Into the Fire

Twelve Days by Mark Dawson is Book 14 in the John Milton Series. 

Just over a week before Christmas and John's sitting in a warm, sunny place sipping a virgin cocktail planning his Christmas alone in this pleasant laid back warm environment. Watching the local TV hanging above the bar, he has to do a doubletake to recognize the young fighter knocking out his opponent with lightning speed in his movements and thunderous punches. When he sees him more closely on the screen, his plans for Christmas are rerouted back to London where on Christmas Eve, Elijah Warriner will be fighting in a big bout with an unbeaten opponent. 

In John's first effort to help someone after telling Control he was done with Group Fifteen, John rescues a woman (Sharon) from her attempted suicide. Her two sons have pushed her to the edge of her emotional ability to handle, and she's given up. The efforts John made to help her and her son went terribly awry after setting the groundwork for Elijah, and John was forced to leave the country (in Book 1 The Cleaner).

Now there in this tiny bar was the woman's son on this remote TV with a dynamite punch and facing the fight of his life in London. John Milton decides right then and there he's not going to miss it. 

Back in the hood, former gang members who grew up with Elijah – one in particular "Pinky" – want a piece of him, but the boss (Solomon) wants to use him to make big money. Solomon is the brother of the former gang leader who John killed before he left town. Pinky's not happy – he wants Elijah dead by his hand. Elijah was twice the boxer Pinky ever thought of being and Elijah humiliated him in the old ratty gym where they sparred in front of all their friends. After horrible events, Elijah and his mom left the area. Pinky discovered Elijah's new fame by accident, and it brought up all the old murderous hostility the young psychopath wanted to display. And Pinky remembers "the old man" who he saw kill the former leader. He vows to eliminate him too. 

John's had far more skilled killers after him than a young wannabe gang leader, and when Elijah's life is threatened, John wants to make up for having had to leave him and his mom. 

Turns out the Twelve Days of Christmas aren't anything like John expected, but in the end his Christmas turned out better than he thought it might.

Profanity present.  

Father, again, only you know the hearts of us all. Please continue to provide the stories you have just for Mark to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.