Fanatic (Hellfire MC: The Prospects #1)

Chapter Twelve.

Fanatic

I was waiting for Willow downstairs. After the shit show yesterday, I was taking her to a nice restaurant. It hadn’t calmed down much when it was reported back that whoever it was had fled but left the red dot sight on Willow to frighten her. Someone was playing mind games, and I wanted to know who. Lio had taken the sniper rifle into evidence, but there was little hope of fingerprints.

Now, trying to cheer Willow up, I’d declared it was date night. Gladys had hijacked Danny, and so it was only Willow and me. I was about to check on her when a cry of despair echoed.

Without hesitation, I raced up the stairs.

“Willow?”

“I can’t go, Fanatic, I’m sorry.”

“Babe, I’m coming in,” I said and opened the door. Willow was sitting on her bed, miserable as fuck. “What’s up? Are you having second thoughts?”

“Look at me,” Willow ordered.

“Okay.” Willow wore a beautiful blue dress that fell to mid-thigh and cinched in at her waist. It bared one shoulder and offered a tantalising glimpse of her breast. Her hair had been left loose, and I loved her curls.

“You’re stunning,” I said as I took in the high heels she was wearing.

“Fanatic, my face,” Willow stated.

I frowned, looked at her, and realisation hit me. “Oh.”

“I thought make-up would hide it, but I’d have to plaster it on an inch thick,” Willow replied morosely.

The injuries hadn’t bothered me until now because Willow’s internal beauty shone through, but I understood what she meant. Her forehead showed the scrapes, a bump and bruises from where she interrupted the armed robbery. Willow’s eyes were a riot of black, blue, and purple. Her nose was still swollen and red with scabbing grazes. Willow’s chin was just as bad, with a mass of cuts and healing scabs.

“Babe, it doesn’t bother me. I’d be proud to take you out,” I said.

“Fanatic, I can’t go out. People will stare or think you’ve battered me.”

“You’re cancelling?” I asked, aghast. I’d planned tonight carefully over the last twenty-four hours.

Willow sounded devastated. “Fanatic, I can’t.”

My heart sunk as I realised our first date was turning into a disaster and not one of our making.

“Okay. Stay like that and give me an hour. Read a book or something,” I said, my mind racing ahead.

“Fanatic…?”

“Stay, Willow!” I demanded, determined not to lose tonight.

I headed back downstairs, phoned the restaurant, and explained. Shamelessly dropping Willow and Hellfire’s names, I managed to get them to cook our meals with a hefty bonus for them. The flowers and chocolates I’d ordered for there would also be re-delivered. I called Jinx, informed him what to fetch, and walked into the dining room. There was a sideboard that held all Willow’s good stuff.

I hauled out a dining cloth, cutlery, and everything she’d need. A vase sat on the table, looking empty, so I headed into the garden and picked some flowers. I placed them in the vase and hoped they looked somewhat decent.

Wine was coming with the meal, but Willow always kept a couple of bottles in the fridge. I grabbed a white and put it on the table. Happy with it and satisfied there was nothing else I could do, I waited for Jinx.

Forty minutes later, I knocked on Willow’s door and opened it. “You ready?”

“For what?” Willow questioned, looking adorably confused.

“Come on, woman, let’s find out.”

I led Willow downstairs and into the dining room. Her gasp made me feel good, but the expression on her face… I felt on top of the world.

Fanatic

How was getting out of the house with Danny such hard work? I had siblings and little cousins. I understood what was involved with kids. And Danny was such an easy baby. Yet it was a total nightmare. It was two days after our date night, and it had gone perfectly. Willow was moving at her own pace, which was fine, but she kept touching me. A hand to my arm, a touch to my chest. Willow couldn’t help herself.

Of course, I could not keep my hands to myself, either. But I was attempting to be a gentleman. Which was hard when all I wished to do was ravish her. She’d gone into work today and was meeting with Markin, Lio, and Gold. They were considering the possibility this could be someone she arrested. The whole thing was worrying, and while I wanted to keep Willow locked up, I knew that was useless.

Willow was a trained agent, and I had to trust in her skills to protect herself. If I failed at this hurdle, then I needed to let Willow go because I’d ruin us by trying to control her. I had to accept the woman I loved had a dangerous job and get on with it. Something not that easy to do!

Danny chortled as he threw a toy at me as I backed out of the drive. I was using my car as Willow had my SUV; clearly, Danny couldn’t ride on a bike yet. As I drove off, I hoped that they got a break and whoever was after Willow was caught. Because if the law didn’t catch the perp and I did, his body would never be discovered.

Willow

I looked up as Jenna Rose came up to my floor. Lio and Gold were questioning me further, wondering if this was something to do with a previous arrest. It was possible. But I didn’t think I’d upset anyone else. Of course, I could have, as people can perceive slights were none were meant. But the crosshair incident made me assume there was a criminal element.

Markin was by my side as he’d ordered all case files I was involved in brought to the room. Lio and Gold hadn’t realised how many until the boxes started being rolled in. They swapped glances and shook their heads.

“Workaholic much?” Gold teased.

“Why don’t you let Willow and José review them? They can at least whittle down suspects, and on top of that, they need to start planning interviews,” Markin said.

“There’s a lot of interest in the job vacancies,” I replied with a nod. “We’ll be starting assessments next week when I’m back properly.”

“You’re doing a three-day week for four weeks, that’s correct?” José asked.

“Yes. Then it goes to four for the following month and up to full-time from there,” I answered.

“If you give me your rota, I will schedule interviews for them. Meanwhile, I guess we better start wading through this lot,” Jimenez said.

“Well, I’ll leave you lot to it,” Markin stated when Jenna stepped forward.

“Wait, sir, this came in the post addressed to Willow,” Jenna announced, holding out a box.

“Shit, another one?” I asked as I gazed at the brown paper-covered package.

“Step back, Willow, and let us open it,” Lio ordered.

Unamused, I did as ordered and watched as Gold unwrapped it. Once again, it was a white box with a black bow. Gold opened the box and lifted the lid. Lio frowned as Gold’s mouth opened in an O.

“Tell me that’s not human,” Jimenez demanded, peering over their shoulder.

“Need evidence bags,” Lio said as he gazed at whatever the parcel contained.

“What is it?” I whispered, not liking the looks on their faces.

“A heart, and I suspect it’s human,” Lio replied.

“What the fuck?” I stepped closer and peered in. “This is getting unnerving.”

“You sat in someone’s crosshairs a few days ago, and that wasn’t disturbing? But this is? Willow, this is escalating. In the space of five days, you’ve had a dead rat, a cat, been under crosshairs, and now been sent a heart. Somebody has it in for you,” Gold exclaimed.

“If that’s human… that means he’s killed someone. Yeah, this shit is worrying. I think we should be included in this investigation,” I said to Markin. I didn’t need Gold telling me this was ramping up. As the target, I was well aware of the fast-level escalation.

“Willow, I know it concerns you, but the Feds can’t march in and take over this case,” Lio stated.

“Surely, we can work together, can’t we?” Markin asked.

“Sure, as long as you realise SPD is the lead,” Gold agreed.

“Fine by me. Get to it,” Markin said as an agent walked in and handed over a couple of evidence bags.

Fanatic would freak when I told him about the new incident. Plus, it also raised a problem. I needed to get my will amended, as I had Danny to worry about, and I didn’t want legal battles over him.

◆◆◆

Seven hours later, Jimenez and I had managed to cut the three stacks of boxes in half. The offenders were either dead or behind bars. That left a lot of suspects remaining, and worse? There were six more piles left.

“Are we fighting a losing battle here?”

“No, boss. We know more than a few hours ago,” Jimenez replied.

“Yeah, that half these fuckers are accounted for, and the rest are free.”

“That first box was a rat with its throat slit, right?” Jimenez questioned.

“Yeah.” “That’s a message. A rat represents a snitch. And a slit throat shuts them up. Could this refer to your undercover time?”

Feeling an idiot, I stared at him before nodding slowly. Jimenez had a very viable point. “Yeah, I’d be classed as a rat.”

“Maybe we should review those first. Boss, you brought down the Demonio Cartel. Some must have escaped, and I bet you’ve had a huge target on your back,” Jimenez said.

I got to my feet, pulled a box from the stack containing the cartel files, and gave it to Jimenez while I grabbed a second for me.

After an hour, I tapped a file. “Juan Ramos, he ranked high in the cartel. His two brothers were soldiers, Fidencio and Gonzalo. Gonzalo died in the shoot-out at Rage. Fidencio went to prison and was killed six months ago inside.”

“And Juan?”

“Escaped. Rumours were, Juan returned to Mexico and took over what remained of the cartel. But we couldn’t prove it as he disappeared deep into the mountains where a supposed Demonio stronghold was meant to be.”

“Didn’t a new cartel rise to power a year after Demonio was brought down?” Jimenez asked.

“The Corazon Afligido. The Grieving Heart. Seems fanciful for Juan.”

“Juan lost a brother. Were they close?”

“Yes, Jimenez. If anybody would want me dead, Juan would head the list. Not only did Juan lose his boss and associates, he also lost family. Damn, we might have a viable suspect.”

“I’ll let SPD know, and I’ll get a couple of rookies up here to keep narrowing this shit down. It would be a foolish mistake to concentrate on Juan and nobody else,” Jimenez said.

“Agreed. I need to go get my son. You’ll schedule the interviews?”

“Yeah. Hey, Willow, you really that cold?” Jimenez asked.

“Huh?” “You might have a cartel after you, and you’re all ‘I’m going to get my kid and book interviews?’”

“Jimenez, I’m terrified. I wanna scream and rail at this shit, but it won’t help. Something hit me during that meeting. Tragically, I’m the only parent Danny has. If I die, who looks after him? Grey’s dead, and there’d be a custody battle between Grey’s parents and mine. Do I hide away from the world? I did that for a year while grieving Grey. Nothing changed. So, gonna leave here, get my son, kiss him, and be thankful I got another day with him,” I explained.

I picked up my briefcase and began walking out.

“Fanatic,” Jimenez called.

“Huh?” I asked, stopping and turning back.

“Make Fanatic his guardian. He adores Danny and would kill for him. That’s what I’d do, Willow,” Jimenez replied.

“Yeah. You ain’t wrong on how much he loves Danny,” I said, smiling.

“Then you know what you’ve got to do,” Jimenez stated.

I nodded and was about to walk out when the door blew open from the stairwell, and Agent Sam Quirk burst in.

“State police have a track on four Venomous Fangs who escaped last year. Fuckers are hiding in Hill City,” Quirk announced.

Jimenez and I swapped glances. “I’m coming.”

“Guessed that,” Jimenez replied, and we rushed out after Quirk.

◆◆◆

Donny Sutherland, aka Runt, Mattie South, aka Cutter, Hank Wild, aka Slash, and Stew Boone, aka Pit Bull, were of the original chapter. They were wanted for multiple crimes, and we knew they’d escaped because shutting some of the Fangs up was hard to do. Those who’d been invaded and coerced into becoming part of the Venomous Fangs cheerfully gave up names and identified people.

A convoy of black SUVs sped towards Hill City as we all checked our weapons, radios, and donned vests.

“Take this,” Jimenez said, handing me another clip. I nodded and stashed it away. Nobody asked if I was okay or wondered if I should be there. That was good; they weren’t thinking I was weak. When we arrived at the house in Hill City, law enforcement was already on scene. SAC Richards spoke to the police and the agent in charge while the rest of us spread out. A few minutes later, he approached me.

“ASAC Ware, I don’t think you should be here,” Richards said.

“Respectfully, I disagree.”

“ASAC Ware. I’m aware these men were part of the gang that killed Mr. Grey. You shouldn’t be here,” he repeated. Oh boy. What an ass, referring to Grey as a mister. Totally disrespectful.

“Can you overrule me?”

Richards looked uncomfortable. “Actually, yes. Because you’re not officially back from maternity leave yet.”

“Then remove me,” I challenged, folding my arms.

“Ma’am, don’t make this awkward. Please, just wait in the car.”

“Sure,” I drawled. “I’ll be sidelined. But I’ll remember this, Richards.” I began walking away when the front door of the house burst open.

A wild appearing Venomous Fang dragged a screaming woman out.

“Back off, or I’ll kill her!” he yelled as he pulled her across the lawn.

I had the angle, lifted my arm, and took aim. “FBI, drop the weapon,” I called, and then fired. The bullet hit the side of his head, and brain matter exploded. The hostage screamed and raced towards the police line.

“What the fuck was that?” Richards demanded.

“What? I identified myself and informed him to drop the weapon. Asshole didn’t, and I had the shot.”

“Know what? There was barely a split second between you identifying yourself and firing,” Richards accused.

“Are you accusing me of something?” I snapped, squaring up to him.

“You killed him.”

“Yeah, and the hostage had a gun to her head. Would you prefer her brains splattered all over the lawn?”

Richards shook his head. “You’re out of line and out of control, ASAC Ware.”

“Prove it!” I hissed in his face. “His finger twitched, so I shot. If we would’ve waited for you, we’d be clearing her brains up.”

“I’ll be reporting this!”

“Go ahead!” I taunted.

“Excuse me,” Jimenez said, interrupting. “Everyone’s watching. Shut up and act professional.”

“You’re out of line,” Richards snarled at Jimenez.

“Don’t speak to my SAC like that!” I flared up. I recognised I was becoming emotional and drew in a deep breath.

“Jimenez’s not a SAC yet, and if he ties his ship to yours, he won’t be.”

That was fighting talk. Angrily, I stepped forward, and Jimenez got between us as the coward that Richards was backed off.

“Enough. Richards, go secure your crime scene and reel your dick in. ASAC Ware, come this way,” Jimenez said.

I stormed away, furious that Richards was throwing his weight around. “Richards wanted your job,” Jimenez stated, taking me by surprise.

“Which one?”

“The department. Richards had marked that for himself. Man was beyond pissed when your return was announced. With you being gone a year, everyone believed that was it. So yeah, that ass is mega peed and pushing your buttons. Act the more professional and shame him,” Jimenez said.

I could do that… until I shot another perp, and all hell broke loose. Yay me!

◆◆◆

It was ten when I walked through the door. Smells of food hit me, and my stomach rumbled.

“Babe, you’re becoming quite the media sensation,” Fanatic called out.

“What?” I replied, heading to the kitchen.

“Come and sit-down, Willow. I warmed your dinner up when I heard the car pull in,” Fanatic shouted.

I wandered into the living room as Fanatic dropped a kiss on my head and walked past me.

He brought me a plate filled with food and a large glass of wine. I took the wine gratefully and swallowed two huge gulps.

“This smells great,” I said, taking the plate and digging in.

“One of Mrs Ames recipes. She made sure all the Michaelson kids could cook.”

“Good idea. Although I hate the thought of Dante and Eddie in the kitchen. They’d use it as an opportunity to poison someone.” I laughed.

“Yup, we had the chilli pepper episode. Don’t need a repeat of that. So busy day, babe?”

“Yeah. Honey, you know something I don’t?”

“You hit the media again. They seem to be following you. The attempted armed robbery, then the shooter fiasco, and now today. The news got some great shots of you squaring up to another agent and then shooting a Fang dead. To join the one you’d already killed.”

“Shit!” I cursed.

“Oh, don’t worry, you looked good. He appeared the jerk.”

“Richards accused me of killing the Fang on purpose,” I whined.

“Was it?” Fanatic questioned, and I flared up. His eyes held mine knowingly and my temper drained.

“Yeah. I could have let him surrender, but I wanted him dead.”

“And the second one, Willow?”

“The same. You annoyed?” I asked, worried.

“Nope. Fucker should have died a year ago. I’m not crying tears over him,” Fanatic replied.

“Good, because I’ve no regrets. Two hostages are alive, and that’s what’s important.”

“Exactly.” Fanatic agreed and grinned.

Damn, I could get used to this!