Fanatic (Hellfire MC: The Prospects #1)

Chapter Eight.

Willow

T he offices were now on the outskirts of Rapid City, which eased my stress levels immensely. They were in a nice glass and brick building which looked newly built. I entered, showed my badge, and headed through the metal detector. This was a significant improvement upon our previous location.

A woman waved, and I smiled and walked over.

“Hey Jenna,” I greeted Markin’s secretary, who was smiling.

“Hi, ASAC Ware,” Jenna Rose replied with a grin.

“Call me Willow,” I said, and she nodded. “Follow me, ASAC Ware.”

I rolled my eyes but followed Jenna as she led the way to the lifts. Several people glanced over as we entered the elevator. Clearly, Jenna didn’t escort many to Markin.

The lift stopped on the third floor, and Jenna and I exited, and I wondered if she’d hit the wrong button. The floor was empty.

“There’s my favourite agent!” Markin boomed, and I turned with a smile.

“Hey, boss,” I called as I walked over to greet him. Markin hauled me into a hug and squeezed me briefly before releasing me.

“You look good,” he said, studying me. “A bit pale, but yeah, you appear well.”

“So, what’s this about? It’s obviously part of your plot to get me back to work,” I asked, waving a hand around.

“This is the new and dedicated Violent Crime and Major Offenders Unit,” Markin announced.

“We didn’t cover that before, not to this extent,” I replied, surprised.

“No. But after what the fuck happened a year ago, shit hit the fan. The FBI, as well as RCPD and other official agencies, had submitted reports about our concerns. The White House and their yes-men shot us down. I’m not sure how much you’ve kept up to date with the news, but South Dakota and Florida have experienced a lot of upheaval. Florida also reported worries which were ignored.”

“To be honest, the war filled the airwaves, so I tried to stay away from media in the end,” I said honestly.

“Okay. To nutshell it. RCPD, National Guard, Ellsworth base, and FBI all came under fire for our roles in the war. Chief Howser stood before a disciplinary board and possible dismissal. Major General Winslow and Captain Fisher both faced court marshals by the National Guard. Colonel Jefferson was relieved of duty and court marshalled. And I was suspended.”

“Shit,” I muttered.

“Yeah. The President was looking to shove responsibility at us and have us take the fall for shit. That backfired big time and now he’s been impeached and also is being charged with various offences. Those accused got commendations and all that bullshit, but we got to write our ticket as the nation views us as heroes.

“A little bird has told me that Winslow plans to run for president with Fisher as his aide. Finally, I can vote for someone worthwhile. With my promotion, I was waiting for a transfer to another office. Rapid City only needs a SAC, and I was too high for here. But with what happened with the Venomous Fangs, our small branch got a shitload of attention. The director ordered me to write my ideal, give her a budget, and she’d deal with it.” “Damn, Director Landon said that? She’s tighter than Fort Knox with money,” I exclaimed, amused.

“Yeah, so we’ve a major overhaul. The new building was a tiny part of it. We’ve opened several extra divisions and are recruiting agents to them and so on. And I’ve even got a SAC to replace you because, let’s face it, you’re overqualified for your role.”

“Not sure I should be thanking you, boss. Are you moving me?” I asked with a flare of concern.

“Yeah, to this floor. This is the base of the improved Violent Crime and Major Offenders Unit. Except you’ll be doing something extra in your roles. Willow, I want you focusing on dirty MCs, unravelling their pipelines and taking down their allies. If we’d taken Santos out years ago, we could have hurt the Fangs. Not all clubs are bad. It’s just a handful, and having an ASAC in charge with intimate knowledge of who’s good and bad saves me a shitload of time.

“Hell, I don’t want a SAC running around and investigating Rage, Hellfire, or Satan’s Warriors. I know they are clean. They may meddle a little bit, they’re not the Fangs. But there are some in South Dakota who are dirtier than a man leaving a mineshaft. Willow, I want you to bring them down,” Markin said.

“That doesn’t sound much different from what Violent Crimes did before,” I mused.

“It’s a lot different. This contains the unit proposal plus guidelines. Read up on it and let me know tomorrow. But this could be yours. The office over there is yours, and the one next to it is your SACs.”

Interested, I surveyed the area, liking what I saw. Mine and the SAC had big airy offices, which looked out onto the rest of the floor. There were four private suites that I assumed were interview rooms. Three areas in the corners held white boards and tables for teams to work together, and there was a long room with a huge ass meeting table. A kitchenette stood to one side, and the remainder of the area was working desks for staff. A door was placed next to the elevator, which I assumed led to the stairs and toilets, considering the signs.

“I’ll let you know tonight,” I said, and Markin broke into a grin. “Last thing, you get to pick your team. Admin, agents, and secretary. It’s your call.”

“Now that sweetens the pot.”

“Yeah, and I’ve got one hundred applicants who’ve already applied for this.” Markin grinned, and I groaned.

“Did Jimenez apply?”

“No. Jimenez heard I had you in mind and didn’t think you’d want him.”

Interesting. Jimenez and I hadn’t been close. In fact, we’d heavily disliked each other, but I respected him and his abilities. He’d be an ideal SAC.

“Is Jimenez in today and available?”

Markin smiled. “Sure is, and all yours. Go for it, Willow. And bring that baby to see me!” Markin turned on his heel and disappeared. I had one more glance around the room and faced Jenna.

“Where’s Jimenez based now?”

“Your old unit is on the first floor. I’ll take you down,” Jenna answered.

As I entered, I smiled at seeing many familiar faces. Several agents stopped and spoke to me, and I saw Jimenez heading away from me.

“Jimenez!” I called out, and surprise crossed his face.

“ASAC Ware,” he replied as I approached.

“Let’s head out for lunch.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Markin has authorised this; now move,” I ordered, and Jimenez looked annoyed and then amused.

“You’re buying,” he stated as he walked to a desk and grabbed his suit jacket.

“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me,” I responded, and Jimenez smiled. Wow, that made him seem entirely different.

We headed to a local diner, and I picked Jimenez’s brain for what he thought about the new unit. Jimenez believed it would be a good idea but had concerns around the staff. A lot of prejudice had built up, and the bureau had lost a couple of agents itself.

“Why aren’t you SAC yet?”

“I’ve applied, I’m waiting on the reply,” Jimenez said.

“If I accepted the job offered for the new department, would you be my SAC?”

Jimenez looked surprised. “Why would you want me?”

“We don’t like each other, but I respect you, Jimenez. Your way of working does compliment mine, and we could create something good. I could trust you to run things and know you’re not going to fuck up. And I need a partner I can rely on.”

“You don’t like me, ASAC Ware, but you trust me?”

“Yup. Strange, ain’t it? But there you go. If I accept this position, I’d want you as my SAC.”

“Do I get to help choose the team?” Jimenez asked shrewdly.

“Yeah. I’ve been absent a year, there’s bound to be new faces.”

“You take the job, and I receive the promotion, you got yourself an SAC,” Jimenez said.

“I’ll be in touch tomorrow. I’m going to read over the proposal and see what it contains and what our boundaries are. And I’ve got leeway, if I want you as my SAC, then that’s what I get,” I stated.

Jimenez held my gaze. “Yeah, guess you earned that ASAC Ware.”

“I fucking did.”

◆◆◆

When Fanatic came home with Danny, I was reading through the offer and seeing where I could develop it. I looked up at my laughing boy as he bounced and babbled in Fanatic’s ear.

“Good day?” I asked.

“Boyo here learned to bubble spit at last! Hit his Uncle Chance right in the face!”

“Ouch,” I replied, chuckling as Danny grinned.

“Tell me you warned them he was teething?”

“Nope, Danny got Big Al, Chance, Shee, Clio, and Chey today,” Fanatic said proudly.

Danny had three teeth and was biting everything. I’d had to stop breastfeeding because that shit was painful.

“What are you reading? A case?” Fanatic asked.

“No. A proposal for a new unit. It will focus on Major Crime and Major Offenders, but there’s more to it than the usual stuff. After the Venomous Fangs, the country has now recognised that home grown criminal gangs like them are a huge threat. If we’d cut the pipeline from Santos and other criminals, we could have shut the Fangs down much sooner.

“Markin devised this idea, and right now, he’s got a shitload of support, so he’s cashing in on it. He wants to make a specialised unit combining all this together. Markin’s asked me to head it up,” I said.

“That’s great!” Fanatic exclaimed. “Isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s a huge feather in my cap. And I get to pick my team from field agents to SSA’s to a SAC. This is massive, and we’ve got eyes on us. Markin thinks my connections will give us a leg up.” “Markin ain’t wrong. You know an MC inside out, and a lot are dirty. What’s the barrier because I’m sensing one?”

“If I start investigating MCs, will shit end up back on my doorstep? Would I open Danny to risk?”

“I understand the fear, but is that how you wish to live? Or do you make the world a safer place for Danny and remove the threats that he’ll face when he’s older? Danny’s a legacy, Willow, he’ll ride for Rage or Hellfire. You know he will. It’s Danny’s blood and destiny. Removing those assholes out there now makes it better for when Danny puts a cut on,” Fanatic elaborated.

“Guess I’m taking a new job,” I said after a few moments of silence. “Do you mind if I invite a colleague over tomorrow night to start going through personnel files?”

Fanatic

I couldn’t stop the words leaving my mouth. “Not at all. I’ve got a date, anyway.”

Willow looked up, and I saw a flash of hurt cross her face before surprise kicked in. What was that about? I didn’t have much time to examine it because Willow sat up straight.

“Who with?” Willow demanded.

“A girl from the coffee shop I sometimes use. She seems sweet,” I said lamely. Willow stared at me astutely.

I knew where Willow’s mind had gone. Sweet was not something I liked usually.

“Tell me about her,” Willow teased with a grin.

“Ain’t much to tell. She’s got a nice smile and makes good coffee. What do you want for dinner?” I asked, heading towards the kitchen.

“Wow! Is that it?” Willow called.

“Yup. Dinner, Willow, focus,” I shouted as I looked in the fridge.

“I’ve got a casserole on already. Get your ass back here, Fanatic, and tell me about this woman!” Willow demanded.

“Nothing to tell. Don’t make mountains out of molehills!”

“Well damn, Fanatic, you’re a miserable asshole,” Willow declared, and while I wanted to smile, I couldn’t. Because I had dug myself a grave. Despite my intentions of not asking her on a date, I’d sent the girl a message, and she’d just replied, confirming the date.

Fuck!

Willow

Fanatic didn’t seem excited about his date and took himself off after dinner to work on a design. I wondered what his problem was but wisely avoided pressing him. Plus, I had my own issues to deal with.

When Fanatic had announced his date, I’d not liked that at all. A flash of jealousy had hit me, and I had to bite my tongue.

Relieved that Fanatic had taken himself off, I carried Danny up for a bath and for a few alone moments for me to consider how I had felt. I most definitely hadn’t liked it. In fact, when Fanatic declared her ‘nice’, I was elated because nice never did it for Fanatic. Actually, I didn’t know what attracted Fanatic, but nice wasn’t it. Fanatic didn’t need a doormat.

But that flash of sheer anger and jealousy had caught me unaware, and now I was trying to figure out why. And I wished to know where the crazy idea that Fanatic was mine evolved from. Fanatic wasn’t in the slightest. He was my best friend, but I didn’t own him. I was confused because I was unsure what to make of these feelings. And worse, I loved Grey, and it had been just over a year since he’d passed. Fifteen months, actually. It was far too soon to be thinking of moving on, and Fanatic would have conniptions if he knew of my jealousy.

Whatever my hormones were doing, they needed to stand down before I lost a friend!

◆◆◆

I tried not to make it obvious as Fanatic walked downstairs the following night, but I wanted to handcuff him to something so he couldn’t leave. Jimenez and I were working our way through a stack of paperwork. I’d already begun before he’d got here, and I’d separated some into yes, no, and maybe piles. Jimenez was reading through them and if he disagreed, he started another pile directly above each of those, so we had six piles going.

“You look nice,” I said lamely as Fanatic stopped and peered in. He nodded at Jimenez and glanced at the table.

“Thanks,” Fanatic replied somewhat grumpily.

“Dude, you can’t be grumpy on a date,” I teased.

Fanatic grunted and grabbed his keys, allowing me the chance to check him over. Fuck, his ass looked perfect in those black jeans, and they clung to his legs. Fanatic had a green Henley on with his cut over the top.

“Looks like he can,” Jimenez murmured, and I giggled.

“Yup.”

“Sorry, I’m Fanatic,” Fanatic said, as if he had just remembered his manners.

“SSA José Jimenez,” Jimenez replied, rising and holding his hand out.

Fanatic shook it before looking at the table. “Making headway?” he asked.

“This pile we’ve agreed, this one we do not like, and this is maybes,” I answered, tapping my pen on each.

“If you’ve got maybes, then they’re nos. They’re a maybe because one of you picked up something wrong about them. I’d make that a no-pile. If you don’t have enough, either ask for more apps or consider who you want working for you and invite them to the interview. Might be some didn’t apply because they did not think you’d pick them,” Fanatic said.

“Such as Worrell,” Jimenez mused. “I’ve not seen a file for him and he’s an amazing agent. Solid and methodical but able to work alone, take the initiative, and have flashes of great inspiration.”

“Good call,” I replied, flashing Fanatic a smile and looking for Worrell’s file. It wasn’t here.

“Glad I could help. See you soon,” Fanatic said and, with a chin lift, walked out.

“Never seen a guy so morose to go on a date,” Jimenez stated with a chuckle.

“Me either. I’m going to order food, what do you fancy?” I asked.

“Anything’s good with me, ASAC Ware.”

“Call me Willow, Jimenez, unless we’re on a job. I’m starting to get itchy with the constant ASACs.”

Jimenez chuckled again as I dialled for pizza.

Fanatic

This was a total fucking nightmare. The sweet girl I thought I’d asked out on a date had turned into some sort of sex maniac. I had met April at a restaurant downtown, and the cute girl next door image had been replaced by a slut on the prowl look. April had plastered on make-up, and it didn’t flatter her. She wore a seriously short dress that made me worry for her if she had to bend over. It was clingy, too; Lycra pushed April’s boobs up until they nearly gave her black eyes. Crap.

I smiled politely as April began babbling the minute I greeted her; after, I took three looks to check it was her. April was using a breathy voice that was starting to grate on my nerves and a silly twitter of a giggle.

Yeah, April had a stunning body, but holy hell, she wouldn’t stop fucking talking.

She had questioned me about my role as prospect and then about the club. It was followed up by questions about last year, which I promptly shut down. Once I think she’d gaged my worth, April began bleating about how she was a social influencer. She only worked at the coffee shop until she got established, apparently.

An hour later, I was ready to stab a knitting needle into my ears.

I paid close attention when April asked about my family, and while I was vague, she was more than pushy. Slowly, it dawned on me: April knew exactly who I was and was playing me.

After dessert, I called for the bill and once settled, we left.

“Would you like to come back to mine?” April suggested as we stood outside. “You can follow my car.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Fine, where are you parked, I’ll follow you. I don’t mind,” April said, pursing her lips and wriggling. Did she think that shit was sexy?

“You’re not coming to mine. My housemate would not like it.” “I’m sure he wouldn’t care,” April stated, stepping closer and pressing against me.

I stepped away quickly. “She most assuredly would, and so would her baby son,” I replied.

“Hey, if threesomes are what you are after, I’m game for anything,” April teased, blowing her hair out of her face.

“This is a one-and-done. Sorry, you’re not what I thought. I don’t like sexually aggressive women. Especially those who’ve done their research and know who my mum is. Yeah, I clocked it through your not-so-subtle questioning. I’ll walk you back to your car and then I’m going home alone,” I said.

“Bikers like women like me,” April hissed. “Are you gay?”

“No. Just in love with my housemate. Come on, I’ll see you to your vehicle.”

“Motherfucker. What a waste of my time,” April spat and stormed off.

Fine by me. A feeling told me to check for cameras as I headed for my bike. I made sure I walked in front of several until I hit it. Then, I ensured I rode through cameras on the way home.

I thought at one point there was a car following me but dismissed that as I turned into my street and nobody followed. Thankful to be home, I parked up and started for the door. On the doorstep was a white box. With a frown, I picked it up and glanced at the camera. It had been taped over. Alarmed, I tore the tape off.

I wasn’t armed, having been on a date, and a quick glance through the window showed me Willow watching TV.

“Babe,” I called out as I entered.

“In here. How did it go?” Willow asked.

“Fuckin’ nightmare. This was on the porch, and the camera was covered up. Need to check the system,” I replied as I placed the carton down on the coffee table.

Willow got up and approached, looking confused. The box was wrapped with a black ribbon and there was a card. She pulled the bow undone and carefully lifted the lid. A foul smell wafted out, and I heaved as Willow stepped back.

Covering my nose with my sleeve, I gazed inside and quickly dropped the lid.

“Fanatic?” Willow asked as she gagged.

“Spray some fuckin’ air freshener in here. Someone sent you a dead rat that’s been decomposing for a while and is riddled with maggots,” I said.