Page 144 of Magic or Madness

I suck all the emotions in, doing my best to appear strong like I’ve got this shit handled, but I know the second I hear Ozzy’s voice, I’ll lose my cool.

“Let’s go, Fallon, you’ve got fifteen seconds,” Raz says, and I sit up, the trunk hanging over my head.

“Hello?”

“Fal, thank god. You’re okay?” Oliver asks, and my head is fucking spinning, wondering why it’s him I’m talking to.

Not that I don’t love Olly, and I am thrilled to hear a friendly voice, but where is Ozzy?

He doesn’t want to talk to me, and ensure I’m okay before making the deal that dictates our entire future?

“I’m fine, Oliver. I want to come home,” I say, and I hear a sigh of relief on the other end of the line.

Instantly, it all makes sense, but I keep my face neutral as I speak.

I’m on speaker and Ozzy can hear me, but I play it cool, knowing I don’t have much time. They claim to know us all so well, but they have no idea about the bond I have with these two on the other end of the phone.

“Soon, alright? Like an oath,” Oliver says, and I choke back the tears building a dam behind my eyes.

Ozzy is there, using Oliver as his mouthpiece, so as not to give too much away. He’s standing strong, waiting for me, and I decide to tether up any emotion I have, not letting it escape to keep him focused. There isn't enough time to relay a message or let them know something might be different, and it’s killing me, almost like I’m leading them into a trap.

“Stay calm, okay? They’re not going to hurt me,” I tell them, hoping they understand that there’s no need for violence.

“Time’s up, lilac,” Alec says, and my blood runs cold as I hand back the phone.

Lilac?

I make eye contact with him, and it all comes rushing back.

“You … you asked me where the ATM was. How long have you been following me?” I ask, my voice trembling as the pieces fall into place.

“Long enough.”

Everything is spinning, and I have the urge to throw up, even though there’s nothing in my body to purge.

I climb back inside the trunk, the darkness swallowing me again, and I feel so stupid. I never even told Ozzy about that, at the time, I thought it was strange, but harmless.

If I’d said something, he would’ve never left me alone, or at least we could’ve had an idea what the retribution was when we got that email the same day.

I think about Cami and Pepper, how he wasn’t interested in speaking with them and his attention was on me the entire time. It wasn’t an opportunity kidnapping, I was always the target, and that makes me sick to my stomach.

It’s a shorter ride this time, and I feel the tires crunching on gravel, bouncing my body against the hard plastic in the trunk. Every part of me is sore, my nerves are beginning to grow, and I can only hope that everything goes according to plan.

“Two men. Visible weapons.” I hear from the front, and I think that means it’s showtime.

Sure enough, both men open the trunk, easing me out slowly and helping me to my feet.

The sun is bright, and I have to squint to see anything in the distance. The men lead me to the front of the car, and finally, I see Ozzy and Oliver.

They’re dressed in all black again, just like the day I was taken, and the bag of cash is on the ground between their feet.

They’re both in the same stance, one hand on their waistband, and I close my eyes, unable to watch this happen in front of me.

How did I end up here?

At a ransom drop, with my fate being negotiated. It’s fucking insane, and I feel constricted all over again.

My choices aren’t mine to make right now, other people are deciding if I should live or go home, and the revelation is enough to remind me of my stepfather, and how he chose to steal pieces of me.

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