Be My Valentine 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.