Page 128 of Magic or Madness

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 apretty 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.

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