Here's chapter six!

Thanks for the reviews, ILOVEU

Not mine, not makin' money

Steph PoV

I closed the door after him and breathed out as soon as I heard his steps on the stairs. Oh my freaking God! Shit, shit, shit! I leaned on the wall besides the door and focused on breathing properly, in and out, in and out. After a while my breathing became more normal. Thank God Adam and I had come up a plan b if he would have recognized me. Vinnie's cousin who ran away. I can't believe he fell for it. I made my way to the bedroom but couldn't fall back to sleep. Thoughts raced through my mind, the worst case scenarios and the rest of them. But I couldn't figure out what the worst case scenario was. Would it be that he discovered who I was or that he didn't? I felt sick and rushed to the bathroom.

After I had washed my teeth again I patted across the hall with my gun in my hand and to Adam's apartment. It felt safe here. Not any of Ranger's delicious scent, not the picture of him standing in my hall... Wait stop that, I hate him! I had to remind myself of that. I checked that the apartment was empty and then climbed into his bed and crept closer to him. He was warm from the sleep and mumbled something as I pressed my cold toes against his warm calf. I smiled and snuggled closer as his arms pulled me in. I breathed deeply and drifted of to dream land.

I woke up to the sound of a alarm clock. I was tangled in Adam's sheets and him as well. He had his arms around me and I had my feet tangled with his. I groaned and lifted my head from the warmth of his shoulder and thought about shooting the annoying little thing but settled for turning it off. 5.15 AM. I rested my head against him again and felt him sigh.

"We'll have a sleep in today." I murmured to him and he relaxed. "They can manage it without us for a couple of hours."

He mumbled an, what I thought was, agreement. I sighed and relaxed. Soon I fell asleep in his warm embrace.

When I woke up the next time it was close to nine. I sighed and saw that Adam was still sound asleep. I couldn't figure out why I had woken up but then I heard the noise of the apartment door opening. Adam's eyes opened and he sat up silently and reached for his gun. I rolled over and took my gun from the bedside table. The metal felt cold against my skin. There was no tiredness left as I pointed the gun at the door.

Somebody knocked on the door and waited. I glanced at Adam who looked confused. Murderers don't knock on doors. I didn't relax.

"Come in." Adam said and the door opened to reveal Michelle and Lester. They were both dressed in black, with the exception of Michelle's bright pink watch. They both looked at us, Michelle like she's seen it before and Lester looking smug. We lowered the gun's and Adam laid back down and pulled the covers over his head, muttering something about irritating idiots. I smiled at the pile of covers that was Adam and looked back at the guys standing at the door. Michelle smiled at me.

"Rough night, huh? Sorry to bother you but this annoying little thing wanted to see you and since you weren't at the breakfast I thought it migt be best to wait a couple of hours." She pointed at Lester at the 'thing' bit and shrugged. I glanced at Lester who looked annoyed by the description.

I sighed, but it wasn't a bad sigh. Then I stood up and threw the rest of the covers above Adam. There was no movement underneath them. I shook my head and headed for the door. Michelle and Lester followed me and I stretched as I walked across the hall. I opened the door and waited for them to go inside. Michelle shook her head.

"I've got rounds to do but I'll see you later, okay?"

I nodded and watched her run down the stairs. I tuned my attention to Lester who leaned against the door frame. I smiled at him.

"Let's go inside. I haven't had breakfast yet so let's talk in the kitchen." I said to him and led the way to the kitchen. I saw him sit down by the island and turned for the fridge. "You want something? I'm making a sandwich."

"Okay." he said and I noticed that he was looking around. I took the bread and some ham and cheese and started to make two sandwiches. He was silent as he watched me do my thing. When I was done I handed him his sandwich.

"Thanks, Steph."

I froze. Did he know who I was? Oh my freaking God! Breath, I reminded myself and sat down. He was eating his sandwich, looking at me over it.

"Relax, Ranger doesn't know." he said and stood up and walked to the fridge. He took the milk out and sat back down.

"How.. How do you know?" I whispered to him and leaned my head against my hands.

"After last night Ranger came back to the guesthouse and wanted to talk to everybody. So he told me what you had said and ordered me to run a search in the morning. So we went back to sleep and I ran the searches and come up with nothing. Then I figured it out. I asked that Michelle to let me talk to you and here we are. I haven't told Ranger yet. I thought I'd talk to you first." He said and returned to the sandwich. "This is one heck of a sandwich."

"Thanks" I said. Thoughts were running through my brain. "And thanks for talking to me first."

"No problem. I mean I'm on your side in this mess. He's an ass."

I smiled at him and took a deep breath. This is going to be just fine, I told myself and took a bite out of my sandwich.

"So what's been happening?" I asked him as he swallowed the last bit of the sandwich. As I wasn't that hungry anymore I gave him my sandwich and took an apple instead.

"Ranger's gone. I mean, he's lost his edge, you know? He stays at seventh, letting Tank manage the business. He don't talk to anyone and is obsessed in finding you. Points for you though, the trail goes cold at Washington DC: We've taught you right. Anyway, so CB goes past him and he goes ballistic and we fly here. He's got that letter you sent your mom on her birthday in his pocket and with him all the time. It's kinda freaky. So we drive here and the next thing I know, I'm eating the dust of your driveway. Never saw it coming." he smiled at me and finished the 'wich while I'm sitting there not believing my ears.

"So what have you been up to?" he asked me and returned the milk back to the fridge. So I told him, about the flight, arriving, Adam and the rest and everything up to this point. He listened carefully and nodded at the right time. Everybody might not know it but Lester Santos is the worlds best listener. I finished the story and the apple. I stood up and he followed me to my bedroom. He sat on the bed waiting as I put some clothes on. I choose a pair of dark shorts and turquoise top as it was near 25 degrees C (77 degrees F) out. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and walked back out. He was sitting on the same spot I left him and I smiled to him. He helped me to make the bed and then I headed for the cup board. He followed me.

"What's this?" he asked when he saw the pillows.

"It's my blankets and pillows. I change them according to my mood." I answered and studied the shelves.

"So, yesterday you were calm and relaxed?" he said reading the list.

"Yes, after I changed the red ones away." I answered and grabbed the multicolored ones, confused. I threw them on the bed and walked to my gun closet. Lester whistled as I opened the doors.

"Wow." he said.

"Yeah. I like to keep my employees safe." I said and took my favorite handgun from the shelf. I put it in the back of my shorts and closed the door. "I'll get your guns back today."

"Thanks" Lester answered and looked pleased. I knew ho much they hated to be without them. We exited the apartment and I ran in to see if Adam's awake. The bed was empty so I figured he had and ran back to Lester and walked down the stairs.

"So... What are you going to tell Ranger?" I asked him as we landed on second floor.

"That I had asked to use your computer to do a search, not telling you what search and that Vinnie goes has a sister named Charlotte." he answered with and even I believed him. I smiled.

"Thanks. I owe you."

We landed on the first floor and he walked towards the guesthouse to tell Ranger the news. I watched him a while and then walked through the kitchen and to the basement.

There was full mayhem in the computer room as there was at least 20 persons doing searches and watching the monitors. I did a fast round and when I was satisfied, I walked to the little gym we had in the basement to sweat out my miseries.

After I had taken a shower I walked back to control room/computer room and saw that Adam was standing watching the noticeboard. I walked over and stood besides him.

"Hey."

"Hey." he answered and smiled at me. "You scared me half to death with your ice cold toes last night."

"Sorry." I said and glanced at the board. There in the middle was Ranger's e-mail to me. "Lester knows."

"He does?" he said surprised.

"Yeah, but that's okay. He won't tell Ranger." I said and looked at the other notes on the board. One caught my attention. Carl Petrucha had been realised from Wandsworth prison. He was the one who had shot me, trying to kill me. My hand went instinctively to the scar on my stomach, an inch above my bellybutton. He had promised that he'd hunt me down and finish what he had started. I shivered.

"Don't worry, you'll be safe here." Adam said and hugged me.

"It's not myself that I'm worried about. It's everybody else that I'm worried about. You'll get yourself killed."

"You have trained us well, no maniac's going to stop us." I smiled at his attempt to cheer me up.

"I need a cup cake and bad."

Adam led my way up to the kitchen and the cup board. I took one banana-chocolate muffin and sat down by the table. Just then Ranger and his crew walked in. Lester winked at me and I smiled. Ranger looked confused and decided to ignore that and walked to the sink to drink some water.

"I don't want to alarm you guys, but a Carl Petrucha has been realised from a nearby prison and he got some bad feelings against me. I don't think you'll be in danger but keep close to the house and your eyes open. I'll get your guns back soon." I said to them and they nodded calmly, all but Lester. He seemed more panicked than the others and I hoped he didn't blow the cover. I mouthed 'I'll talk to you later' and he relaxed a bit.

"Thank you for the heads up." Ranger said as he dried his face on a towel. "We thought we'll head for the gym now."

"Okay. Can I talk to Santos a moment. It's about the computer you borrowed." I said and Ranger nodded. They left and Lester walked over to the table and sat down.

"You want to hear about Petrucha?" I asked and he nodded. I told him the story, showed him the scar and he looked grim.

"That son of a bitch." he said and clenched his fists. Adam nodded at him, agreeing with that assessment.

"It's fine, just keep your eyes open." I said and looked up as Mark walked into the room with a bag. He set it on the table and ruffled my hair.

"Here's the guns. Hey I want to challenge you in swimming again. My ego's healed again." he said, referring to a time a few weeks ago when we had raced in swimming, me winning.

"You sure? Don't want that big ego of yours getting all bruised again." I answered to him. He laughed and left the room. I looked in the bag and then handed it to Lester.

"Here's your guns as I promised."

He looked pleased and left to let the others know. I leaned back on the chair and sighed. Adam sat down and ate the last piece of cup cake.

"I'm tired." I said to him and he looked sympathetic. "I'll head upstairs to make a few calls and searches. I'll be back 'til lunch."

As I walked upstairs my thoughts wandered all over the place. Lester was right, Ranger had lost his edge. He seemed more distant and closed. He wasn't Ranger anymore, and I felt a little bit sorry for him. Then I remembered what he had done to me and decided that this was right for him.

I made a few calls but couldn't focus at all. Ranger and Petrocha kept bothering me and I had to stop the calling. I made a few searches and signed a few bonds and then decided that I had enough time to take a bath. Maybe that would help me concentrate on the business. I let the water pour and took my clothes of. I slid into the bath and sighed. If something was heaven, it was this.

Ranger kept surfacing in my mind. The poor man was lost. He thought I was Vinnie's sister and believed all the lies I told him. The old Ranger wouldn't have fallen for that. He would have recognized me the moment I stepped on those stairs, he would have come to me and kissed me and told me that he loved me and that he was sorry. This Ranger just stood there at loss of words and quiet. I felt... guilty.

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