I exited the hospital and walked to the nearest patch of green grass I could find. I sat in the grass with my face to the sun, and despite the chill in the morning air, I sat soaking up the warm morning rays like a cat. If I'd been in Jersey today, chances are it would be below freezing with sleet or snow, so I decided to take the fifty-something degree temperatures in Atlanta without complaint. As I sat, I could feel the tension leaving my body.
Two nights with little sleep had left me exhausted, and what I really needed was sleep. On top of physical exhaustion, I was emotionally tired. The last few days had been an emotional roller coaster for me, and I hadn't had time to come up for air yet. Between breaking things off with Joe, learning of Joe's injuries, navigating my mother's disappointment, and coping with the marathon bombing with Ranger's resulting injuries, I was fried.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up Google Maps. I searched for directions back to the Rangeman building and was pleased to learn it was only a mile from the hospital.
Walking would do my head and my heart good, I thought.
I laced my boots up tightly and climbed to my feet, taking off in the direction my phone indicated.
Downtown Atlanta was abuzz on a Sunday morning. Cars sped down the busy streets, but foot traffic was light on the sidewalks. High rise buildings and parking garages lined city blocks, and pay by the hour macadam car lots filled the spaces in between the structures.
I had traveled five blocks when my phone began ringing. I checked the readout. I didn't recognize the number, and it consisted only of ones and zeros. My spidey senses were telling me this was not good. I hesitated before lifting the phone to my ear to answer.
"Hello?" I answered tentatively.
"Good morning, Ms. Plum," I man's voice murmured on the line. His tone was velvet and eerie. "Looking beautiful as always. I've been looking forward to seeing you again."
The hair stood up on the back of my neck and goosebumps covered my skin. My heart rate spiked. I recognized the voice on the phone.
It was Gerwulf Grimoire, or "Wulf".
"What do you want?" I asked, trying to mask the terror in my voice. My eyes scanned the sidewalks and roads around me, searching. Was he here? On the street? Now? What did he want with me?
Wulf was Diesel's cousin, and he, too, was unmentionable. Except Wulf was the definition of evil. He was over six feet tall. His look reminded me of vampires in movies, with paper white skin that was almost translucent and black, shoulder length hair. His features were sharp, and his gaze took my breath away in an unpleasant, horrifying sort of way.
I turned on my heel and began jogging back in the direction of the hospital.
"You are standing between me and something I want, Ms. Plum."
"What could that possibly be?" I said, winded.
I crossed the street at a run. I continued scanning the street around me, but saw no one I recognized as Wulf. I chanced a glance behind me and ran square into something that knocked me on my ass.
I sat for a moment, stunned. Then I glanced up and met Wulf's intense stare. He pocketed his phone and gave me a wicked smile.
"That's a conversation for later. Let's go," he said.
He extended his hand, grabbed me around the neck, and I felt the electricity shoot through every inch of my body. It was lights out Stephanie.
I came around slowly. My world was fuzzy and out of focus. My body felt tingly and tired. I tried to recall what had just happened and began piecing the puzzle together. I had no idea how long I had been out.
I forced myself to open my eyes. My eyes met with Wulf's.
"Welcome back, Ms. Plum. I was quite afraid I had used too much juice. It took longer than I had anticipated," he said.
I took in what I was seeing. I was laying on a cold, hard concrete floor in a windowless stairwell. My hands were bound in front of me. I couldn't get a read on where we were. An industrial building? A factory? A parking garage? A basement?
Wulf was sitting on the metal and concrete stairs. To his left was his partner, Hatchett.
Hatchett was also unmentionable, but not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed. He followed Wulf around faithfully as a servant. Hatchett was short, maybe 5'1". He was soft in the middle, and often dressed in outrageous clothes. Today, he was dressed as a medieval knight with a metal chest plate, red cape, and wooden sword.
I tried to speak, but I couldn't seem to make my neurons fire.
"I hadn't planned on your apprehension being so simple, but you assisted by walking out of the hospital. Thank you," Wulf continued.
"Why?" I managed to spit out.
Wulf's grim smile widened, exposing blinding, pointy teeth.
"Your boyfriend and his GI Joes are standing between my associate's and my progress," he responded.
"Boyfriend?" I choked out, trying to force myself into a sitting position.
"Do you prefer another title?" Wulf asked arrogantly. "Lover? Employer? Boss?"
He means Ranger, my mind finally responded.
Wulf could see the understanding cross my face. He stood.
"Yes, it is quite unfortunate we find ourselves here. Manoso has a set of skills I could utilize if he would cooperate, but it seems he plays for his own team," Wulf explained.
"Leave him alone!" I blurted out. My blood pressure was rising, and I could feel tension building.
"I won't hurt him," Wulf said with a wolf's grin. "It will be quick and painless. He must be neutralized. You're just the unfortunate casualty of the fallout, just like all those marathon fools."
I felt my heart stutter in my chest and bile rise in my throat. I fought it back and tried to focus on my breathing. I had to get out of here. I had to survive this. I had to warn Ranger. I had to save him… again.
"Why do you need me?" I asked. I needed more time. I needed Wulf to talk.
"Your disappearance will draw him out," Wulf said. "I had planned to finish him in the hospital, but he has you and an armed guard on him at all times. My cousin isn't helping, either. I've had an easier time breaking into the Federal Reserve than getting Manoso alone and unprotected."
The rational part of my brain said I should be terrified. The irrational, angry feminist female living in my brain didn't get the memo. I was getting really friggin' tired of being made into the damsel in distress to draw Ranger out. This was at least the third time, maybe fifteenth. I was tired of watching this re-run.
"You pompous ass!" I said, getting to my feet and getting into Wulf's face.
I raised my hands above my head.
"I've had it up to HERE with being kidnapped by people trying to get to Ranger. You've got the wrong girl. I am a strong, independent, single woman who doesn't need a man to—"
Wulf's hand slapped me across the face, and I saw lights explode behind my eyes. I cried out and crumpled to the floor, holding my face with my restrained hands. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them back, refusing to be weak.
Wulf pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed, holding it to his ear to wait for an answer. When he spoke, the venom in his voice was thick.
"Your presence is requested. I've got the lovely Ms. Plum. You've got four hours to get yourself released and come retrieve her, or she's mine to do with as I please."
Hearing his ultimatum made my stomach turn. Ranger needed to be in the hospital. He had almost died yesterday, and he was too weak to take on Wulf. One thing became clear to me. I had to do everything I could to protect Ranger and keep him away from Wulf, even if that meant hurting him.
Wulf was silent for a moment, and I assumed he was listening to Ranger speak. The corner of Wulf's mouth curled into another wicked smile.
"As you wish," he responded before extending the phone to me.
I removed my hands from my face and tried to sit.
"Ranger?" my wavering voice answered.
"Babe, are you hurt?" he asked, his tone unreadable.
"I'm fine," I lied.
"I'm coming to get you. Hold on," Ranger said, his voice thick with unnamed emotion.
"Don't come for me," I said, working to keep my voice steady and certain.
Be brave, I told myself.
"I'm staying with Wulf."
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening. My heart ached in my chest and my head throbbed. I didn't want to die today, but dying to protect someone you love is an honorable death, right?
"I'll never let him have you," Ranger said, his voice cold and terrifying.
I opened my mouth to speak again, but before I could form the words, Wulf's hand grabbed my throat.
I screamed, then felt the electricity surge through my body again. Then everything went black.