Magic or Madness (The Wreck Me Duet #1)

FALLON.2

“Is it done?” Max asks, offering me a beer as everyone finally relaxes now that I’ve dropped the gun.

“If he fucks with me again?”

They all exchange a look, something I’m not privy to, but I wait patiently through their silent conversation.

“You handle it as you please,” Max answers, and I’m learning that he uses minimal words, but always gets the point across.

“Then it’s done.” I let myself relax, sipping from the beer bottle as I walk to Ozzy, wrapping my hands around his neck, and pulling him in for a kiss.

The power is still coursing through my body, and I raise the stakes a little higher, letting everyone know not to mess with Fallon Mariano.

“Fuck me to sleep?” I challenge a playful grin forming on my face.

The guys all laugh, and Ozzy doesn’t waste a second, tossing me over his shoulder and carrying me to the bedroom.

He slams the door shut behind us, locking it for good measure, and when he sets me on the floor, a fierce rage is behind his dark chocolate eyes.

“Are you okay?” He questions, an affirmative tone in his low voice that shoots fire through my bones.

“I’m fine. He had it coming.” I shrug, and he takes my cheeks in his hands.

“I’m so fucking proud of you. You’re a force, Fallon,” he says, kissing my forehead gently, letting his lips hover against my skin.

Everything clicks back into place now that Ozzy is in my arms again, and if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s me and him against the world.

Nobody touches me, except him.

Not a single person will ever reduce me to ashes, again, stealing pieces from me with their actions, words, or hands.

I’m unequivocally his , and have been ever since the moment he locked eyes with me across a crowded restaurant. He entered my life, planted seeds, and wrapped his vines around the darkest depths of my soul that nobody else has ever seen.

He made me his home, and unintentionally, but ever-so beautifully , I’ve done the same for him.

“Come here, Bambi,” Ozzy whispers, patting my side of the bed.

“I had no idea how to shoot that gun,” I confess, and his anger fades, a voluminous laugh erupting from his belly.

Not the kind of laugh that patronizes me, or makes me feel like an idiot, but the kind that makes me feel like I’m his equal, and he genuinely thinks I’m funny.

“What were you going to do with it?”

“I don’t know. Knock it into his teeth, probably,” I counter, shrugging my shoulders and he shakes his head.

“ My Bambi. My dream girl ,” he whispers against my neck, bringing me down and tucking his arm around me.

“Will you teach me? I want to be able to protect myself,” I plead, and he nods generously, almost like he didn’t need to give it a second thought.

“Absolutely, Fallon. He won’t mess with you again, that much I can guarantee.”

I know Ozzy won’t let Journey get away with how he behaved tonight, but I appreciate him letting me handle it, and trusting that I can stand up for myself.

“It’s not just about him. There was something … freeing about holding that weapon, being the one in charge. I liked it.” I let another confession slip, and he doesn’t judge me, or think it’s strange.

Instead, he just holds me while I speak, nodding along as I explain how taking my power back and defending myself has lit a new fire within me. It’s been a long road, but I feel confident in my abilities, and I’m not the scared little girl posing in front of a camera anymore.

Since I met Ozzy, I’ve noticed small changes about myself, things that I do a little differently than I used to, or pieces inside that don’t feel so broken anymore, and I think it’s because of him.

It’s almost as if something shifted, maybe even aligned, and I’ve taken a first-class transport to the life I feel was meant for me.

There’s only one thing I feel guilty about, and I refuse to fall asleep without confessing.

“Oliver told me a little more about Doc,” I say, and I feel Ozzy’s body stiffen under mine.

“Max let him talk about Doc in front of you?”

“Well, I asked, but Max left halfway through the conversation after the mutiny was mentioned,” I explain and he sits upright in bed.

“Oh, Fallon. I shouldn’t have left you wondering, searching for more information,” he sighs, raking his hands through his hair.

“Did I fuck something up?”

“No, it’s just … Max shot Doc. He carried out the mutiny clause, and it’s haunted him in more ways than one. He was like a father to all of us, but he also preyed on us. We were young and impressionable, and he took advantage, especially when it came to Masha. She was the first girl in the group, but she had mental health issues and a ton of trauma.” He shakes his head like he’s trapped in a memory, the pain prominent on his face.

The more I dig my heels in to learn about Doc, the more I regret it. The baggage that these men carry because of him is heavy, and my curiosity is starting to get the best of me.

“Masha’s family was extremely conservative, like a cult, and Doc found her sleeping at a train station. He offered her food, a place to sleep, and a job. From there she was a part of us, and I wish we had just sent her back to her family. She was a kid, barely eighteen, and there was no reason for her to have her hands in the dangerous shit we were into back then.” He pauses to collect himself, and wipes away the stray tears, but the sadness in his eyes is heavy.

I pull him close, running my hands through his hair, and placing gentle kisses on his cheeks.

“Ozzy –”

“No, Fallon. It’s time to be brave like you’ve been and tell you the whole story.” He holds a finger to my lips, and I nod, giving him the space to sort out his thoughts.

What he needs from me is patience, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give him. I’ll wait all night if that’s what helps him get this off his chest.

Sometimes, talking about our past helps the healing process, and I’m hoping that if Ozzy opens up, he can begin to move on from the chaos of Doc in life, and death.

“We choose our jobs now, ones that don’t require us to become hitmen … but Doc was all about the money, and more often than not, we had to draw blood to get paid.” He trails off, closing his eyes as if the memories are coming back to life in his mind.

“How many people have you …” I ask, choosing my words carefully, but before I can finish the question, he answers.

“Six.”

One thing about Ozzy is that he’ll always tell me the truth, without hesitation, and this time is no different. We’re still learning things about each other, but I feel we’ve moved past the stage where we’re afraid of our confessions.

There’s nothing he could say that would make me walk out that door, and I have the same confidence in him – and our dynamic.

I hold him close, knowing how much courage it took for him to admit that number aloud, and I want him to feel safe sharing something so complex, dangerous, and haunting with me.

“One day, when I’m brave enough to walk away from this life … I’m going to marry you, Fallon. We’re going to have beautiful babies, a big house, and maybe a cat, but it’s always you and me against this cruel world,” he whispers, and I can’t stop the tears from slipping down my cheeks.

“I’d marry you right now, Ozzy.”

“I’m sorry that you had to get involved in our shit tonight,” he says, but it’s my turn to shush him.

“I’d rather help you than see anything happen to you guys. Thank you for the wine, and dirty note, but Mick and Rae may be a lost cause now.” I sigh, and lifts me up, placing me in a straddling position on his lap, while he lays flat on the bed.

I steady myself with my palms flat on his chest, and he looks up at me, brushing the hair from my face.

“My only regret is the division I’ve caused between you and your friends, my beautiful girl . You and your fluffy little jammies were a very welcome addition to work, though.” He smiles, the sparkle returning to his eyes.

I stare down at him, taking note of the way his lips curl when he smiles at me, and the slight kink in his eyebrow where a small scar indents his skin.

“I feel so ridiculous in these, Rae bought them.” I tug at the silky fabric, wishing I’d changed into something else, but Ozzy smiles wickedly, his mind filling with other ideas.

“Really? I think they’re perfect, clinging to your skin, highlighting your curves … the daring choice to forgo a bra.” He smirks, pinching my nipples over the fabric.

“No panties, either,” I whisper, my lips hovering over his.

There’s been two days full of revelations, changed plans, and harsh realities since the last time our bodies met to make the magic that we do, and right now, I’m desperate for that connection.

“Oh, Bambi , I’m going to take my time with you tonight.” He drags his tongue along my neck, and my body is in overdrive, begging for even a tiny piece of him.

“ Wreck me, Ozzy ,” I say softly, grinding my hips on him, mirroring the ways I begged for him the first night we spent together.

There’s nothing more I want than to feel him inside me, claiming me as his, and showing me exactly who I belong to. It’s a certain roughness that I’ve come to love, and when his calloused hands mix with the silk draped over my body, it’s a new sensation that sends me over the edge, and I give myself to him in every way possible.

The element of danger that I endured tonight has taken control, and even though I promised Ozzy I’d never need to be a part of his world to be with him, there’s a piece of me that longs for the chance to do it again.

It’s been three days since the motorcycle heist, and Keith and Kevin haven’t reported it stolen. They think it was an inside job, but I’m not the suspect. The company that does our deliveries is Kevin’s primary target, and I’ve heard Keith mentioning ways that they can bargain to get the bike back.

It’s a dead end, but they don’t need to know that.

I was barely questioned, and the working theory is that someone hacked the system, which is true, but them believing I’m incapable of something so sinister is even better for my cover.

Today, I have to face Mick and Rae again, and they’re not messing around this time. I think they’re more suspicious of me than my actual bosses are, even if the bike hasn’t been reported to the police.

Ozzy is coming with me, mainly for support, because I have a feeling this may get ugly. I barely spent an hour with them before being whisked away by someone who was a stranger to them, and I know Mick will be out for blood.

“You okay, Fallon?

I sigh, searching for the words to explain how I’m feeling, but I can only shrug.

“I don’t know. I think I’m about to lose my friends, and the more my mind weighs on it, the more I’m okay with it. It’s been a constant battle since I met you, and they’re treating me like a child who can’t make her own decisions. It’s belittling.” I stare out the window, watching the trees pass as we take the familiar turns toward my building.

“You have a home with me, Fallon. If you want it,” he says softly, and my heart swells, knowing that he means every word.

“Thank you, Ozzy.” I stay quiet the rest of the ride, fidgeting with the strings on my sweatshirt, and preparing myself for battle.

I don’t want to fight, but it’s almost inevitable at this point.

Ozzy reaches for my hand and gently squeezes it to reassure me that he’s with me before coming around to open my door for me.

“My gentlemen,” I whisper, kissing him quickly before jumping down.

“You can face this, Bambi. I believe in you.” He walks a step ahead of me, holding the lobby door open and escorting me inside.

We take the stairs slowly, my way of stalling as long as possible, but I find comfort in the way his arm hovers near my lower back. Small gestures of affection – and protection – are Ozzy’s bread and butter, one of the very many reasons why I’m falling for him so hard.

It’s the only way I can rationalize what I’ve been doing, why I essentially ditched my entire life for a man who was a stranger, and I would be concerned, if it didn’t feel like the exact trajectory my life is supposed to take.

Falling in love – absolutely free-fucking-falling off the face of the Earth – with Ozzy is both the simplest, and most complex, form of pleasure I’ve experienced.

I’ve transformed since meeting him, blossoming into a stronger version of myself that I never knew was possible, and now, I find myself channeling that same strength.

With him beside me, I’m ready to face one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do: walk away from the only family I’ve ever known. My decision has been made, and I believe it’s for the best – for all of our sakes.

“Let’s do this,” I whisper, turning my key in the lock, and entering enemy territory.

Ozzy is one step behind me, closing the door, and acting as my protector.

“Hello?”

Mick comes out of her room, hands on her hips, with papers tucked by her side.

“You brought him?” She rolls her eyes, slightly laughing, and calling for Rae to join us.

“I did, yes. He’s got every right to witness whatever it is you two have up your sleeve.” I lean against the counter, tapping my fingers on the granite while we wait for the other half of the firing squad.

“Hi, Fal! Ozzy.” Rae smiles, bringing us both in for quick hugs.

“So, what did you guys want to talk about?” I cut right to the chase, not interested in watching the good cop, bad cop routine they’re putting on.

They exchange a look, darting their eyes to Ozzy, but there’s no way he’s leaving when I need him here for support.

“Where’d you go the other night?” Mick asks, getting straight to the point and all eyes fall on me.

I run my hands through my hair, sweeping the smaller pieces from my eyes in an attempt to mask them from rolling right out of my head.

“I helped him at work, like I said,” I say sternly, holding my ground, but Mick shakes her head.

“Kevin and Keith are my cousins, Fallon, did you forget who got you the job?” She spits, and I put on my best acting face, not giving her the satisfaction of being right.

“I know that, Mick. Why are you throwing that in my face after all this time?” I ask, and Ozzy takes my hand, squeezing gently.

Just then, it clicks .

They know what happened at the shop, and are accusing me – us – of being responsible.

“Did you steal a motorcycle from Keith’s, Fallon?” The room is silent, and I swallow the lump of bile forming in the back of my throat, knowing the fact that I’m a shit liar.

“Mick, you claim to know Fallon so well, do you think she’s capable of stealing from her job, and then continuing to show up for work?” Ozzy steps forward, defending me from the attack.

Rae looks around nervously, hating all the confrontation, but Mick is still in the center of the room, a look of disgust on her face as she latches her claws into Ozzy.

“This doesn’t concern you, and everything that’s wrong with her right now is because of you!” She yells, slapping the stack of papers she’s been holding on the counter with a smug look on her face.

We all fall silent as the sound echoes through the apartment, and there’s almost no room for her ego, it completely absorbs every inch of this place while she relishes in thinking she has the upper hand.

One thing about Mick is she can’t stand to be wrong, and I’m about to rain all over her fucking parade.

“You’re a fucking criminal. Should I read these aloud, or would you rather keep your past a secret?” Her eyes narrow, and she has a slight smile tipping up in the corner of her lips, thinking she won the battle by simply looking up Ozzy’s name on the internet.

I calmly walk over, taking the top piece off the stack and tearing it down the middle, watching as the words typed split into two.

“I already know about his past, Mick. You’re jumping to conclusions. Do you think a couple of charges on a piece of paper are enough to sway my mind?” I laugh, taking the rest of Ozzy’s past and handing it to him.

It’s his business, and he can do what he pleases with the invasion of privacy brought upon by Mick and Rae.

“Fallon, this is getting out of hand,” he whispers, shifting his attention to the girls.

“I’m not trying to get in between friends, but you’ve caused her a lot of pain with how you’ve treated her since we started seeing each other, and I won’t stand by and let you attack her this viciously.” He wraps his arm around me, places a kiss on my cheek, and turns back to face the girls, whose faces are riddled with total shock.

“I think it’s best if I just get my things,” I say softly, walking toward what used to be my bedroom.

“Fal, you don’t have to do this,” Rae speaks up, following a few steps behind me.

I close the door, looking into her baby-blue eyes, and attempt to find the words to tell her that this has nothing to do with her, and everything to do with Mick.

I can’t find my happy ending here, within the confines of these walls, but that is not because of Rae.

“You made this place home for me, you know that? You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met, and you took a chance on me, letting me move in here when I had nothing. I’ll always be grateful to you,” I say, tearing a few pieces of clothing off their hangers.

“I’m so sorry, Fallon. I never wanted it to come to this,” she whispers, pulling me in for a hug.

“I know, Rae. Still, we’re not going to get along. She thinks I’m a criminal, and will never accept Ozzy, no matter what I say.” I wipe the tears that have fallen, stepping back to find a suitcase for all my things.

“This will always be your home.” She kisses me on the cheek, slipping out of the room and giving me the space to breathe.

Shortly after Rae leaves, Ozzy knocks, offering to carry the suitcase and a few of my bigger items down to his truck.

“We’ll pack up anything you left behind, okay?” Rae smiles, blinking away the tears and bringing me back in for one more hug.

“Thanks. For everything,” I whisper in her ear before pulling away.

Mick stares at me with a disturbed look on her face, and I don’t wait to see if she says goodbye. I drop my key on the counter, brushing past the whiteboard we used to update our weekly schedules. I run the pad of my thumb across the pink marker that spells my name, erasing the remnants of what used to be a triple threat . I close the door on what feels like a completely different life and take the stairs toward the only place that has ever truly felt like home .

Still, the feeling of loss slowly begins to sink in as we drive away from the apartment, and I can’t stop the tears from trickling down my cheeks.

“Come here,” Ozzy whispers, patting the middle seat, and I slide under his arm.

My head rests against his chest as the reality of what just happened hits like a blow to the gut.

I met Mick and Rae two days after I moved here and we’ve been inseparable ever since. I’d never treat them this way, though, and for that reason, it was time for us to go our own way – for me to follow my heart.

Ozzy doesn’t pressure me to talk, or rush me out of the truck once we get back to the dealership. Instead, he holds me tightly as I cry, letting me mourn the loss of the only two friends I’ve ever had.

“It had to be done,” I say quietly, wiping the last of my tears and urging myself to move forward.

“What can I do to make this feel like home, Bambi?” Ozzy asks, breaking the silence and gently brushing the hair away from my eyes.

“All I need is you. You’re my home now, my only family.”

“ Tu sei la mia casa,” he breathes, his voice barely above a whisper.

For the first time, I open the door to the dealership without feeling like a guest. This place has changed me, and the people who are waiting inside might be some of the best I’ve ever met.

Ozzy carries my bags, and together, we unpack the suitcase, making room beside his things for mine.

It’s official.

We live together, and I no longer have to feel guilty, as if I belong in two different places.

I know now that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Ozzy hands me the papers that Mick printed, and I shake my head, the rage boiling back to the surface.

How fucking dare she? That’s all I could think at the moment, but now that we’re gone, I can speak my thoughts aloud.

“God, she’s so infuriating. I’m sorry, Ozzy.” I wrap my arms around him, feeling his heartbeat against my chest.

“There are a few things on here that I didn’t tell you, Fallon.” I look into his dark brown eyes, but what’s written on a police report from years ago is nothing compared to the man that I know deep down, inside and out.

I reach into his pocket for the lighter he always has, holding the flame to the paper.

After a few seconds it catches, and I watch as the embers engulf the ink in a plume of smoke.

I stomp the small fire out in the trash can, pouring a splash of water on the ashes and destroying any evidence of whatever happened in Ozzy’s past.

“You aren’t that person anymore,” I whisper, taking his face in my hands and stroking his cheek with my thumb.

“Oh, Bambi. I don’t deserve your grace,” he says softly, pressing his forehead to mine.

Nothing he’s done in his past would bother me, change my mind, or send me running. He could’ve tossed me aside like trash when I confessed the things my stepfather did, but instead, he showed me kindness, empathy, and made me believe I was worthy of being cared for.

I will always return that same sentiment to him, and then some.

“You’ve proven yourself to be the most loyal, gentle, and emotionally intelligent man that I’ve ever met. You’re strong enough to carry us both, but sometimes, it’s okay if I take the load for a bit. That’s why our dynamic is so special, and I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. It’s you and me, starting fresh, living together, and taking on the world.” I hold him tightly against me, afraid that if I let go, he’ll fall apart.

We hold each other together in ways that other people wouldn’t truly understand. An hour ago, I was the one in pure turmoil, sobbing in his arms with no relief in sight, but now, he’s the one who needs me to take care of him.

“It’s a new adventure, and I can’t wait to spend each and every single day with you. I genuinely believe you’re my perfect match, Fallon.” He breaks apart from me with a smile on his face, the sadness that plagued him a few minutes ago completely vanishing before my eyes.

“No more sadness, we’re celebrating!” He cheers, the excitement radiating off his body.

“Is everyone going to be okay with me living here?” I ask, suddenly afraid that I’ll be stepping on their bro toes.

It was different when I had my own place to go, and I feel like I’ve settled in nicely with the crew, but living here is a bit of a blurred line.

“They won’t care. We all pull our weight with the cleaning, shopping, and cooking, it’s very laid back,” he assures me, and I make mental notes of ways I can help out.

“What about you-know-who ?”

Ozzy sighs, flipping his hair into a bun, and stripping his shirt off, tossing it on the floor.

I watch in awe, attempting to keep my jaw from hitting the floor as his tanned muscles and back tattoo are on full display.

No matter how many times I’ve seen him naked, it’s a treat every single time. I’ve traced my fingers along every inch of him, studying him like my life depends on knowing every freckle on his skin, or how his scars vary in shape and size.

I’m an expert in all things Ozzy, but now that we’re living together, there are endless opportunities for me to absorb as much knowledge of him as I can handle.

I’m a nerdy student who never stops learning, and my subject is fascinating – almost addicting .

“Don’t worry about him, Bambi. We’ll deal with him if we have to, I promise you that. Now that you’re living here, if he even breathes in a way that makes you uncomfortable, I’ll gut him. No hesitation,” he says, a slight growl in his voice that sends a shiver through me.

His fierce, protective side sneaks out, and I can’t stop the heat that floods through my body, turning my cheeks a shade of pink that I know Ozzy can quickly decipher.

“I love you, you know that?” I tease, bringing him back into my arms.

He looks into my eyes, lightly stroking my cheek as he flips us over, climbing on top of me, and sitting on my legs.

“I love you, too, my beautiful girl .”

There’s a devilish grin on his face, as his eyes dart between mine, and down my chest.

“Fucking perfect, Bambi. Look at you, fully clothed on this bed, already making me hard. You like driving me wild, don’t you?” He says under his breath, seemingly to himself as he trails his fingers around the outline of my bra.

I wait in anticipation for what he will say or do next, my body nearly buzzing as he takes his sweet time deciding his first move.

When he finally decides, my jaw drops, and I’m a trembling mess as I watch him from the comfort of the mattress.

Never did I ever think I could be any more attracted to Ozzy, but when I see the blade in his hand, his knuckles white as they grip the handle, everything in me melts into a puddle of desire.

He’s in nothing but his boxers, looking like the fucking God I worship him as, and his rings glimmer in the light, drawing my attention from his body back to the knife.

The stainless steel has me in a trance, the euphoric sensations coming back to me as quickly as my ragged breaths.

I catch myself biting my lip before he’s even said or done anything, and when the tip of the blade touches the exposed skin on my belly, Ozzy never breaks eye contact.

He’s stuck on me, watching as a quiet moan slips from my lips, and my eyes gently fall shut.

Everything that comes after this moment will be the beginning of my new life, one that is full of darkness, sacrifice, and fucking insanity.

Magic or madness?

Heaven or sin?

It doesn’t matter because we’re all mad here .