Magic or Madness (The Wreck Me Duet #1)

FALLON

We’re all hovering over Lex’s laptop, unable to tear our eyes off the screen.

When we piled into the war room this morning, Ozzy proposed a risky plan, and we all decided to follow our leader, trusting in his ideas.

Now, we’re staring at an increased threat, unsure of how to proceed. It’s written clearly in black and white, but the problem is, no matter what we decide we’ve already lost.

Either the guys do the job, and risk everything, or we look over our shoulders, bracing for the moment this client decides to hit us back.

He promised to make our lives hell and called himself, ‘someone we don’t want as an enemy.’

I look up at Ozzy, who has a puzzled expression on his face as he rakes his hand through his curls. It’s his signature move when he’s stressed, and I can’t stand seeing him so worked up.

“What’s the worst this guy could do to us?” Oliver asks, breaking the tense silence that’s been dropped over us all.

“Fucking kill us, first and foremost,” Lex says ominously, but Ozzy shakes his head, not wanting to hear it.

“He won’t kill us, he wants something from us. The blackmail, the job, the threats … they’re his way of trying to keep us under his thumb. We’re not doing the job, so he better not miss when he chooses to strike,” Ozzy answers, a stern tone in his voice, and everyone nods in agreement.

“Do we respond?” I ask, nervously glancing around the room to try and read their minds.

“No. Not yet. Let him sweat, maybe he’ll send another message. In the meantime, Lex, see if he made any mistakes?” Ozzy cracks his knuckles, the anger practically blowing steam from his ears, but I give him the space to think, rather than crowding him.

“On it, boss.” Lex ducks into his laptop, typing away at a pace that impresses me, even though I’ve seen how skilled he is on multiple occasions.

We dive back into our research, the photos and ideas tacked to every inch of the walls that I can reach. We’re no closer than we were yesterday, but there’s not much else we can do besides sit around and wait for an attack that we have no way to prepare for.

“Bambi, take a break. You’ve been going at this non-stop. Go to yoga with the girls,” Ozzy suggests, but I dig my heels in, not wanting to miss a beat.

“I can’t go now, baby. You need me,” I argue, and he pulls me aside, away from the guys.

“I do need you, more than I need to breathe, but I also need you to take a break,” he says softly, kissing my forehead and pushing me toward the door.

“Fine. I could use the quiet to clear my head,” I concede, and he smiles that devilish grin that melts me every time.

“Good girl. I love you.” He kisses me quickly and darts back into the office with the guys, shutting the door behind him.

I feel like I’m being left in the dark, but I remind myself that he only wants the best for me, and I quickly change into a yoga outfit, catching up with Cami and Pepper as they’re walking out the door.

Yoga helps me recenter myself, and after all the stress we’ve been under, it might do me some good to get out of my own head for a while.

Just as we round the corner to the studio, a man in a dark jacket stops in front of us, and instantly gives off a creepy vibe.

“Do you ladies know where there’s an ATM around here?” He asks, a baseball cap covering his eyes, and his accent is so thick it catches me off guard.

“Uh, no. Sorry,” Cami says shortly, attempting to step around him.

His gaze is fixated on me, and I shift uncomfortably as he takes a step to the right, blocking Cami from walking by.

“I really need to find one, do you have any ideas, Miss?” He speaks to me directly, and I swallow a lump of panic, clearing my throat in an attempt to hide my fear.

“You can go a few blocks down the road and you’ll find a bank. That’s all I know,” I say, pointing behind us, watching as his eyes follow my fingers.

“You’re very sweet, like a pretty little lilac ,” he compliments, tipping his cap, and I force a smile.

“Have a good day.” I wave, hoping he’ll leave us alone, and I don’t take my eyes off him as he steps aside, clearing space on the sidewalk so we can pass.

I take Pepper’s hand, almost dragging her behind me while we try to get away from the creep as quickly as we can.

Once we’re a few steps away, I turn back, and he’s standing in the same spot, staring at us as we walk. We rush into the studio, finally able to breathe now that we’re safely inside and around other people.

“What a fucking weirdo,” Cami says, rolling her eyes and dropping her bag into our locker.

“He called you a pretty lilac.” Pepper scrunches her nose, and I can’t help but laugh at the ridiculous nickname.

“Gross.” I’m playing it cool for them, but after that encounter, my nerves are shot.

I really need this class more than I thought because as soon as the instructor takes us through our warm-up poses the tension leaves my body, and I can feel myself relaxing. The thoughts of the job, my fight with Ozzy, and a million what-if scenarios fade away, only allowing me to focus on my breathing.

It’s quiet here, a place where I can truly decompress from the stress I’ve been under, and amidst the silence, I can’t help the idea that begins to form.

We can’t fight something we can’t see. If this client wants to threaten us, we won’t lie down and take it. I’ve got a plan rolling around that may get us a little closer to knowing our enemy, or ending the battle.

My body is sore after missing the last few classes, but once the hour is up, I feel like a brand new person. We check the street before leaving, ensuring the creepy man from earlier isn’t lingering around or waiting for us. Once the coast is clear we hurry back to the dealership, uninterested in getting caught up in any other freaky shit on our walk.

“Fal, we’re going to get our nails done later, want to come?” Cami offers, and I politely decline, hating how much of a disconnect I’ve felt from her lately.

This job has kept me completely sheltered from her, and it’s beginning to take a toll on us both.

“I have a few ideas to help the guys, plus, if they ruin my board I’ll have to kill them,” I say, gently attempting to let her down, but she looks utterly disappointed.

“You don’t have to help them, you know. They’re big boys,” she tells me, flipping her hair over her shoulder, a tell-tale sign that she’s upset.

“I know, but I like helping. We’ll do something this weekend, alright?”

“Fine, I’m holding you to that. I miss you.” She takes her bottom lip in between her teeth, caressing my face with her knuckles, and I shudder against her soft touch.

I drape my arm around her shoulder, gently kissing her on the cheek.

“I miss you too, Camila. This weekend, I promise.” I hold my pinky out to hers, and we interlock our fingers, solidifying our promise.

Pepper laughs, reminding us of her presence, but blissfully unaware that we’re openly flirting in front of her.

“You better. I’m in the mood for vodka and a little lip gloss chaser,” she teases, and I playfully elbow her in the ribs.

“You did not just say that,” I laugh, noting her musical reference, shaking my head and looping my arm through hers.

We walk in sync until we reach the dealership, and just as we walk inside there’s a loud crash, followed by yelling.

For fucks sake.

Instantly, we can see the destruction, and the source is Max, throwing shit around.

He’s breaking glass, yelling, and seems drunk, but I can’t make out what he’s saying.

Ozzy and Journey are trying to calm him down, but it’s no use, he’s ranting about Doc from what I can gather.

“You would be at his mercy if I didn’t have the balls to pull that trigger, remember that while you feel like a leader, Ozzy!” He yells, the sarcasm dripping from his voice as he launches a plate across the kitchen.

It smashes on the floor, and Pepper and Cami run to their rooms, taking cover from the fallout.

I was hoping this would die down today, but clearly Max is still bitter over his demotion.

“And you! This is your fault, they’re going to be dead because of you.” He turns and points at me, tossing another plate right in my direction.

Bits of ceramic pile at my feet, and I’m completely dumbfounded at his anger toward me. We aren’t the closest of friends, but for him to accuse me of being the problem is shocking.

“Max, I didn’t do this purposely. I know you’re upset, but the right thing to do was call off the job,” I defend myself, but he goes on a tangent again, slurring as he speaks.

“Listen, be mad all you want, but if you throw another fucking plate at her, we’re going to have a problem. Understand?” Ozzy says calmly, coming beside me and wrapping me into his arms.

“You’re fucking pussy whipped, Ozzy. Both of you can go fuck yourselves!”

Smash.

There goes another plate.

This continues for another few minutes until the guys band together, taking Max down to the ground and subduing him with hands and arms tangling around his neck.

I’m no expert, but it looks like a classic sleeper hold.

“Enough. Either you’re in or you’re out, but you’re done breaking shit,” Lex says, his voice raspy from being out of breath while Max slowly fades out on the tiled floor.

“Come here, Bambi. We got something while you were gone,” Ozzy whispers, pulling me into the office.

I follow him eagerly, ready to see what they found, but his face is more grim than excited.

“What is it?”

“Another email. Less ominous, more threatening,” he explains, his eyes not meeting mine while we wait for Lex’s laptop to load.

I hold my breath, the possibilities flooding my mind like a broken dam, but my eyes widen at the email as I read the words of a twisted person.

In a nutshell, we have twenty hours to respond, and if we choose to abort the job, he’ll release the information about Doc being murdered.

On top of that, a promise of retribution is included, with undertones of violence. Whoever this is, he’s relentless, and we’re no closer to discovering his identity.

“I have an idea,” I say, and he sits on the desk giving me his full attention.

“I knew yoga would give your mind what it needed, my smart girl .” He beams with pride, looking at me like I hung the stars in the sky.

“I was thinking, we need to draw this person out. Possibly set a meet? What if we lure him in by offering to exchange money for him to keep quiet about Doc? We set a trap, just to get eyes on him or someone in his circle,” I propose, and Ozzy nods along with my words, his eye contact unwavering.

“It’s very dangerous, but I think we can pull it off. Got a number in mind?”

“I mean, what kind of money do you think would get this guy out of bed? A hundred grand, two?” I mull it over aloud, and he takes a moment to think about it.

“Probably two. We can swing it, but we need real cash, too.” He runs to the wall, jotting down this new idea on the board, but I’m hung up on what he said.

Real cash?

How the fuck can we swing two hundred grand?

“What are you talking about, Ozzy?”

He stops in his tracks, the marker in his hand hovering over the paper before he turns around to face me.

“Fuck.” He rests his head against the wall, tossing his curls into a lazy bun, and the frustration starts to boil to the surface.

“Are you hiding something from me?” I ask, straight to the point, and his body visibly tenses.

“Yes, and no. It’s for your own good, Bambi. I promise,” he says softly, but I can’t help the feeling of betrayal creeping over me.

“Cut the bullshit, Ozzy. Just fucking tell me.” I cross my arms over my chest, attempting to hold back the tears threatening to spill at any moment.

“Alright. A few years ago, Doc had us end a counterfeit cash operation, and we came out with three million dollars in fake money. There’s maybe half left, and we brought one hundred grand back with us from Jacksonville. That’s where I was the morning of the beach trip,” he confesses, sitting back on the desk as he explains.

It’s nowhere near as bad as I imagined, but I’m a little annoyed he didn’t tell me.

“Okay, baby, okay. Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, prying his legs apart with my knee and sliding against his body.

He pulls me in for a hug, and I instantly feel better with his arms around me. I can never stay mad at him for long.

“I hate thinking about that job, and the money. I wash my share, but after that, I put it out of my mind. It was the first time I … killed someone, and it haunts me still, that’s all. I wasn’t hiding the money from you, just the reminders.” He swipes away a tear from the corner of his eye, and I cup his face with my hands.

“It’s alright, baby. I understand. So, can we use the counterfeit money?”

“Yeah, I’m sure the guys won’t mind. We’ve got enough here, but it’s always better to pad the fake with real,” he tells me, and I nod like I’m fully aware of what that means.

We call everyone else in to update them on my idea, and the guys barely push back, agreeing almost instantly. We get straight to work, planning every single detail, attempting to cover every possible problem we could face. It’s hours before we come up for air and take a break, but finally, we have a plan in place.

“Bad-fucking-ass, Fal. This bait we’re dangling is absolutely perfect,” Oliver compliments, and I smile, rolling my eyes at him.

“Only if it works, Olly.”

Lex types out the email, and we all approve, watching with bated breath as he pushes send. We chose a discreet meeting place a few miles away, at an old abandoned warehouse. Ozzy will be handling the cash, with Oliver there for backup. Lex and Journey will be in the van gathering surveillance and keeping eyes on the street cameras in the area.

I’m benched, forced to stay home to avoid any of the danger. I will be on Lex’s laptop though, receiving the photos and videos in real time to analyze.

With Max taking a little leave of absence I get my own Bluetooth earpiece, just like I’m part of the crew.

There’s nothing else left to do but wait for a reply, so we take a break while Lex gets the money together, equipping the bag with a small tracking device.

Suddenly, I feel like I’m in the middle of some crime TV show, and my mind spins thinking about how I ended up in this kind of situation, living out a real-life version of Law and Order.

I love being a part of this family, and helping Ozzy when I can, but the uneasiness I feel in my stomach is a sign that I might not be as cut out for this as I thought.

Watching them all step into the path of danger terrifies me, knowing if anything happened to them I’d be fucking gutted, especially since this was my plan.

The guilt would eat me alive, and I get emotional just thinking about it, but right on cue, Ozzy reads my mind, wrapping me into his arms.

“We’re going to be just fine, Bambi. Nothing to worry about,” he whispers, gently kissing my forehead.

I look into his eyes, my head tipping back, and he believes what he’s saying, that much I can tell. He’s not patronizing me, or giving me false confidence, he knows that they’re capable of pulling this off, and it helps my anxiety immensely.

“Do you need a random fact, or are you going to be alright?” He strokes my cheek, and my heart swells because he just knows me so well .

“I’m good, baby. Thank you.” I hold him tighter, not wanting to break apart from his embrace.

“Why don’t you go lay down? It’s late, and I can come get you if we get anything,” he offers, and I nod, feeling the effects of brainstorming all day – well into the night.

“Carry me?” I whisper, and he scoops me up without hesitation, my arms falling securely around his neck.

“I love you, you know that?” He says softly, his smile lighting up the darkest parts of me.

“You might have to show me,” I tease, and he lets out a deep sigh, like he’s contemplating a tough decision.

It’s been a long couple of days, the stress piling on nonstop, but maybe we don’t find relief in the same ways. As much as I want him, I decide not to push, allowing him to work through this in his own way.

“Don’t tempt me, my beautiful girl .” He kisses my forehead, gently lowering me into bed.

“Stay. Just for a minute,” I plead, and he kicks off his boots, slipping under the covers with me.

I rest my head on his chest, the familiarity and comfort bringing a sense of calm over me instantly, and I know this is where I’m the safest. Right here, in his arms.

He holds me together, especially when I’m afraid of falling apart, and tonight is no different.

There should be a million anxious thoughts on a loop in my mind, but this time, I let all of the scary what-if scenarios go, drifting to sleep faster than I have in days.

It’s been two days since we sent the email to the client, and it’s been nothing but radio silence since. He’s got us dangling on the edge, waiting for his terms, but today was supposed to be the heroin job, and he has to reach out at some point.

“Fal?” A knock on the door gives me jump scare, but Cami slips into my room, a sneaky smile on her face.

“Jesus, Camila. You gave me a heart attack,” I laugh, and she lays on the bed beside me.

She curls her body until she’s facing me, our faces only inches apart.

This bed feels warmer with her in it, and the dark hair frames her face, showing off her tanned features.

“Are we going out tonight, bitch?” She asks, trailing her hand along my jawline, her hazel eyes are piercing, hypnotizing me, and I can’t help but bite my lip in response to her question.

Our flirting is fucking intense, like we’re being pulled together by a magnet. I’m consumed by lust, desperately ready for the dark clouds to clear so we can get back to exploring each other, something we’re still slowly getting comfortable with.

“Yes, the guys don’t think there’s any danger in going out for a club night.”

“It’s a date then,” she smirks, leaning in until our lips barely touch.

“It’s a date, Cami,” I breathe as she kisses me slowly, instantly lighting a fire inside me while her tongue parts my lips.

I tangle my hand in her hair, placing the other on her hip as I pull her body closer to mine. Her hands stay cemented on my face, but her legs part, allowing my thigh to slip between, and when she grinds against my bare skin, the heat rushes straight through me, my toes curling in response.

She sighs deeply, breaking our lips apart and letting out a moan when her eyes open into mine. Cami always leaves me with just enough to keep me on edge, and luckily this time I only have to wait until tonight.

“I want you all to myself, just once, Fallon. Think about it.” She smiles, hopping out of bed faster than she came in and shutting the door behind her.

I can barely wrap my mind around what just happened, let alone what she said. I don’t know if I’m ready to go as far as she’s suggesting, but I will think about it, for her .

I thought after our hookup on my birthday things would cool down, almost as if it were a one-time experiment, but I quickly learned that it’s not other girls I’m attracted to, it’s just Camila. Something about her has me completely enamored, desperate for more, and when the moments are right, all I want is her hands on me. I couldn’t imagine being with anyone but her, and Ozzy. They’re the two people I’ve given pieces of myself that I would never allow anyone else to see.

I don’t want to date Cami, or fall in love with her, but there’s so much of a connection between us that we’re slowly exploring. Sometimes between the pining and flirting, it feels like it’s been a lifetime since the last time our lips touched. Today was quick, just enough to satisfy the craving, but I know later tonight the desire will be so strong until we get time alone together.

When I met Cami, I wasn’t prepared for the chaos that she brought, and now I know it even more so, since she’s completely changed everything I previously thought about myself.

The most important thing about my connection with Camila is how it hasn't disrupted a thing between me and Ozzy.

He’s still my man and the most important thing in my life. Not only is he gracious enough to support my exploration, his confidence about it is so fucking sexy, that as soon as I get back in the sheets with him, it’s just as electric as it always is.

Speaking of the devil, Ozzy pokes his head in, ensuring I’m alright and asking if I want privacy.

“No, of course not. Come here, baby.” I smile, crooking my finger at him while he closes the door behind him.

“You look radiant this morning, Fallon. I hate to burst your bubble,” he starts, but I shake my head and sit up in bed, eager for all the details.

“Did we get a reply?”

“Yes. The meeting is set for this afternoon. We need to leave soon and get into position, check the cameras and equipment,” he says, and I’m practically jumping out of my skin, ready to get this plan going.

“Fucking finally,” I breathe, the relief surging through me, hoping that this means the information about Doc will be kept buried.

We have a chance to find out who the blackmailer is, so everything has to go absolutely perfectly, and it starts with each detail we’ve outlined since I came to the guys with the idea.

“Let me get dressed and I’ll meet you guys in the War Room.” I reach on my tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek, but he holds my wrists, dragging his lips to my ear.

“After this is over … I’m taking you out somewhere nice, and then you’re mine until the sun comes up,” he whispers, pressing my body against his while my head tips back in response.

“ Fuck , yes please,” I groan, desperate to be with him again, in every single way imaginable.

Everything has been insane since Ozzy took over the crew from Max, with the latter disappearing after the night he smashed plates. None of us have heard from him, but they all insist that we need to give him space, and he’ll be back when he’s ready.

It’s been over a week since we’ve had sex, or more than a few minutes of alone time together, and I’m already shaking thinking about being with him again.

“Let’s finish this, Bambi.” He smacks my ass, bringing my mind out of the gutter and winking at me before leaving the room.

I toss one of Ozzy’s sweatshirts over my bra, forgoing a t-shirt, and slipping into a pair of leggings before racing to the office, ready to get to work and put this nightmare behind us.

The email is pulled up on Lex’s laptop and I skim it over, the details are slim, but the confirmation is all we need. The meeting will happen in three hours, and I watch in awe as the guys scramble with their gear and equipment, triple-checking the cash.

It’s the first time I’ve seen counterfeit money, and it’s astonishing how real it looks. I examine it side by side with a real bill, and it looks identical. I wouldn’t know it was fake unless I had a microscope to inspect the details that can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Soon enough, everything is packed, the guys are dressed in black with Kevlar vests, and the earpieces equipped.

Ozzy pulls his hair into a neat bun, and his face mask covers everything but those gorgeous, deep brown eyes.

“You get back here, to me, in one fucking piece. Do you understand me, Ozzy?” I say sternly as the tears start welling, and my voice breaks with each word.

He nods against me, his chin resting on top of my head. He kisses me hard, yet slowly, and I swallow the sadness, replacing it with hope.

He’ll be back.

They all will.

“I love you, Fallon. I’ll see you on the other side,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my forehead one last time.

I watch as they file out of the dealership, piling into the van, and Ozzy’s truck, and something twists inside of me as I see them off. This is fucking terrifying, but I’ll have them in my ear, and Lex gave me the rundown of his laptop. I’m ready for everything they’ll send, and I sit on the plushy office couch, giving me the best view of all our plans scattered on the wall.

Oliver and Lex sent Cami and Pepper shopping, keeping them away from here until everyone is home safe, and the job is complete.

I don't think I’ve ever been here alone, and the silence is a bit deafening, as strange as that sounds. The usually noisy dealership is dead silent, you could hear a pin drop from rooms away, and I can’t handle that much peace, not when the stakes are so high.

I play some loud music to fill the room with anything but the doubt running through my mind, waiting until the guys click onto our Bluetooth feed.

The warehouse is around thirty minutes away, and they plan to split up a few miles from the meet, with Journey and Lex taking back roads in to avoid being detected, so I know I won’t be hearing from them for a little bit.

I toss my hair in a lazy ponytail, brushing the stray hairs out of my face and attempting to focus on the task at hand. I’ve been playing it cool for the guys’ sake, but now that I’m alone, I realize that my nerves are shot.

While I’m typing, my hands are visibly shaking, my breaths are ragged, and I’m so distracted that I don’t see it coming until it’s too late.

Two men in dark jackets storm the room, ripping the laptop from my hands and snatching the earpiece out in one fell swoop. Their faces are completely covered, and I try to fight back, but the bigger one places a cloth over my nose and mouth, everything going foggy within seconds.

I feel my body being carried and I’m thrashing my arms, legs, whatever I can move, but I’m not strong enough.

I’m not safe .

Just before I pass out, I feel cold air nipping at my exposed skin, and I’m dropped onto something hard, my body bouncing against plastic. My hands are tied behind me, and when I try to open my eyes, my vision is plagued by darkness.

Whatever is happening to me isn’t good, and all I can focus on is Ozzy, praying that he saves me.

My Greek God to the rescue.

“Such a pretty little lilac .” A voice groans in my ear right before the slam of the door shakes my body around like a rag doll.

A part of me recognizes the voice, but my descent into darkness takes over, and there’s nothing here.

No hope, no love, and most importantly, no escape.