Anything familiar belongs to Janet. The mistakes are mine.
Ranger's POV
I can tell that my mother has really gotten Stephanie thinking. Her gears are turning so fast, I'm surprised her curly brown hair isn't smoking right now.
"Babe, just talk it out," I told her.
There's no way I'd let Stephanie keep her thoughts from me. Not anymore.
Steph blew out a breath."I'm a little scared," she said to me.
That wasn't what I wanted to hear. I pulled her out of her kitchen chair and onto the one I'm occupying. Stephanie being afraid of anything doesn't sit well with me.
"What are you scared of?" I asked her.
"Of completely starting over."
"Steph, you've done that a few times already ... most recently with me."
"Yeah, but you were a no-brainer. Leaving Joe and my apartment is one thing, packing up all our stuff and moving half an hour away from our job, the guys, and Mary Lou, is something else entirely."
"Steph, we haven't even looked at the place yet," I told her.
"I know, but the house is secondary now. Marisol succeeded in planting the idea of us leaving here, and my brain is working overtime trying to figure out if this is something that will really be good for us."
"Even if you decide you'd like to leave, it wouldn't have to be tomorrow, Babe," I said, brushing her hair off her neck so I could have access to the spot she likes kissed."We can take things slow."
Steph pulled back before I could even get started on her, and looked at me like I'd grown a second head.
"Take things slow?" Stephanie asked me."Did you really just say that?"
"I did. And I'll even try to mean it."
"Yeah, right," she said."You don't like slow."
"You're wrong. There are some things I like real slow, Babe," I told her, attaching my mouth to her sweet spot.
With just a bit more pressure, Steph started making that little noise that gets my dick pointed in her direction every time. But just when I had her right where I wanted her, reality intruded.
"Ranger, you know we don't have time for this right now," Steph said, her voice echoing my disappointment.
I fought off a lot of urges, the least of which was a sigh. I put Stephanie on her feet and got to my own, telling my body to stand down.
"You're right, Babe, we have to leave in ten minutes."
"Yeah, and it'd take me twice that long to hide the 'just had sex' look I get after being with you."
"You can't blame me for being thorough," I told her, loving that particular look on her myself.
Stephanie's hair would be wild, her lips swollen, and her eyes looking sleepy and satisfied. Yeah, she made a good point. No way in hell is Stephanie leaving the apartment looking like that. If a few undone buttons at a bar during a job could cause a riot, that just fucked look of hers would start WWIII.
"I like the fact that you leave nothing untouched, Ranger, but I might not want the realtor to know just how much I enjoy it."
"I'll give you that one. Is there anything you want to do before we leave?" I asked.
"Do you think we'd be able to nab Kerns on the way home?" She asked me.
I could get him now before we even leave, but being in on the capture is important to Stephanie so I didn't make the call.
"Yes. I'll even act as your backup if you need some."
"You'd be on the phone with the control room right now if you didn't think I'd be pissed about it, wouldn't you?"
"Yes," I said again."But if you want to have a go at him, I'm not going to stop you. As long as Kerns behaves himself."
"He will or I'll stun his ass."
"That's my girl," I told her, never meaning it more.
We stopped at five to get the paperwork Steph needed for Kerns and then we took the Cayenne to the address we were given. When I pulled into the driveway, I had to give my mother credit. This is someplace I can see Steph and I living outside the Rangeman building. The lot is large enough to afford us privacy from neighbors, but not so isolated that Steph wouldn't feel safe here when I'm not with her. The exterior was a combination of stucco and stone, with a small front porch and attached garage. Without even getting out of the car, I had security placement already mapped out.
The neighborhood itself is a well-off one, while not appearing so affluent that it'd be targeted by addicts looking to make a quick buck. There's a gated fence around the grounds that can be expanded on if I felt it necessary. And there is enough greenery near the house to add to the curb appeal, but not so high or thick that a person could lie in wait for Stephanie to come home. At first glance, I'm extremely happy with the property.
I turned my head and studied Steph's expression. She had her lower lip between her teeth, her personal tell that she's nervous or trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together. Today, nerves are getting the better of her, but she'll have them under control by the time we get inside.
"Babe, are you sure you want to do this?" I asked, not wanting to pressure her if she's having serious doubts.
"Yes," Stephanie said, immediately.
"We're only looking," I told her."We don't have to decide anything today."
"I know, Ranger. I may be a little apprehensive, but that's it. It's just that I gave up my apartment not too long ago and to leave yours so soon after is a lot to take in."
"It is. And you're holding up remarkably well," I said to Steph, trying to distract her.
Stephanie smiled right before she gave me a good-natured shove and got out of the Cayenne. We met the realtor - Samuel Dawson - on the sidewalk and he let us all inside. Sam gave Steph the rundown on the house; square footage, number of bathrooms, and he mentioned the finished basement that I was sure Brown and Santos would try to convince Steph needed an eighty-inch flat screen in order to be considered complete.
Steph grabbed my hand after we walked in. Based on that one move, I'd guess she likes the place. The foyer was large and open, the winding staircase gave a good glimpse of the upstairs hall, and the downstairs flowed from one room right into another. To the left of the foyer was a living room and dining room. To the right, a half bath. And the back of the house was taken up by the kitchen and a family room, which separated it from the master suite.
It came as no surprise to me that Stephanie was drawn to the deck off the breakfast area in the kitchen. I followed behind her, my eyes skimming over the dark granite counters, maple cabinets, and curved kitchen island, as I passed through the space that opened up to an above loft that broke up the second story floor plan.
"This is a pretty place, isn't it?" Steph asked me, as I circled her waist and looked out over a decent-sized backyard with her.
"It's a solid house," I told her."The question is, would you consider leaving Rangeman for it?"
"Maybe," she said to me.
"I believe you'll see that you do belong here," Sam said, coming up behind us,"as soon as you get a look at the upstairs."
"Do you want a few more minutes down here, Babe?" I asked Steph, not wanting to rush her.
"Nope. I already have this view memorized. I want to check out the second floor right after we look at where our bedroom would be."
Sam walked us to the master suite and I knew Steph would enjoy the vaulted ceiling, walk-in closet, and bathroom complete with a laundry room off of it. Maybe not the laundry room so much, but at least this way, she wouldn't have to venture down into a 'creepy' basement to get her clothes washed. The spacious bathroom which is similar to the one we have now will sway her even more.
"It just keeps getting better," Steph said to us."I can't wait to see the upstairs."
"After you," Samuel said to her.
The second story had another bedroom that I believe Steph would agree will be set aside for Julie in case she decides to visit now that we've started communicating more. There was also a space which could be turned into an office that Steph and I can share, plus another full bath between the second bedroom and loft.
"This would make a great room for Julie," Steph said after giving the extra bedroom a thorough going over, causing me to smile.
"What?" Steph asked me.
"I was just thinking about Julie possibly visiting."
"Of course she'll visit, Ranger," Steph told me."You guys are getting closer with every phone call and Miami trip."
"One of these times, you will be coming with me to see Julie," I said, even though I understand why Stephanie hasn't joined me.
"You have to get to know Julie without me around, Ranger. And Rachel needs to see that you really want a relationship with Julie, and aren't making yourself available just because your new wife is pushing you to make an effort."
"Steph, Rachel knows no one pushes me to do anything, nor would you if you were able to."
"I know that, but I want Julie and Rachel to know it, too. Look at Steve, Valerie's ex-husband. He took off with their savings - and their babysitter - and only wants to see Angie and Mary Alice now because he's engaged. He waited to make contact until he had someone new lined up to do all the childcare crap he used to stick Valerie with."
"Steve is an asshole," I told Stephanie, dismissing him as a man for ditching his responsibilities to the children he helped create and to the woman he'd been married to before his mid-life crisis hit."Mary Alice and Angie deserve better. I'm not a Kloughn fan, but he did step up and become a decent father to the girls."
"Yeah, Albert's great with them. I still wouldn't leave Rex alone with him, though."
"I think if Kloughn can handle three girls, he can handle a hamster."
"I'd rather not chance it," Steph told me.
"So, what do you think, Babe?"
"About the house?" She asked me.
"Yes."
"Honestly ... I love it."
Yes, she does love it. I can see that, but there's more.
"But," she continued,"I don't know if I'm ready to move this far away from Trenton."
"We'll be in Trenton every day, Steph."
"I know, but I won't be able to just take the elevator down to the control room on nights you're gone and I need company."
"That's an easy one to solve," I said to her."You can travel with me."
"Yeah, I guess I could."
"What else?" I asked Steph.
"There'll be no more hanging out with the guys after work."
"Why not? On nights I have to work late, you can stay with me in the building and annoy the hell out of the men all you want."
She smiled.
"And you can also invite the men over if we did live here ... just not very often. I don't want Santos close to our bedroom on a regular basis."
"Can we think about this for a few days?" She asked me.
"Yes, but there's a chance another buyer will make an offer before we do," I told her.
It isn't exactly a lie, even though I intend to make sure the house is available for as long as Steph is interested in it. The last time I saw her this in love with something was the day she married me.
"Shit," Steph said.
"Don't let that influence you, Babe. If you don't want to move right now, then we'll do this again when you're sure."
"What if I'm never one hundred percent sure?"
"Then we stay at Rangeman. This really isn't a big deal."
"Easy for you to say," she muttered.
I grinned at her before pulling her body into my arms.
"Let's go get your FTA. That will give you time to clear your head."
Steph blew out a sigh, but she seemed to agree that she needed time to decide what she really wants here.
"Okay," she told me."I really hate doubting myself. I feel like I should be able to make snap decisions like you do."
"You're not me, Babe. And I don't want you to be."
"So we should tell Samuel that we'll be in touch?" Stephanie asked me.
"Why don't you go take one more look around while I tell Dawson that we need to think about this a little longer."
"Sure," Steph said, and we went back downstairs.
Steph went straight to the deck while I located Sam Dawson and made arrangements for the house to be 'unofficially' sold until Steph told me otherwise.
Stephanie and I met up again at the front door and Steph gave the place one last longing glance before she opened the door and started down the sidewalk. It took considerable restraint not to just tell her that the place is ours, but Stephanie had to come to that conclusion on her own.
Stephanie was already buckled in when I slid behind the wheel and started the Porsche. Her eyes were fixed on the rearview mirror as I drove us further away from the house. It'd be so easy to just take the decision out of her hands so she'd stop questioning herself over this, but I refuse to make Stephanie a silent partner in this marriage.
"Where are we headed, Babe?" I asked her.
"Kerns lives on the dead end street off Byron Ave."
"What was he arrested for?"
"Assault."
"Do you want me along to watch your back?"
"Yes. I'm pretty sure I can take him, but why chance it?"
I'm glad Steph said that since I'd planned on shadowing her anyway. I still remember coming up to the door behind her during one of her captures and seeing the FTA holding a gun on her and his sister. There's no way in hell I'd risk Stephanie, even though this asshole is considered only a bottom-feeder in the criminally-minded food chain.
It took thirty-five minutes to reach Kerns' street, and two minutes after that to pull up in front of the shithole he lives in. The windows were all covered in what looked to be mismatched pillowcases, and the front door appeared to have been hit repeatedly with a baseball bat swung by someone with serious rage issues.
Steph tipped her head towards the door."That's what got the cops involved," she told me."The neighbors believed he'd been aiming at his girlfriend's head instead of the door, and then at her father's when he tried to calm Kerns down and get his daughter out of there."
"Sounds like a nice guy," I told her.
"Nope. He's a pig. The problem is, he's a strong pig who's pissed off more days than not."
"If today is one of those days, and Kerns doesn't feel like cooperating with you," I said to Steph,"he will regret it."
"Don't worry, all you have to do is keep that menacing look on your face," Steph told me,"and he'll think twice about doing anything offensive."
"He'd better not even think once about it," I said.
If he did, Steph's skip or not, I'll be taking over.
We left the Cayenne and Stephanie and I both approached the front door. Normally, I'd suggest separating, but I'm not letting her out of my sight. Luckily, Steph wasn't in the mood to fight me on it. Steph knocked as we moved to the sides of the door in case Kerns decided to shoot through it.
"Get the fuck off my porch!"Was heard instead of gunshots.
"No," Steph told him."Get your ass out here, Kerns. I need to talk to you."
"I ain't got nothing to say."
"Come on, Doug. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
"I sure as fuck ain't making it easy to arrest me," he said."I know that's why you're here bugging me."
"You're going to be arrested one way or another, Kerns," Steph said to him."You just need to decide how badly you want to be hurt before you are."
I smiled to myself. Stephanie knows her shit. Nothing pisses a guy like this off more than a woman thinking she can kick his ass. As chauvinistic as it is, it worked to Steph's advantage. And she knew it.
The door flew open and the stringy-haired, beer-gutted, and no doubt small-dicked, bastard left the safety of his house to join us on the porch. Steph was also smart in not letting Kerns know that I'm with her.
"No bitch is taking me in," he told Stephanie, invading her personal space and angering me in the process.
Stephanie already had her stun gun in her hand as I was telling myself to let her handle Kerns unless he was about to get physical, but when Kerns put his index finger in Steph's face to try to make himself feel superior, I didn't care about Stephanie making the capture, I wanted him the fuck away from her.
Steph's eyes flicked briefly to me, and I got the distinct impression she wanted to roll them because she knew I wasn't going to just stand there and watch her get disrespected. I crept up behind Kerns and wrapped my arm around his neck, using my forearm to cut off his oxygen supply.
"Get your finger out of her face," I told Kerns,"or I will remove it."
"Who the fuck are you?" Kerns asked, grabbing at my arm and trying to keep it from pressing further into his throat.
It wasn't happening.
"Steph, cuff him," I told her, moving my body just enough so she could reach his wrists.
When Steph had Kerns secure, I released my hold, regretting it immediately when he looked Steph's way and spit at her feet.
"Fucking whore," Kerns said to Steph.
"Why is it so hard for men to accept that women can outsmart them?" Steph asked, amused at Kerns's attempt to keep his manhood intact.
I wasn't amused at all. The insult isn't the only mistake Kerns made today, but it will be the one to get some manners drilled into him. I grabbed where his wrists were being held together and pulled straight up, stopping just short of dislocating his shoulders. That would come if he didn't apologize quickly, and to my satisfaction. Kerns swore, which only made me raise his arms higher.
"Someone really should have taught you the appropriate way of speaking to a lady," I said softly to him, and I could see Steph out of the corner of my eye rub her arms as goosebumps formed along them,"because you don't want that particular lesson taught by me. Now apologize to my wife before I decide to twist your arms completely off."
"Ranger ..." Steph said, looking concerned.
"I gave him a choice, Babe. It's on him if he makes the wrong one."
Doug Kerns was hunched, trying to alleviate the pressure, but as I'm the one applying pressure, it won't be letting up until he's able to speak past his balls for once.
"I'm sorry," Doug spit out.
"That didn't sound sincere," I told him."Try again."
I said this as I moved his shackled wrists until they were almost parallel to the ground. Another inch and I'd have to pop both his shoulders back in. I mentally shrugged. That would only take a couple of seconds anyway, but probably would feel like a lifetime to the one injured.
"Ranger, stop playing with him," Steph said to me, worried that I'd have charges filed against me if I don't stop soon.
"Are you quoting me?" I asked her, remembering when I'd told Tank something similar after Steph got carjacked in my Porsche.
"Yeah, but I also want you to let him go. I've been called worse by scarier people, Ranger. What this asshole says doesn't bother me."
"Well, it bothers me. And I have all day to show him how much it does. So what'll it be, Kerns? You going to man up and say you're sorry, or be a dick and lose yours?"
"I ain't losing nothing," Kerns said to me.
"You're not the one deciding that," I told him."You'll leave here with what I choose ... when I choose."
"Fuck off," he said to me.
Steph inhaled sharply, no doubt afraid she'll now be asked to testify against me. I was more amused than angry with Kerns at this point. As long as he isn't directing his shit at Stephanie, he can say whatever the fuck he wants to me. And then I'll enjoy wiping the smug look off his face. Still keeping his arms at an uncomfortable angle, I pulled out my Glock and pressed it hard enough into his temple to leave a mark.
"You might want to keep in mind who you're dealing with," I said to him."I can make you disappear in minutes and no one will ever find your body. Is not giving an appropriate apology really worth your life?"
Kerns's body slowly lost its attitude. He would vanish and he understood that.
"I'm sorry," he said to Stephanie.
"And what are you sorry for?" I pushed.
"For being an asshole?" He asked.
"Yes. What else?"
"And for sticking my finger in your face," Kerns said directly to Stephanie.
"And?" I said to him.
"Also for spitting at you."
I pressed the gun tighter into him.
"And I apologize for calling you a whore," Kerns said quickly, knowing he wasn't getting away from me or my hold on him.
"Apology accepted," Steph said."Can we wrap this up now? I've got other things on my mind."
"I'm ready when you are, Babe," I told her.
I shackled his feet just because I could, and secured Kerns in the backseat of the Cayenne. I'd prefer to tie him to the back bumper and make him run behind the fucking car all the way to the station, but the TPD tended to frown upon that kind of transport.
I waited until Stephanie was settled into the passenger's seat and then I drove us to the Trenton PD. Steph proceeded us into the building and I dragged Kerns's reluctant body through the door. I didn't care that I was a little rougher than I needed to be. If he wanted to act like a tough guy, then he could suffer the consequences now and not bitch about it.
Steph was in the building for less than thirty seconds when she zeroed in on a woman talking to one of the newer officers.
"Melinda?" Steph asked the woman's back.
Steph has the innate ability to identify people from the oddest characteristics. A jacket, a pair of high-end shoes, or in this case, it was the bleached-out hair that resembled chewed up straw. Even Raimes's hair has had a hard life.
"Yeah?" Raimes said, turning around."Oh, it's you. Last time I saw you, you were being escorted into an ambulance by the Hulk here."
Steph laughed."He's not the Hulk, he's Batman. And there's no hospital that can keep me longer than absolutely necessary, so I was let out a little while later."
"You want me to get your receipt for you?" I asked Steph, since she didn't seem to mind talking to Raimes.
"Yeah, thanks," she told me."I want to find out what brings Melinda to the station. You didn't get arrested again, did you?"
I thought the least Raimes could do is learn her fucking lesson, since she was nearly killed while almost taking us out with her, but her lifestyle is one that is nearly impossible to escape unless you really want to live bad enough.
"Nah," Raimes said to Steph."I'm bailing out one of my guys, and then I'm bailing, too."
This sounded like the start of an interesting conversation, but business had to come first. I got Kerns taken off my hands, and when I slid my arms around Steph's waist from behind, she and Raimes were talking about new starts.
"Ranger," Steph said to me,"Melinda's going to stay with a woman who used to work for her until she figures out where she wants to live permanently." She paused. "I kind of know the feeling."
I shifted my hold so Stephanie was pressed to my side and I could see her face.
"Steph, there's no rush," I told her."There will always be houses available if you want to look at another time."
Steph didn't hesitate in walking away from Joe, giving up her apartment, or marrying me, but the idea of leaving Trenton is making her uneasy.
"There may be other houses," Steph told me,"but that one is perfect for us."
I shrugged."There will be others that will be, too."
"If it's so fucking 'perfect'," Raimes chimed in,"why the hell are you still talking about it instead of buying it? I'm sure you ain't hurtin' for cash."
"Money isn't the issue," Steph told her.
"No kidding. Your man looks like can buy the whole damn state if he wanted."
I ignored Raimes and focused on Stephanie. She was going over her pros and cons list again.
"We'd have to commute to work," Steph said,"most of our friends are in Trenton, and leaving any place is a big step."
"Isn't that what you were yammering at me to do?" Raimes asked her.
"Yes, but people are trying to kill you," Steph told her.
"Babe."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I have people always trying to kill me, too."
"Advice is worth shit in my opinion," Raimes told Steph,"but I'll give you some anyway. Don't wait until you have nothing left to try doing your life over. You got options, so use them. I'm going to give mine a try before I end up in a different area of the hospital than you wound up in."
She wasn't just speaking out of her ass. If Raimes stays where she is, she will be sporting a toe tag in the morgue. That little bit of truth had Steph suddenly quiet. I've done what I can for her by telling the realtor we want the house until he hears differently. Now I'm left waiting her out. Somehow I don't think Stephanie will mind me being 'sneaky' in this case, and my instincts are also telling me that we'll be finalizing the deal by the end of the week, if not sooner.
"I really hope things work out for you," Steph told Raimes.
"Me, too. But I ain't holding my breath."
An officer brought out Toby Lemire, Raimes's errand boy. He's young, and I'd bet stupid considering he wound up here, but he's harmless. If Lemire doesn't follow Raimes's example and get the hell away from Comstock, he'll be dead inside a month. Naïveté and gang life make for a very early grave.
"I gotta go," Raimes said to us."This kid's gonna get himself killed if he keeps this shit up."
"I know all about her reputation," Steph said, leaning into me as Raimes left with Lemire,"but she's not really a bad person."
"You thought the same thing about me, Babe," I told her,"and look where that got you."
"That thinking got me a hot husband, a great set of in-laws, and a pretty friggin' good life. Maybe I should stop listening to my instincts about people, because clearly they aren't working for me."
I bent my head so my lips hovered above Stephanie's."Smart ass," I said against them before I kissed her.
"You two are taking this newlywed thing too far," Carl said to us.
"Hey, Carl," Steph told him.
"Costanza," I said in greeting.
"What're you doing here?" Carl asked."Picking up or dropping off."
"Dropping off," I told him.
"Yeah," Steph said to Carl,"no one we know is dumb enough to get arrested."
That is true. What my men lack in social skills, they make up for in street smarts. They all know how to keep the law out of their - and Rangeman's - business.
"I couldn't help but overhear part of your conversation ..." Carl started to say.
"Couldn't help my ass," Steph told him."You develop extra-sensory hearing when a topic you're interested in comes along."
"Exactly. Why do you think I became a cop?"
"Because you like free doughnuts from Marjorie at Tasty Pastry," she said to Carl.
"Yeah, I do. So ... did I hear right? You're moving?"
"Thinking about moving," I told him.
"Why?" Carl asked.
"Why not?" She countered.
"Because this town wouldn't be the same without you."
"Jesus, Carl. I'm not dying or anything."
"Still ..."
"We haven't decided anything yet," she told Costanza."It's just something we're considering."
"Does your mother know?"
"No one knows," I said to Costanza, making it very clear that he is to keep his mouth shut.
Stephanie doesn't need her parents or Joe showing up, trying to make her mind up for her.
"Ah," Carl said."Gotcha."
"Ranger, I don't care who knows about this," Steph said to me."It won't change anything."
"This is our decision, Babe, and I don't want anyone else thinking they get input into it."
"You mean my family."
She didn't phrase it as a question so I didn't have to answer. We both know her mother would be the first one called.
"Oookay," Carl said, picking up on the fact that there's a conversation going on that he isn't actually hearing,"just as long as you don't become a stranger to us here."
"Carl, Ranger and I will still be working over at Rangeman during the week."
"Yeah, but you might decide the grass is greener somewhere else and give Trenton the 'ol one finger salute."
That's a possibility I'm ready for as well.
"I wouldn't dump my friends," Steph told Carl."Even the annoying ones."
Carl laughed."Eddie will be glad to hear it."
Steph rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm ready to get back to Rangeman," she told me."I could really use a glass of wine and that cheesecake Ella helped me make."
"You made something?" Carl said.
"Yes," Steph told him."I can make edible stuff now. Well, a few edible things with a little adult supervision."
Carl looked doubtful.
"Play your cards right, Carl," Steph said to him,"and you might get to try some of it."
"That's okay, Steph," he said."I'll take your word for it."
Steph smiled."Chicken."
Stephanie laced her fingers through mine as she said goodbye to Costanza and we left the police station. She had her eyes glued to the window the entire way home. As much as Stephanie gets on me for being quiet, she also tends to go silent when she has something important on her mind. Raimes and Costanza only made this harder for her. There isn't anything I can do to help her here except support whatever she chooses to do. I'm more proactive than reactive, but I had to make an allowance here. I'm well aware that Stephanie is the only person who could get me to.
An hour later, Steph was lying against me on the couch in the den. There were two glasses of wine on the coffee table, and a piece of cheesecake Steph had left untouched between them. My fingers were absently stroking up and down Steph's arm when Hal called the apartment and informed me that Raimes was in the building and wanted to speak to us.
"Who was that?" Steph asked me.
"Hal. Raimes is in the lobby and has something to say."
"But we just talked to her," Steph said, biting her lip again as she tried to figure out the reason behind the visit.
"How about we just go ask her why she's here, Babe?"
Steph smiled at me."I suppose that would be easier. Probably faster, too."
We took the elevator down to the lobby and I motioned Raimes into the closest available empty room, curious myself as to why she was let inside my building.
"What's up, Melinda?" Steph asked her, ignoring the chairs and sitting on the edge of the table instead.
I was starting to care less about Raimes and more about just how Stephanie would look flat on her back on that table, naked, with me braced over her.
"Ranger?" Steph said.
"Yeah, Babe?"
"Are you sitting down or are you just going to stand by the door and stare at me?"
My answer would have been a different one if we'd been alone.
"I'll sit if it'll make you happy."
I pulled a chair over to where Steph's legs were dangling and sat down in front of her, keeping her legs touching mine. My need to maintain contact with Stephanie has gotten more intense since Raimes entered our lives. The shooting might not have been her fault directly, but she's the reason for the events that transpired. I looked to where Raimes was sitting and got down to business, because this sure as hell isn't a social call.
"What happened?" I asked Raimes.
"I got word that a call for retribution was placed. Seems someone is blaming Stephanie here for a few missing 'associates'."
"Hey," Steph said."Wait a minute. I'm the one who got shot. If anyone should be pissed, it's me."
"It ain't me you gotta convince," Raimes told her."If these dickheads had a brain between them, they could figure that out for themselves. I don't turn rat on no one, but I figure I owe you for making my most immediate problem disappear. Consider this my going away present."
I could feel Steph's eyes on me. She doesn't know for sure what happened after she was shot, but she had a good - and probably very accurate - idea.
"I want a name," I told Raimes.
"Ciardi," Raimes said to me.
"Which one?" I asked."Elton or Ethan?"
I'm familiar with both. Ramon had a problem with Ethan last week and I had to step in and shut Ethan's mouth for him. Steph could be a target on her own due to her involvement in Raimes's attempted murder, but getting back at me through her is probably his motivation. Elton's just a pussy, doing whatever his older brother tells him. And that stupidity is going to cost him. No one threatens Stephanie and lives to talk about it. The hard part will be handling this latest threat without Steph seeing me differently.
"I'd say it's all Ethan," Raimes told me. "You know Elton can't wipe his own ass without Ethan there telling him how."
"Who are these guys?" Steph asked."And why are they after me?"
"They're nobodies who want to be somebodies, Steph," I told her.
"And threatening me is going to help them?"
"No, Babe," I said to her,"it's going to hurt them."
Or more accurately, I'm going to hurt them before I make their pain go away completely.
"Ranger," Steph said to me,"you're getting that scary look again."
"What look, Babe?"
"The one that makes me think you're going to get in trouble and have to go toe-to-toe with the police again."
"Steph, I never get into trouble."
"Yeah, you are trouble. The best kind," she added.
It took a long time for Stephanie to feel comfortable flirting with me, now she does it freely in front of any - and every - one. Just another subtle difference I've taken note of. I put both hands on Steph's jean-covered legs and squeezed gently. Touching Stephanie has become an addiction all on its own.
"You two want me to leave?" Raimes asked, an irritating smirk on her face.
My automatic response would be yes, but I need more information out of her before I show her the door.
"Where are the Ciardi brothers now?" I asked Raimes.
"Since they don't know I'm pulling this sanctimonious shit, sharing all the info I got, they're probably still bragging with their asses taking over the bar at 'ol Donnally's place. If you do go lookin' and they ain't there, Ethan is seeing that Griffin skank, Josephine."
"On Second Street?" I asked, knowing Griffin is what's commonly called a gang groupie now.
"Yeah, that's the one," she said."He winds up there most days, and usually Elton picks his ass up. And now that I've done my good deed for this lifetime, I'm taking off."
"Thanks, Melinda," Steph said to her."It's always helpful to know who to watch out for."
"It's rare that someone appears to give a fuck about me, so I figure I owe you for that, too."
"You don't owe me anything," Steph told her,"but I appreciate the heads up."
"No problem. Have a nice life," Raimes said."I can find my own way out."
And she left me and Steph alone in the room. I tugged Stephanie off the table and into my arms.
"You know," Steph said to me,"I'm really getting tired of this city. Why the hell does everyone want a chance at hurting me?"
"For the same reason people want to take me out, Babe, because we're good at what we do. And when our job is to catch bad guys, they get a little trigger happy."
"Maybe your mother's right. We really need a better class of criminals. The ones in Trenton suck."
"Does that mean you want the house?" I asked her.
"Yes. I think it's time for a change."
Despite it being after hours, I shifted and got out my phone, putting the wheels in motion before Stephanie had a chance to question the move.
"That's it?" Steph asked, when I hung up."One phone call and you're a homeowner."
"No, Babe. One phone call and we're homeowners."
Steph paused. "Hmm, I thought I'd be freaking out by now."
"Why aren't you?" I asked her, putting my cell on the table and wrapping both arms around Stephanie again.
"I think because I really wanted this, but needed a slight push to admit it."
"And Raimes was that push?"
"No. The new idiots who want to kill me, and the ones that'll come after that. Here in Trenton, I'm the go-to girl for publicity. Maybe if we spend more time in a different location, I'll get less attractive to them."
"Babe, it's impossible for you to be less attractive," I told her, kissing the top of her head.
I felt her whole body move under the force of her combined sigh and eyeroll.
"I meant," Steph told me, patiently, "that I'd be less attractive to the bad guys."
"I know what you meant, Babe. But even if we're sleeping somewhere else, we'll still be here every day doing the same thing that makes people come after us."
"Yeah, but I'm not willing to give up my entire life here because of these assholes. I'm happy with just baby steps right now."
"We'll sign the papers," I told Steph, "and then work on step number two."
"That sounds good. Now can we get back to our quiet night at home?"
"Yes. I just want to see Tank and then I'll be up."
"You want to give Tank the news?" She asked me.
I know Stephanie's referring to our impending move, but I have something more pressing to go over with Tank.
"Something like that," I told Steph, standing up with her in my arms.
I kissed her thoroughly before I put Steph's feet back on the floor.
"Don't take too long," Steph told me.
"I won't," I said to her. "I promise, this will be quick."
A lot quicker than the fucking Ciardi brothers deserve.
I waited until I was sure Stephanie was in the elevator before I called Tank. I know he's still on the fifth floor, not having left for home yet. It never hurt to have an extra set of hands nearby.
"Tank," I said when he picked up."Meet me in the garage. We have some trash to take out."
I disconnected and headed to my truck. By the time I joined Stephanie again, everyone in the surrounding area will know that going after Steph is the equivalent of a death sentence. One that will be personally executed by me.
