Chapter 8

Ranger's POV

I still can't believe that my Babe, my Stephanie, is working for me. To make matters even worse, she's divorced and dating one of MY men. I thought I meant something to her, but obviously, I was a fling. I remember when we met so clearly as if it were yesterday. When I first saw her, I felt a deep connection to her. In fact, I spent the money that I was saving for a car on her. She seemed so dejected when her bag broke, and she lost her perfume. I had this overwhelming need to comfort her. So, I went to a designer store that my sister Celia always bragged about and purchase Stephanie a new bag. Then, as if spending $400 on a bag wasn't enough, I brought her a new bottle of perfume.

Since I was in high school, members of the opposite sex were attracted to me. Girls, and now women, flock to me whenever I go to a bar or club, whether or not I want their attention. I've never had a problem finding someone willing to help me satisfy my carnal desires for a night. However, since my night with Stephanie, none of them measure up. Most of them are after me because of my looks or my money. It used to bother me, but not anymore. Stephanie took care of that for me. She proved to be just like every other woman I met.

Before I left Stephanie behind in Miami, I gave an address to my friend, Nick Parker. He would collect the mail for Lester and me while we were deployed. Unfortunately, he had to move back home when his father got ill. I thought that I would have at least a letter or two from Stephanie since he didn't move until six weeks after our deployment. Instead, there was nothing from her. I only had a few packages from my mother, my sisters, and my abuela. I thought I meant more to her. I mean, I spent eight months overseas thinking of no one else but Stephanie.

When I returned from my deployment and found out that she couldn't bother to write even one letter, I decided to cut my losses. I was not going to get entangled with any woman. I made sure that I always wore a condom, and when the woman agreed, a spermicide. There was no way that I would knock some chick up so she could just dump me like Stephanie did. Though I still fantasize about Stephanie, I thought she was out of my system. However, seeing her every day has started to ignite those old feelings once again. It doesn't matter, though, because she seems to only have eyes for Woody, the lucky bastard.

Tonight is the night of the distraction to nab Morelli. I have every confidence that Steph, no Michelle, as she prefers to be called, can lure him out. I'm concerned, though, about her mental fortitude. Morelli is likely to bring up their previous encounter, and I'm concerned that it will cause Michelle to freeze. We have a contingency in place if that were to happen, but I think that she needs to succeed to help her fully heal from his violation so many years ago.

We've done distractions before, but this is the first time we are running one without an ex-Army woman. Typically, I'd call in Jeanne Ellen Burrows, someone I know from my years in the Army, but Steph insists that she handle this. I know Woody is even less pleased than I am. Michelle is due to arrive at the Rangeman building in ten minutes. We are all curious about her outfit because she refused to hear any input from us. In fact, her exact words were, "there is no self-respecting Jersey girl that would take fashion advice from a bunch of ex-military, heterosexual men who only wear black or camo." I almost smiled at her statement but managed to keep my blank face in place. My smiles are for Michelle's eyes only.

Zero and Manny's girlfriends agreed to meet Stephanie tonight and take part in this takedown. I told Zero, Manny, and Woody that they were off for the rest of the night once we collared Morelli. Steph spoke with the women briefly on the phone to plan their backstory, in case they needed one. They were going to be co-workers at the knew rehabilitation center that Stephanie was working for. Since Zero's girlfriend, Abby was an administrator at a rehab center, we felt that would work. She would be herself, and as a PT, Steph would be okay in her role. Fortunately, Manny's girlfriend, Rebecca, was a social worker. Even though she worked officially for the Philadelphia family court, she could also work for the rehab. It's always best not to deviate too far from the truth.

I hear the guys who are part of tonight's takedown in the conference room talking. Suddenly, there is silence. I decide it's time to join them in the conference room. When I enter, I see why they are struck speechless. Stephanie looks terrific, and it brings me back to that first night that we spend in that club in Miami. She's wearing a blue wrap style shirt that shows off her mother-enhanced breasts with a black skirt that ends a few inches above her knees. On her feet, Michelle is wearing knee-length black leather boots with a four-inch needle-thin heel. She is even more beautiful today than she was when I first met her.

"Is this not appropriate?" she asks, clearly misreading why all the men are suddenly staring at her, dumbstruck.

"No, Michelle, it's perfect," I reply, hoping that my voice was neutral. My response seems to snap the men into action. Tank goes over the plan one last time. Once everyone confirms their placement and role, the first group rolls out. That group consists of Hal, Cal, Manny, and Hector, who will watch the perimeter. Woody and Zero are already in position as bartenders for the night. I will drive Stephanie to the club and will be at the back entrance with Tank. Lester and Bobby will be waiting at the front, while Binkie and Davis are the bouncers. We got lucky that the owner of the club is a client of ours here in Trenton. He agreed to allow us to infiltrate his establishment tonight. He was hesitant until we told him our quarry was Morelli. Once he heard his name, he was quick to cooperate. I know there a story, and someday, I'll figure it out.

Before we leave, I escort Michelle into my office. "I have to place the wire, Babe," I inform her once we're alone.

"Where?"

"On your breast."

"Oh." She replies, blushing.

"You look stunning. I think you were wearing something similar that first night in Miami."

"Probably. Blue is my go-to color when I want to attract attention. It tends to bring out my eyes."

I place my hand under the bottom hem of her shirt and bring it up under her bra. I set the wire in place, ignoring the urge to tease her nipple. I can't help it; I am still incredibly attracted to her.

"Ranger."

"Sorry," I reply when I realize that I was lingering.

"No, that's not what I meant. I'm not sure I can do this."

"Why?"

"Well, Morelli coming on to me in the Tasty Pastry wasn't our first encounter."

"What do you mean?"

"We played choo-choo when I was six, and he was eight."

"What the hell is choo-choo?"

"It was game where Morelli's hand was the train, and I was the tunnel."

"What part of you?"

"You know what part."

It takes me a moment to comprehend what she is trying to tell. Fuck me! Joe Morelli molested Michelle when she was only six. What kind of a sick motherfucker is he? "He stuck his fingers inside you when you were only six?"

"Yes."

I am speechless. I look at Michelle and can tell this was hard for her to say to me. I wrap my arms around her, thankful I didn't turn on her wire yet. "I'm sorry that he did that to you. No child deserves to be touched that way."

"Do you really think I can lure him out?"

"With the way you look tonight, you could tempt the devil himself. Morelli will be following you outside without a second thought."

I see Michelle gain some of her confidence back. For the first time, I see the determination in her eyes, and I know, deep down, that she will be successful tonight.

With the wire in place, we head down to the garage. We are driving over in my Cayenne. When we are about ten miles away, we will meet up with Abby and Rebecca in a 24-hour diner's parking lot. There, Steph will get into Rebecca's car. They will arrive at the club together. Since we knew Morelli was already there, it would add credibility to Steph's story. I watched as the three women got out of the car, and I must admit, if I didn't know that they met only five minutes before and talked on the phone once, I'd have thought they were life-long friends. When they got to the bouncers, they were let straight in since they were on the VIP list. I saw every male waiting in line, whether with a date or stag; check out my Babe. It took all my legendary control to keep calm. When I hear Binkie over the coms, I almost punch my steering wheel. "Damn, Woody, you're one lucky man."

Tank thankfully calls for radio silence so we can listen to Steph. Everyone on the operation has a mic and earbuds, except Steph. She just has her mic. We don't need her getting caught up in our conversation. Soon, we hear Zero, "Morelli sees Steph and is walking over to her."

We go radio silent, with those in the club or noisy areas turning off their mics so we can hear Stephanie more clearly.

"Hey there, Cupcake. Looking good tonight." What the fuck is up with that nickname? Who calls a woman 'cupcake?'

"Joe! Long time so see. I heard about your little mishap. I can't believe that they don't believe you. I mean, you would never do anything to hurt someone else."

"Thank you for your vote of confidence. So many of my so-called friends keep telling me to turn myself in. I refuse to do so until I can fully clear my name. I did nothing wrong and don't deserve to be punished."

"You are one hundred percent right, Joe. Oh, Joe, these are my coworkers, Abby and Rebecca. Girls, this is one of the guys I went to school with. He was in my sister's grade. I'd like you to meet Joe Morelli. He's a detective with the Trenton Police Department."

"Nice to meet you," Abby replied. "Oh, if you'll excuse me, I think I see the granddaughter of one of our patients who was released a few weeks. Let me go see how her grandmother is doing."

"I still don't understand how Abby can recognize everyone. I am so bad with names and faces." Rebecca quips.

"I know. While I learn the patient names and the staff, I have no recollection of their visitors."

"I guess when you work in admin, you deal with the families more."

"Steph, would you like to dance?" Morelli interjects. I guess he doesn't like being ignored by the women.

"Yeah, I'd love to. Excuse me, Rebecca."

I listen as I hear the music with several "excuse me" thrown in as they make their way to the dance floor.

"Cupcake, I'm glad I bumped into you. I'm sorry about your marriage to Dickie. I can't believe that he cheated on you, and with Joyce nonetheless. I wondered, maybe when everything blows over, if there is any way you'd be willing to date me. I know that dating an accused murder might not be high on your list of things to do, but I'm innocent."

"Really, Joe? You want to date me? Even though I have two children?"

"Cupcake, I love children, and, if you were agreeable, I'd love to have a few more children with you."

"Wow, I really haven't been dating, but I would like to be."

"That's great. You know, my boys really miss you. You were one of my best."

One of his bests? Who tells a woman that she was 'one of their bests?' The whole point is getting a woman to forget that you've fucked anyone else. I know that's a ploy that I employed many nights.

"Well, I have learned a thing or two since then," Steph replied, and I can hear an edge in her voice. "Why don't we go and get reacquainted?"

"My car is parked in the back. Do you need to let your friends know?"

I don't hear Steph answer immediately, so I can only imagine she's looking around. "I don't see them, but I'll send them a text."

I moment later, my phone vibrates. Heading to back. ETA 2-3.

Tank and I move into position, ready to pounce on Morelli. When the door opens, we let them walk about twenty feet from the entrance before we lunge. However, before we could put a cuff on Morelli, Stephanie turns to him and knees him where no knee should ever go.

"Morelli, you are a pig. You stole my virginity on the floor of a bakery and then left me a twenty-dollar tip. To further humiliate me, you insisted on writing about it on the walls in half of the bathrooms around Trenton. If you think I was ever going near you again, you got another thought coming. Take him away, guys."

By this point, I had Morelli cuffed. Tank had pulled a gun from his waistband and was searching for more weapons. Cal and Hal came over to bring him to TPD. I enjoyed saying, "Bond enforcement, Morelli, we're here to bring you back to court." Then, I added, in a whisper, "if you ever think about going near Stephanie again, know that she's under my protection."

I watched as Morelli paled a little further before Cal dragged him away. "You may want to bring him to the hospital first. He seems to have trouble standing."

A moment later, he puked. I know Steph got a good, solid hit in. I'd be surprised if he isn't injured. I hope, for Steph's sake, it's nothing permanent. Since I know all the guys were aware that Michelle and Morelli had a history previously, I expect him to arrive back at TPD with a few more bruises. I'm pretty sure the men have a much better picture of what Morelli did to Michelle when she was a teenager. I turn to Michelle.

"You did good, Michelle. Proud of you."

"Thanks. Who's taking me home?"

"You don't want to stay?"

"No, I'm beat."

I hear Woody in my earpiece, "Tell her to give me five minutes, and I'll take her home."

"Woody said to give him five minutes." Steph nodded. I walked her over to Cayenne. "Sit in the back seat and remove the wire. Don't worry, no one can see you from the outside."

Steph gets in, and I close the door. I purposely stand with my back to the door. I see Woody leave from the back exit, walking towards us. "How is she?"

"Michelle is fine. She was removing her wire."

"Good. Thanks, Ranger. I got Michelle from here."

I nodded to Woody as he knocked on the door before opening it. Michelle saw him and climbed out. Together, they walked over to his car, hand in hand. Fuck me.