Chapter 1

I had the radio blasting in my current POS Ford Taurus. I sang along to the song, aptly suiting my current mood. "I'm over your lies and I'm over your games. I'm over you asking me when you know I'm not okay. You call me at night and I pick up the phone. And though you be tellin' me I know you're not alone. Oh, and that's why your eyes, I'm over it. Your smile, I'm over it. Realized, I'm over it, I'm over it, I'm over it. Wanting you to be wanting me. No, that ain't no way to be. How I feel, read my lips, because I'm so over. Movin' on and it's my time. You never were a friend of mine. Hurt at first, a little bit, but now I'm so over. I'm so over it. I'm over your hands and I'm over your mouth. Trying to drag me down and fill me with self doubt. Oh, and that's why your world, I'm over it. So sure, I'm over it. I'm not your girl, I'm over it. I'm over it. I'm over. Don't call, don't come by, ain't no use. Don't ask me why, you'll never change. There'll be no more crying in the rain. No, oh oh. I'm over it."

My name is Stephanie Plum, and I'm 33 years old. I have brown curly hair and blue eyes. Over the last few years, I've been in and out of relationships with two men, Joseph Morelli and Ranger. I should have realized nothing ever goes as planned.

Why is this song appropriate for my current mood? One hour ago, I caught Terry Gilman at my so-called current on-again boyfriend's house. As quiet as I could conceivably be, I entered the house through the back door. I noticed Terry's car was parked out front when I arrived. There was a sudden need to validate my suspicion of him cheating on me. Hiding in the dark, I watched as Joe approach Terry when she removed her robe, exposing her barely-there see-through negligee. The icing on the cake was watching my boyfriend perfervidly kiss her as he fondled her breasts. She asked, "Aren't you worried about Stephanie?"

He quickly replied, "We've been doing this for years. If Cupcake hasn't figured it out yet, she never will." I was beyond shocked. Frozen in my spot, I stood in the kitchen as he proceeded to remove her neglige while she removed his shirt and pants. It didn't go without noticing he was commando, something he has never done before now or at least that's what Joe led me to believe. He gently lifted her to lay her on top of the pool table. After she placed a condom on him, she guided him into her as I hid in the shadows, watching in horror. I was unable to stop watching the train wreck happening in front of me. As they neared their climax, I was finally able to move from my current position. Using my cellphone, I opened the camera app to take several photos of their actions before quietly sneaking out the back door.

Several years ago, I caught Dickie in a similar position. We were only married for a few short weeks before intercepting him having sex with Joyce Barnhardt on my dining room table. To this day, our divorce gets mentioned in the Burg. No other divorce has been as public or as loud as our divorce.

Catching Joe cheating on me didn't incite the same response as Dickie's infidelity. In a way, Joe and I weren't right for each other. We'd never have a lasting relationship. His confession to cheating merely cemented my resolve. Our relationship was good on paper but not good in any other way. We haven't been spending too much time together lately. He claimed he was working tonight on a big case. After what I witnessed, while he was supposedly working, I had significant doubts he was working all those nights during the past few months. I was already planning to terminate our relationship. This affair was entirely the last straw. Stick a fork in me because I am done, with a capital D. Stephanie Plum will not shed a single tear for the demise of this toxic relationship with Joseph Morelli.

Needing to get into my car, I pulled my phone from my pocket to place a call. Without a doubt, I knew he would unquestionably help me. "Yo," he answered after the first ring.

"Can you pick me up?" I quickly asked.

"Where's your car?"

I sighed before answering, "At the 7-Eleven. The automatic door locks are busted, and I had to stop to fill my washer fluid. When I closed the door, the locks engaged. Something weird has been happening with the lock electronics. My car is running and locked with my purse tucked under the seat."

"Doesn't Morelli have your spare set?" he asked.

"Morelli," I said, hatred lacing my voice, "Is busy screwing Mob Barbie."

"Babe," he sighed before hanging up. I watched his Porsche 911 pull to the curb next to me. He leaned over, opening my door. I quickly jumped in and fastened the seatbelt.

"Thank you, Ranger." My Batman wisely remained silent as he drove me to my car. I noticed Hector standing beside my car with the door slightly ajar.

I kissed Hector's tattoo. "Gracias, mi Hermano." He pulled me into a tight hug before gently kissing me on the lips. I waved as Ranger honked once then left, noticing the angry look he shot at Hector.

Turning on my radio, I heard the song, which entirely described my mood. Yes, I'm absolutely 'Over it' Morelli. Tonight, I shed absolutely no tears for the end of our dramatic relationship. Ranger came through for me tonight as I knew he would.

Last year, Ranger and I shared a few wonderful sex-filled nights together. Our first time was after a deal we made. He agreed to help me with my skip, DeChooch if I spent one night with him. It was fortunate he waited for an off-again period in my relationship with Morelli to collect his debt. Our subsequent encounter was the time Morelli's grandma, Bella, cursed me with vordo. Morelli couldn't keep up with my sexual demands, so we broke up so I could turn to Ranger. Months later, Ranger and I spent a wonderful two weeks pretending to be married in Hawaii. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. He refused to change his opinion on relationships, and I didn't want to be friends with benefits. Don't get me wrong, but Ranger is absolute magic in the bedroom. I'm secretly, irrevocably in love with him. Despite how much Ranger loves me, he is unable or unwilling to commit to being more than bed buddies.

Ranger always said he doesn't do relationships. His love doesn't come with a ring, but a condom will come in handy. After every sexual encounter we shared, it felt as though a part of my soul got chipped away. A piece of my heart will forever belong to Ricardo Carlos Manoso. For these two reasons, I decided I should stop hoping for something he will never allow. I need a partner who would be open, honest and wouldn't attempt to change me or ask me to change.

He would continue to steal kisses, leaving me wanting more. While listening to the song, I realized I deserved more than a quasi-relationship with Ranger. I need time to get over him, to fall out of love with him. A ring and children were never on my radar, but neither was being a friend with benefits. I'm not a whore, and I refuse to allow him to treat me as one. I guess this song is sort of appropriate for him too. 'Wanting him to be wanting me' part in particular. I'm still hurt he rejected me, rejected what we could have been. It's easier to handle since he has always been upfront and honest about our relationship.

It's time I stopped being the entertainment, as Ranger often called me. Stephanie Michelle Plum is not a fool. I need to train and pull up my big girl panties to take control of my life. Enough is enough, and I deserve better than these quasi-relationships I constantly find myself immersed within. I must check myself out of the denial land hotel. "Reality, here I come," I shouted just as my phone started ringing.

I briefly checked caller ID before answering the call; since I did not want to have that unpleasant conversation with Joe. "Hey, Big D. What's going on?"

Laughing, he replied, "It's been a long time, Sunshine."

"What do you need, Diesel?" I impatiently asked.

"I need your help," he started. Diesel has sandy blond hair, brown eyes, an amazingly sexy body and adorable dimples when he smiles. He is absolutely gorgeous and very sexy. We flirted many times and kissed a few times. His kisses always left my feet smoking and bra missing. "You need to come with me tonight. I'm waiting for you in your apartment. Your bags are already loaded."

I was utterly speechless. It was immensely presumptuous of Diesel to think I would drop everything to help him. "But... but...," I stammered.

"Steph, this is important. Do you trust me?"

"You know I do. I'm just parking my car," I said as I noticed my bedroom curtain fall back into place. Diesel was waiting for me in the doorway. He quickly pulled me into my apartment and dragged me to grab Rex.

"Mary Alice said she'd hamster sit for you." I attempted to raise an eyebrow, raising both instead. "I visited her first. We need to drop off Rex and leave right away," he urgently explained.

"Diesel, you're scaring me. What's going on?" I demanded.

"Not here. Is there somewhere safe to store your car and phone?" he asked.

"Yes. I can have Hector pick them up from Val's in an hour. He has room in his garage. Why do I need to leave my phone?"

"To prevent Morelli from contacting you and hijacking the phone GPS to find your location. Viper has a secure phone for you to use. You can email Hector when we safely arrive."

I quickly sent Hector a text, 'Hermano, I need to leave suddenly. I'm with Diesel and will be safe. Pick up my car, trackers and phone from Val's house in an hour. Will leave the key in the glovebox.'

'No problem, Hermana. What do I tell the boss?'

'I'm going into the wind. See how Ranger likes that lame excuse. Diesel said we could exchange emails. You already know my personal email address.' Was I bitter? Was I bitter? It's obvious I am. Why am I bitter? Julie's been bugging me to visit her in Miami. I promised to accompany her dad the next time he comes for a visit. We were excited to see each other again. Last month, Ranger snuck off to Miami, claiming he was going into the wind. I discovered he visited his daughter for a week but didn't want me to tag along.

Julie thought I broke my promise. She called to yell at me and tell me she never wanted to see me again. As I explained myself, she realized I didn't know her dad was planning to visit. He didn't want Julie to get attached to me, knowing we'll never have a viable relationship. His need to deceive me was entirely unnecessary. Julie and I would have understood.

I grabbed Rex's cage, food and bedding. Diesel never mentioned how long we'd be gone. Before I could panic about rent payments, Diesel said, "I covered your apartment rental for the next few months."

"Thank you." I knew it was pointless to admonish him for helping me financially. However, I was grateful I would still have a place to live when I return. Everything about my pending adventure had my spidey sense humming in a very good way. I was excited, but curious why Diesel needed my help. Something tells me he isn't being completely honest and there's obviously more to this story. He'll tell me when it's time. I completely trust him with my life.

Diesel squeezed his large frame into my passenger seat after loading my luggage into the trunk. I tucked Rex's cage firmly behind my car seat on the floor. We arrived at Val's house in less than 15 minutes.

"Did you check my luggage for trackers? I wouldn't be surprised if Ranger snuck one in."

"Yes, I checked. I found one in the liner and another in the small zippered pocket. Your luggage is tracker-free," Diesel reassured me.

I carried Rex's cage to the house. Albert opened the door to exit the house and follow me to the car. He wanted to grab the bedding and food. "Mary Alice is excited to watch Rex," Albert said. "It was kind of you to think of her."

"She loves Rex as much as I do. I know she'll take excellent care of him." I quickly said goodbye to Rex before handing Mary Alice the cage. "Thank you, MA. Remember to give him a small piece of cake a few times a week."

"Okay, Aunt Stephie." She allowed me to give her a small hug before leaving with my fur baby.

"It's time to go, Steph," Diesel reminded me. I quickly said goodbye to Val, Lisa and Angie. Valerie was noticeably pregnant with baby number four. She looked to be ready to pop. Much to Dad's disappointment, Val was having another girl. "Can I borrow your phone for a minute?" Diesel asked as we walked back to the car.

"Sure." I unlocked my phone and passed it to him, curious why he didn't use his own. He clicked on several buttons and waited for a minute. It sounded as though he sent several texts and emails. After clicking more buttons, he returned it to me.

Diesel grabbed my luggage and began walking down the block. After quickly checking his activity on my phone, I prepared a delayed email before shutting it down. Whatever he did on my phone was not apparent to me. I locked my keys, trackers and phone in my car before running to catch up to him. He led me through a walkway towards the park.

We walked halfway around the park before going through a gate leading into a vast backyard. A large truck was in the driveway. Diesel used his key to open the doors. "It's mine. My friend lives in the house," he said before I could ask.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To a safe place," he merely answered. "I'm sorry for misleading you. Viper asked me to bring you to him. Your safety is too important to me." I could see he wanted to say more but wasn't sure how to form the words.

"You truly didn't need my help, did you?" I couldn't bring myself to be angry with him. My spidey sense indicated I could trust his judgement.

"No, I didn't. Viper has been waiting a long time to see you again. He really missed his piccolo zucca," he answered.

Could it really be him? I thought he died while I was in high school. If he's still alive, where has he been all this time? It didn't take long to become completely lost in my thoughts.