Chapter Seven

I put the final touches on my make-up and stood back to look at myself in the mirror. The one here in my bathroom didn't give a full-length view but it was good enough. I hardly recognized myself, and I was fairly sure Steward wouldn't either.

Lula had surpassed herself. We'd spent the morning shopping and having fun. She said she'd always wanted a Barbie doll when she was a kid, and now she got to dress me just like one. I was half Goth, half slut. My almost non-existent skirt was black latex with a matching top in bright red. Over the halter-neck top, I wore a bustier that pushed my breasts up and gave me a cleavage that was pure artifice. Black seamed stockings and four inch spiked strappy sandals made my legs look endless. I'd used black eye make-up and dark grape lipstick that would make any self-respecting Goth girl turn green with envy. Large brass hoop earrings, and a wig of long straight black hair, completed the outfit.

I left the bathroom and went to check on Diesel. I leaned against the doorframe and watched the most important man in my life preparing to go after Steward.

He was still angry. He was no longer blocking me and I could feel his anger deep within my soul.

Wishing I knew how to fix the mess I'd made of things, I watched him as he reached into the closet to pull a duffle bag down off the shelf. Unzipping it, he pulled out a Sig Sauer and tucked it in the waistband of his faded jeans. As he stretched up to put the bag away, I took a moment or two to appreciate the way those jeans hugged his tight behind and thighs. The sight made me glad that I was leaning against a solid surface as my knees went a little wobbly at the memory of what was hidden inside those pants.

Diesel turned to look at me. His eyes were sad and full of longing; the sparkle was gone. What made it worse, was that it was gone because of me. Slowly, I made my way over to him and he held out his hands for mine. Leading me over to the bed, he pulled me down next to him still holding my hands.

I didn't have to open my mind to know what he was feeling. Diesel and I were so attuned to each other that we always knew what the other was feeling, unless he was blocking me, which he'd been doing lately.

I could sense that his mind was open, that he'd let his barriers down, but I didn't reach out to him. Tonight, in order to take Steward down, we were going to have to allow our minds to join on such an intimate level, that I didn't want to rush things.

Pulling back a little so that I could see his face, I cupped his cheek in my hand. "You know that I love you, don't you D?"

The smile he gave me was a poor attempt, one that didn't even hint at his dimples. "I love you too, Steph. We'll get past this I know we will. It'll be hard, it is hard, but I know it wasn't your fault, or Ranger's. My brain knows that, but my heart still hurts every time I think of what happened."

"What nearly happened, Diesel." I hesitated and then kissed him lightly on the lips. "Don't forget that I stopped before it went too far." Although it had gone far enough for me to feel like a cheat.

"Yeah." He gently ran a fingertip across my lips. "We'll need to talk that out some more. In the meantime, we've still got Steward on the loose. Let's go catch the bastard before he brings more grief to the world."

oo000oo

When we arrived at the dive that Ranger had arranged to use, the Rangemen were already in the back room. Diesel went to join them and I went to the bar to get a tray. I knew that Ranger wasn't going to be in the game or even in the bar, because Steward would recognize him. However, I couldn't help but take a surreptitious look around in case he was sitting in the shadows.

I sashayed into the game room without bothering to knock on the door. They'd already started playing. Diesel and Steward were seated across from each other, with Tank, Lester and Cal filling the remaining seats. I concentrated for a second on Steward and felt his greed and confidence but nothing else. He wasn't suspicious. I looked over at Diesel and met his gaze. I opened my mind to him and felt him enter mine. I took a ragged breath as I felt the wealth of emotion that flooded into my mind. I locked onto his mind so we would think and feel together.

"Evening boys. My name's Sherri, what can I get ya?"

Lester, bless him, put his arm around my hips and played right along. "I'll have you, sweetheart."

I slapped playfully at his hand on my hip. "You couldn't afford me, honey. What do you want to drink, boys?"

I took their orders and put an extra sway into my hips as I walked out of the room closing the door behind me. As soon as I was on the other side of the closed door, I felt as if something was missing. I'd reached the bar before I realized what had happened. I was no longer connected to Diesel. The connection had dissipated as soon as I'd left the room. I guess the connection only works when we're near each other.

Hal was working the bar and he nodded to me as he filled the order. "The boss is in the parking lot with Ram if they're needed." He indicated the earpiece he was wearing to show that Ranger was listening in. I guessed that Tank and the others were similarly wired. I took the drinks from him and walked back to the game. As soon as I entered the room, I felt Diesel touch my mind again. I really liked that feeling.

There's an art to serving a drink in a sexy fashion, and I'd worked hard to learn how to do it. Working distractions for Ranger had given me a whole new education that wasn't taught at any college. I placed Steward's drink in front of him, making sure he got an eyeful of my cleavage. The pile of money in front of him had grown in the time I'd been outside and I ran my hand lightly over his free hand. "My, you're doing well, gorgeous."

"Why don't you stay where you are for a while, you might bring me even more luck."

I thought I was going to puke, but I clung onto Diesel's mind and felt his thoughts caress my mine. With his gentle encouragement warming me from the inside I managed to summon a sultry smile. "Sure thing, honey."

They played a few more hands, one of which Diesel won. I refilled their orders five more times, and each time I served Steward his drink I tried to fondle or touch his hand, his cheek or even once or twice his ear – ugh! The beast kept putting his hands on me. Touching me. All the time I felt waves of support and yes, love, coming from Diesel. In a way it was like any other distraction, but I felt safer because not only did I have back-up in the room but there was support in my mind as well.

The hand they were currently playing finished with Steward winning again. Diesel scraped his chair back and stretched his arms above his head. "I don't know about anyone else, but I need to visit the little boys' room. How about a smoke break?" There were nods of agreement, although Tank, Lester and Cal's voices sounded a little vague. "Back in twenty?" He looked at Steward.

"Sure. Take your time, I think this little lady and I can find something to keep ourselves occupied." His hand moved over my buttock, smoothing the skirt to my shape.

I wished Diesel hadn't left the room because I could really have done with some of his loving thoughts. The slime was still fondling my butt and when his fingers got to the bottom of the skirt he started upwards under it, I'd had enough. This pig was going down.

"I bet I could make those twenty minutes fly by." I leaned down and kissed his cheek, then breathed into his ear. "Why don't you take some of that pile of dough in front of you and come out back with me."

"Lead on, sweet cheeks." He put his arm around my waist and we started for the back door.

I made sure my body was touching him from shoulder to hip as we walked. I led him out of the door and along the wall at the back of the building. "Now baby, why don't you let Sherri look after you." I leaned into him and rubbed my hand against his crotch, he was hard. Where the Hell was Diesel? Just as I went to work on the button of his waistband I felt Diesel's mind touch mine, and a fraction of second later he materialized behind Steward, zapping him on the back of his neck. I'd removed my hand just in time not to get jolted and our man went down like a sack of potatoes.

"You cut it fine. I thought I was gonna have to get up close and personal with his johnson!" I was angry.

"Ow! Watch where you're directing that anger, we're connected again!"

I grinned at him sheepishly. "Oops, sorry."

"To answer you. I was waiting until he was really distracted. And your hand on his cock was the perfect distraction."

I couldn't help myself, I kicked his shin. All he did was rub it and grin at me. "Okay, I'm going to take him to Lakewood, then make my report. I'll meet you back at the apartment." He looked round as Ranger walked up to us. "I'll settle up with you tomorrow if that's okay. Your men should be fine now that Steward is out cold."

Ranger nodded and watched as Diesel pulled the unconscious Steward to his feet and disappeared.

"C'mon Babe, let's wrap up here and get you home." He turned to go inside the bar, but I stopped him with my hand on his arm.

"Are we still friends?"

In the dim light, I saw him raise an eyebrow. "Always, Babe. Always."