CHAPTER 12 CONTINUED

Steph's POV

It was morning when something or someone woke me up, it took me a few minutes to realise Ranger was standing over me trying to shake me awake. 'It's over babe,' he whispered kissing me lightly on the bed.

'Over?' I askd sitting up now and starring at Ranger the face.

'Lester discovered his name this morning, babe, he ded from a heart attack last night.'

I looked up at Ranger trying to see if Black's heart attack was really a heart attack or a clever way of killing, on second thought I don't want to know, denials a gils best friend and I was on my way to being bosom buddi wi my denial.

'Are you sure it was the right guy?' I forced myself to ask as Raner pulled me up so that I was plastered againts him.

'It was him babe,' he whispered kisisng me again as he led me toads the bedroom.

Stopping at he door he turned to me, 'decision time, if you come through this door now, your mine and I don't share, that means the cop is history.'

I hesitated on the threshold bitting my lip, ' will ouobject to my being friends with him?' I asked watching him waching e.

'No, but if he so much as touches you I might have to kill him.' Ranger replied truthfully his eye mask slipping so I could see the raw emotion cloging him up.

Taking a step closer, I stopped again,' if we do this want t get a few things clear,'

'Babe...?'

'One, don't you dare hurt Joe no mtter what he does, I promise to be faithful to you BUT I will not stop being friends with him if thats what he wants.'

I stopped and waited for his rely, my heart racing as I thought of what it would mean to me if he said no; I could already feel my heart breaking from the pause.

'I promise babe,' Ranger replied his oice ounding husky and forced and heheld himself tightly together.

'Second, I want to be kept in the loop as muh as possible, third ouhave to come to dnner with me at least once a month, fourth you cannot tell me howto do my job...'

I looked up at him to catch the slight smile, '...but you can still help me out when I need it, just dn't go overoard, Idon't want you bleeding money for me Ranger.'

Ranger was standing a few centimeters away from me now his eyes full of emotions I didn't want to even comprehend. 'Anything else you want to add before we do this babe?'

I nodded, 'love me.' I manage to choke out before walking into his waiting arms.

Ages later as I lay spent and satisfied i his arms I heard him whsiper into my ear, 'I wil always love you babe!"

That's it, thats the end, thanks to everyone who read and I would love you all to drop a review in and tell me how you liked this chapter and the whole story as a whole. See you later xxxChestnutFill