FALLON

I feel like that stupid blue fish in the kid's movie who sang just keep swimming , except I’m being ripped apart by strong currents, and tossed back into the throes of the darkness, forcing myself to keep going.

Just as I reach the surface, threatening to break through, I’m yanked back under, with the weight of a thousand men holding me down.

My lungs can’t fight for air much longer, and my heart feels like it’s cracking, even though I know I’m not in pain.

“She’s waking up, boss.” I hear a man speaking in the distance, and I follow the voice to the surface, crashing through with force.

My eyes flick open slowly, and everything is blurry. I attempt to focus on something small, anything I can use to gain my sight.

I recognize a water bottle, and I can see my feet at the end of a couch, bound together by rope.

Instantly, the panic takes over, and I attempt to use my hands, but they’re tied together, pinned to something above my head that I can’t see. Not in a fun way either, more like, my life is in danger but I can’t recall why or how. I attempt to thrash against the rope, but it’s tight, and I realize how useless it is to fight. I need to save my strength, find an opening where I can attempt to escape.

“There she is, the mystical Fallon . You’re the glue that keeps those boys together, aren’t you?” A man says, laughing to himself, as his eyes take me in.

I can’t speak, my throat dryer than a fucking desert, and he acknowledges that, helping me sip the bottle of water. It goes down like sand, lumping in my throat like the hardest pill I’ve ever had to swallow, and I do my best to behave like a perfect hostage.

That’s what I am, I realize, seeing the predicament I’m in and my involuntary imprisonment here.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.

“You’re just as sweet as described. I’ve taken such a special interest in knowing you, Fallon, and having you here is such a treat,” he says, tracing his fingers down my legs, his nails scratching my skin through my leggings.

I kick until his hands are off me, and he smiles, a twisted sense of pleasure creeping across his face. It’s a bold choice, forgoing a mask, and I do everything I can to memorize the details. If he’s taken interest in me, then he should know how smart I am, that every second he’s in front of me I’ll be studying him.

He’s sitting, but he’s stocky, his muscles bulging out of a white button-down shirt. Not in a flattering way, more like he uses steroids, and his size is just the facade of an insecure man.

He has dark brown hair, slicked back with a little wave in the front, and his eyes are dark, overall unrecognizable.

He’s just an average asshole, moonlighting as someone with a lot of power. Deep down, he’s nothing like the mask he puts on for the world, and he knows it.

“There’s the feisty, no-bullshit girl I’ve seen. You’re a woman of many faces, Miss Fallon,” he chuckles, almost as if he’s talking to himself.

“What do you want from me?” I ask with an annoyed tone in my voice, hoping to rile him up.

I may be tied up and kept here at his mercy, but I can play him like a fiddle, that much is obvious.

“You’re the only thing that they care about. I need them to comply and take the jobs I have for them. It’s beneficial for us all.” He preaches as if he’s the savior we’ve been looking for, but before I can say something to question his complex, it hits me.

This is the client.

The one we’ve been after, who blackmailed and forced Ozzy into a job he knew seemed impossible.

I try to keep my face from giving anything away, hoping to convince him that I’m just an innocent person in all this, not as important as he seems to think.

“I don’t know anything, I swear. I don’t put my nose in their business, I’d rather spend the money.” I bat my eyelashes, conjuring the personalities of both Pepper and Cami because every second he speaks to me, is another that I can use to hoard information.

“You’re smart. Smarter than I thought you were. That didn’t stop you from selling your body online for money, posting those very revealing pictures of yourself … such a shame a young girl could be so stupid,” he laughs, and my blood turns cold.

Everything inside me freezes at the mention of that side of me, something I hoped would never be discovered. Yet here I am, being held hostage, and this man has my biggest fear, and deepest secret, dangled over me like he’s found a fucking smoking gun.

“I was a minor, actually. My stepfather took those photos, posting them without consent. Your consumption is a direct form of child pornography,” I say, fighting the urge to call him every name in the book and letting my anger take over.

I bite my lip hard – nearly drawing blood – to keep my mouth from running, but my words have an impact on him, and I know I struck a nerve.

Whoever he is, he did do his research, but not as deep as he thought, and it’s written all over his face. If I keep pushing, I’ll get him to reveal more, but I have to tread carefully.

He knows a significant amount about me, but I know nothing of him.

“What do you think, Fallon … is your boyfriend smart enough to accept the offer I made for your life?” He asks, and I close my eyes, pushing the thoughts of Ozzy away.

If I think of him, even for a second, I’ll break.

Right now, this is about me, my survival, and gathering as much information as I can.

I know he’s looking for me, doing everything he can to save me, and I have the utmost faith in him, but I can’t think about the one thing that my life is worth living for.

It’ll destroy me.

“He’ll probably want to negotiate,” I say, hating myself for giving them an exclusive look into the crews’ plans.

He nods, watching me closely, and I decide now is the time to ask for something and show my compliance.

“I’m sorry, but I really could use a restroom,” I say softly, my eyes meeting his.

“Of course, young lady. Alec, untie her,” he calls out, and I notch one in my personal scorebook.

Alec.

Alec comes instantly, loosening the knots around my ankles and wrists, assisting me as I try to sit up.

My entire body is weak, and I fear that I’ve been knocked out for a while, maybe even a day.

“How long have I been asleep?” I ask, and the client looks at me softly, his eyes screaming with sympathy.

He didn’t want to do this.

He felt forced because of the actions we took – the things I pushed for.

My kidnapping is my own fault, and as much as I want to mentally scold myself, I push forward, keeping my mind on track.

“It’s been sixteen hours. Your boyfriend is on the verge of solidifying a deal for your freedom.”

Sixteen fucking hours.

Jesus Christ, they must’ve tranquilized me like a horse.

My legs are unsteady, but I stumble purposely, hoping for another crack in the armor.

After all, I’m the most important piece in this chess match, with neither side being able to afford me being hurt.

“Raz, grab her left side!” His voice sounds familiar, like something I’ve heard before, but I can’t pinpoint it.

The smaller man comes in quickly, helping me back up, and guiding me toward the restroom.

Raz.

I may be a hostage, but my safety is the most important thing, and that’s exactly why I’ve been drugged for the majority of my time here.

The client said he didn’t want it to come to this, but it isn’t his first time, either.

The only reason I’m allowed to walk is because they need me back to my usual strength for the exchange, which I’m sure is coming soon.

I’m in no rush, knowing they won’t hurt me, and this place is a fountain of knowledge.

They escort me to the bathroom, both of them holding me like I could collapse at any second. I take a look around, seeing a sink and a handicap rail beside the toilet, and I decide to bargain for an inch of freedom.

“Can a girl get some privacy? I can use the bar,” I say, and they exchange a look before releasing my arms.

The door closes behind me, and I exhale, finally feeling a sense of realism since the moment I woke up. I steal a glance at myself in the mirror, my eyes are bloodshot, my pupils the size of dimes, and my hair a disheveled mess. Whatever I went through to get here is a forgotten memory, but my strength will lead me out of this place and back home to where I belong.

I quickly use the restroom, taking a moment to freshen up and splash cold water on my face.

You’ve survived worse, Fallon.

I give myself a quick pep-talk in the mirror, not straying for too long, and opening the door to both men waiting for me.

“Bosses orders, Fallon, let’s go.” The one I’ve labeled as Alec, says, and they both assist me while I walk.

I keep my eyes forward and on alert for anything recognizable. There’s graffiti on the plywood, suggesting that this is a temporary place, not somewhere they usually frequent.

It’s freezing cold here, and the use of extension cords tells me that this building is either abandoned, or a work in progress, but either way, nobody will be showing up here over the weekend.

“I’m sorry, Fallon, but this is non-negotiable,” the client says, slightly nodding at the men to re-establish my restraints.

I let go of everything inside me that is screaming to fight, doing my best to comply, and keep their attention, rather than being seen as defiant.

Soon enough, I’m tied down again, and I do my best to keep calm.

“You never told me your name,” I say, attempting to make conversation, but it’s bold, even for me.

“Mr. A will suffice, for now,” he responds, and I smile, closing my eyes.

“Thank you, Mr. A, I appreciate it. Makes this feel a little less like business, like I’m being used all over again,” I choke out, hoping my acting skills are up to par.

His face softens, and I strike another nerve. My working theory, without knowing a thing about this man, is that he’s a father, and hates seeing me this way.

I intend to play on that weakness, keeping his mind elsewhere while the negotiation rolls on.

If I’m lucky, he’ll slip, leaving a breadcrumb or two for Lex to find.

“I’m sorry this has brought up unfortunate memories for you, but all will be right soon,” Mr. A tells me, and I can’t stop the hope swelling through my body.

“You’re going to let me go?” I conjure up the fakest tears possible, letting them stream down my face in an attempt to seem vulnerable.

“Of course, Fallon, that was always the plan. We’ll be leaving soon, and your boyfriend has requested a phone call before the exchange. It’s been lovely getting to know you, but I hope this is the last time we meet,” he says, abruptly standing and ending our conversation.

Something I didn’t notice before, is how well-dressed this man is. Now, I watch as he walks away, taking in the details I can see.

His suit is cream-colored and tailored to fit his body perfectly. It screams expensive and I realize that whoever Mr. A is, he’s not in this for the money.

This is about control, possibly even revenge, and I keep that detail to myself, storing it for when I get back to the guys along with the other information I’ve gathered thus far.

I close my eyes now that I’m alone, and the thoughts of Ozzy come crashing back to the surface, immobilizing me as I think of the man whom I love so fucking much, it consumes my every thought.

He must be so broken without me, on a rampage until I’m home safely, and my mind travels to a place where I can conjure up scenes in my head, clearly showing how the lack of food and water, combined with the drugs, is affecting me.

I can picture him tearing the dealership apart, the place I turned into a home destroyed as he works his way through his anger. I can see him shutting everyone else out, locking himself away until he figures out the best way to bring me home safely. My heart hurts and constricts in my chest thinking of him so broken, the faces of Oliver, Cami, Pepper, and Lex flashing in my mind, reminding me that there are more people that I need to fight for.

I reach for the chain around my neck, but when I search for the medallion, it’s not there.

My Athena necklace is gone, and that does it, sending me into a series of body-wracking sobs that echo throughout this empty warehouse.

I don’t want to let myself go in front of these people, trying to show how strong I am, but the loss of my necklace is devastating, striking me at the places it hurts the most and bringing me straight to my knees, in a sense.

I cry until I run out of tears, the pain of being taken so much worse than when I first woke up, before I realized who’d be hurt without me.

“It’s time to move,” I hear one of the men say, and my restraints are loosened, but my body is so weak that I let them handle me without a single ounce of fight.

I’m nothing but a limp, undernourished body to them, but what they don’t realize is that I’m ready to fight when the time comes. I feel depleted, like I’m running on fumes, but I have to save every ounce of strength for the meet, and the call with Ozzy.

He needs to feel in control and know that I’m okay before he makes a move, and all I want is to be back home in his arms.

This is a chess match, and I’m caught in the middle, trying to attempt to guess the move each man is going to make, and it’s beginning to drive me insane.

Instead of being steps ahead, I turn my brain off, allowing myself to be carried without resistance to the same car I was brought here in.

It smells the exact same, and even though I was heavily drugged, the scent of freshly detailed upholstery hits me like a brick wall, and I’m brought back to a place of clawing, fighting, and begging to be saved.

I refused to roll over and die like I’d assumed, and suddenly, a bump on my forehead throbs, reminding me of how hard I fought at home, just before the drugs kicked in.

I remember doing everything I could to fight these men off, and in the process, they slammed my head against the door frame.

I settle in the trunk, practicing my centered breathing until the car stops, and I hear chatter from the front seat. The ride had to be twenty, maybe thirty minutes, and now that we’re parked I realize that there’s no other sounds.

There’s no cars around, or people, and of course, the meeting point is somewhere rural.

Through the seats, I can make out a few muffled words, and I think Ozzy and Oliver are in place, attempting to make contact for our phone call.

Something else is going on, but I can’t quite make out what they’re saying. Another plan is in place, possibly more sinister than Ozzy knows, but how can I warn them?

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.

In a sense, this is the same thing.

I’ve been stolen, tied up, and kept against my will as a piece on somebody’s board.

I’m reduced to nothing, being used as leverage.

I’m usually better at controlling my thoughts and anxiety, but my body is so weak that it completely takes over, my hands and legs beginning to go numb.

I start dry heaving and hyperventilating at the worst time, because all eyes turn to me just as my knees buckle, and I collapse.

I’m not unconscious, but I’m not fully aware of what’s happening around me, either. I can hear voices shouting, getting louder, but it sounds like a jumbled mess, and I can’t decipher who’s speaking.

I feel the ground move, sets of footsteps coming from all different directions, but I don’t know if they’re heading toward me.

All I can see is dirt covering my face as I try to sit up, using every ounce of strength I have to see what’s happening. The world comes back into focus, and loud bangs jolt me out of my confused state, my brain finally recognizing them as gunshots.

Alec drops, his body falling right next to where I’ve managed to pull myself into a sitting position.

I scream at the sight, his eyes wide open, but his body not moving. The blood begins to spill on the ground, coming from a wound in his neck.

“Fallon! Come on, we have to go!” Ozzy yells, but I’m frozen, the amount of blood has me in a trance, unable to break my gaze as the trail trickles closer to me.

“Bambi. Look at me,” Ozzy says harshly, cutting through the haze, and for the first time in nearly two days, my eyes meet his.

Everything else melts away, and I reach for him, unable to lift myself off the ground.

“I’ve got you, nice and easy,” he whispers, his arms bringing a sense of safety that I’ve been missing.

He helps me to my feet, and I wrap my arms around his waist, using his body to guide me.

Just as we step around Alec, I see Raz down, too, a bullet hole in his leg.

He doesn’t seem dead, not the way Alec did, and I start to warn Ozzy, but Raz sits up, reaching for the gun a few feet away from him.

“Ozzy! He’s moving!” I scream, attempting to take cover behind him, his arm coming up to guide me.

“Fallon, I’m out of ammo, and Oliver is down. We need to run, can you do that?” He says quietly, keeping his eyes forward, and I nod against his back.

I peek around him, watching Raz inch closer to his weapon, waiting for Ozzy’s signal.

I glance down and see the blade in his pocket, my hand immediately reaching for it. It’s a split-second decision, one I don’t need to think about.

I’m taking back control and saving us all.

“Fallon, stop!”

I hear Ozzy, but I don’t listen, using every bit of power I have left in me to run, to lift the knife, and plunge it into the side of Raz’s neck.

He’s outstretched, inching his body closer to the gun so that he doesn’t see me coming until my shadow is completely hovering over him, and his eyes meet mine just as the blade pierces his skin.

I push it as far as I can until he stops moving, and the cold stare of death in his eyes matches Alec’s. I pull the knife out, blood splattering all over my feet and legs as Ozzy wraps his arms around me, lifting me off the ground.

“What did you do?” He yells, sprinting back to the truck with my legs wrapping around his waist.

My head is spinning, and slowly, I come to terms with the fact that I just killed a man.

Murdered him.

Ended his life.

A cold shiver runs through my body, and I stare blankly at Ozzy, unable to speak.

The adrenaline is coursing through my veins, and when he places me on the ground, I instantly find the strength to drop to my knees, checking if Oliver is still breathing.

“Olly. Oliver, it’s me, it’s Fallon. Are you with me?” I ask, my voice breaking with each word, and finally, he coughs, nods, and gives me a weak thumbs-up.

I exhale, looking for the wound, but I come up short.

“Kevlar, Fallon. It just knocked him on his ass,” Ozzy says, reaching down to help Oliver up, and I step back, completely in shock.

I thought he was dead.

For a split second, I was convinced that one of my favorite people had been stolen from me, and that thought paralyzes me.

“That’s going to hurt in the morning,” Oliver laughs, clutching his ribs as he limps toward the truck.

“We need to go. Mr. A isn’t far from here, he’s probably watching us,” I choke out, coughing as the dust from the ground catches in my throat, and they both stare at me in bewilderment.

“Mr. A?”

“The client. He visited me this morning,” I confess, and they both move quickly, helping me into the middle seat of the truck.

Ozzy runs back for the cash, tossing it onto my lap and peeling off the dirt road, a dust cloud forming behind us.

I rest my head on Ozzy’s shoulder, and he wraps an arm around me, holding me close. He briefly looks away from the road, his eyes meeting mine, and rage is roaring in his irises, but that sparkle is still there.

He gently places a kiss on my forehead and turns his attention back to the road. One small gesture of intimacy places a bandaid over what happened to me, and I feel safe again.

I’m home.

I can’t bring myself to move, the idea of walking back into the dealership looming over me like a bad nightmare. It looks so much smaller now, knowing that something bad happened to me inside, and I can’t push away the last memories I have before everything went dark.

“I’ll stay with you,” Ozzy whispers, his fingers laced through mine, not forcing me to go before I’m ready.

“I don’t remember most of it. I was drugged,” I say softly, and I feel his body tensing with my words.

I want him to feel assured that nothing happened, that nobody touched me so he can let go of the rage, and see me as me, again. I’m no damsel, and he knows that, but he’s stuck in protective mode, almost as if he’s not fully processing that I’m safe.

“Did anyone … hurt you?”

“No, I did this one to myself when I was fighting them off,” I say, gently rubbing the cut on my forehead.

He moves my hand, examining the gash himself, and sighs, placing his fingers along the dried blood stuck around the wound.

“Bambi, I’m so sorry. We shouldn’t have left you alone. I didn’t stop looking for you, even when we had a deal in place. I was only focused on you,” he confesses, and I tilt his chin so he’s looking into my eyes.

“I’m home now, with you. I’ve survived worse, and I just want to forget about this. Move on,” I say, but he shakes his head, a look of fear in his eyes that I rarely see.

“I made a deal for your life. One million dollars, and we work for him now. No refusing jobs, or fighting back,” he tells me, but I’m stuck in shock.

Why would he do something so reckless, agreeing to work for the person who kidnapped me when he didn’t get his way?

“We did fight back, though.”

“I know, Bambi.”

I rub my eyes and hold my head in my hands, the feeling that we’re never getting away from this creeping over me, leaving a sense of dread and doom in the pit of my stomach.

We’re both silent, sitting in the truck, our bodies barely touching.

This job, this client, this man, has stolen so much from me, and it’s put a serious disconnection between Ozzy and me. I need to forget, at least for a little while, and be with the one person who can make me whole again.

“Can we just … not talk, Ozzy? Please,” I beg, and his eyes search until they find mine.

“Come here, Bambi,” he whispers, pulling me onto his lap and my ass lands on the steering wheel, reminiscent of the first time he took me for a ride in this truck.

My mind wanders back to a simpler place when everything was okay, nothing hurt, and there wasn’t a thousand pounds of trauma weighing me down.

I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face into his shoulder, and I breathe him in, not taking a second of his embrace for granted. His arms hold me tightly, and our heartbeats have synced, thumping against our chests in a perfect rhythm, and finally, I feel connected to him again.

“Let me take you inside, take care of you?” He asks, and I agree, letting him carry me.

I latch onto him with no intention of letting go, my body feels weak against his, but I let him be my strength, transferring everything I have left inside me to him.

“Fallon!” I hear a chorus of people calling my name, but I can’t move, I’m stuck to Ozzy, not mentally strong enough to face everyone right now.

As if he read my mind, he asks everyone for space and promises that we’ll come to see them in a little while.

“Thank you,” I whisper, and he brings me into the bathroom, locking the door behind us.

He gently places me on the counter, and I reach my hand out to brush the stray curls out of his face.

“I didn’t think about you.” I feel so bad for forcing myself not to think of Ozzy, for pushing him so far out of my mind to gather information, that I have to tell him.

It’ll eat me alive if I don’t, and I can’t hold onto things that hold me down. He doesn’t take his eyes off me, listening as I work through the emotional trauma I was put through.

“I had to push you out of my mind to survive, to not break down. I was terrified that if I thought about how you were doing without me, it’d destroy me, and I needed to be strong. Now, you’re holding me, looking at me like that, and I feel so fucking guilty. I’m so sorry, Ozzy. You’re the only thing I wanted to fight for, to be strong for, but thinking about you would’ve been the reason I died,” I cry, the tears streaming down my cheeks like a waterfall.

Ozzy pulls my head against his chest and presses soft kisses everywhere he can reach.

“It’s alright, Bambi. You’re alive, and unharmed, that’s all that fucking matters. Nothing you do, or don’t do, will ever make me love you less,” he whispers, using the pad of his thumb to brush away my tears.

I look up at him, and he’s fighting back tears, attempting to hold himself together for my sake, so I cup his cheek, pulling him close to me.

“I’m okay, I’m not going to break into a million pieces,” I say, and finally, he looks at me like he used to.

Just like the day in the diner, and a million times since, his eyes are full of love, rather than fear or pity, and I know instantly that we’re going to be alright.

“Can I kiss you, Bambi? I need you,” he says, the vulnerability in his voice breaking my heart.

I nod, and he wastes no time, gently connecting my lips to his.

I take his face in my hands, keeping him as close to me as possible, and this kiss is taking away all the pain we’re both holding onto.

“You know I love you, right?” I smile as he breaks his lips off mine, a deep sigh leaving his chest as we both attempt to catch our breath.

“God, Fallon, I love you so much. I’m sorry, I just … can’t believe you’re really home and in my arms. It’s surreal,” he says, pressing his forehead against mine.

“It’s trauma, Ozzy. We’ve been through something traumatic, but we’re going to heal together,” I tell him, my confidence returning now that we’ve broken through this wall.

“You’re right. You’re always right – one of the millions of reasons why I can’t survive without you,” he whispers, his words lighting up one of our darkest moments.

“I’ll make you a deal, my Greek God , we talk this out once, and then move forward,” I bargain, and he agrees, pulling me off the counter.

He turns the hot water on, a sly smile on his face as he searches my eyes before removing my clothes. I’ve been in his sweatshirt and the same leggings for I don’t even know how long, but I need to scrub every memory of this shit, wash it down the drain, and forget it ever happened.

I watch Ozzy step under the water, ensuring it’s the perfect temperature before pulling me inside the tub with him. He takes the shower head down and sprays me until I’m completely soaked, dirt and dried blooding swirling down the drain.

I wrap my arms around him, our bodies slick yet connected, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to heal than with this perfectly made-for-me man.

“Seven,” he whispers, and I cock my head to the side, unsure of what he means.

Then, I realize what he’s referring to, and my first reaction is to comfort him, but instead, I’m hit with a fucking missile, nearly knocking me to the floor. For the first time, I have something to add, rather than only offering consolation.

“One,” I say, our gaze locking in the saddest moment we’ve shared so far.

“Oh, Bambi.” He rakes his hands through his wet hair, turning his back on me, and I begin to feel the weight of what I’ve done.

I stabbed a man in the neck, stealing his ability to breathe, and stopping the blood from circulating through his body, leaving it discarded in the dirt. Maybe he had a life, and a family waiting at home, but so did I, and I don’t regret my choices.

It was us or him, and I chose us .

“He kidnapped you, Fallon. If anything, it was self-defense,” he says, his back still turned away from me.

“I don’t regret what I did, Ozzy.” Those words trigger him, and he faces me once again, taking my face in his hands.

For the first time, I notice deep gashes on his knuckles, and I trail my fingers over the scabs.

“I’m proud of you, my beautiful girl . You saved us, and you survived. If you need to talk about it, or his face haunts you in your dreams … we’ve all been there, alright?” He says sternly, and I know he’s trying to ease me into this.

I’ve stepped across another threshold, crossed another boundary, and now, we’re murderers. Both of us .

We both killed a man today, basically together, and there’s no turning back from that.

Something about it doesn’t scare me, though. After everything I’ve been through with Ozzy, and the crew, maybe even going back to the days with my stepfather, it feels like I’ve been chasing the inevitable. Like I’ve been following a path I was meant to take.

“I know, baby. I’m going to be alright,” I tell him, and he nods, always believing in me.

I take his hands, kissing each spot that’s been damaged, and I know he did this because of me.

“What happened, baby?”

He sighs, searching for the words, and I give him the space to work through his emotional turmoil.

“I held it together for a long time, Fallon, like well into the next day, but when the anger took over, I had to let it out. Finally, when the blood was gushing out of my hands, I felt something. For the first time since you’d been taken, I felt you . I remembered when we did this,” he pauses, placing my hand on the B carved into his chest, then he reaches down, his fingers brushing the heart on my thigh.

My pulse races, and I’m transported back to that moment when everything changed . That euphoric feeling was unlike any high I’ve ever experienced, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

“And how it solidified our choice to be together. The sight of blood gave me the clarity I’d been searching for, and somehow, it gave me the insight to know that you were okay. This blood oath connects us in more ways than we knew, and it means that I’ll never stop protecting you, loving you, and taking care of you. Whatever that looks like,” he finishes, and I pull him down by the nape of his neck, placing a kiss on his cheek.

“Why didn’t you want to talk to me?” I ask, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

“I couldn’t, Bambi. The second I heard your voice, I knew I’d lose it. If you cried, or I heard that small crack in your voice that happens when you’re biting your lip, I’d go on a rampage. Shooting anyone who dared to put their hands on you. Oliver was the second-best choice.” He made the right decision based on how well he knows me, and it wasn’t only my life on the line, we were all under fire.

The sobs tear through me again until Ozzy is holding me up, and lowers us to the floor.

I’m crying because of his grace, and how good he is to not only me, but everyone in our life.

I’m crying because I was kidnapped, and he had to hold everyone together, not just himself.

Ozzy was born to be a leader, and he does right by every single one of us, no matter how badly he’s hurting.

“I heard you. You were listening,” I say softly, the final wave of tears slowing down.

“Like an oath, Bambi.”

He holds his hand out to mine, and I interlock our fingers, smiling when our tattoos touch. It’s everything our love resembles, these small sayings and places on our bodies that double as connections to each other’s soul.

“Sacred prayer, baby,” I whisper, and he holds me tightly until the water runs cold.

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’m home .

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.

They instantly run to me, crowding me like I’m part of one of those families with twelve kids. It’s incredible, yet suffocating, so I take a step back, and decide to take it slow.

Cami’s up first, and I brace for impact, knowing she was probably devastated when I was gone.

“Fal, you fucking bitch. You just didn’t want to go out, did you?” She laughs nervously, and I shake my head pulling her in for a long hug.

“Are you alright?” I ask, and she sighs, the tension melting off her body now that we’re together.

“I love you, Fallon.”

“I know, Cami. I know,” I say, holding her body close to mine, not ready to let go.

“I don’t care if they all know, but I need to kiss you, just for a second to know you’re really home. If not, that’s okay,” she whispers, breaking our hug and looking straight into my eyes.

After what I’ve been through, it’s important to show people how much they mean to you, and I’d never want Cami to think that she’s a secret, or worse, an experiment. I may not be in love with her, like she is with me, but I hold a very special place for her in my heart, and I’d be stupid not to let her know that.

“Kiss me, Camila.”

She smiles, biting her bottom lip before pressing our mouths together, enveloping me in a kiss that steals the breath from my lungs, and makes everything else disappear.

I can hear everyone’s reactions surrounding us, but I’m lost in the moment, my only focus being this beautiful girl in my arms.

She parts my lips with her tongue, and we get into it a little too heavy for my liking, considering this is our true outing to everyone else, but still, I can’t seem to pull away, our desire so strong for one another.

Cami is the one to pump the brakes, breaking our lips apart and sighing instantly, like she misses me already.

“I love you, too, Cami,” I whisper, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

“You’re fucking incredible,” she says, letting me go and rejoining everyone else.

I look at Ozzy, but his smile is bigger than the sky, and I don’t feel like I’ve crossed a single line in our relationship. I think I may have a boyfriend, and a girlfriend, but that’s an evaluation for a different day.

“Oh my gosh! I knew it, you two are always flirting! Come here, Fal!” Pepper squeals, and my eyes widen at her words, thinking we were more careful than that, but I severely underestimated Pepper’s intelligence.

“I missed you, Pep. Are you okay?”

“Stop worrying about me, I’m fine, silly,” she says, kissing my cheek and passing me off to the next person.

I make my rounds, giving hugs, and everyone tells me to stop asking if they’re alright, ordering me to take it easy.

Max smiles at me softly, taking the initiative to pull me in for a hug.

“It was never your fault. I’m sorry, Fallon.”

I’m shocked that he’s apologizing to me, but he’s here, and that’s what matters.

“I’m happy you’re home, Max. Don’t fucking throw another plate at me, though, or there will be hell to pay,” I laugh, and he drops his head, his cheeks flushing red.

“I was angry, but not at you. My own demons. We’re good?”

“We’re good, Max. Thank you,” I say, absolving him of the guilt he seems to be carrying.

Ozzy clued me into the fact that he volunteered to take the trip to Jacksonville, retrieving the fake cash to use for my ransom. He selflessly drove the entire twelve hours, hustling ass to get back here in time for the exchange. No matter what he said, or how he behaved toward me, I’ll never forget the sacrifice he made, and how he came back when he knew I was in danger.

“Has everyone been eating, or should I be concerned?”

Everyone laughs, yelling at me to relax, but I can’t help it, I’m the house-mother, and I worry about them all in ways I never thought were possible.

I never knew I’d grow to love them as much as I have, and once the tear-filled reunions are over, I can finally breathe knowing I’m back with the family I chose.

The next order of business is to share the knowledge I gained while I was with Mr. A., and get a move on with figuring out who he is.

I can’t stand a reality where we work for him, especially after all I went through. It was hell and back, and while I appreciate Ozzy doing everything in his power to bring me home, I won’t work for someone who throws temper tantrums in the form of ransom, retaliation, and leverage.

It’s repulsive, and exactly the kind of people the guys swore to avoid doing business with when Max took over.

“Alright, I have a few things to fill everyone in on while we wait for our dinner delivery, then we can celebrate our girl coming home?” Ozzy asks, and we all gather around, getting comfy on the couch.

I snuggle up with Cami, Oliver, and Pepper, each of them laying on a piece of me as we share a blanket. Ozzy smiles at us, knowing that this is important to me, rather than being jealous or feeling threatened by my relationship with Cami, and Oliver, too.

I still need to thank Olly for the ways he helped with my rescue, especially him stepping in to take the phone call when he knew we’d both rather be talking to each other.

I listen as Ozzy breaks things down, explaining how jobs will work from here on out. Democracy is still open, but with the pressure of working for a ruthless client, it’s time everyone picks a role and sticks to it.

I’m a little pissed when he leaves me out of the discussion, and I wait patiently while he outlines things, but he never offers me the chance to inform everyone of what I learned while I was with the man who’s been dictating our lives for the better part of the last three weeks.

He doesn’t want me involved in this side of things anymore, and I feel like I’ve just been fired from a job I gave my life for, without so much as a fucking thank you .

If you thought Max’s power trips were rough, it’s harder to sit through one led by the only person who’s supposed to believe in you through anything, but instead, chooses to alienate you from the very thing you put your life on the line for.

I put on my best face, keeping my vow to support him through anything, but on the inside, my mind is running a mile a minute, the betrayal hitting harder than the horse tranquilizers I was given.

Ozzy can kick me out of the crew business, but that doesn’t change my ultimate end goal.

I will get my revenge, whether he’s with me, or against me.