Chapter 10

Stephanie's POV

Looking in the refrigerator told me that nothing had miraculously appeared since last night when we'd put the leftovers in there. Nothing in there was calling my name, and Lula was pickier than I was. I looked up at Ranger over my shoulder. "Not much to choose from."

The corner of Ranger's mouth moved up in a half grin. "What would you like to eat, Babe?"

I rolled my eyes. "Food would be good."

He threw his head back in laughter. Seconds later, he took my hand, pulled me from in front of the open fridge, then led me through to the den where Lula and Tank were waiting. "How's the head feeling?"

"I got a slight headache, but I'm good. Why? What's up?"

Ranger winked at me. "Stephanie isn't exactly thrilled with the choices we have for a meal, so why don't we take the ladies to Marty's?"

Lula frowned. "What's Marty's? It's not some lame-ass dive, is it? 'Cause those places don't set with me—well, unless they have out-of-this-world food."

Tank gave Lula a look which had her giving him a second look. "Woman, you ain't tasted food till you've eaten at Marty's."

"Uhn-huhn. You best be telling it like it is, big boy, 'cause if we get all the way there and the food is lame, I got your number."

Twenty minutes later, Ranger pulled into one of the seedier parts of Miami. If it was just Lula and me, there would be no way I would even stop in this part of town. Growing up in Trenton meant that I was familiar with the sleazier element of the mob and that I was adept at staying out of their sights—well, for the most part, anyway. If you didn't count the circus fiasco.

After turning off the Porsche Cayenne, Ranger pocketed the keys and turned to where I was sitting. "Normally, I wouldn't want the two of you anywhere near this part of town. Bringing you here will serve as a warning to the criminal element of the city." He paused, his gaze snaring mine. "When we go in there, I need both of you to act comfortable with us, like we've known each other for years instead of days. If you feel uncomfortable with anyone, move closer to us and don't act surprised if we act familiar. What we're trying to sell in there is that you are with us. People in this part of town know that Tank and I protect our own."

I turned to see how Lula was taking the news. From the smile plastered there, I knew she'd be okay with this. Looking back at Ranger, I said, "We're good to go. Just make sure you aren't the one jumping with surprise."

The corner of his mouth lifted.

My hand went to the door, but Ranger rested his hand on my thigh. "We'll open your doors. I hope you two aren't die-hard women's libbers. If we treat you like ladies, then the men in there will follow suit."

Lula asked, "Does that mean we gotta be boring? Or we gonna have some fun too?"

Ranger's eyebrow went up as he glanced in the rearview mirror. "I think we can handle anything you want to try."

The guys climbed out of the SUV, and while Tank went around the back to Lula's side, Ranger made his way around the front to where I was sitting. When he held his hand out to me, the tingling in the back of my neck went into overdrive as I placed my hand in his. Heat zinged threw my body as I stepped out into his arms.

Once Lula and Tank joined us, we made our way inside.

Marty's was surprisingly well-maintained on the inside, which was an oxymoron to the appearance of the outside of the building. The lighting was low, and it took several seconds for my eyes to acclimatize to the dimness so that I could see into the shadows.

We'd barely taken five steps when a shadow fell in front of us. The man it belonged to held out his hand, a smile on his face. "Ranger. It's been a long time."

Ranger grasped the man's hand firmly, pumping it once before he let go. "Marty. Good to see you again."

Marty looked my way, his eyes studying me for several seconds before he smiled. Tipping his hat, he said, "Ma'am."

I bit my lip, debating whether I'd let it go. Letting out a breath, I looked up at Ranger. He lifted an eyebrow, as if he were asking me a question. I bit harder, and Ranger's thumb reached out and soothed over my mangled lip. "What's wrong, Babe?"

I didn't want to hurt the old guy's feelings, so I leaned close to Ranger and whispered, "He called me ma'am."

Marty chuckled. "Well, he won't do it again. I can't call you Babe, and clearly you don't care to be called ma'am. So what should I call you?"

In that moment, I knew that Marty was someone that I was going to like. I grinned as I held out my hand to him. "My name is Stephanie. You can call me that or Steph."

He took my hand in his and lifted it to his mouth as he bent his head to kiss the back of my hand. Once he'd completed the gesture, his gaze met mine and he winked. "Okay, Stephanie, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Now, what's a nice girl like you doing with a curmudgeon like Ranger?"

I glanced up at Ranger to see if he was going to give me a clue how he wanted me to handle this guy. The fact that he remained silent told me that he trusted the man in front of us and knew that no matter what I did, Marty was a friend and I didn't need to watch myself around him.

"Well, he promised to feed me."

My cheeks heated as my stomach chose that precise moment to make us aware of the fact that we had yet to put any food in it. I turned to Ranger and put my forehead against his chest as I mumbled, "Can you arrange for the floor to open up and swallow me now?"

He wrapped his arms around me as the others chuckled.

Marty leaned in to whisper. "You are a refreshing breath of fresh air, Stephanie. If this one doesn't treat you right, you come see me and I'll explain it to him."

I turned my head to look at him, and the sincerity on his face told me he meant every word. I smiled weakly. "Thank you, Marty. But I don't think that's something I have to worry about."

He gave a nod, then turned to the guys. "I'm glad to see you've come to take care of business. Chan has made inroads, but he's going to need backup to get rid of all the bad seeds."

Tank nodded. "They don't seem to be too keen on doing their jobs."

"If you need an extra hand, just give a holler."

Ranger's hand moved to the back of my neck. "Thanks, Marty. We'll be in touch."

Marty moved into the crowd, and Ranger led us to a table on the back wall. The fact that Ranger placed himself where he had a clear view of everything going on in the room wasn't lost on me. What amazed me was that Tank was also able to maneuver the chairs so he too would have a clear view of the entire room. That, of course, left Lula and me sitting together on the other side of the table with our backs to the room.

A pretty blonde moved over to our table. There was a flash of something in her eyes before she masked it and smiled at Ranger. "What can I get for you?"

Lula frowned at the young woman. "How we supposed to order when we don't know what you have?"

The blonde lifted her head and sent Lula an icy look. "Sorry. Most people know that we serve burgers and fries, fried chicken and fries, or fish and fries. Of course, we can mix up a garbage pail with a mix of everything if you're feeling piggish."

The air at the table turned frigid, and the blonde was too stupid to see she'd made a tactical error.

A harsh voice rang out behind her. "Get your gear together and clear out, Tiffany. You're fired."

The blonde turned in surprise to where an older woman was standing with her hands on her hips. Before Tiffany could say anything, the woman held up a hand. "You were warned the last time that if you pulled your shit again, you'd be gone."

Tiffany threw her order pad at the older woman and screeched, "You'll be sorry for this, you old hag," and then she flounced out of the building.

The older woman turned to where we were sitting and grinned. "Sorry about that one. She should have been cut loose a long time ago." She handed us a couple of menus. "I'll be back in a minute to take your order."

When she'd disappeared, Lula turned where Tank and Ranger were seated. "What was that all about?"

Tank shrugged. "She's friends with someone we know."

My eyes narrowed on Ranger. "Is this someone you're involved with?"

His gaze met mine. "Until I met you, I'd considered asking her to marry me. Not because I loved her, but because she was someone I could live with if I had to."

My eyes widened. "You don't pull your punches, do you?"

"I'd like to think that I deal honestly with everyone."

"So, what happened to this woman?"

"I let her know it was time to move on."

My eyes narrowed as I studied him. "So do I take it that now I'm the front runner until you find someone that fits better for you?"

Ranger chuckled. "I can see you don't pull any punches either."

I smiled sweetly. "I'm not some fill-in piece that you can have your fun with until it's time to move on. If you want something with me, you're going to have to work for it."

Ranger leaned back in his chair as his eyes studied me. "Good to know, Babe. I wouldn't have it any other way."

When the food came, it was excellent. The cheeseburger melted the minute it hit my mouth, and the fries had a seasoning that elevated them beyond anything I'd ever tasted before. Tank had a triple decker cheeseburger with potato salad and coleslaw, and Lula had a deluxe platter with cheeseburger sliders, buffalo wings, fries, coleslaw, and fried pickles. Ranger was the only odd duck in the group. He'd asked for baked fish—no coating—and a side salad with the dressing on the side.

We were nearly finished eating when Lula looked around before turning back to me. "This place ain't half bad. What's say we get jobs here?"

Tank started coughing, like he'd swallowed wrong.

Lula thumped him on the back and then said, "Geez, big boy. Maybe you need to take a class in eating so you can learn how to chew and swallow. This is the second time I had ta step in and help you out. Can' have you choking before we hit the sheets."

Tank's eyes nearly bugged out, and the choking got worse.

Ranger lifted the corner of his mouth in a smirk as he turned to me and winked. "Looks like your friend doesn't waste time either."

I took a look around. Although I felt comfortable with Tank and Ranger here with us, and I knew Marty would watch out for us as well, the other customers dining in this fine establishment didn't leave me with a good feeling. "I can't see us working here. Maybe we could find something else. Besides, we need something within walking distance, remember? My car went to that place where all dead vehicles go."

Lula looked puzzled. "The trash heap? Car heaven?"

I rolled my eyes at her.

"What?"

"Never mind."

This time, it was Lula who rolled her eyes. "Why say something if you just gonna tell me to never mind? Geez, girl. Get with the program."

Ranger leaned forward, his hands were clasped loosely together on the table. "What kind of work are you looking for?"

As if she sensed fresh blood—or in this case, a new job opportunity—Lula jumped on Ranger's words in a heartbeat. "What kind a job you got for us?"

Ranger's gaze met Tank's.

Tank grimaced before flicking a glance at Lula and then giving a nod.

Ranger's gaze moved to meet mine. "Usually I have a housekeeper come in when I'm staying at the house. Since the two of you are already staying there, maybe we could work out an arrangement where you do the cleaning and cooking in exchange for room and board as well as a small wage."

Cleaning I was okay with. I mean, how much trouble could a person get into cleaning. The cooking was another problem entirely. I couldn't even boil water, and I knew Lula wasn't any better. Just as I was opening my mouth to gracefully decline the offer, Lula stuck out her hand and declared, "You got yourself a couple of housekeepers."

My head swung around to her, my eyes wide as I silently asked her if she had any idea of what she was doing.

She turned to me with the sugary sweet smile she used when she was determined to get her way, regardless of what I had to say about the matter.

Knowing a lost cause when I saw one, I remained silent. I figured Lula would find out soon enough that this job wasn't going to be as easy as she thought it was. And if Ranger was willing to hire us to cook without having tasted our efforts, well then, he deserved what he got.

Once Lula had shaken hands with the two of them, I followed suit.

It didn't take us long to finish our meal, and Ranger motioned for the check before taking several bills out and laying them on the table to pay for the meal. "Time to go ladies. Four a.m. comes early."

Lula and I glanced at each other before turning to Ranger.

Lula frowned. "What does four a.m. have to do with us?"

Ranger gave a slight smile. "I run at four every morning. You'll need to get up then so that you have breakfast ready when we get back."

"What time you get back?"

"Usually around six."

"So there you go. You get up and go for your run at four, and Steph and I'll get up at six. We'll have plenty of time to get your breakfast ready while you two shower and get dressed." Lula's eyes glazed over, and she blushed. "Oh, I think I just wet myself thinking of these fine men in the shower nekkid."

Now that Lula had put the thought in my head, I felt dampness as the idea of Ranger naked in the shower featured in my own thoughts. A hand passing in front of my face brought me back to the present, and I looked up into Ranger's knowing eyes.

He winked at me as he leaned in so that I was the only one to hear him whisper, "You have an open invitation anytime you want it, Babe."

I felt the heat in my cheeks as I blushed, but I refused to look away. "Good to know. But don't hold your breath while you're waiting. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you while I take my time."

My breathe caught at the mega-watt smile he bestowed upon me.

He winked again as he told me, "I'll look forward to the end game."

The four of us headed out. As we were leaving, there was a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach as I caught a glimpse of something blonde near where we'd parked. My hand moved out to touch Ranger's arm. When he turned to see what I wanted, I waved toward the Cayenne. "I saw something blonde over there, and I have a bad feeling about it."

Ranger gave a miniscule nod. "Stay here with Tank, and I'll check it out."

Instinctively, I clutched at him. I didn't want him going over there. The thought of it had my stomach feeling topsy-turvy. "Do you have to?"

His finger ran down my nose. "I know what I'm doing, Babe."

I bit my lip as I watched him move away from us. The closer he got to the Cayenne, the louder the voice inside me was telling me we needed to get away from here. When I could stand it no more, I caught movement in the shadows. Several things connected together simultaneously in my mind, and when I put them all together, I turned to Tank. "There's a bomb on the underside of the car."

Tank looked at me for a second and then said, "Ranger, fall back. Now!"

Ranger hesitated before heading back to where we were.

The movement I'd seen before repeated as the blonde waitress from inside stepped out of the shadows. "You can't avoid me forever, you bastard. Jeanne Ellen called and told me that after months of you sniffing around her, you suddenly dropped her cold. Now I know why, and I made sure to call and tell her as well."

Ranger gave Tank a look I didn't understand, but before he had the chance to say or do anything, the Cayenne went up like a Christmas tree. The blast was hotter than it should have been, though, and not only did it take out the Cayenne, but there were three other cars that were caught in the inferno. The sound of sirens was nearly instantaneous, which made me wonder how they'd been able to get here so quickly.

Lula grimaced. "Well, don't look like she'll be givin' you no more trouble. 'Course, this Jeanne Ellen she's talking 'bout might be another matter."

Both Ranger and Tank were looking at me a little strangely. Tank was the one that asked, "How did you know?"

I shrugged. "I had a bad feeling the minute we stepped out of Marty's. But then when Ranger was nearly to the SUV, there were some things that, when put together, seemed like they were all pieces of a puzzle." I looked at Ranger. "She doesn't have the knowledge she would have needed to plant that device." I paused for a moment before asking him, "Who do you know that would know how to do it and wants to take you out?"

The tension in the air grew by leaps and bounds after I asked that question, and the quick look Tank and Ranger shared told me that I'd given them something to think about. I also got the impression that they both had the same idea.

Ranger took out his cell and made a call. It took a few seconds before it was answered, and he responded to whoever was on the other end. "Report."

I studied him while he listened to what was being said. His eyes narrowed, and he glanced over at Tank a couple of times. There was more going on here than we knew, but whether he would read Lula and me into the program was another issue entirely. Although I didn't pay attention to everything he was saying, I did pay attention to his actions. I also started wondering… If this person was knowledgeable enough to get the device under the Cayenne, did they know where Ranger lived? And how safe would it be for Lula and me to be living there?

Glancing up, I saw that Ranger was off the phone. Some of what I had been thinking must have occurred to him as well, because he said, "I think I should put you up at a hotel, Stephanie. At least until we can catch whoever is behind this."

I wasn't thrilled with the fact that I might become a target, but I needed access to the computer at Ranger's house if I was going to catch Rangoonie, and I was more determined than ever to make that bastard pay for our losing our money and whatever it was they did to Lula. Even though Rangoonie didn't get our money, he was partially responsible for the fact that we no longer had it. I was determined to make sure he no longer had the money he'd fleeced out of all those other people.

I lifted my shoulder. "He'll have to get through the system in order to get in the house. I can tweak the system so he'll have enough trouble to consider it not worth his time."

Ranger's eyebrow raised. "Babe, my security system is the best. I don't think you'll need to…tweak it."

I grinned. "Of course your system is the best. No one would ever be able to get past it, right?"

Ranger chuckled. "Touché, Babe."