Chapter Fifteen

They made it to the airport within a reasonable window. Enough that he was pretty confident The Rug and his wife wouldn't have been able to make it through the backlogged check-in and security lines. He called Silvio while they staked out the terminal, trying to draw as little attention to themselves as possible. Silvio hadn't made any progress either. For all intents and purposes, The Rug had vanished.

"Where do you think they've gone?" Steph asked him, scanning around the airport like she thought she might see something any second. She was more optimistic than he was.

"Hard to say. Even if they don't leave the island, there are nearly a million people on Oahu, about half of them in Honolulu alone. That's a pretty big haystack."

"We're not just giving up, are we?"

Ranger looked at her for a second before he went back to searching the terminal. He didn't want to hand her defeat. "Not yet. If he's not leaving the island, he'll have to stay somewhere. We could canvass a few of the more likely hotels, but we'll have to tread lightly. Don't want to call too much attention to the fact we're looking for him. If by some miracle he hasn't figured out we're here, I don't want to tip him off."

"We could cover more ground if we split up."

He cut his eyes to her again. Trailing through every variable to find some reason that wouldn't be a good idea. Nothing came to mind beyond his own paranoia about having her leave his sight. Knowing that didn't make it any easier. "I'll call Rico. Have him get you a car. If you catch wind of Ruguzzi, don't take him down unless you think you might lose him. You have your accessories?" he asked cryptically, watching airport security wander through the terminal. She nodded. "Good." He caught her with a gentle hand at the back of her neck and kissed her. "Be careful."

"You too," she said.

It made him smile. They both knew she didn't have to say it. He was always careful. But he liked that she cared enough to say it anyway.

o o o

Ranger stayed at the airport for another few hours, just to make sure that the Ruguzzis didn't slip through his fingers. By late afternoon, he was fairly certain they weren't leaving the island. Nothing about this felt like a cut and run. Something had happened to make The Rug check out early, but so far Ranger hadn't found any evidence that it was because he realized there were bounty hunters stalking him.

He spent a few hours hitting the hotels on his portion of the list, but he was meeting resistance. Even when he was charming he still looked like trouble. Nearly six feet of muscle covered in dark skin and black clothes. Not exactly the image that put people at ease. He was betting Stephanie was having more luck. People liked her. Trusted her.

At eight o'clock he called her to check in. "Any luck?"

"Zip. You?"

"My hopes were never high. I say we call it a night. We can make a better plan tomorrow."

He sent her the address for a little hole in the wall he knew from his last job so they could grab some dinner. Mel's. It was in a rougher neighborhood, but then in Ranger's experience the best places often are.

Steph was waiting for him in the Porsche Cayman S Rico had gotten for her. The original plan B. She smiled and tried to look at ease when he opened her door for her. He didn't have any doubt that if he hadn't gotten there seconds after her, she wouldn't have gotten out of the car. He slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head, trying to hold in his smile. If she saw it, he might catch an elbow in the ribs.

They got a booth in the back corner. The bar was dark and crowded, with a far less selective clientele than most of the places they'd been to lately. Ranger was at home just about anywhere, but this was what he was used to. What he'd grown up with. He could tell when Steph finally relaxed too. He figured she liked the fancy restaurants, but she was a blue collar girl at heart. Not used to places that had a dress code.

He ordered a pizza and a pitcher of beer, then settled back to watch the room. He slipped an arm around her, leaning down enough to kiss her just above her ear. "So, what do you want to do now?"

"I don't know. Usually I have more to go on than this. Friends or relatives to follow up on, jobs or common haunts to stake out. This time I've got nothing. I don't even know where to start."

"That's the disadvantage to leaving your home turf. It would be easier if he was still using the same credit cards. If he's picked up a new one we're out of luck."

She blew out a stream of air and the corner of Ranger's mouth twitched. He pulled her closer. "He'll surface again. Even if we lost him this trip, at least we know he's alive. And he still has ties in Jersey. It's only a matter of time before he shows back up in Trenton."

"Doesn't make it any less frustrating."

"No. But I know something we can do that might alleviate some of that stress," he said, kissing her neck. "If you're done with that minute."

"Um."

Ranger drew in a patient breath and eased back in his seat. Trying very hard not to be frustrated. He knew she wanted him. He could see it all over her face. It was in her voice, and the way her body warmed when he touched her. Hell, the pheromones she was putting off were intoxicating. But none of that seemed to be enough. She was holding out for something with a future.

o o o

The Cayman was gone when they left Mel's. Not surprising. He'd texted Rico when he pulled into the lot to let him know they were done with it. Rico had been surprised it survived.

Ranger followed Steph to the passenger side of the 911 to open her door. The moment he got there, though, all he wanted to do was kiss her. He'd been sitting beside her all night, her body pressed into his chest in the booth, her thigh rubbing against his when she shifted in her seat. She might not be ready for him, but he knew damn well that she would let him steal another kiss.

He pressed her into the side of the car and poured everything into that one kiss until her fists were clenching his shirt. Her mouth tasting his with the same intensity he felt. He did nothing to control the images of tearing her clothes off a piece at a time. Maybe she was thinking about it too. Hell. He'd have done it if he thought she would have let him.

It took a second longer than it should have for him to register the red flag. They weren't alone. He froze, listening to the three sets of feet approaching them from behind. They were lean. Lightweight. Sneakers scuffing into the asphalt. Adolescents, most likely. Too silent to be out on the town. He could feel their focus. Heard the faint snick of a blade.

It took Steph a few extra seconds to realize something was wrong. She was squirming against him, her open mouth brushing his lips, begging to be taken. And then she went still. Doing a mental count of her own. Her fingers clenched harder into his shirt.

One of the boys stepped forward. "Alright, Romeo. Hand over your wallet and your lady friend's bag."

His voice was as young as his footsteps. Trembling just enough to show he wasn't a hardened criminal. There weren't any sniggers or catcalls from his friends. This was a move of desperation, not fun. Ranger drew back from Steph, locking his eyes on the nineteen year old over his shoulder. He saw the flash of panic when the kid finally got a good look at him. He must not have looked as intimidating from behind when he was making out with his woman against the side of the car. Now they were starting to understand what they'd really undertaken.

The kid might have considered backing away, but instead he doubled down. Pointed the puny six inch knife at Ranger's face. It was even smaller than the tactical blade he had clipped to his waistband. "Just do it!" the kid cried.

Ranger lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender and turned slowly to face his assailant. Then he snatched the kid's arm out of the air. The kid cried out in pain when his wrist twisted. The knife dropped to the ground.

His friends tried to rush in. They never stood a chance. Ranger had taken on multiple assailants before. Usually people who had a lot more training and deadly intent. This was a little like swatting flies. One of the boys managed to get his blade close enough to slice through Ranger's shirt. He hardly felt it. Barely worth his notice. He knocked the boy back with a punch to the chest and he stumbled over his friend's legs.

The boy broke for Steph and she gasped in panic. Before Ranger had a chance to worry about her though, her fist struck the kid's nose with a crack. He clapped his hands over his face and she kicked him hard. He crumpled to the ground.

Ranger caught one boy's arm and swung him head over heels onto the ground, knocking the other one in the gut. They were struggling to get to their feet, still not giving up. If he didn't make them stop soon, they were going to end up in the hospital. He pulled out his Glock from behind his back and pointed it at the ground just so they could see it. That did the trick. All three of them scurried away in a chorus of fucks and holy shits. He watched them vanish into the shadows. Making sure they were gone before he tucked the gun away again and turned back to Steph. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, but my hand hurts."

"That means you put some real force behind that blow. I'm proud of you," Ranger said. He looked her over. Her knuckles were bloody from breaking the kid's nose, but the rest of her was untouched. He lifted her fist to his lips. "He never saw you coming."

"You probably don't get mugged very often, huh?"

"I have a certain reputation in Trenton. Bad guys there know better."

"You didn't get to shoot anyone."

"There's always tomorrow."

Her hands had started to shake, the adrenaline getting the better of her. She wasn't as good at processing it as he was. He pulled her into him and kissed her forehead. "Let's go home. I think today's been eventful enough."

She nodded, but it was numb. He wiped the blood from her knuckles before she could notice it and then opened her door for her, helping her ease down into the seat.

Steph was unusually quiet on the drive home. Her thoughts hidden. Ranger kept a hand on her leg. A constant, steady pressure. That seemed to help. She didn't look near panic. Wasn't shaking anymore. She took comfort in his affectionate touch.

He pulled his weapon when they got back to the cottage, just as a precaution. When he was satisfied the place hadn't been disturbed he shut and locked the front door. He went into the bedroom to set his gun on the bedside table.

"Do you think he'll come back?" Steph asked him, her voice stronger.

"No. But it's always wise to be cautious."

The shallow cut on his chest was starting to irritate. He looked down at it. The black cotton was glistening around the slice in his shirt. Steph gaped at him. "You're bleeding!"

"Yeah. One of those little punks got in a lucky shot," he said, stripping off the shirt. His chest was red. "Grab me a towel."

She obeyed quickly, returning with a clean white washcloth from the bathroom. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Ranger's mouth twitched. He liked that she worried about him. "It's just a scratch, Babe. I've had worse."

Her face grew even more serious as she stared at him. The worry fluttering through with her other thoughts. She cared about him. A lot. He tried not to focus on what that might mean. How deep her feelings might run. It was hard enough doing the right thing without asking himself if there was any part of her that might love him.

He didn't have to ask that for himself anymore. He knew all too well what his feelings were. Had for a while. After that first night together he knew he felt something for her. Loved her, in his own way. And that feeling had gotten stronger as time passed. He would admit it to her sometimes. Qualify it. Making sure she knew it wasn't the kind of love that came with wedding rings or a future.

Things don't always work out the way you plan, though. He wasn't ever supposed to love her. And yet, there came a moment when he couldn't deny it anymore. The night she vanished from the funeral home. Kidnapped by the undertaker. He'd pulled in every man, every resource, to search for her. Called in every favor. Because he knew if he lost her, a small part of his world would end. When he finally found her, curled up and limp in an overhead cupboard, his heart stopped beating because he was sure she was dead. And then she fell out of the cupboard and into his arms, still alive, still breathing, and he had a moment of absolute relief because he realized he wasn't ready to face a world without her in it.

He never qualified his love for her again. Not after that night. Because he didn't just love her in his own way. He loved her more than he had ever loved another person. And while he couldn't ever promise her a ring or a future like she deserved, the kind of love he felt was too strong to cheapen with qualifiers.

She traced a line under the shallow incision with her fingers, letting them lead across his chest. There was a light in her eyes behind the sapphire. If he let himself, he might be tempted to wonder if she felt it too. Maybe she did love him. Just a little.

He drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. Near enough that he could rest his forehead between her breasts. He was waiting for the moment she would pull away. She was a smart girl. It would be the right thing to do. But the longer she didn't, the more he prayed she'd stay. His fingers curled into the back of her shirt when she came up flush against him and her breath caught.

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. That was the only sign he needed. He stripped off her shirt and looped an arm around her waist, slinging her onto the bed so that he could cover her with his body. Their clothes hit the floor a piece at a time, forgotten in the swirl of heat and passion. And when he started making love to her, it was with all the promises he wished he could offer.

o o o

Even after the sun rose, they snuggled together for a long time under the sweaty sheets. Her body lay sated on top of his. Practically purring. He let his fingertips stroke the length of her with lazy contentment. Memorizing the moment.

She stretched up a little to kiss his neck and he stirred again. He felt her smile. "You should call room service," she said against his skin.

He rolled her onto her back. That sounded promising. "Are we staying in today?"

"Well, maybe not all day."

He let the corner of his mouth lift. All her walls were gone again and he didn't see any signs of them going back up. He knew that wouldn't last forever, but then nothing ever did. For the moment, he was just happy that she was willing to let things be. "What did you have in mind?"

"I figured we could call some hotels from here. I mean, there's no sense running around chasing shadows, right?"

"Right," he said, taking advantage of her glowing mood. He let his hands wander over her, his mouth following. "And as long as we're making calls from the privacy of our own bed—"

"I was serious about room service, though. I'm starving."

He let out a laugh and reached for the phone on the bedside table.

He ordered enough food to last them most of the day. If they ran out from working up an appetite, he could always order more. They made love again before the food arrived, and when it did, he brought a portion of it back to the bed where she was laying in a satisfied lump. He leaned her back against his chest while they lounged on the bed together, eating in companionable silence.

It wasn't something they'd ever shared before, but he could get used to it.

After their bellies were filled, Ranger went back into the kitchen to make some more coffee. Steph started calling the other hotels on the list. They'd broken it down by region. Checking Honolulu first, and then some of the more likely places on North Shore. She was telling them that her dear old uncle had just come into town and that she was trying to surprise him for his anniversary, but didn't know when he was supposed to check in. Promised a big tip if they called her with a heads up. Ranger was impressed. It was a good cover. Couple that with her non-threatening look and trustable demeanor, it wouldn't be a wonder if her fishing expedition bore results.

Assuming The Rug made it to any of those hotels.

Steph was lying on her belly across the foot of the bed when he came back in, her feet dangling in the air like a teenager. It might have been cute if it weren't for the fact she was wearing one of his black t-shirts and little else, a flash of red showing beneath the edge where the shirt didn't quite cover her ass. An easy reminder that she was a full grown woman.

His full grown woman.

He watched her for a moment from the doorway. Leaning against the frame with his arms across his chest. Trying to decide if he was more amused or turned on. Turned on won. She pressed the phone to her ear again and waited for an answer. Ranger didn't wait anymore. He stalked toward her, stealing a portion of her attention. She didn't resist when he caught her foot, pressing a kiss to the back of her ankle. She tried to ignore him and went on with her sales pitch, but she was starting to lose focus the higher on her leg that he kissed. He reached the back of her knee and lingered there, using his tongue as well as his lips. She forgot for a second what she was saying.

"—I don't suppose you could—tell me when they check in—" she half panted. He resisted the urge to smile. He'd made it to the hem of his shirt, just an inch below her ass. Her skin was more sensitive there. Not used to this kind of attention. She tried to bat him away before she lost focus entirely, but he wasn't about to let her get away that easily.

Ranger grabbed her hips and flipped her over. She yelped in surprise. The voice said something on the other line. Sounded slightly concerned. "Sorry—saw a spider," Steph answered. Ranger raised his eyebrow, a grin trying to get out. "Anyway, I was just wondering if my aunt and uncle got there last night."

He let his fingers creep up her parted thighs and she looked ready to catch flame. He reached the edge of the shirt and slipped his hands underneath, pulling at the waistband of her red panties. She tried to bat him away again but he only grinned, lowering his lips to her thighs. Following their line up in a way that told her his end goal. She hurried off the phone and tossed it down. "I'm working here."

"I know. It's very sexy."

She couldn't keep from smiling at that. His mouth resuming its path. "How sexy?"

She really enjoyed the answer.

It didn't take long for her to give up on phone calls. They retreated to the private spa, not bothering with bathing suits. He would have just removed hers anyway. They alternated between lounging and making love until the food was gone. Steph leaning against his chest, wrinkly and boneless, his arms wrapped tightly around her.

Her stomach growled again and he laughed. "Should we order some more room service? Bet they'd send us steak and lobster."

"As tempting as that sounds, if I don't get out of this spa I'll have to be ironed out."

"We could move back to the bed," he said, lifting her hand out of the water to kiss her wrist, then her palm, and then the back of her wedding band. He really did like that she never took it off. Maybe he should let her keep it.

She leaned back until her cheek was brushing his, her lips on his skin. "How about we take a shower, and then we can get some dinner."

"I could get into that."

He took his time with the shower. Something she really appreciated. Twice. He left her in the bedroom to get dressed while he made reservations and shaved. He was nearly done when he heard her open the front door. It was odd. They weren't expecting anything. The voice at the door was even, though. Friendly. Ranger took the last swipe with his razor and wiped his face, stepping out of the bathroom to see who she had opened the door for.

"What is it, Babe?"

Then his eyes met the incredulous stare of the man standing in the open doorway.

It was Morelli.