Page 76 of Magic or Madness

In a move that I barely see, Ozzy dashes across the battle lines, straight to the loudmouth, bringing the butt of the gun down over his head with force.

The sudden chaos distracts everyone, and Max charges toward Ozzy, with the others following right on his heels.

Oliver hangs back, keeping the three of us huddled behind him while we crouch down, watching the madness unfold. Suddenly, Max, Lex, Journey, and Ozzy have the upper hand and have disarmed the other crew, holding them at their mercy.

They speak in hushed voices, too far away for me to hear, but it sounds like they are negotiating and bartering for the events that took place tonight.

“What’s going on?” Pepper asks, but I tell her to stay quiet.

“We’re alright, Pep. It’s me and you, just breathe.”

I hold her hand, easing her fears just as Cami makes eye contact with me, offering a slight nod, and taking Pepper’s other hand signaling that we’re in this together.

The guns have been dropped and concealed, but this fight is far from over. I know how these guys settle their beef, and it’s about to get bloody.

Oliver helps us to our feet, shielding us as we get closer to the imminent brawl.

“Stay here, Fal. Please. Don’t make Ozzy kick my ass, too.” He stares into my eyes, not turning away until I agree.

As much as I want to dig my heels into those idiots for talking about us like we’re objects, I let the crew handle their business, and instead, I choose to console Pepper’s panic attack.

I know my role, and instead of becoming something else Ozzy needs to worry about, I take care of the people around me.

Pepper is terrified, and Cami seems numb, almost as if this is something she’s been through before and uses that shield as a way of navigating herin-the-momentemotions.

Either way, I keep them both close to me, holding them together like glue, and I refuse to let go, stuck in the middle until this is over.

Pepper starts to cry, and I shush her, promising her that Lex and Ozzy will never let anything happen to us. She’s skeptical, but she doesn’t know the extent of what goes on in her boyfriend's professional life. She's seeing it in action for the first time, and I’m unsure if she has the stomach for it.

“This is so …hot,” Cami whispers, and I glance in her direction, shooting her a small smile.

She seems to have the same instincts that I do, and her calm demeanor tells me that she shares the love of the thrill, too.

It’s a brutal street fight, no rules apply here, and I watch intently as these men quite literally pound into each other, taking their anger out on the faces of strangers.

Each one gets their shots in, and by the time it’s over, everyone helps one another off the ground, shaking hands as if it were a friendly game.

“First rounds on the assholes with more blood!” Lex shouts, and the guys make their way back to where Cami, Pepper, and I sit perched on the hood of a parked car.

Just like that, the fight is over.

“Come here.” I pull Ozzy into my arms, almost unable to keep my hands off him in this state.

He has a small cut above his eyebrow, and scrapes on his knuckles, but otherwise came out unscathed. Watching him in a bare-knuckle, all out brawl, flips a switch in me that I never knew was there, and even though he’s barely got a scratch on him, my adrenaline is pumping straight to my pleasure center.

“Are you okay, Bambi?” He whispers, gently kissing my neck and checking every space on my body that he can reach.

“You’re the one who was in a brawl and you’re worried about me? I’m fine, baby. I knew you guys would handle those punks.” I push the hair from his eyes, lightly brushing my finger over the slit on his skin.

It’s not deep enough for stitches, thankfully, and it makes him look even sexier – something I didn’t think was possible.

“You’re fearless, aren’t you?” Cami laughs in my direction, hopping down off the car with ease.

“What do you mean?” I raise my eyebrow at her, still not fully sure where we stand, or what her intentions are.

“You didn’t even blink when shit hit the fan. I’ve never seen anything like it, you’re a badass bitch.” She flips her hair over her shoulder, winking at me so quickly I don’t think anyone else even notices.

“That’s my Bambi.”Ozzy slaps my ass, placing a kiss on my hand as he guides me off the hood of the car.

---