Okay, Okay… I know I promised to update way sooner than this. I suck, I know.
Honestly, things have been beyond crazy and I've been trying to piece together enough words to constitute a chapter posting for ya'll. The family business that my husband and I work for just went out of business, so we've been busy getting that cleaned up and I was down in CA all last week. That being said, I do have some additional free time for a little while, but I can't guarantee the next time I'll be able to post. I'm so sorry, but I at least want to finish the story for you. I hate it when people don't complete a story and you're left wondering.
So… that all being said, I hope you enjoy and I'll try and get this thing finished for all of you wonderful, faithful readers a.s.a.p.!
--Forever Babe, here's your fix! Even if it is a bit late, lol--
Now I'm going to try and catch up on all the stories I've missed!

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I gave Ranger a full thirty minute head start before calling his cell professing all sorts of boredom and begging to be allowed to take Lula, & however many guards he wanted, if I could just go spend a tiny amount of time at the mall. I laid it on thick and resorted to begging for some happy. I was hyperventilating from the lies by the time I got off the phone… but it worked.

I think. At least he hadn't sounded as if he thought I was lying to him.

Much.

Then I called Lula and told her to be out front in no more than 10 minutes. I got a "Hunh" as response, but I didn't have time to argue or convince. Time was of the essence today and I was entirely too high strung to dally anyway. I quickly assembled an arsenal of various weapons and my own versions of safety precautions and strapped them to various parts of my body. I wasn't going to be completely dumb about this. I hated to even involve Lula this much, but it was my best bet of freeing myself from the assigned babysitters I was sure I had. Lula was by far the best distraction technique ever.

I practically skipped my way to the fifth floor, smiling and waving at MerryMen and security cameras alike. It was all part of my plan. Kill them with kindness – put them at ease.

"Hey Hal!" The greeting practically sang from my lips and judging from his cocked head and v'd eyebrows, I'd best tone my cheerfulness down a few notches if I was going for believable.

"Hey Steph." Yup, I had been over the top I decided, since I was being examined as if I might be possessed. "Lester and Cal should be down in just a second, they were finishing up in the prep locker."

"It's okay, Lula isn't even here yet."

Hal didn't respond, only watched me with eyes that suddenly seemed a bit too knowing in an almost intrusive way. I shifted my sights to the monitors and tried to fight the urge to simply make a run for it. My lying capabilities only go so far after all.

"Okay Bomber, set your stopwatch, we have precisely thirty minutes for shopping." Lester's booming drill sergeant impersonation startled me into jumping and gasping like I was a little girl being chased by her brother with spiders. I cursed myself as I struggled to clam down my breathing, hoping they would brush it off as general 'there's a psycho who wants my life' nerves.

"Geez Lester, don't you guys know better than to sneak around me like that by now?"

Judging from the snort I received as a response, I doubted it.

"Thirty minutes?" I asked, finally catching on to the words he had said. "Doesn't Ranger know it'll take that long just to get inside a dressing room?"

"No dressing rooms. And the sooner we leave the more time we have, he wants you here by the time he's back."

I was about to argue the dressing rooms stipulation when Hal interrupted me that Lula was approaching and I was propelled towards the elevator to the garage.

Was there anyone they didn't have on GPS radar, I wondered? I heard the bass from Lula's car as we stepped through the sliding doors and I saw a third MerryMan walk outside towards the gates and Lester and Cal sandwiched me towards a large, dark RangeMan SUV.

"But…Lula--"

"Hank is directing her into the garage and to our car."

"But—"

"We're all riding together on this little outing Bombshell." Lester interrupted for the second time as the rhino mode kicked up.

"But—"

"That's the orders. If you don't like them, we can veto operation mall-bomb."

I'm pretty sure a growl escaped from my throat as Lester followed me into the backseat.

"How about operation foot up your ass." I mean, honestly, could this get any more ridiculous?! I watched through narrow eyes as Lula was escorted to our SUV by two additional MerryMen who deposited her in the front seat and then got in the SUV next to us. My mouth hung open as they followed us out of the garage, tailing us the entire way to the mall. Lula must have been as shocked as I was because neither of us uttered a peep the entire drive.

Unheard of behavior.

There was no way in hell I was going to manage to escape four MerryMen, even with Lula's help. The President Of The United States didn't have protection like this!

I wanted to scream in frustration by the time I was being sandwiched through the giant sliding doors of Trenton's only mall. Besides the detrimental aspect to my plan… this was just plain embarrassing! People were actually stopping and staring at us as we made our way towards Macy*s, and I was soon studying the ground we were walking on to avoid having to witness it.

On top of all that, I was starting to think Lula was in shock. Either that or she was as mortified as I was and shamed into silence. All I know is that I would have to snap her out of it if I wanted to use her as a distraction. Quiet Lula doesn't work for me at the moment.

Used to be that walking along with a few MerryMen caused stares by females, understandably… nice to know there's a limit and etiquette that goes along with MerryMan accompaniment.

I breathed a sigh of relief when we walked into Macy*s, watching as the few elderly women who were shopping in the shoe department scuttled towards the exit as our army entered the area.

Luckily, Lula snapped out of her funk as soon as stilettos entered her line of vision.

"Ooooh – mama's got to get me a pair of these babies. MmmHmmm!" Lula exclaimed, cuddling a pair of leopard print and hot pink platform mini-boots. I had to grin as she seemingly broke the funk that had fallen over our group. The men relaxed slightly, creating a wide arc around us, facing out so that we had some room with our protection. I feigned interest in a pair of black leather knee high boots and I plotted around the new circumstances.

"So what have you and Batman been up to, being locked away like prisoners?" Lula interrupted my musings, earning a snort from Lester. I glared at his back as I tried to re-focus on Lula's question and not on my hopeful escape.

"We…"

Oh. My. God.

As the previous afternoon's activities flashed through my memory I couldn't believe what I was remembering. What in all that is holy is wrong with me?!

"What, White Girl?"

Lula's voice barely punctured through my haze.

… I had had unprotected sex with Batman. Again! For like the fourth frickin' time! I did a major forehead smack. If I hadn't been pregnant originally, I sure as hell was now! What is so hard about remembering to take a tiny little pill everyday, huh?!

"Uh, Bomber…" I dimly heard Lester's voice. "Hey… you don't look so good."

"Hey, move your ass outta my way… my girl needs my help."

"Where are you going?!" I was coherent enough to realize this was my chance as I heard the panic in Cal's voice as Lula started to half carry me off.

"Untwist your panties Skull-Head, we'll be in the bathroom. She needs some cold water splashed on her or somethin'." I tried to remember if there were any windows in the bathroom as Lula pushed open the door, and then instantly regretted the thought. What was I even considering here? How could I put myself in danger like this when there was a chance I had a child inside of me? The thought of how ready I was to put the both of us in danger and felt sick to my stomach.

"I need to go home." I said, more to myself, but out loud to Lula as well. I needed to get back, get out of danger. I turned on my heel, out of Lula's hands and towards the door, suddenly anxious to get out of the bathroom as soon as I could.

Later I'd wonder if I had felt it sooner if things would have turned out differently.

"Wait, Steph, wha—"

I turned around as Lula's voice cut off, just in time to watch her fall to the ground. A man I had never seen before was standing where she used to be, a stun gun in his hand and an evil empty glaze aimed my way. Now, I may not have ever seen him before, but I knew without a doubt that this man was my infamous stalker. (*I SO almost ended the chapter here, btw*)

We stood in a frozen staring contest as my adrenaline kicked in and my flight response took over. Not that I really had any chance to reach the door before he reached me, but it was worth a shot.

And when he grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me against his body, my fight response flowed through my veins. My voice squealed beneath his hand, my legs kicked towards his body, and my fingernails clawed at any patch of skin they came into contact with. But in the end, it didn't matter.

The only thought I had before I felt the sizzle of electricity against my skin, was that Ranger was going to be livid.