I don't own anything. Every character belongs to janet evanovich.

Sorry, that it took so long to update, but I will probably post the end tomorrow and I'm already working on a new one. For that I need someone to help me, someone who speaks spanish and could translate a few things for me. Please review, and give me your e-mail-adress. Thanks.


Divided

"Tank, when was the last time you saw Stephanie?"

"The day before yesterday, why?"

Chapter 13: Showdown

Still Ranger's POV:

"I just got a message. I think Fernandes has her. I'm going to take the next possible flight to Trenton. Call Lula and Connie and tell Morelli to call her parents. I want erveryone out, looking for her."

"Okay."

Two hours later I was on the plane, landing in Trenton would be in one hour (I have no idea how long it takes from Boston to Trenton, sorry)when my cell rang.

"Yo."

"Steph wanted to go clubbing with Lula and Connie on Friday. They wanted to meet at the Orient Palace at 9, both got a SMS at 9.05 telling that Steph's ill and won't be able to come. Nobody at the club saw the kidnapping, but they saw a red Ferrari 355 Spider speed off like on fire shortly after 9."

It was perfectly planned, Fernandes had always organized thoroughly. Once it had been what I respected in him, now it was what I feared.

Steph's POV:

I couldn't hold myself up anymore. I had been standing here chained to the wall for three days. On Saturday morning "the fist" had even made it worse by pulling me to the other side of the cellar. Away from the light and the little fresh air coming through the window and then he changed both of my hands behind my back and to the wall. It was so tight sat I couldn't sit down. I had been standing since then. My left hand is broken and hurting like hell and when I have to use the bathroom I have to do it in front of hin. He didn't give me anything to drink or eat and because of my lack of clothes besides my underwear I was freezing.

I was desperate.

And when he would come in the next time to take me to the toilet, I would do everything. He always drugged me before, so that I got weaker and weaker during the trip, but from no on I wouldn't care. I would fight, because I knew now that I was fighting for my life and I was sure that the lascivious looks and little touches would soon not be enough anymore. And I would rather die than let him……okay deep breathes.

Than the door to the cellar opened.

A few minutes before:

Ranger's POV:

It was hell. I had been searching for Steph for about 16 hours. And still I had nothing.

I left my office and went up to my appartment. I had just made some coffee to fix my lack of sleep, when my phone rang.

"Yo."

"Hey boss. How are you? I'm doing fine, but your girlfriend looks a little bit pale. But still she's very hot. You have a good taste. Are you missing her?"

"What do you want Fernandes?"

" I can guess that you're missing her very much. It must be pretty cold in your bed, or are you warming up yourself? Huh, I don't have that problem, because I have a pretty hot lady. And I have to say she really has smooth skin."

By now I was gripping my counter and my teeth hurt because I bit them together so hard. I breathed very slowly trying to get myself back together.

"What do you want?"

"First, Manoso, I want you to suffer, like you made me suffer. And do you know how I will reach this goal? It's simple but briliant. By making your woman suffer agonies!"

By now I had to sit down.

"Why are you taking this out on her. It isn't her fault that you lost your job, so why hurt her."

"Oh, don't try to tell me, that you aren't hurting right now. Hurting your woman will hurt you more than I ever could."

He was completely right there. She's my weak spot, she's my love, she's my…erverything.

" I will talk to you soon, but now your girlfriend has to go to the toilet. And you know what, I'm going to go along with her." And he hung up.

I let the phone fall down and rested my head on my knees.

Oh, babe.

"I guess that was him." A soft voice said from the door. Tank.

I looked up at him.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me up and slapped me on my shoulder.

"Come on, someone at Stark said he had some infos for you."

Finally, a flicker of hope.

Steph's POV:

He came in, smiling at me.

" I just talked to your boyfriend. You know, he thought I was in Miami, that's why he went there and then he had to fly back, because I'm smarter than him and I took you."

I snorted.

His eyes went dark. Uhoh.

"You don't think so, maybe I should show you just how smart I am!"

He grabbed me around the waist and pressed me to his chest. He smelled of sweat and something else, something dangerous.

He opened the chain, that held me to the wall and yanked me towards the middle of the room.

He lifted me up until I could look into his eyes. They were looking cloudy and I blinked. But they stayed cloudy, only one reason possible, he was on drugs.

With that I kicked as hard as I could.

He let me fall down as he bend over, breathing slowly. I was klying on the floor, trying to gather enough energy to stand up, but I wasn't fast enough. He kicked me into my stomach.

My breath left me, he yanked me up and I saw the determined look in his eyes. He was going to kill me. I took every strengh I had left and slammed my chained hands onto his head. He screamed and went down and ran out of the cellar, I ren on through the kitchen, where I saw my cell on the table I grabbed it and ran on, Hearing the fist rumble at the stairs.

I ran out of the house and ran on, blindly, not knowing where I went, just trying to escape the nightmare I came from.

I have know idea how long I ran, but after a period that seemed like a lifetime I stopped.

I leanded against a house. It was dark, but there were streetlights and I instinctively tried to hide in the shadows.

I took my phone, totally out of breath, my hands shaking, myself shivering.

And dialed the number that I knew would save me, always.

Ranger's POV:

At 11 o'clock, I was driving back to my appartment, Tank sitting next to me, both of us frustrated.

We were told that Fernandes had been seen in Markson Street yesterday. We asked about everyone we saw in the area close to the street, hell maybe even everyone in the East of Trenton.

I had just parked the car, when my cell rang.

"Yo."

"Ranger, you have to come get me!"

My hand started to shiver and my voice was rough when I answered. Tank got out of the car and ran to my side. I slid over.

"Babe, where are you?"

She was sobbing so hard she almost couldn't speak.

"I..I'm…a..at the corner Melvis a..a..and Throught."

"Okay, babe, I'm coming."

"H..h..hur.rry!"

"I am already on my wear, amante, I will be there in 10 minutes"

By the way Tank was driving it could also be 5.

"Okay." Her voice was getting weaker."

"Babe, stop. Stay on the phone, okay."

"Hmmm."

Shit.

"Babe, concentrate on my voice! I will be by your side in 5 minutes until then you have to stay concious!"

"I try."

" Then try harder, do it for me, darling!"

"Okay, I will." She was taking deep breaths.

"Very good, babe. I'm proud of you."

"Really?" She sobbed again.

"Of course. I'm always proud of you. And I'm relieved that you got away!"

"Me too." She was sounding weaker again, but we were driving down Melvis road already.

I could see the corner, but I couldn't see her. My heart started to pound.

Tank stopped and both of us jumped out of the car.

"Babe!"

And then I saw her leaning against a wall.

She was only wearing underwear. She was shivering, and looking pale. And she had a few bad bruises.

Then I stood before her and she just collapsed into my arms.

Steph's POV:

I was so cold and hurting everywhere, and then I saw Ranger running towards me and I knew I didn't have to be strong anymore.

The next I knew his strong arms pressed me to his chest and he lifted me into his arms. I lay my head down on his shoulder and breathed in his scent.

So calming, so save, so wonderful.

He carried me into the car and sat down in the back, never letting me go.

Tank closed the door behind uns and drove on. Ranger stroked my hair and kissed me the top of my head. Telling me, that I'm save now and that he wouldn't let me out of his eyes ever again.

My eyes closed knowing that he would take care of everything. Of me. He always did.


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