Previous Chapter: I sat up startled as a loud crack and the passenger side window shattered as the cold winter air crashed angrily into the SUV.

"Sorry. Must've been a rock," Lester growled from the front seat. "Fucking son of a bitch," he muttered.

I slouched back into the leather seat as Ranger wrapped his arm firmly around me attempting to shield me from the cold. I couldn't wait to get back to wash off the filth and grime and hopefully push out yet another nightmare out of my head.

CHAPTER 10

"I can't believe what you did last night. It's absolutely amazing!" Misty beamed taking a bite of her salad.

"I just did what I needed to do to get out of that situation," I shrugged taking a bite out of my meatball sub. I moaned loudly. Pino's was a well-known establishment for the best Italian meatball subs, pizza, and a popular cop hang out.

"I think Trenton just adopted their next ingenious fighting style: Shoe Boxing," Carl exclaimed sliding into the booth next to me.

"Sure, take a load off your feet, Carl. Please join us," I responded sarcastically.

He grinned and plucked a fry off of my plate. I slapped his hand and shot him a "don't do that again if you know what's good for you" look.

"So Bones told me the details of what happened which was pretty amazing but after seeing the videos—"

"—wait videos?" I cut her off mid-bite of my sub, wiping the excess marinara sauce off my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Yeah, you're an internet sensation. The Bombshell Bounty Hunter has gone viral. It's too bad I didn't get a front row seat for the show," Carl exclaimed snatching my other meatball sub half. This man was lucky that I was too distracted by this "video sensation" otherwise he'd be a dead man.

"Can you see my face in any of the videos?" I panicked.

"Not that I can tell. I mean I know you so I know that it's you, but it's really dark and people were taking the video with their camera phones so it's not the best of quality," Misty replied handing me her cell phone with a dark video streaming. "But your ass is pretty front and center in some of the shots," she grinned.

She was right. The video was too dark for anybody to see the details and the camera men pervs focused a lot on my ass flapping in the wind. We were bumbling around so much that you couldn't get a quick look at anything anyways except one dark shadowed side profile of my face as Ranger grabbed me before I leapt at Bradford for a final blow. Ranger seemed to be meticulously shielding my face from being seen. I don't know if just happened to end up that way or if he planned it.

"I have to go," I said taking another big bite and gulp of coke before shoving Carl out of the seat.

"Hey, Alys," Misty reached out and touched my arm gently. "I know my family isn't the best but Christmas is coming up soon. I just wanted to remind you that you're always welcome."

"Thanks, Mis. But I already have plans," I gave her a quick smile.

"Well, the offer stands if you ever change your mind."

I went to throw a couple of bills down on the table when Misty blocked my hand, "I got it."

"Thanks, Mis," I leaned over and gave her a hug and left the restaurant.

I hopped into my car. How did I get my car back? Ranger, who else? It just miraculously appeared in the Rangeman garage with a brand new shiny key.

"Yo," Ranger answered the phone.

"Yo yourself."

"Babe."

"I need that video taken down of me."

"Hector's already working on it. It can't truly be erased. It's the internet, Babe."

"I know but I just need to get rid of what I can."

"Everything ok?"

"Everything's fine. I just don't want my face all over the internet. It's one thing for the local papers to display my failures but it's another for the whole world to witness."

"It's not a failure, Babe. You're clearly the victor."

"That's not the point. It's too risky having my face online. Please will you help me?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks, Ranger. I'll be at Rangeman at nine tonight for monitor duty."

"Don't go crazy today, Babe."

Click.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? When was I ever crazy?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Monitor duty had to be the most boring thing on earth. You sit in a chair and stare at a bunch of monitors trying to see if anything is out of the ordinary. I was partnered with Binkie today. His real name was Brandon Hartford. I learned that he was a swimming champion back when he was in high school and he was originally from Columbus, Ohio.

Binkie was the latest addition, aside from me, to the Rangeman team. And he earned the nickname for being the youngest person to make it into the SEALs. So naturally he was the baby and the nickname just stuck. He had the all-American boy good looks. He had a thick head of blond hair, blue eyes, a smile that could melt your heart, and a mid-western accent that would have you dragging him home to meet your mama.

We shot the shit for a couple of hours but when it started to hit 2am my eyes glazed over. I had three more hours left on my shift and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it.

"Hey, Bomber," I heard someone quietly whisper as he nudged me.

I jerked awake in my chair and almost fell out before Binkie caught me. "W-what?" I stuttered rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Our shift is over," Binkie said quietly.

"Oh, why did you let me fall asleep?" I grumbled.

"Thought you needed the sleep and I didn't have a problem handling the monitors. It was a quiet night anyways."

"Thanks, Binkie," I got up from my chair and kissed him on the cheek. I spun around and rammed into Cal's chest. "Jesus! How long have you been standing there?"

He chuckled and threw his arms around me, "Just in time to catch you snoring."

"I do not snore!" I looked over at Binkie horrified.

"You don't snore, Bomber," he reassured me.

"Get out of my way you big oaf!" I wriggled out of his arms.

I bumbled down the hallway towards the elevator. If I could get to my car and race home, I could get in a good three hours of sleep before heading into the Bond's Office. I pushed the down button and leaned my head up against the wall and rested my eyes as I waited.

"Hey, Beautiful," I heard Les' muffled voice.

I waved my hand to shoo him away. "Leave me alone," I mumbled.

The last thing I remembered was the sound of him chuckling before I mind drifted into the darkness.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Babe," I heard Ranger's muffled voice call out for me.

"Go away!" I muttered into the pillow and yanked the covers over top of my head. My hardwood floor felt like heaven — all nice and soft. And it smelled like — wait — Ranger!

I lifted my face from where it was planted into the pillow and blinked my eyes. "This isn't my floor," I observed groggily.

Ranger chuckled.

"What the fuck, Ranger. You need to stop kidnapping me and putting me in your bed," I mumbled crashing my face back into the soft lavish pillow.

"Babe, I didn't kidnap you. You fell asleep by the elevator."

I groaned.

"Get up. Ella's bringing up dinner."

Wait, did he say dinner? What time was it?

"It's a quarter to six, Babe."

"Fuck!" I hissed rolling onto my back. "Why did you let me sleep the day away? Connie's probably wondering why I didn't show up this morning."

"Babe, it's Sunday."

"What?" I smacked my head. "Wait — What happened to Saturday?"

"You slept through it."

"How could I have slept through it? You should've woken me up!"

"We tried. I even had Bobby come check on your vitals to make sure you were still alive. You're a little scary, Babe. Every time someone would try to wake you up, you went into fight mode."

"Sorry," I said sheepishly as my stomach let out a monstrous growl.

"We need to feed that beast. Get cleaned up and meet me in the kitchen."

I quickly washed up in Ranger's immaculate bathroom and generously slathered on his delicious smelling Bvlgari green tea body wash and shampoo. I stormed into the kitchen and took my place at the counter and dug into the meal sitting on the table of roasted chicken, grilled eggplant and chayote salad. I will not apologize for my lack in manners at the moment because, let's face it, I haven't eaten in over a day! There was no time for polite pleasantries.

"Sleeping Beauty awakens," Les chuckled.

"What the heck are you doing here?" I asked shoveling the salad into my mouth. I was so hungry that I didn't even care that I was currently eating rabbit food. This was some serious food business I was dealing with here. It's a wonder how Ella makes healthy taste so good.

"He invited himself," Ranger answered with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"So, Beautiful, you know Christmas is coming up in less than a week."

I nodded my head, "Which reminds me…Ranger, do you mind if I take a couple of days off? I'll work double time when I return to make up for time lost."

"How are you going to work double time after the hours you're already working? Beautiful, I found you passed out against the wall by the elevator after your monitoring shift and you slept through a day and a half. I don't think you could handle taking on any more hours." Les asked stabbing at the eggplant with his fork.

"I can handle it! I'll figure something out," I said defensively. "I just had a rough day."

"Babe, you can take the time off. There's no need to make up the hours."

"But—"

"—He's the boss. Just listen to him," Les cut me off as he gulped down his water. "So what do you have planned for Christmas?"

"I usually take a trip to the beach."

"It's kind of cold for the beach isn't it?"

"Yeah, so it's usually pretty quiet and peaceful. I like listening to the waves crashing and it's easier to hear it when nobody's around."

"Must be pretty lonely going by yourself," Les said quietly.

"Nope, I'm used to it. I actually prefer it," I finished my last bite of chicken.

"When are you leaving?"

"Why are you going to stalk me?" I glared at him.

"Possibly," he chuckled. "Just wanted to make sure to know when you disappear so that, this one—" he elbowed Ranger "—doesn't send out the fucking platoon looking for you thinking you fell off the grid or got kidnapped."

"The Friday evening before Chrstimas."

"Babe," Ranger said in a slightly amused tone as he grabbed a napkin and wiped my face like a child.

"Geez, Beautiful, it's like the Tasmanian Devil crashed through here!"

I looked down at the counter where I was sitting pieces of food was scattered all over the table, on my shirt, probably on my face which was why Ranger was wiping me up then looked over at Les and Ranger's plates which were tidy and neat.

I blushed, "Sorry, I'll clean it up."

"No need, Babe. Ella will take care of it when she comes back up."

"No! I'll take care of it," I shouted appalled that he would let someone else clean up my mess.

"Babe, Ella's very particular. She'd come up here and clean up after you anyways. Besides, it looks like you need to get cleaned up again."

Les stood up walked around the counter and threw his arm around me. "It's just so there's something to nibble on for later, right Beautiful?" he wagged his eyebrow suggestively at me.

"Maybe," I purred flirtatiously as I wrapped my arms around his waist.

I swear I heard Ranger grunt as he disappeared into the bedroom.

"What's his problem?" Les asked as he nuzzled my neck.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Maybe he's grumpy cause he hasn't gotten much sleep?"

"I probably wouldn't either, sleeping next to you."

I blushed and shoved him off of me. "I need to get myself back to my apartment," I said collecting the dishes and piled them into the dishwasher. Just because Ella is going to come here and clean up doesn't mean that I can't at least help make it easier for her to tidy up.

I noticed Monster flourishing on the window sill above the sink and stroked his limbs. He was a beautiful healthy green without a spot of brown in sight. I could tell he was happy at Ranger's. I mean who wouldn't be? Being at Ranger's you get a beautiful environment to live in and best of all it has Ella.

"Nope you're not going anywhere. You owe me a movie night," Les spun me around into his arms.

"I don't remember agreeing to that."

"Sure you did. I tried waking you and asked you if you would do a movie night with me. Then you tried to punch me in the face and finally said, 'Fine, just leave me alone.'" he mimicked my voice in an low grumpy growl.

"I don't sound like that and plus I was asleep!"

"Yeah, but you said you would so you don't have a choice."

"Fine, let me go get ready," I rolled my eyes and pretended to act annoyed. I mean who would really be annoyed spending an evening with a hot, sexy, Latino man?

"No need, Beautiful. I think what you're wearing is perfect," his wolfish grin spread across his face as he eyes Ranger's t-shirt suggestively. So in my haste to stuff food in my face I threw on Ranger's t-shirt and no pants. Who knew that Les was going to be joining us?

"In your dreams, Santos," I patted his cheek and turned to disappear into the bedroom.

The moment entered the bedroom, the door shut behind me and I was immediately pushed up against it with Ranger pressed up against me. His lips crashed down on mine as I instinctively wrapped my hands around his neck. He grasped my ass with both of his hands and hoisted me up making me automatically wrap my legs around his torso.

He growled into my ear, "You have food in your hair, Babe."

"Like Les said, I'm saving it for later," my voice hitched as he slid his hand up the length of my thigh up my shirt.

"You're an insane woman," Ranger's lip twitched as he caressed my face and looked into my eyes.

"Yeah, I have to agree with you there. But it's fun, right?" I smiled at him.

This brought on a full 300-wattage smile on which was one of the most enchanting things to ever witness. Ranger's full-on smile should be classified as one of the seven wonders in the world.

"Babe, only you could bring out a smile in me," he said leaning his forehead onto mine.

That had to be one of the most perfect things that have ever been said to me. I pulled his face into mine and kissed him deeply.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

"Hey, you guys better be decent in there," Les called from the other side of the door.

"Go away, Santos!" Ranger growled.

"Can't, man. You're holding my date hostage."

I giggled and unwrapped myself from Ranger torso. "I'll be out in a sec, Les," I called out to him.

The Ranger swept me off my feet and tossed me onto the bed within seconds my t-shirt had disappeared and Ranger was on top of me topless. He trailed kisses down my neck which sent spine tingling electroshocks through my body.

"Ranger, if I don't go, your insane cousin will probably break down your door."

"I'll kill him if he does," he grumbled massaging my breast.

I pushed him gently off of me. "It's probably for the best anyways. You don't do relationships. I don't do casual. And I'm not even sure how I feel about my breakup with Joe. And if I stay here any longer, who knows what regretful things may happen."

Ranger rolled off of me and laid quietly next to me. I bounced up and straddled his waist and leaned down to give him a quick kiss on the nose, "But thank you for the kisses. It helped wake me up."

I went to move off of the bed when Ranger grabbed my wrist as he sat up. "You and Santos—"

"—are good friends," I finished off his sentence.

I quickly threw on a set of my Rangeman uniforms out of Ranger's closet. You're probably asking why I have clothes in Ranger's closet. I don't know what to tell you because I'm still trying to figure out that question myself. He claims they're emergency clothes because I tend to get myself into literal messes a lot, but why not keep it in one of the lockers in the locker room down in the gym? It's still a mystery to me.

I waved goodbye to Ranger as I hooked my arm into Les' arm and took off to go see some movie about aliens and robots. Thank god it was a movie about something serious and I could truly wrap my mind around.