Chapter Seven

Ranger and Stephanie crouched behind a tree, listening, assessing. Michail had followed the guards around the side of the house, ensuring they didn't immediately double back. They needed to hurry before the next patrol wandered by. With Alexi doubling the patrols, there was only a three-minute window before the next set of goons passed.

"Let's go." Ranger whispered.

They made their way to the high stone wall that surrounded the compound. Stephanie looked at it with a sense of dread and blew out a soft sigh. The wall was at least fourteen feet high, and this was shaping up to be another one of those ass baring, really-wished-she-had-pants-on moments. She could already tell.

"I'll give you a boost." Ranger told her.

"Can you make it without one?" The minute Stephanie said it, she felt foolish. Ranger gave her a look like he might be a little insulted.

"Sorry." Stephanie mumbled.

It was the suit, the short hair and the expensive watch. It had to be. He wore it with such ease, she forgot there was nothing domesticated about him. At least, that is what she was going to tell herself. It wasn't the fact his mere presence had ignited her blood and robbed her of rational thought. All he had to do was touch her, and she had gone up like dry tinder. It was exhilarating and terrifying.

And god, not nearly enough. His promise echoed in her head even as she tried to ignore the flutter of her pulse and the awareness humming around them.

Stephanie was screwed, and she knew it. Whatever this thing was between them, it was real and it was raw. She was terrified of her feelings, of her body's betrayal. She prided herself on being in control, on not having emotional attachments, and somehow, a man she met a few days ago had burned right through that notion. She was in real danger of losing her heart, maybe even herself to him.

Ranger hooked his hands together and boosted Stephanie up. She grabbed the top of the wall and pulled herself up, scraping her knees against the rough stone, balancing on the top for a second.

Nikko was on the other side, waiting. Stephanie winced. Apparently, everyone got to see her bare ass tonight. She turned and started backing down the wall. If Nikko noticed, he didn't let on. He hooked an arm around her abdomen and pulled her down, yanking her into the bushes. He covered her body with his, camouflaging them as a car slowly rolled down the street. A lone streetlight cast a dim yellow glow on the sidewalk, creating useful shadows everywhere else. Nikko was dressed in black and decked out in tactical gear. He blended perfectly with the night.

Stephanie peeked around his arm and watched the car roll to the end of the block and slowly turn the corner.

"That doesn't seem good." She whispered.

"It's not." Nikko confirmed.

He hoisted her to her feet and handed her an earpiece.

"Tell those nervous nelly teammates of yours that you are out, before I go down there and shoot them myself just to shut them up." Nikko hissed.

Stephanie eyed him for a second. She mostly thought he was joking, but the more she learned about him, the less sure she was of that.

Stephanie put in the earpiece. "Firefly is clear." She heard Jack and Luca's acknowledgement. The relief evident in their voices.

Stephanie monitored the wall waiting for Ranger.

"You and Michail put on quite the show." Came Nikko's amused voice.

"You were watching?"

Nikko looked at her like he thought she might be daft. "Of course, I was watching. You didn't think I would let you go in there without having eyes on you in case something went wrong?"

"Right, no, naturally." Stephanie stammered.

Nikko narrowed his eyes and gave her a dark look.

"Sorry." Stephanie mumbled.

"The thing with Michail. Was it just a show?" Nikko asked. That velvet voice of his was deceptively good at pulling confessions out of people.

"Yes." Stephanie hissed; heat colored her cheeks, a dead giveaway she was lying.

"Really." His sarcastic tone indicated he wasn't convinced; in fact, he was downright skeptical.

Stephanie looked heavenward for a moment, praying for an end to this evening. But really, what was one more embarrassment, one more indignity for the night. It had been such a barrel of laughs so far.

"OK, mostly." She admitted her palms up in a gesture that said what's a girl supposed to do.

Nikko grinned at her. "Michail has been linked to a lot of women over the years, but I've never known him to touch one at these parties. The women he dates pursue him. He doesn't pay for sex and he doesn't take advantage of women that might not be there of their own free will."

Stephanie cocked her head and studied Nikko. "Why are you telling me this?"

Stephanie had her suspicions. Nikko was astute, and he clearly knew a thing or two about human nature. He didn't want Stephanie to loathe herself for reacting to the head of the bratva, thinking he was a pig like Alexi. What Nikko didn't know, Michail wasn't the real threat. Michail might be hot as fuck, and any red-blooded woman would get a little tingle, but her reaction to him didn't even register compared to Ranger. That was the man that ignited her blood and burned her world to the ground with just a glance.

Nikko shrugged. "I just thought you should know."

"What about you and Samara or whatever her real name is. Was that a show? Because it sure didn't look like one."

Nikko held her gaze, and she figured he wouldn't answer.

He surprised her when he spoke. "She's all the best parts of me. She's everything." He said simply.

Stephanie had been right. Lucifer was in love. Somehow, it made him just a little more human and a little less scary.

Ranger dropped from the wall and things took a decidedly sharp turn into the unexpected.

"Nikko!" Ranger hissed.

The tone of his voice set every nerve in Stephanie's body on high alert, and she actually stepped in front of Nikko, separating the two.

Nikko's hand settled on Stephanie's shoulder and he gave it a squeeze. She supposed he meant to reassure her, but the scowl on Ranger's face did anything but put her at ease.

"Ranger." Came Nikko's velvet reply. He seemed entirely unconcerned that Ranger was on the verge of eviscerating him.

Ranger's mouth was set in a grim line and his nostrils flared. With his arms crossed over his chest, he looked downright scary.

"You're working with Nikko." Stephanie assumed that question was directed at her, even though his eyes were locked onto Nikko.

Ranger's voice was flat and hard, and didn't have any of the sultry playful quality it usually did. Frankly, his attitude pissed her off. Stephanie's chin tilted up.

"Yes, is that a problem for you?"

"How long have you been partners?" The sneer in Ranger's voice caught her off guard, momentarily distracting her from his innuendo.

Anger consumed her like a wildfire flashover. Stephanie was pretty sure that snarl came from her and she lunged at him.

Nikko hooked his arm around her abdomen and hauled her back. "Let it go, love. Believe me, he's not worth it."

Stephanie was breathing like she had run a marathon, the anger surging through her in waves. She pointed her finger at Ranger. "Not that it is any of your business, but about seventy-two hours."

Ranger's eyes slid down to where Nikko's arm was caging her. "I'd hate to see what four days looked like."

Stephanie's mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Anger vibrated through her as her head threatened to explode as her blood pressure spiked.

"This is Stephanie's extraction, and she chose you. I'm willing to put our differences aside, for now, if you are. But if you ever insult her like that again, you will answer to me." The steel in Nikko's voice was an unmistakable warning.

Nikko, lord of the underworld, voice of reason, defending her honor. Like this night could get any weirder.

"Nikko is the one that pulled us out of that rebel camp." Stephanie hissed. "He didn't have to do that. He came back for us. So yeah, when he asked for help on this, I said yes, and you know what. I'd say yes a thousand more times if he asked. If that is a problem for you, then you can turn around and walk right now."

Surprise flashed across Ranger's features. Stephanie wasn't sure if it was the fact Nikko had liberated them from the rebel camp or she was ready to give him his walking papers. Maybe both.

"I don't know what is going on with the two of you, and I don't care. But if you can't be a professional, then I don't want you on my team. And, for your information, I don't fuck every hot guy I work with. I thought you were special. Clearly I made a mistake." Stephanie snapped.

A little strangled sound came from Nikko like he was trying really hard not to laugh, and she elbowed him for good measure. A sense of satisfaction swept over her when she heard his whoosh of breath and a little grunt when her sharp elbow connected with his ribs.

Ranger held up his hands, his eyes connecting with hers. "I'm sorry, that wasn't fair. Of course, I'm in."

Stephanie glared at Ranger, the tension between them twisting and thick with a life of its own, threatening to consume them both. She was angry, confused, and hurt.

Nikko leaned down, his lips close to her ear. "You think I'm hot?"

She heard the laughter in his voice. She turned to face him, grateful for the distraction. Stephanie's lip tipped up in a half smile.

"You're an asshole, Nikko." There was no heat in her words.

He grinned at her.

"I know, I know. It's one of your better traits." Stephanie was beginning to think Nikko had a lot of good traits.

"Come on love, let's get out of here."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than two cars screeched to a stop at the corner. Stephanie counted ten men with semi-automatic rifles and balaclavas pour out.

"Oh shit." Stephanie said to no one in particular.

"Albanians." Nikko spit out. "Their early. Those fuckers never could tell time."

Nikko gave her a shove towards Ranger. "Get her clear." He barked. "I've got to make sure Alexi doesn't get killed just yet, and get Michail out."

"Nikko!" Stephanie hissed, but it was too late. He was already over the wall and gone.

"Lucky, Viper, we have ten hostiles." Stephanie spoke into her comms. A third car rolled up and five more men got out. "Make that fifteen hostiles. Secure Lucifer."

Stephanie started towards the gate and Ranger's hand snaked around her upper arm, yanking her back.

"What are you doing?"

"Backing up my partner." Stephanie hissed.

A grimace passed over Ranger's face, and he pulled out a gun and handed her his back-up weapon.

"Five in the clip, one in the chamber." He told her and they took off at a dead run towards the gate.

Stephanie heard gunfire, and she prayed she wasn't too late.

Four of Alexi's guards were dead on the porch. They'd never stood a chance. The other two and the dog were missing. If they were smart, they'd made a run for it. If not, they were dead somewhere.

Stephanie and Ranger entered the house, scanning for threats. Ranger motioned he was heading upstairs, and Stephanie headed down the hall towards the room at the end. Stephanie pulled up short. Two of the Albanians had guns drawn on the older man that had ushered her in the house and two of the women from the party. It was clear they were about to execute them. The old man was trying to shield the two women. Admirable, but futile.

Stephanie drew her weapon up. Pop, pop. The first man collapsed in a heap on the floor. The second turned towards her, firing wildly. Pop, pop down he went.

Stephanie approached the old man and the two women, scanning for other threats. Surprise was evident on the old man's face.

"Get them out of here." Stephanie hissed and motioned towards the door.

The old man nodded to her and gathered the women, hustling for the door.

Gunfire erupted in the room at the end of the hall. There was a volley of shots and shouting. Stephanie made her way towards the end of the hall, and cautiously pushed the door open.

There were two Albanians firing. The bald man with no neck that had pointed her to the powder room was pinned behind the bar. He'd been hit in the upper arm and blood was soaking his shirt. His gun was beside him, no doubt out of bullets. He was yelling at Michail, who was pinned down behind the couch.

Stephanie was pretty sure no neck was yelling at Michail to leave him. The only word she could make out from Michail was brother. It was pretty clear, whoever the man was to Michail, he would never leave him. Michail fired again, and then she heard the snick of an empty gun.

The smile on their faces said the two Albanians had heard it too. No one had come prepared for war tonight, except the Albanians.

Stephanie had two rounds left. She took a deep breath and let the chaos around her fade. The noise dimmed, her breathing slowed, her focus sharpened. The acrid smell of gunpowder stung her nose, and she ignored it. She had one shot at this or they were all dead.

Stephanie stood up and fired. Pop, down went one of the Albanians. Stephanie squeezed the trigger again. Pop. Dammit she missed the other.

He turned to fire at her and she put her head down and charged him like a linebacker. The force of her hit and the element of surprise worked in her favor. His rifle flew out of his hand, and they went down in a tangle of limbs. Stephanie was punching, biting, and clawing. She imagined they looked like two snakes in mortal combat as they rolled punching and kicking.

Stephanie was on top and the man had his hands around her throat, squeezing. Stephanie was clawing at him, trying to keep him from strangling her. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Two men in balaclavas were running down the hall towards them. They were firing, and she felt the heat of a bullet whiz past her head.

Michail was moving towards her. Stephanie let go of the man's arms and grabbed for his rifle. Her vision dimming from lack of oxygen. Her fingers brushed over the cool metal as she pulled it into her grasp, tossing it haphazardly towards Michail, praying he caught it.

A burst of gunfire and the two men went down. She guessed Michail had caught the rifle. Stephanie had had just about enough of the asshole that was strangling her and she hauled off and punched him in the side of the head, hard. His hold on her throat loosened, his eyes rolled back, and he blacked out. Stephanie sucked in much needed air into her burning lungs, taking big gulps, while absently rubbing her throbbing neck.

She wobbled to her feet. Michail was advancing, a murderous look on his face, his intent clear.

Stephanie stepped between Michail and the unconscious Albanian.

She put her hand on Michail's chest. His breath was heaving, and his heartbeat thundered under her fingertips. Her touch drew his eyes to her. They were glittering with rage and the energy rolling off him was feral.

"Be smarter than that Michail." Stephanie barked. "If he's dead, he can't talk."

Michail's nostrils flared and he worked to get himself under control.

Michail nodded and handed her the rifle and stalked off to the man behind the bar. He crouched down and clasped the big man on the shoulder, resting his forehead against the other man's. Stephanie knew she should look away, but she couldn't. It was such a raw and intimate moment, and she felt like an intruder in Michail's life, watching his fear and pain. She heard the word brother again.

Michail helped the big man to his feet. His arm was still bleeding, but it was slowing. Sweat misted his brow, pain etched on his face as they both approached her.

The Albanian behind her stirred and Stephanie cracked him in the head with the butt of the rifle. He was going to have a nasty headache when he woke up, but she figured that would be the least of his worries.

She saw Michail's eyebrow quirk up. Stephanie raised her shoulder in a half-shrug. The man had tried to strangle her.

"Remind me to never tangle with you little fox."

"Thank you." The big man said to her. She gave him a small smile.

"I owe you. Anything you ask, I will do." Michail told her.

Stephanie gave a negative shake of her head. "No, it's what friends do for each other."

For just a flash, the mask disappeared, and she was face-to-face with the real Michail. The one that refused to leave his brother in arms. The one that had tried to protect her from Alexi. A man that had been born into this bloody, ruthless life. She wondered what he might have been like if his parents had been teachers or something else.

Stephanie saw movement out of the corner of her eye. It was Nikko dragging Alexi along by his upper arm. Stephanie made herself small and started sniffling and whimpering like she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

She saw confusion sweep across Michail's face at the sudden change, and his gaze snapped to Nikko and Alexi approaching. Michail looked down at the ground to hide the fact he was about to smile. When he looked back up, the mask was firmly in place, and it made her a little sad. She missed the real Michail.

"Alexi and I have unfinished business." Nikko announced. By the looks of the large wet spot on the front of Alexi's trousers, Alexi was terrified of Nikko and his unfinished business.

Nikko's eyes swept over the scene, barely sparing Stephanie a glance. Ranger, Luca and Jack followed Nikko in. Apparently, the threat was contained.

Stephanie sidled up to Michail, pawing at him, simpering. "Get away from me." Michail said, disgusted.

He gave her a hard shove towards Ranger, and she stumbled. Ranger caught her, and she tucked against his chest, shivering and whimpering. It was mostly an act, but the adrenaline was kicking her ass.

Michail advanced on Alexi. "What the fuck was this?" He barked and Stephanie couldn't help but flinch. "You set us up?"

"No," Alexi sniveled. "I swear."

Michail pressed the barrel of his gun to Alexi's forehead. A gun Stephanie knew was empty, but she watched, fascinated by the theater playing out in front of her.

Alexi trembled and whined. "Please." He begged.

Stephanie took a little satisfaction in that fact. She wondered how many women had trembled and begged at his hand.

"Tell me why I shouldn't pull this trigger." Michail's voice was no longer silky. It was rough and menacing.

Stephanie couldn't suppress the involuntary shiver that went up her spine.

"I'll give you whatever you want." Alexi pleaded.

Michail considered it for a second.

"I'll take your southern routes, and you stop peddling in flesh." Michail menaced.

"But." Alexi stammered.

Michail cocked the gun.

"Yes, yes. You have a deal."

Michail took the gun away from Alexi's head.

"I'll be in touch."

Stephanie caught Jack's eye and motioned with her eyes towards Alexi and Nikko. Jack and Luca stepped forward and took Alexi from Nikko, hauling him towards the door. Jack would keep Nikko from accidentally killing Alexi, and Luca was good at getting people to talk. One way or the other.

"Man, did you shit yourself too?" She heard Jack's disgusted voice, and she had to press her face into Ranger's chest to keep from laughing. Alexi deserved whatever he got.

The minute they were out of the door, Stephanie extricated herself from Ranger. She wanted to stay wrapped in his warm, solid arms, but she was still mad. Ranger let her go, but she could tell he didn't want to.

Nikko tossed Michail a zip tie. "A gift." He grinned at Michail.

It was a terrifyingly feral one, and goosebumps rose on Stephanie's arms. Stephanie did extractions, and sometimes that involved tricking people to gain information or access, but she was way out of her league on this one. Nikko and Ranger they were playing in a whole different arena. Ranger was an enigma, and her heart gave a brief flutter. She didn't know this man, she reminded herself. She might think she did, but she didn't. Luca, she knew. Luca was the safe bet.

Michail zip tied the Albanian. He slapped his face a couple of times, bringing him around before he hauled him to his feet. Michail's eyes locked with hers and he inclined his head. With that, Michail and his companion left. She wondered if she would ever see him again. Part of her hoped she never did.

"Do I want to know?" Ranger asked as he watched Michail leave.

Stephanie scrunched up her nose. "Probably not."

Nikko turned to face her and Ranger. A thunderous look on his face as his gaze swept between the two of them. His mouth flattened into a grim line when he saw the red marks around her neck. Stephanie had to admit it scared her a little, and she moved closer to Ranger. Ranger, on the other hand, appeared entirely unaffected.

"What part of get her to safety was unclear?" Nikko's gaze settled on Ranger. His voice was low and lethal.

"Come on Nikko, have you ever tried to make a woman do something she didn't want to?" Ranger's voice had a taunting quality to it that told Stephanie the answer was yes, and it had not turned out well.

Nikko absently rubbed his side, like the memory had caused some phantom pain. He blew out a harsh breath. "Fair point. Do you think you can manage to get her back to the safe house?" He snapped.

"Hello, I'm right here." Stephanie hissed. "She can speak for herself and she can get her own damn ass back to the safe-house."

Nikko threw up his hands and stalked off, mumbling something that sounded an awful lot like "women, can't live with them and can't shoot them."

Stephanie looked over at Ranger, and a shiver went through her. Adrenaline buzzed through her veins like little fire ants, making her skin crawl.

Ranger shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped it around her. It was warm from his body heat and smelled like him. She pulled it on, taking comfort in its warmth. The silky material soothing her.

Ranger grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's get out of here before the police show up."