Disclaimer: See ch. 1
Spoilers: Through 14
A/N: Thanks to everyone who's still reading and reviewing, you guys keep me writing. I was reading through my previous chapters the other day to make sure that I hadn't left anything hanging, and I realized that I forgot about Grandma! LOL So we'll hear from her in this chapter. So, here we go!
"What?" I asked quickly, refusing to believe that the anger was directed at me. I mean, we made love…had sex, just this morning. What could I possibly have done between then and now? I'd been asleep. "What's wrong?" I said, knowing that I very well might not get an answer.
Ranger's black eyes pinned me in place. "We've had a visit from Mortars," he finally ground out from between clenched teeth.
"Wha…how…"
Ranger stood abruptly from behind his desk and walked around it to me. He took my arm and pulled me to the door.
"Ranger, what…"
"I've got a meeting with the team leaders in about two minutes, you're coming."
Without waiting for an answer, Ranger tugged me out the door and down the hall to one of the smaller meeting rooms.
Tank, Lester, Bobby, Cal, Manny, and Zero were there waiting for us. They stopped talking and looked up as we entered. Nobody said anything while Ranger pulled out a chair for me and took the seat to my left. Finally, Ranger spoke.
"Edwin Mortars stopped by this morning."
He motioned towards the flat screen TV at the back of the room. We all swiveled our heads to the screen. Ranger used a remote to hit play.
The street in front of the entrance to the Rangeman garage appeared. A few seconds later, Edwin Mortars strolled up and smirked at the camera. He gave a small wave, then took something out of his pocket. We watched as he approached the garage door and attached something to it, then cool-as-a-cucumber he walked off the screen. Not a half a second later, Hector came running out of the garage, gun in hand. He yelled something which we couldn't hear. Vince ran out of the garage a few seconds behind Hector. There was a second or two pause, then Hector jerked and fell to the ground, and Vince raised his gun and fired in the direction Mortars had gone.
I reached out involuntarily for Ranger. He flinched when my hand touched his leg. I pulled it back quickly, but Ranger reached over and grabbed it, placing it back on his thigh.
The screen went blank for a few seconds, then the street appeared again, only at a different angle. We watched as Mortars walked calmly down the street, away from Rangeman. Suddenly, as if he'd been called, he turned and whipped out his gun. He fired one shot, then sprinted across the street to a black mid-size sedan parked at the curb. He got into the passenger's side, and the thing took off around the corner.
Ranger shut off the TV and cleared his throat.
"Hector is at the hospital now. Gunshot wound to the shoulder. He should be fine. I'm headed over there as soon as we're done here. Vince tried to chase the car down, but they had too much of a head start. Tech boys are trying to get a plate off the video, but they don't have much to work with."
His voice was low and dangerous. Someone had challenged him on his own turf, injured one of his men.
His fingers tightened around mine as he motioned to Lester with his other hand. Les pulled out a note inside of a clear plastic evidence bag.
"Read it aloud," Ranger commanded.
Lester cleared his throat. "Dear whore."
There were muffled curses, a few angry grunts, Ranger pulled me closer to him.
"My boss wasn't too happy that you got away once he found out what he lost. Let's just say that I'm not the only bad guy in town looking to spend a little quality time with the Bombshell Bounty Hunter."
I almost laughed. How arrogant of him to think that he could possibly be the only bad guy after me. Hell, I had at least one a month, lately.
"You should just pray that he finds you first, because I'm not looking to get too friendly. I'm going to kill you, and pay back your boyfriend for ruining my life."
I spoke before I could stop myself. "What is it with people thinking you're my boyfriend?"
Ranger growled low under his breath. I shivered.
"Go on," Ranger told Lester.
"If you're lucky, Trotter might keep you as a gambling piece. I told him it wouldn't work. Manoso's one hard-ass mother-fucker. No way he'd give up his crusade just to save some piece of ass. Best of luck, Eddie."
"Shit," Bobby muttered.
The sentiment was a common one around the table.
"Enough," Ranger said, and the room fell silent. "Show them what else the bastard left."
Lester flipped a picture onto the table and the guys passed it around. The muttered curses and the furtive glances my way told me that it wasn't anything good. When the picture finally reached me, I looked down at it and gasped.
It was a picture of me, running full-tilt down Lenning Street. It must have been taken about five seconds before Tank, Les, and Bobby picked me up. That wasn't the awful part, though. No, what had me on the verge of throwing up were red crosshairs lined up over the back of my head.
Ranger took the picture from me and flipped it over in front of him.
"There's no way of knowing whether that picture was taken through a rifle or not," Tank said.
"We have to assume it was," Ranger replied. "Which means that Mortars could have killed her and he chose not to."
"The guy's nuts," Manny said.
"He's a loose cannon," Lester said. "Completely unpredictable."
"What's the plan Rangeman?"
"We're going after Trotter."
No one spoke. No one moved.
"It was our plan anyway," Ranger said. "We need him out of Trenton. We do it now. Once Trotter's gone, Mortars has no backing. If he's smart, he'll get the hell out of Dodge."
"Bu…bu…but, he's a drug dealer," I spluttered. "You can't…he's…it's too dangerous."
Ranger turned slowly in his chair and regarded me.
"Babe."
"Ranger, there has to be another way. I won't have you and your men getting into a fight with a drug lord over me and my little stalker."
His eyes narrowed and he drew in a long, slow breath. "Everyone out," he muttered. "Gather your teams. Meeting in conference room C downstairs in twenty."
Chairs scraped back and everyone stood. As I went to rise as well, Ranger's hand clamped down on my arm.
"Not you," he growled.
The men filed out of the room and Tank shut the door behind him. It closed with an ominous click.
I turned back to Ranger.
"Look, Ranger, I…"
"I need you to promise me that you're not going to do anything stupid," Ranger said.
"What?"
"I'm going after Trotter, Stephanie. I need to know that you're not going to go off on some hair-brained scheme and try to solve this on your own. Let me handle this one."
I scooted back from him and stood from my chair.
"Ranger, I…"
"Babe, you don't have to worry about me."
Stupid ESP. Had I said that I was worried about him? No. Well, I had mentioned that his plan was too dangerous.
"Stephanie, I've dealt with men like Trotter before. Hell, I brought down a whole drug cartel in South America once." He smiled grimly up at me. "I've survived on my own for three weeks in the desert with insurgent forces on my heels. I think I can handle Trotter."
I paced across the room and back to him.
"What are you going to do?"
He watched me for a moment, his face blank, his eyes unreadable.
"I haven't really got that planned out yet. Kind of depends on what info my connections have for me. Besides, you don't need to know the details." He grabbed my hand and tugged me down onto his lap. "C'mere, babe."
I sat reluctantly, until he slid his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. I snuggled into his warm chest and sighed deeply. I heard Ranger chuckle.
We sat like that for a few moments, then Ranger placed a hand beneath my chin and tipped my face up. He kissed my lips once, gently, then pulled back to look at me.
"I need you to promise me, babe, that you'll stay in the building today. It'll go down tonight. I need you to stay here until I…" He paused briefly and his eyes slid away from mine. "—or one of my men, tell you otherwise.
I grabbed onto his face with both hands and pulled him back to me. "You'll tell me," I whispered. I think we both knew it was my way of asking him to promise me that he'd come back.
He nodded slowly, almost reluctantly. "I'll tell you."
"Okay," I said. "I promise."
He looked a bit shocked. "Really? You'll stay here until I tell you it's safe?
"Yes." I nodded.
He stared at me for a moment, then he crushed me to his chest and pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead.
"Thank you, Stephanie. Knowing that you're here and safe will allow me to do my job more effectively."
"But I won't know that you're safe," I mumbled into his chest.
His arms tightened and his lips found my ear. "Stephanie, I…"
The door swung open and Tank popped his big head in and cleared his throat.
"Sorry, boss, but Marco Doñez is on line two. He heard about the business with Trotter and bombshell, and he's worried."
Ranger nodded against my head. "Tell him I'll be right with him."
Tank left the room, closing the door again behind him.
Ranger put his hands on my shoulders and set me back in my own chair.
"Doñez is the big drug lord in Trenton," he told me. "He's the reason we needed Trotter out of Trenton in the first place."
I nodded. "He doesn't like competition."
"No," Ranger said, a sparkle of what might have been pride in his eye, "he doesn't. I told him I'd take care of it in order to avoid a street war."
I nodded.
Ranger stood and pulled me up with him. He tugged me into his chest and brought his lips down to mine. The kiss was slow and hot and more passionate than any kiss I'd ever felt. I poured everything I had into the mating of our lips and tongues. When we finally pulled apart we were both breathing heavy.
"Dios, bebé."
Ranger pressed his forehead to mine and just held me like that for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, he pulled away and kissed me gently on the forehead. Then, he headed to the door.
"Try not to go too crazy today," he told me with a small grin.
"And you try not to get shot," I said quietly. I couldn't quite muster a return smile.
He walked back over to me, determination all over his face. His fingers laced into the hair at the back of my neck and he pulled me up for another scorching kiss.
He pulled back and leaned down to look into my eyes. "I'll be in strategy meetings all day, so in case I don't see you before I leave tonight, know this: I will try my hardest to come home to you, babe." His hands framed my face and his lips tipped up gently at the corners. "And I'd better come home in the morning to find you safe in my bed."
I nodded, unable to find my voice after that kiss. Ranger smiled gently and pulled away. He turned at the door and pinned me with one last, unreadable look, then he was gone.
Ten minutes later, I found myself back on seven, sitting on Ranger's couch. I was staring at my cell phone in dismay. I had six new voice messages. They were probably all from my mother. I sucked in a fortifying breath and dialed my voice mail.
"Message one: Stephanie, this is your mother. I've been calling your home phone all morning, but you don't pick up. Are you alright? Call me."
"Message two: Stephanie, it's your mother again. I know that you're upset about Joseph, but you can't hide out forever. It's time to get back out there."
Funny, she sounded almost like a mother.
"You're not getting any younger, you know."
Ah, and there is the Helen Plum we all know and love.
"Message three: Hey, Steph, I heard about you and Joe. What a dick-face. Call me if you want to talk."
Good ole' Mary-Lou. She was such a great friend. I could always count on her to take my side, even if she didn't know what my side was.
"Message four: White girl, what's this I hear 'bout you and Supercop splittin' up? This mean you goin' after Batman now? I bet you're with him right now, huh? Hidin' out in the batcave or some shit." Lula's voice sobered. "Be careful, girl. Jackie tells me word on the street is Trotter's holdin' a grudge on you. Call me."
God, if I'd known what a good friend Lula would turn out to be when I rescued her off my fire escape what seemed like ages ago, well…I don't think I'd have done a thing differently.
"Message five: It's your mother, Stephanie. I called your house phone first, but it said it's been disconnected."
Shit, I'd forgotten to pay the phone bill. Which reminds me, the rent is due soon, as well. Fuck.
"Are you alright, Stephanie? Do you need money?" There was a short silence as if she were waiting for an answer, or maybe taking a swig of Grey Goose. "Your grandmother has been asking about you. She got back the day before yesterday and she's just about moved into Liam's house. Call soon."
Crap, I'd totally forgotten about Grandma and Liam in all this mess.
"Message six: Cupcake…I'm sorry…Please call me."
Oh yeah fucking right. Like that was going to happen. What the hell gave him the idea that it would be smart to call at all. For all he knew, I was going to sic Ranger and all the Merry Man on him.
I deleted all of my messages and called Lula and Mary-Lou. I related the whole Morelli story – cheating and all – and filled them in on Mortars and Trotter. They both seemed disproportionately happy that I was hiding out with Ranger. They both volunteered to exact revenge on Morelli. Lula said that she would pop a cap in his ass. I quickly squashed that idea. No need for Lula to end up in the slammer over that pond scum. Mary-Lou said she'd start a rumor that he'd become impotent. I let that one fly.
When those two calls were through, I sat back and contemplated the pros and cons of calling my mother back. Yes, she'd want explanations. Yes, she'd probably be ironing the paper towels over the fact that I was living in sin with Ranger. But if I didn't call now, she'd just keep trying. And I really did want to talk to Grandma.
Mom answered on the second ring.
"Hello, Plum residence."
"Hi, mom, it's me."
"Stephanie? Oh, thank goodness. I was afraid you were holed up in your apartment, mooning over Joe, eating yourself into a sugar coma."
"Believe me, mom, there was never any mooning. And really, I'm fine. I'm not even upset about Joe anymore."
I wasn't sure I should admit that I hadn't really been to upset over it to begin with.
"So why haven't you been answering your phones then?"
"Um…" Good question. "Well, I've been staying with a friend."
"Not Mary-Lou," Mom said. "I just saw her yesterday. She said she hadn't heard form you either."
I rolled my eyes and sank back into the sofa.
"No, mom, not Mary-Lou."
"Who, then?"
"…Ranger. But, listen, mom…"
"Why me? Bernadette Pearson's daughter doesn't sleep around with big Hispanic men who carry guns."
"Mom," I gasped. "I'm not…"
"Oh Lord, there's someone after you again, isn't there?"
I didn't answer her. I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've ever heard my mother take the Lord's name in vain. I stared off into the space in front of me and waited for the bomb to drop.
"Stephanie Michelle Plum, why can't you just go and get a nice, quiet job at the button factory?"
I sighed. I'd contemplated this recently. The answer then had been Ranger. What would Ranger do at a button factory? I suppose the answer hadn't changed.
My mother continued, completely unaware of my inner musings. "Or McNabb's pharmacy is hiring cashiers. I hear they have a great benefits package. You could settle down."
I opened my mouth to remind her that Joe and I were over and I wasn't going back to the lying, cheating rat bastard, but she hurried on.
"It doesn't have to be with Joseph. Just find a nice young man who makes you happy and settle down, dear."
"Mom," I said gently, "I don't think I'm ready to settle down yet. And I like my job. Please accept that. Everything is going to be okay."
"Stephanie, I just…"
"Please, mom."
There was a long silence, then mom's voice came back on the line, quieter than before.
"You know I love you, right Stephanie?"
I nodded, a lump coming to my throat. "Of course, mom."
"I just want you to be safe and happy."
I scrunched my eyes shut to keep the tears in.
"I'm happy, mom. And Ranger is keeping me safe."
"Good," I heard her whisper. "Good. I guess you probably can't come over for dinner since there's someone after you."
Ironic, I thought, since this was the first time in a lot of years that I actually wouldn't mind going.
"No, sorry mom, I can't."
"That's alright. Just be safe. And call your grandmother. She's been calling here three times a day asking if I've heard from you yet." She rattled off a number which I wrote down on the notepad next to Ranger's landline.
"I'll call her, mom. Tell daddy I said, Hi."
"Of course, dear."
"And, mom? I love you, too."
I thought I heard her sniffle right before she hung up.
Well, that went much better than expected. A little awkward, but probably the most successful conversation I'd had with my mother in years.
I took a few moments to pull myself back together, then I dialed Grandma's new number.
Grandma went on and on about her shotgun wedding with Liam. Apparently, the guy who'd married them had been dressed like Elvis, and there had been red velvet hearts all over the walls. She gushed about how in love they were, and how great Liam was in the sack (Ewwww!).
"We're planning a big reception for our families in a few weeks," she told me. "You'd better be there. And bring your big hunka bounty hunter, too."
"How did you…" I hadn't said a thing about Ranger. In fact, I hadn't gotten much more than a few ohhh's and ahh's in since she'd answered the phone.
"A grandmother knows these things," she said cryptically. "Besides, he's obviously the one for you."
Yeah, if only it were that simple.
I promised to call again soon and we hung up. I put my phone on the coffee table and sat back to watch some TV.
I must have fallen asleep, because I woke to my phone going off on the table.
"Yo."
"Hey, bomber, it's me, Vince."
"Hey, Vince, what's up? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, Steph. Just wanted to let you know what Lance and I are down here if you need us. Ranger's in the wind for the day. Business meetings, you know."
The word business sounded like it should have air quotes around it.
"Yeah, sure, thanks Vince."
"Oh and the boss said that if you were bored, he's got a special job for you. There's a note about it in his office."
I smiled despite myself. It was just like Ranger to know that keeping me cooped up all day was bound to drive me crazy.
"Thanks, Vince. Oh, how's Hector doing?"
Vince laughed. "He's Hector. Trying to convince the doctors that he's fine to come home."
My stomach growled just as I hung up with Vince. I glanced at the clock. 12:32. Awesome. Lunch time.
I headed down to the break room, knowing that it'd be stocked with sandwiches. I grabbed a tuna on rye and headed to Ranger's office.
I shut the door behind me and settled back into Ranger's luxurious chair. I picked up the neatly folded note off the desk in front of me and unfolded it.
MISSION HOUSEKEEPER. It said at the top. Okay, I was intrigued.
I couldn't help but run my fingers over the sharp, precise lines of Ranger's writing as I read the note through.
Babe,
Ella's birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I'd like to throw a little party for her. I'm putting you in charge. The budget is listed below. Use any of the men that you need; they're good at keeping secrets. Be safe. I'll see you in the morning.
R.
I clapped once and rubbed my hands together. A birthday party, now this was my kinda mission.
A/N: Thanks so much for reading! And don't forget to let me know what you thought! I'll probably be posting a couple more chapters of Between the Lines soon, so keep an eye out!
