Better than myself Part 7

(Sequel to As a Man)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm not making any money, and all the wonderful characters belong to the lovely JE. I would steal them if I could, just to make Stephanie make a choice.

Disclaimer: for language

Joe's POV

I was so pissed when Steph and Manoso both disappeared at the same time, making me look like a fool. Everyone assumed that they were gone somewhere together. It was common knowledge that they had something going on. I know that everybody at the station is constantly laughing at me when I called Stephanie my girlfriend. They think that I don't here when they say; she is Joe's girlfriend, but Ranger's woman in every way.

When the disappearance happened without a word to anyone, I was starting to look like a lovesick puppy, just being lead around by my cock. I had to defend myself; I started talking about how Steph was off somewhere "paying" off her debt to Rangeman. What surprised me is when Lula and Connie started talking, giving validity to my story. The gossip was on and in the 'Burg, gossip means more than truth. I played the part of the hurt betrayed party, who just wanted to love Stephanie, but her head was turned by all the money and the muscle. I was telling everyone that after I knew what she did with all of those men, those men that were so unlike our kind, that I could never take her back without a lot of changes. What I didn't tell anyone, that the thought of her with all of those men, kind of turned me on.

When Manoso was done with her, she will have to beg me to take her back. Beg publicly and often, because I am her last hope, no respectable man will ever want her again. She is never going to be the perfect 'Burg wife, but she is mine. She has been mine since I was 8 years old. Nothing about that will change; we are not over until I say it is over.

I finally heard from Connie, that Steph has resurfaced at the bonds office, where Vinnie promptly fired her. Connie has always been great for getting information. She told me every time Ranger and Steph were in the alley kissing and whatever else they were doing back there. Connie would tell me anything I wanted to know for a little piece of the "Italian Stallion". We have spent a lot of time in that same alley. Connie is a very willing lay; she will do all the things that Steph is too frigid to handle.

I now know she is around, I am on a mission to find her and tell her that she is mine and it's time to come back home. But there will be some big changes, no more running around like she could do anything, but make babies. No more embarrassing me or her family by playing as a bond enforcement agent, no more hanging around Ranger or those men. None of it, it will be time for her to grow up and become my wife. If I have to take her away from Trenton to make that happen. Then that is what I will do.

The longer I go without catching up to her, the longer she goes without calling me, the angrier I become.

Don't I mean anything to her? I have worked so hard to make her mine, now she is going to make me a laughing stock.

I went to her apartment and the locks have been changed. That punk Dillion said she moved, and didn't give a real forwarding address, just a P.O. Box.

What the fuck? She isn't in any of her usual spots, and the more I think about it, the more I am sure she is either living with Manoso or at the very least living in that building. She never gave up her apartment for me! No, this is not happening this way. I want to confront her, but I can't go to his turf to do it, I need to get her alone. He has brain washed her, seduced an innocent white girl from the 'Burg with his money and stolen cars.

She is MINE, I don't know why she doesn't see it, I know I can make her see; we are always the best when we were in the bed. I just need to get her underneath me and she will remember.

When I finally do see her, it is at the most unexpected place, at a drug store on the outskirts of town. I was there buying condoms so I could go see if Connie had any more information about Stephanie. And there she is, getting out of a black SUV. I don't even notice who is with her. I am just so (happy, relieved, pissed?) to see her, I just react, completely focused on her.

"Cupcake! Where have you been, you mom and I have been so worried?"

She just does a little finger wave and says "Hi!" like nothing should be wrong. Is she crazy? She is my girlfriend and she disappears without a thought or a call.

I walk up to her and try to kiss her and she turns her head, to just give me her cheek and takes a step back. What is this? Now, she is too good to kiss me? I grab her arm and start pulling her with me, but she is being stubborn.

"No, Joe I am sorry, I can't go with you right now. We do need to talk, but I can't do it now. Can I call you?"

What? She just wants to call me, does she think now that I have found her I am ever just going to let her out of my sight again?

"NO, CUPCAKE, THIS IS GOING TO STOP! You can't just do whatever you want, go with who you want, whenever you think you want to. You belong to me, why don't you see that?" I am trying not to cause a scene. But really, does she think she belongs with them, no she belongs to me.

"I spoke to your Mother, and she agrees with me. We have let this go on long enough there are steps that she is willing to take to make sure you start to behave. Now let's go."

When I say those words, I am now sure I have convinced her, I see her start to fold in on herself. I go to grab her, but she pushes me away again.

No, that is not how this is happening! I pick her up and almost get her inside my car, when I notice Tank. I notice him alright, a second before he hits me so hard, that I think I am air born for a few seconds.

I start to yell, from my position on the ground, "Do you think that they will defend you once they know where you belong? I love you, I will help you and I know everything. Do you think Manoso will want you when he discovers how inconvenient you are? What you tried to do to yourself, how much help you really need? Face it; I am all you got, BABE.

She straightens up and looks me straight in the eye, in a way she never has before. "No, Joe, no matter what you or my mother think, I will and I do have Carlos. He will love me, no matter how much of my business you spread in the streets.

I am done with you Joe, I am sorry for how this is happening. I know it is part of my fault for letting this go on as long as it did. But this has to end. If you keep on talking about me, spreading lies about Ranger and his men. I will lay your shit bare, and just remember who has more to lose, Joe."

After that she walks away without a second glance. Leaving me on the ground looking like an ass again.

I have one more hope in making her see reason, one more person who can force her to come back to me. Because Stephanie does belong to me.

Damn, I think my nose is broken.

A/N: This is where the muse led me. I think Joe is a jerk, but I don't think is out right violent. I think he has a sense of entitlement, so as much as this chapter didn't go as dark as I thought it would, I am satisfied with how it came out.

Thanks again for all of your reviews, I have been getting great ideas from them and it is helping me keep the story moving.