Magic or Madness (The Wreck Me Duet #1)

FALLON

My hands and feet won’t move. It feels cold, like I’m back in the warehouse, my freedom not an option. I claw and fight, attempting to save myself, but it’s useless, I’m stuck against the restraints.

“Fallon!” I hear Ozzy scream, but I know he’s not here.

He’s not with me.

Sweat beads down my forehead, cascading down my cheeks and mixing with salty tears, but I’m numb. The pain doesn’t hurt, the sadness is gone, and I’m empty.

There’s nothing left in me to fight . I scream at the top of my lungs, but nothing comes out, just a hollowed sigh escaping my chest.

“Bambi, wake up, you’re having a nightmare!” He yells, sounding closer than he was before, and slowly the warehouse fades away.

I open my eyes to Ozzy’s, my vision hazy, but I instantly see the panic and pain that have taken over his usually calm demeanor.

He’s breathing heavily, staring at me with those dark eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks as he strokes a hand through my hair.

“Ozzy? Where are we?” I look around the dark room, and it begins to seem familiar, the framed photos standing out in my still blurred daze.

I’m home, with Ozzy, in our bed, the feeling of safety enveloping me.

“You’re alright, we’re home. I’m right here,” he says softly, and I snuggle into his arms.

“I’m sorry if I woke you up,” I whisper, but he places a kiss on my forehead and rubs my shoulders to help me settle down.

“You didn’t, but it’s okay. It’s my turn to take care of you,” he says, his voice cracking as if he’s in pain.

I close my eyes, leaning into his warm touch, but it’s no use. I’m wide awake now.

“How long did I sleep for?”

“More than twelve hours, I think. You snored for every single one,” he cracks, sitting us both up in bed.

I stretch out my tired body, noticing the sun is shining beyond the blackout curtains in our room. I guess I did sleep for a while.

“What’s on the agenda today?” I ask, sliding onto Ozzy’s lap and tangling my hands through his curls.

“Meeting with the guys, then whatever you want, my beautiful girl ,” he says, wrapping me into a hug, but his body is tense against mine.

For some reason, he’s avoiding eye contact with me, and I can feel his reserve, almost like he’s holding something back.

“Well, I slept through my celebration so I kind of want to day drink on the roof, then work on our side mission,” I suggest, and he nods against my shoulder like he wasn’t even listening.

“Sounds perfect, Bambi,” he says quietly, and now I know something’s up.

Ozzy would never let me drink on the roof without supervision, he’s terrified I’ll twirl right off the edge.

“What are you hiding?” I feel his body freeze beneath mine, and his pulse races, a sure sign that I’m onto something.

“I’m just stressed about the meeting, that’s all,” he tells me, but I don’t buy it.

“You’re lying to me?” I ask, rather than accusing, frankly because I’m shocked that he would even attempt to lie to my face.

He claims to have the ability to read me like an open book, but two can have the same power, especially with how connected we are, and I can tell when something is off.

“Fallon, let it go, please,” he begs, but I climb off his lap, not budging until he looks at me.

It’s one thing for him to attempt a lie, but now he’s pushing back on our connection, and that I won’t stand for.

“Look at me, Ozzy.”

Reluctantly, his eyes meet mine, and he’s fighting a battle in his mind, that much I can tell.

“Talk to me,” I plead, and he shakes his head, staring at the ceiling.

“We have to leave. The client is threatening to release videos that imply Journey, Max, and Oliver are murderers, ones that he manipulated,” he confesses, and my jaw drops.

That is monumental, and I have to push my anger aside knowing this is what he was hiding and lying to me about, but there’s more at stake than that glaring issue at the moment. My world feels like it’s flipping upside down, but I’m confident that I’ll find my footing, following Ozzy anywhere.

“When?” I ask, scooting closer to him.

“We’ll decide that in the meeting, but the deadline was two days,” he tells me, and my mind is racing.

How the hell are we expected to abandon our lives and start over in less than forty-eight hours? It seems impossible, especially without a destination.

“Let me know how I can help. There’s a lot to pack,” I offer, but he sighs, and something still feels off . “I’m coming with you.”

I fold my arms across my chest, hoping that he’s not actually stupid enough to believe I’ll be anywhere but beside him. He nods, avoiding my eyes again, and hell will absolutely fucking freeze over before I let him walk away from me.

“Are you sure that’s what you want? Our lives are his now, we work for him, any slip up and I have a feeling he’ll turn the guys in anyways,” he says but I immediately cut him off.

“You’re not leaving without me, Oswaldo, not a fucking chance. I just got kidnapped, and what, you want to leave me behind? Not happening. I love you, and you know I’d follow you across the world, no matter the circumstances.” I don’t blink, barely breathing, fully prepared to stay in this spot until he agrees with me.

“I feel guilty, Fallon. I crashed into your life, got you involved in a motorcycle heist at your job, you haven’t spoken to your friends in months, and you got fucking kidnapped! Now what, we run across the country together, always battling threats and looking over our shoulders?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what we do, together. That’s what forever, through thick and thin means,” I argue, and he drops his head in his hands, the stress affecting him deeply.

I feel terrible for him, and I know this decision is weighing on him, but there’s nothing we can’t face together, I’m confident in that, in us .

“Alright, Bambi. You’re right, I’ve already lived without you, and I don’t intend to do it again,” he says softly, a faint smile on his face while pulling me back onto his lap.

“Let’s go somewhere warm,” I suggest, and he laughs, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

I hate seeing him so conflicted, he's too soft for all this, even if he’d never admit it.

“What about Cami and Pepper?” I whisper, almost afraid of what his answer will be.

“That’s up to them, if Olly and Lex choose to share what’s going on. You can’t say anything, Fallon, it’s not your business,” he tells me, and I sigh, hating all this red tape.

Lying is the worst thing you can do to someone you love, it destroys trust and leaves them hollow inside, something I don’t want to do to Cami, or Pepper. I love them both, in different ways, but my life is infinitely better with them in it, and I can’t lie to the people I love.

“I won’t, I promise.”

“I have to get ready for the meeting, are we okay?” He asks, brushing stray hairs behind my ear.

“We’re okay, baby.” I kiss his cheek, and he tackles us flat onto the bed, tickling the spot on my ribcage that drives me crazy.

“Oh, and no drinking on the roof without my supervision,” he commands, a playful smile on his face.

I knew it.

My big softie leaves the room, and I’m left in my thoughts, attempting to remember everything I can about the man who calls himself Mr. A.

I grab my notebook, jotting down notes to add to a poster board later on. No stone will be left unturned, and luckily, I was the most alert when I first woke up. I write everything I can remember, every detail down to the expensive shoes and suit when a knock at the door nearly gives me a heart attack.

“Come in!”

Cami and Pepper come sauntering in, a pitcher of mimosas in hand, and they crash land on my bed, handing me a glass.

“If we’re trapped here, we’re day-drinking,” Cami cheers, pouring more than enough in my glass.

“Is this a Cami mimosa , or a regular one?” I tease, and she smirks, biting her lip slightly.

“A regular one. Miss Pepper would be on her ass if she had a Cami mimosa ,” she quips, and poor Pepper has no idea what we’re talking about.

“I love that you two are like … a thing, but can I ask why? Or maybe, how? I just never had an attraction to another girl before.” She digs into us, but it’s innocent in a way that only Pepper could achieve, and Cami and I exchange a look before we decide to tell her.

“I can’t speak for Fallon, but I was down bad as fuck for her the second we met at the club. She snatched my hand away from Ozzy so fast that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to kiss her, or be her, but I was obsessed,” she recalls, and I can’t help the smile plastered on my face.

“It started in Jacksonville. We didn’t kiss for the first time until the sex club night,” I add, and Cami smirks at me, both of us flooded with memories.

“Well, don't hold back on my account,” Pepper jokes, the mimosa already making her giggle.

It’s nice, being able to be ourselves around Pepper now. We aren’t under the radar anymore, both of us deciding to come out at the right moment, and it feels really good.

“Really though, are you alright, Fal? I was so fucking worried about you.” Cami asks what’s been on everyone’s mind, and I rest my head on her lap, closing my eyes as the comfort of her touch warms every part of me.

“I’m good, better now that I’ve had a good night's sleep,” I say as Cami strokes my hair in the softest, most intimate way.

“Sleep … right.” Cami laughs sarcastically, and reminders of last night come back in waves, the desperation of both Ozzy and I swirling around my mind.

“This place is like an echo chamber. It sounded so hot, though. You were a machine,” Pepper adds, and I bury my face in the blanket.

“You’d think I’d be used to it by now.” I shake my head, feeling the embarrassment flood my cheeks, surely turning them various shades of pink.

“Wait. This has been bothering me for a while, but you can’t say anything because I’m kinda scared,” Pepper starts, a confession at the tip of her tongue, and my eyes widen, terrified of what she could possibly be so worried about.

“What is it, Pep?”

Cami takes the liberty of refilling all our glasses, and we wait with bated breath on what Pepper has to share.

“The night of your birthday I left our room to find Alexander a snack, he’s always hungry after we finish.” She smirks, and I snap my fingers, keeping her mind fully present.

“Focus, Pepperoni ,” I tease, and she turns bright red.

“Okay, okay. Well, outside your room, Journey was listening, and I asked him if you two had given permission. He yelled at me, and dragged me into a secluded hallway, leaving bruises on my arm.”

“He touched you?” I all but scream, the rage building up like red-hot flames, and she nods slowly, her eyes filling with tears.

“Yes, he was so angry. He threatened to turn you all against me and said he had connections to people who could hurt me. I told Alexander, and he promised to handle it from there. But, I just knew you guys wanted privacy, so I didn’t want him near your door,” Pepper cries, and we both hold her tightly.

“Is that what all the fighting was about between them?” I ask, and she nods slowly, wiping her tears.

“Yes, Journey was covering his ass, and Alexander was still mad at him for touching me. Is it true you held a gun to him before?”

I laugh, taking a big sip of my mimosa before diving into this tale. I forgot that Cami and Pepper weren’t around for this, and it feels like a lifetime ago — a much simpler time, that’s for sure.

“I did, but this stays in this room, understand?” I hold my pinky out, and both girls lock their smallest fingers with mine.

“Journey has always had a weird … obsession with me. Like, the night I came here for the first time, he kept calling me Cinderella. Of course, Ozzy is protective as fuck, and he put Journey in his place. After that, he was always creepy. Staring at me, watching me, making sexual comments, and I told Ozzy next time he messed with me there would be consequences.”

Cami’s eyes widen, and Pepper is processing it all, slowly sipping her mimosa.

I should slit his throat for touching Pepper now that I think about it, but with everything we have going on right now, that’s probably not the best idea.

“So, one night, I was asleep on the couch and he rubbed his hands on my ass and legs. He whispered that Ozzy didn’t deserve me, and I lost it on him. When he called me a bitch, and a liar, I grabbed a gun from the table,” I explain, and both girls lob questions at me faster than I can answer.

“Where was Ozzy?” Cami asks, and I keep the details light, saying he was running errands.

“Jesus, Fallon. You’re a little insane, aren’t you?” Pepper laughs, and I wink at her.

“You have no idea,” I tease, and we all clink our glasses together at that.

“Alright, I think I’m drunk.” Pepper stands, instantly stumbling over her own feet and falling on her ass.

Finally, she gets herself into an upright position, forging her way to the bathroom and refusing help.

“She’s gonna fucking fall in,” Cami laughs, laying on her back and staring at the ceiling.

I scooch next to her, mirroring my body the same way she is, and I reach over to take her hand in mine.

“So, you love me, huh?” I tease, and Cami rolls on top of me, her face inches from mine.

She tosses her hair over her shoulder, tucking a few pieces behind her ear with a sweet smile on her face.

“Something like that. I think a part of me has been waiting for you, for a long time,” she says softly, trailing her finger down the bridge of my nose.

“You’re fucking important to me, Camila,” I tell her, watching as her cheeks flush a deep shade of pink.

“ My girl .” She presses her lips to mine gently, solidifying her words with a kiss.

I kiss her back, but something about what she said comes off a little strange. I’m Ozzy’s girl , and I’ve made that clear from the day I met her. He wouldn’t want someone else calling me his, no matter how comfortable he is with me exploring, and I’m not too thrilled about it, either.

Rather than make it a big deal, I stuff it down, promising myself to mention it if she calls me that again. We’re both big on boundaries, and I’m sure if I gently explain that this crosses one of mine, she’ll be understanding.

“I want to give you something, Fal,” she says, climbing off me and interrupting my thoughts, bringing me back to the moment.

“Of course.” I sit up next to her, watching as she pulls something from the pocket of her sweats.

“I know you’re a silver girlie, and my grandmother gave me this to protect me from the evil eye, mal de ojo ,” she says, translating in Spanish, and handing me a small silver ring.

“This is beautiful, Camila, but I can’t take something that was your grandmother’s,” I tell her, shaking my head and handing the piece back to her.

She rolls her eyes, pulling my hand back, and slipping the ring on my index finger.

“My grandmother was a bitch, but that’s not the point. This symbol wards off evil, and protects those who wear it. After what happened to you … take it, please,” she pleads, her soft eyes meeting mine.

The ring is beautiful. The band is thin, with a small dark blue circle and a tiny white dot in the center. It’s simple, yet elegant, and I’ll take anything that can keep me safe.

“Thank you, Cami. This is perfect.”

She reaches for our glasses, filling them up to the rim, just as Pepper bursts through the door.

“I’m back!”

“There she is. Did you dunk your donut, blondie?” Cami cracks, and Pepper is so oblivious she just laughs.

“Be nice,” I warn her, but she wraps her arms around Pepper, pulling her onto the bed with us.

“Cami!” We shout at her, but the laughter takes over and we’re in a pig pile, trapped under each other’s arms and legs.

“Looks like they got Pepper, too,” Oliver jokes, standing with his arm against the doorframe, a slick smile on his face as he gives us all a jump scare.

“Now that would be your dirty little fantasy, wouldn’t it?” Cami smiles, wiggling her finger at him in a come here motion.

“Anything starring you is my fantasy, Cams.”

Before he can say anything else, Cami pulls Oliver onto the bed, crushing us all under his weight.

“We’re going to break this bed!” I yell, but nobody moves, the wiggling and straining only getting worse.

“Cami Mimosas? Without me?” Oliver whines, and smushes down on us even harder.

“I can’t breathe!” Pepper squeals, and he finally lets us up, scooping Cami into his arms.

Suddenly, the bedroom is crowded, with Lex and Ozzy joining us all on this king-size mattress.

“Come here, Bambi,” Ozzy smiles, pulling me on top of him.

“Can we go on the roof now?” I whine, and he agrees, declaring today a rooftop party.

The pile on our bed clears up with everyone rushing to gather supplies. We all change into something warm, with Cami whipping up more mimosas, and Oliver executing a perfect party playlist. Journey takes the liberty of grabbing the fire pit, and stuff from the pantry to make s’mores.

This is the kind of family I imagined having when I was a little girl, the kind that sticks together no matter what, and can put the heavy shit aside to have a little fun.

I grab a few heavy blankets, and we all head up the stairs with Ozzy barking out strict orders.

“Nobody goes near the edge. I don’t feel like scraping any of you off the fucking pavement.”

“Buzz kill,” Oliver teases, and Ozzy shoots him a look that could kill.

“I’m most worried about you, fucking dumbass, or do we not remember the time you hung off the side of a parking garage, pretending you were King Kong?” Ozzy snarks, and Oliver bursts out in a fit of laughter.

“ God that was exhilarating,” he says, smiling like a kid in a candy store.

Soon enough, all our supplies are set in place, with the boys attempting to start a fire.

It’s a perfect day, the sun shining and the weather finally turning warmer, a sure sign that spring is near. Of all the seasons, spring has to be my favorite. After the darkness of winter, the trees begin to grow their leaves back, and the flowers start to bloom again, adding a bit of color to the world.

It’s a time for rebirth, growth, and watching the cycle of life slowly begin again. That’s what spring is: a new beginning.

Ozzy sits beside me, wrapping his arms around me and pressing a kiss to my temple.

“What are you thinking about, my beautiful girl ?” He asks, nuzzling his scruffy facial hair against my neck.

“Spring. The beauty of nature,” I say, closing my eyes and taking in the scent of his favorite body wash.

It’s a mix of mint and vanilla, his new obsession, and it reminds me of an ice cream shop — sweet and tempting.

“Lilacs grow in the spring,” he smiles, and although I’m reminded of something dark at the mention of that particular flower, I choose to turn it into a positive.

“I want a hundred lilac bushes in our front yard, lining the wrap-around front porch on our giant house,” I say, and he swipes the hair from his face, the wind being relentless on his poor curls today.

“Lilac bushes take about three to four years to bud, did you know that?” He questions, a sly smile on his face as I realize that this may be the first time he’s been able to truly stump me.

“Actually, I didn’t. My mother always wanted us to garden, have flowers as far as the eye could see.” I smile, remembering how magical that sounded when I was a kid.

“We’ll do that for our kids someday, that’s a promise.” He squeezes me tighter, the promises of our future keeping us stuck in a state of pure serenity.

“I want a big house. The kind that hosts all the parties, and has big family barbecues in the yard every week in the summer. The place where our kids can come to us with their troubles, and we always welcome them with open arms. A safe space. That’s my dream. Oh, and a fireplace, for snuggles,” I say, closing my eyes and letting my imagination run free.

“Anything you want, Bambi. That sounds like the perfect way to settle down,” he whispers, and my heart flutters with his words.

“How many purple-curly-haired babies should we have?” I ask, and he pulls me closer, leaning down to whisper in my ear.

“Five. Three boys, then two baby girls to end our reign. They’ll be so protected, nothing bad will ever happen to them.”

“That’s perfect. Our boys will be raised as gentlemen, taught from the beginning on how to treat a lady.”

He nods against me, seemingly agreeing with my words, and it’s a relief knowing that we’re on the same page for our future kids.

“They’ll know. I’ll raise the bar so fucking high with how I treat their mother, it becomes a second nature to them,” he promises, and I nearly melt in his arms.

“ One day, Ozzy.”

“ One day, principessa . I promise,” he says, his voice cracking with each word.

I look around at the shenanigans happening, everyone acting like fools, and I can’t help but laugh along with their antics.

Oliver and Journey are taking turns shotgunning beers, seeing who caves first, while Max plays referee. I glance to my right and Cami, Pepper, and Lex are locked in a battle to determine the best fast food places. It’s a heated argument, and as expected, Cami is winning every debate, hands down.

We made this place a home, a sanctuary, and I’m really going to miss it once we leave. Rooftops parties, obnoxious peeping Tom sessions, and most of all, the sense of family this place brought me, before I even knew what a true family looked like.

Sometimes, it looks like two parents, their kids, picket fences, and a cute dog, but other times, it brings the most broken, bruised, and beat down people together, offering them a chance to heal.

That’s what our family picture resembles.

All of us, merging our lives under one roof, we became something so tight-knit that we are now brothers, sisters, boyfriends, girlfriends, and the best of friends we’ve ever had.

I don’t want to go, but I have a feeling that everything we’ve learned here will always bring us back to each other, whether it’s by choice, or by accident.

“When are we leaving?” I ask, my first attempt at crew business since being sidelined.

“Two days,” he whispers, spinning me around until we face each other.

“I thought the deadline was two days?”

“It was, but we negotiated. Asked for another day to get our affairs in order, that’s why the meeting ran so long today,” he tells me, and I’m thankful, knowing I wasted a day by getting drunk with Cami and Pepper.

“I’ll work on our stuff tomorrow. I think I can squeeze all our things into two suitcases,” I offer, ready to see the world with my man.

I’d never been out of my home state until I ran away, choosing a place that was so far away, I’d never be found, and now, we’re letting the road take control, following a map and placing roots wherever we decide. It’s thrilling, and nerve-wracking, but I can’t imagine a better way to start fresh with the people who are most important to us.

“We have a lot of planning to do, so we’ll be busy most of the day, are you sure you can handle it?”

“Of course. What about the girls? They’ll be all over me again,” I wonder, hoping to get a little inside information on what Oliver and Lex are planning.

I don’t want to leave my girls behind, but I know Ozzy left the choice up to the guys, and it’s something I’ll have to accept.

“I don’t know, Bambi. Either there will be eight, or six. We’ll see when the time comes, they may not want to uproot their lives like you do. Pack light, we don’t need much,” he says, and I sigh, knowing he’s right.

“Dance with me?” I shimmy out of his embrace, holding my hand out to his.

One of my favorite slow ballads cascades through the speakers, and if it helps ease the tension, even for a few minutes, I’m all for it. Ozzy takes my hand, leading the dance, and slowly moving us to the music.

“You changed me. Changed my life, you know that, Bambi?”

“I know, Ozzy. Mine too,” I whisper, letting the music run through my veins.

I’m tired of talking, worrying about what’s going to happen next – or what’s already happened – I want to spend more time in the moment, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.

“I feel like I’m making a million mistakes, Fallon. I don’t know how we got here,” Ozzy says softly, his tears falling on my collarbone.

I stroke his hair, holding him tightly, and assuring him everything will work out. I fully believe in my heart that we can conquer anything as long as we stick together, and take on the world as a solid unit.

We’ll get used to our new normal after the move, navigating a new place, new circumstances, and wherever we land will become home, just like this place.

I’ll figure out who Mr. A is, the connection between me, him, and Jacksonville.

In the not so distant future, everything will be back to normal, and we can live out what we’re dreaming of, planning the most extravagant life that our reckless imaginations come up with.

As long as I have Ozzy beside me, anything is possible.