Page 149 of Magic or Madness

I feel immensely better after our time together, but I know more people need me, and want to see that I’m alright.

“Let me get you clothes, and something to eat, okay? Did … did they feed you?” He stutters, almost like he’s afraid to hear my answer.

“No. I could use some water, too, please.”

He sighs, and nods, reassuring me that he’s got me now.

I take a moment to examine myself, and I notice that my wrists are bruised in a deep purplish color where the restraints rubbed against my skin. I check, and sure enough, my ankles have matching bruises, and I drop my head in my hands, the sight of my injuries taking an emotional toll.

I’m terrified that this feeling won’t go away, no matter how many times I tell myself that I’m okay. I still have the tall task of rehashing everything I remember and getting back into the swing of things regarding Mr. A. I will find him, and exact my revenge for how he orchestrated so many things that have gone wrong recently.

The guys can work for him, take orders and do jobs, but I’m running a personal, counter mission that only has one goal.

Find and kill Mr. A.

No matter how long it takes, how much dirt I have to dig up on the man, or who gets in my way, I will find him. I’ll be the last person he ever lays eyes –and hands– on in this lifetime.

“You okay, Bambi?” Ozzy asks, nearly scaring me out of my skin.

I was lost in space, and I think that’s going to be something I need to fight against, tuning the world out when I go into deep thought. It’s partly the reason I was taken in the first place, I didn’t hear them coming, and was caught too off guard to fight back.

He hands me a change of clothes, a sandwich, and a tall glass of ice water, knowing me all too well.

“Shit, sorry. Thank you for this, for everything, baby.” I smile, attempting to hide my pain, but he sees right through me.

“It’s okay to not be okay, Fallon. Don’t hide from me.”

“I have information about the guys, the client, the warehouse I was in. We should get everyone together so we can start dissecting it all,” I say, taking a bite of the best sandwich I’ve ever tasted, a perfect ham and cheese, with a few Doritos, of course.

Ozzy has a strange look on his face, and I try to decode him, but I can’t. It’s a mixture of regret, anger, and fear. Three things that he never usually shows in his facial expressions.

“I called a family meeting when you’re ready. Everyone needs to hear what I have to say,” he says, and I’ll support him no matter what, knowing we all need to get back on track.

“Cami and Pepper, too?”

“Yes, they’ve been in a hotel since about an hour ago,” he explains and my heart drops at the lengths he went to protect everyone.

When all he wanted was my safe return home, he made sure that our family was whole, and that is so fucking admirable. If I weren’t so mentally and physically exhausted, I’d make love to him right here on the bathroom floor.

“I’m ready to see everyone. They need me,” I say, finishing my sandwich in record timing.

“Let me help you,” he offers, holding up my favorite pair of black leggings.

He slips them over my feet, tugging until they reach my hips, and marvels at his work with a smirk.

“Perfect,” he mumbles to himself, and I pretend I didn’t hear him.

He slips a t-shirt over my head, pressing light kisses on my neck, and holding a hand in my hair.

“I missed you, Bambi. You’re mine tonight,” he breathes, and I catch his lips with mine, teasing him with a deep kiss that leaves us both breathless and needy.

“I missed you too, Ozzy,” I reciprocate, feeling empty without his lips on mine, but we have business to deal with first.

I follow him out of the bathroom, take a deep breath, and remind myself that I’mhome.

I’m not in that warehouse, desperately sobbing for the people I love, I’m about to be with them like nothing has changed. Everyone’s crowded around the couch, drinking beers and laughing at whatever Cami is saying, while Oliver tries to interrupt.

“Hi, guys,” I say softly, and all heads swivel in my direction.

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