Chapter 31

SPOV

I'd felt so excited when Ranger had said that I could be at the meeting with Enzo. Now I wasn't too sure. Hector had told me how Ranger was leading Enzo to him, while Les and Bobby kept him under surveillance and that it was close to where Hector and I were now hiding. Ranger hadn't needed to tell me that I had to keep myself safe, I understood how much it had cost him to allow me to be here.

It was Hector who was making me a nervous wreck. I was pretty sure that he had considered cuffing me to him just to make sure that I was close to him and as for the bullet proof vest? What could I say, okay it was a deep maroon color and it looked pretty like an ordinary sleeveless T-shirt, but it was hot and sweaty and not very comfortable.

We were just inside a recess of a very elaborate mausoleum. In fact, the whole cemetery was full of them, well yeah there were ordinary gravestones as well. Enzo was waiting in front of the mausoleum of someone called Giuseppe Baj. He looked a little nervous as he stood looking around and to me he was every inch the cop that I'd met. His stance, while seemed relaxed wasn't, he looked ready for fight or flight bouncing on his toes. Like Joe, he wore jeans but with a shirt underneath a linen jacket. I was sure that he'd have a gun in the back of his jeans and probably one at his ankle.

Everything had gone to plan with no reports of anyone following Enzo.

I knew the minute that he saw Ranger and watched as Ranger appeared from the opposite direction to where we were. As always I couldn't take my eyes off Ranger. The way he carried himself in the black trousers and black shirt, took my breath away. He had the presence of a predator, dark and mysterious, and he was mine.

"Detective Perreti. What is it that you think is so important that you wanted to talk to me?"

Enzo took another quick look around him before he stepped closer to Ranger.

"Is Stefania safe?"

I was confused as to why Enzo would be so keen to know that. Did he actually know who was responsible for me disappearing? Ranger only nodded his head in response obviously wanting Enzo to continue talking. Maybe Ranger always staying silent was a good ploy because Enzo was soon talking again.

"I don't know how she's attracted attention to herself but knowing that she was found with Jackson then she must have done"

Was I surprised that Enzo knew Jackson, yeah I was, because I had no idea how he could have done.

"Jackson was working undercover as part of a task force with Interpol. They were trying to track down an international jewel thief who had done heists in Europe and America. Jackson's job was to try and track any inconsistencies in sellers on the dark web, which brought him to Milan. I was asked to be his contact"

Wow, that was a scenario that scrambled my brains. So why had Jackson been with Bria? Did he suspect Allegro and thought that Bria was his way to get closer to Scintillante?

"He became suspicious of Dario Frusco. When Dario threw his mistress out, Jackson got close to her, and she told him that Dario was into something illegal. Maybe I was too quick to defend Dario, hell, I've known him since we were kids. The last information that I received from Jackson was that he'd figured it out and had a contact that he would get the information to"

"A contact? Who?"

So, Jackson hadn't trusted Enzo. Then again why should he if Enzo was so keen to defend Dario? I bet Enzo was feeling extremely guilty now seeing as Dario had been arrested for something else.

"I don't know. He disappeared and never got back in touch. He must have figured out who was involved with the jewel heists otherwise he wouldn't be in the state that he is"

At least Enzo was using the current tense and Jackson must still be alive.

"I know who Stefania is, Stephanie Plum a bounty hunter from Trenton, so made a point of finding out more about her"

It seemed that everyone had discovered who I was, yet no one had the manners to talk to me. I was wondering what stories he would have read up on when Enzo decided to continue talking.

"I made a call to the Trenton PD and spoke to a detective there. He was surprised that his fiancé was here in Milan and described you as a thug and a mercenary. He confirmed that Stefania had the habit of finding herself in the middle of trouble and asked that I got her onto a flight back home"

Even as I tensed at what he'd said I felt Hector holding me tightly, maybe he was right to do that because I was all for giving Enzo a piece of my mind. How dare he contact Trenton PD and to make it worse it sounded as though it had been Joe who he'd spoken to. No way was I going back to Trenton and no way was I particularly happy that Joe had said that I was his fiancé.

Ranger's whole posture changed at what Enzo had said, he was pissed, but I wasn't sure what was pissing him off the most. Enzo must have sensed Ranger's annoyance because he took a step back from him.

"Hey, I don't want to do that. I need to talk to her"

I bet he did. I was also wondering if he knew just how many cases Joe had solved because of me. Were all detectives the same, the need to find information any way they could? I wondered if Enzo was also pissed if Interpol had blanked him out of the case and he was another wannabe who wanted to move into the ranks of another agency. I was also aware that he hadn't said anything to make me feel like trusting him, he could still be working with Allegro, Tomas and that American.

"We need to get Jackson home and out of danger"

I whispered to Hector. I think I heard a response but was too focused on what was going to be said next. I knew that Ranger wouldn't give me up to Enzo and he certainly wouldn't send me home to Trenton, mind you, I was pretty sure he was thinking of some safe house where he could hide me. I wasn't going to let that happen.

"I'll talk to Steph but I'm pretty sure that she'll refuse to see you"

I was so pleased when Ranger said that, but I could see from Enzo's facial expression that he wasn't happy with the answer.

"Didn't think you'd give her up so easily"

"We've got police officers approaching"

Came through the earbud from Les. What the hell was Enzo thinking, that he could arrest Ranger? What did he think that he could charge him with? I felt Hector pulling me further back into the mausoleum probably so that the police wouldn't see us, but it also meant that I had no idea what was happening outside other than what was coming through the earbud. The panic inside of me was building to the point where I just knew that something bad was going to happen. To me there seemed to be the sound of rustling so I was hoping that Ranger was getting out of there. The sound of a gunshot had me jumping and Hector's hold on me tightening. My immediate thought was that someone had shot Ranger, but try as I might Hector wouldn't release me.

"Stefania if you want to see your man again then you'll have to come with me"

Enzo's voice was loud and clear as though he was right next to the mic. I felt Hector move behind me and turning I saw him answering his phone. His expression went from annoyed to totally pissed off as he listened. Once his phone was away, he pulled the mic and earbud out and turned them off, so I did the same. Maybe I'd been right, and Enzo had found Ranger's comms units so Les and Bobby would have gone radio silent.

"Come"

I wasn't sure what to expect as Hector moved his arm around me and started to guide me from our hiding place. I never got the chance to look back to where Ranger had been stood as Hector wove us between the various stone statues but recognized as we came out of the cemetery where the Merc was parked. Once sat inside there was no way I could wait any longer to know what had happened to Ranger.

"Hector, you have to tell me"

I asked as I looked at him. I knew it must have been bad when he started the engine and moved the car out into traffic.

"Please Hector"

I was close to tears as I pleaded with him because his silence was unnerving me.

"Santos gave the warning of police officers being in the cemetery, Brown had eyes on Ranger and the cop. The cop used a taser, Ranger never saw it coming, and then the officers were hauling him away. Santos is following"

I couldn't stop the tears running down my face. What the hell was Enzo thinking? Would he hurt Ranger just to get to me? What kind of a cop was he if he had resorted to kidnapping him? Desperate, that was what he was, desperate to talk to me. If that was what it would take to get Ranger free, then that was what I had to do. It was time to pull up my big girl panties and start to repay Ranger for of the times when he'd put his life on the line for me.

"I'll meet with that bastard"

I must have said that out loud because Hector quickly looked at me before focusing back onto the road. I had no idea where we were going as Hector wove his way through the traffic.

"Are we following Les?"

I asked hopefully. I saw a brief smile cross Hector's face and knew that I was right but looking at the buildings that we were passing I had no idea where we were. I suppose Enzo could have safe houses anywhere in the city or out of it. That was when I noticed that Hector had a phone open in his hand as he was trying to steer the car. I reached over and took it from him, seeing the map with a blue circle on it.

"Turn right at the next roundabout"

I instructed as I watched the map. As I gave Hector directions, I could see that we were leaving the city and entering an area that on the map was called Rozzano. We were about 9 kilometers south of Milan when I noticed that the blue circle had stopped moving.

"Turn left, Les is just down that road"

As we turned I was looking for Les and maybe a building where he'd followed Ranger to but I couldn't see anything but trees and fields. As Hector pulled off the road and stopped that was when I saw a motorbike with Les sat astride it. He came over to the car and talked to Hector through the open window.

"There's a small farm house just beyond the trees. Perreti has officers with Ranger"

I heard Hector laugh and watched as he bumped fists with Les not understanding what the hell was going on.

"Hector. Are we going to plan a way to get Ranger out?"

Les was back sat on the bike as though waiting for something to happen.

"Just wait"

Wait, wait for what? Okay I could wait, I mean neither Hector or Les seemed impatient. It was as though they knew what was going to happen. Me, I had no idea, but I sat and waited, then I began to tap my foot. That had Hector placing his hand on my thigh so I went with pulling my hat off and teasing my hands through my hair. That done I was unconsciously strumming my fingers on the side of the seat. I hated just sitting there doing nothing. The day was beginning to fade and clouds were drifting across the sky, making it seem dark outside, and soon the darkness began to encroach on where we were.

That was when I saw the faint flash of a light through the trees, beyond where Les was sat. I was sure that I'd seen something but now I was back to peering through the darkness.

"Time to go. Estefania, stay behind me"

As I walked around the car Hector brought out a sweatshirt for me to wear which I pulled over my head as I followed him. Les must have been ahead of us but he just seemed to have disappeared into the trees. A few minutes later as we came to the edge of the trees I could see the outline of a building, with a faint glow of light coming from one of the windows. I couldn't believe that we were walking between vines, with bunches of grapes hanging down. It certainly gave us good cover as we silently moved toward the house. As we got closer I could see two cars at the front which to me meant there were still guards here but to be honest all I wanted to do was to find Ranger.

"Beautiful. Are you up for a distraction?"

I squatted down next to Les eager to hear what he wanted me to do, so pleased that I'd be involved in getting to Ranger.

Fifteen minutes later my hair was loose around my shoulders, I had lip gloss on and lost the sweatshirt. Yeah, it did feel cool, but I needed that to settle my nerves as I walked up the front door. I wasn't sure what to expect as I turned the handle of the door and slowly pushed it open. Two police officers were suddenly standing up and aiming guns at me which had me holding my hands up in the air, but I was looking beyond them and into the room. The only light came from a paraffin lamp sat on a table to one side of the room, a room that held old fashioned wooden furniture and a couple of worn looking chairs.

"Enzo?"

I said as I saw him move from the darkened corner. I saw that he couldn't understand how I was here but giving him an explanation could wait for now.

"Stefania, how are you here?"

I looked back and forth between the two armed men before looking back at Enzo. Whatever he said had them lowering their guns but they stayed rooted to the spot just watching me, or maybe they were keen to keep an eye on my cleavage.

"Can we talk, in private?"

I kept my attention on Enzo pleased when he said something to them and the two men walked out of the door and closed it behind them. I knew that Les and Hector were outside and would deal with them. My job was to try and find out what Enzo was up to.

"Enzo, I don't know what to do"

Playing the damsel in distress seemed to work as I forced tears from my eyes and as Enzo began to walk toward me, I knew that he was taking the bait.

"Are you hurt?"

I shook my head because I didn't want to give Enzo an excuse to think that he could hurt Ranger. I had no idea where Ranger was and as long as Enzo was with me then I could work with that.

"People are after me and I don't know why"

I had to quell every nerve in my body as he came toward me and held me against him. He was a mark, this was an act so don't blow your cover was what I was telling myself.

"You're safe here now"

"Why did you need to talk to me?"

Damn, was I being too pushy for answers?

"How do you know that?"

Thank goodness my face was hidden against his chest because I knew I was never any good at lying. I was counting on him believing what he'd heard from Joe, that Ranger was a thug so wasn't someone that I would want to be with.

"He made me stay out of sight at the cemetery, so I heard what you said. Thank you for helping me get away from him"

"I wanted to ask you what you knew"

I moved back away from Enzo and stared at him, blinking my eyes as though trying to stop from crying.

"Are you one of them?"

"No, of course not. I want to catch them. Who are they Stefania, who is after you?"

He seemed sincere as he stepped back toward me, but I needed to be sure.

"Don't you know?"

"No. I screwed up. I knew Dario wasn't involved with the heists or selling the jewelry, but I never considered that he was into something much worse. My contact refused to include me in what he found out. My career with Interpol is on the line and the only way to redeem myself is to solve the case"

Maybe I'd been right with my initial thoughts. Why were cops all the same always wanting to be the one to close a case and get their name up in lights?

"Why research me and talk to a Trenton detective?"

I heard him sigh as though he really didn't want to tell me, well guess what, I wanted the truth.

"The research, well it told me how good you were at solving problems, that not only did you get your man, but you also helped with closing some high profile cases. I wanted to check that out"

I hadn't realized that a search on me would reveal that, I'd expected my history to be full of all the disasters and near misses that I'd been involved with.

"What did Morelli say?"

"That you had an uncanny way of falling into trouble and that you always attracted trouble. He said that he was your fiancé, is that true?"

"No"

Maybe I said that with some anger because it pissed me off that Joe would say that. I'd finished with him and no matter what he thought there was no way I would ever go back to him. Not when I had the man of my dreams and the one who I was so in love with.

"I don't want to go back to Trenton"

That gave him pause for thought, good maybe now he'd get to the point of why he wanted to see me.

"You can stay here and help me to solve this case then"

I felt his head move as he stepped into me and as he kissed me on the head. He reminded me so much of Joe that he repulsed me. All he wanted was for me to provide him with information plus he had probably caused mayhem back home by talking to Joe. Everyone would know where I was now, including my mother. I was so annoyed that I had no regret lifting my knee quickly and took great pleasure seeing Enzo double over in pain.

"Why?"

He asked as I pulled my arm back and punched him on his nose.

"Nobody uses me, and nobody hurts Carlos"

I screamed at him as I used my foot to kick him while I moved to the back of the room. Not knowing who would be through the door that I saw I very slowly opened it not seeing anything through the darkness. I almost screamed when a hand took hold of mine and pulled me through, almost, because I knew by the feel of the body behind me who it was.

"Babe, you took a hell of a risk coming in here"

I turned to feel Ranger's arm come around me, instantly relaxing into his warmth.

"Let's get out of here"

As Ranger opened the door further, I could see two crumpled bodies lying on the floor and was pretty sure that Ranger was responsible.

"You would have got out, wouldn't you?"

Feeling a little foolish for what I'd just done.

"Yes, but because of you we now know that Enzo isn't involved and has no idea who he is after. That's because of you Babe, proud of you"

As we crossed the room the sound of the door opening had me freezing and suddenly Ranger was in front of me pointing a gun at the door. As he pulled me down low, I recognized the voice and started to smile.

"Beautiful?"

I stood up and watched as Les and Hector came in through the door and as they toed Enzo who was still unconscious on the floor.

"What do you want doing with them Ranger?"

"Tie them up, smash their phones and comms systems, and disable their cars"

That sounded good to me so as Les and Hector did that, I walked outside to find Bobby stood by the door. As soon as Bobby saw Ranger, he passed him a T-shirt and it was only then that I noticed the red marks on his chest. I was back to being annoyed again and was about to step back through the door and give Enzo some bruises to remember me for when Ranger took my arm and turned me.

"Babe, it's only bruising"

My hand went to his cheek as though to soothe the bruise that was forming, tears coming to my eyes. He was hurt and it was all my fault yet again. It was because of me that I'd dragged him into trouble and got him involved.

"Hey. This is not your fault so don't ever think that you are responsible, okay?"

I nodded my head, but that feeling didn't go away.

I wasn't sure what had happened to the bike that Les had driven here in because he was the one who ended up driving the Merc back toward Milan. Bobby and Hector were taking another route back and would be meeting us back at the house so maybe one of them would be driving it. Feeling warm and tired I was soon curled up across the back seat blanking out the conversation from the front between Ranger and Santos. They were speaking in Spanish so I wouldn't have understood what they were talking about anyway.

The car stopping had me coming awake so stretching first I was ready to get out of the car when my door opened, and Ranger took my hand. In one way it felt good to be in the familiar surroundings of the house but at the same time I was worried that maybe we'd be found.

"Is it still safe here?"

I asked as we entered through the door. That had Ranger stopping and looking at me, obviously suddenly concerned with why I was asking that.

"What's your spidey sense saying?"

I didn't know what to say to him asking me that. Did Ranger really believe in what they were telling me and actually give credence to that early warning system that I seemed to have? I thought through what he'd said and tried to analyze what I was actually sensing trying to figure out if it was nerves that were driving me or something stronger.

"Babe?"

"We're safe for now but I just have a feeling that trouble is on the way"

By now we were walking through to the office, to where Hector had set up his equipment once again. I was surprised to see Hector already sat at the table working on one of the laptops.

"A message came through from Tank. He's been in touch with the FBI in New York about Jackson and thinks that they'll try to medivac him back home. Also, Rangeman has had visits from Morelli demanding to know what is going on with Stephanie"

I was pleased to know that Jackson was being looked after by his own people and at least he would be back home with his family. I probably sighed at hearing about Joe. What was with him that he thought that he could constantly interfere in my life especially when I had told him that we were finished?

"Don't worry about Morelli Estefania"

By the slight smile on his face, I was pretty sure that Hector knew more than he was saying but for now all I could do was to push Joe out of my head. He just wasn't worth the worry, and I'd face him when I got back home. We had more serious things to think about at the moment.

"Anything on that RFID?"

I'd almost forgotten about that and now that Ranger was asking about it, I was back to thinking what it contained and who the hell had injected it into me. I was almost sure that it had been the person who had broken into Allegro's apartment but couldn't work out why or who would have done it.

"Still working. I did come across some interesting items that were being bid for"

That had me moving to behind Hector to look over his shoulder, with Ranger stood next to me. I was looking at a huge blue diamond set into the same mounting as the necklace with the swans surrounding it.

"It's a similar sized diamond that was in the necklace that you wore"

I was frowning because as far I knew Allegro only had one off items from the range containing real stones that were sold.

"So she buys and sells stones legitimately as part of the current range to cover if anyone was to look at her accounts"

"It would make sense Estefania. Not all of the stones in her range would be legal but no one would know which they were"

Which meant that if anyone were to query her finances there would only be an account of one item that she'd sold, when in fact she could have sold dozens. As I watched Hector moved to the next page where a set of earrings were displayed.

"She has brooches, bracelets, tie pins and cufflinks along with some expensive looking belt buckles and all are being bid for"

So now we knew how she was selling the stolen gems which left us with where they came from. I had a feeling that the American had something to do with that. If Scintillante used a different colored theme then she must have been raking in millions since starting. If I remembered correctly the company managed to really make their money four years ago. So, what had happened four or five years ago for that opportunity to have arisen, that was where I would be focusing any future research.

"Hector, are we covered for intruders"

I looked to Ranger as he asked that remembering the concerns that I'd voiced.

"Si. Motion sensors around the perimeter and cameras, alarms at all doors. Do you think someone will come here?"

Ranger didn't answer so I suppose that Hector must have interpreted something from that to confirm. I was kinda glad that Hector wasn't asking what Ranger knew to suspect trouble because I wasn't too sure how seriously any of the Merry Men took my spidey sense.

I set up some searches to run because I was so ready for a shower and bed. Ranger had already gone up to the bedroom with Bobby so that Bobby could check over any injuries that Ranger had incurred when he was taken. I'd given them some privacy but was keen to know Bobby's prognosis because I was sure that Ranger would play down any injury. I decided to sit on the stairs that went up to the bedroom to wait for Bobby and hadn't been there long before he came out of the bedroom. I was immediately on my feet blocking Bobby from descending, something that didn't go unnoticed by him.

"How is he?"

"Ask him yourself Bomber"

That wasn't what I wanted to do, and that Bobby hadn't said that he was just fine had me worried.

"You always tell him about any of my injuries, so I want the same courtesy. Please Bobby"

I reached out and placed my hand on his arm as I looked up at him, so pleased when he sighed and sat down on the top step. At least now he was at the same level as me when he started to explain what was wrong with Ranger.

"He has a couple of burn marks on his chest where the taser attached to him, ribs 6 and 7 on his left side are bruised and maybe his kidney took a punch. Some bruising on his cheek and jaw but nothing broken, tender area at the base of his skull where they knocked him out. That's it, Bomber"

That was it? How could he say that when Ranger had all of those injuries? I sank down onto my knees on one of the steps below Bobby, that feeling of guilt overcoming me again.

"Bomber, he's okay. He's had a lot worse than that and managed just fine. He just needs to avoid any strenuous activity for a few weeks"

I stood up and moved to the side as Bobby passed me on the stairs before I opened the door into the bedroom. I could hear the shower running but wasn't going to disturb Ranger so sat on the edge of the bed to wait for him to finish. When Ranger came out, I was overwhelmed by the sight of him and no it wasn't his smooth mocha latte skin or the ripple of muscles underneath. It was the black and blue bruising that marred that perfect skin. He must have seen how upset I was because he was soon squatted down in front of me.

"Babe, it looks worse than it is"

Yeah, right. From what Bobby had said I was pretty sure that every part of his chest would be hurting, and it didn't go unnoticed by me the painkillers by the side of the bed.

"Joe and my mother were right. Anyone around me gets hurt"

I felt hands on the sides of my face and was forced to look at Ranger. I couldn't work out what he was thinking, no he didn't have his blank face in place, but it wasn't exactly that loving face that I'd come to know. In fact, he was looking slightly annoyed, not a look that I was used to getting.

"Stop thinking like that Steph. I made the decision to meet Perreti, so what happened is on me"

My heart started going ten to the dozen at hearing the firmness in his voice then add to that the fact that he'd called me by my name. He was mad at me.

"As for your mother, Babe, she can never see beyond the gossip or appreciate how good you are at your job. Of course you found trouble, because of who you were looking for. And Morelli, he hated that you could always work out what was going on, unless of course it helped him to solve a case and made him look good. It isn't because of you that anyone gets hurt"

As he finished his sentence, he closed his eyes and held his forehead against mine.

"What they think doesn't matter. I think that you are beautiful, sexy, intuitive, loving and caring and mine"

His voice was whisper soft yet so intense as he said that. Was that what he really thought of me or was he just trying to cheer me up?

"Every one of my men would back you up because they believe in you Babe. I'll always believe in you because I love you"

His words nearly brought tears to my eyes and for the first time in my life I felt as though someone actually believed in me. I mean I know Ranger had always said that he was proud of me and it did make me feel proud of myself but I suppose it never quite negated how my mother and Joe had treated me. If my mother and Joe had their way, I'd be in a loveless marriage a job that I hated, or heaven forbid tied to a house with kids under my feet. It wasn't that I hated the idea of having kids and maybe I was selfish because I'd always seen kids as something that would stop me from being who I was, who I wanted to be.

"Deep thoughts Babe"

I knew that I'd been quiet mulling thoughts through my head, but it left me with a very big question that I didn't have an answer for. Where was my destiny?

"Thank you for believing me and trusting in me"

Was all that I was capable of saying as I tilted my head and gently kissed Ranger on his lips, teasing with my tongue until he allowed me entry where I could taste and feel the passion deepening. It was me that reluctantly pulled away before I went too far, very aware of Ranger's injuries.

"Sorry, I don't want to hurt you"

"That's normally my line Babe. It's late, go get a shower"

I needed to remove myself from in front of him, even with the bruises he was so handsome and the attraction to him was intense. When I emerged from the shower Ranger was already in bed so I carefully pulled back the sheets and got in next to him wondering how to find a position that wouldn't have me hurting his chest. In the end Ranger turned me so my back was to his front so that was how we fell asleep, his arm around my waist, spooning me.