Chapter 11
"Son of a Bitch." Lester announced.
I looked up to see Morelli holding a bouquet of roses waving his hands at me. We had been making our way to baggage claim and he was on the other side of the glass standing next to the baggage carousel. Right now I would have given anything to make the walk longer to avoid dealing with this for just a couple of more minutes.
"Never bothered to get her flowers before." Hector grumbled.
The flight had been uneventful. I slept for most of the flight after Ranger had given me two pills right before we boarded. Apparently, I wasn't a great passenger when I let my nerves get the better of me. I woke up during the last hour of the flight apologizing profusely to Ranger for missing out on the chance to properly appreciate my first-class comfy seat by sleeping on his shoulder and chest and lap. Lester had enjoyed showing me pictures of my various sleeping positions the second I woke up.
I felt my head drop when I saw a woman I recognized as my mother standing beside Morelli. She looked disappointed and I didn't understand why. There was an older woman I remembered from my 'eye of the cobra' memory as my grandmother. The man with them had to be my father, the one who mumbles at the dinner table. I stopped dead in my tracks and Lester crashed into me. Before I could fall forward on my face Ranger caught me and spun me to face him.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He looked concerned.
"I can't deal with this. They're all going to want me to go home with them. She's going to yell at me and he's going to make demands." I was panicked.
He pulled us forward until we were behind a wall so we couldn't be seen by anyone behind the glass on the other side of the security checkpoint. He pulled me into a hug and rocked us slightly. My breathing was quick and I kept repeating myself.
"I can't do this. I just can't. She fucking hates me anyway. Why is she here when she hates me? She's just a bitch to me. She treats me like shit." I smashed my head into Ranger's chest. "He's going to fucking call me cupcake, I just know it. He is going to fuck up my whole life. I can't do this."
Ranger chuckled and pulled me back with a raised eyebrow. A big smile crept across his face and then I watched as he bit back a laugh.
"What about this can you possibly find funny?" I asked.
"You don't usually swear so much." He explained.
I shrugged. "Sometimes those words are needed to properly describe the severity of the situation."
"Listen Babe, you got this. You go over and give everyone hugs and thank them for their concern. When they start asking you or telling you where you are going to stay, go all pouty face. Tell them how you still don't remember and you would feel safe staying with Hector who you remember being like a brother to you. You feel safe in a secure building because there still may be people after you." He helped.
"A secure building?" I asked.
"Yes Steph, Hector lives at Rangeman." He stated.
"Rangeman? Where your apartment is? So, I am essentially going to live with you?" He nodded and I practically shrieked. "Fuck my life."
"What?" He was confused.
"What? What you ask? They are going to assume I am going with you. Morelli will start a fight with you because he will think you brain washed me. Maybe I should just go to a hotel. Wait. Do I have money? You never answered my question about my bank. I don't know what bills I have. I don't know when my bills are due. I didn't even call to check credit card balances. I have my purse at least. I have all my cards in there." I babbled.
"Calm down." He rubbed my shoulders.
"But…I…" My breathing was becoming erratic.
"What's wrong?" Hector approached.
"I'm fine. I just need to know how much money I have in my account and I don't remember my pin." I told him.
"No problem. I can help you check all of your financial stuff out when we get to my place." He assured me.
"See? Another reason why you need to go with Hector." Ranger suggested.
"Okay, but…and…uhm…" I bit down into my lower lip.
"What is it Babe?" He asked me.
"I need someone to…well no I don't need anyone. I would like someone to…well I would appreciate it if someone could…" I bit down again.
"What is it chica?" Hector asked.
"Just don't all run out right away okay? Tell Lester and Tank too please. I mean ask them. I don't want to ask for more after you have all done so much for me, but I feel safe around you guys and I just don't want you to rush out the door right away and leave me alone with them." I nodded towards the luggage area.
"We are all taking one vehicle. We won't leave you alone with them." Ranger assured me.
"You know Morelli will want to talk to you alone." Hector told us.
"That's fine but in plain sight. I'll just step away from everyone." I nodded quickly.
"Is there something you aren't telling us?" Ranger asked.
"Just a weird feeling." I shook it off.
"Trust yourself Angelito. Your Spidey-sense helped us many times. Trust it. What does it make you feel?" Hector asked.
I closed my eyes and thought about what was bothering me. Morelli's face flashed before me. We were on the couch and there was a dog nearby. His house. He jumped to his feet and started waving his arms around.
"You're going to Hawaii without me? Really? You're just going to hop on the plane all by yourself and go?" He yelled.
"Yeah, why not? I deserve a vacation and it's not costing me anything." I shrugged.
"It just may cost you me, cost you us. Is it worth it? Is that a price you're willing to pay?" He asked.
"I asked you to go and you declined saying you can't get the time off work. Why would it cost me us? That makes no sense." My brows furrowed.
"Because I can't trust you." He ran a hand through his hair.
"What? What are you talking about?" I jumped to my feet.
"Don't play coy with me. I have heard the rumors, even seen it once with my own eyes." He glared.
"What rumors? Seen what?" I questioned.
"You and Manoso in the alley. You were all over him like a bitch in heat. What's it like being a cheater? What's it like knowing the whole town knows you are a slut?" He sneered.
"Excuse me? When have you ever said that we were exclusive? When have we ever even labeled what we have. We sometimes hang out, eat pizza and watch a game. We sometimes are boyfriend and girlfriend. We sometimes act like we're going to get married but you have never bought me a ring. Engaged to be engaged. What does that even mean?" I asked him.
"Don't put this back on me. I at least thought you wouldn't screw someone else while we were together." His hands moved to his hips.
"I have never screwed anyone when we were together. I never had sex with anyone when our relationship was on." I worded my answer carefully so I wasn't lying.
"You are a lying, cheating slut." He declared.
"We are through. We are done. I refuse to let you disrespect me like this." I glared at him as I got off the couch preparing to leave.
"Run to your thug like the whore that you are." He spat at me.
"Are you kidding me? Are you freaking kidding me?" I shrieked. "If I'm such a slut and whore why do you want to be with me anyway?"
I moved around the couch and went to the dining room to get my purse. I took a deep breath and when I spun around to leave I nearly crashed into him. I stepped to the side and he mirrored me. I moved to the other side and again he blocked my path. I glared up at him. He was fuming and had a look of disgust on his face as he sneered at me. I tried to out wait him but he didn't move an inch.
"Get out of my way." I demanded.
"Why? So you can call Manoso? Try to get him to go to Hawaii? He won't go with you. He won't drop everything just to fly to Hawaii for a little snatch when he can get it here anytime he wants." He kept the sneer on his lips.
"I am going alone. Not that it's any of your business anymore. I'm not your business anymore. We are through. Get the hell out of my way and let me leave." I demanded.
"No." He refused.
"No?" I was shocked.
"No." He stated.
"Joe get the hell out of my way. I am leaving and I never want to see you again. Just stay away from me for the next two days and then I will be gone. You can do whatever you want and you won't have to worry about what I do. I won't cause you to have ulcers and indigestion anymore." I assured him.
"I want you in my bed one last time." He ordered.
"What? No." I scoffed.
"Yes." He stated.
"Get out of my way." I demanded.
I moved and he followed again. Finally, I just shoved him and moved around him. He grabbed my arm and twisted me around. I hissed at the pain.
"What? You're too good for me now Cupcake? Do I need to pay you for it?" He laughed.
"Let go." I ripped my arm away from him.
"Do I need to give you a car to destroy?" He hooted.
"Stop" I warned.
"Get upstairs and show me what a good little slut you are." He jerked his head towards the stairs.
"You're scum Morelli and you will never have me in your bed or in your house ever again." I declared.
"Last chance." He raised his eyebrows.
"Screw you." I shot him the middle finger.
He grabbed my shoulders and crushed my body into his. He smashed his lips down onto mine and pushed hard. I tried to shove him away but he only gripped me tighter. I opened my mouth to complain and he pushed his tongue in. I wiggled and pulled and tried to get away. Finally, I just bit down on his tongue. He pulled his head back with a yell and released my shoulders.
"You bitch." He yelled. He stuck his finger into his mouth and came out with blood on it. "I'm bleeding."
"You deserved it." I told him.
I watched in shock as everything moved in slow motion. I saw the hatred in his eyes and out of the corner of my eye I saw his arm raise. I caught his right hand in my peripheral vision before it shot forward. I felt the sting as the back of his hand came across my cheek. I fell down to my knees and clutched the side of my face as my mouth fell open in surprise. I heard him gasp as he fell down to his knees in front of me. He reached out for me but I jumped away from him. When he saw the fear in my eyes he pulled back.
"I am so sorry Steph. I didn't mean for that to happen. I never wanted to hurt you Cupcake. It just got away from me. Things just got away from me. You have to forgive me. I love you. It doesn't matter what you've done. I love you." He sighed.
I got to my feet still clutching my now throbbing cheek in my hand. I looked at him in disbelief. He hit me. Joseph Morelli who I had known my whole life just hit me. I thought he was breaking the Morelli mold. I thought he had grown up and had outgrown the boy he was, at the same time escaping the Morelli curse.
"I love you Cupcake. I'm sorry. You pushed me. Damn it. You're screwing Manoso and God knows who else behind my back. How am I supposed to react when I find out my girlfriend is a slut and then instead of apologizing she wants to leave me? If you tell anyone they will never believe that I hit you, they will all know the whore that you are and believe that you are just making it up as a reason to leave me.." He insisted.
"Don't you even…" I seethed.
"What? Tell you the truth? You are chasing after a man who doesn't want you for anything more than a fuck buddy." He smirked.
"Just stay the hell away from me." I shook my head.
"You'll be back. You always come back." He laughed.
"Not this time." I promised.
I ran to the door, ripped it open and took off for my car. I got in and heard the familiar ru ru ru as it refused to start. I got out and took off. Yes, I ran. I ran fast and hard. I didn't care about the pain in my shins that started after only a block. I didn't care about my rapid breathing which had started after two blocks or the pain in my side. Joe Morelli hit me. Joe Morelli really hit me. I was shocked. I was stunned. I was overwhelmed. I couldn't believe it. All the times we had faught it was always only verbal, never physical. Well the waving of his arms was physical but he never got physical with me. Now they say that if he did it once he would do it again. They say that domestic abuse only escalates. I trusted him, I have always trusted him but he broke that trust. I can never trust him again.
Who do I tell? Who CAN I tell? Who is going to believe me? Little ol bounty-hunter, scourge of the Burg that doesn't do what her mother wants. Doesn't get married and keep a proper home while taking care of her man and popping out babies. Compared to Mr. Perfect Detective Morelli who threw off the family curse of being a drunk and wife-beater to become a respectable home owner. Joe outstanding Morelli who overcame his past of being a drunken bar brawler and sleeping with every woman in the tri-state area to become a respectable model citizen. Finally, I was bent over, my lungs desperate for air, heaving as I tried to catch my breath. I forced myself to stand and keep walking. I needed to get away. I needed distance between that house, what happened and me.
I felt my face burn. I raised my hand and could feel the heat coming off the skin. I wondered if I looked in the mirror if I would have a raised red hand print glowing on my cheek like a neon sign, because that's what it felt like. Wow. How was I going to cover this up? I was so embarrassed. Of course, there was going to be a bruise. I only hoped it wouldn't be bad enough that it would last too long. I was set to leave for Hawaii in a couple of days.
"He ugh…he .." I stuttered as soon as I opened my eyes.
"He what?" Hector asked.
"I can't. Just listen to me and please don't let me out of your sight with him." I begged.
"Okay Babe. No problem. I promise." Ranger looked worried.
"Damn it all to hell. There I go again. Forget it. You don't have to protect me. I don't want you to feel obligated. Just give me a gun. Let me borrow one until I check my finances." I pleaded with Ranger.
"We don't have any guns. We flew commercial. Listen, I know you have these worries but just stop. You are my wife. You are legally my wife. You are my friend too. I am going to protect you and help you the same way I would any of my guys. Besides you are helping me." He smiled.
"How the hell am I helping you?" I was confused.
"From the look on your face you remembered something very bad with Morelli. And I don't like to see the fear in your eyes. If I were alone with Morelli I would most likely kick his ass. So, you are helping me because with you around I won't kick his ass." He gently squeezed my shoulders.
"Okay, fine let's go. I need to think of an excuse as to why it took us so long to walk a few feet and get through the door to baggage claims." I scrubbed my hand across my face.
Hector and Ranger moved away from the wall and I reluctantly followed them. Tank and Lester were at the rear of our little group. I took a deep breath before moving through the revolving door that led to the baggage area. Morelli immediately jumped in front of me and pulled me into his arms. I felt my feet leave the ground as he swung me around.
"Oh Cupcake, you are a sight for sore eyes. I've missed you so much!" He exclaimed.
"Put me down please." I begged.
"You traveled home in jeans? People don't dress nicely to fly anymore?" My mother shook her head.
"I see you brought a parade of hotties home with you." My grandmother waggled her eyebrows.
My father simply nodded as Morelli took my hand in his. He pulled me over to the already turning carousel so I could point out my luggage. I saw my suitcase but before I could tell Morelli which one it was Ranger pulled it from the carousel and placed it on the floor beside my feet. I looked up at him and found him smiling ever so slightly. Morelli squeezed my hand and I looked up at him. He smiled and winked at me giving me a sick feeling in my stomach.
"What took you so long after I saw you through the glass?" He suddenly asked.
"Hector had to go to the bathroom." I spoke quickly.
"Oh." He seemed to believe my excuse.
"Now you're back and everything can go back to how it was." My mother smiled.
"I can't wait to get you home where you belong." He waggled his eyebrows. "The boys have missed you."
"Uhm" I hesitated. "I'm not going to your place Joe."
"I guess I understand if you want to stay at your parent's house for a couple of nights." He shrugged.
"No, I'm not going there either." I shook my head.
"You can't go back to that crappy apartment of yours. You shouldn't be alone right now Cupcake." He told me as he squeezed my hand tight enough that I winced before wrenching it out of his grip.
I took a step away from him and felt Ranger close behind me. I now knew a whole different side of this man. I knew right then no matter what other memories I had, I could never be with him. We were done. I refuse to go back to a man who hit me. Now I needed to get some distance. I knew eventually I would have to confront him and tell Hector and the guys, but I wasn't ready for that yet.
"No Joe, I'm not going back to my apartment." I shook my head.
"What? Where the hell do you think you're going? You're not going with Manoso." He interrupted my thoughts.
"No, I'm not. I am going to stay with Hector." I declared.
"Stephanie Plum what do you think you are doing? You are not going to stay with some stranger while Joseph sits home alone waiting for you. How will it look to his neighbors when his own fiancée doesn't come home with him?" My mother moved closer.
"Hector is not a stranger." I argued.
"You are coming with me." Morelli grabbed my elbow.
"No Joe." I stood my ground yanking my elbow out of his grasp.
"At least step over here and talk to me in private." He pouted. "I don't think I am asking too much."
I looked into his brown eyes full of sadness and pleading. I took a deep breath. I knew I would have to tell him I wasn't going with him and I would have to resist any argument he made. I would not change my mind. But some part of me still couldn't resist the need for his approval and I found myself looking over to Ranger for support. He gave me a slight nod that only I noticed and I turned to follow Joe. He led me over by the exit door and heaved out a big sigh before he scrubbed his face with both of his hands. I stood there silently waiting as he gripped the bridge of his nose and then finally shook his head.
"Why are you doing this to me?" He asked.
"I'm not doing anything to you Joe. I am trying to get my life back." I tried to explain.
"Your life is with me." He pointed to his chest.
"I need space to figure things out. I need time to myself so I can remember my life. Remember myself. Remember all the people and how they fit into my life." I confided.
"And what about me? You don't know how hard this is on me. Look at your family and the hell you're putting them through. You need to surround yourself with people who love you. You need to be around people that really know who you are. You can't surround yourself with people who barely know you. They don't know anything about you; they don't know who you really are." His hands slid to his hips.
"I don't know who I really am. I don't even know about my bills or bank accounts. Hector can help with that. There are basic things I need to know about myself, about my life without other people interfering." I argued.
"Even more reason to come home with me. I can help you with all of that. I'm a cop, I can do anything." His hands moved to my shoulders. "Please."
I glanced over to Ranger and he gave me his slight smile. Tank and Lester watched us with concern. Hector winked at me. My eyes then move to view my family. My mother seemed to be complaining to my father. She was shaking her head and gesturing towards me. My grandmother was just staring at Ranger and his men. I turned back to Joe and took a deep breath.
"No." I told him.
"No?" He asked
"No." I told him as the memory of his house flashed before me again.
"Cupcake, please don't make me beg. I will. I will drop down onto my knees right now and beg you. I'll ask you to marry me right here in front of everyone." He told me.
"Do you have a ring?" I smirked already knowing the answer.
"Maybe I would get one if your finger wasn't already so crowded." He looked at my hand in disgust.
"I'll call you." I turned away and he grabbed my arm.
"Not good enough." He told me.
"Let go." I glared at him.
"All ready to go?" Hector asked as he came to my side.
I gave out a sigh of relief and was able to pull my arm away from Morelli. My mother was unfortunately right behind Hector. She came up short in front of me and placed a hand on her hip. I closed my eyes for a second to try to steady myself from what I knew was coming.
"I think you should go to Joseph's house rather than home with us." She stated.
"I'm going with my friend Hector." I informed her as I waved my hand towards him.
"Oh really?" she laughed. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Thank you for coming to greet me. I'm sorry that I don't really remember you yet but the doctor said hopefully my memory will come back in time. I am going to stay at my friend Hector's home until I feel more comfortable in public." I went on.
"Over my dead body." She glared. "You think Gina McCue's daughter goes off with strange men? You think Liz Marie's daughter shacks up with crooks and thieves?" She asked.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but there is nothing you can do to change my mind. You are wrong about my brother." I forced a smile.
She reached for my arm and wrapped her bony fingers around my wrist. I glared down at her hand before I looked up at her face.
"Your brother? He's the wrong color. I would kill myself if I gave birth to him." She gestured towards Hector.
"Get your hand off me you bitch." I gritted.
Her hand released me and flew to her mouth in shocked horror. My father looked up and my grandmother smirked.
"Stephanie, don't talk to your mother like that. She loves you and she just wants the best for you." Morelli chided.
"That's right. I know what's best for you." She nodded.
"I'm an adult. I know what's best for me." I corrected her.
"How can you know what's best for you when you can't remember where you belong?" She rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to stay with my friend and that's final." I declared.
"Like hell you are." Morelli grabbed my arm and pulled me into his chest.
"That's enough." Ranger stepped forward.
"Mind your own business Manoso." Morelli threatened.
"I've let you all talk and I've let you manhandle Stephanie for far too long this evening. She wants to go with Hector, she is going with Hector." Ranger pressed on a spot of Morelli's hand and he released me.
"Assaulting a police officer?" Morelli asked him.
"I was reaching for my friend Stephanie's hand." Ranger held his hands up. "I didn't mean to accidentally touch you."
"Where does Hector live? Stark Street?" Morelli asked.
"He lives at Rangeman." Ranger answered.
Morelli slammed his palm against his forehead and took a step away from me. He turned his back and took some breaths.
"You've got to be kidding me." He spun around. "You're going to stay with Manoso."
"I'm not." I assured him.
"You're a liar." He stated.
"Enough." Hector raised a hand.
"Mind your own business." My mother glared at him.
"I'm leaving." I informed them.
"No, you're not. You're coming home with me or your mother. You're not going anywhere with these gang-bangin' thugs." Morelli moved closer reaching for my suitcase.
Tank stepped forward and stood between Morelli and I. Ranger moved with Hector to one side of Morelli and began arguing my plans with him. Lester grabbed my suitcase, came up behind me and took my elbow. He gently guided me around Tank who slowly moved along with us, serving as a wall. Morelli and my family were still engaged in the argument with Ranger. We got to the door and I paused before I determined I didn't owe these people even a goodbye wave. I kept walking and we made it to a black SUV that was sitting on the curb. Lester opened the door and I slid in to the middle of the backseat. Tank jogged around to the driver's seat. I heard him engage the locks as soon as he settled behind the wheel.
I looked out the window and watched Ranger and Hector emerge from the doorway. The doors were unlocked now. I heard Lester loading the luggage in the trunk. I watched Morelli and my family follow Ranger and Hector through the doors. Morelli had his hands up and was waving them around like crazy. I could hear his loud voice yelling but I couldn't make out what he was saying. His angry face flashed in my mind.
I was sitting on a curb. I looked up to see a car engulfed in red and orange flames . Fire trucks and police cars were pulling up. Morelli was above me, looking down at me with a disapproving look on his face, hands on his hips, like I was a child about to be punished.
"When dispatch told me there was a car fire, I knew it was you. You just couldn't let a week go by without embarrassing me. You need to quit this joke that you call a job. You are a walking disaster and one day you're not going to be sitting on the curb when I show up. Then what? Then what happens to me?" He screamed.
"Babe."
I turned my head to find Ranger approaching. I got to my feet and moved towards him as he lifted his arms. I fell into him and he wrapped me up in his big strong arms. I felt warmth and safety. I felt as if he was sharing his strength with me.
"Are you okay?" He whispered in my ear.
"Yes." I nodded.
"People are watching Stephanie." Morelli growled through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry." I stepped away from Ranger and watched his face drop.
I got this helpless feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was upsetting Joe, I was embarrassing my family and I was disappointing everyone. Well, everyone except for Ranger. He always said I never disappoint. I know I needed to go back over to Joe and help him save face in front of his friends and fellow officers. I wanted to stay with Ranger but I wasn't sure he wanted me to stay with him.
I heard the door slam as Ranger got in beside me. I heard the locks slide into place as Morelli slapped the window.
"This is bullshit Cupcake." He glared through the tinted window.
"Just for five minutes can we pretend?" I asked Ranger as I leaned into him.
He lifted his left arm and wrapped it around my shoulders. I moved closer as he pulled me into his chest and I turned my head into his neck. He turned and planted a kiss on my forehead. I felt his warm breath on me and closed my eyes.
"It's not pretend." He told me.
My eyes snapped open and I pulled away enough to look up into his eyes. I tilted my head, slightly confused.
"Did you just say that or was it a memory?" I asked him.
"It's not pretend Babe. Nothing between us is pretend." He assured me.
"But…" I held up my left hand.
He grabbed it and brought my hand to his lips where he pressed a kiss on my ring finger.
"Nothing is pretend." He repeated.
"Thank you all for getting me through that mob." I announced.
I turned towards Hector and then up front where Lester and Tank sat.
"My pleasure beautiful." Lester called out.
"We got your back." Tank assured me.
"Anytime." Hector winked.
"I'll try very hard not to put you in a situation like that again." I promised.
"You didn't do that Steph." Lester assured me. "That asshole thought he could come take you from the airport and hijack your life. But you stood up to them. You stood up for us. You stood up for yourself and your right to live your own life."
"Thanks" I was practically blushing. He made me sound heroic, but I felt like I was fighting for myself back there. I knew what I was doing was right but I'm still not sure I would have made it through without their support.
"Are you okay?" Tank asked.
"You really want to know?" I was surprised.
"Yeah Steph, I really want to know." He chuckled.
"Something's wrong with Morelli. I had a bad memory, a couple of them. I just don't know if they're true." I bit my lower lip.
"You don't trust your memories?" Lester asked.
"I don't know." I answered.
"Have they been wrong yet?" Tank asked.
"I don't think so, but I don't honestly know enough about my life and the people in it to know if any are false." I answered honestly.
"Do you want to tell us what it was?" Ranger asked.
"Not yet." I exhaled a deep breath.
"Not yet it's embarrassing or not yet because Tank might turn the car around?" Lester asked.
I thought about it for a minute. "Both."
"Oh Steph, you can tell us anything." Tank gently shook his head.
"We're never going to yell and scream at you." Lester told me.
"And we're never going to turn our backs on you." Hector leaned over to pat my hand.
"Later okay?" I asked.
"Sure." Lester responded.
"No problem." Tank smiled into the rearview mirror.
Hector nodded and I turned back to Ranger. He didn't speak, he just stared into my eyes. I cuddled into him and wrapped my arms around him. I closed my eyes, tired from the day's activities. I felt him slowly pull me onto his lap. After a few minutes, I relaxed completely and then fell asleep against him.
"Boss?" Lester whispered.
"Speak." Ranger spoke quietly.
"What are we going to do about Morelli?" He asked.
"Nothing to do." Ranger replied.
"He's not going to give up. He's going to keep pushing." Tank advised.
"We should tell her." Lester demanded.
"Don't you think I have considered that? Do you think she would really appreciate hearing and seeing negative things about that scumbag from us?" Ranger's voice stayed soft.
"She has a right to know." Lester argued.
"Give her some time to settle and then you can ask her if she wants to see." Ranger suggested.
"I know you don't want to hurt her but…" Hector began.
"I don't want to hurt her. She's been through too much. Right now, I am trying to prove to her that she belongs with us, with me." Ranger interrupted.
"Understood." Lester responded.
***********************Thank you***********************************
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