Page 41 of Fanatic

“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, whenFanatic 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 thoseblack 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.

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