Thanks for the support on the opening chapter. Special thanks to GarbanzoBeans for pointing out I initially posted with 'Bong' instead of 'Bond' at the start of the chapter. I swear you can only look at a piece so many times before you stop picking up things that need corrections. Oops. I fixed it.
JudoMom asked if I had the second part already written and since I do, here it is. I've been staying home from work these past couple days, because I'm back to not holding down much food or drink and so had an opportunity to post this today.
Let me know your thoughts on this one.
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. Mistakes are mine.
Stephanie's POV
I burst into the room without much of a plan and before it could show, I had to come up with something. And fast!
I had one hand on the door frame and the other on the door knob, practically hanging myself between the two wooden ends.
"Oops!" I said in my best tipsy impersonation as I scanned the room. There was a handful of people in the large bedroom. Diaz Ortega was off on the left corner, next to the sliding glass doors that led to a balcony. Guess he wanted an escape route if needed. Jenna was pinned down on the bed by a man who could be old enough to be my father. The rest of the room was filled with a few armed muscle and who I suspected had to be escorts. Diaz Ortega is one slimy asshole, and I doubt anyone would ever put their hands on him willingly.
"Sorry." I slurred again as I realized that I had everyone's attention on me. "Wrong room." I did my best to sound like it was an honest mistake as I tried to backtrack. What the hell was I thinking? Probably I wasn't! There's no way I can take them all. Ranger, possibly, but me? Nope. Not even in my wildest fantasies.
"Oh, no no no." Diaz Ortega snapped his fingers before waving me over. "Yeh, you in the right place, baby." The appreciative once over he gave me made me feel sick. He's one sleazy monster, that's for sure.
"Yes, wrong place." I slurred again, saying that I was looking for my husband.
"Yo husband left you all alone, babe?" Diaz Ortega arched an eyebrow in disbelief as he nodded his head minutely at the guard closest to the door. The man was almost as big as Cal and that's saying something. Shit.
"We got se-separated in the shuffle." I groaned, making like I was about to barf all over the expensive looking rug. Maybe that would deter them.
When the Cal lookalike shifted my way, I realized that it wouldn't. Dread settled low in my belly as Diaz Ortega spoke again.
"Come in. You can waits for your hubby here. We're very nice company." His grin was repulsive.
"You don't have a ring." The man that was still keeping Jenna pinned to the bed felt the need to point out.
I looked down at my hand and yup, sure enough I'm not wearing a ring. I don't even have a tan line of it like I did after Hawaii.
Time to bluff your way out of this one, Stephanie.
"We're into the who-whole ope-open marriage thang." I fake slurred, trying to resist as the Cal double ushered me further inside.
"Perfect!" Diaz Ortega beamed, snapping his fingers again so that one of his muscle could close the door behind me.
The sound of the look engaging had my heart beating wildly under my ribs. Fuck!
If Diaz Ortega doesn't kill me, Ranger sure will!
S&R
Ranger's POV
"Uh, why are you all alone, Papi?" Being intercepted wasn't in my plans, so I easily shrugged off the blonde that zeroed in on me as soon as I had my feet off the last step of the stairs.
I glanced up, catching a fleeting glance of Steph's hair as I moved away from the ornate banister. My abdomen clenched with familiar worry. She's probably not going to wait, but staying to argue with her wouldn't have gotten us out of here faster.
Human trafficking's never been one of Diaz Ortega's ventures, but it seems he's trying to diversify more into the sex industry. That coupled with the number of influential attendees is sure to make the perfect recipe for disaster. Add in one blue eyed Bounty Hunter and sure enough this night has all the makings to end with a bang.
I made it to where I'd stashed the necessary equipment I'd need to signal the go ahead, as well anything I might need if this where to go sideways. The incessant tingling in the back of my neck is telling me that something's off.
And of course it has to do with Stephanie.
Sure enough, by the time I made it back to the second floor Stephanie was nowhere to be seen.
Shit, Babe.
S&R
Hal's POV
"How much longer do you think it'll take?" Lester asked for the umpteenth time since we passed the one hour mark.
I rolled my eyes at him, thankful for the cover of darkness. We had an easy time making it into the property. In fact, it was a little too easy. The outside security was a joke, which meant that Diaz Ortega would have a small army with him wherever he was hiding.
Of course, instead of using this time to strategize Lester is conjuring up improper thoughts as per usual. I bit down my internal groan. I could have been partnered with Cal, Ram or Bones on the North Team. But, no. I got partnered with Lester and Slick in the South Team. Slick's cool and super professional; it's Lester who always takes this into dirty thoughts territory.
"I bet they're taking their sweet ass time." Lester just doesn't know when to shut up, I swear. "Sheesh, I know I would!" The fact that he manages to whisper his usual BS, yet I get to hear him loud and clear thanks to our comm units is in itself a form of torture.
"Shut up!" I bit out, annoyed. Instead of letting us keep our attention focused on a possible incoming counteract or our instructions, Lester is taking up our audio. Agh!
"Like you don't want to see Beautiful naked." He scoffed, still not getting it.
"No, I don't." I grumbled, pointing out that Stephanie's our coworker and friend. "That would just be weird." Plus, Ranger would tear our dick's out and then hand feed it to us. Nope!
It was Slick's turn to butt in. "Yeah, right after Bomber's kicked our nuts up into our throats!"
Guess I said the Ranger part out loud. Oops. Bomber's been rubbing off on us for sure and not just when it comes to breaking our diets.
"I will feed you your balls if you don't knock it off!" Tank's booming voice filled our ear pieces, making us grimace. That meant we'd be getting mandatory time on the mats. All because of Lester…
After several minutes of radio silence, the order finally came through. My team and I shared a look, knowing we'd be going in first since we were literally right above Diaz Ortega.
In preparation, we adjusted our gear and night vision goggles. We waited in position for our cue, ready to move as soon as the lights cut off and cast the whole mansion in utter darkness.
S&R
Stephanie's POV
"You're really pretty." The older man said, moving off of Jenna and slowly stalking towards me. I'd been forced to sit on a very ornate wooden chair, so I didn't really have anywhere to go as he advanced in my direction.
"I've never seen you in an event before." His sleazy grin grossed me out. His hairy arm reached for me, gripping my cheeks roughly with one hand as he pushed my hair back with the other. With my face angled up forcefully and my rebellious hair out of the way, he got a good look at me. He was so close that I was able to get a good of him too. I shifted my eyes rapidly, trying to commit his features to memory. Looking directly at his milky green eyes was beyond disturbing.
"What's your name?" A male voice asked behind the naked older man. It could have been Diaz Ortega but it sounded distorted somehow.
"Babe." I spit back, fighting to get out of the man's grasp. He was crushing my cheeks so hard that I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut. I hated to think about what he'd want to put in my mouth if I didn't close it.
"It'll do." The man said, leaning closer and reaching down. With a swift yank of his free hand, I felt the satiny fabric give.
The sound of him tearing my thong off of me flipped a switch in me, sending me tumbling into the abyss. I knew that meant that my fight or flight response was about to be unleashed.
"Ah, you bitch!" The man groaned as he felt my spiky heel stomp over his bare foot. That got him to release my face as he staggered back minutely. He was in the process of straightening himself when my hands landed on his broad shoulders. With the momentum I gained from springing myself off of the seat, I pulled him down towards me as my knee raised. Of course, it connected precisely with its target. Guess his viagra wasn't as potent, because I made contact with pure squishiness.
I was poised for a fight despite only sporting a pair of FMPs. My eyes were darting around the room as I ignored the grown man-child groaning on the floor by my feet.
"Oh shit." The Cal lookalike muttered as he reached for his weapon.
"What?!" Diaz Ortega barked out as he rose to his feet, shrugging off the two women who had been hanging off of his arms since I've been in here.
"The hair's kinda different, but she looks like that one bounty hunter." The Cal double mumbled out.
"Oh fuck!" Another one of the guards said. "Manoso's Babe?"
"Yeah." Cal number two confirmed.
I was rooted to my spot as realization dawned across the room.
"You're a dead bitch." Diaz Ortega declared, promising to make my exit be a painful one.
Luckily, the lights went out just as he was getting ready to launch himself towards me. As soon as we were plunged into darkness, I knew what that meant. The cavalry is here!
I stumbled two steps and reached out onto the bed, grabbing a trembling hand and yanking. I rolled Jenna onto the floor and then covered her with my body.
"It's okay." I whispered into her ear as her whole body shook. "Help's coming."
I'd just finished saying those words when the loud sound of glass breaking filled the room. A loud crash sounded next as the floor shook with a rush of movement. The room went into utter chaos then.
Jenna screamed in my ear as bullets whizzed above us. All I could do was cover her as beast as I could as we stayed tucked on one side of the bed.
S&R
Hal's POV
What felt like a lifetime, but couldn't have been more than a minute or two, passed as utter chaos erupted once we infiltrated the room. We were prepared for it though, knowing that as soon as our boots hit the glass sliding doors we'd give ourselves away.
Once the smoke settled and we had Diaz Ortega and three of his goons secured, I scanned my gaze around the room. Getting the intel that Stephanie was in here just as we got ready to enter only served to up the stakes.
Knowing that my team had my back, and that anyone who was stupid enough to try and escape by running out of the room would be met by our comrades on the other side of that doorway allowed me to focus on my task. I purposely ignored the older man that was curled in a fetal position by my feet as I kept moving. He was crying like a baby, which meant he'd be useless even to himself. Plus, I knew Slick was right behind me to cuff him. It'll also be at least thirty seconds before the others burst into the room.
My heart clenched when I spotted Steph on the other side of the bed. Her body was providing cover for someone, which wasn't a surprise. That was a total Bomber move.
What wasn't a common sight was noting that Stephanie was stark naked. I sighed internally, wondering briefly if this was a product of Lester manifesting just that into the universe. The asshole won't get to see her naked. Not on my watch, I decided as I shrugged out of my jacket.
"It's me, Bomber, Hal." I made sure to reach out with my left hand so that she could feel the scar on my palm as I touched her bare shoulder.
"Hal?" She squinted up at me, but obviously wouldn't be able to see anything in the darkness. "Thanks." Stephanie whispered as I draped my jacket over her body.
I watched her twist back to face the young woman below her. As she put her arms through the holes and zipped up my massively enormous jacket covering her smaller frame, Steph gave comfort to the other female. I breathed out a sigh of relief when I saw the woman nod in agreement as Stephanie pulled her into a sitting position.
"Kiss ass." Lester bitched jokingly as soon as the lights came on and he saw that my jacket was missing. He didn't miss that it ended up on Bomber, so he was quick to put two and two together. "Lucky son of a bitch." He muttered under his breath as he turned back to Diaz Ortega, who looked like he'd just crapped his pants if the look on his face is anything to go by.
It took a bit longer than we would have liked for Diaz Ortega and his companions to be carter off downstairs and into a waiting Rangeman SUV to transport them to the TPD. Everything would be sorted there. The agents would already be ready to swoop in and take Diaz Ortega into their jurisdiction as soon as he was processed. Guess that's the deal the agency made with the city. I scoffed, of course they'll like to puff up their collars and get some credit when no one at the TPD did anything during this bust. Ah!
We stood outside as we heard the hollering complaints of those left inside. Guess the influential peeps don't want it to leak out where they've been tonight. That gave me hope that they'd cooperate, because the poor college chick that Stephanie went in to save sure deserves for justice to be served. She looks beyond shell shocked. It'll take her a lot of time to heal, that's for sure.
"You're bleeding." The young woman we recently learned was the missing Rutgers student, Jenna Stucky, pointed out as Bobby ushered her to an SUV to transport her to the hospital so she could be checked out. She looks a lot thinner than the last video that was released of her before her disappearance.
That statement had everyone shifting their eyes towards Bomber. Sure enough, she was standing on a considerable puddle of blood. It was the same crimson shade as her vibrant lipstick. Guess Stephanie's still using that smudge proof stuff, because it looks undisturbed on her parted lips.
Shit. How did we miss that?!
Because she didn't say anything and I covered her before the lights went back on. Oh fuck! I'm a dead man.
"Wh-what?" Stephanie asked as her head dipped down to look at what we were all looking at. "Oh shit." She muttered as she quickly stepped back from the red puddle.
"Babe." Ranger said before he turned his back to the agent beside him. The boss was already pissed off and now he's going to reach a new level of anger. He hates it whenever Stephanie gets hurt.
Without warning, Ranger reached for the zipper of my jacket. He blocked her front with his big torso from our view. Thankfully he'd put on some clothes so we didn't have to get a load of the boss naked either.
"I don't know!" Bomber hissed as Ranger's hands disappeared into the gaping jacket.
"Bobby!" Ranger barked over his shoulder, sporting a look that told us he didn't like what he was seeing.
"I don't want to go to the hospital." Bomber was already grumbling even before Bobby jogged over with his kit to take a look.
"Sorry." Bobby declared seconds after pressing several gauze squares against her torso. From the looks of the blood that was tricking down her left arm and through her fingers, I'd guess she got hit in the arm and possibly a graze on her abdomen. However, it was hard to tell from my vantage point.
"Hal, Lester." Ranger ordered us to ride along with them as he told the rest of the team what their orders would be.
We loaded into the front of the SUV with Les taking the wheel while Bobby ushered Jenna in before Ranger hopped in, placing Babe on his lap before Bobby took the last open seat.
As soon as the back passenger door was closed, Lester accelerated out of the intricate driveway. We weren't too far away from Trenton, so St. Francis would be our destination unless Bobby said otherwise.
"Babe." From the rear view mirror I got a glimpse of Ranger pressing his lips to Bomber's ear. Whatever he whispered into her ear had her cutting her eyes to him, immediately ending her squirming on top of his lap.
We all breathed out a sigh of relief as Bomber stopped fighting and leaned back against Ranger's chest so that Bobby could work.
Within minutes we reached the ER entrance. Not wasting a single second, Bobby had his door open by the time Lester screeched to a halt. Ranger quickly followed him out, keeping Stephanie pressed to him as he scooped her out.
"I'll park and catch up." Lester said to me as I escorted Jenna out of the SUV and into the hospital.
As soon as Lester was back, Ranger ordered us both to stay with Jenna until the police could take over. When they did, I gave her a reassuring smile to remind her that she was safe now. Her family was relieved to get the call that she'd been found. They were already on their way to meet her.
Lester was ordered to stay with Jenna and the cops until she was discharged. Ranger wanted another set of eyes watching his back so I was assigned to join them.
I'd been correct. Bomber got hit on the upper arm and had another two bullets grace her side and abdomen. Bobby confirmed that it was enemy fire, which was a minute relief. We'd of never heard the end of it had it been friendly fire hitting her.
I was in the room with Ranger and Stephanie as we awaited her discharge paperwork when she started laughing uncontrollably. My eyes shifted to her and she gave us a shrug and a wide-eyed look, waving to her mouth and saying that she couldn't stop.
I smiled, because Bomber was high out of her mind. That was better than the alternative.
Ranger messaged Bobby and he returned within a few minutes with a nurse in tow. They both appeased Ranger. Nothing was wrong with Bomber. Well, not anymore. She's just feeling really good.
"Want a juice, Sweetie?" The nurse asked in a sweet tone that reminded me of Ella.
"Ha! Yes, ha, please. Hahahahaha!" At least Steph managed to stay polite despite her laughing fit.
Moments later the nurse came back with Bomber's discharge paperwork and a small carton of what looked to be orange juice. Ranger held it for her and kept one eye on Bomber while paying attention to the at home care instructions the nurse recited.
In the time we've been here, Ella had sent Manny with a change of clothes for when Steph was released.
"Sorry about your jacket." Bomber told me after I turned around. Ranger helped her get dressed, which wasn't a surprise, so I had given them some privacy.
"No problem." I waved it aside as I tilted my head back, wondering what they gave Stephanie in her 'juice' to make the laughing fit stop.
Thankfully our trek back to our waiting SUV was uneventful. This time it was Manny behind the wheel. I took the front passenger seat as Ranger helped Bomber into the back seat before following after her.
On our drive back to Haywood, I chanced a glance to the backseat area through the rear view mirror.
"Damn, they gave me the good stuff. I'm sooo sleepy." Bomber slurred as she leaned against Ranger, settling her head on his lap. Stephanie must really be feeling good, because she was able to fold herself in half to accomplish that. She'll feel the effects of it in the morning, no doubt.
"Babe." I turned to get a better look despite knowing I shouldn't intrude on their private moment. Ranger stroked her hair as a look flashed across his face. The man had his heart squeezed into a vice with fear just hours ago.
"Am I in trouble?" Stephanie's words were more jarbled, which told us that she was going to pass out soon. Good. She's been through a lot for one night.
"Yes." Ranger told her, before he bent his head to whisper something into her ear.
"Fine." She grumbled as she buried her head more against the Bossman's lap. Bomber's the only one who can get away with doing that.
"Just don't spank my ass too hard." Stephanie said several moments later.
I choked out a laugh, but quickly shut my mouth at the death glare Ranger shot me. Lightning fast, I righted myself so that I could face forward once again. From the corner of my eye I caught Manny's smirk. He too was laughing, except his silent laugh wouldn't get him any mat time. Sigh.
As we unloaded in the underground garage, I realized that despite being quite angry with Stephanie for her actions, another part of him was proud of her too. Ranger would care for her tonight and when Stephanie was better, he'd give her a punishment.
As I watched the metal doors closing after Ranger and Bomber, it was Manny's words that got me to tear my eyes away from the elevator.
"You really think he spanks her?" Manny gave me an arched eyebrow as he probably conjured up the image of the boss doing just that.
"I don't know and I don't want to know." I grumbled as I reached for the stairwell door. Getting a load of Bomber in her birthday suit was more than I'd ever wanted to see. No wonder Bossman's been head over heels for her since day one. Bomber hides quite the body under her usual T-shirt and jeans combo.
"Oh, come on!" Manny hollered as he followed behind me. "You're no fun!" He teased as he climbed the steps behind me. "Lester says he's pretty sure they got busy while they were in there." He snickered, asking for details.
"Lester's got a big mouth." I shot over my shoulder and I hauled ass to the fifth floor. I am so done with tonight. Plus, I know these assholes will heckle me for weeks, if not months, to come when Les shares that I got to see Bomber naked.
Ugh! Why does this shit always happen to me?!