Previous Chapter: Bones turned to me and walked me out the door, "Where to, Blondie?"

"Home so I can get changed out of this dress and then the Bond's Office — I need to have a word with my dear Cousin Vinnie."

CHAPTER 26
(Misty's POV)

"Don't play dumb with me, Vinnie," I scowled. "You owe Alyssa after your betrayal. She's risked her life for you almost every day for the past couple of months to bring in those low lives for you. And, then you go and betray her by bailing out a man who's openly announced that he wants to do bodily harm to her."

"I have a business to run and she's the one that chose to be in this line of business," Vinnie balked.

I bent down and snatched the dagger on the side of Bones' boot and slid across Vinnie's desk and pointed it at his groin. "Tell me if you end up losing Alyssa, who will you be able to get to do your dirty work for you? How long have all of your other Bounty Hunters lasted? You bail out the lowest of the low lives and Alyssa's the only one willing to put her life out on a limb to bring them in. Do you really think Rangeman's willing to contract out their men for those low bond cases? In fact, if something happens to Alyssa do you even think Rangeman will continue their contract with you at all?"

"What do you want me to do?" Vinnie squealed, his eyes bulging out of his sockets. "It's not like I can rescind his bail. It's already happened. He can't touch her as long as she's in jail anyways."

"Benny's the least of our problems right now. I'm here because of Rizik."

"John Rizik?" Vinnie asked baffled. "What about him?"

"I know he's dirty. You know he's dirty. The entire Trenton population knows he's dirty. He's pulling for Alyssa to rot in jail and I am going to nail him."

Vinnie flashed a feral grin, "How do you propose you're going to nail him, cuz?"

I slugged him across the face, "Fucking get your mind out of the gutter and focus, Vinnie!"

He rubbed his jaw, "I don't know what I can do to help aid in that. I barely know the guy."

"Yeah but you both run in the same dirty circles."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm an honest to goodness man and a good husband," he retorted.

I shoved the tip of the dagger closer into the seam of his pants, "Cut the bullshit. I know you partake in illegal gambling on the side and Rizik has a problem. I want you to find out when and where the next game will be."

"It's too risky. These guys trust me and I've heard what Rizik does to guys he thinks are double crossing him."

I placed the dagger on the desk and grabbed his shirt pulling him into me, "If you don't help me, you'll have to worry about dealing with me."

His eyes fell to my cleavage as he licked his lips, "What do I get out of it if I do help you out?"

I shoved him back into his chair and smacked him upside his head, "You're fucking sick, Vinnie. I'm your fucking cousin for god's sake!"

"In some states it's legal," he protested.

"You're a sick pervert. Get the information and call me the minute you do or I'll have a talk with Lucille," I warned him, walking back over to Bones and handing him his dagger back.

"Why do you always have to bring my wife into it?" he cried out.

"Because, dear cousin. If she knew half of the stuff you did behind her back, what's to stop her from running to dear old dad?" I said sweetly slamming his office door behind him.

Vinnie's wife, Lucille, is the daughter of a known kingpin, Harry "The Hammer." Harry lent him the money to build his business because he dotes on his daughter so much anyone who harms her would find himself faced with a fate less than desirable.

"White Girl, what's with all the ruckus going on in there?" Lula shouted loudly. "Are we going to bust Short Round out of jail or what?"

I liked Lula. She had a lot of sass and confidence. I grinned at her wildly, "The plan has already been set. I'll clue you in when it's time."

"I'll be ready. Lula's got a lot of friends in low places," she beamed proudly.

"Don't count me out either," Connie spoke up behind the desk. "I'll help that girl out in any way I can."

"I'll call you ladies later. In the meantime, keep an eye on the weasel for me and don't let him skip town," I said as I left the office.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

"Hey, Eddie." I answered the phone as I slipped into Bones' SUV.

"Mis, I just wanted to let you know that Alyssa's been taken to the infirmary. I didn't want you hearing through the grapevine so I thought I'd call you," Eddie said with concern.

"I'm on my way," I said firmly, disconnecting the phone before Eddie could say anything else.

I looked dead ahead and said coldly to Bones, "Take me to the prison."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I grabbed Bones' arm before he got out of the car, "Stay here. I want to go in by myself."

"That's not happening," he replied calmly with a blank look on his face.

"Look, it's a prison with cops at every corner. What's going to happen to me? Besides, I don't want people talking if they see you there with me. At least try to make yourself scarce."

His expression didn't shift.

"Please?" I pouted.

"Fine."

"Thanks," I smiled and bounced out of the car.

I walked through the door and up to the glass window where a bored looking black female with a simple short bob sat, "Hi, I would like to visit Alyssa Chau."

"She's not allowed visitors," the woman behind the desk yawned.

"I was told that she was taken to the infirmary. She's my sister. I just wanted to check on her to make sure she's ok."

"Are you hard of hearing?" she said snidely. "I told you she's not allowed visitors."

"I don't understand why she's not allowed visitors," I cried in outrage.

"She's considered dangerous," she remarked.

"That's ridiculous!" I said firmly trying to control my rage.

"Miss Plum is quite correct, that statement is preposterous," a man interjected behind me. "I am here to see my client, Miss Chau and I will be taking her sister and Mr. Mañoso in with me as well," he instructed in a commanding voice.

"I've been given strict orders that nobody is to see the prisoner. Did you let the warden know that you were coming?" the cop said annoyed, tapping her long purple gemmed nails on the desk.

"Then I suggest you call Chief Juniak," Alyssa's lawyer suggested.

"I ain't gotta do nuttin', old man," she said defensively.

I stepped up to the window and smiled at her sweetly. "Your nails are absolutely stunning. Looks like you paid a pretty penny on them," I remarked.

Her eyes lit up slightly, "I like to pamper myself once in a while. Keeps my man interested."

"You know what would go great with those nails — matching lingerie," I smiled at her and pulled out two cards from my purse and flashed it at her. "In two weeks, there's going to be a lingerie fashion show downtown. How would you and a friend like to attend and with these VIP cards? You'll be guaranteed to go home with some very nice swag bags."

"Are you serious, girl? You're not yanking my chain?" her eyes grew as wide as saucers.

"Definitely not. I work for Baldicott, Inc. Perhaps you've heard of them?"

"You mean that fancy shmancy lingerie company based out of New York?"

"The one and only. So I'd love for you to be my guest and join us." I pulled out my business card, "You shouldn't have any issues getting into the show, but just in case, here's my card. I'll even let the staff know to expect you and your friend — I didn't quite catch your name."

"Roberta Johnson," she answered, quickly swiping the cards from the slot in the window.

"Well, then Roberta, I look forward to seeing you at the show. But for now, would it be at all possible for you to could let us in to see Alyssa?"

She frowned. "I really am under strict orders, but if you make it quick. Jessica do you mind escorting them?" she turned her head to ask the woman pretending to file behind her who looked like she was going to explode from excitement.

The woman just stood there and with a grin plastered on her face.

"For god's sake, Jessica! Will you do it or not? You already know you're going to be the person I'm taking," Roberta barked.

"Yeah sure!" Jessica dropped the files and met us around the corner.

"Fifteen minutes! That's the best I can give you," Roberta shouted as she waved us towards the door and it buzzed open.

"You're a doll, Roberta," I gushed at her.

Jessica walked us through a series of locked doors until we came to a hospital-like room. She approached the guard and flashed him a flirtatious smile. I didn't quite catch anything that she was whispering to him but from the look on his face, it must've made him a very happy man.

He allowed us into the room where we found a very frail looking Alyssa hooked up to a bunch of monitors handcuffed to the bed. I ran to the bed and stroked her cheek gently. The color was completely drained from her skin except for the hideous shade of purple on her face that trailed down her neck. She looked like she was used as someone's personal punching bag.

"She looks fucking terrible," I whispered out loud.

"You should see the other person," she smiled weakly.

"What happened to you?" I said softly trying to hold back my tears.

"Seems to have been a clerical error…my cellmate was Clarence Brown's sister. You remember the Blue Devil," she coughed. "Apparently she doesn't like me very much — thinks that I'm responsible for her brother not being able to provide for her family now that he's in jail."

I heard Ranger growl behind me and shift slightly.

"How could they make a mistake like that? They had to have done it on purpose," I stated angrily.

"It is definitely an uncalled for mistake," Alyssa's lawyer spoke up. "I'm going to call the judge to see if we can't arrange to have another bail hearing scheduled for you. It's too dangerous for you to stay behind bars."

"It's not that big of a deal," Alyssa said trying to make light of the situation. "I got in a few good punches myself. I went down swinging, ya know?"

Ranger appeared on the other side of the bed and caressed her gently and kissed the top of her head, "Proud of you, Babe."

I swear that I saw sparks fly when his lips touched her skin. Those two could melt the polar ice caps from the heat they emit. I always knew that Alyssa had some sort of crush on Ranger from the way she reacts to the mere mention of his name and the way her eyes light up when he calls her.

But honestly, I could see it in Ranger's eyes, too. He may try to hide behind that blank wall he puts up to shield his emotions, but that man obviously has strong feelings for my Alyssa. But obviously, he was like any typical man who was either too pigheaded or cowardly to admit to it.

"How's Joe?" she croaked.

"You look like death warmed over and you're concerned about Morelli?" I balked.

"Misty…he was on the brink of death too," she reasoned.

"Detective Morelli is still in a coma, Ms. Chau."

"Thank you, Mr. Harding," Alyssa whispered. "Will he—"

Ranger placed his finger on her lips, "—we have a guard stationed outside his door round the clock. You don't need to worry, Babe. Focus on yourself and hold onto your strength."

She nodded slowly closing her eyes, "Take care of him and Misty for me." Her chest moved up and down slowly in a peaceful rhythmic pace.

"Times up!" Jessica stuck her head in and whispered loudly.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

My phone rang as we stepped outside and were joined by Bones.

"You better have something good," I answered curtly.

"There's a game in the basement of Lucky's tomorrow night at eight. Rizik usually likes to show up an hour early for you know what," Vinnie reported.

"Thanks, Vin," I said smugly before disconnecting.

I then dialed out.

"White Girl, whatcha need me to do?" Lula called out loudly over the phone.

I plastered a huge grin across my face, "Lula, how do you feel about gathering a bunch of ladies for a night of fun at Lucky's tomorrow?"

"What time?"

"Six-thirty."

"I'm on it. See you tomorrow, White Girl."

Click.

"That look can only mean trouble, Boss," Bones spoke up.

"Oh come on now, boys. A night at a titty bar couldn't be that much trouble, could it?" I smiled slyly as I hooked my arm onto Bones.'

Rizik is going down. Nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it.