Thanks for the continued support. Here's a short update in Steph's POV. Next chapter will be Ranger's. Mistakes are mine. Still debating on the rating…

Put it down! The angry order was still replaying in my mind even as the Bonds office was currently swarming with Trenton's finest officers.

"Hey, Steph." Eddie Gazarra was first on scene, followed by Carl Constanza and his partner Big Dog a few minutes later. I grew up in the same neighborhood as Eddie and we've been friends even before he married my cousin Shirley the Whinner. "Want to give your statement now or..." His offer was sweet, but I figured it was best to get it out of the way.

With a small shudder I recounted the event, minus the serious groping in my office of course. That's no one's business.

"To recap: you were discussing security packages with, uh, Ranger?" At the mention of his name, Ranger lifted his gaze in our direction. He was talking to Carl on the other side of the room, probably recounting the event from his point of view.

"Yes." I answered simply.

"At the sound of gunshots, you both took cover behind your desk. Then Ranger went out to investigate?" Eddie was being very professional, but the look he gave me said he wasn't buying it. He suspected there was more I wasn't telling him. He's good.

"Yes."

"Shortly after you followed and there was a scuffle between you and one of the intruders?" This is where Eddie really pulled the friendship card by arching his left eyebrow at me. He wasn't buying it. Eddie knows there was something more. And unfortunately for him, he wasn't going to find out.

"Yes." I waved a hand across my face, where a bruise is probably forming from the encounter. When I'd lowered Ranger's gun, the second intruder used that to get Ranger to lower his with the threat of shooting me. I'm not sure where it came from, but I surprised everyone by shooting at the masked man. In my adrenaline filled grip I missed and in response he bulldozed me to the ground. That's where it got really confusing. There was a lot of rolling around and cussing. Several moments later Ranger joined the mix, removing the guy from me. As they duked it out, I managed to reach the phone and call 911. "They got away."

Eddie nodded his understanding, but before he could continue we were rudely interrupted.

"Cupcake, what the hell's going on?!" Oh, great. Just what I needed. My ex showing up. Yup, I should have stayed in Hawaii.

"Morelli." I said curtly. Eddie gave us some space and ambled over to where Ranger and Carl stood.

"First, you disappear for weeks! And now I have to find out you're back through the dispatcher?" The fact that he showed up just like nothing had happened between us pissed me off more than the destruction of my business and the threat to my life combined.

"I don't have time for this." I murmured as I shook my head and tried to put some space between us. "I need to finish giving my statement to the police." I said on a sigh.

"I AM the police." He said impatiently. Morelli is over six feet tall, towering over me by several inches. At one point in my life I would have tried to appease him, but not anymore. That Stephanie was in the past. I owe him nothing.

"YOU work homicide!" I gritted through clenched teeth as I worked on keeping my cool. "No dead bodies here." Thanks to Ranger, I thought. "And besides, this isn't your case. Not your business." Clearly, he needs a reminder.

"You ARE my business." Morelli said matter of fact.

"Actually, I'm not." I glared at him, daring him to continue.

"Look, we haven't had a chance to talk." He had the audacity to go there.

"There's nothing to talk about!" This time I noticed we had the attention of everyone in the room. Talk about adding insult to injury.

"You didn't let me explain." Grabbing my arm, he tried to get me to follow him outside.

"We need to finish designing your new security plan." Ranger's voice held a hint of anger and that anger showed in the glare he gave Morelli.

"Manoso." Apparently, they knew each other. Go figure. I had to go all the way across the country and an ocean to meet Ranger.

"Yes, definitely." Jerking my arm free, I led the way towards my office.

As soon as the door closed behind Ranger, I found myself burying my face against his chiseled chest. It was probably crazy considering I met the guy mere weeks ago, but in that moment he was familiar. Without a word, his arms wrapped around my waist. For the second time this morning we leaned against my office door, except this time there were no heated touches. He simply held me. Strong and silent. And I was okay with melting against him.