Title: Be My Valentine
Category: Books » Janet Evanovich
Author: Cut Myself Shaving
Language: English, Rating: Rated: M
Genre: Drama/General
Published: 06-12-12, Updated: 07-09-12
Chapters: 26, Words: 13,271
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Chapter 1
She sits behind the counter and smiles her pleasant smile.
She's
not beautiful. She's not ugly. She's not extremely unattractive. She's
not drop dead sexy. She's in her mid-thirties. She reads a lot. And
sometimes she believes she's very smart. She likes setting moon and
rising sun. She likes small animals such as cats, Chihuahuas and Pugs.
She lives alone in a lovely cozy two-story house in a good and friendly
neighborhood. She's polite and soft-speaking. She enjoys cooking and
baking, and likes to try new recipes. She's a part-time librarian who
loves her job. She's a woman secretly in love. She grew up on the same
street with the man she loves. She hates the blue-eyed brown-haired
woman the man she loves openly wants.
Yes, she's helplessly in love with Joseph Morelli. And she hates Stephanie Plum with all her heart.
She
hates Stephanie's stupid smile. She hates Stephanie's crazy life. She
hates Stephanie for not being good enough for Joseph, her Joseph. She
hates Stephanie for cheating on Joseph with the tall Cuban. Yes, she
knows all about Stephanie Plum. All those dirty little secrets. All
those shameful scandals. All those kisses in that narrow alley. All
those midnight trips to the seven-floored building.
And she also
hates that dark-skinned thug. He's not one of their kind. Any decent
woman should know to keep away from a man like that. She hates the way
he looks. She hates the way he walks. She hates the way he talks. She
hates the fact that he owns all those beautiful expensive cars. She
hates the fact he is always there to help and save Stephanie Plum.
Yes,
she wants something bad to happen to Stephanie. Women who cheat on the
men who love them should be punished. She should be the woman who Joseph
loves. She should be his Cupcake. She should be his sunray on a summer
day. She should be his silver lining in a dark rain cloud. She should be
his one and only. She should be the one to wear his ring. She should be
the one to cook his meals. She be the one to bear him children. She
should be his princess. She should be his happiness. She should be his
fate.
And now she has had enough. She will let nothing stand in
her way. She will kill Stephanie Plum and that muscular Cuban. She looks
at the picture of her sweet handsome Joseph with loving eyes. Her
fingertip lingers on his smiling lips.
"Soon, Joseph," Emily Hasting whispers. "Soon I will make you mine."
Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Emily
Hasting wakes up at the crack of dawn. She lies still in her four
poster princess bed, blinks away her sleepiness, and thinks of the plans
for the day ahead.
Yes, she reminds herself. Today is the day.
She
prides herself for being a reasonable and respectable woman. She always
had good grades in school and perfect table manners. She loves poetry
and romances. She has been dreaming about visiting Italy and Greece ever
since she was a little girl, and she doesn't like New York City. She
has been there twice, but didn't feel comfortable or safe there. Too
many foreigners. Too many strangers. Too many outsiders. Too loud. Too
orderless. Too unfamiliar. She gives herself a rueful smile upon
remembering the noises, turns on the TV and starts cooking breakfast.
She
enjoys taking care of people. She takes good care of herself. She
cooks. She bakes. She cleans. She cherishes stability and values peace.
She can't wait to have her own family. She never has pets(her father was
always away on business and her mother wouldn't allow it) and wants to
have children of her own. She knows her life is lonely and empty(and
thus meaningless), but it's about to change. She listens to the morning
news, sits down and starts eating. Whole wheat pasta and broccoli. A
pinch of French sea salt. With a touch of tomato sauce and half-fat
cream cheese. Yummy. She finds it essential to eat healthy. Though she
doesn't like garlic, she loves the lingering scent of it(and cheese and
onion and beer) in Joseph's breath. She also has a cupcake waiting for
her in the refrigerator. Carrot and ginger. Her all-time favorite.
She
doesn't know why she loves Joseph this much. She fell in love with him
when they were both small children. She loves his face. She loves his
smile. She loves his wavy hair. She loves his deep brown eyes. She loves
his hairy arms and legs. She silently moans and feels faint whenever
she's lucky enough to have a peek of his hairy chest. Yes, she doesn't
know why but she does love hairy men.
One certain hairy man.
Emily
Hasting exhales a happy dreamy sigh as she bites into the cupcake. God,
she loves cupcakes. She also loves all the things smart people like her
can learn from the Internet. She's going to get rid of Stephanie Plum
today. She has it all planned. Nobody can save that shameless woman this
time. Nobody will stand in her way.
Today Stephanie Plum will be dead.
And
she will no longer be Emily Hasting, the quiet and plain part-time
librarian. She will soon become Mrs. Joseph Morelli and move in the cozy
lovely two-story house just right across the narrow street. She will
sit on his chewed up couch. She will walk his big playful dog. She will
wash his clothes. She will cook him meals. She will bake him cakes. She
will sleep in his bed. She will be his wife. And he will love her back.
Yes, today Stephanie Plum will be dead.
Yay.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Stephanie
Plum unlocks the door, takes a look at her messy apartment and sighs.
What has she done to deserve this crazy and fucked-up life? She has no
goals, no motivation, no ambition, no money, no decent car, no dreams,
no whatever. She knows she's not happy with herself, but she tries hard
not to think too much of that. She just wants to drift through a day and
then another. She just wants to catch enough skips, pay her rent, and
keep a blind eye on all the problems and issues she has to face one day.
And yes, BTW, she loves and sleeps with two men.
She drops a
couple grapes into her pet hamster's cage. Yes, a cage, a brand new
cage. The old glass aquarium fell to the kitchen floor and cracked last
weekend. Luckily Rex wasn't hurt. Luckily Ranger was here to help her
save Rex. Luckily Ranger spent the night here in her bed that night.
Yay. Stephanie grabs a beer from the fridge and sits on her battered
couch. It wasn't her fault, really. It's flat-out impossible to say
NO!to
Ranger. Besides, she loves to have him in her bed. Her narrow queen
size bed. His hard, perfect, muscular body pressed to hers. Their legs
entwined. Their arms around each other. His smooth skin. His soft warm
lips. His silky hair. His dark brown eyes...
And Joe has just
called her and said, "Bob misses you, Cupcake." half an hour ago. Which
means he will come over tonight(with a large pizza and a six-pack of
beer, of course) for some hot steaming wild animal sex.
She gulps
down the beer and closes her eyes, suddenly feeling sick and tired. No.
She's not a whore. No. She's not a slut. She's pretty sure of that. She
just can't decide what she really wants and whom she truly loves. She's
not sure if she wants to get married and have kids with Morelli. She's
not sure if she wants to have a serious relationship with Ranger, the
Man of Mystery. She knows she always wants and loves Ranger. But right
now she's not even sure if she really loves Joe.
Sometimes she
can't help thinking he's too hairy(she's never a big fan of apes and
monkeys, sorry). Sometimes she can't help worrying that their kids will
end up like him(luring little girls into Joe's dark garage, talking them
out of their panties ten years later and writing about it on public
bathroom walls? Geez!) What's the point keeping their unhealthy
on-and-off relationship alive when both of them are unable to commit?
It's just that everyone—her childhood friends, her neighbors, her
relatives—seems to want them to be together:
Joe is
your first in just about everything, Stephanie. You are no longer pure.
You are already ruined. You may as well brace yourself and marry him.
He's familiar. He's white. He's Italian. He's a changed man now. He's a
living part of your history. He already has a house and a dog. He's in
need of a wife and several kids. What are you waiting for, Lucky Girl?
You are not young any more, don't you know? The ClOCK won't stop
ticking.
People's eyes silently say. People's smile
politely implies. And all these pressure and stress and expectation are
giving her a headache and killing her. Stephanie blows out a sigh and
covers her eyes
.
How she wishes she has an answer for her messed-up life.
Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Does
he really want to have kids? Does he really to get married? Is he
really waiting for Stephanie? Will he jump up and down in joy and cheer
if Stephanie tells him she has made up her mind and wants to marry him?
Hell, he has no idea. He's Joe Morelli. He's a man in his mid-thirties.
He enjoys playing games and gambling with life and refuses to settle
down and get really serious. He has a dog. He has a house. He's a good
man. He's a cop. He has stable life and steady income.
So what?
Does
that mean he has no choice but to go with the flow and marry
Stephanie—a thirty-something woman who's no good at cooking, baking and
cleaning? Yes, she's cute and fun to be with. Yes, she's sometimes
adventurous in bed and sexy. Yes, she's different and thus attractive.
But she has a lot of shortcomings as well as a crazy family. They don't
fight as much as they used to because they are both tired and have no
strength for it. They talk about the Burg rumours and gossips instead of
their thoughts and feelings because that will be too awkward and
uncomfortable. The sex is as good as usual. Pizzas. Beers. Hockey games
on TV. The familiar and best foreplays. And they both try their best not
to talk about Ranger.
Of course they talk about Ranger's mystery
cars and his muscular minions. Of course they talk about how to get
Ranger to help him or the TPD solve a case or catch Stephanie's FTAs for
her. Of course they joke about Ranger's compulsive need to keep
Stephanie safe from time to time. But no, they don't talk about Ranger's
relationship with Stephanie.
Why? Because It's too god damn complicated.
Joe
Morelli sighs a sigh and rubs his eyes. He's a busy man, a devoted
police detective. He wants a promotion and is in need of a pay raise. He
has crimes to fight and bad guys to catch. He really truthfully doesn't
have time for trivials and insignificant stuffs. He doesn't mind having
Ranger protecting, saving and helping Stephanie out. Let's face it:
Ranger has the money and the manpower and knows just how to get the job
done. Joe Morelli takes a bite of his doughnut and smiles. He finishes
his lunch with the smile intact on his face and puts his concentration
back on the case at hand.
And Stephanie will always come back to his bed at the end of the day no matter what. That's what matters right now.
Chapter 5: Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Yes,
it is her dream to marry(in a lovely, spectacular and grand church with
a long history, of course) the man she loves with all her soul and all
her heart and let him control and dominate their life and make all the
decisions(what to have at dinner, how many children, etc. Oh how sweet
is that?) while she irons his underwear and takes care of all his needs.
Emily Hasting sits behind the counter, pleasantly nods, smiles and
exchanges greetings with the readers, and secretly thinks to herself.
She dreams to rest her head upon his shoulder and run her hand through
his dense chest hair. She dreams to inhale the intoxicating scent of
garlic, beer and cheese in his breath when he whispers in her ear in
Italian.
Yes, she wants to be his Cupcake. His one and only
Cupcake. Soft and moist. Sweet and easy. Gooey and buttery on top. Airy
and fluffy inside. And full of promises. A miniature of ever-lasting
happiness. Loving. And tender. Yes, she knows all about his past. The
trips to his father's(God rest his soul in peace) old dark garage when
he was eight years of age. The visits to the back of the high school
gym. The adventures in the empty bathrooms. The amazing moments in the
back of his cousin's second-hand car. And, of course, all those writings
and poems on the walls.
But none of them matters. She knows all
along Joseph was a bad boy(and maybe still is judging from what she has
learned over the years). His dark past only makes her love him more. The
torments he went through. The inner struggles. The pain of being a
fatherless child. And the unbearable agony of being misunderstood. He
was just a innocent curious boy. He was just a healthy teenage boy. He
had longings. He had needs. He was no juvenile criminal.
And she
wants to be the woman who changes him forever. With her love. Just like
in the romances and fairy tales. She will be the most special woman who
lights up his life. She will be the most precious woman who proves to
the world that a man can and will change once he finds true love. Emily
places a shaking hand on her chest and takes a deep breath to calm
herself. She then looks up at the ancient clock on the wall and smiles.
She grabs her bag, stands up from her chair and says goodbye to her
co-workers. It's twelve sharp. If she drives a little bit faster than
she usually does, Stephanie Plum will be dead within an hour.
Yay.
Chapter 6: Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Emily
Hasting smiles her most charming and beautiful smile as her misty gray
eyes fall upon Stephanie Plum's sorry excuse of a car. The old
three-story building is as shabby as ever, and somehow looks even more
dilapidated than usual under the bright sunlight. The parking lot is
almost empty now. The old folks are all out having fun. And Stephanie
Plum, the two-bit bounty hunter who hasn't been able to bring in one
single FTA for 9 days now that the tall Cuban is out of town(no doubt
committing crimes), will be home eating leftovers from her poor mother's
dinner table for lunch—her very last meal, as a matter of fact.
Yes,
Emily is always ready and prepared. She, of course, knows Stephanie
Plum's daily schedule by heart, and chose this particular time to
execute the Plan for a very good reason. She's such a truthful,
reasonable, kind and nice person. She has never ever tried to hurt an
insect or any small animal on purpose. And naturally she wanted to make
sure there will be no casualty of war when she gets rid of that
shameless incompetent woman who cheats on her sweetest dearest Joseph
with that colored man. She has a most fragile and tender heart. She
can't stand watching innocent people get hurt.
It's time. Let's roll. Elizabeth, the happy little voice dwelling inside Emily's mind gaily whispers.
The
streets are empty. Nobody will see us. Stephanie Plum will be dead.
That colored man will soon follow. And then Joseph will be ours! OURS!
She
obediently nods. Elizabeth is right, as always. She checks her gun. She
checks her knife. She checks the most exquisite bombs she made all by
herself. God bless the Internet and all those wonderful and amazing
people who selflessly teach everything on-line for free. She grabs the
equipment, gets out of the car and heads for her destination.
Just
another day. Just another explosion. And this time Stephanie Plum won't
be able to escape her fate. Emily Hasting, the future Mrs. Joseph
Morelli and happy mother of six most beautiful little Cupcakes, will see
to that.
Chapter 7: Chapter 7
Chapter 7
I can't keep on doing this.
I can't keep on living like this.
I know whom I love.
I know whom I want.
I am just lying to myself and playing stupid.
And I have been doing that for years.
Why?
Because I'm too afraid that he won't want me or love me back. And I
can't blame him, really. Let's be honest. Let's be realistic. Why will
someone like him want to be with someone like me? I am Stephanie Plum,
the Queen of Denial. I am Trenton's very own bounty hunter from HELL. I
never put bullets in my gun. I never check if my stun gun is fully
charged. I blow up cars and houses like no one else. I more than often
rely on my backups to do my job and keep me alive. I don't cook. I don't
clean. I can't even afford a decent car. I never think of getting
myself some training. I can't get myself out of an unhealthy
relationship. I always crawl back to Joe Morelli, the man I have known
all my life but not sure if I've ever loved. Always. And I don't even
know why.
Is it out of habit?
Is it out of stupidity?
Is it because of lack of courage?
Is it because I'm lazy?
Or is it just because he's white, Italian, familiar and...white?
Stephanie
Plum holds her head in both hands and asks herself. The table clock her
aunt sent her as wedding present keeps on ticking. Rex keeps on running
and his hamster wheel keeps on squeaking. And all Stephanie can hear is
her own breathing. All of a sudden she's so tired. Tired of herself.
Tired of her lies. Tired of her excuses. Tired of breathing. Tired of
living. Tired of her very own stupidity.
So why will Ranger want to have a relationship with me?
Why will a man like Ranger want a woman like me?
How can Ranger love me the way I want him to love me?
He's not insane.
He's not stupid.
He's Batman.
He's the Man of Mystery.
He's the proud owner of a successful security company.
And
I am Stephanie Plum. The Bounty Hunter from Hell. I don't like guns. I
have no bullets. I have a pet hamster who bites me whenever I try to pat
him. I have killed several men who wanted to kill me. I am still in a
relationship with the hairy man who broke into my home, cuffed me naked
to my own shower curtain rod, and trashed whatever I had. And he's
coming over tonight with pizza and beer. And he expects me to let him
fuck me as if I am a bitch.
Stephanie Plum closes her eyes
and thinks of her fucked-up sorry excuse of a life for a long, long
minute. Then she stands up from her couch, goes into he tiny kitchen and
grabs Rex's brand new cage—the cage Ranger bought for her blood-thirsty
hamster, and gets out of her small shabby apartment. She can't keep on
doing this. She can't keep on living like this. She knows whom she
always loves. She knows whom she always wants. And she can't keep on
lying to herself.
She has had enough.
Chapter 8: Chapter 8
Chapter 8
The
small dirty shabby apartment is now empty. A beer bottle stands all
alone on the tattered coffee table. The air smells of dust and
negligence. And Stephanie Plum, the woman Emily Hasting despises and
hates like no other, is nowhere to be seen. Her rat of a pet is also
gone. A couple pairs of old torn jeans and several stained t-shirts
quietly lie on the floor. Shoes—high-heels and sneakers alike—remain
scattered everywhere. The slightly tacky-looking table clock keeps on
ticking. The locks tumble. The front door silently opens. A slender
shadow cautiously sneaks in on tiptoes. With a gun in its steady hand.
It's a Glock 19. Stephanie's car key, along with her stun gun,
handcuffs, two packs of Tastykakes, a half-full tube of mascara and a
half-empty tube of lip-gloss, stays hidden unnoticed inside her shoulder
bag the moment Emily Hasting lets out an inhuman growl of utter anger
and frustration.
Yes, both Emily and Elizabeth resent surprises and changes of plans.
Stephanie
Plum keeps on walking. For once she chose to walk down the stairs of
her apartment instead of taking the elevator. She didn't want to risk
running into the ever so kind old Mrs. Bestler. She did forget about her
car key in her sudden rush to leave, but she didn't want to climb all
the way back up for it. She didn't and still doesn't want to go back
into her apartment. It reminds her too much of her mess of a life and
fucked-up relationship. So she decided to walk. All the way to Haywood.
All the way to RangeMan. All the way to Ranger.
She feels the sun
in her face. It's warm but not scorching. She feels the summer breeze.
It's neither cool nor refreshing. She breathes in the familiar Jersey
air. She listens to the noises of the traffic. She watches the cars fly
by. 18-wheelers. Trucks. Fords, Hondas, and a few Audis. Rex is still
hiding inside his hamster cave. And she has Ranger's keys with her. They
are all she needs.
Detective Morelli ends the phone call,
swallows the last bite of his lunch and stands up from the messy desk.
Thanks to the ever alert and diligent FBI, his afternoon is now free.
He's going to has some quality time with Stephanie. And though he's
still unsure if he really wants to get married and have kids, he knows
for a fact that they are both going have a lot of fun. And maybe he does
love Stephanie. He smiles and thinks to himself. She always reminds him
of cupcakes. So soft. So fluffy. Full of fun. A miniature of pleasure.
So sweet. And so easy.
A shining black car stops by the side of
the road. The tall dark muscular driver clad in black hits the horn.
Stephanie Plum turns to looks at him, smiles, and then gets in.
Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Should
she place the bombs as planned? Should she hide in the dark shadow with
her knife and gun and wait? Where did Stephanie Plum go? Why isn't
Stephanie Plum here? Why isn't Stephanie Plum on the narrow queen-size
bed taking her usual nap? Is this a bad omen? Should she abort the
mission, retreat, make another plan and wait for another day?
Emily
Hasting frowns and quickly thinks. She has church choir practice at two
o'clock and community volunteers meeting at three twenty-five(yes, she
always arrives five minutes earlier to set out the iced tea she made and
the cupcakes she baked. Everybody loves her cupcakes. They are always,
always perfectly baked. And she makes the best iced tea. Ever). Emily
proudly and modestly smiles. Yes, she knows she's a most amazing and
talented woman. Yes, she knows she needs to find a way to vent all her
rage, frustration and disappointment. She may be brave, pleasant and
intelligent, but she's honestly no saint. However, she's never the kind
of foolish shallow woman who makes hasty decisions when angered and then
regrets when comes to her senses and finds out it's too late. Emily
narrows her eyes. Elizabeth purses her lips. And together they evaluate
the situation.
Stephanie Plum's car is still down there in the
parking lot. Stephanie Plum's fake Gucci shoulder bag is right here on
the couch. And she doesn't have any new stalkers. Maybe she went over to
a neighbor's? Surely she didn't go far. Surely she will be back
anytime. Surely they can wait for her to return...and kill her. Emily
smiles. Elizabeth grins. And surely they are the best partners. Ever.
Joe
Morelli taps his fingers on the wheel and hums along with the radio.
The weather is perfect. The air is fresh. The blue sky reminds him of
the six-year-old Stephanie's trusty eyes. And he's going to get laid.
Yay. He likes his life. He enjoys his job. And he loves to look straight
into people's(mostly his old friends and neighbors) eyes and tell them
"I am a changed man now". It makes him feel like he's the king of the
world, not the son of a notorious drunkard and child beater. He sings
along as Nicki Minaj's
Starships starts to play.
He
likes Nicki Minaj. She's cute, sexy and hot. Whether her boobs are fake
or not. He sings and smiles and suddenly remembers the fear and shock in
Stephanie's eyes and the thrill and lust that rushed through his veins
the moment he cuffed her to the shower curtain rod. He licks his lips.
Sometimes he likes doing it quick. Sometimes he likes doing it rough.
Sometimes he really believes he does love Stephanie Plum. And sometimes
he can't help wishing she can be wilder in bed and her breasts can be
larger. Joe Morelli turns his car into Stephanie's parking lot.
As large as Nicki Minaj's.
Chapter 10: Chapter 10
Chapter 10
She
looks tired and a little bit anxious. Her smile is happy but small. Her
hamster is still in hiding. She doesn't know there's a tracker inside
the key ring he gave her. He keeps on driving and doesn't say a word.
They are both used to his silence. He hasn't had lunch yet. They are
heading to his apartment. She lets out a tiny sigh and starts to fidget.
She wishes she knows how to phrase her confession. He's the younger son
of a big family. He has an ex-wife and a daughter who everyone says
looks just like him. Everyone in the world knows he's no family
material. He enjoys his freedom and his solitude. He doesn't want
children. He doesn't do relationship. He doesn't need burden. He once
told her maybe someday he will change. She has no idea if someday is
anywhere near.
And she's afraid to ask.
They both know she's
being a coward. They both know she never feels comfortable out of her
comfort zone. They both choose to say nothing, ignore it and live on
with their lives. She runs straight into Denial Land without a backward
glance whenever she feels scared and unsafe. She doesn't know what she
really wants in and for her life. She doesn't want to be a
disappointment. A disappointment to her mother. A disappointment to her
father. A disappointment to her family. A disappointment to her friends
and neighbors. A disappointment to all the people who have ever seen her
picture on TV or in the newspapers. She wants to be somebody. She wants
to be nobody. She wants to be different. She hates being too different.
She hates being average and normal. She can't help wanting to be
average and normal. She doesn't want to be lonely. She can't stand
living under the same roof with another human being for more than three
months. Stephanie Plum silently thinks of the problems of her life and
suddenly wants to slap herself.
She hates feeling stupid. She
hates feeling intimidated. She's in love with the tall quiet man sitting
right by her side and still she dares not say a word to him. About her
love. About her lust. About her dreams. About her fears. About her
hopes, her wishes, her regrets and her mistakes. What if he doesn't want
her? What if he doesn't need her? What if he doesn't love her? What if
whatever they have between them is something that comes with condoms
instead of two wedding rings? What if she can't have what she want? What
if she can't have the man she loves? What if she has no choice but to
go back to Morelli and spend the rest of her miserable life with him?
What if...what if...
She closes her eyes tight and refuses to
think. Her body starts trembling slightly. Ranger's hand reaches across
the space between them and takes hold of hers. He doesn't say a word.
And somehow all of a sudden she feels better. Safer. And braver.
The
sleek sexy powerful Porsche 911 Turbo turns into the RangeMan
underground garage. Stephanie's crappy rusty car and her small shabby
untidy apartment blow up at exactly the same time. And people around the
world are still unsure if Nicki Minaj's breasts are real or not.
A/N: Tomorrow is an off-day. There will be no update. Take care. Have fun. Keep you fingers crossed if you must.
Chapter 11: Chapter 11
Chapter 11
What
is wrong to want to be loved? What is wrong to want the man you love
for yourself? What is wrong to want to punish the bad and right the
wrong? Emily Hasting drives away from the smoking apartment and
contemplates to her laughing self. She didn't want to be late to her
church choir practice(she's always the first to arrive), so she decided
not to wait for Stephanie Plum and then planted the time-bombs. Her
hands were shaking when she placed one under the narrow queen-size bed.
And she had to bite her lips till she tasted blood as unpleasant images
of her Joseph and that shameless woman flew through her mind. She may be
a virgin but she's not naïve, thank you very much. Of course she knows
Joseph has needs. He's a man, a healthy attractive sexy grown up man.
And it's only sex. There's no love involved. She's sure of that. She can
see it in Joseph's eyes when he looks at Stephanie Plum. She can see
his lust. She can see his desire. But there's never love. Never.
NEVER.
Joe
Morelli's car screeches to a stop when he sees the black smoke coming
out of Stephanie's apartment and parking lot. His eyes narrow. His lips
thin. His knuckles whiten around the wheel. He watches another driver
gape and stare for a full minute before pulling out her cell phone and
call 911. He wants to laugh. He wants to yell. He feels his anger
rising. He wants to shake some sense into Stephanie Plum or punch
someone or kill some unlucky bastard with his own bare hands. He can
already see his fellow detectives' and officers' grins and smiles. He
can already see friendly betting money change hands. He can already hear
all those familiar jokes in his head. His mother will call. His aunts
will call. His brother and sister and cousins will call. They will want
to know what is wrong with Stephanie Plum.
Why can't she settle
down and marry him? They will want to know. Why can't she quit her job
and start a family with him? Why does she choose her sorry excuse of a
life over you, Joseph? Why? WHY? Is there something wrong with you,
Joseph? No, wait! It has something to do with the tall dark handsome
mysterious Cuban man who drives expensive German cars and owns his own
company, doesn't it, Joseph? Tell us the truth, tell us!
"Shut up!"
Joe
Morelli snarls and smashed a fist against the driver's side window. No.
He can't take it any more. He has had enough. It's time for Stephanie
to make her decision. It's time for him to make a choice. He's too old
too tired and too disgusted to keep on playing this game. This endless
meaningless third-rate joke of a game. He restarts the car and steps on
the gas. He and Stephanie is going to have a serious talk.
Now.
Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Stephanie
Plum's smile falters as a drop of silent tear starts to fall. She
wishes no one gets hurt in the fire. She knows this time her landlord
will finally drop to his knees and beg her to move out. Weirdos. Sickos.
Criminals. Bombs. Fires. Blown-up apartment and blown-up cars. The
things her life is made of. She makes enemies everywhere she goes.
Destructions and dangers prevail. Happiness and success never last. No
doubt she is called the bounty hunter from Hell. Trenton's very own
Failure and Joke. She's a threat to all her neighbors' safety and lives.
It's a miracle that both she and Rex are still alive. And now enough is
enough. She tries to wipe away her tears. She's suddenly hungry and
bone tired. It took all the courage she had to leave her apartment and
come to Ranger. And now she has to go back. To face reality and deal
with what she desperately wants to leave behind. Her tears just won't
stop. She hasn't had the chance to look straight into Ranger's eyes and
tell him she loves him.
And she's afraid she's going to stop being honest and brave this very minute.
Emily
Hasting hears the distant sound of the sirens and once again laughs.
She's sorry she didn't get to put an end to Stephanie Plum's miserable
life. But she's a lovely and patient woman, and Stephanie Plum is ever
so careless. There will always be chances. And both she and Elizabeth
did have a great time when the bombs went off. Next time, next time she
will put a bullet through that cheating slut's heart and make her feel
Joseph's pain. Emily promises herself. Then Elizabeth can have some fun
with that sharp hunting knife. Elizabeth is very very good with knives.
And they will set off the bombs after that. To erase all the evidences.
To leave the message that has been screaming in their head for years.
Thou shalt not cheat.
Emily gracefully nods her head as Elizabeth solemnly whispers in her
ears. Besides, they both like bombs. The flame. The heat. The sound. The
power.
Yum.
Joe Morelli leans against his car and grits his
teeth as the firemen jump out of their trucks and set to work. He can
barely contain his anger and impatience as he waits for his everlasting
on-and-off girlfriend to call him back. He looks up and frowns at the
shattered second-floor windows. He's a police detective. He's not a
trained fireman. He knew it would be safer and wiser to wait and leave
it to the professionals. But still he got out of his car and ran into
the building to find Stephanie. He had no choice, really. People would
be asking a lot of unpleasant questions if he did not. And he couldn't
say he was not worried about Stephanie. Her car was burning in the
parking lot right in front of his eyes. Where is Stephanie? He wonders.
She's not here. She's not at her parents'. She's not at her sister's.
She's not at Mary Lou's. She's not with Connie or Lula. And Ranger is
out of town.
So where can she be?
Joe Morelli narrows his
eyes as the Porsche 911 Turbo turns into the parking lot and stops. He
takes a deep breath to calm himself as Ranger helps Stephanie get out.
His face darkens as Ranger wraps an arm around Stephanie. His lips
contorts as Stephanie reaches out and grabs hold of Ranger's hand. He
looks at them. He doesn't blink. He can't feel a thing. And he doesn't
know what to think. Are they friends? Are they co-workers? Are they
lovers? Is that lust? Is that trust? Or is that love?
Love? Joe
Morelli almost laughs an unsure laugh. What a word. Love. Silently he
repeats the word in his head. And somehow it tastes bitter on the tip of
his tongue. Yes, he can see what is coming. And he doesn't like it. At
all.
Chapter 13: Chapter 13
Chapter 13
The
moment Stephanie grabs hold of Ranger's hand, the corner of his lips
curls up and he almost smiles. It's both easy and hard to love a woman
like Stephanie Plum. She never feels comfortable openly showing her
affections. She's never honest about her feelings though she can never
hide the longings and desires in her eyes. He sometimes wonders what she
truly wants from him and herself. She comes to him whenever she's in
need. He gives her cars. He gives her protection. He gives her pleasure.
He gives her help. She goes back to Joe Morelli once her problems are
solved. It feels like he's playing with someone else's pet. Around them
the firemen busily keep on working. Another police patrol car arrives.
The uniform cops cast a glance at their direction and grin. Joe
Morelli's frown grows darker and deeper. He's apparently upset. And
Ranger, as usual, doesn't give a damn what Morelli thinks, wants and
needs.
Joe Morelli. A thirty-something Trenton police detective.
The man who grew up in the same neighborhood with Stephanie. Who is he
exactly? A good man? A changed man? A smart and decent man who managed
to escape a vicious family curse? Or a sly and lazy man who wants
comfortable familiar easy sex instead of a committed relationship that
eventually comes with obligations, burdens and a wedding ring? Does
Morelli even know what he wants from Stephanie? Is Morelli willing and
able to give Stephanie what she really needs? Can the two of them think
things through, have a rational talk about their unhealthy on-and-off
relationship and then walk away from it?
Ranger gently tightens
his arm and gathers Stephanie nearer as he feels the warmth of her much
smaller hand. She will always have a place in his heart. But does he
have enough room for her in his everyday life? Does he want Stephanie to
become an essential part of his world? Is she ready for a serious
relationship? Is he ready for another marriage? Are they ready for
babies? Will she have the courage to look at his eyes and tell him she
loves him? Will she want to have him in her life?
And will she be able to quit Joe Morelli?
He
raises his brow slightly at Stephanie when she looks up at him with a
feeble smile. She's nervous, tired, and hungry. But she's also
determined. She has something to tell him. She has something to say to
Joe Morelli. She has made up her mind. She has chosen her path. Together
they walk forward as a grim-looking Morelli pushes himself off his car.
There will be no turning back.
Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Emily
Hasting walks into the church with a bright smile on her happy face.
She's the first one to arrive, as usual. And once again she gets to park
her car in her favorite parking spot. She has always been a good
Catholic girl, and she loves the calm serenity of the church. She feels
she's very near to God whenever she comes here. And she just loves to be
surrounded by all those good and kind honest people who like to share
jokes and gossips with everyone and anyone. She will light a candle for
her Joseph when the choir practice is over. Both she and Elizabeth
firmly believe that all good deeds will be rewarded by the Lord. And all
the evil, shameless and treacherous people will be punished and burn in
Hell. Just like Stephanie Plum and that tall Cuban. Both Emily and
Elizabeth cross themselves.
They can never understand Stephanie
Plum. All the terribly stupid choices and decisions she made. All the
shameless lies she told. All the unforgivable sins she committed. Does
she really have a functioning brain? Does she really have no shame? What
was she thinking cheating on Joseph? He's such a fine handsome man. He
has a respectable job and a promising future. Besides, he's white and
Italian. And everyone knows he's Stephanie's first. What was she
thinking sleeping with a dark-skinned man? He's a dangerous thug. He's
an outsider. He's not one of them. He will never be one of them. Doesn't
Stephanie care about what decent people will think? Doesn't Stephanie
care about what decent people will say? Doesn't Stephanie know that she
should marry her own kind?
Emily Hasting wraps her arms around
herself and feels ill. She feels so, so sorry for her poor Joseph. He
deserves a much better and way more faithful woman than Stephanie Plum.
She closes her eyes, takes a ragged breath and tries to calm herself.
She can't stand the abnormal and sickening relationship between
Stephanie Plum and that colored man. She can't stand the foolishness.
She can't stand the tackiness. She can't stand the shamelessness. She
can't stand Stephanie Plum. She's going to punish Stephanie Plum. She's
going to delete Stephanie Plum from Joseph's life. She'll strike with
deadly accuracy and power. Just like an avenging angel. Beautiful and
merciless.
And then Joseph will finally learn to know her, to love
her, and to cherish her. He will take her to his father's old dark
garage. He will take her virginity on a cold hard floor. He will cuff
her naked to her shower curtain rod. He will ravish her. He will destroy
her. He will burn her with his hungry and furious passion. He will
resurrect her, recreate her, and wrap her around his ring finger. He
will realize that they belong to each other. They will live happily ever
after. Like the prince and his princess in the fairy tale.
Emily
and Elizabeth smile and together they say a silent prayer. Yes, the
Almighty Lord will help them overcome all the obstacles. They will kill
Stephanie Plum and that tall Cuban. Justice and true love shall prevail.
Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Why
did she follow Joe Morelli all the way into his father's dark smelly
garage that lazy summer afternoon? Why did she give herself to him on
the hard cold floor that raining night? Why did she open her door and
let him in when he came knocking on her door with her pizza in his hand?
Why did she choose to forgive the savage smirk on his face when he
cuffed her to her shower curtain rod? Why did she shrug at the memories
of him trashing her apartment and jumping out of the meat truck trying
to smack her face? Why did she tell herself "He was just angry. It's no
big deal"? Why did she decide to have sex with him again after all those
things and all those years? Why did her heart skip a beat when he told
his mother and grandma they were engaged? Why did her heart crack and
break when he said "There's I, and there's you, but there's no us"?
And why couldn't she stop wanting Ranger when they were back together?
And why am I feeling old and numb and tired when looking into his eyes?
She
listens to the last breath of the dying flame and for the very last
time asks herself. She already knows the answer. She just needs to be
sure and confirm the answer. She just needs to muster enough courage to
say it out loud. She was raised to be considerate and kind. She was
taught to be polite and nice. She has been told time and time again that
love is overrated. A steady income that comes with a respectable job is
what really matters. All she has to do is to put dinner on the table on
time every night and give birth to children to carry on the family
name. Just like her mother and sister. Just like her aunts and cousins.
Just like her grandmothers and great grandmothers. Know your rightful
place, fulfill your duty as a woman/wife/mother and cherish all the
little happiness and wonder in your ordinary average everyday life. Till
the day you die. Even if you are not really alive.
And
that's not the life she wants. Now she's sure of that. She wants to
spend the rest of her life with someone she can't live without. She's
willing to make adjustments and sacrifices for someone she trusts and
loves. Someone who is always there for her. Someone who helps, guilds
and protects her. Someone who never hesitates to bled money and blood
for her. Someone who never asks anything in return. Someone who loves
her in his own way. Someone whose actions are louder than words. Someone
she has been in love with for years. Someone who is standing right
beside her.
Ranger.
Joe Morelli clenches his jaw. He doesn't
like the look in his girlfriend's eyes. He doesn't like the Mocha Latte
muscular arm wrapped around her shoulders. He doesn't like to be a
loser. He doesn't like to be a joke. He doesn't like to go down without a
fight. He doesn't like to change his plan and sleep alone. He wants his
pizza, his beer, his Yankees game and hot steaming balls-to-the-wall
wild animal sex. He wants his woman back in his bed. It's not over until
he says it's over.
But deep down somewhere in his heart, he knows
he wants to turn around and walk away from Stephanie Plum. Without a
backward glance.
Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Helen
Plum holds her head in her hands. Once again her younger daughter
became the center of unwanted attention. Once again all kinds of
outrageous rumours, irresponsible lies and exaggerated stories fly
around the city. Once again she feels the irresistible urge to whack her
head against her dining table and ask God, "Why me?". What has she done
wrong to deserve this? Helen wants to know. She just wants Stephanie to
have a steady and normal life. She just wants Stephanie to stop chasing
dangerous people and tempting death. She just wants Stephanie to be
safe and come to her senses. Why can't Stephanie quit her job and settle
down with Joseph? She's already in her thirties. She has had a failed
marriage. She can't make a decent living. She has no goals and
ambitions. She and Joseph have been playing the cat and mouse game for
ages. Why can't she think things through and do something with her mess
of a relationship? Why can't she walk away and find someone else if
Joseph is not the right man for her?
Helen exhales a tired sigh.
She's not going to live forever. Who's going to take care of her Peter
Pan of a grown-up child when she's gone? Who's going to call Stephanie
and ask her if she's alright when her car or apartment is firebombed?
Who's going to wash and iron Stephanie's clothes when she runs out of
clean clothes? Who's going to bake Stephanie pineapple upside down cakes
when she's upset? Who's going to take Stephanie in and cook her meals
when she needs a place to stay? And who's going to run over the bad guy
in the rabbit suit when she's in danger?
Helen Plum crosses
herself and says a silent prayer. Once again she prays that her prayer
will be answered and her younger daughter can finally find true
happiness.
Emily Hasting sings along with everyone else and keeps a
pleasant smile on her face. She has straight shoulder-length light
brown hair and a sweet innocent voice. She has secret dreams and
desperate hopes. She has two knives, a gun and three time-bombs in her
car. She prays a silent prayer as she sings the beautiful hymn. She too
prays that her prayer will be answered and the man she loves will love
her back.
Joe Morelli coldly casts a glance at Ranger and focuses his attention back on Stephanie Plum.
Stephanie
leans in closer to Ranger's side and looks at Morelli in his darkened
eyes. She's a bit nervous. She's never good at confrontation, and she
knows Morelli is upset. Narrowed eyes. Clenched fists. Tightened jaw.
The hidden anger in his posture is so easy to detect. Maybe he will feel
hurt and humiliated after hearing what she has to say. But whatever
they have between them has to end. It's never really alive. And now it's
finally and officially dead. She's in love with Ranger. And she can't
keep on lying to herself. She has tried marriage once and it failed like
a farce. She thought she could settle for someone handsome and familiar
but she was wrong. And now she prays she will finally find true
happiness. With the man she really needs and truly loves.
Even if his love won't come with a diamond ring.
Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Just
how many bad guys are after Stephanie Plum? The firemen and the uniform
cops shake their heads in disbelief and silently sigh. They all know
and like Stephanie Plum. She's friendly, different and fun. They have
learned to respect her choice and sort of admire her courage to lead an
unconventional life. But sometimes they can't help wishing she can
consider changing her job. The fire in the apartment is finally put out.
The small bedroom is totally ruined. Everything inside is burned to a
crisp, just like the sizzling smoking relic of the car down in the
parking lot. The landlord and the superintendent have been informed.
Luckily no one was inside the building at the time of the fire.
Stephanie will have to buy new furniture and new clothes, and find
herself a new place to live.
And it seems this time she is not going to move into Joe Morelli's small two-story house.
What's
Stephanie going to say to him? Joe Morelli wonders to himself. "Joe,
I'm sorry"? "Joe, it's over"? "Joe, it's not going to work between us"?
"Joe, I will always love you, but I can't love you the way you deserve
to be loved"? Or "Joe, I love you, but I'm not in love with you"? Will
she cut the crap and simply say, "Joe, I'm leaving you for Ranger's
money and cars"? And what the fucking Hell does "I love you but I'm not
in love with you" mean exactly? Has she ever loved him? Has he ever
loved her? Have they ever been in love with each other? Or were they
just being too tired and too lazy and thus settled for someone familiar
and easy to make everybody happy?
He looks into Stephanie's ocean
blue eyes, confirms his assumption and eerily wants to bark out a laugh.
The brave and skilled firemen and his fellow brothers in blue are
watching, but he doesn't care. All the lies they said. All the excuses
they made. All the charades. All the games. All the pizzas. All the
beer. All the yelling. All the arm-waving. All the accusing. All the
make-up sex. No. It's not about love. It's about loneliness. It's about
needs. It's about desires. It's about lust. Somehow love is never
involved.
Morelli knows what he has to do. He has no other choice.
He hates being a loser. He always wants to be a winner. He has to say
goodbye, turn around and walk away. He has to leave the stage with
dignity and grace. He has to be the one who breaks away. But a part of
him wants to fight. A part of him wants to stay. A part of him wants
things to stay the same. A part of him wants to feel her soft warm body
next to him in his bed. He opens his mouth to speak, but Stephanie's
tiny shaky yet crystal clear voice has already sounded.
"I love you, Carlos Manoso."
Stephanie
Plum turns to face the man she loves and says. Everything becomes
quiet. Everything becomes still. She can't even hear her own heart beat
or the blood rushing through her veins. She feels the heat of Ranger's
body. She inhales the scent of his Bvlgari. She sees the sudden
intensity in his darkened eyes. She gives him a weak timid smile. She
has said what she wanted to say. Now she can only wait.
Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Chapter 18
"I love you, Carlos Manoso."
A
confession of love. A revelation of truth. A baring of soul. A new
beginning of life. And the end of a series of lies. Saying it must have
been easier than Stephanie had thought, Ranger decides. She doesn't look
overly nervous or afraid. And it seems she doesn't take notice of Joe
Morelli's blazing gaze on her face. Is Morelli shocked? Or furious?
Ranger feels a slight twinge of curiosity. But he honestly doesn't care.
He
raises a hand, traces a finger along Stephanie's hair line and tucks a
stray curl back behind her ear. He once told her he loves her in his own
way. He always feels the need to protect her and keep her safe. She
amazes him. She amuses him. She brightens up his days. Does he love her
enough to change his life's path? Will she panic and run away once she
has a clear look at the man behind Batman's mask? Who can she turn to
should all things fail? Where can she go if they can't even remain
friends? Should he take the risk? Should he take the chance?
He
thinks about all the possible options. He searches his heart for the
answer. He feels the sun on his face. He smells the lingering smoke in
the air. He looks into her eyes and sees her fear. His fingertip senses
the smoothness of her skin. He remembers her passion and longing. He
likes her courage and resolution. And he makes his decision.
"I know." Quietly Ranger says and kisses Stephanie softly on her lips. With a barely there smile on his face.
Joe
Morelli glares. The firemen and the police officers gasp. Helen Plum
lets out another sigh. Emily Hasting sings another hymn. Bob the dog
yawns. Rex the hamster runs on his wheel. And Stephanie Plum almost
faints as the man she loves calmly adds, "I love you too, Stephanie
Plum."
Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Shcok.
Rage. Anger. Exasperation. Annoyance. Disbelief. Hurt. Humiliation. The
boiling volcano deep inside Joe Morelli foams and roars as the hot and
stuffy world around him starts to spin. His balled fists tremble and
tighten. His mouth hangs open and abruptly closes. He wants to scream
out his fury. He wants to set free his frustration. He wants to punch
and strangle and kill somebody with bare hands. He wants to yell and
curse at the top of his lungs. He wants to grab and shake Stephanie. He
wants to ask her how long she has been cheating on him. He wants to look
up at the cloudless blue sky and ask God what has just happened. He
doesn't want to believe his eyes. He can't believe his ears. He has just
lost his Cupcake, the woman he from time to time thought he might truly
love.
Surprise. Joy. Happiness. Gratefulness. Glee. Love. Relief.
Stephanie Plum's whole universe brightens up and starts to twinkle like
a Christmas tree. She feels she needs to say or do something, but
somehow she can't think straight at this moment. "I love you too,
Stephanie Plum." She can't tear her eyes off Ranger. She keeps hearing
his words in her ears. She wants to place her hands on his muscular
chest. She wants to feel the power, the strength, and the heat of his
body. She wants to laugh. She wants to cheer. She wants to dance. She
want to kiss him and melt into him. She looks at him unblinking. She's
not sure if she's still breathing. Did she just looked into his eyes and
see eternity?
Ricardo Carlos "Ranger" Manoso remains cool and
calm. His lips curl up into a small dazzling smile as Stephanie puts a
slightly shaking hand on his chest. He's happy with his decision. He
doesn't want his life to be full of darkness and regrets. He looks into
the clear shining eyes of the woman he loves. A part of his attention
focuses on the upset frowning police detective standing only a few feet
away from them. He knows Morelli's wrath is about to erupt.
But will the famous Burg Bad Boy make yet another wrong decision and choose to fight? He's curious to know.
Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Frank
Plum can't decide if he wants to get out of his car. He, like a lot of
men his age, just wants to have some peace and quiet. He doesn't ask
much of life. He never sees eyes to eyes with his mother-in-law. He
seldom argues with his wife. He's happy and contented as long as his
dinner is served on time every night. Frank lets out a sigh. One of his
fellow cab drivers informed him of the fire, so he decided to come over
and take a look. And now he's starting to regret his decision. He never
understands his own daughters. He doesn't know what Valerie sees in
Steve and Albert. He doesn't know what is going on between Stephanie and
Joe Morelli. He has heard plenty of rumours about Stephanie and Ranger.
He has no idea what his younger daughter really wants in her life. He
sometimes wishes he has the courage to drive his car into the sunset,
have dinner at a roadside diner, get a room in a cheap motel, sleep off
all his boredom, and call home the next morning to say how much he
enjoys his freedom and that he wants a divorce.
He sits helplessly
behind the wheel watching the tension grow. He knows he's not a good
father. He knows he's too much of a coward. He should have confronted
the Morellis about their younger son's misbehavior. He should have
punched Dickie Orr in the face and broken that cheating bastard's nose.
He should have stepped up and protected his daughter. But he just ate
his dinner and kept his silence and let his wife handle the situation.
He's suddenly glad he has no sons. No man deserves to have a father like
him. He's never good at confrontation. He's the reigning King of
Denial. Everything is peachy and fine if he covers his ears and eyes. He
looks at the tall dark muscular man and blinks back a tear. He knows
Ranger will defend Stephanie. He knows Ranger has killed to protect
Stephanie. He knows Joe Morelli should have been the one to get rid of
Abruzzi. He knows Joe Morelli will never love Stephanie or the damn
society enough to risk his career. Frank has seen and heard about
everything. But he always keeps his silence and pretends he knows
nothing.
And he hates himself for this.
Joe Morelli's eyes
lock on Stephanie. His brain is blank and empty. He can feel the cold
weight of his police-issued gun at the back of his waist. It will be
quick and easy. She's never aware of her surroundings. One shot through
her head and she will be dead. Nobody cheats on him. He's Joe Morelli,
Trenton police detective, former Navy. He's the one who broke women's
hearts after taking their virginity. He's the one who needs a pay raise
and deserves a promotion. He's the one who now has a house and wants to
start a family. He has his dreams. He has his pride. He can't be
humiliated like this. His hand reaches for his gun on its own will. He
knows people are watching. He knows Ranger is near. But he doesn't care.
Ex-special forces are overrated.
The
uniform police officers sense trouble coming. They reach for their guns
and start to yell. The firemen gawk. Frank Plum panics. No one actually
sees what happens the next second. Joe Morelli is face down on the
ground, unmoving. Stephanie Plum stands there and blinks twice in
bewilderment. Ranger now has a gun in his hand. A police-issued 9mm gun.
Joe Morelli's gun, as a matter of fact.
And he still looks calm and collected.
Chapter 21: Chapter 21
Chapter 21
It
started as just another ordinary day in Stephanie's life. A dream she
couldn't remember. A lukewarm shower. A trip to the office. A large cup
of coffee. A couple of doughnuts. A "Bob misses you". A same dilemma.
Then everything suddenly changed. She woke up and walked away. She came
clean with her feelings and freed herself. And she's with Ranger now.
She blinks again and takes a breath. Ranger hands the gun over to the
uniform cops. The firemen let out a collective sigh. Joe Morelli stays
unmoving on the ground. Stephanie's knees finally buckle. She falls into
Ranger's waiting arms. A cold shudder creeps down her spine as she
stares at Morelli's gun. A deadly weapon. An evidence of mad fury. A
tool of irrational wrath.
Who did he try to shoot?
Who did he try to hurt?
Who did he try to kill?
What was he thinking?
Is he still breathing?
Did he just try to kill her?
Would he really take aim and pull the trigger?
What if Ranger got shot?
What if Ranger wasn't quick enough?
What if Ranger didn't strike that hard?
What if the gun accidentally went off?
Did Joe ever love her?
Did Joe actually love her?
Was it her fault?
"Babe," Ranger softly says.
Stephanie
Plum closes her eyes and stops thinking about the price she has to pay
for her love. She feels a little bit sad. She feels a little bit scared.
But no, she feels no regret. And for the very first time in a very long
while, she's happy and contented.
Emily Hasting's heart skips a
beat. She places a hand over her chest and slightly frowns. What's this
strange, unfamiliar feeling? Where did it come from? Is it a sign or an
omen? Is it trying to tell her something? What happened? Something went
wrong? Why is she feeling sick and uneasy? Emily loses her focus. She
can't help feeling a little frightened and worried. Her voice falters
and becomes a little shaky.
Concentrate! Keep singing! Elizabeth barks out a sharp order.
The
choir practice will be over in a little more than six minutes. We have
to do our best till the very last second. We don't want to be a failure.
We don't want to be a disappointment. We are always perfect. We shall
always be perfect!
So she forces the smile back on her face
and keeps on singing in her sweet clear voice. She's Emily Hasting,
part-time librarian. She lives on the same street with the man she's
been in love for years. She has a gun, two knives and three time-bombs
hidden in her car. She's going to kill Stephanie Plum and that call
Cuban. And one day, one day her precious Joseph will learn to know her
and love her back.
Chapter 22: Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Detective
Joe Morelli lies unconscious in his hospital bed. It is indeed his
lucky day. After a quick check-up in the ER, he was soon given a private
ward. A severe concussion. Several fractured bones. And possible minor
memory loss. Stable, and not critical. He will wake up when his swollen
brain and battered body decide the time is right. He's not going to
become a vegetable or simply die. He may or may not face charges over
attempted assault. He will be punished for his misconduct. He's such an
ambitious and cautious guy. Some say he's clever. Some say he is sly.
Some think he's a changed man. Some believe he is a fraud. But they all
agree that anger management has always been his biggest flaw. What was
he thinking trying to pull a gun on Stephanie when Ranger was there?
What was he thinking deciding to avenge his injured pride in front of so
many eye-witnesses? Did he not understand his impulsive action would
only bring dire consequences? Did he not realize his foolishness and
poor judgment might ruin his career?
Rumours fly. Stories spread.
Mrs. Morelli and her mother-in-law cries and prays. Mrs. Plum, as usual,
is still not answering the phone or the door. Those who attend the
community volunteers meeting compare and exchange the details and sigh
and gasp. They gulp down the perfectly sweetened iced tea. They chew and
swallow the perfectly baked and decorated cupcakes. They WOW! and AH!
and laugh and chat. Emily Hasting clenches her fists. Elizabeth starts
to shake. This can't be real. This is all so wrong. This is so unfair.
Stephanie Plum and that colored man are still very much alive. Her
Joseph is badly hurt and in pain. Where is Justice? Where is
Righteousness? Where is Right and Wrong? Where is Punishment? Where is
Law? Where is Truth? Where is Love? Where is God?
Where is her Happily Ever After with Joseph?
Emily
lets out a tiny ragged sob and falters. Elizabeth takes over. There is
only one way to solve this problem. We have to strike hard. We have to
act fast. We has a gun. We have two knives. We have three time-bombs. We
have courage. We have determination. We have power. We have strength.
We are Joseph's Cupcakes. Chocolate Marshmallow and Lemon Cherry Cheese.
We are going to kill Stephanie Plum. We are going to kill her Ranger.
We are going to get rid of them now. Then we will go home to make dozens
and dozens of authentic traditional heavenly delicious cannolis and
visit Joseph. He will fall in love with us after one bite. And he will
be ours.
OURS!
Chapter 23: Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Elizabeth
Hasting is a tough woman with iron-like will power and determination.
She always wants to be perfect and the best. She hates losing. She
despises losers. She doesn't cry. She never whines. She sets her goal
and pursues it. Step by step. Hour by hour. Day by day. Year by year.
Yes, she has courage. Yes, she has patience. She's the one who sets the
course. She's the one who calls the shot. She's the one who allows Emily
to handle the trifles. She's the one who allows Emily to moan secretly
and dreamily and to drool a little whenever they see Joseph...Joseph,
their ever so handsome and charming Joseph. Their ever so attractive and
sexy Joseph. Their prince in shining armor. Their hot-blooded
fun-loving thrill-seeking badass Italian Stallion. They are both
hopelessly and madly in love with Joseph. They love and adore and
worship everything about Joseph. They love his furry chest. They love
his furry legs. They love his dazzling smile. They love his lean, not
overly muscular body. They love his off-white teeth. They love the scar
on his brow. They love the strong smell of garlic, beer and oregano in
his breath. He is the man in their dream. He is their happiness. He is
their heart. He is their life. He is their destiny. He will always,
always have their love and loyalty. And now they are going to avenge
him.
Nobody can beat him up. Nobody can knock him out. Nobody can
humiliate him in public and put him in a coma. He is Joseph Anthony
Morelli. He is Super Cop. He is Officer Hottie. He is good at bar
fights. He knows how to finger girls in his father's garage. He knows
how to sweet talk and charm girls and women out of their panties and
take their virginity. He knows how to write the very best dirty poems on
public bathroom walls. He has the best and furriest butt in whole
Trenton. He is movie star handsome. He is humourous and fun. He is
understanding and accepting. He is clever. He is smart. He is perfect,
strong and tough. He is God's Christmas present to all mankind. And
whoever hurts him shall pay the price. Whoever cheats on him shall be
punished with death.
Emily nods her head vigorously as Elizabeth
smiles. Everyone at the community volunteers meeting keeps joking,
eating and chatting. No one takes notice of their departure. They get in
their car and start the engine. They check their bombs, their knives,
their gun and their delicate wrist watch. They know they have the recipe
for cannoli somewhere in their files. They knows they have all the
necessary ingredients in their well-equipped spotless modern kitchen.
They know Joseph's ward number. Now all they have to do is drive over to
that hideous seven-floored building and kill that Ranger and his
Stephanie. Then all will be well.
Yay.
Chapter 24: Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Frank
Plum can't stop trembling while giving his statement. He didn't call
home. He knew his wife would not answer the phone. He looks pale and
tired. His coffee and doughnuts remain untouched. He has never been so
angry and scared before in his life. He almost collapsed and crumbled to
the ground when he finally mustered enough strength to get out of his
car. He is no stranger to guns and violence. He was a member of the U.S.
Army. He has a gun and he lives in New Jersey. He has witnessed death
more than once before. However, he never ever really has the military
mentality. He doesn't like guns. He avoids fights and disputes at all
costs. He just wants an uneventful life. Now as he sits still in the
cheap uncomfortable chair, self-loathing, shame and guilt swallow him
whole. His younger daughter could have been killed or severely injured
right before his eyes. And there was nothing he could do. Nothing. The
helplessness and fear he felt frighten him.
Stephanie Plum's cop
friends don't know what to say. They feel they should say something to
lighten the mood, but now is not the right time for jokes. They feel
sorry for Stephanie Plum. They feel bad about what Joe Morelli attempted
to do. They are glad Ranger was there. They know someone will always
get hurt in a love triangle. But at lease the other two will have a
chance for true happiness. So they hug her and pat her on the back. They
smile as Frank Plum, with reddened eyes, gathers his daughter in his
arms and shakes Ranger's hand. They ignore the calls from their curious
friends, neighbors and family members. They are simply grateful and
relieved that the never-ending melodrama known as the Cupcake Chronicles
is now finally and officially over. Thank God for big favors. It had
been dragging on for way too long.
The slender yet muscular
Hispanic man and his man-mountain of a partner watch the monitor screens
closely. The creamy yellow Toyota has just stopped and parked at the
entrance of an alleyway across the street behind their building after
circling this block for the fifth time. And there's something eerily
suspicious about the woman driving the Prius. They have run the license
plate in their database. They know her name, her job and her address.
But they have no idea why she is here. They watch the part-time
librarian getting out of her car. They watch her crossing the street.
They have a really bad feeling about the baby pink duffle bag in her
hand. They hear Tank bark out a command. They hear the muffled screams
of a woman. They hear someone whistle. They hear someone curse. A Glock.
Two knives. And three time bombs? What the Hell? Time to call Ranger.
Chapter 25: Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Emily
screams and wails. Elizabeth fights and curses. Fear. Surprise. Anger.
Humiliation. Disbelief. Terror. Desperation. Despair. All kinds of
emotions boil inside the plain but always nice and polite Miss Hasting,
part-time librarian, community volunteer, excellent chef, talented
pâtissière, and lead singer of the church choir. She thinks of all her
hopes and longings in life. She thinks of all the things she hates and
loves. All her nightmares and dreams. All her ambitions and failures.
All her glory and pride. All her contributions and sacrifices. All her
hurt. All her pain. All her disappointment. All her shame. All her fake
and forced smiles. All her silent sobs and hidden tears. All her lonely
days. All her empty nights. All her struggles and desperate attempts.
What's so wrong to want to be loved by the man you love?
What's so wrong to want to have something you do not have?
What's so wrong to want to do the right thing and correct the wrong?
What's so wrong to want to step up for yourself and season your tasteless life?
Emily
Elizabeth Rosemary Hasting looks up at heaven seeking an answer, but
all she sees is a blur of shadows and colors. She barks out a shaky
ragged laugh. She has failed her sacred mission. She has lost her
ultimate purpose. She did not manage to kill Stephanie Plum. She did not
manage to kill that tall Cuban. She's not going to have her own Happily
Ever After with her Joseph. Her tall dark lean muscular fun kind
humorous handsome dangerous perfect badass Joseph. She's not going to
sit by his sick-bed and smile her most beautiful charming smile while
watching him eat his cannolis. The best cannolis. The cannolis she now
won't be able to make especially for him...
A drop of crystal tear
falls down her cheek. Another one soon follows as her whole body shakes
with unbearable sorrow. She's not going to be Joseph Anthony Morelli's
Cupcake. His one and only and special and unique Cupcake. His yummy
gooey soft fluffy sweet tasty Cupcake...
Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Chapter 26
The
confession is disturbing, if not scary and chilling. The evidences are
solid. The motive is clear. The time bombs are indeed most perfectly and
exquisitely made. The poor delusional thirty-eight-year-old single slim
white woman who has never dated or been kissed is apparently mad but
unfortunately not legally insane. All kinds of merciless rumours and
vicious gossips thrive and refuse to stop. Curious locals, exciting
tourists and enterprising street vendors crowd the once quiet and narrow
street. Photos are taken from every angle of the two lovely cozy
two-story houses. Like a roller-coaster the selling number of cupcakes
soars and soars and suddenly drops. Like Sleeping Beauty or Rip Van
Winkle the tall dark—now a little pale, though—handsome and furry
Trenton police detective Joseph Anthony Morelli slumbers on. There's
nothing medically wrong with Mr. Morelli really, the doctors patiently
explain to the worried family and the persisting reporters. The human
body is an extremely complicated machine that contains more wonders and
mysteries than anyone can imagine. Right now they can only say Mr.
Morelli will wake up when he's ready. Who knows, maybe he will opens his
melted chocolate eyes, stretch, yawn and smiles his ever so charming
smile late this night or tomorrow morning.
Stephanie Plum looks
into the mirror and tries not to sigh. She's all alone inside Ranger's
tastefully decorated apartment, and for the very first time in her life,
she is truly happy and contented. She has never ever regretted her
choice and decision. But somehow she just can't stop feeling guilty and
ashamed about what happened. And from time to time the small sneaky
voice in her heart will question her if she really, really deserves any
happiness.
Is she a good enough person?
Is she a good enough woman?
Is she a good enough daughter?
Is she a good enough hamster owner?
Is she a good enough live-in girlfriend?
Why does Emily Hasting—an almost complete stranger—hate her this much?
Why did Joe decide to reach for his gun?
What if she's not good enough?
What if it was actually all her fault?
And why can't she stop doubting herself?
Once
again she searches her own eyes. Once again she finds no answer. Maybe
she will never know. Maybe she will always question and doubt herself.
But she knows all she can do right now is try her best and live her
life. She's with Ranger now. She loves him and he loves her back.
And that alone is more than enough.
~The End~
