I decided to give myself an hour to re-group before I went to be with my family. I love my family, I truly due, but it's hard to be around them for so long with emotions high. I followed Ranger to a little greasy spoon diner a few blocks away. He seemed like a nice guy, I just needed some time to ask him questions. I wasn't sure when I'd be able to ask those questions.

We sat at a corner booth, his back to the wall. He ordered coffee and a bagel. I got soda and fries. I couldn't stop fidgeting under his scrutiny. "You're taking this well, A bit too well."

"I think I'm having an appropriate response."

"Having a meeting with a stranger. You kind of threw yourself into a dangerous situation."

"You don't need to make it sound like I'm crazy. I'm mentally preparing myself. Last time I checked that wasn't a crime."

"No, but shooting a man is." He said this under his breath. He stared intently at the countertop. "Look, I have ulterior motive here, I'm not a nice guy, I shot a man today and now I'm having lunch with his daughter. Hell, I don't even you're your name."

"What did he do?" He looked at me in surprise

"Your father?"

"No, the Kane Jason. FTA is what I think Joe called it."

"He raped a teenage girl and assaulted the arresting officers, he had just kidnapped his ex girlfriend and taken her into the building. I got the call and sent teams out. We got eyes on her and he slipped out." He trailed off. He was looking past me, like he was reliving it. "Babe your father saved her life. He's a hero in many people's eyes."

"He was a hero to me before this." Ranger looked at me and gripped my hand. I checked my phone and saw my hour was out. He saw it and grabbed it before I could protest.

"Putting my number in, you need anything, you call. Call me later today and tell me how you're doing." I nodded and got up.

"I'll call. Bye Ranger."

"Bye Babe. Hey what's your name anyway?" I looked over my shoulder.

"Stephanie Plum. But keep Babe, it's hot."

Ok, so maybe I am a little crazy. I knew I would be in for it when I got to my parent's, but I never thought I'd have to climb out the bathroom window again. It all kinda started when I saw a giant mob outside their house. My family's neighbors and friends, and every burger on their porch, yard, and driveway, camped out with casseroles and fruit baskets. I pushed and shoved my way through the crowd to the front door. A trail of people behind me where calling my name and I ignored them. My grandmother opened the door, her head held high. We made eye contact and she reached out to me. I buried my head into her hair, inhaling the smell of her hair spray. I broke away after a moment and addressed he burg behind us.

"Not one of you are welcome here right now. You're not here for support," Jaws dropped and heads rolled, "In fact, you all are just nosey bitches. Fuck off." Everyone just stared at me. Grandma squeezed my hand. We walked inside. As soon as the door closed, we just started laughing.

"I can't believe you told the whole damn burg to fuck off."

"Yes, that's just hilarious Stephie." Grandma and I sobered quickly. Looks like queen bitch is still here. "While, you've been out having lunch with some strange Mexican man, I've been the responsible one and took care of mother, I also had to start another pot roast because the last one was dried out." I don't know what exactly pissed me off, was it Val's tone, or her racist comment, maybe her indignant lift of her chin. But I was done taking her shit, through this entire wedding process, I've done nothing right for her, spending my time and money making sure everything was perfect.

"You sound so condescending toward my friend. You weren't like that after you screwed Julio Pasa and his three brothers." Val's jaw dropped, she probably thought nobody knew about that, guess again dear sister.

"I don't have to take this, I'm going home." She pushed past me and grabbed her coat and stormed out, the door slamming against the frame. I turned to grandma, she rubbed my arms.

"C'mon, let's have some hot chocolate and you tell me about Frank." I followed her to my mother's pristine kitchen.

"Where's Ma?"

"Upstairs sleeping, she drained her ice tea." An hour and a half later I was on my way home. I told grandma everything. I was in some sort of shock, numb from the pain, but still very aware of what happened. My chest physically hurt, it was an empty ache. I went straight to my bedroom and flopped down on my bed. I stripped down to my underwear and bra.

"Nice babe." I shot up, grabbing my blankets, trying and failing to preserve my modesty.

"The hell are you doing here!"