CHAPTER 2

Waking in unfamiliar territory sadly was a semi-normal occurrence for myself. I glanced around, confused as to where I was. It took a minute or so for the memories from yesterday to come streaming back in full force. Holding back the flood of emotions was difficult, but I somehow managed, realizing that they wouldn't do me any good in solving my dilemma. What do I do now that Ranger was pissed at me and likely to ship me off to a third world country with nothing but a toothpick and no changes of underwear?

The sound of cookware banging on the stovetop and a muffled curse gave me the courage to throw back the covers and make my way out to the kitchen. A thunderous growl from my stomach made it perfectly clear that it wanted food, and it wanted it NOW! But first, I had to tinkle.

Washing my hands after doing my business, I took a good look around the bathroom admiring Ram's decorating tastes. It was definitely masculine in its design. All white subway tile on the floor and walls made it stark yet serviceable, the accents of royal blue in the towels gave it just a hint of color but kept it clean looking. The silver hardware and gooseneck faucets worked well with the theme of the bathroom: I am man. I need to pee. I chuckled under my breath and headed out to the kitchen.

Ram was reading a newspaper, sitting at the little table nestled in the corner of the kitchen in front of a huge bay window overlooking what I assumed was the backyard. Vince was parked in front of a huge industrial looking cooking range, stirring what I hoped was gravy by the smell alone. Tomatoes, basil, oregano, onion, garlic and what I assumed was some type of beef were simmering on the stove in an enormous stock pot.

"Hey Mama. Sleep good?" He grinned before bending down to kiss my cheek tenderly. The flush on my cheeks was probably noticeable, but neither of them said so.

"Um, yeah. Sorry, I conked out on you two last night."

"No worries." Vince moved past me to grab something out of the microwave. Sliding a plate onto the table he grinned. "I saved you some breakfast." I glanced down at my watch and was stunned to find that it was 1 PM. "Figured you were tuckered out and needed the sleep, so we left you alone. But we need to talk today. There's a few things we want to ask you and a few things I need clarification on. Capiche?"

The pancakes I wolfed down were heavenly. Fluffy and light even drowned in the gallons real maple syrup I poured onto them. The bacon was crisp and salty, just the way I liked it and I found that I liked to nibble on cheddar cheese when I eat pancakes. Who knew? I slid my plate away from me when I could hold no more. Vince grabbed the plate and rinsed it off before loading it into the dishwasher and turning it on.

He sat in the chair next to me, across from Ram and looked between us before he spoke. "Mama. We want to know a few things and we want to ask you a few things. Is that okay? I you feel uncomfortable, just say so and we'll try to work our way through this as painless as possible. I promise."

"Okay?"

"What did you mean last night when you said Bones tazed you twice?" Both the men at the table were paying close attention to me and how I reacted. I sat back, huffing out a breath before rubbing my hands over my face in frustration.

"Bones and Baker were pretty good at keeping track of me for the first couple of weeks. I spent the first couple of days in the safehouse crying and begging them to let me go. When that didn't work, I got mad. I started throwing temper tantrums and the second time I did, I ended up throwing some pots and pans at them in anger. I happened to hit Baker across the head with a small egg pan. Bones got mad. He just walked right up to me and tagged me in the arm with his tazer." I showed the guys the nearly healed mark on my forearm where the prongs had made contact with my skin. That had Ram come flying out of his chair and begin pacing the kitchen floor.

"The second time I was tazed, they had allowed me out of the house into the backyard sometime in the latter part of the second week. Bones was watching me and as soon as his back turned to patrol the side yard, I climbed the tree and was making my way over the really tall cement block wall when I felt a hand on my ankle. I kicked out and I must have kicked Bones in the face because the next thing I knew I woke up on the ground, a hell of a bruise on my side where I had hit the ground and two prong marks on my leg." I held up my shirt on my right side showing a fading bruise on my torso and hip before showing them the prong marks on my calf.

The sight and sound of Vince's coffee cup shattering on the wall across from us made me ball up on the ground and I screamed in fear. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I murmured over and over again, hoping they weren't mad at me for being so stupid at getting shocked twice.

Ram gathered me into his arms kissing the side of my face and the top of my head, shushing me gently and rocking a bit to soothe me. "It's okay, Angel. It's okay. Vince isn't mad at you."

"Giuro a Dio che lo ucciderò. Come osa mettere le mani su Stephanie! E una pistola stordente comunque. Soffrirà quando avrò finito con lui." (I swear to God I'm going to kill him. How dare he put his hands on Stephanie! And a stun gun none the less. He's going to suffer when I get done with him.)

"Vince, per favore... L'ho fatto incazzare. Me lo meritavo." (Vince, please... I pissed him off. I deserved it.)

"NO! YOU DID NOT DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT, LET ALONE TAZED SEVERAL TIMES BY A JACKASS!" Ram growled out, hugging me closer. Apparently, he understood Italian as well.

"Yeah well, Ranger saw nothing wrong with it." I muttered, still livid at the man.

"The entire Core Team and those two bumbling idiots are going to get called to the mats when we get back and I'm telling the entire rest of guys at Rangeman, including Boston, Atlanta and Miami. Let's see how those Idjits deal with over 300 men calling them to the mats." I glanced at Vince before he knelt down to my side in Ram's arms. "Mama, Are you alright? Can we move you to the family room? It'll be more comfortable."

We settled onto a large, grey lounging couch, centered in a massive room off the kitchen, the living room to the left through a triple wide doorway, the kitchen to the right and a double glass door leading out to the backyard. I had Vince on my left and Ram on my right, both had their hands on my knees and were giving comforting vibes at the moment.

"Angel. What do you want us to do? What can we do for you?" He shifted my head so I could look him right in the eyes, his face was questioning and full of concern.

"I don't want either of you to get into trouble going after Ranger and the Core Team over me. I should handle this on my own." I held up my hand as they began to protest. "I know, you're not liking that but it's how I feel right now. I'm sorry, but I need to get away from all of this for a while. I don't want to see or talk to Ranger until I calm down."

The guys both looked to each other over the top of my head carrying on a silent conversation that all the Rangemen seemed to have perfected. They both smiled at the same time, making me wary. "What?"

"Angel, what would you say to a month of no Ranger and no Core Team?"

"Sounds like heaven. How?"

"Mama, how about a little road trip with the two of us?"

"Wait! What?" I was confused. "Road trip?"

"We're heading out tomorrow night on a month-long road trip to the west coast and back again. We'd love to have you join us. Everything is already covered so you'd just have to bring yourself and your luggage."

My thumb hurt from where I was chewing on the nail furiously, debating internally whether it was an asinine suggestion or brilliant. Stupid Stephanie perked up and pointed to both the guys at my side, Damn it! If you don't go, I'm gonna smack you a good one. Hello! Look at the two healthy red-blooded men asking you to go on a trip with them. Who knows, it might lead you to getting a little somethin' somethin' if you catch my drift.

I screwed my face up just as undecided until Smart Stephanie came to the rescue. You can avoid Ranger and the Core Team for an entire month! It'll give us plenty of time to think of what to say to him. Besides, Vinney's probably replaced you at the bonds office with Joyce Barnhart, anyway.

Thanks to bringing in that huge $15,000 FBI distraction bonus a few months ago, your apartment and utilities are paid through to the end of the year anyway. What are you waiting for?

"What about Rex?" I asked, nervous as to what to do with my little guy.

"Bring him along. We got the space and he'll enjoy the fresh air." Ram stated, giving me a hopeful grin.

"Are you sure you can accommodate Rex and his hamster mommy?" I was still unsure as to why I was agreeing to this.

"Mama we wouldn't have suggested it if we couldn't handle both you and your little hammy. You won't regret this." Vince hugged me hard kissing me lightly on the lips. "I can't wait!" The feel of his soft lips on mine startled me a bit before Ram did the same, his lips grazing mine so softly that I wasn't even sure it had even happened.

Holy Crap. What was I getting myself into?

~0~0~0~

When the guys and I returned to my apartment, we found Rex sleeping happily in his soup can in his tank on the counter, fresh hamster crunchies and a few grapes sat in his bowl. A handwritten note from Ella stated I had fresh bedding on the bed, and a few staples in the fridge until I was able to go to the store myself. She also stated she found out that Ranger had squirreled me away somewhere and was furious at him. She had begun to add copious amounts of salt, sugar and fat to both Ranger and the Core Team's meals in retaliation for my safehouse sequestration. She planned on continuing until she found them properly punished. She left her cell phone number and asked that I call her if I needed anything.

Smiling like an idiot, I hugged the letter close to my heart. I loved Ella.

Sitting on my bed, I pulled out my phone and texted Ella. I told her that I was okay that I was headed out of town for a while and not to worry. I was safe and I would check in with her regularly so she wouldn't worry. I would leave my phone in the apartment but I would pick up a burner to use on the trip so Ranger couldn't track where I was by my phone. She replied quickly giving me a thumbs up, a smoochy face and a couple of hearts.

I next called my dad, needing to avoid the disaster of a conversation I would have with my mother about my road trip. He was furious when I explained what had happened in the last month and why I was leaving with the guys. He agreed that it would be a good idea to get away for a while and calm down and think things through. He did ask to speak with the guys. I handed the phone to Vince first, "My dad wants to speak with you both."

"Sir... Vince Constenzo... Yes, Sir... Full blooded Italian Sir... No Sir... We'll keep her safe, Sir... She will have her own bed... West Coast Sir... Four weeks... We can check in regularly if that would make you feel more comfortable... Thank you Sir... Yes Sir." He handed the phone to Ram giving him a silent nod.

"Evan Ramsey Sir... Yes Sir... No Sir... We'll be armed the entire trip... No Sir. We don't intend on allowing him to know where she is or where we are... Rex is coming along for the ride as well... Thank you Sir... No Sir... I'll be sure to do that with her Sir... Thank you Sir... Have a good night, Sir." Ram handed the phone back to me and I sighed before putting it back to my ear.

"Pumpkin, you listen to Vince and Ram, they'll keep you safe and help you to relax. You hear me?"
"Yes, Daddy." A watery smile crossed my face before I blurted out, "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, too. Now get going. I'll talk to you later. Text me in a few days to check in." His gruff voice seemed a tad bit gravellier as if he were holding back his emotions. The line went dead, and I shut off my phone. I pulled the battery out and sat both on the side table.

"I'll need to get a new phone before we head out. I don't want Ranger being able to track us using my phone." I glanced to the closet before adding, "And can you help me search for trackers on my things before I take them with us?"

Shaking their heads in anger and frustration, the guys and I searched the clothing and items I was going to take on the trip. We found three in my shirts, two in pairs of pants, three in pairs of shoes and sandals, two in my hair scrunchies, two in some tampon packs, and a handful in my purse. I just sat on the ground, upset and angry that I had that many trackers keeping an eye on my whereabouts.

"Guess I'll have to just pick up things as I need them. I can't even pack my own shit because of him." A sneaker thumped against the closet door when I threw it in frustration. "Damn it, Ranger!"

After deeming Rex and his things clean of trackers, we walked out of the apartment without anything of mine except my ID, my gun and the clothing I was wearing. The pile of trackers we had found during our search were sitting in the middle of the kitchen table, easy for Ranger or the guys to find when they visited while I was gone.

I left a nasty note telling the Core Team I was pissed. I was going out of town for a while. I was safe and I did not want them tracking me because that part of my life was over. I added a little postscript at the end for Ranger. I said that he would be lucky if I ever forgave him for the things, he did to me. Not to look for me. I was safe. And I would be having a conversation with him and his entire team when I returned.

Ram and Vince both winced when they read the note, glad that neither of them had my anger directed at them. We headed out to Target to pick up a few things before going back to the house. Ram hamster-sat as Vince and I walked into the Target. Almost an hour later, we came out with a full basket of clothing and items I'd need for the trip. A quick trip into a local convenience store solved the phone problem. I was able to pick up a cheap prepaid phone for next to nothing.

I was finally ready for our road trip.

A/N: I will post chapters twice a week until the story is finished. I only have a few chapters left to finish, so I'll have some room to fudge a little if I need to. Hope you like what I've got planned for Steph. Please leave a review if you can, it makes my day. No, honest! It really does. Tiff =)