You Did What?

Chapter 10

A/N: Thanks so much to everyone that reviewed. I will announce the name of the Honeymoon story, when this story ends. I have less than 4 weeks of school left, thank goodness. Thanks to Angie and jenrar for everything they do.

Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.

Ranger's POV

Steph muttered under her breath, "This should be interesting," as I picked up her hand and brushed my lips across her knuckles.

I watched as none other than Joe Morelli cockily walked up to the driver's side window. I rolled down the window. "Can I help you, Morelli?"

"License and registration, Manoso," he sneered.

I shook my head in disbelief as I pulled out the requested documents. If he was this pissed over me taking Steph away to Vegas, I could only imagine what his reaction would be to finding out that she's, now and forever, solely mine. I handed him the information, and he leaned in to speak to Stephanie.

"Cupcake, can I speak to you for a minute?"

Stephanie looked like a deer caught in the headlights. I decided to handle the situation myself.

"Morelli …" Did I want to bait the bear? Oh, hell yeah! "My wife has nothing to say to you right now."

"WIFE!!!!!" Morelli slammed his fists down hard on the Turbo.

I threw the door open and jumped out to see if he'd damaged the roof of the car. I caught Morelli at the waist with the car door.

"What the hell is your problem? You'd better pray that didn't leave a dent!"

"You just assaulted an officer, Manoso. Put your hands behind your back."

Stephanie started to mutter under her breath. "Not again! I just got him out of jail in Vegas. And just great, I can't even call Tank this time. He's probably getting on the plane to come home. Now what am I supposed to do?"

I glared at Morelli. "You can't be serious! You're arresting me because I won. You're pissed that you've lost her forever. Man up, Officer," I said sarcastically, "and let me take my wife home."

His right fist connected with my jaw, causing my head to snap back momentarily. I wanted nothing more than to beat him senseless, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

Joe reached for his gun. "Put your hands behind your back. Keep resisting arrest... the charges will just keep piling on," he chuckled wryly. "Your choice, Manoso."

I looked over at Steph and saw her eyes full of tears. All she wanted was to go home and relax. I'd told her that we would deal with the 'Burg tomorrow, and instead, it looked like we would be dealing with it tonight.

"Babe, call Bobby. He'll know what to do. Tell him Level Two status until further notice." I placed my hands behind my back.

"Level Two status, what's that?" she asked as she dialed Bobby from her phone.

Joe interjected, "I can't believe that you married this thug. Level Two status probably has something to do with putting you on lockdown. How could you be so stupid, Stephanie? He's a no good, spic street thug."

Steph sucked in a breath, and I could hear Bobby yelling through the phone, trying to get her attention.

"You know what, Joe? You're a stupid ass! My husband is a better man than you'll ever be."

I'd always hoped that Steph would feel that way about me, but I never dreamed I'd hear her say it.

Morelli clicked the cuffs in place and started shoving me towards the cruiser. Steph screamed, "JOE!!! You can't do this. Please?" She ran over to us and wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Cupcake, we will talk about your annulment later at your parents," Joe icily replied.

"Officer Morelli, there will be NO annulment," I said in a tone that left no room for argument. "She's my wife, and that's what she'll stay." I kissed the top of Steph's head as the SUV holding the guys pulled up behind us. Bobby walked over to us. "Babe, go with Bobby. I'll be home later."

Bobby reached for Steph, who reluctantly let go of me. I looked over at Bobby. "Level Two status until I get back."

He gave a quick nod of his head and started to walk Steph away from me. This was the first time we had been separated since the wedding, and leaving on these terms was completely unacceptable. Morelli would pay for this.

I knew that Bobby would call the attorney, and it would be no time at all before Steph was back safe inside my arms. Joe slammed his door and started driving us towards the Trenton PD.

"How'd you do it? Get her drunk? There's no way that she willingly agreed to marry you."

"I asked, she accepted. No alcohol involved."

No way in hell would he get anything out of me about how much trouble it had been to get her to marry me.

"You're shitting me. You didn't get her drunk? That's what I considered … several times."

"You just don't get it, do you, Morelli? You treat her like she's incapable of thinking or making a decision on her own. You have never seen her as anything other than your plaything. You know what? She's right, you really are an ass." We were pulling into the back lot of the police station. "Let me make one thing perfectly clear before we go inside and sort this whole mess out. Man to man … Steph is my wife, for now and forever. You will stay away from her. I don't share. You lay a finger on her, I promise, you won't like the consequences."

"Is that a threat?"

I chuckled. "What do you think? It isn't a threat, it's a promise."

Once the car came to a stop, Big Dog walked over to the back of the car and let me out. "Manoso???" He turned to Morelli, wearing a stupefied look on his face. "What's going on, Joe?"

"He's under arrest for assaulting an officer."

I raised an eyebrow at Big Dog. He looked confused, but lead me inside the building. I was unsurprised to see Mr. Matthews already waiting for me inside the station. I knew the obscene amount of money that I paid this man was worth it.

"Take those cuffs off my client immediately, if not sooner."

"Hell, no! He gets no special treatment," Joe snarled.

"We'll just see about that, Officer Morelli." Mr. Matthews walked away from us for a few minutes, made a phone call, and returned with a smile on his face. "The mayor and the chief will be here in a few minutes. I'm sure we will get this matter resolved posthaste."

True to his word, Junaik and Trevors walked in fifteen minutes later. Trevors looked down at my cuffed wrists, and swore under his breath. "Dumb fucks."

He pulled out his handcuff key and released my wrists. "Sorry about this, Carlos."

"I'm just in a hurry to get home. Can we settle this quickly?"

I glared at Joe, daring him to reveal my marriage. This was my news to share, not his.

"Of course, tell us your side of the story."

"Well, my team and I have been out of town on business and a personal matter. My wife and I were driving back from the airport, heading home, when Officer Morelli pulled us over. I'll admit that I was exceeding the speed limit by two miles per hour. He got upset when I introduced him to my bride, and slammed his fists into the roof of my car. I jerked the door open to check for damage and accidentally," on purpose, I chuckled to myself, "clipped Joe with the door."

"Accident, my ass," Joe fumed.

"When he told me he was arresting me for assaulting an office, I..." I pretended to hang my head in shame for a moment, then looked up and continued, "well, I kind of smarted off about him arresting me because he was jealous because Stephanie was with me. He went into a rage and punched me in the jaw, and well, you see the rest."

Joe started trying to explain himself. "He's charged with assaulting an officer."

Joe Juniak had heard enough. "Officer Morelli! Mr. Manoso's a major benefactor to our city. The car that you possibly damaged costs more than you make in two years. What caused this type of behavior from you?"

I interrupted. "Mr. Mayor, Joe learned tonight that while we were away, Stephanie agreed to be my wife."

Fuck, Steph's cell will be ringing within thirty seconds.

All noise in the station became nonexistent. Joe Juniak finally spoke. "Well, it's about time, son. We've seen the way you two look at each other for years." He fixed Morelli with a steady, authoritative glare. "You will drop all charges. Manoso, you're free to go. Congratulations to you and Stephanie."

I shook hands with several well wishers before heading outside to go home. I arrived at RangeMan a few minutes later, and went directly up to seven. The desire to hold my wife was growing stronger by the minute. I opened the door to Steph's phone being flung against the wall. She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"They know!"

TBC …

A/N: Tell me what you think. I want to know what you think happens, next in Trenton. How will Steph's family react? How will his family react?