Chapter 1

I took in the scene around me. Sally was standing with his hands raised. Robin Russell walked up in front of him. She grasped his arms, pulling them down to his sides. She glanced my direction, and nodded at someone behind me. I felt the cuffs snap onto my wrists even as I watched Robin cuff Sally.

I stood with my mouth hanging open as Joe started reciting my rights.

You have the right to remain silent... he began. I tuned out the rest and meekly followed him into the squad car. I shot a look at Ranger, who was standing next to his Mercedes. He looked composed, as usual. I could tell he was mad because his jaw was clenched tight.

Babe, I'll meet you at the station,he said, as I passed him on the way to Morelli's car. I stared at him as he angled himself into the Mercedes and disappeared. Joe pushed down on my head and shoved me into the back seat of his Crown Vic. The bastard. I'd almost been killed by a gang, and he arrested me! I wasn't going to take this quietly!

Joseph Morelli, what the hell do you think your doing? I screeched.

You need to come down to the station and answer some questions. We need to understand what happened here.And you felt the need to cuff me and read me my rights? Why am I under arrest?

Joe sighed and glanced at me in the rearview mirror. You're not under arrest, Stephanie. We just need to figure out how everyone but you and Sally wound up dead.

I blinked back a tear, remembering just how close I'd come to being the one who died. If Sally hadn't shown up when he did, I had no doubt it would be me laying out there, in far worse condition than I was now. I just hoped we both escaped from the police interrogation unscathed. Technically I knew Sally wasn't supposed to be carrying an Uzi and shooting people. But dammit, he had saved my life. Surely that counted for something.

This is war, Joe.Isn't it always, I heard him mutter. I tuned him out and stared out the window for the rest of the drive.

We were now parked in front of the Trenton police station. I had been kidnapped from my sister Valerie's wedding shower, thrown in the trunk of my own car, taunted by crazed gang members who planned to kill me, rescued by my friend Sally Sweet, and now I had to go answer questions about the whole experience. Better yet, it looked like the interrogator was going to be no other than Joe Morelli. Could life get any worse?

Joe and I were at an undefined moment in our relationship. I had moved out of his house recently. At the time I convinced myself it was for his own safety. I knew there was a contract out on me. I was no longer positive that was the whole reason. Another part of the reason was going to meet us at the station. Ranger. I had no idea what was going on between Ranger and me.

I put all thoughts of my relationships and lack there of out of my head as Joe opened the door, and dragged me out of the back seat by my arm. We trotted into the station, and he led me back to a mostly bare room. This must be where I was going to get to answer questions. Joe took the cuffs off. I thought long and hard about punching him in the nose, but finally decided not to. Probably he was expecting it, and I'd miss. I sighed and sat down in a metal chair. I propped my elbows on my knees and looked up expectantly.

What happened, Cupcake? he asked.

I explained to Joe about how I had volunteered to move the Buick out of the tow away zone for Valerie. Before I knew it, I was attacked and shoved into the trunk. I had tried to fight, but I was no match for my attackers. They had driven me to the playground where he had found me. Luckily, Sally had shown up, running over some of the gang members with his bus, and taking care of the others with a gun. I embellished a little, telling Joe that they had pulled guns on Sally first. I didn't want Sally to face any more charges than absolutely necessary.

Joe gave me a look. I knew he knew I had added the part about the gang members having guns. He decided to let it slide. He kneeled down in front of me and put his hand against my cheek.

Steph, you've got to give up the bounty hunting job, he whispered. I can't live like this.

He couldn't live like this! Who the hell did he think he was? I was the one who almost died. I'd done everything I could to keep him out of danger. Now he thought I was going to let him get away with ordering me around? I don't think so!

Joe, I'm not giving up my job. I'm starting to get good at it, and I intend to keep doing it.

Joe's eyes narrowed and he stuck out his lower lip. Oh, goody, Joe was going to be stubborn.

Where have you been staying? he asked quietly. That came out of left field.

What does that have to do with my job? I asked.

Are you living with Manoso?

My jaw dropped. Not so much because he asked the question, but because of the way his eyes had gone cold when he asked. He was mad I was staying at Ranger's. All this after he'd given me an ultimatum. Again with the me or your job thing. He really needed to grow up!

What is it to you?

Joe stood up and looked over my head for a moment. The tension in the room was getting thick enough to cut with a knife. When he finally looked down at me, all emotion had been wiped from his face. I was looking at Joe the cop, any hint of the man I had tried to say I love you to was gone.

You've made your decision. You're free to go,he said.

I stood. I looked at him for a minute. I'm sorry, Joe, I said quietly. I walked out to the front and asked the officer on duty if Sally was still there. He looked up in surprise. No, Officer Russell released him right away. No charges were filed. She said it was a clear case of self defense.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn't gotten Sally in serious trouble, at least. I certainly owed him one for saving my life. I thought about what I could do for Sally as I wandered out to the parking lot. It wasn't until the door closed behind me that I remembered I had no car here.

I looked around the lot, and saw Ranger leaning against his Mercedes, dressed to kill, in more ways than one. He was wearing his black combat boots, pants and t-shirt, along with his gun belt and who knew what other weapons he had concealed. I ambled over to him, dashing away a tear with the back of my hand. I was a little sad about the way things had gone with Joe. I knew I loved him. I knew just as well I'd never be able to live with him always expecting me to do what he wanted. Another problem was I also knew I loved Ranger. I was one screwed up person.

Ranger ran his thumb down my cheek, wiping away another tear.

he asked.

I nodded. I quirked a smile at him. Home, Jeeves.

He turned his full wattage smile on me, and put his hand to the small of my back, steering me into the car. Home it is.

With that, he slid into the driver's seat. He started the car and drove. As usual, Ranger drove in silence. I'd learned that when Ranger was ready to talk he would. I didn't usually have much luck getting him to engage in idle chatter while he was driving. I sat and watched as the light from the street lamps flashed by, gleaming off his earring, illuminating his hands. I wondered if he'd take me back to the Rangeman building or somewhere else. My questions were answered when he parked the car in the underground garage I'd become familiar with the past several days. Looked like I was going to continue my stay at the Rangeman apartments for a while yet. I'm sure it would be better than staying at my parents.