Authors note
This came to me in the spur of the moment. I never incensed to write another chapter. You can either take it as the second chapter, or if you liked how chapter 1 ended as a complete new story.
Enjoy
Steph's POV
3 years later
"Stephanieeee" Ed smiles broadly and envelopes me into a hug. "What a sight for sore eyes you are!"
"EDDD...I need some air" I mumble into his shoulder, trying to push him away a little, but give up and laugh.
"Sorry...but I have missed you and I have missed this place" he gestures around his bar.
"You were only gone for two weeks" I point out and his wife behind him snorts.
"In 30 years he has never once left this place alone...those two weeks were two weeks too long for him" Janine remarks and walks right past me into the kitchen.
"I am surprised to see it is still in its original condition" Ed jokes.
"Ha ha very funny...even though I wouldn't have minded putting a bit of new paint on the walls…something with a bit more…colour." I tap my chin and he eyes me suspiciously.
"You wouldn't" Ed places a hand over his heart in mock hurt. I just shoot him a mischievous smile as answer. "Oh dear Lord...I will never leave this place in your, most certainly capable hands, ever again…" He laughs and drags me in for another hug, before going to greet his regulars.
Ed's Bar is famous for being as old looking as he is. For 30 years this place has not been renovated or seen any kind of refurbishment. And I was only partly joking, as I said I wouldn't mind putting a bit of paint on the walls.
"Honey...remember what we talked about? You will allow some minor changes" His wife reminds him and he hangs his head low.
"Fine...but no pink or yellow or anything else bright, this is a biker bar after all." He declares loudly and the regulars cheer in agreement. Ed grew up with the heads of the local biker clubs, such as the Hells Angels and Bandidos, and every one has come to the mutual understanding that this bar is a safe haven of some sorts.
It is a place where, they disregard what it says on their patches and come together as normal people and not rival gangs. Whoever causes problems here has to answer to their bosses and no one wants to piss them off. Apart from a few minor incidents, which had more to do with football or baseball than with their biker clubs, it has worked out so far.
"Thank you for taking care of everything while we were away" Ed says, after he greeted everyone in the bar with a handshake and a hug.
"Not a Problem...I really enjoyed it." I tell him and stack the glasses under the beer taps. I discovered this place one night looking for an FTA. I didn't find him in the bar, but Ed and Janine were so nice to me that I kept coming back.
These guys in here may not turn on each other, but other criminals and cheating husbands are fair game. With the help of their biker network, I have found many people that didn't want to be found.
"Now what do you wanna eat? I am sure Jose can whip something up for you two" I question, as I place a beer in front of Ed and a wine in front of Janine. This bar serves beer and spirit exclusively, however Ed only stocks one type of wine and that is Janine's favorite.
Thirty years ago on the opening night of Ed's Bar, a young woman walked in, trying to hide from an ex boyfriend who kept following her. She found refuge, help and her future husband. Ed and his friends straightened the Ex out and the rest is history.
"All ready ordered" Janine smiles and takes a sip out of her glass.
"Alright then" I smile and walk along the bar to serves some new customers. I have been helping out regularly. In the beginning it was mostly due to my PI job not making enough money for me to live, but now I do it because I enjoy it.
That's how they were able to go on a cruise for their 30th wedding anniversary.
The next couple of hours pass in a blur, with the Friday night crowd pouring in. But soon enough everything slows down. I hear the door of the bar open and look up with a smile to greet whoever just walked in. But as I see who it is my smile fades. The glass I am holding drops out of my hand, shattering on the ground, and my heart starts beating a mile a minute.
What is he doing here?
"Honey, are you ok?" I can hear Freddie, a Hells Angel, questions with concern. As I don't answer he looks over his shoulder to see what I am staring at.
It seems like I have been frozen to the spot, staring at the person I never thought I'd see again. I knew he was potentially coming here, but I didn't let myself hope that he would. The bar patrons have gone quite, looking back and forth between me and the man standing at the door.
"You look like you are seeing a ghost, doll...you want me to make him leave?" Jimmy, a member of the Banditos, questions and I just shake my head.
No one could make him leave. And as much as I want this bar to be brought into the 21st century, a fight between the bikers and him, isn't the way to go. Plus I don't fancy dealing with dead bodies tonight.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, as I finally find my voice again. I step away, as Janine starts sweeping the broken glass away, but never lose eye contact.
"I need your help" He answers gruffly.
"With what?" I manage to say and give him the once over. He has packed on a bit more muscle, has grown a beard and his hair is shaved into a buzz cut. Clad from head to toe in black and his blank face in place, he looks like someone you do not want to mess with.
"Julie" He answers. "She is missing."
"I don't know where she is" I tell him a little too quick and look away. My hands are shaking and I need do something to keep them occupied. Truth is I know exactly where his daughter is, but she begged me not to tell anyone, least of all her father.
"You always were a terrible liar Stephanie" Ranger growls and takes a few steps towards the bar. All the bikers suddenly stand, eyeing him with suspicion.
"Sit down. Have a drink. We are closing in a couple of hours." I tell him in a tone that doesn't leave room for an argument.
The next couple of hours pass in a blur, with me trying really hard not to let Ranger get to me. With every move I make, I can feel his eyes on me. As it comes to closing time, I have to push everybody out the door, assuring them that I would be fine on my own.
"I really don't mind sticking around" Ed assures me once again, but I shake my head and shoot Janine a pleading look.
"Come on Ed, let's go home" his wife drags him along and just before they round the corner, Ed calls out "You know where the gun is, don't be afraid to use it."
If he'd know how familiar I am with guns and that I wouldn't have a problem using them, it would give the poor man aheart attack. I take a deep breath of the summer night air, before closing the door.
Flashback
Two weeks earlier
"Julie?" I look at the girl in front of me in disbelief and step aside to let her in. "What are you doing here and how did you get my address?"
"You shouldn't write your address on letters or postcards, if you don't want anyone knowing it" She shrugs in passing, dragging her big, and seemingly heavy backpack in behind her. "And I came here to visit you, before I take of the New Zealand for the summer."
"New Zealand?" I raise an eyebrow in question and close the door. Julie and I stayed in touch since I moved out here and in our last chat a couple of weeks ago, she didn't mention anything about going to New Zealand.
"Wow this place is a step up from your digs in Trenton...well apart from my father's place of course" She remarks and looks around my living room.
This apartment isn't much, but it is my own. I was able to buy it a year ago with the money I saved up. Two bedrooms, small kitchen with a spacious living room and a balcony overlooking the skyline of San Diego. The only reason I was able to afford this place, is because a murder happened in here and the price dropped drastically.
"Thank you...I guess...why are you going to New Zealand and does Ranger know you are here?" I probe and walk into the kitchen to get some water.
"Because I want to see it...maybe even move onto Australia. And no Ranger doesn't know" Julie answers and smiles at me gratefully as I hand her a bottle of water. She has grown and has become a very beautiful young woman, with her father's eyes and jet black hair. I bet she breaks a few hearts.
"You father is going to come looking for you" I warn her and she mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like 'I am counting on it'
"I am 18 years old and an adult. I can do as I please." She informs and flops onto my couch.
"Ok…you are an adult, but you also have an overprotective father, who will turn earth into hell if he knows you are missing" I tell her concerned.
"I have left a few breadcrumbs, leading here. So you can tell him you saw me, but you can't tell him where I have gone…Please Steph" she almost begs and I sigh.
"What is going on Julie?" I question with suspicion and sit down next to her on the couch. She loves her father and would never do something to upset him.
"I need to get out, I need to be free…living like this is just not me" She explains and using the same words I did, as I broke it off with Ranger. "I need you to send this to Rangemen…in like four weeks, just in case dad doesn't come looking for me here." Julie adds and hands me an envelope.
"sure" I nod, partly hoping Ranger will come looking for her, partly hoping he won't. I do not know how I will handle seeing him again.
End of Flashback
"Where is Julie?" Ranger repeats his question from earlier, as I walk back behind the bar.
"She gave me this to give to you" I say and fish the envelope, that I have been carrying around with me for the past two weeks, out of my bag. Seems like Ranger just saved me the money for the postal stamp.
I walk over and place the envelope in front of him, before walking away to give him some space.
Four years ago, Ranger came back from a Mission with multiple gunshot wounds. He was put on bed rest from Bobby immediately, as he was very skinny and a couple of vital organs had been hit. Bobby didn't want Ranger tearing the stitches either. Ranger wasn't happy but he obliged.
A couple of days later I was badly hurt by an FTA. That was the first thing that put Ranger into an overprotective mood. But as a gang managed to break into the Rangemen building; shot Cal dead, who was at the desk at the time, and also we able to injure myself and a couple of rookies, as we emerged from the garage, he went into full on overprotective mode.
Ranger locked everything down, insisted I took up training and had me followed everywhere. I did everything he asked of me and more. I was trained on every single gun in the building and passed the physical Rangemen test in flying colours. After that I was employed at Rangemen and gave up my job at Vinnie's.
For a while that was great, but I wasn't allowed to go out and hunt FTA's nor was I allowed to leave the building to meet the girls or my family without an entourage of at least three Rangemen. I was constantly watched, but I figured that oncesome time passed Ranger would ease up.
But he didn't. I couldn't lift my pinkie finger without someone watching me. At some point it just got too much, but he wouldn't have any of it as I voiced my concerns. I told myself that the amount I love him would be enough to deal with all of this and let it go.
Then a year later I felt more and more caged and nothing good happens when I feel that way. In a fight I told him straight up to ease off the security or I am gone. He only shook his head and ignored me.
The same night I packed my bags. I told him I was leaving and to not come for me, hoping he would wake up and changehis ways. The way he looked at me, broke my heart, but he didn't stop me, so I left. Perhaps I should have fought harder made him realize his obsession with security was too much, but I didn't have the energy and took the coward's way out. I broke my own heart in the process.
Being first in Miami and the here in San Diego and having had some time to think, I get why he did it. I was the most precious thing to him and he didn't want to risk losing me. He told me so multiple times. What happened just pushed him over the edge.
"Did you put her up to this?" Ranger questions and slams his fist on the bar, making the glasses rattle.
"Excuse me?" I am stunned.
"Did you put her up to this?" Ranger asks again through clenched teeth. " 'Dad, I need to get out, I need some freedom. I cannot live with this amount of security anymore. I know you do it because you love me, but I need some time off from all of this. I am going to New Zealand, please don't follow me. I will email and call as much as I can. Don't worry, I have enough money saved up. I hope you understand, love Julie' " He reads out loud and I wince. She sounds so much like me.
"No I didn't" I answer and get back to cleaning the bar.
"This sounds an awful lot like you" He accuses me.
"Well it wasn't me…get Hector to check our email correspondence, Facebook accounts, what's app and whatever else youwant…I don't care…I had nothing to do with this." I point out to him without looking up.
He stays silent for a long time. I actually have to look up to see if he hasn't snuck out, as he can be as silent as a cat. "I just wanted to keep you save."
"I know" I nod, grab my notepad and turn to check the fridges for stock.
"It's all my fault" his voice is strained and it tugs at my heart. Even after three years, I still love the bastard and have never stopped thinking about him.
"No…well…a little" I sigh, abandon my task and come to stand in front of him, with only the bar separating us. "Like I told you on that voicemail…well I don't know if you ever listened to them…I get why you did it, but it may have been a bit excessive. You knew my take on being controlled and watched, but you never took it into account, even after I got training. I am sorry how things worked out between us, but that life just isn't for me."
"It seems like not for Julie either" Ranger remarks dryly and looks me straight into the eyes. God I missed him.
"Give her time. She will contact you when she is ready." I tell him.
"Yeah, maybe you are right" Ranger concedes and stands. "It was good seeing you Steph." He adds and then walks out of the bar.
I breath in deeply and back out, to get my heart back under control. Will I ever be able to move on? Probably not. There is no other like Ranger.
Ranger's POV
I close the door behind me and lean against it with a sigh.
'Ps: Dad, you are miserable without her. Kick the blonde to the curb and make it work. I love you'
That is the line I did not read out loud, but her choice of words and directness makes me chuckle. Julie is truly my daughter. She doesn't beat around the bush.