Chapter 13

Eddie drove me to the station and booked me. Did all the fun stuff like fingerprinting, taking my mug shot. That was one hell of a picture there. I looked like I was a madwoman, who I probably was now that I think about it. He kept apologizing telling me he was sorry he had to do all these things. I told him don't worry about it I knew it had to be done.

He placed me in a holding cell with no one else in it. He did this for my protection. The cell had 1 cot and 1 pillow that was it. Which didn't bother me I had no intentions of using the pillow anyway. I sat on the cot with my knees drawn up to my chest and my head resting on my knees.

I must have dozed off because about 2 hours later, Eddie came to the cell so we could go before the judge. As I walked into the courtroom, I noticed that at my defense table there were 2 lawyers I had never met before. Behind them were Ranger, Tank, and Lester.

One of my lawyers leaned over "Just follow my lead. I'm one of your lawyers Mr. Anderson and this is Ms. Snyder. We have been paid by Rangeman LLC to represent you in this case. When he said that I looked back at Ranger I mouthed Thank you and of course, he said No Price

That man is something else. He is generous beyond fault when it comes to me. I don't deserve him or the Merry men by my side. Since Ranger is helping me, I take it that they aren't mad at me. That's a good thing I would hate to know that I lost their friendship because of my actions.

"Ms. Plum you are being charged with the first-degree murder of Joseph Anthony Morelli, how do you plead?" The judge looked at me with a bored expression on his face.

"Your honor my client pleads not guilty." Mr. Anderson advised the judge.

I was like I do. Well, that's news to me but okay, if he thinks that will work whatever floats his boat. I just was hoping I could get out of these handcuffs soon they were hurting my wrist big time. I was also surprised that the judge didn't start laughing when he said I plead not guilty because everyone knows I killed Joe in front of an audience.

"Your honor my client is not a flight risk. Her passport will be turned over to the DA if necessary. She has an outstanding record she has never been in trouble before. If bail is granted, she would be in the custody of Mr. Manoso who is a prominent citizen of the city of Trenton and the owner of Rangeman LLC."

I almost laughed at the prominent citizen remark. Ranger thought that was funny too because I looked behind me and he had a smile on the corners of his mouth. I guess the lawyer, threw that part in for good measure.

The judge seemed to study me from behind his pulpit. Then he started reading the paperwork in front of him. "Mr. Anderson, seeing how your client has never been in trouble before, I will grant bail, however, your client is to stay in the custody of Mr. Manoso at all times. If she is seen in public without the presence of Mr. Manoso or any of his men from his company, she will be picked up as a violation of this order. Is that understood?"

"Yes, your honor perfectly." Mr. Anderson assured the judge I would be a good girl. He's never met Bad Stephanie before.

"Very Well, bail is set at 2 million dollars. The court is adjourned." He wrapped his gravel on the pulpit.

"$2 million? I looked over at Ranger. Do not pay that it's too much. Let me just sit in jail until my trial." I was pleading with him to listen to me.

"Babe, it's just money and I have plenty. Let us do this for you." He leaned over and kissed my forehead. Then Tank and Lester, both hugged me and said "We will see you here in a few. Give us a few minutes and we will bail you out."

These guys do not listen. I knew I would be indebted to them forever. For some reason, Ranger has taken it upon himself to be my protector. I mean, I'm not saying that's a bad thing, because you know Batman is HOT. I know I will never be able to pay him back with everything that he has spent on me.

If he is that hard up to spend his money heck donate to charity. I have known someone say they had "that it's just money and they have plenty." Must be nice.

I was taken back to jail, and I was okay with that. I mean I did kill Joe and I wasn't worried about it. I figured if I got bonded out then okay and if I didn't then that was okay too. I wasn't going to be upset with Ranger if I wasn't.

At 6 pm that afternoon I was bonded out. Ranger and Tank were there when I was released. Tank grabbed me and gave me a hug. Then he passed me over to Ranger. He pulled me to him and whispered, "Mi Corazon" (my heart)

I didn't know what he said but hey it sounded nice, so I just smiled up at him. That's one thing that I need to learn and that is Spanish. I could ask Hector later what Ranger said, but I figured if it was something bad, I didn't want to know about it. So, I just left it alone.

Ranger and I walked with our arms around each other's waist and Tank next to me on my left side. Tank got into the driver's seat and Ranger got into the passenger seat and I got into the back seat. He wanted to get back there with me, but I told him I was going to stretch out.

"Can we get something to eat I'm starving? I haven't eaten since like yesterday morning" just then my stomach growled to agree with me.

Ranger gave me a 200-watt smile "Babe"

Tank just laughed.

Ranger called Ella to have something ready for us when we got back to Ragman. Ella is godsent. She is an excellent cook, and her food is fantastic.

When we went back to Haywood, Tank went to 5 to work and Ranger and I went to 7 so we could eat. Ella put out a big casserole dish of homemade mac & cheese and some broccoli sprouts. I love mac & cheese. I changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt first then I got myself a bowl full of the delicious yumminess and set on the couch to devour it.

Ranger sat down next to me and pulled me against his chest between his legs. We sat in silence and ate in peace. He smells so good. He always smells like his body wash Bulgari. I could seriously get high on that stuff.

We got ready for bed. Believe this or not there isn't anything sexual between us. Not that either one of us doesn't want it to happen, but after what happened to me Ranger knows I need time. He puts on silk black boxers, and I put on one of his shirts and rangeman panties. He pulls my back to his chest with his arm around me we fall asleep that way every time. He seems to get a good night's sleep like that and so do I. I sleep better in his arms than if I'm not in them.

The reason why we choose to sleep like this is so that the nightmares won't come. I started out having nightmares the first night but when Carlos holds me, they go away. So, ever since the first night this is how we sleep. Besides whom wouldn't want to sleep in the arms of Batman.

The next morning came bright and early. We had a meeting with my lawyers concerning my case. Honestly, it doesn't matter to me either way. I killed Joe and I'm not sorry about it. If I'm found guilty then so be it, if not then that's okay too. I did what I did because I had to. I don't feel like he would have gotten justice through the courts.

Anytime Carlos gets up I get up too. It's just habit. So, he got up to go running at 5 am and I decided to go down to the gym. I figured I could take any aggression that I had out on the punching bag or maybe spar with someone in the ring.

After a couple of hours in the gym, I head back up to 7 to shower and change. We have a meeting at 9 with my lawyer to see what our next line of defense is.

5 minutes until 9 am I walked into the conference room. Ranger, Mr. Anderson, and Ms. Snyder along with Tank and Lester were sitting at the glass conference table. Good thing it was a casual dress because I had on jeans and a t-shirt.

"Thank you so much for joining us, Stephanie. We wanted to discuss the next steps in your case." Mr. Anderson directed for me to have a seat between him and Ranger.

"I appreciate you and Ms. Snyder being my lawyers. Let me say this though, I don't want you to fret and think that you must win this case. If I am found not guilty then so be it, if not that's okay too. I was prepared to go to prison anyway for shooting Joe. I just wanted to let you know that." I looked at everyone in the room as I was speaking these words.

"Babe, how could you think it's okay for you to go to prison?"

"I'm not denying Ranger, that I shot Joe. Am I sorry? No, I'm not. Would I do it again the same way? Yep, because he deserved what he got. I'm sorry but I can't be sorry for something that was well merited."

"Stephanie, regardless of how you feel we plan on pleading your case as not guilty. You acted in self-defense. Yes, it wasn't at the time that the attack happened but after you realized the jest of the full attack then you got your self-defense that is the angle we are going with. "Ms. Snyder said all this as you put papers in front of me for me to read over and sign.

The paper was pretty much detailing the same thing that Ms. Snyder had just told me. The paper also advised me that if the case was not won that an appeal would be automatically processed the same day.

"Okay, you can take out the appealing part. I don't want there to be an appeal. If I lose, I lose. Once that is removed, I will sign it." I moved the paper back over to Ms. Snyder. She didn't look very happy about what I said about the appeal.

"Babe…"

"Ranger, wait" I held up my hand to silence him. Hopefully, he will not ship me off to a 3rd world country.

"I am going to say this for the last time. Mr. Anderson, Ms. Snyder the 2 of you can use whatever defense you want to use on my behalf. But again, if I end up going to prison, I just go. I've accepted that. It's not going to be the end of the world. "

I stood up and walked over to the door, as I grabbed the doorknob I turned around "Let me know if there is anything else you need from me. When the appealing part is taken off that form, I will sign it. Thank you for your time, everyone." I walked out without another word.

I decided now that I needed to get away from everyone. I went up to 7 grabbed my tote bag, changed into shorts and a t-shirt, grabbed my wallet and cell and I went back down and grabbed keys to one of the vehicles available and I made sure to ask one of the men there to come with me because I didn't want to get into trouble. Didn't know where I was going, I just drove. I ended up at Point Pleasant. I love the beach it calms me and allows me to think.

I brought Junior with me. He walked behind me about 50 feet away and I walked along the shoreline just thinking. I got myself an ice cream cone from a vendor there that was selling different flavors of ice cream and gelatin. I walked on the beach for hours. It helps me to focus and to think about what I need to do.

I need to make sure my affairs are in order. I haven't been back to my apartment since the attack so I think I'm just going to get some of the guys from Rangeman to pack my stuff and I will put it in storage.

I took a stroll down the boardwalk. By this point, Junior is walking beside me, and we are basically talking about nothing. The vendors sell all kinds of things. There are t-shirt vendors, souvenirs, food trucks. There is even a vendor that sells unique items that can be custom-made. I have been wanting to get Ranger something for taking care of me. I found the perfect gift. I got him a leather keychain for his keys that says I'm a Badass and I Know it and I made sure it had Batman on the front of it. That so fit him. I just hope he thought it was funny. You never know with him.

Sun was getting ready to set so I figured I would head back home. I allowed Junior to drive so I could think. I realized what I had thought when I said to myself that I was ready to go home. Wait! When did 7 become home? When Ranger allowed me in his life and his bed. WOW! I feel lucky. At that moment sitting in the passenger seat watching the scenery go by on the interstate, I realized that I love Ranger as I had never loved anyone before.