First off I would like to say sorry for the long stretch between the two stories it was not the best year for me. Also this story has not been betaed, I have been looking one for some time and have not had any luck finding someone with time to take on another story, if you or if you know someone who would like to beta let me know. As always I don't own Ranger or his Merry Men, I am just playing with them. Enjoy
Where Too Now?
Chapter 1
SPOV
I was running full out, not hold back at all, my breath was come out as little puffs of smoke in the cool morning air. I could hear the waves splashing against the shore as my feet hit the sand, It was early, well early by my standers at least, the golden rays of the sun were just starting to be seen in the sky over the ocean waters. On most days I don't run until closer till 8, but today I had a lot on my mind and this was my time to think, to get my thoughts in order. It has been this way since I was in college, well maybe I took little break okay more like a six year break, but hey I have once more found my love for it and I don't think I want to give it up this time. Who am I you ask? I am Stephanie Plum and I am the Bombshell Bounty Hunter.
Not too long ago I blacked mailed my weasel of a cousin Vinny into give me a job at his bond office as a bond enforcement agent BEA or bounty hunter. I more or less go out and chase after all the guys who decide to skip out on their court date. Which I must say has become much easier since I started running again. I have had some help along the way and have made some amazing friends. Lately it has been Ranger and his Marry Men helping me become better at catching my skips.
How do I describe Ranger and his men? Well Ranger is also known as Ricardo Carlos Manoso. Ranger is…well hell how do I put this? He is sexy, smart, strong, fast, did I say sexy? And he also is the best bounty hunter out there. Ranger taught me everything that I know, which a first was not much I will admit, but I am learning more every day. But he is always there whenever I am trouble, like blowing up cars, being kidnapped, and burning down funeral homes, that last one was not my fault I swear! Ranger is also the owner and CEO of Rangeman Security, where he does everything from chase skips to monitor local business for break ins.
His men are a lot like him, they are all big and strong, and most of them have a military back ground. They are also always there when even I need them. Ranger's Core team of men, Bobby, Lester, and Tank, have kinda adopted me as there little sister and are very protective of me. Just about a month ago Ranger and his Core team had come home from being in the wind to find me in a world of trouble. Long story short I once again got kidnapped and the guys came and saved me. But hey at least this time I was not alone, Lester got kidnapped with me when he tried to save me off the helicopter, but that is a whole different story.
When I woke up in the hospital I had agreed with Ranger to stay with him for a few day, well a few days turned into a couple of weeks. During that time I trained with the guys and ran search for Ranger. One day close to the end of the two week mark I notice that something seemed off with the guys, luckily I was working with Hal and he would tell me just about anything.
Flashback
I was sitting in the break room eating lunch with Hal when Ranger walked in. I smiled up at him, but he didn't notice, which was very odd for him. He walked over to the frig opened it and grabbed a bottle of water. He then slammed the door shut and walked out of the room. I watched him go with my mouth hanging open, Ranger hardly ever showed any type of anger. I turned to Hal hoping he knew what was going on.
"What was that about?"
Hal let out a sigh, I know a sigh! "Ranger and the rest of the core team have been a bit on edge."
"I can see that, but why?"
"Normally when they come back from a mission that take a few weeks of R & R at Ranger's compound, but this last time they didn't." Hal must of seen the worried look of my face, "Don't worry Steph it's not your fault, Ranger would do anything to keep you safe."
"But why don't they go now?"
"I am pretty sure it's because the guys are worried about leaving you alone."
"But I am not alone I have the rest of you guys."
"That's what I have been trying to tell Ranger, but he won't listen to me."
"Well I will get him to listen to me."
End
Over the next few days I had pushed and bugged Ranger about him and rest of his team taking a few days off. I don't know how Ranger put up with me, because I did not let up until he had finally agreed to go. That was three days ago, two days ago Ranger, Bobby, Lester and Tank left for some down time. The best part was that Ranger never gave orders for me to stay in the building, so I was able to go home.
It was Friday so I worked the rest of that day at Rangeman and then headed home. When I got to my apartment building I stopped and grabbed the huge pile of mail that I had waiting in my box and headed up stairs. I had left Rex at Rangeman because I decided that I was going to do some serious cleaning that weekend. I walked into my apartment and air felt stale, the results of no one being home for a month. This place really did need a good scrubbing.
I put the mail down in the kitchen and set to work. I hadn't seen this place since the last time it got trashed, and let me tell you there was junk everywhere, most of which were torn up clothing. I worked for the next few hours putting everything in bags and bring it down to the trash around ten I decided to call it quits and headed into bed.
When I got up the next morning I ate the last pop tart I had left and then started working all over again. Around noon I took a break to eat, I called Pino's and had them send over a sub for me. While I waited I looked at my mail most of it was bills, but there was one envelope from the owner of my building with a big red stamp across the front of it with the words finally reminder. I quickly ripped it open and read the content of the letter, and let me tell you I was screwed.
The letter was the finally reminder telling all residents of the building that as of the twentieth of the month the building was being sold and that we all had to move out. I had got a letter months ago and completely forgot about it, telling myself I had plenty of time to worry about it. Then a few weeks ago I had gotten a second letter like the first, it was one of the reason why I had decided to give Joe and I real chance and move in with him, well we all know how that turned out. After that I forgot again and frankly I didn't have time to think about it. The problem was that I now only had two days to move out.
Before I had time to think of it there was a knock at the door. I walked over and looked in the peephole and found Joseph Morelli holding my sub. Let me give you a quick rundown on Joe. Joseph Morelli was at one time my on again off again currently forever off again boyfriend. Joe is a homicide cop that works for the TPD. He wants to marry me, live behind a white picket fence and have 2.5 children running around and playing with the big Bob the dog, but to do that I would've had to quit my job and more or less complete change who I was, and I was not going to do that for anyone. Also it didn't help that I had found him doing the nasty with Joyce Barnhardt one day. Once again different story. The last time I had seen Joe he had been shot. It ended up being nothing but he did get a concussion.
I slammed my 'blank' face and open the door.
"Morelli." I said in a flat voice.
"Hey Cupcake how's it been?" He tired to walk past me into my apartment but I angled my so he could get not past, "Come on Cupcake don't be like that, the boys have missed you."
I snorted at that, "Was there something you wanted Morelli?"
"I was at Pino's when you called in your order so I thought I would bring it over and we could catch up. I haven't seen you in weeks."
"I think not Joe." I dropped some money on the hall floor, took my sub from him and slammed the door in his face. He stayed out there for almost a half hour begging for me to let him in. I didn't listen to him and ate my sub, finally he stopped making noise, I went and looked out the peephole to find him gone, just to be sure I cracked open the door and looked down the hall. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when I found no trace of him out there.
I tired to get back to work after that, but in truth I didn't see the point. I only had two days to move out. The only good thing was that a lot of my stuff had made its way over to Rangeman the past few weeks. So at least I didn't have a ton of packing to do. I gave up on the cleaning after a couple of hours of getting nowhere. I sat on the couch and popped Ghost Busters in.
By the time the movie was over I was beat. I tried to go to bed but all I did was toss and turn all night. I gave up around 4:30 and decided that there were only a few things at my apartment worth keeping, most of which were clothes, I put them in a bag and took it down to the explorer that Ranger let me borrow. I didn't even lock up the apartment I hoped in the SUV and took off for Point Pleasant.
So that's where I find myself now running along the beach trying to decided what now better yet, where too now?
Let me know what you think, Liz