I pulled up at the far side of the bank's parking lot.  I checked my makeup in the mirror and my phone rang.

"Yo, Babe.  You're on."  Ranger hung up.

"You can hear me?" I wanted to be sure.  There was no way I hell I was going in there if I wasn't sure Ranger could hear me.

"Loud and clear," he replied.  I think he was smiling.

I walked into the bank and made myself look busy by filling in a deposit slip.  I didn't want to think how many of these I would have to fill in while I waited for Romano to arrive.

I gunshot caught my attention.

"Shit, Ranger, he's here."

"I know, Babe.  We saw him come in."

"Everybody lie down, face to the floor!" 

I really don't know why he said this, because everyone was already on the floor.  The two bank tellers, a couple of business guys and a mother and her son.

"I'm just going to withdraw some cash, then I'll be gone.  No one will trip the alarm.  No one will call the police.  If anyone looks up, I'll shoot them."  He fired another shot into the ceiling to make his point.

He looked at me.  I was the only one standing.

"Lie down."  I didn't move.  "Lie down, bitch!"  I hesitated.

"Don't do it, Babe."

"Who are you?" Romano asked.  "You're a fucking cop, aren't you?"

I shook my head.  "I work in an underwear shop."

He smiled one of those feral smiles that make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.  "Lie down, or I'll shoot you.  Pretty panties and all."

I just stood there.  I didn't know what to do or say.

No one said anything for what felt like minutes.

"Babe, cough if you're still there." 

I coughed. 

Romano made his way to where I was standing and shoved his gun into my face.  "I said lie down or I'll shoot."

"You don't want to do that."  I couldn't believe I just said that.

"Why not?"

"My brother is waiting for me outside.  My boyfriend is a cop," Ranger fed my lines to me.

Romano just sneered.

I heard Ranger's mobile ring, and new for a moment I'd be on my own.

"Why don't you let these people go?"  I couldn't believe it!  I was negotiating with a Mafia dude.  Me, Stephanie Plum, the bombshell bounty hunter!  "Look, I'm sure you can work something out with the cops if you just let these people go!"

"Think about it. If I let these hostages go, I have no bargaining chips."

"Take me."

"Babe, what are you thinking?"  Ranger was back.

"My boyfriend is vice.  He'll do almost anything to ensure my safety.  Let these people go, take me and I'm sure you can sort something out for my return."

I was insane.  I was just offering myself to an armed robber. 

Romano mumbled something about thirty down to ten.  He nodded reluctantly.

I heard three cars pull up at the same time and the doors slam shut.  Ranger's Merry Men.

"Alright, this is the plan.  This lovely lady is going to stay behind and be my accessory while the rest of you crawl to the door."

My cell phone rang before anyone could move.  Romano reached into my jeans pocket before I could.

"Hello… Yeah, she's here…  She's fine… Who is this?" he paused.  "I'll put her on.  It's Ricardo."  He handed the phone over.

"Ric?" I was too relieved to say anything else.

"You alright, Baby?  He hasn't hurt you, has he?"

"I'm fine." 

"Good.  I heard gun shots."  He paused for a couple of seconds.  "Excluding yourself, how many hostages are in there?"

"It feels like I've been in here for seven years," I moaned.

"How many are injured?"

"None of this is making any sense, Ric."

 Romano started hissing things at me. 

"He says he wants to cut a deal."

"What's his deal?"

"What should have taken me ten minutes has tripled!"

"Baby, I can't do that."

"Ric, he has a gun to my head!"  I was panicking again.

"I'll do my best."

I passed this on to Romano.  He ripped the phone out of my hand, told Ranger we'd see him in ten and threw it across the room.

"Alright.  Do not look up and do not stand until you are across the road.  Get out!" he yelled as he let off another round.

Everyone started scrambling out as fast as they could.  Soon, I was the only one in the bank.

Six minutes later, Romano and I exited the bank.  He had his left arm wrapped around my throat and his right hand held the gun to my temple.  I was forced to carry the bag of cash.

I saw Ranger and started sobbing.  I took a step towards him, desperate to get away, but Romano tightened his grip.

"No one move until she's free," Ranger ordered his Men who were standing by their cars with their guns drawn.  "Baby, you still okay?"

I managed a nod.

"Alright, Romano, she's safe.  Let her go and we can talk."

Romano looked at Ranger's Men.  Ranger gestured to them to lose their guns. 

"I'll let her go on the count of five.  One… Two… Three…" He started shooting, using my body as a shield.        

Tank, being the brave or stupid man that he is, decided to take the shot.  The conditions were perfect.  Until Romano realised what he was doing and pulled me in the path of the round.  I screamed as Tank's bullet grazed my arm.  Romano returned fire, but his weapon jammed.  He threw me to the ground and took off.

Ranger caught me and held me close while Cal tackled him to the ground.

Ranger took me to the hospital for stitches then home.  My phone was ringing when we entered.

"Cupcake, you're alright?"

"Yeah, Joe, I'm fine."

"Whose idea was it to use you as bait?"

"Mine," I lied.

"You should have called the police.  I'm going to have to get a statement from you tomorrow."

"I know," I said, and then hung up.

Ranger was leaning against the kitchen bench, watching me.  I walked over to him and stood in his personal space, hoping he'd get the hint.  He did.  He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my hair.

"I'm proud of you, Babe."  I smiled.  "You did well."

I smiled and moved closer.

"I'll stay if you want me to."

"No strings?"

"Everything has strings."  He must have felt sorry for me.  "I'll give you two options.  I stay until you're asleep – no strings.  Or, I'll stay until tomorrow – strings attached."

"What are the strings?"

"The usual."

I nodded and wrapped my good arm around his neck.  He carried me over to the couch and flicked on the TV.  I slid from the couch onto his lap.  Resting my head against he chest, I felt so safe.  I felt protected in his arms.  This wasn't wrong.  Joe and I weren't together anymore and Clorinda had gone back to Miami.  So, it didn't matter that I was falling asleep on Ranger's lap.

I woke early the next morning in my panties and tank top.  I supposed Ranger had stripped me off and tucked me in bed.  The sheets still smelt like him, so I knew that he had slept with me. 

I wandered into the bathroom, pulled my hair up in a ponytail and made my way out to the kitchen.  I stopped at the sight in front of me.

Ranger was pacing the length of the living room wearing only his black pants.  He smiled at me.  His phone rang and he answered it after the first ring.

"Yo, Tank."  He looked me up and down.  "She's fine.  Man, it's not your fault.  You had a clean shot.  You were right to take it." 

Tank said something, which caused Ranger to frown.  "I'll be there ASAP."  He hung up and turned to me.  "You'll be okay, won't you, Babe?"

"I'll just go down to the station and then I might go shopping."

Ranger grabbed my waist and pulled me to him so I could feel his whole body.  "Take it easy.  I may want to collect tonight."

I knew he was bluffing.  Last time I owed him, he made me wait for weeks.

I went down to the station and told Morelli everything.  Except for the part about Ranger imitating a cop and the part about wearing a wire.  The way I saw it was Ranger got his skip, the cops got Romano for attempted robbery, carrying without a license and kidnapping and I got to sleep with Ranger.

After that, I headed for Quaker Bridge Mall.  I was in Macy's when my phone rang.

"Steph, we're going out for dinner tonight.  You have to come."

"What's the occasion?" I asked Val.

"Albert and I've set a date.  It's our engagement dinner.  You can bring Joe, if you like."

I thanked her and hung up.  No, wasn't asking Joe.  I would have liked to take Ranger, but there was no way he'd agree.  All I needed a dress.  And shoes.  And underwear.  It was a truly glorious day because Macy's had fifteen per cent off everything.

I went home, showered, and did my hair and makeup.  The dress I bought today was tight and black with a scoop neckline to keep things interesting.  But not too interesting.

I arrived fifteen minutes late.  Everyone had started without me.

"Where's Joseph?" my mother asked.

"He couldn't make it."

Dinner was horrible.  I ordered steak and Angie spent the whole time telling me all about the hormones farmers pump into their cows.  By the time it arrived, I wasn't hungry.  I wanted to get drunk, but decided it was too much effort.

Nine-thirty, I shoved the key into my door.  I have Rex a piece of garlic bread I had taken from the restaurant and made my way to the bedroom.

I was pulling down my bed when I heard the sound of my locks being opened.  I grabbed my gun and made my way to investigate.  I stumbled a bit in my dress, which was around my ankles.

Ranger was sliding the locks back into place.  I stopped and swore.

He swallowed and said, "Babe," very thickly.

I just realised how this must have looked.  I was standing there, gun aimed, in a black push up bra, black g-string, black thigh high stockings with a lacy top and high heels.

"What's up?" I tried to ask calmly as I put the gun down.

"I was going to see if you wanted to join me on a job…"

"But?"

He didn't answer.  Instead, he grabbed his phone and punched in a number.

"Yo, Tank?  Steph needs my help with a takedown.  I want you in charge of the others."  He hung up.

"Why aren't you going?" I don't know why I bothered to ask.

"I decided that I want to collect."

"Tonight?"

He took a step towards me and kissed my lips.  Gently at first.  But then it turned passionate.  I moved to slip off my shoes and stockings, but he stopped me.

"No," he said as he kissed my neck.  "Leave them on."

He toed off his shoes and pulled off his gun belt and Kevlar.  He stripped the rest of the way.

As he pulled me against his naked body and unclipped my bra, my last logical thought was along the lines of loving mercenaries.  My panties slid down to the floor.  He sat down on the couch and pulled me on top of him.