Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the words. The characters are the work of the literary goddess JE. All will be returned with the tags still
attached. I know what you're thinking. That's crazy, return Ranger?! Don't worry, he'll be worn and washed. Doesn't that violate store
policy? Hmmm… J Enjoy!
Rated: Suggested for Mature Audiences/Parental discretion advised. Lots of cursing.
Spoilers: Takes place after Lean Mean Thirteen.
Category: Babe
Previously, on Hell Bent Fourteen:
""You know, your relationship with Ranger changed over time, Steph. Ranger changed over time. If you ain't outright asked, how do you know what he'll say?" Lula went to close the door but stopped again. "Also, don't you think it be hard for Ranger to talk commitment when he knows Morelli's in the picture?"
She shut the door and I sat baffled. This required my thinking position and a beer. So I went to my apartment and followed through with that plan.
Hell Bent Fourteen:
-Chapter Four-
I jolted up out of bed wide awake and started frantically looking around. As my pulse calmed I realized it was only my phone ringing. I scoffed as I looked for my phone. Frightened to death by a phone, I thought. I needed to work on my nerves of steel. I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my phone and brought it to my ear.
"Yo."
"Hey, Cupcake." I heard Joe's voice on the other side and was surprised.
"Joe, I thought you were underground."
"I am. But I had a spare moment." I was confused because the last time we talked he said he wasn't going to call until he got back.
"What's up?" I asked casually.
"I missed you. Thought I'd give you a ring and see if you missed me too." I could picture his smile on the other end of the phone.
"You know for sure when you'll be back yet?"
"We got a big break so probably next week, week and a half at the latest." He changed his tone to rough and husky and I could hear the lust in his voice. "Got any plans for when I'm back?"
"Actually, I might not be here." I didn't really want to tell him about Miami but I'd rather tell him before hand than have him come home to find me missing. "I might be out of town for a week."
"What for, Cupcake?" Joe asked. His voice indicated he knew he wasn't going to like what I was going to say.
"I was invited to someone's birthday party, but it's out of town."
"Manoso's?"
"His daughter's."
"In Miami? That's where she lives right?"
"Yeah, it's next week." There was silence on the other end and I could tell Joe was trying to keep it together. If I were to be fair, I can see why. I wouldn't be happy about him taking a week to spend time with Terri Gilman and her family. But the difference is that Joe wouldn't tell me if that were the case. "She asked for me to be there. Julie asked, not Ranger. It's just a little girl's birthday party, Joe." I heard Joe sigh defeated on the other end of the line.
"Yeah, I guess. It's fine. Have fun." Joe said shortly, but letting it drop. Most likely he didn't have the time he wanted to spend on the phone telling me all that macho-bull about "You are my girlfriend. I don't want you going away with another man…" and somewhere along the way complaining about my job. However, he chose the wrong way to go about letting the topic die. One thing you never do to a Burg Girl, take it upon yourself to give her permission for anything, unless you're her mother. I laughed sarcastically and shook my head as I geared into Rhino mode.
"Wait, you think I'm asking your permission?" I'm sure he knew I had my hand on my hip and my burg glare fully charged. I was hoping he could feel the effects all the way to where ever the hell he was.
"What? Oh, yeah. Ok." I heard him yell. But I had a suspicion that he was yelling to no one. "Well, my spare moment is up. Try to stay out of trouble, Cupcake," he said fast, trying to escape Hurricane Stephanie.
"Oh no, Morelli. You don't get to give me permission like you—." I heard a click and my jaw dropped. "Own me…" I finished to myself.
I felt heat seeping from my pores and I slammed the phone down. I couldn't believe he just hung up on me. Scum. He was Scum. I flopped back down on my bed glancing at the clock that told me it was 8:48 before I assumed my thinking position again. I started to think about the two men in my lives and I sighed disgustedly. My indecision was such a pain in the ass. Ranger. Joe. Ranger. Joe. It was driving me insane. I started to think about what Lula said to me earlier today.
I did feel like I was settling when I was with Joe. I loved him, I did. But it was comfortable, it was routine. We didn't do anything but watch games and eat pizza together. And sex, we have lots of sex. That didn't sound like life time material to me. And the amount of pressure Joe puts on me to quit my job bugged the hell out of me. He may not demand it of me, but I know Joe and eventually he would want me to stop "playing around", as my mother puts it, and grow up. And have babies. I shuddered at the thought. We fought about my job constantly. But Joe wouldn't consider quitting his job just because I worried about him. How can he expect me to do the same for him?
I started to think about Ranger too. Lula's words rang in my ear. Maybe Ranger wouldn't consider the possibility of us until he knew Morelli was gone for good because he was afraid too. And yeah, he has changed. His life has become less dangerous and he has been "applying pressure" where I'm concerned. I never have just came right out and asked him the questions I want answers to. But with no guarantee he'd answer them and honestly, I don't see my asking happening. He is my support and my encourager. But he keeps me at as much arms length as I do him. If what Lula said is true, that he's just waiting for me to be done with Morelli, how can he expect me to risk my heart if he isn't willing to risk his?
Maybe I need a pros-and-cons list… And that bottle of Tequila in my bag. That was my last conscious thought as sleep took over.
I heard a faint beeping sound near by that was threatening my sleep and decided it was evil. The next sound I heard was a loud thump from throwing my alarm clock across the room while I pushed my face further into my pillows. My mind slowly rose from its slumber and I threw back the covers remembering why I set the alarm in the first place. I had a 9:00 a.m. meeting at Rangeman to go over the details of the Gonzalez takedown tomorrow night. I sighed as I headed to the bathroom to do my business and get ready for the day.
I pulled into the Rangeman parking garage with five minutes to spare. I also had coffee and doughnuts. Today was going to be a good day. The meeting was pretty short and to the point. Ranger headed the meeting and recited all the information I already knew. The plan was classic distraction job for me. My only concern was about the fact that if he beat his girlfriend to almost-death, what would he do to me? I shrugged off my concern and headed to my desk to get started on any searches I had in my inbox.
About ten till noon, my cell phone started to vibrate in my bag and I fished it out looking at the readout before I answered.
"Hey, Mom."
"Stephanie, I am just calling to make sure you and Joseph are coming to dinner tonight." She said it as a statement instead of a question.
"Actually, Mom, it's just me." I grimaced waiting for the lecture.
"Honestly, Stephanie. How can you expect him to make you his wife if you won't even bring him to dinner!" I could practically hear her crossing herself over the phone. I heard a scuffle over the phone and then my grandma's voice flooded through. "Stephanie, if you aren't bringing Officer Tightbuns, why don't you bring the Bounty Hunter with the huge dong? If you won't do it for you, do it for me. I need my floor buffed if you get my meaning."
I almost choked on air when I heard what she said. "Uh, Grandma… I don't think that's something Ranger would be interested in. He's a very busy man."
"Poppycock. He'd come for you, then you can just pass him along to me."
"Mother!" I heard my mom yell in the background.
"Alright, we'll I'll be there at six and I'll be alone. Bye, Grandma." I tried to put emphasis on alone but I don't think she was really paying attention. I put my fingers to my temples and tried to rub the phone conversation from my memory but was having no such luck. A small smile played on my lips as I felt a familiar pair of eyes on me.
"Trouble, Babe?"
"Oh, if only you knew." I said, slightly laughing. "Family dinner tonight. My mother wants me to bring Joe, Grandma wants me to bring you. And I'm disappointing them both by going alone." I turned my head to see Ranger better. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and the corners of his lips turned up. He pushed off the wall and started walking closer to me.
"I'll go to dinner." I laughed and rolled my eyes. "Seriously." He looked at me and I could tell he wasn't joking.
"Why on Earth would you want to?" I turned in my chair with my legs crossed so I could face him. He held his hand out to me so I placed my hand in his and he lifted me from my chair, pulling me to him. He gave me a soft kiss before pulling back and looking at me with his wolf grin.
"I'll make you a deal, Babe."
P.S.
Sorry for this chapter being so short. It's been a hectic week, but I didn't want to leave you all with nothing!