Kidnapped
Chapter 5: Mary Alice (Or So It Begins)
Once Ranger had pulled to a stop they were met immediately by six men with guns. The car doors were wrenched open and they were pulled forcefully out; the man that grabbed Stephanie dug his fingernails into the soft flesh of her arm and she felt the skin tear. Stephanie's neck tingled as she felt the barrel of one of the rifles up on the closest guard tower point at her skull. She gasped as she was spun around. A hand groped her leather covered ass before delivering a cruel smack; she kicked out blindly, hitting a shin and hearing one of the men scream behind her.
With adrenaline pumping through her veins she twisted away and prepared to kick again but was stopped when she heard a gunshot close to her ear. She screamed, hands clamped over her ears and dropped down to her knees. She sprawled in the dirt when someone kicked her in the back, forcing all of the air out of her lungs. Body aching and lungs burning she heard another shot fired and tried to turn her head to find Ranger.
No matter which way she turned she couldn't see him and started to feel the bitter taste of panic on the back of her tongue.
"¡La parada, la parada!," someone yelled behind her, before a hard, strong hand fisted in her hair and jerked her upwards. She yelped as her scalp was pulled beyond its limits.
An arm wrapped around her middle, keeping her prisoner. Now that she was standing she could see Ranger, still on the other side of the car. He was on his knees now, breathing hard and knuckles bloody. A sneering guard stood over him, a gun pressed into the back of his head. Scattered around them were three fallen cartel members, one alive but unconscious with his face battered and the two others with clearly broken necks. The guard that Stephanie had kicked was limping around and cursing loudly, searching apparently for his gun in the dirt.
The large double doors that opened into the villa swung outward, revealing Bermudez. He was smiling sickly, with a large Cuban cigar dangling from his fingertips. He looked thoroughly entertained.
"Well, well, well Mr. Manoso, I heard you were a dangerous man, but this really is impressive." He kicked the body of lifeless man before him, making the man's neck flop uselessly. "Very impressive actually. In under a minute and a half you managed to kill two of my men and nearly kill a third."
Bermudez, his eyes ablaze with excitement turned towards Stephanie. "Ms. Plum! How nice to finally meet you, the tales of your beauty proceeds you." His eyes swept up and down her body and he licked his lips.
Stephanie felt nothing more than physically ill as his eyes sought out Ranger's, but he could only stare at Bermudez, his hatred for the other man shining bright.
"You really are very succulent… I wouldn't mind a little taste first before passing you around to some of my boys." His hand lifted and caressed her cheek. "You've done very well with her Manoso, she looks every bit like your whore. But I know better, oh yes I do." He giggled and Stephanie shivered in horror. Bermudez just wasn't bad or even evil, he was mentally unstable… he was the thing nightmares were made out of, she was sure of it.
A growl came from behind Bermudez. "Touch her and your death will only be more painful El Diablo."
If Bermudez were what Stephanie's nightmares were made out of, than everyone else's would be from the deadly look on Ranger's face. She knew him (loved him even) and it still made her shiver. This was what made enemies spill their secrets, insurgents pee their pants, and skips hand over their wrists for cuffing willingly.
"You think so Manoso?"
Ranger's head lowered slightly, but his eyes were still raised, making his deep brown irises glint dangerously in the sun; his teeth were bared, making him look more animal than man in that moment. "You have no idea."
Bermudez threw his head back and laughed. "Permítales ir," he instructed his men and Stephanie felt the burly man behind her release his tight hold, and the man holding the gun to Ranger's head took several steps back.
Legs unstable, Stephanie stumbled forward as Ranger rose smoothly to his feet. He steadied her, hand never leaving her forearm even after her legs had stopped shaking. Her whole body still aching with the fear that she didn't want to feel, she pressed her body close to Ranger's, remembering what Bermudez had said to her (a bath in disinfectant was in order, she thought).
"I don't like the game you're playing Bermudez," Ranger said, his other hand moving protectively around Stephanie.
"Just having a bit of fun," he explained, but did not offer any apologies. "They were expendable," continued Bermudez, referring to the two dead men on the ground. "Shall we go inside now?"
Bermudez moved aside and gestured towards the large, grand house, smiling politely… too politely. Confused and with her heart still beating like crazy, she followed Ranger inside.
The villa was flashy, filled with marble and gold finishing on the intricate moldings. While Delgado's HQ had been understated (looking more like an office building than anything else), Bermudez liked to show his wealth as loudly as possible.
They were led to a large study with leather chairs, a mahogany desk and bookshelves, and an oversized picture window that overlooked the courtyard. Bermudez gestured to two chairs and they sat down, Ranger having to reluctantly let her go. The room was oppressively silent besides the tinkling of glasses and the pouring of liquid as Bermudez dished out three tumblers of brandy. He handed one to Ranger and then Stephanie, keeping the third for himself. He took a long drag from his cigar and then drank, watching them closely. Stephanie didn't even to look at Ranger to know that she shouldn't drink from the offered glass, and frankly the expectant, excited look on Bermudez's face was enough to know that it wasn't just brandy.
Schooling her face into what she hoped was an innocent, apologetic expression, she handed the glass back to Bermudez. "I'm not actually a big drinker, but thank you anyways."
Bermudez's grin faltered, turning into a short glare before he quickly covered it up with a simpering smile. Ranger simply sat his glass to the side and quirked one of his brows as if to say did you really think we were going to drink that?
"Well Mr. Manoso, I suppose that we have a lot to talk over, don't we?" Bermudez began, finishing off the rest of his brandy with a gulp.
Ranger, his face blank of course, nodded. "Yes, we do but before we get started, I need to see proof that the girl is alive."
Bermudez walked around his desk and hit the button on a little square gizmo that Stephanie assumed was an intercom system.
"Traiga a la chica aquí dentro," he spoke, stuffing his hands into his pockets after he was done, and then whistled as they waited.
Stephanie tried to sit as calmly and patiently as Ranger was, but she just couldn't manage it, and ended up fidgeting. She took a few deep breaths and then let everything out in a great woosh when the door to the study opened. She turned in her seat and watched, wide eyed as Mary Alice was brought into the room. Besides the glare the little girl leveled at Bermudez she seemed perfectly normal, fine even. When she saw Stephanie her face lit up and she dropped on all fours to gallop over to her aunt.
"Aunt Steph!" she cried, catapulting herself into Stephanie's arms.
A wave of relief like Stephanie had never felt swept through her and she held the little girl tightly, willing away the tears that were threatening to fall. Mary Alice held onto Stephanie's neck tightly, her thin little-girl arms almost cutting off her air supply.
Mary Alice turned her face into Stephanie's neck and she could feel the wet tears that were running down the little girl's face. "They're bed men Aunt Steph," she whispered softly. "And Daddy's bad too."
Stephanie's heart froze and she turned to kiss Mary Alice's wet cheek. How were they ever going to explain to Mary Alice and Angie about their father?
"I know Sweety, we're going to get you out of here really soon okay, I promise."
Mary Alice shuddered. "They watch me Aunt Steph, it's weird," she mumbled. "And they're mean, I want to go home."
Bermudez chuckled. "She's such an interesting child… I'd simply hate for that strong spirit to be broken, such a tragedy."
Stephanie's arms tightened further. It took every ounce of willpower she had not to fly up out of her chair and attack Bermudez with her bare hands – she thought she could do quite a lot of damage to him too. But she remembered what Ranger had told her about not making herself more of a target than she already was and sunk lower in her seat. She WOULD NOT let Ranger down, he was counting on her.
She snuck a glance at Ranger and caught him glancing at her at the same time. And for the first time she thought that they successively ESPed. With one look he was promising her everything to get Mary Alice back – she didn't doubt him.
"Many of my men have bruised shins from her kicks, not very often that you see little girls who think they are horses. It's taken every ounce of my power to insure that my men don't retaliate. Such an interesting child, really."
Bermudez stepped forward and attempted to stroke Mary Alice's tangled brown hair but before his fingertips could even touch one strand, Stephanie twisted her arms so that Mary Alice was cuddled into her side. Bermudez ended up touching Stephanie's cheek instead. She made herself not flinch at feeling of his cold, rough fingertips on her skin and stared the man straight in the eye.
"I think you are something quite extraordinary too Stephanie Plum. I have met many extraordinary women. They are the funnest to hear scream," Bermudea purred, eyes bright and crazy with mirth.
Ranger's answering growl was fierce and predatory. Bermudez reluctantly removed his hand and stepped back. "No need to worry Mr. Manoso, I never mix business with pleasure."
He snapped his fingers at the guard that stood near the door and gestured to Mary Alice. "Quite a la chica," he ordered, turning to take a seat in the seat behind the desk.
The guard stepped forward and took Mary Alice from Stephanie's arms, tugging forcefully for a split second before Stephanie relaxed her arms, letting Mary Alice be taken back. The little girl, apparently used to his treatment already, turned to glare at the guard.
"You're not very nice," she stated firmly before twisting her little body around and aiming a kick at the general direction of the man's stomach. The guard held Mary Alice far out in front of him and took her back out through the doors, letting them close behind him in a hollow, gut-wrenching bang.
Stephanie stifled a sob and felt Ranger's hand on her arm. The moment that Mary Alice had been lifted out of her arms she had felt empty. Getting her back and then having to give her back was a sort of pain that she never wanted to experience again.
"So then Mr. Manoso, we are in full understanding then?"
"Yes."
Bermudez smiled, tipping his chair back. "Good, once Hernandez is dead, then you will get Ms. Marrino back. Unless you try to change the rules of our game, then Ms. Marrino will be returned to you unharmed."
At the blank, cold-as-steel look on Ranger's face, Bermudez cocked his head to the side. "But perhaps a demonstration is in order."
"No demonstration is necessary," Ranger replied curtly.
"Oh, but I rather think it is." Bermudez put his finger to the button, spoke a few words of quick Spanish and then sat back again. He looked practically gleeful now, like they were finally getting to part that he'd been looking forward to the most.
The door opened one more time and this time Stephanie didn't turn around, because deep down she already knew who it was. The soft squeaking of wheelchair wheels was the first thing they heard as the body of Steve Marrino was wheeled in front of them, his head slumped oddly forward. His neck had been broken and a knife thrust into his scull, piercing the area of his frontal lobe. Blood had saturated his clothes. From the looks of things he'd been dead for many hours. Stephanie averted her eyes and worked on making sure her breakfast stayed in her stomach where it belonged. She had seen more than her fair share of dead bodies but nothing ever like that. Whoever had killed him, had taken great pleasure in it.
"Your point has been made," said Ranger, his voice controlled but deadly.
Bermudez laughed heartily and the guard wheeled Steve's body back out. Stephanie grasped the arms of the chair tightly, closing her eyes as he was wheeled past her – the beginning stench of death wafting over her. Her stomach heaved.
"Is there anything more we need to discuss?" Ranger asked.
Bermudez sighed. "No, I believe that is it. It is a shame that you both have to leave so quickly, the fun was just beginning, but there is a man to kill after all."
Ranger nodded and rose, taking Stephanie's hand and lifting her out of the chair. He supported her out of the door and down the long corridor, Stephanie having lost most of the feeling in her legs. Her head spinning and dizzy as she went into the beginnings of shock, she grasped one of Ranger's arms tightly while her body shook.
Before she even really knew what was happening he was hoisting her into the car, buckling her into the passenger seat and walking around to the driver's side and getting in. He stuck the key in the ignition and started the car before accelerating out into the street.
He drove quickly, taking sharp turns and getting them out of the area as quickly as possible. When they were far enough away from Bermudez's villa, Ranger glanced over at her.
"Talk to me Babe, I need you to focus on me."
Feeling cold and clammy, she tried to breathe.
"I—I can't breathe," she gasped, lightheadedness sinking in as her vision danced before her. The sobs started next.
The car pulled over and then he was unbuckling her seatbelt and lifting her over the consol and into his lap so that her back was against his front. His arm wrapped around her and pulled her tightly to him so that with each one of his breaths her body moved with his. "Breathe with me Babe, concentrate on how I'm breathing."
Able to feel how his chest rose and fell with each breath, she copied him, breathing with him until the tight feeling in her chest was gone. A minute or two later the tears stopped as well with only the occasional hiccup.
"He's crazy Ranger…" she whispered. "My niece is being held captive by a crazy nut job who likes to hurt people for fun."
He turned her in his lap so that they were facing each other and kissed her softly, lips playing gently over hers. Ranger cupped her cheek, wiping away the memory of what Bermudez's fingers had felt like on her skin.
He helped her climb back over the center console and then pulled back out on the street when she was rebuckled. They drove in silence, Ranger in his zone, but her hand was still being held in his as they made their way back to the white van.
A/N: Thank you to all of my reviewers and readers, you guys are great! Next chapter should be up next weekend. :)