangerous man I think Ranger is trying to take precautions to protect you. If someone's looking to even the score with Ranger then there's a good chance you're in danger."

"I don't understand, why me?"

"Because you're his woman," Lester said.

"I'm not his woman. He's been gone for months. I'm not even sure we're still friends."

"That's not popular opinion. Most of Trenton thinks you belong to him. Remember Scrog? He believed you were involved with Ranger."

"Ugh! You're right. Everyone thinks I'm involved with Ranger romantically. Even Connie and Lula think I'm sleeping with him."

I was feeling a little overwhelmed. For the last few months I'd been on my own. No Joe and no Ranger. I'd been making my own decisions. I was careful who I agreed to bring in at the office. When I needed backup I called Lester. Having him go with me for take downs was how I'd been able to get a few higher bonds. I wasn't anywhere nearly as good as Ranger. But I was making enough money to stay slightly above the poverty level. I'd been doing pretty well with the exception of earlier this week with Dougie Allen.

Dougie Allen wasn't supposed to be a dangerous skip. The folder said he'd been arrested for vandalism and loitering. Allen was a 20 year old kid with a bad attitude. I'd spent a few days tracking him down and finally located him at his mother house just a few blocks outside of the Burg.

"Who is it?" Dougie called though the door when I knocked.

"I'm Stephanie Plum, from Plum Bail Bonds. You missed your court date and I need you come with me to schedule a new court date."

"I'm not going back to jail, bitch. Go away."

"Dougie you don't have to go back to jail. If you come with me I can have someone from the office meet us at the station and rebond you immediately," I said.

When the door swung open and Allen tackled me I wasn't prepare. We both landed on the sidewalk in front of the steps. I hit my head on the concrete and stars flashed in front of my eyes. Allen grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed my head into the ground again. Then he ran away. The knot on the back of my head was tender to the touch.

Really that attack was what helped me decide that I was growing tired of being a bounty hunter. My job at Rangeman might not be ideal because it really lacked challenge. But the predictability and safety were quickly winning me over.

"Stephanie? Hey! Beautiful?" Lester said snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"Huh. Wha-what?"

"I think you zoned out for a couple minutes."

"Sorry about that. I've had a lot on my mind this week," I said.

"Yeah, like what?" Lester asked.

"I'm thinking about giving up my job at Vinnie's. Don't get me wrong you've been a great help. I can never thank you enough for helping me bring in some higher paying skips. If it weren't for you I'd still be worried about how to make my rent every month. Lately though I've been thinking about making some changes."

"Anything I can help you with Beautiful?"

"I haven't made any final decisions yet. When I do I might need your help. That is if it's not too much of a bother."

"Hey were friends right?"

"Yeah."

"So it'll be my pleasure to help you. You've gotten a lot better at apprehensions. You could improve your endurance by beginning a running program, and you know I think you should take some self-defense classes. Even if you give up working for Vinnie you need to be able to protect yourself."

"Thanks Lester."

Lester just nodded and gave me a full blown smile.

"Will you be around in an hour or so to take me to my apartment gather up some things since it looks like I'm going to be staying here for a few days?"

"I'll be in the building. I might go up to five and see if Ranger needs any help. But first I need a shower, and I'm going to fix something to eat. Just call me on my cell phone."

"You're a lifesaver."

"I am to please."

I stepped off the elevator onto the fifth floor and immediately I felt the energy in the room. There's a constant low hum of electricity in the air. Men are working diligently at video monitors. A few other men were sitting in cubical in front of computer monitors. One of the new guys was was in the monitor bay.

"Hey Bulldog. Is Ranger here today?"

"Miss. Plum Tank said if you came on the floor to ask you to stop by his office."

"Thanks."

Tank and Ranger have offices in the back of the fifth floor. I said hello to a couple guys as I passed their work stations. The further into the floor I traveled the more tense the men seemed to be. When I'd passed the last of the cubicles the doorways to the offices came into view. Tank's door was open; obviously he was expecting someone, probably me. Ranger's office door was closed. Hal stood at parade rest in front of it keeping guard.

"Tank you wanted to see me?"

"Yeah Stephanie come on in and have a seat."

"Is Ranger okay? Why his Hal standing guard outside his door."

"He's in a meeting." Tank said.

I knew better than to ask for more details. "Ranger said that there might be a dangerous man looking for him."

"Petrov sent a couple men to Miami. They showed up at Rangeman and wanted to speak to Ranger. Claimed they had business with him."

"I'd like to stay here for a few days."

Tanks pushed back from his desk slightly and raised a single eyebrow in response.

"I know that last night…"

"You don't need to explain yourself to me. It's none of my business," Tank said.

"You won't tell the men what happened last night?" I asked.

"No."

"Thank you," I replied looking down at my feet. "Do you think he'll be in the meeting much longer?"

"Hard to say, but they've been in there a while."

Tank picked us the phone on his desk and pushed the intercom button.

"Have our guests left…Is Ranger on five or seven…roger that…"

"Ranger's next door if you'd like to speak to him."

"Thanks," I said standing up to walk out of the office. "Oh did you want to talk to me about something?"

"I want to offer you a full time job. I need someone to run searches, and maybe pick up some of the paperwork. Before you answer read the contract. Think it over and get back to me."

I took the contract from Tank and turned to walk next door to face Ranger.

"Ranger."

"Ba-Stephanie come in."

"I wanted to tell you that Lester is going to take me to my apartment so I can pack a bag to stay for a few days."

Ranger just nodded his head in understanding.

"I'm going out tonight. I know Lester said I was on "lockdown" but since I'm going to dinner with Joe, I'm sure that I'll be safe. After all Joe is a police officer, and he never leaves the house unarmed."

"You're not a prisoner here, as long as you're being carful you are free to come and go as you please for the time being," Ranger said.

"Tell me what's going on?" I asked. "You said you were tracking Petrov, that sounds like you weren't you working undercover."

"Two men who work for Petrov showed up in Miami yesterday looking for me. They didn't disclose the reason for their visit. Petrov is not a nice man, so it's best air on the side of caution. Before the take down things were happening pretty fast in the organization. The feds weren't interested in that information, they were running out of money and needed to make an arrest," Ranger explained.

"So it's not clear what Petrov really wanted with you in Miami?" I asked.

"Right I never came face to face with Petrov or any of his men. I worked behind the scenes, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a leak, or a dirty fed who provided my name. It could also be that the men are looking to hire a couple mercenaries for any number of reasons."

"Do you… I mean you wouldn't…"

"No. I wouldn't do business with a man like Petrov."

"I know that, I mean you wouldn't meet with them. Put yourself at danger like that?"

Ranger didn't respond. He looked at me blankly watching my reaction. I knew that he would do whatever he believed was necessary to do what he thought was morally right. Ranger's since of right and wrong was stronger than any man I'd ever known.

"Ba-Stephanie," Ranger sighed rubbing his fingers across his forehead. "Thank you for agreeing to stay at Rangeman for a few days. I know it's an inconvenience but it's necessary to keep you safe."

"I understand. Well I've got a couple things to do before Les and I leave. I sure you have a ton of paperwork to catch up on since you've been away for so long," I said standing and walking towards the door to his office. "Do you know if Hector is here?"

"I think he's down in his workroom."

I just nodded my head and gave him a wave of my hand as I exited his office.

"Hector?"

"Si Chica?" Hector replied from the work room of his office suite.

I walked into the large room filled with computers, gadgets, tools and manuals. I'd been down here a couple times when Hector had been sweet enough to fix my iPhone so I knew my way around. I sat at a stool on near the work island in the middle of the room and waited for Hector to turn his attention to me.

"Happy Ranger back?" Hector asked using his limited English.

"I am glad to see he is home safe, he's been gone a long time. The men seem to be happy to see him."

"You love him no? Why are you not happy?" Hector asked.

"Of course I'm happy to have my friend home," I responded in an attempt to deflect the question.

Hector looked back at the monitor where he'd been working when I came into his office. I could hear him clicking his tongue in disapproval. He looked away from the monitor giving me a criticizing look.

"He love you. Why you hide your heart from him?" Hector asked.

"Ranger doesn't…I don't. We…we're just friends." I managed to stumble out.

"Obcecado" Hector muttered. I tucked the word away in my memory to ask Lester it's meaning later.

"I need a favor."

"What I can do for you Chica?" Hector asked.

"I need to borrow a tracker and panic button."

Hector's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You never like tracker. Why you want one now?"

"Ranger asked me to stay here for a few days until he settles a matter. I need to run a couple errands today. Lester agreed to go with me but I thought some extra precaution would be good."

"Si. I have for you."

Hector went over to a shelf on the opposite wall and pulled down a small locked box. Hector entered the code and the locks popped open. He lifted the lid and I noticed that it was labeled Plum. The contents inside the box were straight out of a James Bond movie.

"Why does this box have my name on it?" I asked.

"Boss say I keep for you."

"What? What are you keeping for me?"

"Wires for distraction jobs, iPhone, GPS trackers, body trackers, panic buttons, iPad, extra fob for Navigator and Ranger's apartment, he say you may need someday."

Hector reached inside the box and selected a tracker and panic button and walked across the room and booted up a laptop. "It will take me a few minutes to get the tracker online. Before I can put it in the Rangeman system I'll need Ranger's permission. "

"Do I have time to run upstairs?" I asked.

"Si Chica, It'll be ready in a few minutes."

"Gracias," I called over my shoulder heading to the elevator.

The elevator doors opened on the fifth floor to reveal Ranger. He was standing there arms crossed loosely over his strong chest. Before I could exit the elevator he stepped inside and used the security fob to access his penthouse.

"I just got off the phone with Hector."

"Is there a problem with my request?" I asked.

"Negative. I told Hector to set it up. It should be complete in the next fifteen minutes."

The doors opened on the sixth floor where I'd planned to exit. Ranger reached out and pressed the close doors button and the elevator continued on to the seventh floor.

"I was going to see Ella."

"I'd like to speak to you privately."

"I don't really have time right now." I said hoping to avoid a confrontation with him.

"This will only take a few minutes and then I'll leave you alone."

When the doors open on seven Ranger placed a gentle hand on my elbow and escorted me toward the door of the penthouse. He pulled the fob from his pocket and unlocked the door before ushering me inside.

"Well I'm here what did you want to talk about?" I asked.

"Sit down." Ranger commanded.

I decided that it would be easier to just get it over with rather than pull the tiger's tail. I took a seat at the far end of the couch. Ranger sat on the opposite end. After a couple minutes of silence I was getting antsy. I knew I'd crack and speak first so I tried to concentrate on my breathing in hopes of holding out a little bit longer.

"I need to apologize for last night," Ranger said. "There is no excuse for the handcuffs. I'm not one to make excuses and you know that. I want to say I'm sorry. I was out of line it won't happen again."

"Thank you. I accept your apology."

Ranger gave me a small smile and a nod of his head in appreciation.

"I also want you to know that I had every intention of telling you before I left town on this latest assignment. That night when you were here for dinner, I'd planned to tell you. Only things started moving on the case, and we kept getting interrupted. Then my handler and a couple Federal Agents showed up here unannounced right after you left. I was on a helicopter on my way to D.C. at four the morning. I was out of the country on assignment and cut off from communicating with anyone not related to the by dawn the next day."

"Why did everyone lie about you moving to Miami?" I asked.

"That was a cover story. Tank didn't know I was going to tell you the truth. So he felt justified in telling you that story. Tank is the only one who knew I wasn't in Miami."

"Why didn't you return my calls or emails?"

"The Bishop is a powerful man. He's been known to have cops and agents on the payroll. A leak about you would have put you in danger. So I did what I thought was best at the time. Looking back I should have handled it differently. I should have made sure Tank told you the truth. From now on, I will make sure that Tank is on the level with you when I'm away on assignment."

"I think I understand."

"None of this changes the fact that I missed you," Ranger said.

For a moment I was pretty sure my heart stopped. Ranger said he missed me. Those were words I'd never expect to hear from him. Ranger doesn't do feelings. He is a badass mercenary who dresses in all black. He's not a warm fuzzy kind of guy.

"I missed you too," I said. "I hope we're still friends."

{ Obcecado -Hector called Stephanie stubborn.}

So Ranger is in love with Stephanie, at least he is according to Tank and Hector. She's thinking about making a few changes in her life. I wonder what they will be? Maybe they will include Ranger? Maybe not? I know the answers, if you want to know you'll have to keep reading.