Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything recognizable belongs to the lovely Janet Evanovich. Story title comes from Carrie Underwood's song 'Dirty Laundry. Chapter title from my own imagination.
It was mid-afternoon and I was sitting on Mary Lou's couch after having a shower. It was well deserved, and very much needed after I had spent most of last night and this morning crying into her arms about what an idiot I'd been. I should've just kept my mouth shut last night. I had told Ranger I loved him and I had no doubts that Mr. 'Commitment Issues' would be running for the border right about now. Maybe it was for the best. Ranger and I needed space from one another. More importantly I needed space from Ranger.
I was without a doubt in love with him, but he would never be able to commit to anything more than a one night stand with me. Which really, really sucked. Because sex with Ranger was phenomenal. He had told me once he would ruin me for all other men, and I was almost certain he had. Perhaps that's why I wasn't content in my relationship with Morelli, even before I found out that he lived up to his family legacy. There was no sense in pondering it now. Ranger was probably in the wind somewhere never to be seen again.
Pushing away those thoughts and my feelings about the situation, I debated going to see Alexander Ramos. I needed to talk to him to figure out why he was so interested in making my life easier. Sure, he'd proposed to me once, but I knew that there was no way he'd been serious. He just wanted someone to reign in his sons, and unfortunately for him that just wasn't a task I was up too. Especially considering Mr. Ramos had a list of wives that had all disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
I glanced at my phone surprised to see it ringing that particular ringtone. My godfather, former Police chief and current Mayor of Trenton was calling me. I held my breath and answered the phone, scared that maybe he would be angry or disappointed in me. I could handle my mother's whining and disappointments. And I knew I could handle my father's silent indifference to the things going on around him. But I would never be able to handle disappointing my Papa JJ.
"Papa JJ?" I asked tentative, hoping that using the name that I used to call him when I was a child would help his temper if he were angry. My godfather was Joe Juniak, and it was hard to throw a stone around in this city without someone singing his praises. He was Trenton's Golden Boy. He was known for being fair and just, but having a temper on him when he felt someone or something he cared about had been wronged. I still remember the fight he had with my father when Papa JJ found out that Morelli had written about taking my virginity on the floor of the Tasty Pastry when I was sixteen on the bathroom stalls. Needless to say he wasn't a man to anger.
"Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling? I heard about that idiot Morelli." He told me his warm deep voice drifting through the phone. This was why I loved my Papa JJ so much, even when shit hit the proverbial fan no matter how busy he was, he always made time for me. Before he had become Mayor I would go to his office at the Trenton Police department on Saturday's for lunch and wee would catch each other up on our lives.
After he became Mayor the meetings stopped. He was too busy and so was I, but we still managed weekly phone calls.
"I'm feeling as well as can be expected Papa JJ. Mostly angry at Morelli for pulling this crap with me, but not all that surprised. I should've known better. Everyone knows the Morelli men are all a bunch of cheating, drinking, woman beaters. Thank God he wasn't stupid enough to actually hit me." I told him twirling a lock of hair between my fingers. Morelli men were known for being good at three things and three things only.
Everyone thought Joe would be the one to break the cycle but apparently he couldn't keep it in his pants.
"Ah, I'm sorry sweetheart. And it's a good thing he didn't. You've got too many protectors for him to survive that encounter. And I have too many associates that wouldn't mind dealing with him." He told me laughing. I couldn't help but chuckle at that. Papa JJ had alliances with nearly everyone in the Old Families. It made me wonder what he might know about Alexander Ramos' interest in me.
"Say, Papa JJ, what can you tell me about Alexander Ramos?" I asked crossing my fingers. Most men in the Burg didn't like revealing information to women. Thankfully Papa JJ wasn't like most men.
"Well, if it was anyone else I'd tell them he was a very dangerous man and that they should avoid him at all costs. Since it's you though and you've already made quite the impression on him, I'm going to tell you you have nothing to worry about. He knows you're my goddaughter, and that you've got Manoso sniffing around you. He wants you protected, just as I do. You know, if you ever feel like shaking Manoso, Alexander has a nice young nephew. All of his business is strictly legal too." He told me, and I slung my head back. He was starting to sound like my mother.
It was a good thing though that he and Ramos were such good friends. I would still be talking to Alexander to confirm I wouldn't owe him anything for him looking out for me, but for now I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders.
"Okay Papa JJ. I'll let you go now, I know you're a very busy man." I told him quietly. It still astounded me how someone who was so busy, still managed to make time for me.
"Of course sweetheart. And don't you worry about Morelli, he'll be staying far from you if he's smart. Gotta go." And like that he'd hung up the phone. I was starting to think most men lacked proper phone etiquette. Was it really so hard to wait for the other person to say goodbye?
Shaking my head I looked at my phone and noticed a text from Lester.
Sorry about last night Beautiful. Ranger took over my class and put me on monitor duty.
Well that explained it. So for now he was off the hook. I knew I'd never be able to talk to him at Rangeman, so I texted him back asking him to meet me at Pino's later. I smiled when he texted back letting me know he'd be there. It was nearing four o' clock and I thought about going to see Alexander or my parents.
I knew Alexander was fond of me, but I didn't want to show up unexpectedly and stumble across something I shouldn't. Parent's house it was then. I wrote a note and left it on the counter for Mary Lou, letting her know I'd be home late and not to worry. I locked up behind me and headed towards my parents house in my Cherokee.
I could've walked, but considering I had plans for later, I figured driving would be best. My mother's child locator was fully functional. She was standing by the front door when I pulled up. I walked up the steps and she opened the door. "Oh, Steph. It's good to see you? How are you feeling? Do you want some pineapple upside down cake?" She asked in rapid succesion.
I sighed internally, my mother was feeling guilty. Not that she should, but she would none the less. She would blame herself for the deterioration of mine and Morelli's relationship, claiming that she pushed me too far into his arms. Which she did, but it wasn't her fault Morelli was a cheating scumbag. But I was getting cake out of the deal, so I would let her fuss for a while then assure her that none of this was in any way her fault.
I walked in and took my place at the kitchen table. My father was in his chair, eyes firmly glued to the television, and gave me a cursory 'Hey pumpkin' when he spotted me. I just nodded back. Grandma Mazur was no where to be seen and it made me wonder who had died.
"Mary Bell Fortina. Heart attack. She's at the funeral parlor, and thankfully it's open casket so there shouldn't be any calls." My mother told me. Even though we had our problems, my mother could still read me and tell what I was thinking. Of course when my thoughts concerned Grandma Mazur, there wasn't much to guessing.
Mom laid a plate of pineapple upside down cake in front of me with a hasty eat up. She didn't have to tell me twice. My mother made the best pineapple upside down cake in the tri-state area, and I was willing to place everything on it.
"I heard about what that Morelli boy did. Cheating on you was bad enough. But cheating on you and getting several women pregnant." She tsked," And then hauling you into the police station like some sort of common criminal when he's the one who was in the wrong. I'd like to wring his neck." She told me sitting down next to me.
My mother wasn't the only one. From what i'd heard, Morelli had a lot of pissed of brothers and fathers looking for him. Maybe he'd lay low for a while and leave me alone. It wasn't likely, but a girl could hope.
"I just can't believe he was so stupid to leave the shirt out." I told her. Morelli might have been full of himself and an ass, but he wasn't dumb. Most of the time. So him leaving the shirt out told me he wanted me to find it. Why, I didn't know. Maybe Morelli had finally lost all of his marbles.
My mother hummed comfortingly and patted my hand. She offered a second piece of cake, but I turned her down. It was now close to six and I needed to meet Lester at Pino's. On the drive over I saw Morelli's car sitting on the curb. The words 'dick', 'cheater' and 'asshole' had been spray painted all over it. Someone had even went as far as to place a boot on his car.
I laughed and continued driving to Pino's. Walking in I spotted Lester against the far wall and had to stop myself from gasping when I saw his face. Looked like Ranger had done a lot more than assign Lester to Monitor duty. I slid into the booth across from him and held my hands tightly in my lap.
Lester's cheek was showing signs of early bruising, and his knuckles were raw. Other than that he looked unscathed, but I couldn't see the rest of him. I felt my anger flare up when I looked at him.
"What the hell happened?" I hissed out trying to stay quiet. Honestly I didn't think Ranger would do this just because I went to Lester instead of him, but with Ranger you could never be too sure.
"I was advised to stop while I was ahead, and that poaching on you would be met with dire consequences. Cousin or not." He told me grimacing. He avoided looking directly at me instead staring at his clenched fists.
"He did what? He has no right! He has no claim on me. He made that very clear himself, a long, long time ago." I snarled. I couldn't believe Ranger would do this to one of his men simply because he was jealous. He had no reason to be jealous. I was a free woman. I could sleep with whomever I wanted too, be friends with who I wanted too, and I damn sure didn't answer to him.
"Yeah, well try telling him that. He's marked you as off limits. Might as well have pissed on your leg. Beautiful, Ranger thinks you're his woman. And if you really don't want to be, then you need to speak up. Otherwise he'll never leave you alone. Not until he's got you all to himself with some way of letting all men know you're off limits." Lester told me leaning back and crossing his arms.
I fell back into my own seat. Damn. Lester was right, but did I really not want to be Ranger's woman. Could I not be just his friend? Had we closed the option to that path the night we sealed the DeChooch agreement? I had too many questions and not enough answers.
"Look, I don't know what I want when it comes to Ranger right now. But I do know I need training. Actual self defense training and gun safety training and all that other bull. If you don't want to help me, I understand. But I need to do this Lester. You understand, right?" I asked him imploringly.
I would deal with my Ranger situation later, for now I needed to focus on me. Lester grinned at me, and I couldn't help but notice that even with a large bruise marring his face, he was still handsome.
"He's not gonna like it, but yeah Beautiful. I'll help you." He told me.
I grinned right back. And ordered us two meatball subs and a large strawberry milkshake for myself. We ate in contented silence and then I left for Mary Lou's. I might not have everything figure out, but I was getting my life back in order. Once piece at a time.
As I was laying on Mary Lou's couch I remembered I was moving tomorrow. I knew I had people to load up Carl's truck, but I had no one to help me unload it. I blew out a breath against my forehead and called Lester, hoping he was still up.
"Beautiful?" He questioned and I felt my pulse race at his sleep addled voice. Damn, that was sexy.
"Um, yeah. Sorry Lester. I didn't mean to wake you, but I just remembered I'm moving tomorrow and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me do some heavy lifting? I realize it's last minute but it slipped my mind." I breathed into the phone.
His warm chuckle answered me, "Sure Beautiful. Me and a few of the guys will come by to help you tomorrow. What time and where?"
I felt relieved and told him the address and time to meet me. He hung up and I laid back down. Tomorrow was the start of a new era in my life, and I was determined it was going to be better than my past.
A/N: Thank you all so much for the support and reviews. I may wind up slowing down my writing because I just found out I'm pregnant with baby number two, and my new course schedule for this Summer is going to be four days a week instead of three. But I will keep this story going as long as I have support and people are interested in it.
