Disclaimer: The characters are property of Janet Evanovich and I am not making any money from this story. The story line is mine.

Don't Choose a Book by its Cover

By, Elissahara30

Hours later I awoke disorientated and aware that something was not right. All the little hairs on my arm stood on end. I looked around the dim light of my room, and then I spotted someone sitting in one of my arm chairs on the other side of my room. With a voice that made my blood turn to ice said, "Welcome back Stephanie."

My heart started pounding and black dots danced before my eyes. I tried to focus on the dark form across from me. I had to remind myself to breathe and I started to tremble from head to toe. I shakily forced myself to sit up in the bed. I had no way to escape if he truly wanted to harm me and that thought was more frightening than him being here.

He switched on the lamp by his chair, and the light cascaded across his face adding deep shadows. Prison hadn't been kind for Steve, but considering Steve had never had to live a hard life until recently, it wasn't surprising. His hair was long, past his shoulders, he had a beard, but it was the eyes that made me shiver. There was a darker calculation in them, almost as he was looking at me like a frog to be dissected. "What no 'Hello' to your brother-in-law, I'm hurt Stephanie."

Yeah, I bet, "What are you doing here?" The adrenaline was pumping through me now making me feel very reckless. Baiting him in anyway probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I didn't want him to know how terrified I was.

"I want you to do something for me?" He smiled at me, his teeth gleamed in the lamp light, making the contrast with the shadows menacing.

I involuntarily shivered again as I thought, 'Oh, yeah sure. I do favors for psychos all the time'. "What makes you think I'll do anything for you?" I asked out loud.

He leaned forward in the chair, clasping his hands together, and elbows on knees. He rested his chin on his hands. Steve spent time just looking at me, I resisted the urge to squirm in my bed. "Your friend Ranger isn't the only one with Partners."

I felt my heart stutter at this pronouncement, and I had to fight to breathe again. One thought kept running through my mind, 'Where the hell were Ranger's MEN!' It wasn't like him to let someone get by on his watch. And then there were these partners that Steve mentioned. I didn't know who Ranger's partners were, but I had my theories. And all of them pointed to the US Government. It made me wonder who Steve was partners with. I felt another involuntary shiver, trickle down my spine.

"I'm not exactly in a position just to get up and out of this place." I pointed out to him, hoping he could see that I was not the right person to rely on.

"While I was in prison, I heard some very interesting stories about you. I have a feeling that you're resourceful enough to figure out a way. Now, I want you to retrieve something from my dear ex-wife."

My mind raced as I thought all the things that Valerie could have that Steve wanted, a bag of cash, no, Val would have used that a long time ago, a key code for a Swiss account, some locker key that held a secret stash, "What?"

"I need you to retrieve a book." Yeah, that would have my next guess, along with the frying pan.

"I go get this book for you, what's to prevent you from killing me and my family?" I really did need to think before I opened my mouth. I did a few mental knuckle crunches and worked on steadying my breathing. Focus on the goal, and that goal was to keep myself from harm.

"Let's just say I view you and me even. I lost a year of my life in prison; you lost a year in a coma. You help me, I'll forget about Valerie and my girls. You screw me over, I'll kill you, and your fuckin' sister and I'll take my girls and disappear. We understand each other?" He leaned forward in his chair and his look was so intense I had to look away.

I closed my eyes briefly, and wondered if I would really do this. "You're sure Valerie still has this book?" Valerie didn't come back with much from her life in California, and the thought that she kept some book seemed too much to hope.

"Oh, she has it. She's not nearly as naive as she plays to be." He chuckled darkly, "I got that information out of her before you showed up. I have time to let you get stronger, I'll give you another month then I'll be in contact with the drop information" He stood up and walked closer to the bed, I couldn't help the flinch that came over me as he approached. This made his smile wider; he leaned in real close to me, his breath hot against my ear, "If you're good, I might get you donuts too." He then opened the door and slid out, making no noise.

I started panicking again, my heart pounded and I felt so dirty. I couldn't hold in the sobs as the racked through my strained body. I felt very uneasy about this whole situation, deep down my instincts were screaming that there was so much more going on here than just some book. I wondered again about the partners Steve had mentioned. Where they dangerous enough to really cause Ranger problems? I really hoped not, even after being in a coma for a year the crazies still found me. My life just sucked.

I think I managed to calm down again and fall into a fitful sleep around 5:00 am when about 2 hours later my door swung open and little miss merry hell, waltzed right in.

"Good Morning!" Mary Ann sang.

"Ungh," I buried my head deeper into my pillow. I should have remembered to ask Ranger for his gun. I could have gotten rid of Mary Ann. Can murdering someone for being too perky be used as a reasonable means in a court of law? After the night I had I would think it would have been justified.

"Come on sleepy head, I have low fat vanilla yogurt with wheat germ for you. Yum, yum!" She set the bowl on my tray, with my morning protein shake and sailed out of the room again.

I slowly pulled myself up to a sitting position, and as I made myself eat my breakfast, I thought about what I was going to do to get out of here. Even if Steve hadn't come to threaten me, I really was tired of being here. I missed home, thinking about home made me think about my apartment. I had been in a coma for a year that means I no longer had a home of my own. And the thought of living with my parents made me wearily sad.

"Deep thoughts Babe," Ranger said as he walked in the room.

I looked over at him with a frown, "Where am I going to live?"

He stopped and seemed to be thinking about what I asked, "Isn't it a little early for you thinking about where you're going to live?"

I debated about whether or not I should tell Ranger about my late night visitor. I trusted Ranger with my life, and I even loved him, but I didn't want him to handle me. Joe was famous for trying to handle me, Ranger on occasion tried, but he knew when to back off. I looked at Ranger for a long moment, "Steve paid me a visit last night."

I've seen the many faces of Ranger; I've seen him in the 'zone', amused, that slight smile, blank faced working Ranger, his 200 watt smile, wolf grin, and I've seen him control his anger face and then this face. This was the dangerous face, and it made me shiver. I felt very sorry for whoever was on guard duty last night, because I think Ranger was going to kick his ass and fire him. "Did he hurt you?"

I turned my head away from Ranger, "No, but he wanted me to get something for him."

I could feel the tension like a physical presence in the room with us. He walked up to the bed and then very tenderly Ranger touched my face, he took my chin and turned my face toward him. His looked was controlled, but his eyes spoke volumes at how much this affected him. It took my breath away. "I'm okay, really."

He leaned forward and kissed me so softly, brushing his hand against the scar on my hairline. His finger traced the path, so softly, "I never want to lose again."

This moved me deeply for Ranger was not one to openly admit to his feelings, and even though it wasn't some long speech of undying love, I felt it soul deep. Softly I said, "I promise not to get lost."

His lips lingered against my cheek, brushing back and forth gently. I closed my eyes and absorbed his presence. He pulled back from me, and he knew I understood his unspoken words. "What did Steve want you to retrieve?"

I sighed and opened my eyes to look at Ranger, "Steve wanted me to get a book from Valerie, and he'd contact me in a month for where I was to 'drop' the book. He said if I didn't get the book he'd kill Val and take the girls." I couldn't help biting my lower lip, the stress was really making me feel overly tired.

Ranger sat back on the chair beside my bed and processed the information I told him, he then gave me an evaluating look, "If you leave here, I want you to stay safe, and I feel you'd be safest if you're with me." Oh, I was so starting to feel handled and that it was pissing me off. Ranger noticed my dark look and raised his hand to forestall my fury. "You need physical therapy, and kept on the special diet to gain strength. My buildings come with a full gym; I can make the modifications necessary to meet your needs. You would be safe and we will get the book for Steve."

I knew from past experience never to argue with Ranger, he still did what he wanted to do anyway. He also knew as well, that if I wanted out of his buildings and security, I'd find a way. And I must admit he said we, not I. "So, when will you spring me from this place?" I gave him my best innocent expression.

Even though the situation was undoubtedly serious, I could see the exasperated amusement on his face. He took out his cell phone and left the room, already making plans for getting me out of Brentwood. He then came back in about 15 minutes later and said, "Ready to come home."

TBC . . . .

A/N So very sorry for the short chapter – the last week was a bad one and so I couldn't sit and think of anything to right for the longest time. Sigh.

Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, I hope you'll stay tuned for the next installment of To Have Lost.