Misunderstandings and Heartbreak

Chapter 3 - Broken

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. I'm glad you guys are liking the story. I promise it will be a HEA. Tissue warnings still apply. :)

I'd planned to post this late Friday or early Saturday but we had a family emergency. My 89 year old Aunt and her daughter were in a really bad car wreck. My dad is my Aunts closest blood relative besides her daughter who is currently unable to be of any help. There is some debate about who the established next of kin would be for my cousin since my Aunt also isn't really able to make decisions right now. It's been a nightmare. So please forgive me for being a little late.

The song Broken by Lifehouse goes really well with this chapter.


Steph's POV

I looked down at Joe in horror. No, I thought he understood. The restaurant was silent. "I'm sorry, Joe. I can't say …" The words were stuck. I couldn't get them out. I took a deep breath and finally got out the word that would crush Joe. "...yes."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and as I turned, I saw Ranger storming out of the building. I tried to go after him, but Joe grabbed my arm.

"Steph, you can say yes. You're just in shock, sweetheart. Let's sit down and talk about this." He pulled me over to the closest booth.

"Joe, I can't do this right now. Ranger… He misunderstood. I've got to go."

I jerked away from his grasp and ran outside. I'd just reached the parking lot when I heard glass shatter. I gasped as I walked up behind Ranger. Blood was dripping down his fingers from where he'd shattered the window of the Turbo. I reached out to touch him, and he pulled back like the slightest touch of my fingers set his skin on fire.

"Ranger, please?"

He walked to the door of the Turbo and opened it.

No! I just got him back. I couldn't stand to lose him again. "Please… Just let me explain." Tears were falling down my face. How could everything have gone so wrong so suddenly? I opened my mouth to tell him what he hadn't heard, but before I could, he interrupted me.

"It's pretty self-explanatory Stephanie." Without giving me a chance, he climbed into the car, slammed the door as he started the engine, and then the tires barked as he tore out of the parking lot.

My knees gave out, and I heard Joe yell just as my world faded to black.

Sometime later…

I woke up in my bed in my apartment. "Ranger?" I moaned. He was back and hurting because of a huge misunderstanding. I needed to find him.

"Is that why you said no? You were still holding out hope that he was going to show up and sweep you off your feet? He's gone, Steph. He never wanted you!" Joe yelled as he walked into my bedroom.

"No, Joe. You don't understand. It's a misunderstanding. He must have… must have thought I said yes. He stormed out of the Pino's... He just didn't understand."

"Stephanie, he left because he doesn't want you. Can't you see you were just another notch on his belt? When are you ever going to learn?"

I stood up from the bed and grabbed my purse.

"Just where do you think you're going, Steph? You hit your head when you fell." He grabbed my arms, trying to keep me from leaving.

"I'm going to go find Ranger. I've got to explain to him that we aren't engaged. That I was saying no to your proposal and he misunderstood. I love him, Joe. It's always been Ranger."

"Stephanie, if you walk away now, we're through. I can't do this anymore." Joe looked at me with pleading eyes. "Pick me, Steph. Pick us and the life we could have together."

"Joe, I'm so sorry. I thought you understood that we were just friends."

I ran out of my apartment, slamming the door behind me. I had to get to him before any more damage could be done.

I pulled up to the gate, aimed my fob at the gate, and breathed a sigh of relief. He was here—his cars were in the underground garage.

I parked next to the Cayenne and walked to the elevator, hitting the button to call the car down.

I gave a finger wave to the camera as I made my way up to seven. Stepping off the elevator, I immediately realized that something was wrong. The door was ajar. I tried to push the door open but meet resistance.

Panic began to set in as I focused on the room before me. The couch was overturned. Lamps were shattered into a million pieces, littering the floor. The TV dangled off the wall, precariously held up by its cord. It looked like a tornado had hit the room. "Ranger," I whispered as a feeling of dread began to settle in my stomach. Bending down to the floor, I picked up the picture frame that used to sit by the entrance and walked slowly into the bedroom.

The sheets were ripped from the bed, down feathers spilling out of pillows torn to shreds. As I walked into the closet, I saw clothes dangling from hooks and the door to the safe sitting open. Lying inside was an envelope and a ring box. Bile began to rise in my throat as I gingerly reached out to pick up the envelope.

The words on the page cut me to the core, and I fell to my knees.

I'd done this... I'd hurt him...

Don't worry about me creating difficulties for you any longer. My presence will no longer burden your heart. I'm leaving Trenton.

Tears began to cascade down my cheeks as each one slashed down my cheeks.

What had I done?

I spent several minutes—or maybe it was hours—on the floor, trying to formulate a plan. Tank would be my first stop. If anyone knew how to get in touch with Ranger, it would be him.

I gathered the ring, picture, and letter, clutching them to my chest as I made my way quickly to the elevators. Once inside, I pressed the number five to take me to the control room. The car began a slow descent but continued moving all the way to the garage.

I made a pleading motion to the camera, but the car didn't stop. Tank might have orders to freeze me out, but damned if I'd let him get away with it. I sat inside the elevator and refused to move.

After an hour, the side door opened and a Merry Man I'd never seen before stepped out into the garage, carrying a medium-sized duffle. He approached with a determined look in his eye. "Ms. Plum, I've been sent here to request that you quietly leave the premises and turn in your key fob. All your personal items have been removed from the penthouse apartment and are inside this bag. You have fifteen minutes to comply."

My mouth fell open in shock. I'd never thought I'd live to see the day that Ranger ordered me to turn in my key fob. "I don't know who you are, but tell your boss if he wants his damned key fob, to be a fucking man and come and get it his damn self."

"Mr. Manoso no longer resides at this property."

The words barely registered.

"I need to see Tank. Please?" I begged, my eyes pooling with tears again.

"I'm sorry, miss. You'll have to call and make an appointment to meet with anyone."

I couldn't believe my ears. Everyone had turned their backs on me. Ranger and all of RangeMan. I placed the fob in his hand, grabbed the bag, and quickly made my way to my car.

As I made it to the gate, I noticed the Merry Man used my old fob to open the gate. Pulling away, I swore I could feel my heart break just a little bit more.

TBC...


A/N: Please review and let me know what you think. See you Wednesday. :)