Disclaimer: Everyone belongs to Janet Evanovich except the ones that are mine, and I'm just playing.
Warnings: Violence, Semi-Smut, and spoilers through 11.
A/N: Special thanks to Stayce for the editing, hand holding and ass kicking. I couldn't have done it without you Babe!
I've decided to try and write shorter chapters in an attempt to update more often. LOL…at least that's the idea, anyway I don't know how it'll work but here is my first shot at this new idea. I hope you guys enjoy it.
Thanks to all of you wonderful readers and reviewers. Please keep the reviews coming, my muse and I love to hear from you!
Previously
"Lester now I'm more confused than ever. What aren't you telling me?"
"You're right there is more. We got out a couple of months later and set up shop here. For the first year or so, we were still doing more government work than anything else so we kept a pretty low profile here in Trenton. But by our second year, we'd gotten into bounty hunting and other security work. Anyway, one day Ranger gets a call from Jeanne Ellen asking if the offer was still open. We were getting busy, it was still pretty much the four of us with contract workers from time to time, and we thought it would be good to have someone like her around so he offered her a job." He unconsciously swallowed hard before he continued the story.
At that moment, she knew with certainty that she was about to confirm her suspicions she'd had ever since she'd met Jeanne Ellen. Her chest tightened and she felt dizzy. She braced herself, tightening her stomach muscles as if she was getting ready to get punched in the gut.
Chapter 9- Ghosts of the Past
By
MiamiBabe
He hated having to talk about Ranger's personal life, but he knew Stephanie. She could be a pit bull when she wanted information. He just hoped he wouldn't have to reveal too much.
He looked at her and mentally cringed. She was pale and looked as if she were in pain. Shit! She knows what's coming, but he couldn't think how not to do this, so he just plunged forward.
"They became friends. They worked together when she first came on the bounty hunting scene. Ranger showed her the ropes of the business."
Once he started telling her more, he realized how alike the situations between the two women and Ranger sounded. So he watched Steph's reaction while he told her the story, knowing that she'd read more into the similarities than she should. Because even though the circumstances were similar, they were completely different.
Steph seemed to deflate as she listened to Lester. She'd known that Ranger had been Jeanne Ellen's mentor, but she never realized how alike their stories were. All this time, she'd thought it had been different with her that she and Ranger had a special bond, but now she knew he'd done this all before. Apparently he played Professor Higgins a lot more than he'd let on.
She had a cold shiver run down her spine as a thought struck her. "Lester what happened between Ranger and Jeanne Ellen? Why did they stop working together?"
Shit, he knew he wasn't going to get away unscathed. He blew out a breath before he replied, "He started training someone else and she got jealous and started making demands of Ranger that he wasn't willing to give into, so they parted ways."
Her voice cracked. "S...so they were a couple?" It tore her heart to know that Ranger had been willing to try a relationship with someone else, which meant that he just didn't want to have a relationship with her.
Lester knew where Steph was going and he immediately responded negatively. "Not a couple! Ranger doesn't do "couple", but they did have an understanding. I guess Jeanne Ellen forgot the rules and became possessive."
"And when exactly did all of this happen?" She asked, but she already knew the answer before he replied.
He waited a beat before he replied, "When you first asked Ranger for help."
She shut her eyes trying to control the wave of emotions that was threatening to take her over.
"So basically I was the equivalent of the other woman," she shakily said.
"No Steph that wasn't how it was, but…I guess that's how she took it."
"It sounds to me like Ranger got bored with her and I became his new toy. I wonder how long it would have been before he got bored with me, if I'd let the poaching go farther? Hell I guess I should be grateful that he let me stick around at all." She said with more bitterness than she intended.
Lester grabbed her by the arms and gently shook her. "Don't ever think that Ranger looked at you and Jeanne Ellen the same way. Yeah, your beginnings with him may be similar but that's where the resemblance ends. She was a coldhearted bitch. And to be blunt she was his fuck buddy. There were no feelings or emotions involved." He took a breath to calm himself down before he continued, "Look I've never really understood your relationship or why you guys have this weird game you play with each other, but I do know one thing. Ranger loves you Steph, don't you know that?"
"Yeah, I know. In his own way…his love comes with a condom not a ring…whatever," she bit out as she rolled her eyes.
Lester was tired and his patience snapped. "Is that what you really think Steph? You think that Ranger's only interest was to get in your pants?"
She blushed. But before she could say anything, he went on. "No offense, but there isn't any pussy worth the time and money that Ranger has spent on you, and do you really think he would have to work that hard to get laid?"
Her blush deepened. She knew she should be offended but he was right. All Ranger had to do was smile and women would be lining up to sleep with him.
And in that moment of embarrassment, she was hit with a wave of shame. Her jealousy of Jeanne Ellen blinded her and she temporarily forgot that Ranger above all else had always been a really good friend. He had always offered his unwavering support and no matter how much it hurt to know she wasn't good enough for him on a relationship perspective, he never let her down as a friend.
"I'm sorry Lester. You're right. I was being an ungrateful brat. Ranger has always been a good friend and I know he cares about me."
"No Steph, I'm sorry. I was out of line. I should never have said those things to you."
She laid her hand on his forearm to reassure him she was fine.
"Ranger is your friend and you were watching his back. You were 100 right, so please don't apologize. I was just taken by surprise and I had a knee jerk reaction. Let's just forget all about it okay?"
Lester looked at her for awhile before he finally nodded his agreement.
"So tell me what you've been able to find out so we can stop Jeanne Ellen before she does any real damage."
"Okay, well it looks like Jeanne Ellen has been a busy girl..." He then went on to tell her everything he'd been able to dig up on her so far.
Tank had been pouring over terrain maps of the mountain area. He had a gut feeling that it was Ranger behind the weird shit that had spooked Sandoval's thugs back to his compound.
"Any luck?" Bobby asked.
Tank pushed the map away from him in frustration. "Not a god damn thing." He was about to ask him how he and Hector were doing with the weapons when someone knocked at the door.
They both immediately drew their weapons and went into combat mode. Hector met them in the dining room. Using hand signals, they jumped into action.
Tank went towards the door while Bobby and Hector each circled around to get themselves in place in case of an ambush. Without making a sound or giving away his position, Tank peered through the door's peephole and then he smiled.
"Stand down," he called out, "it's only Susana."
Bobby and Hector lowered their weapons but didn't completely relax, just in case it was a trap.
Tank cautiously opened the door with his left hand and leveled his gun to Susana's chest with his right. He knew better than to let his guard down completely. He quickly scanned the surrounding area until he was satisfied that there was no one other than Susana out there. Once he was sure it wasn't dangerous, he scooped her up and twirled her around brought her inside the house and closed the door behind her.
He stepped back and took in the woman standing before him. She was 5' 6", long legs, killer body, jet black hair that hung almost to her waist and the most startling green eyes he'd ever seen. She blushed while he gave her a devilish grin.
"Still as gorgeous as ever," he said while giving her a kiss on the cheek.
She threw her arms around him and squeezed him as much as his size permitted. "Pierre, que gusto de verte."
"Créeme, el placer es todo mío." He replied while waggling his eyebrows.
"Good to see some things don't change." She said with a husky laugh.
At that moment Bobby and Hector entered the hallway. Susana turned to see who else came with Tank. She saw Bobby and without thought she leapt into his arms, thrilled to see her old friend.
"Roberto como me has hecho falta." Her words brought an ache in her chest she fought daily. She normally didn't let herself think about these men, especially the one she couldn't seem to remove from her heart, which she had grown to respect and love so much. It had been five long years since she'd seen them last. They had been through a lot together, more than any human should bear. And although her life was turned upside down, she would never regret a minute she spent with them…with him. No matter what the cost.
Bobby's face lit up with a beautiful smile. "Susana you're a sight for sore eyes."
"The feeling is mutual Roberto. I'm just sorry we always come back together in bad times."
"Well maybe this time, you'll come back with us."
She wistfully smiled at him, "perhaps."
"It looks like he's coming around."
Ranger nodded. Slim had thrashed around all night, tossing and turning as his fever had spiked before the medications started to bring it down. But here they were, twenty-four hours later and, for the first time, it looked like he was going to pull through.
"We'll wait another day to see how it goes and then we're going to have to start heading out." Ranger said.
It had been the day from hell between the never ending paper work, the running around checking on accounts and the news about Jeanne Ellen, and Stephanie was exhausted. She never realized that taking on Ranger's duties would be so physically draining. All she wanted to do was take a long hot shower and hit the bed.
She opened the front door and Bob jumped up to greet her, almost knocking her over. "Hey I missed you too but can you let me in?"
Bob moved back and wagged his tail. She laughed, "You're such a goofball."
She put down her purse and keys and started to rub Bob's belly. "I know I haven't been around a lot to play lately, but I promise I'll make it up to you."
Satisfied with Steph's promise, Bob licked her face, wagged his tail and high tailed it to the kitchen.
Stephanie was surprised when she heard Joe's voice coming from the living room, "And what are you going to do to make it up to me?"
TBC-
A/N: So do you think Steph now has to worry about two women? What should she do about Jeanne Ellen? What do you think of Susana? Who do you think she can't keep out of her heart? And how do you think Steph should respond to Joe? I'd love to hear what you guys think, so review and let me and the muse in on your ideas.
Translations (not always literal):
"Pierre, que gusto de verte." It's good to see you.
"Créeme, el placer es todo mío." Believe me the pleasure is all mine.
"Roberto como me has hecho falta." God I've missed you.
