Thank you for all the kind reviews. That last one was a tough chapter and this one will be even more shocking. You need your big girl pants for this one. You'll soon find out who really needs the redemption. This is a very deep and dark story, and there will be some surprises along the way, along with some interesting things revealed about the characters.

I'm getting better at self editing. So, all mistakes are mine on this one!

Warning - This chapter includes adult situations and references that may be offensive to some. Don't grouch at me later.

Previously -

As much as I wanted to forget her and move on with my life, my dreams haunted me. I guess it was the guilt. I felt responsible for Bobby's death, and for Steph's guilt and suffering now. I could have maybe tried harder to change the past and get through to her. Instead, I just made her a line item in my entertainment budget and put her on my payroll for insurance purposes. Dios, I'm a real dick!

I gave up on sleep and got up to take a shower and tuck the memories down deep inside again, focusing on the busy day ahead.

Chapter 3

My plane wasn't due to leave until 1600 in the afternoon and between breakfast and lunch, Mama made sure that I was stuffed like a Christmas goose to make up for the day before when I hadn't eaten very much of her cooking. I had pointed to Papa and circled my heart. ""Mama, your cooking is too good." She had smacked me on the back of the head leaving a sting and making Papa chuckle.

I kissed and hugged my family goodbye and stepped into the limo. On the way to the Newark airport I had started out thinking that I couldn't leave this dreary city, and get back to Miami fast enough to relieve this tension. As soon as the plane touched down, I was calling my current companion of the last six months, to tell her to prepare for my arrival.

I was lost in thought when I spied a profile and head that I thought was familiar. I thought I was seeing things after my sleepless night, and just out of sorts being back here in New Jersey. I asked the limo driver to pull over. It was a corner on Brewster Road. A road that runs parallel to the airport and we were close to an Amtrak station. We sat there for a few minutes until I was absolutely sure about what I was seeing. I then told the driver to pull up to the corner. I described the woman there that I wanted him to address and ask to get into the car.

He raised an eyebrow and said, "Sir, your plane…?"

I pulled a hundred out of my wallet and told him to give it to her, and ask her to please join me in the car. He just nodded and stepped out. A form of negotiation took place, and then she nodded and followed him to the car. He opened the door and she bent her head down, stepping a long shapely leg inside the limo, and sat gingerly in the seat next to me before she turned to look at my face. She gasped and her face began to pale as she dropped the hundred dollar bill on the seat and reached for the door handle.

I grabbed her wrist and I couldn't help my words. "What, my money not good enough for you, Babe?"

She looked away and her voice was barely a whisper when she said, "Please let me out of the car."

I slowly shook my head no, while raising my phone to my ear, and hitting the speed dial with my thumb. "This is Ranger Manoso. I need to postpone my flight for twenty-four hours. Leave a message with a new departure time on my cell please." I pocketed the phone and turned my attention back to Stephanie. "How much for the entire night?"

She looked horrified. "I'm sorry. I...can't. Please let me out."

I gave her my best wolf grin. "Is this not your occupation now? I want to know how much your fee is, and I want all the bells and whistles. The special stuff."

A tear escaped a corner of one of her eyes and she whispered. "Ranger, please don't humiliate me. I wouldn't be doing this if I had a choice."

"Really? Why are you selling yourself? I thought you were happily married to Morelli? Or, is this just an extracurricular activity for you? I've heard housewives do get bored..."

Her face looked pained and she said, "Happy? You think I've been happy? Then you don't know me at all and never did. Please let me go about my business. I'm just trying to live, here."

My eyes slowly scanned her and it was then I saw the lines in her face, the makeup that covered what was probably circles around her eyes. She was thin and her dress was faded and had seen better days, her heels were well worn. I felt pity for her, but I also felt anger that she would again place herself in this kind of danger, and have so little respect for herself. Always so careless that she constantly ended up in one bad situation after another. Lester was still bitter and would probably find this a fitting end for her. I was slightly sickened, but the anger, and curiosity was more prevalent.

I pulled two thousand dollar bills out of my wallet, folded them along with the hundred on the seat, and pushed them into her cleavage with two fingers. "One is for the night and the other is for anything extra that I ask of you." She gulped and a choked sob escaped her lips. I gave the driver the name of a nearby hotel, then reached for a notepad and scratched a couple of items I needed on it, then handed him the list with some cash. He didn't as much as lift an eyebrow.

At the hotel, the driver opened the door, and Stephanie stepped out. I stepped out behind her and reached to take her hand, and she pulled it back from me, wrapping her arms close around herself, looking away. "Follow me inside, Stephanie."

I pointed to a chair near the front desk. She looked at the chair and glanced at the front door. Knowing how her mind works, I shook my head no, and pointed to the chair again. She slowly sat down and lowered her head.

I asked for a suite and gave the front desk clerk my credit card. Then I asked for an appetizer platter and some champagne to be sent to the room. I declined help with my bag and turned with key in hand, motioning for Stephanie to follow me to the elevator.

She never looked up and never said a word as she followed me to the room. Using the electronic key, I entered, and motioned for her to follow. She stepped inside the room, but just stood there inside the doorway in an uncomfortable stance, arms still wrapped protectively around her body. It only aggravated me further. "Go take a shower and put the hotel robe on. I ordered something to eat and drink to be delivered."

She didn't say a word and awkwardly made her way to the bathroom and shut the door. I knew I was being cold. Other than that I didn't know exactly what I was doing. I knew I wanted to know her story. What else had happened to bring her to this pathetic point in her life?

I answered the door just as I heard the shower stop. The room service employee wheeled the cart in, and I handed him a tip. The bathroom door opened, and Stephanie very timidly stepped out. She had removed most of her makeup except for that mascara she always wore. The circles and lines were very evident now. Gone was the youthful glow and the smile that had always been a part of her bright blue eyes. Now those eyes were dull, and there was no longer light there.

My chest tightened for a few moments, and I felt a small bit of tenderness for her. "Are you hungry, Stephanie?"

She just stood there and shook her head, no. I sighed. "Please sit down and eat while the food is warm."

She moved to the table like a robot and put a few small items on a plate, and sat down as far away from me as was physically possible in the living area of the suite. I pulled off my suit coat and tie and dropped them on the sofa arm. She nibbled on the food averting her eyes. "What happened to your marriage with Morelli?"

She stopped eating and sat her plate on the coffee table. She said very softly, "If you don't mind, I'd like to just get started. I can't actually stay the whole night."

It was clear she planned to disengage and treat me like any other John, and it made me angrier. I would be damned before I would let her do that. She would feel something tonight, regardless of what it was…

"As you wish. Come here and drop the robe. Bend over the back of the sofa and spread your legs wide. Do it now, please."

The dull eyes looked up for a second at first surprised, and then she lowered her head again, walking over to where I was standing. She dropped the robe, turning to the sofa, and bending over it. As she had turned, I had almost gasped. Dios, choking it down, I looked at the dark welts down her back and backside. Could I really do this? But when I got close to her, my libido surged. I remembered, and I felt the tiniest tingle. Only now, it was centered in my groin area. I was hard as a rock, I wanted to fuck her so badly. I reached out and gently touched her back, and her reaction was to recoil like she was repulsed by me. By me? I was positive that I wasn't the most disgusting she'd fucked for much less. I should be the one repulsed by her. That reaction just brought my anger to the fore again, and my question was answered. Yeah, I can do this.

She gripped the sofa and moved her legs apart. I unzipped and donned a condom, grabbing her around the waist, I kicked her legs out even further with my shoes. I said sharply, "Prepare yourself for me."

Silence, then, "What? I don't..."

I said without emotion. "You know what I mean. When I'm with a whore, I make her shower. I don't go down on prostitutes, nor do I kiss them or touch them with my hands. Finger yourself, get yourself wet."

Her posture stiffened, but she did what I asked and touched herself. When she removed her hand, I plunged inside her in one stroke, nearly groaning at the surge of sensation that hit me. I had forgotten the unique feel that was Stephanie. I pulled her close to me and ran my lips across her neck feeling her pulse and biting down. Then I felt something else when I moved my hand up to grasp her breast, her ribs were very prominent. She tensed even further, clamping down on me and I wanted to moan again from the pleasure. At the same time, l didn't want her to know I was enjoying her, so I pumped harder until I quickly came. The next time I would make her engage and look at me.

I backed away and zipped up, walking to the table and turned to collect myself. I opened the bottle of champagne and filled a glass. "Finish your plate and drink this." She slowly raised up, picking up the robe and pulling it on. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door and I opened it to the limo driver. He handed me a small bag and said goodnight.

While she finished both the food on the plate, and the champagne in the flute glass, I put my hand in the bag and pulled out the box of condoms and the lubricating gel, dropping them on the coffee table. Her head slowly moved to the items. "Set the plate down, come here and finish undressing me, then take me in your mouth."

Over the period of the next two hours, she never looked me in the eye, but did everything I demanded. She did things that I'd rarely asked another woman to do, and she never broke, never spoke a word or made a sound. When I had tried to make her look at me, she'd looked through me and it almost made me shiver. The whole time I'd wanted the feisty woman I knew to make an appearance. To raise her head and look at me and take control or try to stop me, but it never happened. Instead, mindless, the prostitute dutifully did her job, she let me unmercifully use her and it sickened me.

I finally fell over exhausted and spent. I was in a post coital fog and could barely hold my eyes open, moving into a sated state of unconsciousness. Stephanie rolled to her side as far away from me as possible, curling up into the fetal position on the edge of the bed. I had wanted to break her, but the opposite happened. I couldn't physically perform another minute, and drifted into that familiar and uncomfortable dream state I'd adopted. Just before, I almost said, "Babe," and reached for her to pull her to me, then remembered and retracted my hand. This was not my Babe.

My eyes snapped open when I heard a door click. I turned my head and looked at the vacant bed. Stephanie was gone.

TBC -

I can tell you now that this Ranger was serious when he he told Tank that his feelings had changed for Stephanie. He'd lost respect for her and the amusement had worn off for him and the other men long before Bobby ever died. That's how he could do what he did.