Chapter 50

RPOV
I think we both had a smile on our faces as we drove from Rangeman toward Pinos, though I must admit I had a feeling that Steph's was as much to do with where we going than the mind blowing kiss in the elevator. I had a team at the back of the restaurant and one at the front. Ash was in the car with us as he'd missed out the last time we'd been here, with Santos driving as it was his idea. The four us headed for the booth at the back, allowing me to sit with my back to the wall and Steph sat next to me. Of course, I was the only one to order a salad but was pleased to see, maybe not hear, how much Steph enjoyed her meatball sub.

"Steph you were right"
"What about Ash?"
"These are good, well worth the wait"
"If you need a connoisseur for food around Trenton then find me"

The time at Pinos went well, there weren't too many customers in, so we were able to enjoy ourselves. All too soon it was time to leave so as I paid for the meal with cash the two men escorted Steph out to the car. The teams in position sent a message that all was clear, so I didn't think there was anything to worry about.

I should have known better, after all we had Steph with us, because as I walked out to the SUV all hell broke loose. We were inundated by bikers. They came up onto the sidewalk weaving between us, causing the reaction to step out of the way. I focused on Steph as she tried to make her way to the SUV, with Ash, because Santos had already been knocked down to the ground. I ran dodging the bikes toward Steph, punching one guy from his bike as he started toward me. Time seemed to slow down as I watched one of the bikers scoop Steph up and lay her across his knee before he was roaring away from the scene.

The men now were trying to get back to their cars, taking out as many bikers as they could. Within minutes the area was quiet, all bikers gone, allowing us to get to our cars. Santos was with Bobby, so I took the keys from him and with Ash behind me headed for our car.

"Trackers?"
"Getting them online"
"Which ones?"
"The watch is stationary so I'm following the earrings"

I was so grateful that Steph had remembered to wear them. I followed the directions Ash gave me, though we had to make adjustments on the way as the bike had travelled down alley ways too narrow for the SUV, especially when there were dumpsters in the way.

"Okay she's stopped, take a left and then head right. They've driven through the center of a park"

"Hold on, she's turning around and heading back this way"

I stopped the car looking over to Ash, waiting for him to give further instructions. I watched as a frown appeared across his face.

"Ash?"
"I don't understand, turn the car around because in two minutes she's going to be going right past us"
I did as he said and was now sat with the engine idling looking in the rear-view mirror for the bike. Police cars with lights and sirens on went past us toward where the bike had been stopped. Maybe that was why the bike was now headed this way. What I saw coming toward us was not what I was expecting.

"Shit, she's ace at riding a bike"

The figure was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and not only was it obvious that it was a woman, but I recognized her.
"That's my Babe. She's always driven a bike and enjoys it"

I watched as she passed us by at speed and as I started the car forward to follow saw the bright red lights of the brakes. Steph had stopped by the side of the road and as I drew alongside of her she pulled the helmet off shaking her hair.

"Anyone fancy a lift home?"

I recognized the bike now, a Ducati, and if I wasn't mistaken it belonged to Morelli.

"You lost the driver Babe?"
"Oh he's all tied up waiting for Eddie and Carl to pick him up"
I know I raised an eyebrow at that.

"Hey Steph, why don't I take that back to Rangeman and you can explain to Ranger what went down"
"Thanks Ash"
As Steph settled beside me I pulled her hand to my mouth, kissing her wrist and palm, before holding it on my thigh. I needed to feel her next to me.

"You okay Babe?"
"Yeah, a bit shell shocked at what he did but I think he'll be the one to get a shock when he comes around"
I ignored the vibration of my phone in my pocket, having Steph with me was far more important.

"What happened?"
"He drove like an idiot on that bike. I couldn't get off without hurting myself, so I waited until he stopped. He really thought he was taking me to keep me safe because I wanted to be with him"
"What did you do to him?"
I saw her looking down to her knee and as she sucked in her lip.

"Babe, whatever it was must have been good because you're here with me"
"When I got off the bike, I tried to run but he made a grab for me from behind and tried to keep hold of me while he talked. I, err. Used one those moves Ash taught me. Except I think I just about knocked him out, I have a hell of a bump on the back of my head"
"How did you leave him?"
"I had my stun gun and cuffs with me, then I called Eddie"
"Eddie would expect you to have stayed"
"Nah, I told him I was taking the bike and heading back to Rangeman. He agreed it was probably safer and that he'd call and get a statement from me"
"Babe, you are an amazing woman"
We'd pulled into the garage at Rangeman but before anyone could open the door I pulled her into my arms, taking her mouth with mine to show just how much I loved her. As I pulled away and her door opened, and I watched as Ash helped her out. As they started to walk toward the elevator, she stopped and turned waiting for me to join them. I decided to head straight to the conference room wanting to know exactly what had happened.

Once in the conference room I sat with her on my knee, knowing the adrenaline rush would kick in soon. Bobby came in first and looked twice as he saw Steph sleeping.

"She okay?"
"Yeah"

"Santos has a couple of broken ribs and is banged up a bit but he's down in an apartment on four sleeping it off"
"Any other injuries?"
"Ram and Miguel, but just cuts and bruises"

"Did we get footage from the cars?"
"Oh yeah. I can't believe Morelli was stupid enough to pull a stunt like that"
"Make sure all our footage is copied for TPD. I think Eddie will be here soon to talk to Steph"
A lot of men had arrived in the room, each one stopping to check on Steph. As soon as I felt there were no more coming, I nodded to Tank to start the meeting.

"Reports first. Cal"
"I was at the back of Pinos, we saw a couple of bikes pull in and then one of the men was on his phone. As soon as Santos hit his panic button we headed to the front. It was chaos with bikes and pedestrians, and we couldn't get through with the car so started out on foot. As we came closer, we saw one of the bikes race of with Steph"

"You see who was driving?"
"Negative, they were moving away from us too fast. We did bring one of the bikers back here with us. He gave us information"
"Hal"
"There were a few bikes out front of Pinos but as Ash, Santos and Steph came out suddenly there must have been at least a dozen. I left the car with Miguel and headed to help Steph, but we were rammed by bikes. By the time I got anywhere near I saw Morelli on that dam Ducati of his hoist Steph onto his knee and set off"
"Zeph"
"I was watching Morelli's house, I didn't realize he had a dam bike in the garage. I followed as best I could but lost him. I heard the call go out over the police scanner so headed to the park. Morelli was out cold, cuffed with blood all over his face. He was hoisted into the back of a police car, and not too nicely"

"Ranger I think maybe we need to include high speed bikes into our teams. I know you struggled to keep up"
"Not a bad idea. So, who were the bikers?"

Cal was the one to answer, for some reason I felt he looked slightly worried. Why would what he told us worry him?
"The one we brought back here said Morelli paid a heap of money for them to cause a disturbance outside of Pinos"
"How did he know we were there?"
"Morelli told the guy some big black ho had sent the message"

And that was what was worrying him. He wouldn't want to upset Steph or maybe even Tank, even though Tank had nothing to do with her and often was the one to talk bad about her. I watched as Tank took out his phone and looked at me. Shit the police were here to talk to Steph.

"Eddie's here"
"Bring him up here"
Tank nodded and spoke into the phone then with a nod of his head to the men everyone left us alone. I gently stroked my fingers down Steph's cheek and kissed her softly on her lips. I knew she waking up from the slight smile that came to her face.

"Babe, Eddie's here"
"I fell asleep, didn't I?"
"Yes, but you needed to"
Eddie opened the door with Carl behind him, Woody closed the door behind them. I knew Woody would stay outside the door for when they needed to leave. Eddie crouched down in front of Steph and gently stroked his hand down her hair.

"How you doing Steph?"
"Okay"
"I need to take a statement, are you alright doing that?"
"Yeah, the sooner the better"
I listened as Steph recounted the events that Morelli had put her through, pleased that Eddie was recording it so hopefully this wouldn't take long. As she came to the end of what had happened Eddie surprised me by asking Steph where Morelli had hurt her. I had asked if she was alright and she didn't seem to be injured so was surprised when she pulled up the sleeves of her sweater to reveal large bruises around her lower arms.

"I need to photograph these, okay?"
She nodded as he took the photos with his phone and then told him about the lump on her head. I'd need to get Bobby to check that out. But hell, why hadn't she told me about the bruising.

"Eddie what'll happen to Morelli?"
"He's gonna be charged with inciting a disturbance, assault and attempted kidnapping"
I felt as Steph tensed, knowing she wouldn't like that Morelli was about to take a very long, hard fall from grace.

"Eddie, that'll ruin him"

"Steph, he was suspended from his job in New York, pending an investigation. He's been accused of assaulting a woman there. He's been drinking and getting more violent. He had it coming. If he was good at his job, a respectable policeman, then it wouldn't have come to this. Don't you dare blame yourself, Steph, he made the choice and he knew what would happen when his actions caught up with him"

"Thanks Eddie, there's a witness downstairs, one of the bikers"
"Thanks, I'll take him off your hands, but there were so many photos taken by bystanders we have more than enough. I'll get this printed up and then we can get your signature Steph"
"Thanks Eddie"
"You take care honey"

As the door opened Woody showed Eddie and Carl from the room and escorted them to the elevator. I lifted Steph up and using the stairs carried her up to the apartment. Once I'd deposited her on the couch, I messaged Bobby to check Steph's head out.

I left her with a bottle of water as I answered the door and then watched as Bobby went through all the tests for a head injury. I know Steph rolled her eyes at me, but at least she didn't complain. Once he was gone, I brought her a bowl of soup that Ella had brought up.

"Soup, that means Ella might spoil me"
"Maybe, I asked her to spoil you"
"Did you?"
"Eat all that up and I'll let you know"

Once the bowl was empty, she handed it to me with an expectant look in her eyes. Hell, I wish she was looking at me the same way. I brought through a plate with a dome over it and watched as she uncovered a piece of chocolate cake.

"That was delicious"
"I'm glad you liked it"
"You did ask Ella, didn't you?"

"Yes, because you deserved some after the day you've had"
"Well at least we've got rid of Morelli"
"Babe, it wasn't the way I would have chosen"

"Maybe not. I'm sorry he's caused us so much trouble"
"Not your fault. He just doesn't seem to know when to admit defeat"

"I know, I just feel, I suppose responsible"
"Babe, he was the one who went to New York"
"And I knew then we were finished"
"Obviously he wouldn't accept that"
"I know"
"How about changing the subject to something more positive?"
"Okay, then how about me saying that maybe I know where Buckley's box is"
I just looked at her, I mean I knew she was good at research but how the hell could she have found that out?

"How?"
"I don't really know, except I started to remember some of the things he'd said to me and the comment from the church, so that's why I think I know"
"What do you want to do about it?"
"Leave it where it is for now. I don't want it to get into the wrong hands and at the moment I'm still not sure who are the good guys and who are the bad guys"
"I can go with that. Who aren't you sure about?"
"Gannon and maybe Remi"
"So what else have you been up to?"
"Some searches are running"
"They'll wait until tomorrow; you've already had too much excitement for one day"

I slid behind her on the couch pulling her to me, so we were both comfortable. We spent the evening relaxing, watching a film and then talking, something I'd not done before. The thing is it felt such a natural thing to do. When I heard her yawning and saw her eyes begin to fall, I knew she was tired and ready to sleep. I carried her through to the bedroom and helped her to change into one of my T-shirts. I was right behind her ready for this day to be over.