THAT MIAMI GLOW

Ranger POV

Chapter 7: A

oOo

All the while Edna sat, watching and listening like she was at a tennis match, her head turning from Helen to Steph to Morelli, and back again. Edna now was scowling even more as this bizarre conversation unfolded. She made a few disgruntled sighs at her own daughter, which were accompanied by eye rolls, or a disgusted shake of her head in disappointment with Helen's repeated efforts to malign Stephanie's decisions. Wisely she decided not to add to the mix. Every now and then she cast her eyes to Frank. Her eyebrows raised when she too detected the change in his demeanour.

Edna's eyes had widened in disdain at Morelli's rant, especially with that last statement. There is no cure for stupid. That is just so crude. For a moment, you could cut the air with a knife. Stephanie rubbed her foot along my leg and gave my thigh a squeeze. She watched her mother who didn't even bat an eyelid at the implications of Morelli's offensive remark. We both looked expectantly at the fuckwit, wondering how he was going to move forward from this poorly tactical position.

However, much to our surprise, a response came from an unexpected source. It was loud and direct.

"What the hell does that mean?! You had her first?!" Frank glowered at Morelli.

Frank looked fit to kill. Oh boy.

Here it comes. Stephanie eyed Morelli confidently, one eyebrow slightly raised, her chin up, tilted in a slight angle, a questioning expression across her beautiful face. She was daring him to explain himself. Helen the harpy seemed unaffected, at present. Edna made herself more comfortable waiting with bated breath, laying her knife and fork down and folding her arms. Nothing seemed to faze her. But she was intrigued for more reasons than the obvious.

Let's see you dig yourself out of this one, asshole. I'm virtually shaking my head at his crass stupidity. Did I say stupid? Fuck! Great conversation topic at the dinner table, moron. He's trying to show some bizarre sense of ownership in his jealousy. Ownership? Fuck. Stephanie is not a trophy! Entitlement? Because "he had her first"?! Madre Dios! Because he had her first, he feels entitled to her? This seems so medieval. No. Correction. Neanderthal. Yeah. That fits this stupid motherfucker so much better. Neanderthal fucker. And witch Helen approves of that? Lord help us. Such stupidity and ignorance. They go hand in hand these two.

This idiot doesn't understand women. You don't own a woman. You respect and love her in the manner she deserves. This asswipe does not deserve Stephanie. He has no respect whatsoever. Pfft. He's demonstrated that so many times, especially at the various scenes involving Stephanie and her cars or FTAs, or just inside the TPD. He has no redeeming qualities that I can see, except from that stupid battleaxe of a mother's perspective. She seems so charmed by him. Ugh! I don't get it. Why does she have this obsession, this fixation with Morelli? Doesn't she see how inappropriate he is? He is an arrogant abusive asshole as well. The apple did not fall far from the tree, from what I have heard.

My fingers are itching as I stretch and flex my hands, trying to relax my fists. Stephanie pats my hand knowingly and gives me a silent look. So much ESP in that look. I gave her an imperceptible nod and settled again. I know. I promised I would remain calm. I can be patient with stupidity, but not with those who are proud of it. I breathe, and centre myself from just her touch, giving my beautiful Babe a grateful smile. Now we watch and wait, to see and hear how this scenario is going to unfold.

Frank had pushed his plate away, his eyes fiercely drilling holes in Morelli's head. He placed his cutlery aside gently, deceivingly calm in his demeanour. Helen was confused with his manner since there was still quite some uneaten food on his plate and the look she sent him was very pointed. He briefly lifted his eyes away from Morelli to glare at her, her mouth shutting immediately. Frank's eyes were back to drilling holes in Morelli's head. Waiting for that answer.

A storm had been brewing outside with the rain already pelting heavily against those preciously clean windows. There was an ominous atmosphere, both inside and outside this house. Flashes of lightning lit up the billowing clouds outside, before it all darkened once again. Seconds later the thunder rumbled, coming closer with each flash until it was right above us. Helen shuddered with the change in temperature, especially when the thunder rolled so loudly right overhead. It seems Mother Nature was expressing her contempt at this ridiculous conversation. The air was electric, as we sat, still waiting with bated breath to hear how this dickhead asshole was going to respond to Frank's demanding question.

Suddenly, just as the lightning flashed again outside, a thought struck me. It was ridiculous and insane in its likelihood, but with these two co-conspirators, anything was possible. If I wasn't mistaken, it seems like that shrew Helen and that prick Morelli, were pressing for an intervention. Jesucristo! It's a wonder she hadn't invited Saint Valerie over as well.

Frank's fingers started a slow but firm drumming on the table, his imperious stare direct and unwavering. Morelli's eyes were downcast, obviously thinking how the fuck he was going to worm himself out of this self-inflicted fucked up predicament. He was a coward in thinking he could have a chance of avoiding Frank. He glared at me. I smugly raised an eyebrow. Start digging, stupid jackass. Maybe your own grave, fuckwit.

Oh yeah! This is gonna be good. I felt Stephanie wriggle in anticipation against my thigh. While above the table we maintained our blank composed faces, and passive body language, beneath the table we were more responsive, and reactive, to this unbelievable debacle, and the utter bullshit from these two meddlesome morons. When Stephanie grinned, it was only by the crinkles in her eyes as they sparkled their mischief and delight, that I knew. Likewise, she felt my tension and calmed me each time.

This was a momentous occasion. Frank had finally spoken. Finally, he seems to be a man, not another place setting stuffing his mouth with food. I will wait a while and reserve judgment there. Morelli was decidedly uncomfortable under Frank's imperious stare. Sucks to be you, fucker.

I noticed a degree of satisfaction coming from Edna, when Morelli was firmly put in the spotlight for making such a stupid, crass statement. However, Helen the she-devil was the opposite to her mother, smugly preening, poised to hear Morelli state his case. Madre Dios! How this woman can be my Babe's mother was beyond me.

Frank's body language exuded rolling waves of ferocity which I had not expected to see from him, least of all this evening, given his earlier lack of physical presence. The Beast within him has finally been awakened.

Morelli was sweating. That conspicuous vein on his forehead was throbbing rapidly. Oh yeah, fucker. The stupid fuckwit has no idea what can of worms he has just opened up by declaring he had her first. Fucking asshole. It's a veritable Pandora's Box might be closer.

Your move, you stupid arrogant prick. Not so cocky now.

oOo

TBC

Yeah, yeah. I know. Another bad cliffie! Hahaha. Don't you just love it?

A smackdown is pending. Dun, dun, DUHHNN!

I am loving all the reviews. Thank you so much.

We are now halfway. Six more chapters to go.