Chapter 12- I don't own anything. Thank you so much to those of you who take the time out to review. It really means a lot to me. I hope everyone enjoys Chapter 12. More to come soon!
SPOV
Out of all the distractions I've ever participated in, I've never had one go this badly. I wasn't sure whether or not Ranger had managed to get the Franco brothers outside of the club but I'd desperately hoped so.
I was still on the floor watching Joe with Ally. I'd called out his name but he hadn't responded. It was as if they were in their own world and no one else was here. Lester was hovering over me.
"Stephanie, are you okay," Lester asked again desperately wanting an answer.
"Yes, I'm fine, Lester," I took my attention away from Joe and Ally to look over at Lester, who looked extremely worried. "I think I hit my head." I wasn't sure if it was the hit on my head or all the alcohol I'd consumed but I was dizzy and my stomach was spinning.
Out of the corner of my eye I caught movement and tilted my head to look around Lester. It was Ranger.
RPOV
I couldn't get inside the building fast enough. Approaching the scene, I could see both women were okay. I flew to Stephanie's side to check her out.
"Are you okay, Babe?"
"Yes, I'm fine," she replied but held her hand on her head. "Did you get the brothers?"
"No, they got away," I replied and felt that I'd let both women down.
"Boss, I think they both need to go to the hospital to be checked out," Santos stated obviously concerned. "They both consumed a lot of alcohol and Steph hit her head ."
I nodded in agreement. When I looked back down to Stephanie my gaze followed hers to where Joe was at Ally side and I felt the rage flood over me. I got to my feet and rushed to him. I could feel the raw hot rage boiling in the pit of my stomach as I moved quickly to him. When he saw me approaching him he got to his feet and it may have been childish but I couldn't control my temper at that point. I reared back and threw the first punch knocking him backwards onto the ground.
"What's your problem," Morelli yelled out holding his nose that was spraying blood and I was pretty sure I broke it.
"Do you have any idea what you've done," I growled hovering over him trying not to hit him again.
"I was protecting Ally," Morelli spat out trying to get back to his feet. "Where the hell were you while that scum bag was all over her?" In the mist of our fight I'd forgotten Stephanie was right behind us.
"What the hell is going on," Stephanie said. Everyone's attention turned to her as Santos helped her to her feet. No one said anything. I watched Stephanie and the confusion all over her face until I saw her eyes glaze over and start rolling to the back of her head and I barely made it to her before she lost control of her legs.
I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, the hit on her head, or both but Stephanie was unconscious and I was in a panic.
"Paramedics are on their way," Santos yelled out.
I laid her down on the floor; "Steph, open your eyes," I demanded. "Stephanie, open your eyes." There was no response.
When the paramedics arrived I stepped to the side to allow them room. I moved over to where Ally was standing and Joe was right beside her.
"Ally, are you okay," I asked her.
"She needs to be checked out too," Morelli said.
"I can speak for myself, Joe," she spat at him. She was frustrated too. "I think I might have broken my arm."
The fact that Stephanie was unconscious on the floor and Ally was hurt too infuriated me and all I could see was red. "You better hope they're both okay," I stated through clenched teeth at Morelli then walked away.
SPOV
When I awoke my eyes strained against the bright fluorescent lights above me. When my eyes fully dilated it took me a moment to realize I was in the hospital. The smell of the sterile atmosphere overwhelmed my senses making me slightly nauseous but I felt a warm tender hand in mine squeezing tightly. I turned to see Ranger sitting next to me. His eyes were dark with worry and I couldn't be sure but there appeared to be a hint of anger. I just hoped the anger wasn't for me.
"Babe," was all he said. It was all he had to say. I knew exactly what that one little word meant in Ranger terms and it made me smile. The relief in his tone was evident but his tone carried an edge of irritation that I couldn't quite place.
"Ranger, what happened?" I couldn't remember how I'd ended up in the hospital. In fact, almost everything was foggy.
"What do you remember, babe?"
It took me a minute to think back; "I remember going to the beach club to do a distraction." I paused for a moment trying to remember. "Did we get them?"
"No."
"What happened?" I tried to run the night back through in my head but it was only bits and pieces and everything was so scrambled.
"How are you feeling?" He was genuinely concerned.
"My head hurts a little. What happened to me?"
"You drank your weight in alcohol and one of them slipped something in your drink. Santos caught it but you'd downed the drink before he'd even realized what happened. They had to pump your stomach. You also hit your head. When the brothers got spooked you and Ally were tossed across the room. You have a minor concussion."
"Ranger, I don't know what happened and I can't remember what we did wrong."
"It's not your fault, Babe," he said rubbing my arm to reassure me.
"Is Ally okay?"
"She has a few minor bumps and bruises and a very sore swollen arm but she's fine."
I closed my eyes trying to think back when I heard the door open. I opened my eyes to see Ally and Joe walk in. Ally's arm was tied up in a sling and Joe had a bandage over his nose. I guessed everyone had a rough night.
"What are you doing here, Joe," I asked confused.
"She doesn't remember anything," Ranger cut in.
"I came by to check on you, Cupcake," Joe said moving to my side. When out of nowhere in one swift move Ranger snatched Joe up by the shirt and slammed him into the wall. What the hell? He had Joe restrained against the wall with his forearm positioned to cut off Joe's air way. Joe was scrambling to get away but there was no point.
"I didn't tell you she didn't remember to give you a free pass," Ranger growled through gritted teeth. His face was masked with pure rage and I feared for Joe's life at that moment. "Your fuck up tonight could have cost them their lives you don't get any more free passes. You're going to tell her right now."
I had no idea what was going on or what Ranger was talking about but Joe was frantically gasping for air. When Joe nodded yes Ranger released him and heaved him towards me. "Tell her now," Ranger snarled and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. I'd never seen Ranger that angry before and it was a bit scary.
Joe took a few deep breathes and straightened his shirt. "Cupcake, I need to talk to you."
"Uh, yeah I gathered that."
"Well, Ally and I have to talk to you." I looked over to a wide eyed Ally who was also caught off by Rangers quick reaction to Joe's answer.
"Okay."
"I'm not sure where to start," Joe replied his voice shaky.
"The beginning," Ranger growled and Joe nodded.
"Okay, here it goes. Ally and I were engaged many years ago."
"What," I questioned. I'd never heard about Joe being engaged and you would think that would be juicy burg gossip. "How come you never told me?"
"There's a lot more to the story, Steph," he said pausing briefly. "Ally and I started dating shortly after high school. It was mostly fun but it got serious quickly. Ally got pregnant and not long after I decided I wanted to spend my life with her so I proposed."
"Wait, you have a kid?"
"It's more complicated than that," he said his voice beginning to break. "I was brand new to the police force and I was called in on an undercover operation. They put me on the inside and I helped bring in a really bad man. What I didn't know was, that man had put a hit out on me. I guess they couldn't get to me so they went after Ally." He paused and I watched a tear slide down his cheek.
"Those men kidnapped me," Ally said stepping in for Joe. "They did some really bad things to me and hurt me pretty bad and then dumped me in front of Joe's house, leaving me for dead. What happened caused me to miscarry the baby." Now she too had tears streaming down her face. "I ended the relationship with Joe not long after and we haven't seen each other since. Well, until the other day."
I sat quietly. My brain was trying to process all the new information.
"I didn't tell you because I was embarrassed," Joe whispered. "I'm sorry for keeping this from you."
I looked over to Ranger, who was watching me intently, leaned up against the wall and it dawned on me. "Is this why everyone has been acting so strange?" Ranger gave me a nod. "So you knew about this?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He walked over to my side opposite of Joe and Ally and grabbed my hand. "It wasn't my place, babe. I wanted to give Joe and Ally a chance to tell you."
It was apparent that this was a hard subject for both Ally and Joe to discuss and Ranger was right it wasn't his place but I couldn't help but feel a little hurt that no one told me. I felt stupid for again being the one in the dark while everyone else knew. But the truth was it didn't matter I could understand why no one wanted to tell me.
"Do you still love her," I finally asked Joe.
He swallowed hard; "Stephanie, I love you and I always will but we both want different things."
"Joe, that's not what I asked." Letting out a deep breath, he nodded yes.
"Do you still love, Joe," I asked Ally and she to nodded yes.
I did love Joe but I knew deep down we weren't right for each other and maybe he could have his happy ending with a house wife and 2.5 kids with Ally; "Well then, Joe I love you too and you're right we do want different things. It sounds like you two have a lot of catching up to do." A loud swoosh of air released from everyone including Ranger.
"So what happened with the Franco brothers," I asked looking at Ranger but when Rangers gaze went to Joe so did mine.
"I fucked up," Joe stated. "I panicked seeing the Franco brothers with the two of you and then on top of it, well, it drove me mad watching him put his disgusting hands all over Ally. When he kissed her all I could think about was those men hurting her all those years ago and I lost it."
"Wait a second, you're the reason they got away?"
He started to reply yes but before he got to the s I punched him in the nose. I wasn't sure exactly what came over me but I was furious. "How could you do that, Joe?"
"Shit, Cupcake." Ally kneeled down beside Joe.
"You put us all in danger," I screamed.
"I know and I'm sorry," he said as Ally helped him back to his feet.
"He is sorry, Stephanie," Ally stated. "Even though I'm still angry at him too he knows he messed up and he wants to help get them back."
"And you," I was still screaming but turned my attention to Ally. "You told him where we were?"
She stepped back as if she were preparing for me to punch her too. "I didn't realize he would go there."
"Well that makes you an idiot too," I snapped. "Now we could all be in danger."
"Joe and I both want to help catch them."
"I think you've both helped enough," I muttered.
"It won't be necessary, the Franco brothers left the country early this morning," Ranger stated cutting me off. "If they come back into the country I'll be notified immediately. So for now everyone is safe."
It was a huge relief to hear Ranger say that we were safe. I knew Ranger would never let anything happen to us but knowing that the Franco brothers left the country, released the tension in my shoulders. I was extremely irritated with both Ally and Joe and I just wanted to go home.
"I want you and Ally to leave. I need some time." Joe started to speak but quickly changed his mind and him and Ally left. "Ranger, I want to go home."
RPOV
I'd lost my cool more than once in 24 hours with Joe. The fact that he'd showed up and sabotaged my entire operation left me fuming and the fact that he put Stephanie in danger left me infuriated. After we'd gotten to the hospital, Joe went with Ally to get doctored up and have his nose checked out and that gave me a chance to cool down. When he'd came into Stephanie's hospital room and figured he'd just get a free pass when I told him she didn't remember I was enraged with enough fury to kill him. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that Stephanie was watching us. But in the end he'd told her everything. I couldn't believe how well Stephanie had handled everything. Other than her punching Joe in the nose for screwing up the distraction she'd handle everything exceptionally well.
When she'd told me she wanted to go home I'd desperately hoped it was my home that she was talking about but I knew better. The doctors wanted her to stay another night but I'd ensured them that I would watch her and bring her back if there were any problems.
"Babe, I want you to stay at RangeMan tonight," I said helping her get dressed in clothes Tank had brought up for her. "Since they are releasing you early from the hospital I'd be more comfortable if you weren't alone tonight."
"Thanks, Ranger, but I really want to stay in my own apartment tonight."
I wasn't giving up that easy; "Alright, then I'll stay with you."
"Not tonight, Ranger. I need some time to clear my head."
I didn't say anything else until we stepped into her apartment. I spent the drive over thinking about what I wanted to say and how to say it. I didn't have it all figured out but when we stepped into her apartment I just went for it.
"Babe, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Joe and Ally," I said hopeful she would forgive me.
"Ranger, I'm not mad at you," she said turning to face me. "I understand why you didn't tell me."
"Why don't you want me here tonight then?"
She started pacing her living room and that made me nervous. "Because I love you and I want all of you. If you can't give me all of you then I need to move on. I don't want to lose your friendship but I can't be your girlfriend when it's convenient. I want it all or we are just friends and I mean "just" friends. Not the kind of friends that kiss and spend the night together."
Her words completely caught me off guard and I was speechless. I so badly wanted to give her all of me but a part of me was terrified. I stared blankly at her.
I hope everyone enjoyed this Chapter. There will be more to come soon. Please R&R it encourages my writing.
