Disclaimer: See ch. 1

Spoilers: Through 14

A/N: This takes place during chapter 16 of J.L. It's the phone conversation between Les and Ranger from Lester's POV. I just can't get enough of him.  Enjoy, and don't forget to let me know what you thought!


I took the phone from Stephanie with reluctance. I was insulted enough just being here, I didn't need to be reamed out now with an audience.

"Yeah, R-man."

Ranger's voice was calm and steady as he replied, "You're there because I need someone handling communications who I know will get the job done. Any mess-ups there and someone could get killed."

"Yeah, I got it, Ranger. I understand."

I heard him take a deep breath, then he let it out. "Alright, now screw that professional crap. Here's the real reason; I need someone there who I can trust to take care of Steph if anything goes down. If shit blows up and Trotter somehow finds a way in there, I need to know someone I trust is taking care of her, got it? I'm trusting you, Santos. You keep her safe. Screw everything else, Stephanie is your number one priority."

My eyes fell on Steph. I was floored. Ranger had pretty much just admitted what the rest of us had suspected for years now. Stephanie was very, very important to him. Like numero uno important.

"Anything happens to her, and it's your ass in a sling."

"You got it, primo. Tomaré cuidado bueno de su mujer," I assured him.

"Bueno…bueno. Now, put her back on."

I handed the phone to Steph and smiled as I watched her talk to him. Did she have any idea? Had he told her? The guy was a goddamned idiot if he hadn't.

After a moment, she pulled the phone away from her face and glared at it like it was a bully who had stolen her lunch money. Haha, clearly Ranger had hung up on her.  Again.

When she finally looked up and turned those puppy dog eyes on me, I pretended I wanted nothing to do with her little Mission. I had no choice, really; I was supposed to stick on Stephanie like glue, but it couldn't hurt to make her beg a little. When I finally gave in, her smile was so radiant I knew exactly how my cousin had fallen in love with this woman. Fast and hard. There was no other way with Stephanie Plum.


Translations:

Numero uno – number one
Primo – cousin
Tomaré cuidado bueno de su mujer – I'll take good care of your woman
Bueno…bueno – Good…good.