Magic or Madness (The Wreck Me Duet #1)

FALLON

Everyone is on edge, planning for this job that has sucked all the life out of this place.

With one week to go, it’s clear that the boys haven’t gotten as much of the research done as they wanted, and it’s beginning to take its toll.

I’ve spent hours with Ozzy and Lex, combing through footage of the warehouse, looking for inconsistencies or changes in routine, but we’ve come up with nothing useful. This heroin crew is nothing less than consistent, and they follow a strict schedule. Guards are always littered around the premises, and even more so on days they receive more product.

Lex thinks they cut the drugs and package them here, explaining why there are always so many men on sight.

If they were just guarding it, it wouldn’t seem like such a big operation.

That also means that there are more people inside than they’ve accounted for, most likely women who are forced to work for these men, attributing to the deadly drug right there in the warehouse.

My gut has been screaming at me since I learned about this job, telling me that something isn’t right, but I know I can’t talk them out of this. It’s been nonstop, all hands on deck since day one and nothing is stopping them after the hours poured into this already.

I glance at the whiteboard, littered with ideas, lists, and way too many question marks, and I shake my head, ducking into our bedroom for some quiet.

Ozzy and Lex are out on recon again, the fifth day in a row he’s been studying the warehouse, and my mind is desperate for a break.

Cami and Pepper don’t take much interest in the job, so they’ve been off on their own adventures the last few days, but as I spend more time around the guys, I’ve learned so much about this process, and how Doc trained them all.

He preyed on young kids who had nothing, turning them into monsters in the name of money, but more so, he withheld food, sleep, and basic hygiene when they made mistakes.

I’ve heard harrowing stories from Lex, Oliver, and Ozzy in recent days, the details making my stomach turn.

Lex got the worst of it until Doc realized he’d be more useful with technology, versus the hands-on parts of the jobs. Luckily, he began to excel, and that’s how he pulled the luck of the draw, always hiding behind the laptop.

Oliver was a natural, he loved getting the chance to put his hands on people in the name of work, and not much has changed because his weapon of choice is still his fists whenever he has a choice.

Ozzy had it more in the middle, working through the learning curve, but ultimately becoming the man he is today, skilled with knives and the quick wit that comes in handy time and time again. I tried to block out some of the more gruesome stories, but Doc was an evil man hiding behind the facade of someone who was trying to help .

A few nights ago, Ozzy told me about the first time he’d killed someone, and his body was thrown into a panic attack that took hours to come back from. All I could do was hold him as he cried, while his body violently shook, and assure him that he was still the best man I’ve ever known.

“You’re not in that place anymore.” I reminded him, echoing the same words he said to me when memories of the life I lived before him came crashing down around me.

This job is bringing out all the worst reminders – and stories – but I can’t bear to watch the guys struggle with their pasts any longer.

As much as I know, there’s still so much that I don’t, particularly what happened to Doc.

I know the guys pulled the mutiny card, and Max was the one to execute him, but the details are still a mystery. They all carry a twisted sense of love for the man, but it also comes with a unique brand of hate, too. Something about the mutiny shuts them all down, retreating them into their shells and guarding the secrets of the past. I’m not desperate for the details, but curiosity is starting to eat at me, especially with the nature of this upcoming job.

“Fal, you alright?” Oliver lightly knocks on the door and opens it slightly, poking his head around the wood frame.

“Fine. Just need some quiet,” I say, not moving from my spot in the middle of the bed.

“May I?” He requests, gesturing toward me and the bed.

“Of course, come here Olly.” I tap the mattress, wrapping the blanket around me and sitting up.

“Is this too much for you? You seem … different,” he says, kicking his shoes off and flopping onto the bed beside me.

“I hate seeing you guys struggle, I just want to help.” I shrug, not in the mood to dive into the inner workings of my mind at the moment.

“We’re going to be okay, Fallon. We always are,” he reassures me, and I nod, allowing myself to believe him for a split second.

“Thank you, Olly. Hopefully, they find something today.” I sigh, and he holds his hand out to me, waiting until I lace my fingers into his.

If there’s one person I can count on around here, besides Ozzy, it’s Olly. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had, and over time, he’s become my brother.

I’m worried about everyone, but these two are my boys, and my world wouldn’t spin on the correct axis without them. In a short time, I’ve fallen in love, and found the family I was always lacking, with Oliver and Ozzy as my two main men.

“Actually, that’s why I came in here. I might have something,” he says, and my eyes widen in frustration, knowing he buried the headline.

“Fucking show me!” I toss a pillow at him, but following his lead into the office, where the walls are lined with surveillance photos, notes, and blueprints of the warehouse.

“Well, it’s not much, but it’s more than we had. I was looking at the blueprints, and only one room makes sense for storage. It’s connected to every heating vent, and is in the far right corner, closest to the loading dock. It’s logical that they’re using that room for the packaged product, and is what makes the loading process as quick as we’ve seen,” he pauses, using a red marker to circle the room he’s describing.

“Okay, but how does that help? Identifying the room is one thing, but everything else we know doesn’t exactly answer the most important questions,” I say, pushing back on his revelation to challenge him more.

“Well, we can make the loading dock the point of entry. More often than not, those doors are left unprotected. If Lex can find a way to hack into their opening system, maybe we can use that to our advantage. Like I said, it’s only slightly more than what we had.” He shakes his head like his findings aren’t important, and I pat him on the back, giving him the credit where it’s due.

“This is great, Oliver. Let’s pull up the map, I have an idea,” I tell him, and he digs around until we find the paper map with all roads surrounding the warehouse marked in blue.

“The boys should take this road tomorrow, a new angle that will give them a direct sightline of the loading dock. Far enough away to avoid detection, but close enough to get better surveillance than we had before.” I highlight the line with a red marker and use a pushpin to tack it to the wall.

“Progress.” He holds his fist out, waiting for me to mimic his action, and I shake my head, unable to resist.

“Progress.” I reiterate, bumping my knuckles against his and wiggling our fingers, another silly handshake we came up with when we cook together.

“The guys should be back soon, I’ll let you get back to your peace,” he says, cleaning up the mess we made on the desk and diving back into some previously discarded surveillance photos.

“Thank you for bringing me in on this. I needed a bit of positivity.” I make my way back to our bedroom, and once the door shuts behind me, I can finally breathe again.

I can fake my way through a few conversations with Oliver, and dedicate my time to help Ozzy plan, but when I’m alone, I can beg the universe to take this job away from them.

I don’t want to plan it anymore, I can’t stand the tension around here, and I need them all to stay in one piece. Unfortunately, my desperate pleas are ignored, and a little later, Ozzy comes waltzing into the room, happy with what Oliver found.

“This is perfect. We’re going to find something, a loophole or an error, I know it,” he says cheerfully, smiling as he slips his boots and jeans off.

I scooch over, giving him space in the bed, but keep my reservations to myself.

In our relationship, Ozzy and I have had a total of two arguments. One was over what to do about Mick and Rae before I moved out, and the other … well, let's just say it was a fight for dominance and ended perfectly for both of us.

“Fallon, you’ve barely said a word, what is it?” He finally notices my standoffish attitude, pulling me close and wrapping his arms around my waist under the covers.

“Nothing, baby. I’m tired, that’s all.” I attempt to lie through my teeth, but he senses it immediately, sitting up in bed and spinning me until I face him.

“What is it, Fallon?”

I shake my head, biting my lip to avoid my words coming out like vomit, but it’s no use.

“This job is impossible. You guys are going to get caught, or killed, and I’m not comfortable sitting around and enjoying a front-row seat.” I spill, and his eyes widen at my confession, my words coming as a complete shock to him.

“We can handle ourselves, Fallon. You don’t have to help, especially if it turns you into Miss Doom and Gloom !” He yells, venom dripping off every word, and I raise my eyebrow, ready to play defense.

“Excuse me? I’ve been helping just as much as everyone else, constantly trying to find a way for this to work! I’m all for you guys doing what needs to be done, but this job is fucking reckless, and has no happily ever after!” I shout, my voice echoing off the walls, and he pushes off me as he climbs out of bed.

I watch as he paces around the room, stuck inside the depths of his mind, and as pissed off as I am with him for yelling at me, I can see the pure anguish on his face.

This is eating him alive, too.

“I know, Fallon. But I can’t quit now. Max tried to pull out today, our visit to the warehouse was just for show, but the client … has done their research on us.”

I wrap the blanket around myself and hold my hand out for him to take, but instead, he backs away, putting distance between us.

“What do you mean, Ozzy?” I narrow my eyes, bracing for the worst with bated breath.

“Whoever the client is, they know Doc is gone. Lex erased our tracks in Jacksonville, but somehow this guy has us in the storage unit clear as day. He has shots of us over the last year, with no Doc in sight. He wants to spread the word that we killed our boss, and blacklist us for good,” he confesses, and my mind is a jumbled mess, racing to catch up with everything he’s said.

Storage unit?

A year?

The way they spoke about Doc made it seem like he’s been gone for a long time, not something close enough to bleed like a fresh wound.

“So you’re being blackmailed?” I question, and he nods in response, not helping the growing anxiousness forming in my chest.

“Yes, but Max and Lex are trying to figure out who the client is, maybe hit them back with something harder.” He sits back down, draping an arm over my shoulder, but I’m too shocked, and pissed, to lean into his touch.

I want to control my anger, battle the demons inside of me that are begging to be let loose, to scream at the top of my lungs, but the more I think about it, the less I can contain those feelings.

This isn’t just his life anymore, and I’m losing my mind, knowing that we may not see next week with how reckless he’s been.

“You have five fucking days ! You’re either going to die, or go to prison, Ozzy. Do you understand that? It’s not hypothetical anymore!”

My voice echoes through the room, something I’m familiar with, but not in the same sense. Usually, it’s Ozzy making me scream with pleasure, not frustration.

He doesn’t say anything for a few beats, processing my outburst, and lazily tossing his hair into a small bun.

I don’t understand what the big deal is if people find out Doc is gone. He was a horrible man, and in my opinion, deserved what he got. Ozzy, Oliver, and the rest of the guys are better off without him and have proven that they can take over the reins of the business undetected.

I decide to shelve that question for now. I’m already rustling his feathers enough, seeing as we’re in the middle of a heated argument, and it's new territory for us. I’m about to break, unable to withstand the disconnect between the two of us. Arguing with the person who’s supposed to be your other half literally feels like ripping yourself in two, tearing right down the middle, and I won’t lie, it fucking sucks.

Instead of pushing him, I watch as he works through his thoughts, and wait with the most patience I can muster on how we move forward from here.

Obviously, this job is too dangerous to take, or reject, but we have to come up with something. A way out of this.

“We don’t have a choice,” he whispers, and I feel my heart crack in my chest at the pure defeat in his voice.

“Let’s go. Right now. We’ll start over, and live the life you keep promising me,” I beg, but he only shakes his head softly.

“I can’t leave them, Bambi. We’re going to figure this out,” he says, and I stand up, my hands firmly planted on my hips.

“What happens next time, Ozzy? This person has leverage over you guys, and if you do this, he won’t stop. He’ll keep hiring you, pushing you further, while holding your greatest secret over your heads. It’s fucking blackmail! ” I yell, my voice straining from how loud I’m getting.

“I don’t know, Fallon. One job at a time, that’s the mantra.”

I close my eyes at his words, biting my lip to keep my cool. If I don’t, I’ll scream in his face, beg him not to do this, and tell him to look at this from a more rational point of view.

He’s quoting Doc, and now that he’s back in this mindset, I know there’s nothing I can say to change his mind.

I have a gut feeling, but this time, it’s not ominous or clouded.

It’s direct, screaming at me from the crypt, and begging me to see things with a clear mind and full heart.

It’s Masha.

The last time a job had the potential to go so far fucking sideways, it did, and Masha ended up dead. Her voice – one I’ve never heard aloud – is screaming at me, warning me that something isn’t right, and I refuse to ignore it.

After all, when Masha infiltrated Ozzy’s mind, we followed it back to Jacksonville, and that’s exactly what was needed to end his nightmares.

I fully believe that she’s the guardian angel of this group, but this time she’s come to me, and she’s begging us to listen to her about this.

I will stop the guys from doing this job, even if it means they never work again.

Blacklisted and working at a fucking grocery store is better than dead or in jail, and I’ll stand wholeheartedly behind that.

I’m taking a stand, without a plan, and only five days to execute – even if it means going against the man I love.

The countdown begins now .

The vibe is tense this morning, with everyone hearing the fight between Ozzy and I last night, as well as the uncertainty lingering over the job.

Usually, we’re all boisterous, making jokes and sharing stories, but today, everyone is dead silent. You could hear a pin drop in this place, and no one makes eye contact with each other.

I’m in no fucking mood myself, barely getting sleep as I tried to devise a plan to stop this shitshow of a job from happening.

I made it a point to cook a weak-ass breakfast, and I look the part of a disgruntled wife. My hair is a mess, tossed up in a careless bun, and my outfit is one of Ozzy’s favorite sweatshirts, paired with pajama shorts. Normally, I’m awake before everyone, taking my time in the shower and getting ready for either yoga, or job planning, but today neither of those things pique my interest.

On top of that, Ozzy and I haven’t spoken a word to each other since our fight, and he didn’t attempt to mend things between us last night, or this morning.

Soon, it’ll be time for Max’s meeting, but I want to say something before the long planning session. The thing is, my interference is only going to alienate me from Ozzy further.

“What would Masha say about this job?” I ask, and everyone’s eyes land on me, a few shocked faces amongst the group.

“Fallon –” Ozzy tries to stop me, but I hold my hand up.

“It’s a valid question, Ozzy, considering the last time you guys went on a risky job, the risk wasn’t worth the reward,” I say, and he shakes his head, hating that I’m bringing my concerns up in front of everyone.

Nobody says anything, analyzing the way we’re speaking – and not speaking – to each other, but finally, Oliver is the first to offer something up.

“She wouldn’t have voted to take it with as many loopholes as there are, for whatever that’s worth,” he says, averting his eyes from Ozzy’s as he seemingly takes my side.

“Masha wouldn’t have been happy, but she would’ve done the job she was hired to do.” Ozzy grits through his teeth, keeping his focus directly on me.

“I thought it was worth it to mention,” I say in defense, taking my plate and throwing my uneaten breakfast in the trash.

“She would’ve found a way around the blackmail. Masha hated to be told what to do, or having her hand forced. So, she would’ve done anything possible to hit back,” Journey chimes in from the couch, adding a neutral point of view to the mix.

His comment gives me a new idea, something I can possibly use to my advantage, but before I can articulate it aloud, I’m overshadowed.

“Listen, we can argue until we’re blue in the face about this, but it would be a waste of time. Get your asses in here and let’s find something new,” Max orders, and everyone follows his lead toward the whiteboard.

Pepper and Cami excuse themselves, downing their coffee and tossing their empty plates in the trash, eager to get away from the chaos.

“ Bedroom. Now ,” Ozzy whispers, a fire lit behind those chocolate-brown eyes.

“Ozzy! Fallon! Get the fuck in here!” Max yells, his frustration growing as our conflict is now sprinkling onto everyone else in the crew.

I understand why it would piss him off, but let’s face it, someone had to speak up, and I’m not sorry that it was me.

“Two minutes, boss,” Ozzy calls out, shutting the door behind us.

“What? You can’t be mad at me for being worried, okay? This is my life, too. You are my life!” I exclaim, but he doesn’t say a word, his eyes piercing holes into mine while his chest heaves rapidly.

In a split second, he pushes me against the door with force, his hands wrapped around my waist.

“I fucking love you, my fierce little Goddess.” He tugs at the chain around my neck, and relief washes over me.

We can’t possibly stay mad at each other, even if we’re on opposite sides of the spectrum regarding a decision.

A sly smile spreads across his face, and he leans in, gently kissing my lips. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his body to mine, and letting this kiss take me back to a place where everything is okay, and there’s no turmoil between us.

I break our lips apart, take a deep breath, and place my hands on his chest.

“I’m not fighting you , Ozzy. I’m trying to fight for you, for us . Please understand that,” I whisper, and he takes my hands in his.

“You’re right, Bambi. We can’t do this job, not unless a fucking miracle falls into our laps today.”

I resist the urge to smile, feeling grateful that he understands where I’m coming from. Now, we just need to convince everyone else to back out, regardless of the consequences.

“You went straight for the jugular, bringing up Masha,” he says, and I shrug my shoulders, not planning on being apologetic for hitting every single person out there where it hurts.

“I know you guys. Besides, I think she’s been warning me about this job all along, and I couldn’t ignore her,” I tell him, and his facial expression softens, effectively ending the standoff we’ve been in since last night.

“You’re something else, you know that?” He lifts my chin until our eyes meet, that smoldering heat crawling up my back like tiny, tingling spiders, but instead of reacting, I bite my lip, pushing him off me.

“I do, but Max will kill us if we don’t get in there.” I remind him, pointing to the door I’m currently pressed against.

He rolls his eyes, but leads the way, taking my hand in his and lacing our fingers together.

Our tattoos touch, and he squeezes a little tighter, letting me know he’s thinking the same thing.

My skin feels even hotter when the place we got matching ink touches, almost like we’re reuniting the other half of a superhero ring. Rather than saying our vow out loud, it’s felt between us, a silent connection we share. I take comfort in feeling close to him again, but of course, in true Ozzy fashion, he steals the moment.

“Makeup sex tonight?” He whispers in my ear, just as we round the corner and all eyes are on us. I steal a glance at him, rolling my eyes, but a soft smile crosses my lips and he catches it just in time.

“Nice of you guys to join us,” Max says with an agitated tone, clearly fed up with our private sidebar.

“Sorry, Max. But Fallon has brought up concerns that I think deserve consideration. We shouldn’t do this job, and I think everyone in this room knows it,” Ozzy states matter-of-factly, glancing at each of the guys, waiting for someone to speak up in support.

Everyone’s poker faces are in place, but I know he’s struck a nerve, and Max’s weakness is that he wears his emotions on his face. He’s easily read, and right now, he’s pissed off.

“Oh, really? So we’re letting your girlfriend dictate how we make a living? I wasn’t aware of the change in leadership. Maybe Cami and Pepper have a fucking vote now, too?” Max argues, his eyes darting between Oliver and Lex.

“We’re going to prison, or our graves if we do this. That’s the bottom line. We need to focus on a way to get the best of this client, rather than doing his dirty work. Once he’s got us on the hook with a real crime, we’ll be his bitches. I know it, and so do you. It’s how we all ended up together in the first fucking place.” Ozzy stands, ripping everything off the whiteboard in one swift motion.

We all watch in awe as he takes a marker, and scribbles on the board, not stepping back until he’s finished.

In place of the plans, ideas, and question marks now sits Ozzy’s handwriting, and his new proposal.

How to blackmail the blackmailer - new job

Everyone is silent, waiting for one of the two guys to speak, and Max is first.

“I fucking warned you guys this was dangerous, but you all wanted to take it. Now, we face an even bigger threat than having no money. Losing everything . Nobody will want to hire us, and let me remind you, Doc’s name is why we get hired. It carries fucking weight!” He yells, throwing his marker across the room and everyone jumps at his outburst, the sound of his voice echoing around the dealership.

“You should’ve thought of that before you called a mutiny and killed the man.”

My eyes widen as the face-off has just leveled all the way up, and even Oliver’s jaw drops at Ozzy’s words.

Whatever is behind this mutiny is boiling to the surface, coming back to life and threatening to destroy everything these guys have built in Doc’s absence.

“Alright, we need to take a break. Let’s not have this get ugly.” Journey tries to be the voice of reason, resting his hand on Max’s shoulder, but he shrugs him off, taking another step closer to Ozzy with his hands balled into fists.

“Really, that’s how you feel? So, let me get this straight … you think I shouldn’t have killed him? And then what, we should’ve stood by and watched as he broke a new member in, torturing him just like he did to us, and continuing the vicious cycle? After we’d already lost Masha, and nearly lost Oliver? That’s what I should’ve done, Ozzy? Allow more people into this fucked up circle, just for them to end up dead? You all voted yes that day, so if this is your way of taking your voice back, and blaming me for the situation we’re in, you can go fuck yourselves!” Max storms out, not allowing a rebuttal from anyone as the front door slams shut.

Finally some more of the story is being unveiled, and I rub my eyes, unsure how to process this new information. Originally, my working theory was that the mutiny had to do with Masha, but her death and Doc’s don’t line up if what Ozzy said about it having only been a year was true.

Now, I’m learning that Oliver was also nearly killed, and a recruit was the reason for the decision.

It’s like I’ve been peeling the layers of an onion back, and I’m finally getting to the center, where all that I’ve been seeking lies.

“If you want to do this job, follow Max. If not, let’s figure out how to find this client and take his boots off our necks.” Ozzy stands tall and commands the attention of the whole room.

I wait and watch, seeing who is going to follow Max out the door, but nobody budges. All eyes are on him, and he nods, folding his arms.

I think, in a twisted way, another mutiny vote was just had, and Ozzy is now at the head of the table, so to speak. It makes my stomach turn, but also, is the right choice. If anyone can figure this out, on this short of a timeline, it’s him.

I get comfortable on the couch, pulling out a notebook I’ve dedicated to this job, flipping to a blank page, and using a purple pen to take notes.

My eyes lock into his and he gives me a slight nod of affirmation, ensuring I’m okay with this.

I repeat the gesture, touching the Athena pendant around my neck, and he clears his throat, turning his attention to the guys and getting into business mode.

We’re looking to our new leader, and he looks damn good up there, running over scenarios like he’s been doing this for years. Instead of the power trip we’re usually treated to with Max, Ozzy offers everyone a turn to speak, asks questions, and ensures everyone's ideas are heard, rather than outlining how it’s going to be.

It’s a fresh change of pace, he’s a true leader, giving us all a chance to hash out plans, or add things that may help. It’s a true brainstorming session, and I’m so proud to witness the beginning of his story as the head of the crew.

It’s a new era, and everyone welcomes it with open arms.