Well maybe I made a mistake…maybe. But in my defence, up til now there had been days between contact and he had kept a distance. I had no reason to believe that would change. I didn't even make it one night.

I was fast asleep when I heard my phone ringing beside me. I blearily opened my eyes to see my clock. Ugh 3:00 AM. My phone was still ringing and I lunged for it in a panic. "Who's dead?"

A hoarse chuckle answered. "No one of importance…yet." I almost dropped my phone but reminded myself that Ranger would be listening.

"Who are you? What do you want?" I said instead, doing my best to keep calm.

"I'm your future Stephanie. We're going to be together. But not yet, we've still got some time. I've left you a gift. You made a beautiful model in my last shots, but you're especially gorgeous when you are sleeping. So innocent."

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. I scanned my room frantically looking for anything out of place. I didn't see anything and I reached under my bed and pulled out the loaded gun that I'd hid there. I hated it but I'd promised Ranger that I'd keep it with me and now I was glad I did. I know I'm supposed to keep him talking but I've had my fill of creep for the night. "Look I'm done. It's the middle of the night and I just want to be left alone. I don't want to meet you, I don't want anything from you and if you keep harassing me, you're going to get in trouble." I hung up the phone and stepped into the living room. There were photos everywhere. I whimpered and forced myself to keep moving through the apartment, clearing the rooms as I went. Rex scurried into his soup can as I hit the kitchen lights, and I said I silent thanks he was safe before checking the door. Triple locked like always. I went back into the kitchen and put myself in the corner with a clear line of sight to the door and living room.

3:08 and I heard the locks turning. I gripped my gun and pointed it just past the door, as I waited to see who was coming through. Ranger slid through, gun raised, with Tank right behind him. He made eye contact with me and instantly changed direction, signalling Tank to search the place as he removed the gun from my shaking hands.

"Babe." He said as he wrapped me in his arms, tucking my head into his chest. "You scared the hell out of me. You didn't answer your phone."

"Phone?" I said, my legs starting to crumble under me and our voices sounding far away. Tank came back in view, shook his head and Ranger expertly swung me in his arms and moved to the living room couch, settling me down in his lap.

"Yeah babe, phone. I called you 4 times after you hung up. I thought he was here." I felt him breathe deep and place a kiss on my head as he stroked his hand along my back.

"I must have dropped it. Needed my hands for my gun." I whispered. "He was here Ranger. He was in my place while I was sleeping. He left photos."

"Tank." Ranger called out and his right hand man appeared, handing over a stack of photos. I had no idea what these ones were but judging by the tension in Ranger's body, they weren't good. "Steph, you're moving in with me until we catch this guy." He said firmly.

I nodded, still shook up enough that I wasn't going to protest. I took a couple of deep breaths, inhaling his comforting smell and fortifying myself to move away from him. I left the guys in the living room and moved back into my bedroom to pack my things. Once the door was closed, I gave myself a couple of seconds to feel my panic before gaining control of my emotions. Shit, he had been here, in my room while I slept defenceless. God knows what he could've done to me if he wasn't having fun playing with me instead.

I cast a last look at my room, not knowing when I'd be back and my eyes caught on my phone lying on the dresser. I unlocked it, expecting to see Ranger's missed calls but it opened to a photo. My blood froze as I studied the photo taken from the familiar view of my window, showing Ranger and Tank bolting out of the car. He must have waited til I left my phone in my room, and left before they made it upstairs. My eyes caught on the fire escape window and I rushed over, swearing when I realized it was unlocked. I felt my phone vibrate in my hand and read the text that had come through 'They can't stop me or our future.'

The drive to Rangeman went by too fast. I sat in the backseat staring blindly at my phone and next thing I know, we were parked in the garage.

"Tank, send Zero to Steph's place. Have him walk the scene, see if he can get any evidence on who we're dealing with. I want Ram taken off rotation, and have him analyze the photos and phone. Put a senior team on Stephanie, she goes nowhere without 2 guys on her." Ranger ordered as he opened my door and grabbed my bag and Rex's cage. Tank nodded and I bit back my irritation at not being included in the discussion. Obviously this guy was more dangerous than I expected and I wasn't too proud to admit I was in over my head. A couple of guys watching my back couldn't hurt.

I let Ranger usher me to Level 7 and direct me to the couch. I stared at my feet nervously and did my best to ignore the gaze that was burning into me. Eventually I couldn't take any more and forced myself to look in his eyes. "Thanks for getting me."

"Always babe. Now I'm pretty sure you missed a couple little details earlier."

I sniffed miserably as I pulled out the stack of photos from my purse and handed them over. He flicked through them and then raised an eyebrow at me. I unlocked the hidden photos on my phone and showed him the bloody photos. "I gave those to the police. I thought that their investigation would deal with him. I didn't think he'd come after me so soon and I just wanted to be able to live my life." I tried to explain.

Ranger sighed and I mentally gave myself a point in my 'made Ranger show emotion' game. He bent down to my level and took my hand in his. "Babe. I know that I can be controlling and over protective but I'm trying to keep you safe. I need to keep you safe. When you keep information from me, I can't analyze the threat."

"On that note," I guiltily passed over the phone again. "This photo was taken on my phone…and he texted me."

Ranger studied the photo of himself and Tank before flipping to the message. I watched his hand clench in anger before he pocketed my phone. "Anything else?" He questioned softly. I shook my head in response and he stood back up. "I'll be back later." He turned away from me and went to the door.

"Wait!" I rushed after him. "Where are you going?" I was terrified he was going to go out after this guy alone. I grabbed at his arm trying to slow him down.

Ranger brushed me off like I wasn't there and opened the door. Two steps down the hall he stopped and swore, before turning back and pulling me into a brutal, desperate kiss. "I'm sorry Steph. I'm just going down to the gym. I need to work out some anger before we continue discussing this Babe. Lock the door and get some sleep." With that he was gone.