Magic or Madness (The Wreck Me Duet #1)

OZZY

Getting Fallon back was the most important thing, but the other terms I agreed to are gnawing at me, threatening to rip me apart at the seams. Working for this man is going to piss everyone off, cause a divide between us, and most likely end up with one – if not all – of us dead, or in prison.

I’ll forever be grateful for their dedication to me, and her, but this feels like the end of something, like we’re being led toward the edge of a cliff. I had no other choice, and with no credible leads to Fallon’s location, we had to make a choice.

Our lives for Fallon’s.

I’ve been going a million miles a minute since she was taken, but there’s a lot she’ll be mad at me for. I need to own it. Make her realize that everything I’m doing is for her, but things aren’t going back to the way they were.

I can’t have her in our War Room anymore, planning jobs or giving advice. After this, she needs to be as far away as possible because the less she knows, the safer she’ll be.

Not only that, but I never wanted this life for her.

Fallon is smart as fuck, stronger than any man I’ve ever met, and can handle her own without issue, but she doesn’t belong in this world. It never should’ve come to this, for fuck’s sake, today I took a bag of cash to a remote location and was willing to exchange it for her life .

It’s too much to bear, especially now that I’ve established myself as the leader of this crew. A call needs to be made, and I’m locking it down. It’s always been the five of us, and that’s how it’s going to be from here on out. I hate doing this, knowing how much she loves to help, but one day she’ll understand why I’m making this choice.

From the second I laid eyes on her, I knew she would be mine someday, and I’ve loved her since she made her mark on my body, proving that we’d be in the thick of it together, forever.

It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to heal together, that much I’m sure of. She’s my fucking angel, and there’s nothing better than having her back where she belongs.

My mind is racing, knowing that I’ve gone back on the deal I made, but her safety is at the top of my priority list. Nobody was supposed to get hurt, but the second Fallon hit the ground, all bets were off. Now, I will have to accept the consequences of my actions, whatever those may be.

The client will be dictating how things work from here, and I have a feeling it’s going to be even more brutal than before we dropped two of his men.

I don’t care what happens to me, but Fallon will not be implicated in the death of the second man. I’ll lay my life down with a detailed confession before I ever let anyone breathe an idea that she was the one who stabbed him.

Any bargaining I did has gone to shit, but none of that matters right now, and I keep my eyes forward as I address everyone, not daring to make eye contact with Fallon because I can feel her rage from across the room.

She looks peaceful, cuddling with Camila, Pepper, and Oliver, but inside that beautiful mind of hers, I know she’s ready to rip my head off.

She wants to share the information she learned about the client while she was gone, but that can be done in private. I meant it when I said the crew was only five members, and in that instant, her face fell and she understood exactly what I was saying.

I gave everyone something to think about – what role they want moving forward. I’d like Lex to stay on the tech side, and Oliver to ride with me as number two, but I gave them all the freedom to make their own choices. There are factors for everyone involved, considering Oliver got shot today, and Max wasn’t with us until he heard about Fallon. Journey gave no hesitation when she was taken, but knowing him, that loyalty could switch up at any second.

We need order, and a solid plan moving forward, so once the guys make their decisions, those will be final.

“For now, all we can do is wait to hear back from the client. He didn’t want a bloodbath, and that’s precisely what we left in our wake. I can only imagine what he’ll want in return, so nobody leaves without protection. Girls, you can’t go anywhere without us, that includes yoga,” I say, and everyone nods in unison.

I expected more pushback, but with the stakes as high as they’ve ever been, the group is in agreement, and we all decide to stay in for the night, celebrating Fallon’s homecoming.

Before that can happen, I see her making a beeline toward me, and it’s time for us to have this out.

“ Bedroom. Now ,” she says sternly, her arms crossed over her chest, and I follow her lead, holding the door open for her, clicking it closed behind us.

“Bambi, I know you’re mad, but let me explain,” I start, and she tilts her head slightly, her lips pressed in a straight line.

Fallon is most terrifying when she’s quiet. When she lets me speak first, barely breathing in my direction, I know I’ve unleashed the beast, and it’s only a matter of time until she lashes out.

“You don’t need to be a part of my world to be with me. Do you remember when I told you that, what, less than twenty-four hours after I’d met you? I’m trying to keep you safe,” I say, but she shakes her head, the anger radiating off her body and she hasn’t moved an inch since we walked in here.

“That’s fucking bullshit, and you know it.”

I run my hands through my hair, the stress of this looming argument already weighing on me. This wasn’t a choice I wanted to make, but it had to be done.

“Fallon, you were kidnapped for fucks sake! You killed someone today. You put a knife through a man’s neck and watched him die. I never wanted this life for you! You don’t have to be like me to be with me, you’re perfect just as you are . And I know how smart you are, and how much you love to help, but I need you with me, forever. I can’t let anything happen to you again, don’t you get that?” I plead with her, hoping she’ll see things from my perspective, but her face remains unchanged.

“ I was kidnapped, Ozzy. I was there. I was scared, and I was tied up in a cold, empty fucking warehouse for like, a day and a half. I was there . I know what I went through!” Her voice rises with each word until she’s screaming and it echoes throughout our bedroom.

She takes a breath, clenching her fists together and turning her back from me.

“I was held by two guards. You killed Alec, and I killed Raz. Did you know that I found out their names? No, because you didn’t ask, or let me explain. The client, Mr. A, knew about my photos on the internet and said he’s had a special interest in me for a while now. Which means, he’s been following us, but you didn’t know that either, did you?” She pauses, and I reach for her, but she shrugs me off, completely shutting me out.

“Bambi, you can tell me anything. Absolutely anything, you know that. Just because I don’t want you in our shit anymore doesn’t mean your information is invaluable,” I say, but she doesn’t budge, that tough exterior creating a massive division between us.

We can’t work this out if she won’t let me all the way in.

“No, but you’re making me feel invaluable. I’ve helped so much, put my fucking life at risk, and this is the thanks I get? You basically dismissed me in front of everyone, and after all I survived, I think I deserve better than that, Ozzy,” she asserts, and my heart breaks inside my chest.

Of course, I should’ve considered her feelings in this, but she’s being slightly irrational, in my opinion. Fallon is the most valuable thing in all our lives, that’s the exact reason why she was taken, and if she can’t see that, or is clouded by the fact I didn’t let her speak, then our problems go further than just me cutting her out of crew business.

“Maybe we should’ve talked about this beforehand, but I don’t know what I’m doing, alright? All I care about is keeping you safe. I can’t do that if you’re involved in everything we do. God, Fallon, what if they wanted more than just leverage from you? Information? Plans? Ins and outs of us as a crew? You know everything , and they would’ve tortured you until you broke. The less you know, the better. That’s all I’m trying to do. Keep. You. Safe.” I carefully spell it out to her, and she sighs, sitting on the edge of the bed.

I sit beside her, taking her hands in mine, offering her a little comfort even if she’s mad at me, and her body is shaking as she works through this.

“I was promised that I wouldn’t be hurt, and I wasn’t. I didn’t tell you this, but I knew the man who kidnapped me. Alec, the bigger one, approached Cami, Pepper, and me on our way to yoga. He called me a pretty lilac , and I didn’t realize it was him until he said it again, after the phone call with Oliver.” She turns to me, looking into my eyes for the first time since we entered the room.

I brush the stray hairs out of her face, gently resting my hand on her cheek.

Her body still shakes against mine, and she’s doing everything possible to keep the tears from falling. She prides herself on staying strong, and I know she won’t let me see her emotions until she’s ready.

“I’m sorry, Bambi. You know I love you, and I’m not doing this to punish you. Everything I do is for you, this shit means nothing without you,” I tell her, but she gives me a look I can’t decipher, one I’ve never seen before.

She stands again, and she’s shaky on her feet, but I give her space, knowing that she can handle herself.

“You don’t get it!” Fallon screams at me, and I’m shocked, I’ve never seen this side of her, and instantly she breaks down in tears, dropping to her knees.

I rush beside her, cradling her in my arms while she lets it all out, and after a few minutes, she sits on my lap, her head resting against my chest. I can feel her heart racing and the panic she’s holding in her body.

“I’ve been watched, targeted, and researched. The client knows everything about me and has had me followed for a while now. Alec was following me for god knows how long. That’s what you don’t understand, Ozzy. I am the connection . Whatever this asshole wants has to do with me. You can’t leave me out, not now, because I’m the key to figuring out who he is, and what he wants,” she says, and I lean against the bed, tipping my head back until I’m staring at the ceiling.

She’s right.

This is about her, somehow, and we need to get to the bottom of it. I run through different scenarios in my head, trying to find a reasonable solution where Fallon isn’t the center of this, but I come up empty.

This started after Jacksonville, and the surveillance photos of us at the storage unit back that theory up. Fallon and Jacksonville are the two factors here, but we need that middle piece, the one that ties it all together.

“Listen to me, Bambi.” I spin her around and look into those doe-like eyes that feel like home, finally feeling connected to her after everything we’ve been through. I press a kiss to her forehead and take her face in my hands.

“We are going to figure this out, but your safety is all I care about. You’re not coming back into the War Room, or knowing what our jobs are, and that’s non-negotiable, okay?” I say, and she takes a moment to process what I’m saying before nodding in agreement.

“But, you and I, we have a side mission. I want you to write down everything you remember about the client, and where you were held, no detail is too small. We’ll make timelines, cross referencing when things overlap and narrow down a list of suspects. You’re in charge, and we do it your way, but it stays right here in this room, between us, until we have something concrete.”

“You mean that?”

“Yes, my beautiful girl . Like I said, I’m not punishing you. But nobody needs to know what we do, not right now. On the outside, we need to appear compliant, and it’s best if the guys don’t share the same suspicions we do. Can we agree on that?” I offer a compromise, the only thing I can do, and she immediately agrees.

“Okay, Ozzy. You and me,” she says, reaching to touch the necklace I gave her, but a sadness crosses her face when she realizes it isn’t there.

My heart cracks again, this time because I know how much the silver piece means to her. I pull the necklace from a zippered pocket in my pants, and her face softens, the tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Where did you find that?” She asks, taking it in her shaking hands and rubbing her thumb over Athena.

“They sent it to me in a box.” I take the chain from her, and fix the clasp around her neck, letting it dangle in the place where it belongs, her sadness slowly washing away.

“I love you, Ozzy,” she whispers, resting her head on my shoulder and letting out a deep sigh.

“You know what I thought about when you collapsed today?” I wonder, and she shakes her head. “Acorns.”

She reaches up, running her hair through my curls, her eyes closed like she’s finally at peace, and I too, let my body reach a state of relaxation for the first time in days.

“Why acorns?” She questions, her voice barely above a whisper, and her breathing has finally calmed down to normal.

“The day by the river, when you had an anxiety attack, I told you random facts about acorns to calm you down. You told me they were the fruit of an oak tree,” I remind her, and a small smile creeps across her face.

“I remember, but why is that what came to your mind?”

“Because I know you, and I knew what was happening to you. I tried so hard not to be angry, to make the exchange without anyone getting hurt, but when you fell, I snapped,” I say, and she nods, sighing against my neck.

“I understand, I would’ve done the same thing if it were you,” she tells me, and I believe her.

Today, I saw exactly what Fallon is capable of. Arguably, everything that we’d been through together led her to that moment, and something was already inside her that made the act not as devastating to her psyche as I thought it would be.

“I know everything about you, and I can read you like no one else can. I thought about a lot when you were gone, recalling every single moment we’ve shared, and it only brought me back to one conclusion: I love you . More than all those stars you said are out there, more than all the fancy words there are for you to teach me, and way more than anyone else has ever loved a person before. You’re inside me, Fallon . I would kill to protect you, and die to preserve you. You’re my perfect match, my other half, and my soulmate.” My voice is low and vulnerable, but when I look down at Fallon in my arms, her soft features glowing under the light, my heart swells, solidifying everything I said as a promise.

“You’re getting better than I am at this, I fear,” she laughs, pulling me down to her lips and kissing me slowly, taking her time.

I tangle my hands in her hair, bringing heat to her passion, and she sighs, parting her lips to let me in.

Time slows down, just for us, and our kiss feels like a million fireworks going off all at once, signaling that we’ve always been made for each other. I take her bottom lip between my teeth, lightly adding pressure until she moans, and I pull her up, resting her on my lap.

She adjusts her legs to straddle me, and I wrap a hand around her throat, staring into her eyes before bringing her lips back to mine. It’s rougher this time, our tongues fighting for dominance, and she slowly rocks her hips on me.

I need her right now, so desperately in a way that I never have before, and I break my lips off hers, tipping her head back and sucking on the delicate flesh under her ear, the spot that drives her fucking wild.

“ Ozzy .” She moans my name, and I leave bites on her neck in response, claiming her in every way I can.

Her pace picks up as she grinds on my crotch, and I quickly lift her ass and yank her leggings until they’re far enough down her thighs so she can kick them off one leg at a time.

She reaches her hand down to my jeans, slowly undoing the zipper, never breaking our eye contact. It’s intense, consuming, and mesmerizing.

Her hand reaches through my boxers until she springs my cock free, rubbing her hand up and down my length as she positions herself perfectly over me, slowly sinking until I’m buried inside her.

I tip my head back, feeling how her walls clench around me immediately, and I grab her hips, helping her gain rhythm.

“ Fuck , Bambi. You feel so good,” I whisper in her ear, and she shivers at my words, riding me with her hands on my shoulders.

“You want me to go faster, or slower?” She teases her lips around my neck, sending goosebumps prickling down my arms.

“Faster … slower … whatever you want, my Queen,” I say, bringing my hands behind my head and relinquishing all control.

She smiles, taking her bottom lip in between her teeth, something so fucking devilish that I could finish right now, but I keep my composure, watching as she rocks her hips on me like a fucking Goddess.

She leans back, taking me even deeper in her pussy, and watching as I disappear inside of her, her body shaking from an orgasm she gave herself.

“You’re so fucking hard for me,” she whines, slowing her pace and grinding her clit into my pelvis while she gasps for air.

I wrap my hands around her throat while she sucks in a breath, her body pulsing on top of mine, and I pull her lips to mine, biting the bottom one before kissing her with such hunger that she whimpers in my mouth, her body trembling, shaking, and soaking us both as she cums again.

“Fuck me, Bambi. Take what you need from me.”

She takes my hands, pinning them above my head as she rolls her hips on mine. Her breaths are ragged, desperate, and her walls are clenching around me even tighter, sending a tense wave through my body.

“You’re so close, I can feel it, baby. Let yourself go,” she says in my ear, groaning as the tension builds for both of us.

I look up at her, her eyes closed as she rides me, and that does it, shockwaves roll through me as I let my release go inside her, and she doesn’t stop grinding against me until she finishes one last time.

“Fucking hell, Bambi. You’re so perfect,” I tell her, placing gentle kisses down her collarbone.

“You like when I take over?” She asks, that seductive voice and scrunch in her nose driving me wild.

“Abso-fucking-lutetly.” I kiss her forehead, lifting her gently and tackling us both onto the bed.

“You’re a force, principessa . You could barely look at me when we first met, and now, you ride my cock like it’s your fucking throne. Fucking incredible,” I say, pulling her body against mine and holding her as if she’s going to slip away again.

“I told you so,” she teases, trailing her fingers along my growing facial hair.

“What did you tell me so, miss smart mouth ?”

“That there’d never be anyone after you,” she breathes, and I can’t help the smile that beams from ear to ear.

“Like I said, I’d wreck you, beautiful girl .” I bite my lip, and she smiles, the memory invading both of us simultaneously.

“And you have, in every possible way,” she adds, and I bring her lips to mine.

“I love you, Bambi.”

“I love you, too, Ozzy. Thanks for saving me,” she whispers, her eyes closing slowly.

“Always, my beautiful girl , always.” I listen as her breathing evens out, and the snoring comes next, a signal that she’s knocked out for the night.

I lay here with her for what could be hours, reminiscing on all the things we’ve been through, the good and the bad, but I wouldn’t trade any of it. We’re finally connected again, our bodies and minds back in sync, and nothing feels better than being in the same place mentally with the girl you love.

Sometime later, I slip out from under her arms, tucking her under the covers and shutting out the lights. If she needs anything, it’s a good night’s rest, so I slip out of the room quietly, shutting the door behind me.

Everyone is tucked up on the couch, drinking beer and trading stories, something that I’ve grown accustomed to these last few months.

Oliver and Cami are cuddled under a blanket, while Pepper sits on Lex’s lap in a chair, taking a swig of his beer. Max and Journey sit on the opposite side of the couch, both drinking lemonade instead of beer. Looks like Max is sober, and maybe Journey’s helping him through that, either way, it’s good having everyone back under one roof.

“How is she?” Oliver asks, tossing me a beer from the coffee table as I make myself comfortable.

“Asleep. Getting used to a new normal, but she’s okay,” I say, keeping it cryptic and just between us.

Oliver couldn’t have seen her stab the bodyguard, and nobody needs to know that it was her. The blood on her legs can easily be explained by the first man that I shot, which landed right where she was sitting. I can’t stand to hide things from my crew, but right now, it’s for the best.

“We heard you two fighting, are you guys alright?” Pepper interjects, and sometimes I forget how sound travels through here.

“Again, just adjusting. We’re okay, she went through a lot,” I explain, and everyone’s eyes are glued to me.

“So Mom and Dad are okay? Because I’m not taking sides in a divorce,” Oliver laughs, and everybody chimes in to agree with him.

“We’re not Mom and Dad … but no, you kids don’t have to decide which house you want to live at,” I tease, and they all lose it, the laughter healing us all a little bit.

I sip my beer, enjoying the company now that things are seemingly back to normal, and I put my worries at ease for the night, letting the concerns racking through my mind go for the night.

Just as I feel the tension in my body easing away, Lex’s laptop dings on the coffee table and everyone in the room falls silent.

All eyes land on the device, and Pepper jumps off Lex’s lap, joining me on the couch.

“Can’t the ominous emails wait until the morning, this is killing my buzz,” Oliver says, but I shake my head, nodding to Lex for him to open it.

“Girls, can we have a minute?” I ask, and they head off to the bathroom, giving us privacy.

I look behind me, ensuring the bedroom door is still closed, and give Lex the green light to read what we’ve got out loud.

We’re all silent, besides Lex, who recites the words to us, and the rage slowly creeps through each of us as the ultimatum we’re given is fucking harsh.

Mr. A is pissed, and he sent us two videos, both of which implicate Oliver and Journey in what seems like a perfect string of murders.

“I wasn’t even there today,” Journey mutters as we watch the first clip, and I realize how dedicated this man is to our demise.

He photoshopped the video, erasing me, and adding Journey’s face so flawlessly that I’d believe it, if I weren’t there myself.

The second video is of Max and Journey at the storage unit, and I’m not sure how it connects, but it’s not good. None of it is good.

Another message pops up, laying out instructions very simply, and explains the picture he’s painting. The murder of Doc, the money, leading up to the murders of his two men. The crimes cross state lines, making the punishments even higher, especially in Florida, where the death penalty is still legal.

Either the three of them go down for murder, or we leave town. Start fresh with new identities, and our debt is forever his. We have two days to decide before these videos go mainstream, plastered on every news station with wanted posters drawn up for each one of them.

“We have to run,” I say, and everyone’s eyes flick to mine.

“Ozzy, wait, let’s think this through,” Lex says, but I shake my head.

“They’re not going to prison for murder. At least if we run willingly, we can do it without being hunted. We run now, or we run with cops, and feds, behind us.” I throw my hands in the air, telling them to take it or leave it.

“What about the girls, and this place?” Oliver asks somberly, and I slam my beer on the table.

I don’t fucking know.

The last time we did this, it was only five of us. Now, we have other people to consider, and my mind is drowning in possibilities.

“Do we want to keep dragging them through this? Or do we protect them by leaving them behind? I think that’s the question we sleep on tonight,” I say, giving everyone their own choice regarding their significant other.

Neither choice is ideal, but the situation we’re in is desperate, and so are the possibilities.

Suddenly, it feels like the air is being stolen from my lungs as I try to work through everything in my head.

I’m suffocating in here, and I need fresh air before I pass out. I head towards the stairs, taking them two at a time until I reach the roof, the cold air instantly bringing relief.

I dangle my legs off the edge and stare up at the stars, the clouds in the sky blocking most of them, but I see the North Star shining brighter than all the rest.

My phone vibrates with a new message, which is strange, since anyone who has access to my burner cell is downstairs. Out of curiosity, I check my texts, and there’s one from an unknown sender.

My heart stops as I read the words, one final ultimatum spelt out just for me, and I swallow a lump of bile forming in my throat.

Mr. A knows Fallon stabbed Raz. If I leave her behind, he promised her and the other girls complete immunity — deeming them untouchable — but if she comes with me, he’ll take her life without hesitation.

An eye for an eye.

So many things tear through my mind, but one thing is clear, this is the best chance I have to keep her safe. Except, I have to leave her, the ultimate form of sacrifice in the name of love.

I’ll have to lie to her, something I swore I’d never do, because there’s no way she’ll let me go without her. If you love something enough, sometimes, you have to set it free.

Without thinking any further, I type up a reply, forcing him to guarantee Fallon, Cami, and Pepper’s safety, then and only then, will I agree to leave without the girls.

The message comes back at lightning speed, with only one word on the screen.

Deal.