Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ranger seemed to be processing what I'd just said. Probably analyzing the implications from a dozen angles I didn't even know existed. "What exactly did she say?"

"She said the guy who's after us would burn the world to the ground to get away from you. As far as I know, Alvarez is the only one you've gone after in a while. And given the whole superpowers thing, burning down the world does seem almost logical. I just don't know why he ran in the first place."

"I might be able to answer that. Seems there's been chatter in the supply chain about a Trojan Horse. Sent in by the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels to deal some serious blows to the opposition. The idea is to provide critical information to authorities so they'll do the dirty work. They use federal resources to shut down key points or make major arrests while your hands stay clean. It's a technique they've been using in Mexico for years, but I've never heard of it being done this successfully in the states. After what you said, I went searching up Alvarez's family tree and found a cousin on his mother's side is a Juarez lieutenant. That's likely who he was running to when I caught him. The cousin realized the rare opportunity when Alvarez was sent to a federal prison on the attempted murder charge. Started feeding him intel on the Zetas to get him a deal with the feds."

"So he ran because Mini was digging and he knew it was all about to catch up to him?"

"That would be my guess. The Zetas might be based in Mexico, but they've got a long reach. And not only would the hammer fall on him. It would likely fall on his family too. If it weren't for Mini, I'm not sure anyone would have noticed. There isn't a lot of effective communication between agencies. FBI was getting half the picture, DEA the other. If it weren't for the fact Alvarez got greedy and stuck his hand in the cookie jar, Mini wouldn't have started looking either."

"He should have just said no to drugs."

"Babe." I could hear that earned me a smile. "So you coming back in?"

"Maybe. Might see if we can get eyes on her again."

"Be careful."

I acknowledge that and disconnected. Went down to the street to see if Zip and Vince had been able to catch her. Turns out all they caught was my meatball sub.

I didn't have high hopes that we'd find Mini, but I felt obligated to try. After an hour, I figured it was best to pack it in. I felt like a sitting duck out on the street. Even with an entire team for backup. I could only guess what Mini felt like after I flushed her out. I tried her burner, but there was nothing to connect to. She'd ditched it.

My phone chirped on our way back to Rangeman. It was a call from my parents' house. Either my mother wanted me to stop in for dinner, or Grandma had heard about the head in my fridge.

It was the latter.

"That must have been something to see. Was it all openmouthed like in the movies?"

"I don't know. Ranger was the one who opened the fridge. He didn't tell me until after."

"That's too bad. I wouldn't have minded seeing it. I miss all the good stuff."

Grandma had an odd sense of what was good stuff. The funeral home was a social hub for her generation, since it was pretty much the only source of entertainment in Chambersburg. We didn't have a movie theater, and we didn't have many restaurants. Aside from bingo at the senior's center, the funeral parlor was the place to be most nights of the week. Grandma went to every viewing with her friends. Liked to be in the thick of the action. Grandma didn't shy away from death. If anything, she had a morbid fascination.

"That reminds me," she said, cutting through my musings. "I heard they released Tommy Thumbelli's body to his brother. They're having him laid out at Stiva's. I sure would like to go, but Betsy's visiting her grandson in Vermont and Mabel's home with the gout. Do you think you could give me a ride?"

"Gee, I don't know."

"Your mother's making pot roast, and there's pineapple upside-down cake for dessert."

Dang. What was it with people and not playing fair? I blew out a sigh. "I'll have to check in with Ranger to see what's going on with the case first. I can't make any promises."

"Great! I'll set two extra places. We'll see you and Ranger tonight at dinner."

Uh-oh. I tried to protest, but Grandma hung up. Crap. Ranger wasn't going to like this.

He was alone in his office when I got back. His eyes took in the bloody hole in my jeans and cut up to mine. "How'd that happen?"

"Mini's scrappy."

He thought about smiling. "Come in and lock the door."

That sounded promising. I did as I was told. He crooked a finger at me. "Come here." The nervous butterflies were waking up in my stomach. Ranger always had that effect on me. Even when he isn't watching me like I'm dessert. He held out his hand for mine. The second my fingers touched his palm, he gave me a tug and pulled me between him and the desk. "Take your pants off."

Oh boy. "Is that a good idea?"

The corner of his mouth lifted. "Either take them off or I'm ripping the hole even bigger so I can see what kind of damage was done. Your choice."

Oh. So it was that kind of playing doctor. I couldn't decide if I was more relieved or disappointed. I unbuttoned my jeans and wiggled them down my hips. Revealing the bright blue panties. His dark eyes on me at every inch. The fact he was getting out a first aid kit didn't make my blood any less hot.

Ranger caught my waist and lifted me onto the edge of his desk, taking a seat in his desk chair. He pulled my foot into his lap so he could see my knee. "This is getting to be a habit."

"Maybe I just like it when you kiss it better."

Right answer. His already dark gaze was dilated to black. His gentle fingers skating across my skin with as much sensuality as care. He dabbed the shallow cuts with the alcohol swab. I'll be honest. It definitely stung. But I was too distracted by his hand on my inner thigh to give it much thought. Ranger tossed the swab on the desk and steadied my leg with both hands. Our eyes held. And then he blew a smooth stream of air over the damp skin to cool it and ease the stinging. This had a predictable effect on certain parts of my anatomy. Which, judging from the wolf in his eyes, was exactly what he'd been going for. "I might need to check you over for injuries again."

"Do you have time for that?"

Ranger spread a giant Band-aid over my knee and let his hand wander up my thigh. Brushing his lips over the bandage. "I've got as much time as you need," he said in that velvet voice. He kissed the inside slope of my knee, then my thigh. "Do I need to ask how hard you fell?"

"I'm not pregnant, remember?"

"Unofficially not pregnant. But still ten days late."

"You're keeping count."

Ranger stood and leaned into me. Gathering me around him as he tipped me back over his desk. "I'd be stupid not to." He smiled at the way my breath caught. My chest rising and falling against his. He kissed the low neckline of my shirt. His lips caressed my skin in a slow, agonizing line up my chest. My neck. My chin. He was wearing a cocky smile when he reached my mouth.

I was much more relaxed when Ranger dropped back into his desk chair, tugging me onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around me, his breathing still steady despite our elevated heart rates. "That might have been a mistake. I doubt I'll ever get through a meeting in here again without thinking of you on my desk."

"It gets worse. They're kind of expecting us for dinner at my parents' house tonight before I drive Grandma to Tommy Thumb's viewing."

"I'm guessing this wasn't something you volunteered for." I shrugged. "You really do come from a long line of scary women, Babe."

"Does that mean you're leaving me hanging?"

"Is that an option?"

"No."

That got me another smile. "Should I bring an extra shirt in case your sister shows up?"

"You heard about that?" Ranger raised an eyebrow at me. Right. Dumb question. "You still going to chain me naked to a traffic light if Tank finds out?"

"Yes," he said, kissing me again. "Or maybe I'll just handcuff you to my bed and have my way with you."

"I thought this was supposed to be discouragement."

I'd mostly been teasing, since I'm not really into the whole handcuffs thing, but I could see by the light shining in Ranger's eyes that I might have just made a promise he hoped I'd keep. Eeek! His brushed his lips over mine. "Given the current climate, the only other options are to keep you on lockdown or send someone in my place."

"Lockdown is out."

"And if I sent someone in my place I'd have to give them hazard pay."

"My families not that bad."

"Babe." I gave him the watch it glare, but it only made him smile. He caught a curl and gave it a tug. "I have client meetings this afternoon, and my insurance rep is coming in at 5. Then I'm all yours. How many more cases do you have outstanding?"

"Just Mini and Earl Belter, the domestic violence. He's been on a fishing trip with his buddies since last week, which means they're out getting drunk somewhere in the Pine Barrens. A neighbor promised to call when he got back."

"Do you need something to keep you busy?"

"No. I'll probably glance at the files again. Do some deep thinking."

"So you intend to take a nap."

"I explained about the decaf thing, right?"

Ranger laughed at me. He pulled me close and kissed me with enough heat to melt me clear to my toes. "I'll be up later," he said into my mouth. "Set your clothes out, but don't bother getting dressed."

"Dinner's at 6, and we can't be late."

"That's why you shouldn't get dressed."

I bit my lip. I was definitely going to hell. I slipped off Ranger's lap and started for the door.

"Babe."

"What?"

"Pants."