Disclaimer: Anything recognizable belongs to Janet Evanovich, and the rest is mine. I'm grateful she lets us play.
Warning: Dark fic. Adult language, adult content, violence, smut. This is written for mature audiences only.
Chapter 22
Stephanie's POV
My chest feels tight as I continue to experience a roller coaster of emotions, and I close my eyes as Ranger's warmth, smell, and words embrace me like a cocoon. When I lean back to rest against my pillows once again, I'm more relaxed and a closed-lipped smile remains on my face.
"What have you been doing today? What was everyone's reaction to your speech this morning?" I ask, breaking the comfortable silence between us. Ranger kisses my head, which I'm beginning to understand is his way of preparing himself to open up to me while he organizes his words, and then he begins to speak. His conversation flows, and the candid way he is sharing his relief, frustration, and anger is more telling to me than any kiss or vow declaring his intentions ever could. These are the moments where trust is built, I realize, and Ranger is worthy of my trust and love.
"Only two Merry Men are leaving?" I interrupt. "That's amazing!"
"Yes, and they are two of Tank's newest hires. I think it's probably for the best regardless, but I'll give them a fair exit interview and letter of recommendation at the end of their two weeks' notice," Ranger concurs before continuing. "I had a meeting with Joe Juniak about everything that happened since I've been away."
I nod thoughtfully before saying, "I'm glad you spoke with Joe. I think he loves me more than my family does, but with his schedule, it's been harder and harder for us to connect. I need to make more of an effort to foster that relationship."
"He's a good man, Babe," he affirms, kissing my head again before shifting to relaying his meeting with Chief Feldman. My thoughts become more serious as he recounts the tense encounter.
"I'm not the best bounty hunter in Trenton, though it's nice of him to say so," I reply without any self-deprecation in my tone.
"Babe," Ranger starts but then stops, something in my manner causing him to shift to scrutinize me more carefully.
"I'm not selling myself, short, really," I begin to continue. "I'm way better than when you left, but I also operated alone and with little regard for my personal well-being. There were times when I would stand in the aftermath of a sketchy takedown, desperately working to avoid feeling the regret, fear, or even adrenaline, and you, or rather the lessons you tried to impart to me, would come to the forefront of my thoughts. Mostly, I knew you would never want me out there without a team or back-up, and even with a team, I knew that some of the things I did would be dangerous even for you. By the grace of God, I didn't kill anyone else after Farro, but I certainly spilled my share of blood. There shouldn't be anyone who knows my reputation that thinks I'll hesitate to shoot them anymore. I don't think those things make me a good bounty hunter. Effective, perhaps, and I'm sure the Chief appreciates my effectiveness, but it doesn't mean I'm the best in Trenton. That honor should go to Lester. I know he put himself at risk to be my silent partner in the shadows this past year. Without him and Hector, I would probably be dead," I confess pragmatically, letting out a puff of air in chagrined regret.
Ranger moves forward so that we are facing each other so closely that his breath blows the fine flyaway hairs that frame my face, his expression serious. Before I can blink, he tightly wraps both arms around me as though he were afraid that I would disappear if he didn't hold on. Before speaking again, he releases me enough that I can see the intensity of his words. "Then I'll give a prayer of thanks every day that you did survive so that we could be together," Ranger says, his brown eyes rolling with sadness, fear perhaps, though I find it hard to believe Ranger is afraid of anything, and relief.
"I'm relieved that you no longer want to work alone, Querida. My experiences have left me with the ability to picture the types of takedowns you are alluding to easily, and I want you to know, you never have to hide how you feel about those experiences from me. It's important to have people in your life you can talk to about those events, to process, validate, and debrief. I have after every mission, sometimes with a Senior Officer or Lester or a Chaplain or a therapist, and I credit that support as a way I maintained my mental health throughout my career and life. I will never judge you, remember that," he explains with such sincerity that it leaves me breathless.
I nod my head several times before finding my voice. "Okay. I will. Not now, but someday, a little at a time, I will try to open up to you. I am committed to seeing the therapist Bobby sets up for me on Monday," I say with a voice cracked from emotions lodged in my throat. "What did you do after TPD?" I question, wanting to move on from this charged moment.
Ranger isn't dissuaded. "Thank you, Babe. I'll be ready to listen whenever you're ready to share," he says assuredly before tilting his chin up to kiss my forehead. He relaxes his hold further without moving away and continues his story, recounting his visit to the Bond's office.
I laugh sardonically when Ranger tells me that Vinnie peed himself in fear. "Good. He deserves far worse!" I spit out, sobering up quickly when Ranger tells me how much money my cousin made off of my pain this year. "Far worse," I muttered, clenching my jaw.
"I received a text from Connie a few minutes later asking me to meet her at one of Harry's safehouses," Ranger states, massaging some of the tension from my shoulders.
"Connie? What did she want?" I question in surprise.
"Connie wants to give you a message. She says that she's sorry and that she's been a bad friend," Ranger starts, and my jaw drops in astonishment. "Connie informed us that she has put up with Vinnie and working at the Bonds Office as long as she has because she was being blackmailed. Connie is bisexual, and Lucille is her lover. Lester and me visiting Vinnie today connected a few dots for her, and she snooped in Vinnie's office to give us the evidence we need against him. Vinnie kept a ledger about all the payments Tank paid him as a means of keeping track of the resolution of his debts. The ledger also shows payments Vinnie made to Lula," Ranger states straightforwardly.
"Lula?" I interrupt quietly, and Ranger continues after a short pause.
"Connie determined that Lula was tipping off your skips that you were coming after them to increase the chances that you would be injured. She did it as a way of showing loyalty to Tank, but also to increase the blackmail payout Vinnie gave her to ensure her silence. Connie additionally gave us a flash drive with all of the phone calls and messages from Vinnie's phone over the past six months. She bugged it when she grew suspicious about what was going on in the office," Ranger finishes, falling silent as he waits for my response.
It's another betrayal. In my self-imposed isolation, I had still regarded Lula as a friend. I honestly hadn't considered the idea that she would actively seek me harm. I did wonder once or twice how she continued to support her lifestyle when I stopped taking her out as my partner but dismissed the thoughts just as quickly as they came. Lula was a hustler who knew the streets. Ultimately, Lula hustled Tank, Vinnie, and me for her gain.
"Querida?" Ranger says softly, and I flick my downward gaze up to look at him. I can feel my cheeks flush with emotion, but otherwise, I've reacted very little.
"I didn't know," I reply simply, pressing my lips together. Ranger continues to look at me. "It makes sense. I see it now. I," and I stop, too choked up to continue. I take a deep, steadying breath. "I know it's okay to cry, but frankly, I don't want to give Lula the satisfaction even if she would never know. Give me a second, and I'll be fine. I might fall apart later, and I also know you'll be there for me, but this is not that time," I say, feeling more in control with every word.
I rest my head against the pillow and interlace Ranger's fingers with mine. It's going to be okay.
"So, Connie and Lucille, huh. Well, that explains why Connie never married even though she's full Italian Mob-connected Burg," I state.
"Connie revealed that she and Lucille have plans to run away to Florida together, and Lucille is going to divorce Vinnie," Ranger divulges.
"The scandal!" I say, a smile playing at the corner of my lips.
"This leads me to a request I have for you," Ranger says mildly, but I catch the seriousness on his expression, and I sit up straighter. "Tank, Vinnie, Lula, and even Connie's actions against you this past year are criminal. Each time you were injured or could have been injured is a conspiracy charge for assault, attempted murder, etcetera, among other things. We're continuing to gather evidence so that Pete can present the case to the TPD. I am asking that you consider pressing charges against at least Tank, Vinnie, and Lula. Connie is at your discretion, especially since she is helping to build our case and may be willing to testify on your behalf should it come to that," Ranger explains heavily, and I feel the burden he has at asking me to have his former best friend incarcerated.
I sit silently, absorbing the words. Ranger continues to press his case. "It's your decision, Stephanie, but," he says, and I cut him off.
"Yes," I state firmly, and Ranger's eyebrows lift slightly. "I'm not the person who makes excuses for everyone anymore, Ranger. I've changed a lot this past year. Not all of it was for the better, but one thing I have done much better is set healthier boundaries for myself with others. I'm not a doormat. What they did was wrong, but I never thought I could do anything about it. Frankly, it's a relief to know I can stand up for myself and take this step. Yes."
"I'm proud of you, Babe," Ranger says, his eyes shining with that pride, and he gently kisses me. The pressing of his lips to mine and the way he wraps his fingers around my shoulders says he's pulling as much comfort from me as he is giving me his love. It's a tender reminder that he's hurting from everything that's happened as well.
"You're a good man, Ranger. Thank you for everything," I say, searching his eyes when he pulls back.
"Te quiero," he whispers back.
An opening and closing of a door in the next room signify the end of our moment, and Ranger gives my hand a squeeze before sliding off the bed walking across the room. I use the minute of privacy to close my eyes and center myself. I have no regrets or hesitations about pressing charges. I should have pressed charges against any number of people who had harmed or assaulted me, beginning with Morelli when I was sixteen. The choices of others are not my fault, and that is liberating.
I push the blanket down, feeling sticky. "Hello, Stephanie," Alex says, coming up beside me, and I surmise that means it's around 8 pm. "How about we do those vitals so we can send Bobby off to bed?" she bustles, sticking the thermometer under my tongue and activating the blood pressure cuff before taking a look at my knee while she waited for the instruments to return a readout.
"The redness has gone down quite a bit. That's good," Alex reports cheerfully, reaching for the thermometer. "98.9F. Great! Let's hope it stays that way. How are you feeling?"
"Like I want the bathroom, a shower, and dinner?" I respond, giving her a smile in return.
"How about the bathroom, a warm washcloth and dry shampoo, clean clothes, and dinner? If you keep doing well, you'll have a lot more independence tomorrow," Alex fires back with a dimpled grin, and I offer her my hand to shake on it.
"Good night, Steph. I'm glad you're feeling a little better," I hear from behind me. I turn to see Bobby getting ready to depart, but when he leaves, his last look is at Alex, not me. Interesting.
"Good night," I say before the door closes, and Ranger materializes beside me as I begin to shift my legs around to stand. "I'll be able to walk if you offer me your arm," I state determinedly. I want to get out of this room on Saturday morning, and this is the best way to prove myself capable.
My legs are stiff from disuse, my knee is sore from the infection, and my balance is off from the medications, but I make steady progress to the restroom. Good for me. Alex brings a basket of my personal products with me, and between standing at the sink and sitting on the closed toilet seat, we make the most of the facilities available. When we reemerge into the main room, I'm wearing a new seafoam blue jammie set in the same cut, fresh panties, and I smell a lot better.
I catch Ranger's eyes doing a rapid scan of my refreshed figure, and I blush slightly. Dinner is waiting on the bedside table, and I marvel at Rangeman's efficiency. Settled into the bed, I feel ravenous, and I eagerly take a bite of the lobster mac and cheese. I close my eyes as I savor the cheesy deliciousness, and when I open them again, Ranger's expression looks both amused and strained.
"I couldn't have said it better myself," Alex laughs. "That's some of the best lobster mac I ever had. You could list Ella as a perk of employment."
"Ella must like you, too!" I reply through my own laughter.
I listen to Alex and Ranger exchange information about overseas bases they've both visited, and I'm happy to observe Ranger's pleased assessment of Alex as she shares details of her service. I finish my apple slices and push the tray away, stuffed to the gills and yawning.
Alex quickly does a departing round of vitals, clearly pleased with the numbers, and dims the light as she departs the room.
"I don't know how I can sleep so much, but I can't keep my eyes open," I mumble while Ranger slides in beside me, already in sweatpants and a t-shirt.
"Sleep tight, Babe. I love you," he replies, and I sigh, out like a light.
A/N: Greetings from Germany! I've had the best summer taking in the sites of London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Normandy, Paris (including Disneyland!), and now Germany. I'll be traveling another couple of weeks, but now that my wi-fi is a bit more reliable, I should (fingers crossed!) be able to get the next couple of chapters out more quickly.
Misty23y and Meylons are two wonderful women who have helped me so much with Warrior and my writing in general. I'm so grateful for your friendship, encouragement, guidance, and time.
For all of the incredible feedback I've received, please know how much I pour over each review and comment. You really help shape the story more than you know. I hope all of you having a warm and wonderful July.
Thank you as well for your warm wishes regarding law school. I began writing on FanFiction as a way to brush off my dusty keyboard in preps for the LSAT and ending up finding a new passion in the process. In a way, each you have played a role in helping me reach my dreams.