Disclaimer: We're just borrowing some of the Plum characters from Janet for fun and added some new ones to spice things up a bit. We're not out to make any money and we'll return Ranger when we're finished (if we have to)
Chapter 7
Ranger looked at his captor and sighed. Damn. This was so not good. He thought.
"Fuck! You just got lucky!" He said, picking up his gun tucking it into the waistband of his pants.
Rae cocked an eyebrow and grinned. "Oh Really, boss? I mean wasn't it you that taught "You need to be more aware of your surroundings 101"? I don't call getting close enough to put a gun to someone's head luck. I'd call that skill."
"Yeah, well it seems like you have several skills, for instance, you never told me you had seven different kinds of handcuffs," Ranger smirked.
"You never asked," Rae winked. "Besides, you only have eyes for a certain bounty hunter."
Suddenly Rae threw herself at Ranger knocking him to the ground, firing her gun at one of the snipers above them. She rolled off of Ranger, and screamed, "Get busy, your ass started this, know we need to finish it!"
Shots rang out from every direction. Ranger took in the area surveying the area within a matter of seconds. He spotted two snipers to their right and one to their left. Shit this was not good. He could hear Gentry barking orders in the background. He heard rapid gunfire and then a small explosion erupted in the center of camp. Ranger grinned, he'd bet the Porsche that was Tank's doing, and took the opportunity to pull him and Rae into a small shed at the edge of the clearing.
Gunfire pelted the shed in barely missing them. in the distance they heard another explosion, and then an eerie silence. Ranger motioned for Rae to cover him as he slid out of the shed running in a crouched zigzag motion. Rae was not far behind him. He made it to the first tent, checked it and found it was empty. He nodded to Rae and moved slowly toward the next one. He made it halfway across the path, when he heard the rifle crack. Rae immediately returned gunfire picking off the assailant as she saw Ranger crumple to the ground.
"I've got a man down," she screamed. Taking cover behind an overturned jeep, she quickly reloaded her gun, her eyes never leaving Ranger. She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye, and quickly aimed her weapon in that direction.
"Freeze" She yelled, cocked back the hammer on the gun, pointing it directly at the man in front of her. Don't fuckin move!" She said, walking toward him.
"I have no intention of moving, my dear. I know when I'm outnumbered. I'm just happy I was able to take down the great Carlos Masono." He smiled. "My family will be very pleased."
Rae, shoved the man to the ground. And put the barrel of the gun to his head. She put her knee in the middle of his back, pinning him to the ground while she handcuffed him.
"Well will they be pleased, when I deliver your mangled body to them, Roberto? Will that make them happy too? I know it will make me happy, knowing I took out one of the biggest drug lords in South America. She said pulling back the hammer on her gun. Her finger sliding across the trigger, just itching to pull it.
"You wouldn't dare, you have too much, what do you say? . . . conscience, to kill me in cold blood. Besides, your company has captured us. There are no more of us. Your mission is complete. We well await our trial, after all that is your American way, is it not?" He laughed beneath the gun, although his fear was apparent.
Rae laughed softly, "You don't know me very well, Roberto. I'll sleep like a baby knowing the world is a lot safer without you in it. Besides I'm not American."
"Rae . . . Don't do it. He's not worth it besides. I'm not down yet." Ranger said, stumbling over to her.
Rae whirled around and took in her boss. His entire shirt was covered in blood and his color was more of a gray, then his usual café mocha. He started to fall, and she grabbed him under the arm and pulled him back up.
"Where are you hit?" She asked, trying to lower him to the ground. "Ranger look at me. Where are you hit?"
"Babe . . . "Ranger gasped. His breathing heavy. His eyes fluttering shut.
I looked across the table at Ranger. He dark eyes gazing at mine. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, as my bottom lip started to tremble. Something was not right. I snapped out of my thought as he reached over and picked up my hand, brushing it lightly with his lips.
"Babe, what's wrong," He asked.
"I...I ...don't know. I can't put my finger on it. I want to go home." I gushed. "Please, Ranger take me home."
"Shhh . . . "he said patting my hand. "It's okay. I'll take you home. Let me pay the check and we'll leave. Babe, it's okay."
Ranger motioned for the waiter and within minutes we were back in his car headed for the hotel.
"Ranger," I said, placing my hand on his thigh.
He looked at me and smiled.
"I'm sorry. I ruined a perfectly beautiful evening . . . I don't know what came over me." I said softly.
"It's okay." He said, "I was ready to get back myself."
I swallowed hard. This was going to be the test. I'm sure he would expect me to sleep with him. I mean we had slept together last night, even though all we did was sleep, and I'm sure he didn't bring me on a romantic trip for that. I stared out the window, watching the lights of the city fly by. What was happening to me? Was I too scared of being hurt to commit to Ranger? Why did this feel so wrong, when it had always felt so right?
"Babe, I think we need to talk." Ranger said as he pulled into the hotel. " We need to sort out your fears, but everything on the table, before we go any further. Something is bothering you. I like to find out what it is. Unfortunately I have to run back by Rangeman, there is a case their working on that I need to follow up on. Why don't you go up and make yourself comfortable and I'll be back in a couple of hours. Maybe then we can figure out what's bothering you."
"Okay," I said.
I grabbed my wrap and hopped out of the car. I gave Ranger a little finger wave and made my way into the hotel. I had two hours to figure out why Ranger didn't seem like Ranger. I entered our suite and threw my wrap on the chair and headed toward the bedroom. I started to undress when I noticed the message light blinking on the phone. I walked over, hit play, so that the message would play over the speaker phone. It was probably my mother, just another thing I needed to confuse the hell out of me. I sat down on the bed and listened. I almost fell off the bed when a sexy female voice played across the speaker.
"Hi Ric, this is Kim. Hal gave me this number and told me I could reach you here I'm so sorry to call you while you're away with Stephanie. I'm glad you finally told her how you feel about her. I am a little upset with you because you didn't stop in Miami on your way home. Cici, was really disappointed that she didn't see you this trip. She misses you, after all you're like a father to her. I know you must of had a good reason. Anyway, I was just calling to let you know I'm on my way to Trenton. Rhys is suppose to be there. I know, I should really give up on him after all it's been over ten years. It's just ... dammit Ric I still love him. And it was all a stupid mistake. I just wish he'd let me explain. I was hoping he was in Trenton to contact you, you know to make amends. I hate that my dumb ass mistake cost you your twin brother. I'm hoping that we can work together to convince him that he was wrong. I'm staying at Lisa's her number is 512-333-5555. Please give me a call when you get in. Love you."
I dropped my shoe and fell back on the bed. Holy shit! Ranger had a twin brother. Well that little liar. I'd asked him one time if he had a twin and he'd told me no. I wonder who the hell this Kim woman is, and how the hell does she know who I am? Thoughts started racing through my head at a speed almost to fast to process. Ranger had a twin that was in Trenton. Ranger seemed like a stranger to me. He was different, and it wasn't due to some freakin mission. No it was because he wasn't Ranger. He was Rhys. But why the hell would Ranger's twin brother want to seduce me? That didn't make any sense at all. And if this Ranger was Rhys, were was the real Ranger? Who was Cici? I hit the button and replayed the message, and copied down the number. There was only one way to find out. I jumped up off the bed and grabbled my cell phone and dialed the number.
"Hello," a lady answered.
"Hi, this is Stephanie Plum. May I speak to Kim, please?"
"Sure hold on." She replied.
A few minutes went by and Kim came on the line.
"Stephanie" She asked, "Omigod is there something wrong with Ric?"
"I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." I said, "I was hoping you could help me fill in some of the blanks. I think Rhys is here with me pretending to be Ranger, and I need to know why? Do you think you can help me?"
There was a long pause at the other end of the line. Then Kim blew out a sigh.
"Stephanie, I'm so sorry you had to get caught up in all of this. I had no idea that Rhys even knew you existed or I know Ric would have never kept this from you. I don't want to get into this over the phone, but the bottom line if Rhys is trying to seduce you. The reasons are long and very complicated. Can you meet me in Trenton tomorrow?"
"Absolutely. I want to get to the bottom of this. By the way who are you? And how do you know about me?" I asked.
I heard her laugh softly on the other end of the phone.
"That's another thing that's almost too complicated to explain over the phone. I'll give you the short version for now. I'm Ric's ex-wife. He's been very good to me and my daughter. We were married in name only. I'll explain everything tomorrow I promise. I'll call Hal and have him set up a place and time for us to meet, then I'll have him call you. Okay?"
"Okay.. But I still have to know..How do you know about me?"
"You're the reason Ric and I are divorced, and I'm sure you can figure that one out." She laughed, hanging up the phone.
I closed my cell phone and fell back on the bed. Kim was wrong. I couldn't figure anything out. I was pretty much clueless when it came to Ranger. And now I had his twin brother trying to seduce me.
Cripes! I had forgotten all about that. How the hell was I suppose to ward off the advances of someone that I was suppose to be in love with, without them knowing that I knew who they really were? I rolled my eyes, and punched the pillow beside me. Even for my life this was really fucked up. I thought, closing my eyes, and praying for tomorrow.
