Chapter 8:

Now I was unsure of what to do and where to go. Joe wouldn't want to see me and I didn't want to go over to my parents. I needed a quiet safe place where no one would bother me. Realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I was staying at a place that could offer me all that and more! I turned and headed straight for Ranger's apartment.

Once inside of the apartment I had a bit of a dilemma. I wasn't quite sure what to do now that I was here. I could watch television, take a shower, or read. Well I never got the hang of Ranger's remote, I had already taken a shower today, and I didn't bring any reading material with me. My eyes travelled to Ranger's room. I inside there was a big bed with incredible sheets and the softest pillows man-kind had ever created. Before I could even register what I was doing, I crawled under the covers and drifted off to sleep.

I awoke several hours later from a light shining into the bedroom. I opened my eyes to see a dark figure leaning on the doorway. It was Ranger and a smile was on his face.

"I need a favour," he said. I sat up and hoped that my hair wasn't too crazy.

"What?" I asked, wishing my voice didn't sound so squeaky.

"I need you to help me bring in an FTA." Oh boy. When ever I helped Ranger disaster always reared its ugly head.

"What do you want me to do?" I couldn't exactly refuse him considering I was staying in his apartment and lying in his bed.

"I need you to be a distraction." Ah huh.

Two hours later we were ready to go. I was decked out in a short black skirt with fishnets, a low v-neck t-shirt, and four inch FMP (fuck-me pumps). My eyelashes had five coatings of mascara and my lips were painted cherry red. I looked totally bitching, in the words of Lula.

Ranger, Tank and a few men I didn't know were waiting for me in the garage. They are eyes popped out of their heads when they say my get-up.

"I meant for you to distract him, not my whole team." I smiled coyly. Everyone but Ranger laughed. We all piled into Ranger's SUV.

"So where are we going?" I asked after a couple of beats of silence.

"Pimentos." Ranger replied. Pimentos was a pretty intimate bar/restaurant. It was a major hook-up spot. It was the perfect place for my little costume.

"And who am I looking for?"

"Jared Fallow." Ranger handed me a picture. I tucked it into my purse.

We arrived at the restaurant. Ranger gave me my directions. I was to flirt with him and then ask him to come outside with me for some air in about twenty minutes. Ranger then took me aside and gave me a tiny microphone so he could know what was going on. With no where else to put it, I stuck it in my bra. I then walked into the restaurant.

After taking a quick scan of the restaurant, I noticed Jared sitting at the bar, checking out the blond on his left. Hiking my bra up, I strode up to the bar and sat down on the remaining stool beside him. I could feel his eyes sweeping over my body. I turned to him.

"Hi," I cooed.

"Hey," he said back, his eyes settling on my chest.

"So what's that you got there?" I asked pointing to his drink.

"Huh?" He sounded like he was coming out of a trance. "Oh, it's just scotch on the rocks."

"Looks good." The bartender came over to us.

"Two more of these!" Jared said lifting up his glass. The bartender handed us our

drinks and I took a giant gulp. My throat felt like it was on fire as the liquid went through

it.

"Wow," I breathed. "This is strong." Jared smiled at me.

"So," He began, "um what's your name?"

"Oh! Yeah, um, my name is…Valerie." I lied, using the first name that came to

my mind. It just happened to be my sister's name.

"Valerie," he said slowly. "That's a pretty name."

"Uh huh," I answered avoiding his eyes.

"So Valerie, what do you do?"

"Oh, you know a little bit of this and that."

"Nice," his eyes settled on my chest again. "Very nice."

"So," I mustered up my breathiest sex kitten voice, "What do you do?"

"A little bit of this and that." Jared smiled slyly. I stifled a shudder.

"Interesting," I sent him my best smile. Out of the corner of my eye I could see

two vaguely familiar people sit down at a table. I shifted my gaze to see. Oh. My. God. It

was Morelli! And worst still, he was with that skank Terry Gilman.

I guess he felt my gaze because he looked over where we were sitting. I quickly

ducked behind Jared.

"What?" He asked puzzled by my freakish behaviour. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Wow, is it ever hot in here! Why don't we slip outside for some

fresh air?"

"Really? How about one more drink?"

"Well," I looked back at Morelli. "Okay. One quick one."

As Jared ordered more drinks I checked out Morelli and Terry. Terry was wearing a black halter dress that's it neckline plunged so low it almost reached her belly button. Morelli couldn't keep his eyes off of her and I felt a sharp stab of jealousy. Jared noticed me staring at them.

"She's hot." Jared said pointing to Terry. I grabbed my glass of scotch which had just been put down onto the counter by the bartender. I drank it in one big gulp.

"Whoa, you must have been thirsty." He said with a big grin on his face.

"Yep." I started to feel a little woozy. The drink had gone straight to my head. I accidentally slumped onto him. He looked thrilled.

"Why don't we go get that fresh air now?" He asked. I nodded. Good thing he suggested it because if I spent anymore time in the bar I'd probably pass out or go ape shit on Morelli and his date. In the process of getting up I accidentally dropped the glass I was holding and it fell smashed onto the floor. Everyone in the bar turned and stared at me.

"Shit," I whispered. I turned saw Morelli get out of his seat and head over to where we were standing.

"Let's go!" I yelped, but it was too late.

"Stephanie? What are you doing here?" Morelli asked, his eyes narrowed. Oh shit.

"She's with me. And her name is Valerie." Jared defended grabbing my hand. I smacked his hand away involuntarily.

"No, her name is Stephanie Plum. She's a bounty hunter. And she's probably here tonight just to piss me off by hooking up with you."

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm not here because of you. And didn't even know you'd be here!" Morelli scoffed. I sent him a dirty stare.

"Wait a minute. You're a bounty hunter?" Jared asked his face turning white.

"Yep, Trenton's most notorious one." Morelli quipped before I even had a chance to defend myself. Jared turned and looked at me; a red flush was creeping up his neck.

"I can explain," I started. "I just came here tonight because…because now that I don't have anyone in my life," I shot a nasty look at Morelli, "I thought I could try to meet someone new."

"Come on," I said to Jared. "Let's go outside."

"Oh no you don't!" Morelli shouted.

"Why do you care? Don't you have to get back to Terry?" I spat.

"Oh here we go again." Morelli rolled his eyes.

"There is no we or again! We're over, remember? You broke up with me!"

"I wouldn't have had to if you hadn't of run off to Ranger!"

"That's ridiculous! You're being ridiculous!"

"Ranger? What is going on?" Jared asked looking both scared and distrustful. I waved him away.

"Look, I didn't want to break up. But you wouldn't have it any other way! You just had to be so god damn stubborn!"

"Well how would you take it if your girlfriend was moving into a guy's house that is known to have the hots for her!"

"It's not like that!"

"Listen," Jared started, "I'm going to head out. It was nice meeting you but…"

"No!" I yelled. Conversation had completely stopped in the restaurant. Everyone was staring at the drama unfolding.

"No," I lowered my voice. "I'll go with you. I apologize for him. We were together, but trust me we are so over!"

"I don't know," Jared looked very confused.

"Don't do it. She'll fuck up your life completely." Morelli said viciously.

Before I could response, the front doors of the bar opened with a bang. Ranger came storming over to us. He quickly snapped handcuffs onto Jared's wrists while everyone was still in shock.

"What the…?" We all ignored Jared.

"Figures she's with you." Morelli spat at Ranger. "It's all your fucking fault! It's always your fucking fault!"

"Joe!"

"It's okay," Ranger said quietly. "Come on, let's go. I think you guys have caused enough of a scene."

"No way! Not until we settle this once and for all!" Joe shouted. I watched in frozen horror as Joe swung his fist into Ranger's face.

"Oh my God! Ranger! Joe!" I didn't know what to do. I could only watch as things only got worse.

Ranger remained calm, but you could the red mark on his cheek.

"Morelli, stop this." Ranger said very calmly.

Morelli responded by another punch to Ranger's face. Ranger pushed Morelli across the bar. Once Morelli picked himself up, he hurled himself at Ranger. They both went flying out of the restaurant and into the parking lot. The entire restaurant piled out of the bar to see the scene unfolding.

Morelli and Ranger were fighting it out street style. Punching, kicking, shoving, and swearing, it was madness.

"Stop! Both of you stop!" I screamed. They both ignored me. Thinking quickly, I took off my shoe and hurled it at them. I missed. I took off my other shoe and sent it flying. This time it made contact with Morelli's head. They both turned to look at me. They were both scratched up and Morelli had the beginnings of a black eye.

"Look at you two! This is so…stupid!" I cried hysterically. I ran over to them and pulled them apart. Terry came over to us and pulled Morelli away. With one last dirty look at us, Morelli and Terry drove away in Morelli's truck.

"Shit." Ranger said. I turned my head up to look at him.

"What?"

"Fallow got away."