Page 59 of Fanatic

“Sure,” Tiny replied. More people arrived, and Markin held a hand out and pulled me up. Fanatic kept hold of Danny as he climbed to his feet.

“Let’s take this somewhere private. What’s closest?” Lio asked.

“Our house,” Fanatic replied.

“You’re going to need to do damage control. The press filmed me smacking your head on the ground and shoving shit in your mouth,” Lio snapped at Fanatic.

Fanatic, in turn, didn’t seem the least bit repentant at all. “Nope.”

“You fuckin’ bit me. You’ll explain, or I’ll arrest you, and that means Willow is alone until I charge you. Then you gotta postbail! And Phoe won’t take kindly to her son assaulting a cop!” Lio retorted.

“Fine!” Fanatic yelled and headed towards the cameras who were filming.

That was one shit show I was happy to miss.

Chapter Twelve.

Fanatic

Iwas 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 andoffered 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…?”

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