Chapter 9
I got up crying and quickly shrugged on some clothes. I grabbed one of Ranger's bags and put some clothes in and then called Lula and told her I needed an emergency ride to my parents' house.
I grabbed Rex and my bags and headed out the door to the elevator. I punched the garage level and rode down then got out and ran. Lester came running out and grabbed my sleeve and turned me around.
I gasped and turned to him wild eyed. He let go of me and looked at my tear stained face.
"That guy is my brother, but what an idiot. He's done something to upset you already," he said. I couldn't speak.
He said, "Give me your phone. He punched in some numbers. If you need anything you call me." Then he kissed me on the cheek.
I turned and ran out of the garage.
Bless Lula she came speeding up as I rounded the corner. I jumped in and she looked at me.
"Oh girlfriend, why you tryin' to escape the bat cave? Do I need to shoot Batman's ass?"
I just started sobbing again. "I can't talk about this right now Lula, I'm sorry. Can you take me to my parents' house please?" I said.
She said, "You my girl. I'll take you anywhere you need to go."
Lula pulled up to my parents' house and I thanked her and got out. Grandma Mazur's radar was on and she was at the door. She took a look at me and took Rex from me. Then she gave me a hug.
"You go on upstairs. I'll bring you something up."
In a few minutes Grandma came in with a toot of my mom's whiskey and a big piece of pineapple upside down cake.
"Thanks, Grandma"
"Stephanie, this man is not going to put up with what Joe would. He is a real man and he loves you and he wants to take care of you. I'm willing to bet my favorite hot pink thong undies that if you let him love you the way he wants to then he will make you happier than you could ever dream."
"Who are you and what have you done with my Grandma?" I said.
She just laughed, patted my cheek and shuffled her little saggy butt out of the room.
I drank the shot of whiskey and I ate the cake. I took off my clothes down to my t-shirt and undies and lay in my old bed. Ranger had scared me so bad. That was the side of Ranger that made large men cower. What he did…
I understood what he said about needing respect and undermining authority, but was the prank I played worth all that anger? In three days I had managed to ruin everything.
I'm a fucking train wreck. I embarrassed myself and Ranger. I pushed him to; oh my God I'm so ashamed.
I had messed everything up and I was humiliated and scared. Ranger will find me and then what? I can't be trapped with him and live in fear that he'll be angry with me like that again. I thought about Nash and his offer. If I called him tomorrow and he let me come, then maybe I could hide for a while. I closed my eyes. The whiskey shot kicked in like a merciful anesthetic and I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning I woke up hearing Dad and Grandma arguing over the bathroom.
I got my phone out and dialed Lester.
"Hey, you okay Steph?"
"Yes, could you do me a really big favor? Would you please ask Ella to pack my things and then could you please get them to my apartment so I don't have to come there?"
"Steph, why don't you think about this for a couple days first?" Lester said.
"Lester, I saw a side of him I never want to see again. I'm not living with a man that I'm afraid of," I said.
"Shit Steph, I'm so sorry. Did he hurt you?"
"I can't talk about it Lester," I said.
"I'll tell Ella. We'll get your stuff out of there for you," he said.
"Thank you."
My phone rang. I looked at it and it was Ranger. I let it go to voice mail.
I grabbed the bathroom when I could and got dressed and avoiding the kitchen and my mother I asked Grandma Mazur if I could use the Buick.
She gave me the keys and I told her I was planning to try to go back to Virginia to work with my friend. I asked her if she could take care of Rex for me again. She kissed my forehead and nodded and I left.
I went by my bank and withdrew some cash, stopped at a strip mall and bought a suitcase and a cosmetic bag. My phone rang again as I was headed to my apartment lot, it was Ranger again.
I needed to pack and get out of town fast.
I called Nash and asked if I could still come and he told me he was hoping I would call back and would love to have me. I told him I would be on my way today.
Warm and inviting was what I needed because I was scared and hurt and confused right now.
I went up to the apartment and waited for Lester. I was standing in the living room looking out the window when the lock tumbled and Ranger walked in. He said, "You're not answering your phone, Babe."
"I want you to leave this apartment Ranger."
"I'm not leaving. We have to talk right now," he said.
Lester quietly walked up behind Ranger.
"Ranger, I'm not living with someone I'm afraid of. What I did didn't warrant what you did to me. The deal is off and I'm out of your life and I want you to stay away from me," I said.
"We have to stop this right now. Babe, I want to apologize, so please let me talk."
"No! You're right, you're not good for me, now leave!" I yelled.
He started walking toward me and I whimpered and began backing up.
Lester said, "Carlos, you're my brother and my boss but if you touch her I will take you down." Ranger turned around and glared at Lester.
Ranger looked at me for a long time and then hung his head and turned and walked out the door.
I collapsed on the couch and sobbed. Lester came over and sat down next to me.
Lester said, "He loves you. What the hell did that dumb ass do?"
"I can't tell you, I'm ashamed," I sobbed.
"What? Tell me now what he did Steph!" Lester said.
I sobbed and choked out, "Please don't tell anyone else Lester. I'm ashamed for me and for him. I was angry and I pulled a prank on him hoping that he would just know how it feels to be the butt of a joke. I handcuffed him to his chair and left him naked in his office. I left the key with Tank. He found me in Luis and Ella's apartment and he carried me back to his apartment and cuffed me to the bed and forced himself on me while I screamed because I was so scared. He put his hand over my mouth and he…"
Lester looked shocked and dumbfounded.
"Oh my god; that dumb mother fucker. I thought this could probably be fixed. Now it makes sense what you said to him. I want to kick his stupid ass. I don't blame you for not wanting to come back. Ella is so upset about you leaving," he said.
"Ella knows what I did and she saw how mad he was but she doesn't know what he did to me. Don't tell her. It would really upset her because I begged her to help me," I said.
Lester said, "Shit, this just gets worse and worse. What are you going to do Steph?"
"I'm leaving town. I'm going to Virginia to work with a bounty hunter friend. He's a good man and a gentleman and I need to get away from Ranger. He'll keep coming back and no lock will keep him out."
Lester said, "I feel sick. I'll get your stuff and bring it up."
When Lester got my stuff in he hugged me and wished me good luck and told me that he would keep in touch.
"Steph, he's going to get a black eye when I get back."
"Don't do it Lester. He's your friend and your boss. He made a very bad decision but I guess I did too. I can't go back because this is just something so personal; it's hard for a woman to deal with. I love him, but it changed the way I feel about him," I said.
He nodded sadly, kissed my cheek and walked out the door.
I quickly packed my bags and carried them to the Buick. Then I checked the apartment one last time and locked the door. I got in the car and started backing out of the lot. Ranger's truck pulled up and blocked me. He got out, opened my door, and pulled me out of the car.
"Ranger, take your fucking hands off me now or I will scream and this time somebody will hear me," I said.
He let go and rubbed his hands down his face.
"I hurt you and I feel sick about it. I didn't realize what I was doing or how I was doing it would affect you until it was too late," he said.
I looked at him and started to cry. "Who was the man that did that to me, Ranger or Carlos? call it what it is. What you did was a sick form of control; you forced yourself on me; I won't ever forget it. I'm scared of you now and there is no guarantee that it won't happen again. I don't really know you and I don't know if I still feel the same about you," I sobbed.
"Stephanie, please don't run away. Please stay and let's try to work this out. I love you and I have spent so much time trying to protect you and then I hurt you in a horrible way. Please stay. I am begging and I don't beg."
"Living with you is not like living a normal life. It's not us just sharing a home. Our lives, our problems are out there on those cameras like a fucking soap opera for everyone to see," I sobbed. I played a prank on you because I was upset and then gave Tank the key so he could rescue you and no one else would see you. You humiliated me on those cameras and you degraded me in private. You scared me and I won't go back," I said.
"Steph, we don't have to live there. I have houses. You can pick your own. I would do anything to wipe this hurt away. I have never done anything like this to a woman in my life. I never had the passion with any other woman I have with you. There will never be another woman for me, because you have ruined me for all other women," he said.
"Well you have ruined me for you," I whispered.
Ranger, I'm leaving town and don't you follow me. If I run off into a creek and drown, then it's my time to go. I am not your responsibility any longer. For your information the Bat Cave sucks and I did get out and now I'm gone. I'm not a possession. You don't own me and NEVER will and you won't have that kind of control over me ever again. Now move your fucking truck," I spat.
He had the good grace to wince. "Can I call you? Will you talk to me?" he asked.
"Maybe, I don't know," I said.
He bent down to kiss me, but I winced and pulled away.
I glanced at him and for a second I thought I saw unshed tears and then they were gone and his eyes went dark again. He turned, walked to his truck, gave me one last sad look and got in and drove out of the lot.
TBC
