Life for One

Chapter 12

I turned my back and walked over to Mia and Manny. I pulled out my knife and cut the ropes that bound their hands and I helped Mia stand. Her knees gave out and I caught her under the arms.

"Can you stand?"

She nodded and smiled. "It took you long enough."

I smiled. "You want me to tie you back up and gag you."

She winked and hugged me. "Promises, promises."

I slapped Manny on the back. "You okay?" He nodded. I noticed Lester and Bobby standing close to Stephanie but their eyes were trained on Morelli as he slowly walked toward them. I wanted to take him out with one good punch to the face, but this was her show, and she never disappoints.

A part of me never believed that he was dead. My suspicions were confirmed when I found out Brewster hadn't set the bomb on The Lucky Tide. Morelli had used me as bait, but that was nothing new for me, it had been done before.

I caught Lester's eye and motioned for them to take care of Mia and Manny. Jax walked over to Brewster and bent down to check for a pulse. He flipped open his cell and called for an ambulance and backup. He glanced at me, and I gave him a look I save for skips that are close to extinction. I heard Stephanie's voice and I focused on her and Morelli.

Joe tried to pull her into his arms, but she placed both hands on his chest and shoved him backwards with everything she had.

It was on.

"Don't. Touch. Me."

"Stephanie we need to talk."

She shook her head as she sneered at him. "Why so you can explain that you weren't man enough to catch Brewster so you used Ranger and your own family as pawns?"

Damn, she was going for blood.

"Stephanie I knew Manoso could protect you, I was too far inside." Joe said.

"So what have you been doing while we have been dodging bullets and playing the game of life?" She asked.

Good question Babe.

"Collecting information from an inside informant, and chasing leads. I've always planned to step in before he ended this."

"You mean the inside guy who you planted at RangeMan?" She glanced at Jax and he looked away sheepishly.

"So you were on to Jax?" He asked as he looked toward me.

I didn't respond I just offered up the same look I shared with Jax.

"Why didn't you come clean with Ranger? You've worked together before." She said.

"I had to fake my death to pull Brewster out of hiding, and I wanted him to believe Ranger was responsible. He was watching Ranger's back; I knew we would be found out if we tried to work together."

I watched as she backed away from him.

"So how did you make it off the boat before the explosion? You were wounded. It exploded seconds after Ranger stepped onto the dock."

"I was probably off the boat before he was, and I was never wounded." Joe said.

She laughed cynically. "You're pathetic. You can say whatever you want but this was more than police business- this was personal."

"It had to go down this way. Brewster had informants inside the precinct. I've been working 24/7 trying to uncover his man; we finally brought him down last night. There was nothing personal about this case."

"Well congratulations, while you were off saving the TPD I was grieving your death, and trying to protect our son. I hope it was worth it to you."

She turned and looked at me. "I want to go."

I nodded and placed my hand on the small of her back as she turned away from Morelli.

"Stephanie I want to see Luke."

She swung back around to face him. "You will see him when I say you can, I'll be in touch."

"So this is how it is now?" He asked.

"How what is Joe? You think you could just waltz back into my life and I would welcome you with open arms? I'm having a hard enough time looking at you right now don't push me."

"You can't look at me? What about you moving in with him when you assumed I was dead? You took it as a perfect opportunity."

She stalked over to him and punched him in the face. The crunching sound of her fist making contact with his nose resonated in the building.

"You fucking bastard, he did everything in his power to protect Luke and me just as you asked, don't make this out to be something that it's not."

Joe rubbed the blood trickling from his nose. "I'm frustrated, tired and damn glad this is all over. All I want to do is take you to get Luke and go home with my family."

"You betrayed your family Joe; it's not going to be that simple."

"It can if you let it."

"You made a horrible choice, and I can't accept it right now." She said.

When I walked into my apartment a few hours later I found her sitting on the couch in the dark. I flipped a light on in the kitchen so I could see her face and took a seat in the club chair across from her. She looked up at me and I could tell she had been crying.

"How did the questioning go? "She asked.

"I just made a brief statement it didn't take long."

"So where have you been for the last three hours?"

"I've been downstairs in my office; I didn't want to disturb you." I said.

I had spent an hour debriefing Manny and Mia, but that was beside the point.

"Ranger this is your home, I am the one who has invaded your space."

"I invited you to invade."

She stood up slowly and walked over to the window facing the street below. She braced her hands on her hips and sighed. "I am at a loss; I don't know what to do. I'm angry and sad and I feel like I have no place to go."

"You can stay here as long as you want."

"I know that and I appreciate it."

"Babe nothing has to be decided tonight. Get some rest and you can think about it in the morning. It's been a hell of a day."

"I don't want to think anymore." She slowly turned and looked at me.

She had a broken look on her face, and I tried to think how many times in the last two years had I witnessed that same look and felt as helpless as I did right now.

"Things will look better in the morning. You and Morelli can talk it out."

"There's nothing to talk about. He betrayed us both and we nearly died in the process." She said.

"Before Brewster you were happy with Morelli. You made a life together, and you said it worked well for you. Make it work again."

"I have to believe in something before I can make it work. "

"He obviously believed in his plan. Maybe it was the best choice he could make at the time."

She gave me an incredulous look. "Are you trying to justify what he did?"

"He was in a bad place, and sometimes the wrong way out is the right way."

She turned her back and walked away from me. "Don't side with him on this, he used you and jeopardized your life to get ahead. There's no excuse for that."

"But he knew I could handle the situation, and in the end he was there to finish it."

She turned around and anger flashed in her eyes as she spoke. "Why are you doing this? Don't make him out to be a hero when he's not."

"Because it's over, and what's done is done. No amount of anger, tears or revenge is going to change any of it. It's wasted energy."

I stood up and walked into the bedroom. I grabbed some clothes out of the closet, turned around, and almost mowed her over. I grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

"Babe where's Luke?"

"Ella took to him to her apartment and he fell asleep."

I stepped around her and started for the door. "I'm going to sleep downstairs tonight; I'll see you in the morning."

"I thought you said the thing with Mia was over."

I gritted my teeth and slowly turned around. "I'm sleeping in my office."

She quickly looked away from me. "I'm sorry it's none of my business."

"Babe."

"I'm sorry I have no right to interfere in your life. I'm confused, and angry. I'm lashing out at you and it's wrong."

"Get some rest it will all look better in the morning." I said.

She nodded and I turned and walked out of the bedroom. I made it to the door when I realized I forgot the charger to my cell phone. I walked back to the bedroom and picked it up off the end table in the sitting area. I could hear Stephanie talking in the bedroom and I glanced through the open door. She was on her cell phone.

"It's none of your business where I am."

She was pacing back and forth across the room. I knew I shouldn't be listening to her conversation, but I was rooted in place.

"You have no right to tell me what I should do. You gave up that right when you disappeared."

I saw a tear start at the corner of her eye and slowly trickle down the side of her face. She was silent and I could hear Morelli screaming on the other end if the line.

She clutched her throat with her hand her voice full of emotion. "He has never lied to me. And right now I'm exactly where I want to be, so get over yourself." She snapped the phone closed and threw it on the bed. Her eyes met mine. I watched the single tear turn into a flood of tears coursing down her face. I was torn. I didn't want to touch her because if I did I wouldn't walk away, but she was still married to him.

"Stay with me." She said.

I threw the change of clothes I was holding on the bed and walked over to her. I pulled her into my arms. She slipped her hands inside my waistband and worked my shirt free. I grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled it over my head. As soon as I felt her hands on my skin, I decided to hell with indecision.

I backed her toward the bathroom kissing every inch of her face. I untied the belt on her robe and slipped it off her shoulders. She was beautiful, and all I could envision was how long it had been since I touched her. I didn't know where to start. How many times had I thought of her standing before me ready to be taken? I reached out, brushed her hair away from her face, and stepped closer. My heart was beating a hundred miles a minute and my brain was trying to register that I was going to regret this later. But my cock was in overdrive and was quickly erasing all coherent thought. She fisted her hands in my hair and kissed me like she wanted to crawl inside of me. I picked her up and sat her on the counter top by the sink. She pulled her mouth away from mine and unbuckled my belt. She slid my cargos down over my hips and I toed off my boots. I swallowed as I looked in the mirror. The contrast of her dark curls brushing against the creamy white skin of her back was enough to make me lose all control. I quickly looked away and stared at my own reflection. I hesitated at the look in my eyes. Every ounce of longing I had felt for her since the last time we were together was mirrored in my reflection.

All the resistance slowly disappeared. The guilt was gone. I was done telling myself that she belonged to him, when I knew inside that she had always belonged to me.

I pulled away from her. "I need to take a shower." I grabbed her hand and started to pull her off the counter but she wrapped her other hand around my cock and squeezed.

She looked up at me. "I can't wait."

"I'm dirty and sweaty."

She leaned in and licked a path from my nipple to my ear. "I think you taste perfect."

If possible, my cock got a little harder. "I stink Babe."

She shook her head and I smiled at the glazed look in her eyes." You smell like Ranger. Bulgari mixed with maleness, I've dreamed about how you smell, if I closed my eyes and thought of that smell it was almost as if I could taste you."

I tilted her mouth up to mine and whispered against her lips, "You don't have to dream anymore, I'm right here."

She wrapped her legs around my waist and braced her arms on the counter top. She tilted her hips and brushed herself over the head of my cock. I groaned as I slowly buried myself inside of her. When I was all the way in, I hesitated so we both could adjust to the sensation. I didn't want to move, I never wanted to lose that feeling. The initial feeling of being joined with her was indescribable. It felt like I belonged there.

Being inside of her was like coming home.

I slowly started to move, as she met me stroke for stroke. She traced circles around my nipples with her fingertips and leaned in sucking each one into her mouth. I leaned down and softly kissed her temple. When I pulled away, she traced my bottom lip with the tip of her tongue. She pulled my mouth to hers and slowly swept her tongue inside teasing my tongue with her own. Then quickly the teasing was over as the urgency between us grew. She grabbed my ass and dug her nails into my skin pulling me hard against her with every thrust. I slid my hands over her breasts cupping each possessively. I skimmed one hand down over her stomach feeling her abdominal muscles twitch as I lightly caressed her skin. I found my destination at the juncture of her thighs and I teased it until I felt her start to clench around my cock. When she was almost there, I pulled out of her and kissed my way down her chest laving each of her nipples in my mouth on the way. I heard her groan, as she fisted her hands in my hair.

"You're killing me, I was almost there." She said.

I looked up at her with a wolf grin. "It's been a while; a quickie is not on my agenda."

She sucked in a breath as I confirmed my statement by burying my face between her legs. Her head rolled back and her thigh muscles quaked as she rose off the counter. "Oh my God!"

I feasted on her trying to confirm to her that she was the best thing I had ever tasted. She clamped her legs around my head as I slid two fingers inside of her. I continued to lick at her wetness as she bucked against my hand.

She threw her head back and screamed my name as she came. I slowly stood and grabbed her ass cheeks in my hands. Before she could recover, I slid inside of her again. I pivoted her hips back and forth, on my cock. I looked in the mirror and the picture we made together was enough to make me believe in commitments. In the last few days, I came to realize life is not about what you don't want, it's about what finds you.

The feel of her clenching around my cock started the beginning of no end for me. I pulled her flush against my chest and buried my face in her hair as I let go and came inside of her. Once I regained my breath, I pulled away and slipped out of her. She leaned in close and kissed one of my nipples then looked up at me and smiled.

"How about that shower?"

I was leaning against the bar sipping a cup of coffee when she appeared in the kitchen the next morning. She smiled as I poured her a cup and handed it to her. She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips across mine. I growled low in my chest as I took the kiss to another level. I pulled away, looked at her, and smiled.

"Morning Babe."

"Morning." Her eyes scanned my body in appreciation. "You're already dressed for battle. You have an early morning?"

"I need to check on Tank he was released from the hospital yesterday."

"I talked to Lula last night and she said he was being an ass. He's not a very happy camper about being a couch potato for another week."

"He's thinks he's indestructible."

"Lula says he's worried about RangeMan. He knows you have business piling up in Boston."

"I'm not worried about Boston. Travis handled it before he can do it again."

"Are you planning to go back once Tank is back to work?"

I looked at the pensive expression on her face and I realized how fast whatever was between us could get complicated. I crossed a line last night, so no way was I going to back pedal now.

"I may go back initially to discuss selling the company with Travis."

"I didn't know selling was an option." She said.

"Travis hasn't been happy for a while. He wants a position in the Miami office. Unless I can bring someone from Miami or Atlanta to cover I don't see any other options."

"What about Mia?"

"I don't think Mia could cope at a desk job. She's too independent, and used to setting her own schedule."

"She seems smart enough to handle the job."

"She could if she wanted to; I've never considered her as a candidate."

"Do you not like Boston well enough to stay there?"

"My family and friends are in Trenton. I would rather be here."

I felt my beeper vibrate and I pulled it off my belt. It was the control room.

"I need to go. Will I see you later?"

"I'll see you tonight." I stepped toward her and pulled her into my arms. My dick stirred and I groaned as she wrapped her legs around my waist. I sat her on the bar as I lowered my lips to hers. I had spent the entire night making love to her, and I still wanted to lay her back on the bar and have her all over again. By the time I pulled away, my shirt was untucked and my pants were unzipped.

I whispered against her lips. "Whoa tiger, I really have to go. How about a rain check for tonight?"

"I'll be here."

I pulled away and looked at her.

"You going to Morelli's today?"

"Unfortunately yes."

"Call me if you need back up."

"Hopefully I can handle it on my own."

"If you need a few days to straighten things out I understand."

"I'm not staying with him. He betrayed me, and almost killed both of us in the process. I have lost all faith in our marriage."

"Do what's right for Luke."

She gave me an incredulous look. "Are you saying even after last night you think I should stay with him?"

"No I'm saying I know you, and after the dust settles things might look a little differently to you. I still want you and Luke here with me, but you have to do what's best for the both of you."

She looked up at me timidly. "So you can see us sharing a life together?"

"I've seen it since the day you told me you were pregnant. I just didn't feel it was my place to coerce you into anything other than what you thought was best for Luke."

She slid her hands in the pockets on the back of my cargos and pulled my body flush to hers. "I want what I want for once, and that's a life here with you and Luke."

The Confrontation

I pulled up in front of our house and killed the engine. It seemed like a lifetime since I entered that front door. Since the day we were married I never felt comfortable in Joe's house. I wanted us to buy something to call our own, but he said his mother would throw a fit if he sold Aunt Rose's house. I moved Luke and my thing's into the house and never argued with him. I found that confrontation in a marriage was too much work. So I frequently went along with ideas not to make waves, because after all, I was a burg wife now, and that's what burg housewives do.

Well not anymore.

I stepped out of the car and walked around to the rear passenger seat. I removed Luke from his car seat and carried him up on the front porch. The door swung open and Joe stood there in a t-shirt and a faded pair of jeans. I felt nothing but anger when I looked at him. You would think after the grief I felt over thinking he was lost to me forever I would want to hold him and never let go, but all I felt was a deep seeded bitterness where the love used to be.

He reached out and took Luke from my arms. Luke smiled and wrapped his chubby arms around his neck, squealing with delight. I could see the hint of tears pooling in Joe's eyes and I looked away as they locked with mine.

I didn't want to connect with him emotionally not now not ever.

I slipped past him into the living room and started toward the stairs. "Stephanie where are you going?"

I slowly turned and looked at him. "I have some clothes upstairs I need to pack."

"You're moving out?"

"Yes I am."

"You can go but you're not taking him."

"There's not a court in this world that's going to give you full custody." I said.

"So you've already decided we're over."

"I'm not doing this in front of Luke."

"If you would come to your senses you wouldn't do this at all. You don't understand the position I was in Stephanie."

"Oh I understand perfectly. You were in a tight spot, and you put a target on Ranger's back to save your own ass, and almost got your family killed in the process. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out Joe."

"Manoso is not going to raise my son."

"He was good enough in your eyes to protect us from Brewster"

"But he's not going to keep my family."

"You don't have a choice in the matter." I said.

"Do you think a judge is going to grant custody to me or his mother who's living with a mercenary?"

"Oh and your job is so much safer, we wouldn't be having this conversation if it wasn't for your job! You think a judge would grant custody to a man who faked his own death?"

""It had to be done."

"Just like this is going to be done." I turned and marched up the stairs.

I awoke to the feel of fingertips brushing the side of my face. I opened my eyes and quickly sat up when I saw Joe hovered over me beside the bed. I glanced at the clock on the bedside table and it was already late afternoon.I had packed some clothes and decided it wouldn't hurt to close my eyes for a short power nap. That was over two hours ago.

"Where's Luke?" I asked as I slid off the bed and stumbled to my feet.

"I fed him some lunch and he fell asleep."

"I need to get going, I'll bring him by again tomorrow after you get off work."

"We're going to talk before you go anywhere."

"Joe…"

"Stephanie I know you're angry, but you have to give us some time. We made vows to one another, how can you walk away this easily?"

I looked at the vulnerability on his face and I silently screamed inside. I wanted to cut this off clean and walk away. I didn't want to over think it and allow myself to wonder if I was doing the wrong thing. I knew that what I felt for Ranger was more than I ever felt for Joe, but if I allowed myself to be sucked in by the emotion, I would regret staying.

"Joe I'm in love with Ranger."

I saw a flash of pain in his eyes. "For how long Stephanie?"

"I've always loved him." I said.

"You married me knowing you were in love with him?"

"Yes."

"So our marriage was a lie?"

"No I love you Joe and at the point you left to go undercover I was very happy in our marriage."

"And just because I left makes all the difference in how you feel?" He asked.

"I can't get past what you did to Ranger."

"I did it because I knew him. He was capable of taking care of himself and you."

"You allowed him to walk off that boat when Brewster was watching. He could have been killed not only there but at his own home."

"But he wasn't. We're all alive and it's time to move on."

"Funny that's the same thing he said."

"He can be a smart man."

I looked at him defiantly. "So you would want to be with me even though you know I'm in love with him?"

"I want us together as a family, I can't make you stay but I promise you I intend to have custody of my son if you make a life with Manoso."

"So you're blackmailing me?"

He smiled condescendingly. "Call it whatever you want."

"If I move back in with you, it will be for Luke and there will be no physical relationship between us."

"So you think you'll live here under my roof in order to have Luke but you will fuck Manoso on the side? I don't think so."

"And you'll enjoy fucking me, knowing that every minute of it I will be thinking of him?"

He shoved me backwards slamming me against the wall. His angry face hovered in front of me.

"You want to know the truth? It wouldn't have bothered me if something had happened to him. I knew all along that he was there between us every time I touched you. I thought with time you would forget, but I could see the loneliness in your eyes when you thought I wasn't looking. You have cheated on me emotionally our entire marriage, I wanted it to stop, I needed for you to look at me just once, the way you look at him."

I sneered at him as I shoved him away from me. "And you think if he was dead it would change the way I feel? You're more pathetic than I thought."

"Do you honestly believe that Manoso wants to raise my kid? Do you believe he's going to turn into a family man. Come on Cupcake I thought you were smarter than that."

"He loves me and he knows I'm a package deal. He wants both of us."

"For how long, until he gets tired of the hassle and takes off again to Boston or Miami or maybe out of the country? You're a fool if you believe he will stay with you."

"And you're a fool if you think I'm going to stay here so we can be one big happy family."

The anger on his face dissolved into a look of defeat.

"I'm sorry you're so angry that you can't see the good in us anymore."

"It might have helped to tell me you're sorry because you lied to me by faking your own death."

"I am sorry for that and a lot of things."

"I have always believed that if you lose trust in someone then you have nothing. I don't trust you Joe. And what hurts the most is you didn't have enough trust in me to be honest."

"I can't change what has happened. I can only promise to be more honest with you in the future."

"How did your mom take the news of you arising from the dead?"

"About as well as you did."

"Damn I hate that. " I said sarcastically.

"I guess your mom heard through the grapevine?" He asked.

"Oh yeah, she was pretty angry, so prepare yourself for an earful when you run into her."

"I hope it will be with you and Luke at the next family dinner."

I looked at him and sighed. I wanted to run like hell out the door, but the burg wife part of me was digging in with both heels. I could feel the tears welling in my eyes as he reached out and pulled me into his arms. I didn't want to feel I belonged there but surprisingly it felt better than I remembered. I closed my eyes and I could see Ranger braced above me with a look of total adoration on his face.

I let the tears go.

I watched as Joe and Luke wrestled in the floor of the living room. The sound of Luke's giggles filled the room, and the apparent happiness on Joe's face stabbed at me like a dull knife. I slid off the couch and walked into the kitchen. I stared out the window hoping to find life's answers somewhere in the back yard. I felt Bob nudge his cold nose in my hand and I looked down at his face.

"You need to take a walk buddy?"

He pranced around then leaped at me pushing with both paws nearly knocking me down.

"I guess that's a yes."

I grabbed his leash off the hook by the back door and snapped it on his collar. I dragged him toward the living room.

"Joe I'm taking Bob for a walk."

He picked Luke up and placed him on his shoulders. "I'll get his stroller and we'll go with you."

I groaned inside. "Not this time, I'll make it quick."

The smile on his face disappeared and he nodded. I felt like a heel, but if I didn't get out of the house, I was going to have a break down.

"I promise this won't take long."

Bob dragged me toward the back door and I followed. We headed toward the street and I was practically running to keep up with him. I felt more like I was the one being walked. We were half way down the block before I realized I didn't grab any poop baggies. I grimaced as Bob hunched on the lawn of the house in front of us. I quickly jerked him back into a standing position and took off running down the street.

"You have to wait until we get to the abandoned lot on the next block. You know the drill."

By the time we reached the next block my side was aching and I was pulling for every breath. We reached the empty lot and Bob quickly circled his spot and hunched with a look of total relief on his face. I had to smile. I heard the sound of a car close by and I turned and saw a black Mercedes idling at the curb. My heart sank inside of my chest as the passenger side window slowly rolled down and I looked into Ranger's eyes.

"Hey."

"Babe."

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Looking for you."

Bob finished his business and pulled me down the sidewalk. I jerked on his leash and gave him the look. He stopped, sat down, and wagged his tail. I patted his head and looked up. Ranger was leaning against the fender of the Mercedes with his arms crossed on his chest.

I sighed and walked over to him.

"Sorry I haven't called."

"I told you to take all the time you needed."

"Yes but that was two days ago."

"So what's the verdict?" He asked.

"I'm undecided."

He looked at me and as usual, I couldn't read anything in his expression. "I thought I could make it about me this time, but it's not that simple." I said.

"Do you love Morelli?"

"On some level I do, because he's the father of my son, but I'm not in love with him."

"So how do you expect to make a life with him?"

"Do you honestly want to raise his son?"

I saw a muscle twitch in his jaw. "Is that coming from you or Morelli?"

The guilt made me look away. "Do you really want to be a family man Ranger? Are you prepared to change your lifestyle to accommodate a ready made family?"

"What did I tell you before you went to see him?"

"You said you wanted us with you."

"Have I ever went back on my word to you before?"

"No, but this is different. This is something that I have to think long and hard about because it affects my son more so then me."

"The longer you stay with him, the harder it's going to be to break away."

I swallowed as the truth of his words hit home. "I know that, but if I'm honest with myself I know that he will never allow us to be together. He will fight for custody of Luke and drag us through court until we are miserable."

"You're a good mother no judge is going to allow him full custody."

"He has connections with every judge in town. They will paint you as a heart less mercenary and a danger to Luke."

"You're worried about portraying the picture of a burg wife with the perfect family walking away from it all to be with her mercenary lover."

It was the way it always was between us. He already knew all of my misgivings.

"I'm more pathetic than he is."

"No you're thinking like a mother."

"I just thought I could break it off clean, but it's more complicated than that."

"You don't want to hurt Joe, and you know that if you do he's not man enough to accept his loss. He'll be a dick about it."

"It all boils down to my responsibilities to Luke. I know we could be happy together, and maybe when it's all said and done it would work out, but for what risk? To have people whisper behind his back how sad it is that his mother had it all and chose to walk away? They can talk about me all they want, but he's the innocent one in all of this."

"It's not wrong for you to want a different life Babe."

"No but it's wrong to put myself first." I felt the tears threatening and I looked away. I couldn't bear looking at him. He was all I ever wanted and once again, I was going to walk away. I slowly walked toward him and he pulled me into his arms. I felt myself break when he touched me and the dam of tears let go. I don't know how long we stood there but he finally pulled away and brushed my tears away with his thumbs.

"I have to go, and Morelli is probably wondering where you are."

I stepped away from him and watched as he started around to the driver's side of the car. He turned back and looked at me.

"I think it is best if you resign from RangeMan. It will be better for you if we cut ties."

I nodded numbly. "I'm sorry Ranger."

"I am too. I thought this would be a much different conversation."

"You're disappointed in me."

"No just surprised."

"Please try to understand."

"I understand your loyalty to Luke, but the Stephanie I know is never beaten. You fight for what you want because you know that no matter what happens Luke is smart enough to realize his mother is not happy."

"You're not in my shoes you don't know how I feel."

"I know that when we're together I feel like we can conquer the world. The question is what do you believe?"

I closed my eyes as the scene from two nights ago flooded my senses. "I want to believe in us, but a part of me knows that I have to do what's best for Luke."

I watched as his eyes turned cold. He pulled on a pair of mirrored shades and walked around the car. He opened the door and started to angle inside when he stopped and looked at me.

"Maybe I don't have the right to be angry over your decision but I am. Just so you know Stephanie-this is it for me. I'm done."

He slid inside the car and started the engine. I placed my hand on the passenger side window and looked through the tinted glass trying to see his face. But he pulled away and left me standing on the curb with Bob and the life I chose without him.

I heard the phone ring and I dropped the shirt I was folding and raced toward the kitchen I stepped on one of Luke's toys on the floor and screamed in pain. I sank to the floor grabbing my foot. The phone continued to ring and I ignored it. I glanced at the TV and a picture of a black Porsche being pulled out of a ravine was on the screen. The top was was smashed and all the glass in the windows was shattered. I crawled over to the coffee table and grabbed the remote. I pushed the volume button, and heard the newscaster's voice.

"A car was found last night over an embankment on I -95. It was determined to belong to Carlos Manoso the CEO of RangeMan LLC, a security company located in Trenton. Manoso was not found at the scene. Investigators are looking into the possibility of foul play. If anyone has any information on his disappearance, they are asked to contact the Trenton Police Department, or RangeMan Securities. "

It had been two weeks since I saw him. It seemed like a lifetime. Now he was gone. I pulled myself up off the floor and went in search of my cell phone. I fished it out of my purse and screamed when I realized I forgot to charge it last night. The battery had been dead for three days. I threw it on the table and walked over to the phone on the wall. I picked it up and glanced at the caller ID. Lula's number was on the screen, I hit the redial button.

She answered on the first ring. "Girl where the hell have you been? I know you're all about marital bliss and family life but you need to keep in touch once in a while."

"What do you know about Ranger's disappearance?"

"Well hello to you too!"

"Lula!"

"All right! Tank has been awake for the last 24 hours trying to track any lead he can find. They think one of Brewster's thugs got to him and is trying to finish the job."

"Fuck."

"Yeah it doesn't look good."

"Where's Tank now?"

"I just spoke to him; he's in his office at RangeMan."

"Okay thanks I'll talk to you later."

"Whadda you mean you'll talk to me later. Girl you can't go getting involved in this shit. You think you and the cop have problems now…"

"I have to talk to Tank and find out what he knows. I may be able to help. I know what went down before."

"I'll warn you. You're not the most popular person at RangeMan right now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Everybody thought you and Ranger we're going to get together after the Brewster thing went down. That fucked up shit with Morelli coming back to life and all. Ranger has been an asshole since you went back with Morelli. Everybody knows it's because of you."

"Well maybe it's time I redeemed myself."

I heard her snort. "Well good luck with that."

I disconnected and looked around at the disaster around me. The entire house looked as if it had thrown up. Clothes and toys were strewn everywhere. Left over breakfast dishes were on the table and the sink was overflowing with dishes. I looked down at the pajamas I was wearing and a number of stains of undetermined origin were painted all over the front of my shirt like a mural. I really should clean up the house before I resumed a Wonder Woman role for the day. I asked myself what Wonder Woman would do. I doubt she would stop to clean the house before donning her cape.

So fuck it.

I ran up the stairs, pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, stuffed my hair in a ball cap, and called myself ready. For the first time since this morning, I was glad Joe talked me into letting him drop Luke at his Mom's for the day.

I pulled up at the gate in front of the RangeMan garage and waved at the guy in the booth. I didn't recognize him. I aimed my key fob at the gate and nothing happened. The guy stepped out of the booth and I gave him my most dazzling smile. Something must be wrong with my key fob. I refused to believe it had been deactivated. I handed it to him and he looked at me curiously.

"Can I have your name?"

"Stephanie Plum, please call Tank and tell him I'm here to see him."

He looked at me curiously. "Stay here."

He went back in his booth and got on his cell phone. He talked for a few minutes and finally raised the gate and motioned me through. I pulled into an open space next to Ranger's BMW and shut off the engine. I looked over at the car beside me and swallowed. I couldn't believe he was missing. I had pushed the thought to the back of my mind denying the ramifications of the truth. I slowly stepped out of the car and headed for the elevator. I was almost there when I saw Tank step out of the stairwell. I stopped as he approached me.

"What have you got on Ranger's disappearance?"

"Stephanie I'm going to ask you to leave, this is not your concern anymore."

"Tank don't do this. I care about him. I want to do anything I can to help find him."

"The situation is under control. Go home to your family."

"I want to help. I need to know that he's going to be all right."

The expression on his face changed to one of cold determination.

"I think you've done enough."