Page 7 of Fanatic

“Prognosis,” I demanded before anyone could speak.

“She lost a lot of blood, but we’ve stopped the bleeding, and she’ll be fine,” Dr Stratford explained.

I nodded and walked over to Willow. “What you calling him?” I asked.

Willow stared at the tiny sleeping face. “He has Grey’s nose and his ears,” she said wonderingly.

“Yeah, but that jawline’s all Ware,” I replied as I sat and wrapped Willow in a hug.

She glanced up, with tears running down her cheeks. “Danny Micah Axel Grey Ware.”

“Strong name for him,” I murmured, touched.

“He’s his daddy and grandpa,” Willow whispered, wiping tears away.

“Want me to call Axel?”

Willow nodded. “Only him, Ellen, and my brothers. No one else. Not the old ladies, nobody, Fanatic. Make it clear.”

“I will do, honey. Rest up now,” I soothed, taking baby Grey and placing him in the cot by Willow’s side.

“I’ll make the calls outside. Sleep, Willow, nobody will take him as I’ll be directly out there,” I reassured her.

Willow nodded and closed her eyes.

I walked into the corridor and stared at my phone. Axel would go berserk. But someone had to tell him. Taking a deep breath, I punched in his number and waited for the big guy to reply.

It took ten minutes to reassure Axel his girl was okay and safe, and that Baby Grey was doing well. Axel was taken aback when I informed him nobody else was to know.

I explained Willow was too fragile, and if her wishes were disobeyed, who knew what would happen? Axel agreed and said he was on his way. I’d already sent the plane back on my arrival, so by the time Axel got to the airport, he shouldn’t have to wait long.

Six hours later.

Boots stomped on the floor outside, and Willow and I swapped amused looks. Axel and her brothers had arrived. Before anyone else got through the door, Ellen appeared and, with a cry, rushed the bed and grabbed Willow in a tight hug. Axel was next through, followed by Cowboy and Wild. Neither of them had brought their old ladies, and nobody trailed behind.

Either Axel hadn’t told the rest of Rage, or they’d listened to Willow’s wishes.

Willow collapsed, sobbing in Axel’s arms as Ellen scurried around the bed and glared at me. Meekly, I handed over Baby Danny, and Ellen’s face softened.

“He looks like Grey and Axel, what a mix,” she whispered.

“Yeah. He’s a good weight, six pounds nine ounces. Considering the size of his father and grandfather, Willow got off lucky,” I replied.

“What’s his name?” Wild asked, popping his head over Ellen’s shoulder.

“Danny Micah Axel Grey Ware,” I said.

Wild looked up, and I saw the raw emotion in his eyes. He swallowed hard. “A good name. Strong.”

“Yeah.”

Rage still grieved. Grey’s death wasn’t going away soon, and Rapid City and its allies hadn’t settled. Plaques had been raised where allied dead had fallen, and in the centre of Rapid City stood a tall monument, a testimony to those who gave their lives. The fallout was still happening.

Major General Winslow and Colonel Jefferson had been cleared from their court-martial, and both had received promotions. Public opinion was firmly in their camp, and when you’ve got a billionaire who could provide a panel of lawyers, a court martial wasn’t worth the bad publicity. Not when thegeneral public considered these two men heroes for disobeying orders and doing the right thing.

The truth was out. The President had refused to believe any threat from the Venomous Fangs, despite being given overwhelming evidence. He was under fire, and so was his administration. South Dakota was calling for Winslow to run as President. Lawyers had taken hundreds of hours of depositions and witness statements. The news footage had been taken from every reporter and put together as timelines and further evidence.

Emails, phone calls, appointments, everything was out in the open. There was no chance of a coverup. A special investigative team had been formed and was conducting the investigation to determine who charges should be brought against.

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