Chapter Twenty-Four

I stared at my phone while the words chased themselves around in my head. He was building an army against Ranger. Spilling blood to force gang leaders to choose a side. His side. And having an army only served one purpose. War.

Ranger was leaning over his computer, typing with the speed of a professional programmer. Unaware of what had just changed. He knew he was on a hit list. He didn't realize he was the hit list.

"The signal dropped too soon. Didn't have time to pinpoint her exact location. She's using a burner, but I was able to triangulate her signal to a five block radius." He looked up at me when he realized I wasn't moving. "Babe?"

"He's going to kill you."

"No he's not."

"Yes he is! He's stirring up the gangs to get an army. To use against you."

"Does he have a name?"

"I don't know. She didn't say."

Ranger hit a few more keys and turned to the stately woman in salmon. "Forgive me, but this matter needs my attention. I'll send Tank in to finish going over the changes to the security system with you if you'd rather not reschedule."

"No, of course. I understand," she said.

Ranger started for the door, but when he came up next to me he paused. His warm hands curling around my arms. "Deep breaths, Babe. We've handled this sort of thing before."

"I haven't!"

The almost smile lifted at one corner. Rambo thought I was amusing. "Cartels are notorious for being well organized, but our mastermind is sourcing street gangs. The idea that they'll be erratic and undisciplined is an understatement. And the bigger players have no need to play ball. I can't see Delgado or Romero bending the knee to some upstart who thought he could go to war against me and win. Especially if Skeezer's on his team. They hate Skeezer more than they want to see me out of the way."

"Who does want you gone that much?"

"Hard to say."

"Are you telling me you don't have a short list of people who want you dead this bad?"

"There are a lot of candidates."

"How can you be so calm about this? He has an army!"

Ranger pulled me closer and lifted my eyes to his. "So do I."

He kissed my cheek and stepped out of the office. Leaving me alone with my worries and his demure client. I didn't even hear her move until a hand touched my arm. "It's hard being in love with someone in his position. I know. My Henry was career military. But your boyfriend is the best at what he does. I wouldn't be here if he wasn't."

"He's not—" I was going to say boyfriend, but my words failed. It seemed wrong to turn away from the genuine comfort she was trying to offer just because my life was too screwed up to explain. "Thanks."

She gave me a pat and I offered her a weak smile before I stepped back into the control room.

Ranger was talking to Tank. That was always weird for me. Two men of such few words. Hard to imagine they were able to communicate. They looked at me in unison and I tried to smile. I could see the little shine of affection in both their eyes before they went back to their huddle. A minute later Ranger stepped away and cut his eyes to a few of his men. They were ready to go in seconds.

Ranger waved me over. "Go back to seven and get dressed. Properly. We're breaking into teams to scour the five block radius. I'd like you with me. If anyone has a chance to bring Mini in without a traumatic snatch and grab, it's you."

"By properly, do you mean a gun? Because I didn't bring one."

He let out an almost sigh, but he didn't look overly surprised. "I have a belt for you in the Cayenne. You have five minutes."

I didn't waste any time. Got into the elevator and fobbed my way back up to Ranger's apartment. I was already wearing jeans, but I changed out his t-shirt for one of the girly Rangeman uniform shirts Ella always kept for me. Socks and shoes and I was ready to head back down, pulling my hair into a ponytail. Ranger and his men were all waiting in the parking garage. Going over some last minute instructions before we headed out. There would be three cars aside from us. Working in patterns to close in the area. There wasn't any guarantee she would still be there, but Ranger was hopeful that she was holed up enough to have called from her hiding place rather than risk being out in the open.

The search was exciting for about the first fifteen minutes. Then my expectations started to lower. The five block radius was an equal mix of residential and business in North Trenton. Lower class housing. Cheap storefronts. Not a lot of people walking the streets. I don't know what I thought we'd find. Mini was hiding from some pretty bad people. And us. She wasn't going to be standing out in plain sight. It was already dusk. Soon it would be hard to see people on the street at all. After an hour, Ranger contacted the other teams.

"Set up a low profile at the checkpoints and log any activity. I want to know who comes and goes. Watch out for Skeezer's people and any of the other players who might have sided with our new friend." They acknowledged and Ranger left the radius, heading back toward center city.

I blew out a sigh, trying not to be frustrated. "You should probably drop me at my parent's house before you head back to Rangeman. I'll need to borrow Big Blue until I can replace the Audi."

"You can have one of the fleet vehicles, but you're not going to need it until this thing is over."

"Oh no. I know what you're thinking and you can just forget it."

"Babe, you said yourself someone is trying to go to war against me. I'm not leaving you unprotected. Not only would it be irresponsible, it would be downright stupid."

"You said I could be not pregnant."

"This has nothing to do with whether or not you're pregnant. This has to do with you being the weak link in my armor."

"Now I'm a weak link?"

Ranger was getting that patient look again. The one that said I was being childish. "Steph, you should realize by now that I don't have a lot of vulnerabilities. And you should also realize that my biggest one revolves around you. This wouldn't be the first time someone used you to get to me. Stolle tried it. Scrogg. It's not something I'm interesting in risking."

"I'm not letting you lock me up."

"I'm not trying to lock you up. I'm just being cautious."

"But you're going to take me home, right?"

"I'd prefer if you stayed with me."

"But it's still my choice."

He drew in a deep breath and let it out all at once in a silent sigh. "Yes."

"Then take me home."

I could tell he really wasn't happy about it, but when the time came to take the path to either my apartment or Rangeman, he went to my apartment. He parked in my lot and walked in with me. Both of us scanning the lot for surprises. I didn't see any cars that shouldn't be there. No Mercedes. No El Caminos or dark trucks. No green Morelli SUV. Seemed to coast was clear.

Ranger let me fish my keys out of my bag when we got to my door. I knew he could have opened it in seconds, way faster than I could find my keys, but he was letting me be independent. I couldn't decide if that was more patronizing or sweet. Ranger didn't usually do sweet.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went inside. Ranger followed me and locked the door behind us. Guess he was staying a while. I really hoped that Morelli didn't try to come over again tonight, because I was starting to get the feeling this wasn't a drop off. Ranger didn't have any intention of leaving me alone, which meant he was probably planning to spend the night. I know we kind of slept together this afternoon, but the idea still put me in a state somewhere between excitement and panic.

I hadn't planned on falling into a regular pattern of sexual encounters with Ranger. It felt way too much like a relationship. At least for me. In Hawaii, I'd learned to let go. Give myself over to him with the understanding that the connection was finite. I thought it would stop when we got back to Trenton. I thought I could shut it all out again and go back to my real life without facing the consequences.

Obviously it wasn't going to be that easy. Which was worrisome. Because I had no idea how long this thing between us could last before I got attached to it and shattered into a million pieces when he finally got around to backing off.

"This really would be better at my apartment," he said again. Not overly pushy, but not letting it go either.

I flopped down onto the couch. "I don't have the energy to argue with you over this. I haven't exactly been getting a lot of sleep lately, and I spent the day chasing a naked frog and getting blown up. And all without the benefits of caffeine because somebody got it in his head I needed to switch to decaf."

Pretty sure I heard Ranger laughing at me. "Are you hungry? We could order in if you don't want the sandwiches Ella brought."

"Sandwiches sounds fine." And immediate, since ordering in would take at least twenty minutes and I was starving. He went back into the kitchen and I heard him open the fridge. "I don't suppose there are any in there with bacon on them."

Ranger didn't answer. Probably weighing the options. Then I heard the refrigerator door close. Ranger appeared in the living room again. "Pack up some clothes. We're going to Rangeman."

"Ugh. I told you, I don't want to—"

"Stephanie. Now."

I didn't know what had caused the sudden change, but I wasn't in the mood to be generous. Could be he got a text that Morelli was on his way here and he didn't want to deal with the drama. He followed me into my bedroom when I didn't move fast enough. Started tossing my clothes indiscriminately into my Martha Stewart laundry basket. "Hey! What's your problem?"

He didn't pay me any attention. Just moved on to my underwear drawer, and then my closet.

"If you don't tell me what the hell is going on, I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You're going with me even if I have to throw you over my shoulder like a caveman and drag your ass out. Is there anything else you want to take?"

"No."

"Good," he said. He grabbed onto my hand and tugged me toward the front door. Pausing just long enough to get my .45 out of my brown bear cookie jar, pick up my messenger bag and Rex's glass cage and put them on top on the pile of clothes. Until that moment, I'd been working my way towards pissed. Now I was starting to question if it wasn't fear I should really be feeling. I didn't figure it was a bomb. His pace wasn't rushed, just deliberate. He didn't give me a chance to question him again, though. He tugged me out my door and locked it behind us. Then we took the stairs.

I thought I might see Morelli in the lot, but I didn't. Ranger packed me into the Cayenne while he sent a couple quick texts, and then he drove us to Rangeman. I was still pretty pissed. Mostly because it felt safer than asking myself what was happening.

The moment we stepped into the elevator with my basket full of clothes and Rex, I realized I was moving in with Ranger.

Ranger's stone expression stayed even after we were safe in his building. He wasn't happy. He walked me into his apartment and set Rex on the kitchen counter. Then he carried myclothes into his bedroom. Set the basket on his bed. I was just trailing behind. "Tell me what happened."

The stone didn't waver. "I have to talk to Tank. Stay here. You can put the clothes anywhere you want, or you can let Ella do it later, it's your choice. If you find we missed something you need, just make a list and I'll either send someone to get it or have Ella pick up a new one." He could see that I was getting worked up again. This time he came into my space. Catching the back of my neck so he could kiss me. The jerk. My stupid body melted. My fingers curling into his shirt like traitors. He pulled back. "Just give me a few minutes. Alright?" he said, his lips still touching mine. I nodded like an idiot. I blame it on the mind numbing kiss.

I thought he would smirk at that, but he didn't. He just brushed one more to my lips and walked out the door.

So there I was. Standing alone in Ranger's apartment. With every indicator of being its newest resident, at least for the time being. And I still didn't have the faintest idea what was going on.

I was actually surprised when Ranger came back five minutes later carrying a pizza box from Shorty's. He went into his den and set the box on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Slouching with ease onto the seat. He flipped the lid and the room was filled with the incredible scent of pepperoni and melted cheese. It pulled me in. Ranger took a slice and leaned back, watching me.

Okay, I knew if I wanted to play it cool I should have hung back with my arms folded, giving him a dagger stare to prove my annoyance. Trouble is, I've never actually managed cool. My stomach growled. Ranger's eyes dropped to my belly and then went back to my face, a smile surfacing.

"I had one of my men pick it up," he said, answering a question I hadn't even thought to ask. "Figured a little comfort food would do you good."

"And what is it I need comfort for?"

Ranger set his slice down and did the come sit by me thing with his eyes. I considered sticking to my guns, but in the end the temptation of pizza was too much. Damn. I hate it when he doesn't play fair.

Then his phone rang.

Ranger pulled it out of his pocket with all the enthusiasm of a man being told he needed to have a tooth pulled. He put the phone to his ear. "Did you find the present?" he said without preamble. He listened for a minute. A hard, male voice answered him. It was too indistinct for me to make out the words, but it was a voice I'd know anywhere. Morelli. "It was already there when I brought her home…Rangeman."

I could hear the obvious silence on the other line. The kind that usually had Joe staring at his shoes trying to keep his temper in check. I could only guess he'd asked where I was now and didn't like the answer. After a full minute, he seemed to regain his composure. At least, I can only guess, since his voice was low and reasonable and not yelling.

"No obvious signs of forced entry," Ranger said. "I didn't see any indication they came in through her bedroom window either." My stomach went a little squishy. That wouldn't go over well with Morelli that Ranger had been in my bedroom, but whatever Morelli said, Ranger ignored it and moved on. "Aside from some of her personal items I gathered for her, we didn't disturb much. With any luck, there may still be some useable physical evidence."

Now my stomach was squishy for other reasons. It was starting to sound like my apartment was being treated like a crime scene.

Ranger cut his eyes to me. "She's sitting right here and I haven't had an opportunity to tell her about it yet. I didn't think discussing details was an appropriate way to break it to her."

Oh boy.

"No. Stephanie's staying at Rangeman until the dust settles." Joe's voice started to raise, but Ranger cut him off. "With all due respect, Detective, this isn't a decision you get to make. She's a target…I won't deny that it's my fault. But the fact is Stephanie is staying in my secure building, escorted by my armed men until I say otherwise. If you have a problem with that you can take it up with me after the blood's been cleared from the streets."

The conversation was pretty much over after that. Whatever Morelli said, Ranger didn't dignify it with a response. He disconnected and turned his full attention to me. "What the hell is going on?" I asked him.

"Turns out Skeezer wasn't behind the shooting or the IED. The black Toyota belonged to one of Delgado's men."

"But you said Delgado would never play on the same team as Skeezer."

"He's not. New evidence would suggest Skeezer hasn't been giving any orders for a couple days now. Even the men who went after Baller Thatch did so on someone else's orders. They just didn't know it yet."

I was starting to get a sinking feeling. "Someone took over his gang?"

Ranger nodded. Hardly a movement at all. "They were finally able to identify the fifth body that dropped on Stark Street."

"The one with no head?" Oh god. I suddenly didn't what to know where this was going. I was praying he'd acquired this knowledge second hand, but my instincts were telling me there was no way I was going to be that lucky. Ranger nodded again. Gulp. "And this evidence. It was in my apartment?"

"Looked like it was a couple days old, which would match up with our timeline. Someone brought it in while you were out today."

"Where did you find it?"

Ranger could see that I was turning green. He reached over and covered my hand with his. The heat searing my skin as the blood left my extremities. "I'll buy you a new fridge, Babe."

Oh no. No no no. I was suddenly grateful my stomach was empty. Because if the pieces lining up in my rapidly numbing brain were true, not only was Skeezer dead, Ranger had found his head in my fridge.

I was never eating again.