Chapter 3
Stephanie Plum tries not to feel worried.
She
knows she's not the world's most beautiful woman or smartest person.
She knows she has made too many bad mistakes and stupid decisions. She
knows all kinds of rumours are still running wild. She knows people are
still whispering behind her back. She's grateful none of her family and
friends has come forward and asked her about what happened that day.
Curiosity must be killing them, she's sure of that. But she just wants
to put all the sad, unpleasant, humiliating memories behind and start
living and enjoying her life. Her new life. A life without constantly
feeling uncomfortable, frustrated or guilty for whatever happened in the
past.
She simply doesn't want to think or talk about Joe Morelii.
She didn't and still doesn't want to go to the hospital to visit him.
She has tried all she could to forget the ugly entangled history between
them. She has tried all she could to rein in the anger that suddenly
surfaced as the initial shock and sorrow slowly ebbed away. She still
remembers that day. The blaze of the sun. The smell of the burning car.
The worries and disgust in the pit of her stomach. The enigmatic look in
Ranger's deep beautiful eyes. The gentle touch of his perfect lips. And
the sound of his fast ferocious punch. The dull thudding sound. The one
simple merciless punch. Sometimes when she rests her head on Ranger's
bare muscular chest, she can still hear it in her ears. And then she
will marvel at his power, his strength, and his determination and
ability to protect her at all costs. Who could have thought "No price"
is the highest and dearest price? Who could have thought the man who
once told her that Batcave is forever will accept her love and love her
back?
She also vaguely remembers the cracking sound of Joe
Morelli's head smashing against the ground. The sight of Morelli's gun
and his unmoving form. The blood coming out from his nose and mouth. The
sirens of the ambulance. The tears falling down her father's old
worried face. The look of concern in her cop friends' eyes. The warmth
and safety of Ranger's embrace. And the happy smile of relief on her
mother's tear-stricken face.
And now after seven months, seven
days and seven hours, Joe Morelli has finally woken up from his coma.
And somehow the only response the doctors and nurses could get from him
is "Cupcake"...
Stephanie Plum tries hard not to feel sick or
afraid. It's gonna be alright. She takes a deep breath, squares her
shoulders and firmly tells herself. She's with Ranger now. She loves him
and he loves her back. And she's also a different woman now. She has
changed. She has become better. She's braver and smarter and stronger.
She won't make the same mistakes. She won't make decisions out of guilt.
She knows what she needs and whom she loves. She's happy with her life
and herself. She will deal with whatever trouble Joe Morelli is going to
cause.
Now matter what.
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