Chapter Eighteen

By the time I left Ranger's office, I was so turned on that even an envelope full of grizzly crime scene photos couldn't dampen my mood. I took the elevator up to his apartment and went back to his den. The files were on the desk next to the diagram he'd showed me. I picked them up and took them to Ranger's bed. After a couple of hours, my brain was tired. I tried out my thinking position, my head half dangling off the foot of his bed with my curls swinging freely. I was dragged out of a particularly vivid dream when Ranger's bulguri scented pillow was lifted off my face. His eyes were crinkling at the edges when I focused on him. Ranger thought I was amusing. "Getting a lot of work done I see."

"I was just thinking."

"Obviously. I can tell by the drool."

"I wasn't drooling," I said, wiping my mouth as stealthily as I could just to be sure. I heard him laughing at me. "You're late."

"Unfortunate, but unavoidable. There were some contract issues that had to be dealt with before we could go over the new security measures. Took longer than it should have." The cocky smile was lifting at one corner when he leaned over me, kissing my upside down mouth. "I spent the entire meeting thinking about you naked."

"Is that so?"

He nodded, his smile brushing mine. "It was very distracting."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I, since we have to leave now if we're going to meet Gregorio." I must have made a pouty noise because Ranger laughed again. "I'd reschedule, but the intel is important and he has a narrow window. It would be hard to justify postponing. No matter how bad I want you right now." He kissed my chin and then my throat. "We'll just have to wait until tonight."

"I'm not good at waiting."

"That's an understatement." He kissed my neck just above my shirt and I nipped him in return. "No fair," he said taking my hands to lift me up. "Doing the right thing is hard enough when you're around."

"Are you saying I'm a bad influence?"

He pulled me against him when I got to my feet, humor shining in his dark eyes. He wrapped around me until his body was rubbing mine. "Yes. You're a very bad influence on me." He kissed my lower lip before he bit it softly. "Now put your shoes back on. I can't afford to change my mind."

"You're just trying to tease me so I'll spend the night."

"Babe, if I really thought it was that easy I'd have tried it a long time ago. Shoes. Now."

I made a face at him, but got my shoes anyway. If I didn't, he'd have just left me behind. A few minutes later, we were pulling out of the garage in his Porsche.

"So, who's Gregorio?"

"A contact of mine. I've got him on retainer."

"As what?"

"Whatever's needed. He's got a talent for finding things. Any time of day or night. And he's got more ears than anybody I know."

We pulled into a side alley between a barred up pawn shop and an adult emporium that sold everything from cheap stripper lingerie to sex toys. There was enough space between the back of the buildings and the ten-foot chain link fence that Ranger was able to park the 911 where no one would be able to see. He came around and opened my door. Led me by the hand to the rusted metal fire door at the back of the pawn shop and banged on it with his fist. It opened a few seconds later. The man who answered was soft. About my height. His thinning black hair slicked back into an obvious comb over. His eyes scanned me before they settled on Ranger. Then he held the door open and let us in, bolting it behind us. "Sorry I couldn't come to your office, but with the current climate it's best not to be seen with anyone even remotely related to law enforcement. One whisper and I could be shut out. And then shut up."

"I understand."

Gregorio led us down a short, narrow hallway and into an alcove packed to the ceiling with shelf after shelf of shining junk and dusty treasures. There was a desk under the clutter in the back corner. A ratty blue and cream paisley loveseat on the adjacent wall, also under a load of clutter. Gregorio was a professional hoarder.

His eyes scanned me again. "This her?"

I cut my eyes to Ranger, but a closed glare was his only answer. "What do you have for me?"

"Right," Gregorio said. "All business. I've always liked that about you. Let me see." He took a seat on the frayed desk chair and started shifting the stacks. How anyone could find something in this mess was a mystery. In seconds, though, he pulled a page from the pile and handed it to Ranger. "I've been spot checking since you called it to my attention. Making gentle inquiries where discretion allowed. As far as I can tell, about half the dealers are tainted, to varying degrees. Some are cutting their bad merchandise to lessen their risks, but they're all still selling it. I've traced a few of the lines to a distributor out of Juarez. I don't have names or contacts, though. And my connections haven't been whispering for a few days. Without more information, I can't tell you how to stop it."

"What about Mini Velasquez?"

"I've heard a few mentions. Mostly around Olden. Nothing solid. Like she was there, but moved on. You're not the only one looking for her, though."

"I'm aware. You know who my competition is?" Gregorio shook his head. "Anything else?"

"Oh." Gregorio started rifling through the clutter again, then started opening desk drawers. Found a sealed box the size of a brick and gave it to Ranger. Looked like it came through the post office. "Was there anything else you needed?"

"Not right now, but I'll be in touch."

Gregorio nodded and showed us out.

Ranger held my door open for me before he angled into the Porsche, tucking the package in the lockbox under the driver's seat with his spare guns. Didn't say a word. I held my tongue for a few minutes, but he must have heard my teeth grinding because he was thinking about smiling again. I finally gave in. "What did he mean when he asked if I was 'her'?"

The smile surfaced. Ranger picked up my hand and lifted it to his mouth, kissing the white mark still left from the ring I'd worn in Hawaii. "I said I knew a guy."

"You got the rings from him?" Ranger just smiled. "That was very trusting of him to let you borrow a three carat diamond like that." He cut his eyes to me, a slight raise to his eyebrow. Right. Look who I'm talking to. "What's in the box?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

"Isn't that my job?"

He kept driving, his eyes on the road.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Maybe later."

"If I'm a very good girl?"

He cut his eyes to me again. This time, the smile was all big bad wolf. "What do you want do for dinner. We could head back to Rangeman and have whatever Ella made for us. Might speed up the whole getting naked thing. Or we could go for pizza at Shorty's."

That was a tough one. Ella's delicious dinner and Ranger's delicious body verses some of the best pizza I've ever had. Ranger was amused when I chewed my bottom lip, weighting my options.

"Babe, you'll get me naked either way."

"Then let's go for pizza."

He kissed my hand again. Pretty sure he was laughing at me.

The sun was already setting when we walked into Shorty's. It had been a frightening experience the first time Ranger had taken me there. Crowded. The blacked out windows and rough cliental lending a certain dangerous charm. Like it was the kind of place someone could get stabbed without anyone putting down their beer. We made our way to a booth in a dark corner. Ranger slid an arm around my shoulder. Relaxed. In his element. I didn't want to admit it, but Shorty's was still frightening.

The waitress came by and recognized Ranger. Asked if we wanted pizza and beer. Ranger nixed the beer. It was the first time since this morning that I remembered why. It was so easy to forget our issues when we fell into the natural chemistry we had together. At least it was for me. Guess he was still thinking about it.

I got a call on my cell just as we were pulling into the underground parking garage at Rangeman. It was the bartender from this morning. Apparently Ronald Walker had just come in. Jackpot. I disconnected and turned to Ranger. He was more amused than frustrated. Guess he got the gist. "Rain check?" he asked.

"You don't want to come with me?"

"I will if you want me to. But I've got some things to follow up on. If I can get through them before you finish taking down Paul Bunyan, you can have my undivided attention tonight."

"That does sound pretty good. Can I still take Hal?"

Ranger pulled out his phone and sent a couple texts. "Tell you what. You can have Hal, Ramon, Cal and Binky."

"Four guys? You know Walker's not the Hulk, right?"

"Humor me."

I shrugged. If Ranger wanted to lend me a small army, who was I to argue.

They all came down to the garage together. Ramon with a gun belt that looked suspiciously my size. Ranger didn't pay any attention to my grimace. He pulled it around my waist and buckled it, fastening the strap on my thigh, too. "I'd appreciate if you'd stand back once you make contact. Let the men do their jobs."

I blew out a sigh. "Fine."

A smile surfaced. His hand was still on my hip when he pulled me close enough to kiss, ignoring the fact that his men were standing right there. Not one of them made a peep. Not even when Ranger gave my butt a soft pat. "Go get him, tiger."

Ramon rode with me in my Audi while the other men piled into a shining black Rangeman SUV. Seven minutes later we were walking into Pete's. I have to admit, I felt pretty badass marching into a crowded bar with four armed men at my back. Look out Trenton. Stephanie Plum means business.

The bartender tipped his head in greeting and cut a telling glance at the far corner of the bar. Walker was laughing with a group of his friends. He made a gesture that I was pretty sure was meant to be Lula bouncing off of him. They all busted up again. Jerks. I exchanged a look with Ramon, and then Hal. Their expressions were blank and hard. Game face. I looked back at Binky and Cal. Cal was the most intimidating. He was huge, with more muscles than a human body is supposed to grow. Mean little eyes under the flaming skull tattoo on his forehead. Don't think I've ever heard him speak.

They fell into formation around me as I strode right up to Walker and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and his eyes took on a glare when he recognized me. Then he took in my entourage. His friends were at his shoulders. The largest one was in a navy t-shirt, looking at me with a curled lip. An honestogod bull ring piercing his nose. Babe, the big blue ox. "I'd like you to come with me to the police station so that we can reschedule your court date."

"You mean so you can put me back in jail," Walker said. "I told you. I'm not going."

"I'm afraid you are. I'd rather do this the easy way, but if they have to, these guys will take you down by force. I've seen them do it. It's not pretty."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," he said. Then he gave me a shove. Ramon was quickest. He caught me and whisked me out of the way when Walker threw a punch at Hal. Hal ducked back to avoid his fist and caught Walker in the stomach. He would have had him on the ground in a heartbeat if Babe hadn't gotten involved. One of the others tackled Binky when he tried to step in. Then it was a free for all. Punches were being thrown, not just between my guys and Walker's. The whole place erupted. People were scurrying away from the brawl. Chairs were thrown. Glasses shattered. Ramon shoved me behind the bar and stood half in front of me, his weapon drawn. I knew he wouldn't use it unless he had too. You can't shoot unarmed civilians.

Walker smashed a beer bottle over Cal's skull tattoo and the massive heap of muscles fell. Walker darted for the door. The bartender was standing beside me, shotgun in hand. As unsure what to do as the rest of us. I knew Ramon would let Walker go before he'd leave my side. I grabbed the shotgun out of the bartender's hands and hopped onto the bar, swinging it at eye level. The butt cracked Walker in the face. He stood there dazed for a second before he fell backward. Timber!

Ramon stood over me while I slapped the cuffs on him. Keeping any of his friends from rushing us. Not that they could. From what I could see, Hal and Binky had them subdued and cuffed. Along with a handful of others. There were a lot of cuts and busted lips. Cal was still unconscious on the slick, glass and debris strewn floor. Jeez. All that carnage in under five minutes.

"The police are on their way," the bartender said behind me. I nodded in a numb sort of way.

Ramon looked at me. "You wanna call it in to the boss, or should I?"

Crap. Only I could get Rangeman involved in a bar fight. Ranger wasn't going to like this. "I'll do it," I sighed. I gave back the shotgun and called Ranger.

"Babe? Everything go alright?"

"Kind of. But there was an incident. There was a bar fight and I kind of broke Cal again."

Ranger didn't say anything for moment. I think he might have been pinching the bridge of his nose to keep his cool. "How bad is it?"

"He had a bottle smashed over his head and hit the ground pretty hard."

"Police band says there's an ambulance en route. Anyone else injured?"

"A few scrapes and bruises, but nothing too serious."

"And you?"

"I'm peachy."

"Good. I'm on my way now. Someone took down Walker, right?"

"Yep."

He paused a second. "It was you, wasn't it?"

"Right again."

"Kick to the knee?"

"Shotgun butt to the face."

"Proud of you, Babe."