Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm not making any money, and all the wonderful characters belong to JE. This story takes place 9 weeks after TS ends. It was my thought for Lean Mean Thirteen. I took the Lean and Mean to heart. I'm sure most people have read this, but if you haven't, I hope you enjoy it. This was my very first fan fiction. I've since went back and did a lot of work on it. Same plot, but I've added and deleted and just all around cleaned it up.
Rating: R
Warnings: Violence, foul language, and sex
Thanks to Stayce my fabulous editor.
***Completely and seriously reedited***
Learning Thirteen
Chapter Twelve
We all slowly lowered our wine glasses. I looked around the restaurant and realized we were attracting quite a bit of attention, even from our corner table. I was pretty sure nobody seated in the formal upper class restaurant had the crazy lives we all had. I reached in my black little bag for my cell. Morelli.
"Yeah?" Jeez could his timing be any worse. I looked up at Ranger and saw he didn't look happy about whatever he was learning. I could hear Tank mumbling and Lula uh huhing.
"Cupcake, got some news," he said.
"Uh huh, so spit it out. I'm at dinner," I said. I should have turned my cell off.
"Sorry, you haven't started eating yet have you?" he asked. There was a strain to his voice. I looked back at Ranger. He was off the phone and talking with Tank, but keeping an eye on me.
"No get on with it."
"You know I didn't have to call you right when I found out. I could have just waited until shift tomorrow. I'm giving you a courtesy call here. At least return the courtesy," he said, his voice snappy.
"Sorry, Joe. I've had a rough day and I was really looking forward to this nice evening with Ranger, Lula, and Tank. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful for the call. What's up?"
Ranger stopped his conversation with Tank and cocked and eyebrow at me.
"There was a present left for you in your trunk, and I got the results back on the blood."
"And?"
"There were three pigs butchered and drained of all their blood in your trunk. The blood belonged to Sarah and the pigs," he explained.
"So we're looking for the big bad wolf?" I asked, getting two raised eyebrows from Ranger.
"This isn't funny, Steph. You should be scared."
"Joe, give me a break here. I'm trying really hard to take this seriously, but honestly. From what I can see my psycho has a sense of humor. Were they three little pigs?" I asked, fighting the grin that was spreading across my lips.
He hung up on me. Jeez. I held up a finger to Ranger without looking at him. I push in five on my cell to speed dial Morelli's cell. He picked up after two rings.
"What?" he snapped.
"I'm sorry. Can we just agree to disagree on this one and move on? I promise not to giggle out loud, if you promise not to tell me over and over again how scared I should be," I said, grinning.
"Are you scared, Cupcake?"
He was scared for me. My tummy got squishy and I smiled. He really did love me.
"I am, but I'm trying to deal with this the only way I know how. If you try to change the way I'm dealing with this then I'll start yelling at people that aren't there again. I'm trying to keep my head, Joe, so please let me do this my way."
"I'm trying. I really am, but this kills me. I don't like that somebody else is after you again. I love you, and I don't want you hurt. It's only been two and a half months since your last life threatening situation. If you remember correctly the man sitting next to you is the one that put you into the life threatening situation."
Like I needed the reminder. I remembered everything that happened a few months back like it was yesterday. Ranger may have asked for me to help, but I could have turned him down. He didn't put me in danger as much as I put myself there. He would have helped me without a second thought if the roles would have been reversed. I didn't know if Joe would have done the same thing. He knew there was an FBI agent posing as a wannabe bounty hunter at Vinnie's after all and didn't say a damn word. He didn't even feel bad about throwing me under the bus either. He was a cop and he'd always be a cop. He'd always thought cop first and boyfriend second.
"Look I'm scared, you know I am. I just don't deal with things the same way you do. I know you love me, Joe, and you don't want me to get hurt. I'm taking this threat seriously, I just find a little bit humor in the last development," I said, looking down at the candlelit table. The light was bouncing off the crystal stemware filled with wine. Wine we were just toasting with. I looked up at Ranger. He didn't look happy. In fact nobody at my table looked happy.
"Do you have anything further to tell me about the case? If not this conversation is over," I said, with my voice low.
"No, I have nothing to tell you," he said.
"And I think you're lying," I said, and hung up. I looked up at my dates for the evening with an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry. That was beyond rude of me. I shouldn't have called him back."
"What did he want?" Ranger asked, and I knew he was upset. He went out of his way to take me out tonight, and I sat on the phone talking with my ex.
"To tell me there were three butchered pigs in my trunk and that the blood was Sarah's mixed with the pigs'," I said, taking a sip of my wine. No point in a toast now. The evening was shot to hell.
"That it? He didn't have anything else to tell you?" Ranger asked, with raised brows. I shook my head. "Interesting. Would you like to know what my call was about?" I nodded. "It seems the owners of Marksman's turned over the video surveillance of the parking lot to Morelli this morning."
I felt my face heat up. That lying no good scum sucker. I opened my mouth to respond with my thoughts on the matter when the waiter showed up. We all ordered and the rest of the evening was silent. We ate quickly, drank little, and talked none. I completely ruined the evening. Morelli was so going to pay for this. Our share all was now over. He can solve his case on his own. I was going to do my thing like I always did, and he could shove it. I'd declared war. He not only was messing with my love life, but my safety. I had men and Lula risking their necks standing next to me and he was hiding shit. 'Stephanie I love you. I want you to be safe, Cupcake.' Safe my ass.
Ranger paid for the meal and we left in my Buick. The two minute ride seemed like it just might go on forever. The tension in the car was thick. It would appear to the normal eye that Ranger was just in his zone, but I could tell he was far from his zone. He was angry. His jaw was twitching ever so slightly and his nostrils were flared a little. His blank mask wasn't quite in place tonight. Either that or I was beginning to read him better. In fact I knew I could read him better. I was pretty sure one of his vehicles would be positioned in my guest spot when we got to my apartment. I had a feeling I'd be sleeping alone tonight. And if that was the case Morelli was getting a call so I could rip him a new asshole.
We pulled through the gates and just as I suspected, Ranger's truck was parked in my guest spot. I blinked back the tears threatening to fall. There was no reason to cry. So I completely ruined a beautiful night. So I was sleeping alone after the ruined beautiful night. No reason to cry. I removed my seat belt and climbed out of my SUV. I walked around the front of the vehicle and gave Ranger a tight smile. He handed me my keys and raised an eyebrow at me. Not sure what that was about.
"Do you want me to leave?" Ranger asked, looking at me curiously.
"No," I said, eyes wide. "I don't want you to leave. I thought that…" My voice trailed off as I looked at his truck behind him.
"The truck was here before the date from hell," he said, smiling slightly. He stepped forward and cupped my cheek gently. "Let's go inside, Babe."
We took the elevator instead of the stairs. Maybe formal wear was above the stairs, or maybe Ranger couldn't be bothered with using excess energy to climb three flights. I just followed his lead and leaned against the back wall for the silent ride. Riding anywhere in silence was a normal affair, but tonight it felt different. The tension was a little less than in the car ride, but it was still there.
Ranger opened my apartment door and held it open for me to enter first. I walked straight to the kitchen and checked on Rex. He was busy running off his food on his treadmill. I tapped the side and got a moment pause and a whisker twitch before he went back to his running. I put some hamster pellets and a few raisins in his tank. I grabbed a Corona out of the fridge and headed to my bedroom. I was avoiding Ranger. I knew tonight was going to turn ugly, and I was good at avoidance. I didn't want to fight with him since I was bound to revert to my old habits. Problems equal run away in other words.
Ranger was already stripped down to just his pants when I got in my room. I hesitated for just a second before entering. He looked up at me and smiled slightly before taking my beer and kissing me softly on the lips. I rolled my eyes and went to get another one.
"I'm a little surprised," I said, when I came back in the bedroom with my beer.
"About," he said, taking a drink and sitting his beer down. He took the gun out of the back of his pants and laid it on the nightstand.
I pointed to him and waved my finger up and down his body. He grinned slightly and got up, moving towards me. He took my beer and sat it on the dresser I was standing next to. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me tight against his bare chest. He lowered his lips to mine, kissing me firmly, possessively. I tilted my head deepening the kiss. He lifted me off the ground and carried me to the bed. I was naked before I knew it and being placed gently in the middle of my bed. Ranger framed my face in his hands looking down at me. I could feel him pressed against my inner thigh, hard and ready. He wrapped a curl around his finger while watching me. My stomach flipped by the intensity of his gaze.
"Tonight didn't go how I planned, but nothing ever does when you're involved," he said, kissing my forehead. I was pretty sure I was just insulted, and I should get angry, but considering the position I was in I couldn't quite work up a proper attitude.
"It wasn't an insult, Babe. Just a fact. I wanted to take you out tonight and let you relax. I wanted you to eat your favorite foods, drink great wine, laugh with people who love you, and at the end of the night I wanted to take you to bed and show you just how important you are to me. Enter Morelli," he said. I felt tears well up in my eyes. "I saw the smile, Steph. I know that smile. I don't know what he was saying to you, and I don't want to know. It's none of my business. I know you still love him. And I know you will for a while, but what I don't know is what that means."
"You want to talk about this right now?" I asked, looking down at our very naked bodies.
"Yes. Nothing more happens until we get some things figured out."
"It doesn't mean anything, Ranger. I love him yes, but it doesn't mean anything. The love that I had for him a few months back isn't there anymore. I lost that somewhere in the time he was gone. I love him, but I'm not in love with him. I still have the feelings, that could rekindle that love I had for him, but it's not going to happen. And those feelings will dwindle as time passes. The love will turn to a friendship love only," I said, running my hands down his back. "I don't want him Ranger. I want you. Only you."
He leaned down and kissed me, his tongue seeking out mine. I shifted under him, positioning him where I really wanted him. He slid into me just a little and stopped. I groaned and tried to lift up, but his hand on my hip prevented any movement from me.
"I don't know what kind of commitments you and Morelli had when you were in a relationship. You allowed me to pursue you, to apply pressure. But as long as I'm in your bed I won't be pursuing anybody else. I expect the same treatment. I will not share you. If Morelli ever kisses you again it won't be pretty. If I'm really who you want then I'm committed to you and only you. Is this what you want?" he asked, looking me straight in the eyes.
My mouth dropped open. He was committed to me if I wanted it. A tear leaked out of my eye and another followed. He took his hand off my hip and cupped my face. I lifted my hips and he slid all the way in. We both moaned, and I captured his lips with mine. He held my face kissing me back. I wiggled trying to get him to move inside me, but he pushed me down into the mattress, holding my body still with his weight.
"You. I only want you," I whispered against his lips.
He smiled slightly and ran his hand down the side of my body, brushing every sensitive part on the way. He stopped at my hip squeezing it lightly before running his hand under my ass and up the back of my thigh. I wrapped my leg around his hip pulling us closer. I was aching of him and he was busy touching. He smiled against my lips like he knew what I was thinking.
"I love you, Stephanie," he said looking into my eyes and then we made slow sweet love. It was different than anything I'd ever experienced. It wasn't about how fast we could reach that ultimate orgasm, it was about never wanting it to be over. It was like a slow simmer, knowing the results would be so much sweeter if it heated up just a little more.
I remembered talking softly to each other, tangled up sharing a pillow one minute and a phone ringing and vibrating the next. I stirred finding myself looking down into Ranger's brown eyes. He wrapped an arm around me and grabbed his cell. I seemed to be on top of him, like I normally was when we woke up next to each other. My body just seemed to float to his.
"Yo," he said, locking eyes with me and giving me a slight smile.
I looked at the alarm clock, five o'clock in the freaking morning. Don't these people know we were up all night and that we didn't have to be up for another twenty minutes? I valued my few minutes of sleep. I felt Ranger stiffen under me, and not in a good way. I looked back down at him and he looked pissed.
"Sign for it and bring it up," he ordered and snapped his phone shut.
"Problems?"
"That was Mikael from the guard station. A courier just brought a package for Stephanie Plum," he said, lifting us up off the bed. "We need to get dressed. He'll be up here in a minute." Dang. "You want to call Morelli?" he asked, pulling sweats on.
"Nope," I said, while digging in my drawer.
"Babe?"
"If this has to do with the case then I'll forward the information on, but other wise it's not his business."
"Steph, when I said I won't share you I didn't mean Joe has to be cut from your life. I meant I won't share you romantically or sexually. He'd want to know about this," he said, stopping my movements.
"He'll always be in my life, Ranger. I know you would never ask me to remove him. That's something Joe would do, not you. I'm pissed at him, so I don't want him to know," I said, and kissed him just as the door bell rang.
Ranger left to answer the door, and I finished getting ready. I quickly did my thing in the bathroom and rushed out to find Ranger. He was standing in the kitchen holding the manila envelope. If I never had to see another one of those it would be too soon. He handed it to me, and I took it after a brief pause to debate if I really wanted to know what was inside. I opened it and peaked inside. There was a plain piece of paper and a newspaper. I took out the paper first figuring it was a note explaining the newspaper. Ranger was looking over my shoulder as I pulled it out. I looked down at the typed note knowing it was from my psycho big bad wolf stalker.
'Do you feel safe in your new home Stephanie Plum? Guarded and gated entrance. Cameras everywhere. More specifically one on the gate, four on the grounds, and let's not even get into how many are on the inside. You should know you're far from safe. It doesn't matter how many cameras are watching you, how many guards are watching out for you, or how many guns are surrounding you, nobody can protect you. Maybe you need a reason to fully understand how unsafe you really are. It doesn't matter where you move to or where you hide I can find you, and I can get to you. How was dinner last night? You didn't seem happy when you left. I would think after a bottle of Planeta Marlot you would be skipping. Remember, I have eyes everywhere.'
I swallowed hard and tried to control the shaking that took over my body as I read through the note. He was at the restaurant last night. He knew where I lived. He knew about the security. I sat the note down and took out the newspaper. I looked over my shoulder at Ranger, and he was wearing his blank face. Yeah I was feeling quite panicked and fearful myself. Wish I had a blank mask. At least then nobody would know I was shaking in my sneakers.
I opened the newspaper and stifled a scream. In bold black letters across the front page of The Times was, 'Bombshell Bounty Hunter Moves to Ewing.' There was a picture of me leaving the bond office with Lula and another picture next to it of me pulling out of the gate at the apartment complex. There was a short article following the pictures.
'As of October 24, the infamous bounty hunter Stephanie Plum decided to relocate to Woodbrook House. The complex is secured by RangeMan LLC, a securities company owned by Carlos Manoso. Mr. Manoso and Ms. Plum were involved in the high profile kidnapping of Ms. Julie Martin, Mr. Manoso's daughter back in late August. Through combined efforts of Trenton's finest, the FBI, RangeMan, and Ms. Plum, Julie was returned safely to her mother and stepfather in Miami, FL.
When Ms. Plum isn't tracking down missing children, blowing up cars or funeral homes, or chasing after Trenton's miscreants, she's been linked to Trenton's homicide detective Joseph Morelli, but lately she has been seen in the company of Mr. Manoso in a more romantic setting rather than professional. Last evening they were seen at Toni's, an upscale restaurant in Ewing, having dinner with another couple. Maybe Trenton might be hearing wedding bells in the future. Trick or Treat Ms. Plum.'
"What is this, a fucking gossip column? My mother is going to need a new bottle and a pill after this. I have to call her and warn her," I said, throwing the newspaper down and grabbing the phone.
"Hello?" my mother said after four rings.
"Mom."
"Stephanie? Are you okay? What's happened?"
"The newspaper has an article on me this morning. I just wanted to give you fair warning."
Ranger was on his cell behind me barking out orders. He hadn't said anything about the morning delivery. I wasn't so sure I was going to like what he was going to say. I had a feeling a panic button and twenty four hour in-house guards were on the list of orders being delivered.
"Article? What are you talking about?" my mother asked.
I could hear her moving around. I heard a door open and a paper making noise. Then the scream that made my ears bleed. Thud.
"Hot damn. You made the paper again. You must have some kind of record for the amount of front page articles you get. I thought you didn't want anybody to know where you live. Does this mean I can talk about you having all those hot men guarding you now at your new place down at the Cut and Curl?" my grandma asked.
"No Grandma. No talking about my new place. This story was leaked to the papers. They didn't mention my apartment number or that I'm using a different name, so it won't matter that anybody thinks that I live here. They won't get past the gate," I said and paused for a moment. "Did mom pass out?"
"Yep, no backbone that one. I don't know how I raised a daughter that faints so damn often. She's going to be ironing the toilet paper today. We'll have to unplug the phone. This is going to be the talk for weeks to come. You managed to pull something off without the Burg knowing. Can I at least tell everybody about that man stud you are doing the dirty with? That is one fine piece of equipment you are handling," grandma said.
Uhg. I needed to go back to bed and not wake up for a year or two.
"Grandma, this is what I want you to do. If anybody brings up anything about me, change the subject to the juiciest piece of gossip the Burg has right now that's not about me," I told her.
"I can do that. Did you hear about..."
"Grandma, I'm sure it's juicy so go with it. I have to get going. Have mom call me when she's mobile again."
"You ready, Babe?" Ranger asked, from the doorway fully clothed.
"Yep," I said, grabbing my stuff and following him out the door. "How many guards do I have now?"
"As many as it takes," he said, locking up.
"Ranger, how many?"
We got to the first floor and he still hadn't answered me. I looked at him, and he kept walking. He wasn't going to answer me. That equaled bad on my radar. We walked out the door and there was an Explorer parked behind Ranger's truck. I couldn't see who was in it. We got closer and Pat, I believe, jumped out the passenger side. Ranger threw him his truck keys, and he used my keys to beep open the Buick. We climbed in and led the caravan to the park.
Tank and Lula were waiting for us when we arrived. Everybody went into instant guard mode. I rolled my eyes and took a calming breath. Pat and Delyn were joining us on our run today. I counted to ten.
"I'll take lead. Tank and Lula on both sides of Steph. Delyn and Pat behind her. Keep your eyes open," Ranger said. I closed my eyes and counted to ten again. I grind my teeth the further I counted. Not working. "Babe?" Ranger said, looking at me.
"We need to talk about this," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
"It's just two more people running with us."
"Maybe to you that's all it is, but to me it's far more than that."
"This freak was at the restaurant last night. We didn't even know. He could have shot you on the way to your car," Lula said.
"But he didn't."
"But he could have. And that's what we are trying to avoid. He's made it clear, Steph that you're not safe. We don't know what this guy is doing, so that's what's so scary about this. He could at any time just decide he's finished with playing this game and kill you. Stop fighting Ranger on the extra eyes and guns and think about what you getting killed would do to everybody else," she said.
Why was I so stubborn? I nodded my head and waited for Ranger to lead the way. I concentrated on the fresh air and beautiful trees. I ignored that I felt like the secret service was running with me. I ignored the embarrassment I felt. I was running in my favorite park after all. Ranger didn't insist I change my schedule and life because of the note and newspaper. He didn't insist and cause a fight to get me to run at RangeMan. He understood I still deserved to run outside. He understood me really.
Now if I could only understand my psycho. He left me pigs. I wasn't sure how to take that. Clearly he was being funny. It wasn't really funny. More like sick and twisted. He seemed to be following some sort of planned out agenda. He clearly knew my every move. He let that be known each morning with different surprises in different areas of my schedule. He tagged the park, the gym, and the range. If I followed that thinking I assumed he was going to make contact with me at the office today, but clearly he felt an early morning wake-up call was more important. So he might not have a planned out agenda at all and tagging each stop just worked out that way. That didn't seem right, though. He seemed too controlling to not have a plan. The letters were about fear, to initiate fear in me. Really what he accomplished was pissing me off.
We slowed down to a jog and I finally took the time to watch Ranger's rear at work. I smiled remembering my hands gripping that sweet ass. He stiffened slightly and reached for his gun at the small of his back. It happened so fast, I was surrounded by gun wielding men and Lula. Ranger had his back to my front shielding me. Lula and Tank were snug against both sides of me, and Delyn and Pat were shielding my back. I was a Stephanie sandwich. I couldn't even get to my freaking gun.
"Hello I can't get to my gun," I said, as loud as I could. "I can participate in keeping myself alive you know. And I don't remember agreeing to any one of you sacrificing yourselves for me."
"Let's get you out of here," Ranger said. "I can feel him. I just can't see him. I don't like that."
"This feels too familiar," I said, taking Ranger's hand.
"Yeah tell me about it. Get your gun out, Babe," he said, shielding me.
"Stop doing that Ranger. Under no circumstances are you to jump in front of any bullets for me. I don't work without you. You die I might as well be dead," I said, my voice breaking at the end.
"Can't lose you," he said, tucking a curl behind my ear that came out of my ponytail. I took my gun out and we jogged back to the cars in a tight formation, with me sandwiched in the middle still.
"Harper and Cal will meet you at the gym. They'll watch your car while Delyn and Pat watch you. At eight Bobby and Van will take over. When you go to the gun range Bobby and Van will go in with you and Zero and Landon will watch your car. Tank and I have meetings this morning. I'll call you when I'm out, but I expect a phone call if something happens before then," he said, and kissed me softly on the lips.
"Ranger you're bleeding money again. You can't have four guys on me and two on Carolyn. That means you have even more contractors working," I said, shaking my head.
"Carolyn is settled now, so I don't I have twenty-four hour guards on her anymore. Zero and Landon will check on her later in the day. She has a cell that goes right to RangeMan and keys to a car for emergencies. She's safe," he said, leaning in closer to me. "The money means shit to me. I love you. I will spend all the money I have to keep you alive and safe. I want you in my bed every night, so I intend to make sure you are."
I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to me, kissing him hard with lots of tongue. I eased out of the kiss and rested my forehead against his, letting out a sigh.
"I have to go, Babe," he said, and kissed me lightly.
"I was thinking we could find ourselves a psycho today," Lula said, as I started the Buick.
"Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea. I want to get Otto today, too."
"After we hit the range, we can stop in at the office, track down Otto and drag her ass to the clink, and then we need to find the big bad wolf," Lula said.
"We need to watch that surveillance tape from range. And I need to find out who delivered my package this morning so we can pay them a visit. We also need to talk to the newspaper editor and the Colemans. Morelli talked to them and has them under surveillance, but I want talk to them personally," I said, as I pulled into the gym parking lot. I parked in the empty spot next to Cal and Harper. I gave them a little finger wave and walked into the gym.
"Here comes the bride, with the tear stains in her eyes. With weeping in her voice for her love she cries," Tanner's baritone voice sang.
"Here comes the groom, with eyes like flames of fire. From his mouth proceeds a sword, proclaiming his desire," James jumped in singing along.
"His foe has offered her the world, but his words she won't believe. She's waiting for the lord of lords and the one who's king of kings. She's made herself ready. For her beloved, she waits. He's arriving on a horse of white to take her away. Then in his arms he'll take her, and draw her to his side. And with his tender hands of love, wipe each tear from her eyes. What a joy she shall have inside as she steps on streets of gold. The Prince of Peace has come at last, and now he takes her home," they sang dramatically together.
Delyn, Pat, Lula, and I stood rooted to our spots, mouths agape. I turned around and headed back out the door once I could get my feet to move again. I was dragged back inside by the back of my shirt and tossed out on the mats. Lula was laughing hysterically next to a grinning James. I glared at the men before me and mumbled about insane people before coffee.
"Here we thought you were going for the low profile thing," Tanner said, amused. "Did my invitation to the wedding get lost in the mail, baby."
I glared at him again. He knew damn well I wasn't getting married. I stripped off my sweatshirt and shoes and tossed them to the bench without replying. They all laughed again knowing I was pissed. Of course being pissed didn't get me anywhere. I spent the entire two hours getting teased about my upcoming wedding to Mr. Manoso. They did the Stephanie and Ranger sitting in a tree song several times with various modifications. I huffed and puffed throughout the time, but got nowhere. My guards were no help. They may be completely loyal to Ranger, but I think they actually thought torturing me about Ranger was funny. I was sure Ranger would hear all about my training from hell five minutes after walking out the door.
"I don't think you should wear white for the big day, baby," Tanner said, laughing while I packed up. "Cause you is far from virtuous."
My hand was itching to pull my gun. I hadn't decided who was getting shot yet, though. I was cruising to just take myself out and end the misery, but Tanner and James were pushing their luck. I shot them a glare over my shoulder instead and stomped out the door. I saw Bobby and Van in the place next to my car and acknowledged them with a nod of my head. I slammed my car door and listened to Lula snicker the entire way to her apartment.
"Find some humor in this white girl, or you're going to drive yourself insane. See you in forty-five," Lula said, and got out of my car.
Bobby and Van grinned at me the entire way up to my apartment, and I finally had it as I was unlocking the door. I slammed it in their faces before they had a chance to get through. I was pretty sure I nailed one of them with the knob. I heard the door open as I was dumping all my stuff on the kitchen table.
"Sorry, Hon," Bobby said, wrapping an arm around me. "Didn't realize how angry you were. Do you want me to shoot somebody?"
I laughed, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "No point. It wouldn't make me feel any better. Plus then I would have to go to the funeral, and I'm bad at funerals."
"I remember," Bobby said from behind me.
I jumped in the shower and danced around a little trying to get the temperature right. I quickly shampooed, conditioned, washed, shaved, and rinsed and jumped back out. I finger styled my hair, slapped on some makeup, threw on jeans and t-shirt, shoved my feet in sneakers, walked through Dolce Vita, and headed to the kitchen. Bobby and Van were kicked back, feet propped on my coffee table watching TV.
"You got a text message while you were showering," Bobby announced as I walked pass him.
I picked up my cell off the counter and opened the text message. The blood drained from my face.
'Did you like the Article? I was kind enough to leave out the important information wasn't I Michelle Stephens in number 90. Oh and the shield of protection was cute this morning. I was almost tempted to prove my point that you're not safe no matter how many guards and guns surround you. Have a good day Ms. Plum.'