Page 163 of Magic or Madness

My beautiful girl, my Bambi.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” I whisper, jostling her awake.

She nods, and holds her arms out, her way of asking me to carry her.

I scoop her up, her arms wrapping around my neck, and her head resting perfectly on my shoulder, just like the first time, and every time since.

I sneak a peek at the night sky before ducking into the stairwell, and the stars are shining, perfectly visible without a cloud in the sky. There’s a billion more out there, but I know one thing for sure, those stars are illuminated for us tonight, proving to me that we’ll be okay, no matter what.

“Baby, I’m sorry, I’m a little drunk,” Fallon whispers as I lay her down in bed.

“It’s okay, Bambi. Come here,” I say, kicking off my clothes and opening my arms until I feel her body against mine.

“I’m going to miss this place,” she says, slurring her words as she starts to doze off.

“Me too, Fallon. Me too.”

Sleep evades me tonight in the worst way, as I’m kept awake by the reminder of how terrible I feel. The last thing I ever want is to hurt this beautiful, strong, immaculate woman beside me, but it’s time to rip the bandaid.

In less than twenty-four hours, I’ll be breaking not one, but two hearts, and I’m beginning a mission to simultaneously heal them by bringing down the person responsible for all of this.

Everyone hasa look of dread plastered on their faces, knowing what today holds in store. The four other men in theroom stare at me, looking to me as their leader, but I’m a fucking mess.

I didn’t sleep a wink, my mind is all over the place, and my attitude is less than pleasant.

It’s a recipe for disaster, but we all know what’s at stake.

“There’s no way we can guarantee their safety, Ozzy. How am I supposed to tell Pepper that I’ll see her soon, and just leave?” Lex asks somberly, his head in his hands.

“I don’t know, Lex. I’m fucking lying to Fallon. Oliver and Cami have been through this before. I don’t know how you handle your girlfriend, but you just do,” I tell him, and it comes out harsh, but not in a way that I intended.

“When are we leaving?” Max gears up, pulling out the duffle bags for the cash and weapons.

“Tonight. We go, and look forward, not backward, for everyone’s sake.”

That ends the meeting, and everyone’s sad faces plague the dealership, a certain gloom looming over the place that we haven’t experienced before.

Fallon is busy organizing, separating our things by suitcase, and I lean against the doorframe, watching as she darts around the room with precision. She’s mumbling to herself, striving for perfection, just like she did when we packed for Jacksonville.

The guilt begins to gnaw at me, threatening to eat me alive before I finally put a stop to her madness. Fallon has done a million things for me, but I cannot let her pack my things, knowing what I know. I’m making a shit choice, but I’m not evil, and I’d never take advantage of her.

I know better than that.

“Hey, Bambi. Leave my things, I can do it,” I say, pulling her out of the lists running a mile a minute in her mind.

I admire her natural beauty the most, the moments like these where her hair is pulled back into a bun, and her outfit of choiceis a simple t-shirt and sweats combo. She doesn’t need to dress fancy, or do her hair and makeup to impress me. The girl I fell madly in love with wore my clothes home because I destroyed hers in one devious night, the one where I claimed her asmine.

The girl I fell madly in love with only enhances her beauty when she dresses up to the nines, making every single person jealous when they enter a room. I have been lucky enough to watch that girl blossom into the woman standing in front of me, her smile as big as the whole sky, and I know she’s going to be alright without me.

I believe inher.

“Are you sure? I know you’re under a lot of stress, I don’t mind. You know I love to pack,” she counters, wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing her lips against mine.

I breathe her in, holding onto that vanilla perfume that’s had me in a chokehold since the second she invaded my space, saving the reminder for a time when I need it the most.

“I’ve got it,my beautiful girl. Can we sit for a minute?” I break our kiss and lead her to the bed.

Her eyes meet mine, the concern flaring behind her dark brown pupils, and I have to look away to keep my emotions in check. I’m on the verge of tears every time I look at her, but I can’t break now.

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