Chapter 27
SPOV
I watched as Ranger left the room, going downstairs to the door that I'd used to come in through, I had no idea how he would get back to Rangeman. No doubt he'd just call Les. Ash pushed the bolts across the door and then went through several doors and into a garage. I was amazed at how much space there was down here, stopping short at the sight of a black Mercedes. Did I recognize it, surely not, I mean Ranger had never mentioned he'd got it back after someone had stolen it from me. Maybe he just didn't trust me enough to tell me, or to lend it to me again. Hell, I was still amazed that he hadn't been mad at me today when he'd arrived, I could see how he could have thought I was to blame and maybe I was because things had only started to happen when those dammed problems happened with the Rangeman systems.
Ash took a bag from the car and then I followed him up another flight of stairs to find myself back in the lounge, turning I saw the wooden wall click into place.
"Okay Steph let's order some things for here, you make a list and I'll source them and arrange delivery"
"What kind of things?"
"Two decent sized beds, linens and towels, probably crockery and cutlery and maybe a table and chairs. Oh yeah a kettle and toaster and maybe a coffee maker"
"How long do you think we'll be here for?"
"No idea, but it's a smart place, might as well stock the place up"
So that's what we did over the next few hours, I tried to keep the list down to the minimum but I'm sure Ash just ordered things as they came onto the screen. I had to admit I was beginning to like him, in some ways he was similar to Les, he had a wicked sense of humor and wasn't afraid to smile.
After two hours I dreaded to think how much money we had spent, Ranger would have a fit when he saw all of the new things. I was starting to feel hungry and I know my stomach had growled when a weird bell sound interrupted us as we made our last choices. Ash just smiled as he went down to the side door and returned with two boxes each with its own pizza in and two cups of latte coffee.
"How did you know I liked these?"
"Didn't, I like them so hoped you would as well"
He was so not the typical Rangeman, he didn't have the physique or the eating habits but he certainly had the looks, but I was sure if he worked with Ranger he'd be lethal.
"Okay we have some time before things start to arrive, so we've time for you to tell me what's been going on"
So I did. I started at the beginning and for me that was when I'd first met Buckley as an FTA. Ash didn't ask much and didn't interrupt me in fact he was a really good listener only asking me to elaborate on some things that had happened. I don't know why but everything just spilled out, how Morelli had shouted at me and that I was okay with that. The way my Mum, Lula and Mary Lou had a go at me, and then Ranger being annoyed at me by thinking it was me that had sabotaged Rangeman. By the time I'd retold the story of Rex dying and burying him and then the kidnap and me trying to find somewhere safe to hide I was a mess. I didn't mention Emci because I really didn't know where she fit in, if she fitted in at all. By the end of my story I had tears in my eyes, tears for how I felt about Ranger and his non-committal attitude and tears for Buckley and how he'd died. Though I didn't tell Ash how I really felt about Ranger, that was too personal to me and no way did I ever want anyone finding out.
I felt as Ash sat next to me and held me, it wasn't the same as Ranger comforting me, but I was grateful for being able to tell someone my side of the events.
"I don't know what to say. Hell, Steph you've been through hell in the last few weeks, well days really"
"Did Ranger really finish the job he was on?"
"Yeah, I was with him. It went amazingly smoothly, and we lucked out with a few things"
"How do you mean?"
"Finding where the man was who we were after and for some reason he sent his soldiers to the wrong place, so all in all one of the quickest jobs I've ever been on"
"I was so worried he'd come back because of me"
"He didn't know until we were leaving to come home Steph, another piece of good timing. Why does he frighten you?"
I looked at Ash wondering how the hell to answer that, I mean I couldn't say because I was actually in love with him and it wasn't him that frightened me, it was that he would push me away. So I went with another version instead.
"Ranger and I have a weird friendship, we've helped each other out a lot, well he's helped me more, but we have a trust between us. I'm not afraid of him, I'm afraid of losing that friendship"
"Yeah okay, I'll go along with that for now but"
Saved by the bell, so to say, as Ash got up and went downstairs to answer the door. I had to stay out of the way so went down to the garage and curled up on the back seat of the Mercedes, I felt awfully tired and was happy to leave the delivery men and Ash to bring things in and put some of the furniture together.
I wasn't sure how long I slept for, but my senses were telling me I wasn't alone, the smell of Ranger and Bulgari was drifting around me and I could feel my face being stroked. I realized that when Ranger had first come into the apartment and tried to calm me down part of my panic was not being able to sense him until he was holding me, he didn't have his signature smell and he certainly didn't look like Ranger had when he'd left. Yeah, the unshaven face and that musky smell that I suppose was roar Ranger along with the strange clothes and unkept hair had taken a while for me to identify with.
Now though I smiled before I opened my eyes knowing it was him.
"Mmm, you smell better"
"You saying I didn't before?"
"Not your usual smell"
I opened my eyes finding myself face to face with Ranger, how he had managed to lay next to me on the seat, well under me really, I couldn't explain.
"Have you been here long?"
"Long enough for you to move and use me as a cushion"
I started to move but he held me firmly where I was, kissing my forehead and then brushing his lips across mine.
"I missed you Babe and I was worried about you"
Wow, did he really mean that, well of course he did, Ranger never said anything he didn't mean, maybe I'd have to store this memory and think about it later.
"Tank, Brown and Santos are upstairs with another friend, Zeph"
This time he helped me to move and I slid from the seat onto the ground. As I waited for him to close the car door, I couldn't help asking the question about the car.
"Is this the same car that was stolen?"
"Yeah, I eventually found it and had it repaired"
So maybe I was right, he wouldn't want me to borrow it again.
"I decided to keep it and use it when I was offline, there are no trackers in it so it wouldn't have been any good for you to use"
I knew he kept trackers on my cars and I actually appreciated that for when I was in trouble, he could find me so what he said about the car didn't upset me or make me feel that he didn't trust me with it. We went up the back stairs to the lounge, but I stopped as we came into the room. Hell had we ordered all of this stuff, I mean when did we decide on new couches, a coffee table and a beautiful rug.
"It looks good Babe"
"But, I don't, hell how did this happen?"
"I think Ash wants you to feel comfortable here"
"I already did, there's something about this place that makes me feel safe"
"I like the place too. Maybe that's why I never sold it"
"You own this building?"
"It's where I first lived when I was setting up Rangeman. I was here when I first met you. I remember the time you called here because Morelli had handcuffed you to the shower rod"
"I felt so annoyed with him and didn't know who else to call"
"I'm glad you called me"
"What will you do with the place now?"
"Well maybe you could swap out your apartment for here, it's bigger and a lot safer"
I would have loved to do that but knew I couldn't afford the rent, besides this place was Rangers and if he ever fell out with me or decided to sell it I'd be back where I started with no place to live and nothing I owned. I didn't answer, I couldn't instead I avoided his face and looked down at the floor. He must have sensed my change of mood because he lifted my face and looked at me, his brown eyes holding mine.
"Something to think about later"
"Bomber I need to check your shoulder"
I was glad of the interruption and turned to see Bobby smiling at me, of course he had to have his medical bag in his hand.
"Hi Bobby, you want to do it now?"
"Good a time as any"
Ranger took my hand and pulled me up the stairs, I hadn't been up here since that first time I'd found the place and had got so ill. I couldn't believe how different it looked and all I could say was "Wow" as Ranger pushed me toward a single upholstered chair. I had to take my T-shirt off, but Ranger helped because yeah, my arm and shoulder were hurting. As Bobby poked and prodded, I took in the change to the room. There was a really big bed with white sheets and a blue cover on, that matched the chair I was sat in. Cushions of different shades of blue adorned the pillows at the top and there were two bedside tables each with a lamp and a fancy looking clock. There were even new blinds set in the windows and beautiful colored rugs on the floor.
Ranger must have been watching me because he tried to explain about the bathroom.
"Same things in the bathroom I'm afraid, but it wouldn't take much to change out the fixtures and maybe we could add a closet against the wall at the side"
As I looked at the wall there was currently a rail with clothes hanging there and those cloth shelves that hung down, and all appeared to be full.
"Ella sent some of your clothes over"
"Is the other room the same?"
"Yeah, it's a good job Ash has similar tastes to me"
"Not like Les?"
He smiled as he acknowledged that but for some reason, I saw a brief moment when an expression I didn't recognize passed across his face and then it was gone as he continued to talk.
"The rooms downstairs have been set up as an office and work room, Ash is probably as good as Hector if not better, so he's set up some equipment in there. That's also where the alarm system is housed for this building though I have a feeling Ash is updating that as well"
"Bomber you pulled a stitch, but the tissue underneath is holding, I'm going to use some glue to hold the edges together, I'll leave the stitches a few days longer. Does it hurt much now?"
"I think my arm feels it more but mainly when I've been using it"
"Use the sling, it'll help"
"Thanks Bobby"
I watched as Bobby left the room and then Ranger helped me with the T-shirt. Then he just held me to him, hell I could feel myself mold into him, shit why did he make me feel like this, why did he have to make it so hard for me to ignore all of those feelings that came to the surface? I closed my eyes to stop them watering up, shit I was a mess.
"You okay Babe?"
Damn, why is it he could almost read my thoughts?
"Yeah, let's go down and then I can find out what you want me to do"
I know I said that with a sigh, but I felt as if my emotions were on a merry go round. Once downstairs I felt a little intimidated with all the guys sat around, hell I had no idea how I would fit in with them. The old feeling came back to me, what the hell was I doing with guys like these, the strong, good looking mercenaries and me the white girl from the Burg.
I felt myself being seated on the couch between Ranger and Ash with Tank, Bobby and Les sat around the coffee table. There was another man here, who had similar looks to Ranger, so I assumed this was the man Ranger had mentioned earlier. Ranger was the one who started the conversation with everyone looking very impatient.
