FALLON

I’m excited to spend the night with Mick and Rae, but I know before we get to the good stuff, I’ll have to endure the lecture of a lifetime.

They weren’t home when I got back earlier, and since the shop is closed today, I only had to go in to change the codes and set the security system.

It’s pointless since I know what’s happening tonight, but I have to keep up appearances.

Once I reach the apartment, I take the stairs, hoping for the best but expecting the worst when I turn my key in the lock.

“Look who actually showed up,” Mick sneers, and I fake a smile, going through the motions of pleasantries.

“Nice to see you too, ladies,” I say, rolling my eyes and dropping my bag on the kitchen floor.

“We’re happy you’re home Fallon, even if it’s only for the night,” Rae says cheerfully, pulling me onto the couch.

“Can we skip the lectures?” I ask, searching her eyes for a sliver of hope.

“Do you know what you’re doing is reckless, and will probably end up breaking your heart?” Mick asks bluntly from across the room, not even hesitating for a breath.

“No, and no it won’t. Satisfied?” I double down, not breaking eye contact with her.

If she wants to go toe-to-toe we can, but I will get the last word. They don’t know the dynamics of our relationship, and I don’t feel the need to defend Ozzy if they can’t accept him – and us – as we are. I’ve never been more confident in a decision that’s been all mine to make in my entire life, and that speaks volumes for me. I trust the man I’ve chosen to stick beside me, and call mine, the only thing I can do is hope that my friends will get on board.

“You’re delusional, Fal, and I mean that in the nicest way.” She walks off, thinking she bested me, flipping her hair over her shoulder as if that’s the end of the conversation.

I’ve never been one for arguments or confrontation, but when it comes to Ozzy, I’m ready to defend him til death.

“I’m happy, can you just accept that?” I shout back, my words echoing off the walls as she slams her bedroom door shut.

“Let’s put this topic to rest for now, okay? I’ve queued up a few movies and bought everyone’s favorite snacks. There’s a surprise on your bed, also.” Rae smiles, happily playing the mediator and encouraging me to go see her gift for myself.

Rae bought us identical silk pajama sets, and mine are light pink. The tension is thick in the air, and even though on the outside we look like happy roommates in matching outfits, on the inside there’s pure turmoil between us.

Even so, Rae knows how to pull us all back together, forcing our asses on the couch as she plays the first of many rom-coms in her arsenal. She sits in the middle as if she’s the arbitrator, and we’re silent as we all lock eyes on the television.

Eventually, there’s a light knock on the door that breaks through the awkward silence in the house, and my heart rate speeds up, praying it isn’t related to the body shop.

If something were to go awry, Ozzy would know where I am, and instantly send someone for me, that much I’m certain of. My mind has traced every what-if scenario possible, coming up with conclusions to problems that haven’t even happened yet, but I’m permanently on edge, almost waiting for something to go wrong.

Before I can, Mick jumps and answers the door, letting us know that it’s a delivery for all of us.

We curiously open the box, and there are three boxes of chocolate, three bottles of wine, and a note.

Instantly, a smile creeps across my face and I know exactly who it’s from, but Mick snatches the envelope before I can read it.

I try to reach for it, but she glances it over, rolling her eyes and scrunching her nose as she gets toward the end.

“I shouldn’t have read that … Bambi .” She laughs, passing me the envelope and turning her attention to the goodies inside the box.

Knowing Ozzy, this letter is littered with dirty jokes and descriptions of what he plans to do with me, and I couldn’t be more excited to see how he put it into words.

I skim the letter and the smile on my face could be seen for miles, his personality jumping out with every syllable on the page.

Enjoy your girl’s night - Ozzy

Fallon,

I’ll be thinking of you in that magnetic fucking dress all night.

You’re my Goddess, and every time I think about you and I in the club I get hard all over again. Tomorrow, it’s until the sun comes up, no mercy, and that is a promise.

Enjoy your wine, chocolates, and time with your friends.

I love you, Bambi

? - Ozzy

Just as I suspected, it’s filthy, and I love every word he scribbled on the page.

“Yeah, you shouldn’t have read that, Mick.” I laugh, and she rolls her eyes in a not-so-subtle way.

Ever since I met Ozzy, she’s been cold toward me, and I can’t pinpoint why. Sure, it’s natural for friends to be weary, or even worry, but she’s taken this to levels that I didn’t expect. Ozzy is a good man, and he goes to extra lengths to keep a smile permanently painted on my face.

“What dress?” Rae raises her eyebrows, and I show them a few pictures from the club.

“Jesus Christ, Fal, you look hot!” Rae smiles, scrolling through the photos we took, and the selfies I managed before we left.

“Ozzy bought the dress, too.” I wink, and their eyes widen in shock.

“He shops for you? He spoils the shit out of you, oh my god, I love it.” Rae grabs a bottle of wine from the goodie box, planting herself on the couch.

“Club sex? Who are you, and what have you done with the real Fallon?” Mick isn’t as impressed, and the look on her face is bringing my mood down.

I roll my eyes and leave her question unanswered, uninterested in playing her game or entertaining her attitude. It’s been made clear that she loathes Ozzy, and our relationship, anything more is just her beating a dead horse.

Rae and I toast our bottles of wine, and she presses play on a rom-com, while Mick reluctantly opens the chocolates and joins us on the couch.

The white wine goes down smoothly, and we’re all laughing at the movie, finally getting along when the topic doesn’t have to do with me.

I catch up on the gossip, which is usually something I love, but tonight feels superficial.

Most of the people we gossip about are irrelevant to our daily lives, and I find myself wishing I was studying Italian, or talking about something more interesting than the lives of strangers.

Just as I attempt to change the subject, there’s another knock on the door, and I volunteer to answer.

To my surprise, it’s Oliver, and suddenly, the world feels like it’s crashing around me. If he’s here, and not on the job, that has to mean something went wrong.

Something happened to Ozzy.

My lungs feel like they’ve collapsed, I can’t catch a breath, and my heart rate has skyrocketed. I can feel the thudding in my chest, the sound echoing through my brain as all other thoughts have escaped.

“Oliver? What happened?” The words spill out, but they don’t sound like they’re coming from me.

My voice shakes, almost like a squeak, but the man in front of me keeps his calm and collected demeanor.

“He’s fine, Fallon. He said to tell you that before anything else,” he rushes to say, but I’m not convinced.

I feared this would happen, something would go wrong and I’d be left to pick up the pieces, but there’s no panic on Oliver’s face. There’s nothing urgent about his tone, or emotion hiding behind his eyes, so I choose to believe him. If Oliver says Ozzy is alright, then I believe him.

“Why are you here, then?”

“Everything okay, Fal?” Mick yells, and I give her a thumbs up, slipping into the hallway and closing the door behind me.

“We need your help,” he says quietly, and I glance around the hallway, ensuring we’re alone.

Since the boys broke into the apartment across the hall, people have been weary, and this is not the time to get caught up in a nosey neighbor situation.

“With the thing?” I drop my voice low, and he nods.

“You have to come with me, it’s time sensitive,” he says, and I get the hint.

“Okay, give me two minutes,” I tell him, and he leans against the wall outside the door.

Mick and Rae are going to lose their minds, but I know I have to help the guys. They wouldn’t come to me, in the middle of the job, if it weren’t an emergency.

“Girls, I have to go,” I say, gathering my purse and essentials.

“Who was that, Fallon?” Mick asks, her hands planted on her hips.

“One of Ozzy’s friends, Oliver. They need my help at work,” I explain quickly, running around the apartment like a crazy woman.

“So you just drop everything and go?”

“Yes, Mick. He needs me, and you may not understand, but I have to go,” I answer, turning my back to them and slipping out the door.

I may have just destroyed the last hope I had of reconciling with my friends, but this is more important. I don’t give Mick a second to give me shit, or Rae a chance to beg me to stay. Within seconds, I’m out the door and by Oliver’s side.

“Let’s go.” He leads the way to the van, and we race to get to the body shop.

I didn’t have time to change, so I’m running off in my silk pajama set and fluffy slippers, looking like I was at a fucking slumber party for teenagers.

“Is it the code?”

“Max can’t crack it,” he says, fiddling with his earpiece, the same one Ozzy had the night he found me at the coffee shop.

“I don’t know the code, though,” I say softly, and he whips his head in my direction, confusion plastered on his face.

“Max will give you all the information, I’m just the muscle and the messenger.” He laughs, pulling up something on his phone, and it’s silent for a few minutes until he starts talking into his earpiece, which I assume is connected to the crew.

“Got the package, five out,” he whispers, and I realize I’m the package.

“Is that connected to Ozzy?” I ask, and he immediately pulls it out of his ear, handing it to me.

My hands are still shaking from the chaos of the last twenty minutes, but the second I can connect to him, hear his voice, I know it’ll stop.

“Are you okay, Ozzy?” I speak quickly, forcing this tiny device into my ear and waiting with bated breath until he finally answers me.

“I’m okay. Thank you for coming, Bellissima ,” he says, and I can finally exhale a full breath.

It’s almost as if a tidal wave of relief crashes onto my shore, and I’m filled with the relief that comes with knowing he’s alright.

“Anything for you, amore mio .” The rest of the world fades away now that I’ve got him, and I forget everyone else can hear us.

“Stop speaking fucking Spanish and give Oliver back the mic, Fallon,” Max says sternly, and I feel like a kid who got in trouble with their parents.

“It’s Italian,” I quip, knowing that Ozzy is probably shaking his head, laughing about my smart mouth.

I toss the earpiece over the middle console at Oliver, and we ride in silence the rest of the way, but my anxiety rises higher and higher as we get closer to the body shop.

One wrong move and I could ruin this for all of us.

I distinctly remember placing the sheet with the new code on Keith’s desk before leaving this afternoon, but sneaking into his office also requires a code, and there’s a camera that picks up motion behind his desk.

It transmits to his phone immediately, so he knows whenever someone enters his office.

Not that he has anything worth stealing in there, but it makes him feel powerful when he questions people for entering when he’s not around.

Finally, Oliver pulls into the adjacent parking lot, and I follow him into the shop where Lex and Max are waiting for me.

I fill them in on the camera in the office, but Max has a different idea.

“Generate a new code. I can’t figure out how to hack it, so it has to be you,” he says, bringing me to my desk.

There’s an alert on the screen, and if I type my password wrong, it’ll set off an alarm.

My hands are shaking, and I feel a thousand pounds of weight hanging over my head, but I came here to help, and that’s what I intend to do.

I sit down, pretending this is just another day at the office, and carefully type my credentials into the correct boxes as I hold my breath.

“It takes three minutes for it to change over to the new code,” I say, pointing at the screen where the six numbers begin to randomize.

“Anything else?” Max asks, clearly out of patience as he taps his fingers rapidly on my desk.

“It’ll turn green when you can enter.” I smile, and he leads me out back toward the loading dock.

“You’re a part of this job now. Focus on that, and not hanging out with your boyfriend,” he lectures harshly, and I keep my composure but my eyes want to roll so far back in my head they fall out.

“Yes, boss,” I say in a mocking tone, climbing into the truck with Ozzy.

“Bambi.” He lights up when I join him in the passenger seat, and the darkness cloaks over us as the interior lights fade to black.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

“You saved us, but you didn’t have to,” he says gently, and I trail my fingers along his arm, happy to be in his presence again.

It’s only been a few hours since he dropped me off, but when I’m not with him, hours feel like days.

“I’d do anything for you. Max, on the other hand, is a bit bossy,” I joke, but he doesn’t find it too funny, his body stiffening as soon as the words leave my lips.

“He’s always on a power trip. He wasn’t an asshole, was he?” He asks, that possessive fire entering his dark eyes, but I backtrack, ensuring he doesn’t try to kill anyone else on my behalf.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” I assure him, lacing my fingers into his and letting him refocus on the job.

I sit quietly in the front seat, listening as Ozzy asks for updates and barks out orders. They successfully open the door to the storage room, with Journey and Oliver following the path Ozzy spells out until they reach the loading dock.

“Go with Oliver I’ll be back in a few hours,” he tells me, and I follow his direction so as to not step on anyone’s toes.

As much as I’d rather stay here with him, the job isn’t done, and I know how meticulous these guys are when it comes to planning. Me being here is already a blip in those plans, so I intend to disappear as quickly as I arrived.

“Be safe, my Greek God ,” I whisper, leaning in and leaving him with a quick kiss on the cheek.

It kills me to walk away right now, knowing he’s finishing the last leg of the job by himself, but I have faith in what they planned, and that he can handle it.

I follow Oliver back to where we parked the van, and everyone is already waiting for us, eager to get away from the scene. Once we’re back at the dealership all I want to do is hide in bed until Ozzy gets back, but apparently, that’s not an option.

“Sorry, Fallon. It’s bad luck. We stay together until the job is finished, and you’re a part of it now,” Max orders, and I reluctantly find a seat on the couch.

I watch as they all scramble, changing their clothes and packing the gear away. They all unclip their weapons and place them on the coffee table, like a weird, threatening centerpiece.

Lex tosses me a phone, instructing that I order pizzas, and Oliver lightens the mood with a cooler full of beers.

Basically, I’m a bro tonight, and as much as I want to hate this, it’s kind of fun. I’m learning the routines and rituals of a tight-knit crew, down to their superstitions and traditions.

“Ozzy hasn’t smiled this much since Masha, you know,” Oliver says randomly, inadvertently making me blush.

“I’ve never been happier,” I confess, only realizing how cheesy it sounds after the words leave my lips, and all the guys mock me.

The jokes and the teasing seem harsh, but they’re treating me as if I’ll be sticking around for a while, and that’s a win no matter what they throw at me.

“Ozzy’s never had a girlfriend, maybe a few one-night stands, but you? He’s been a completely different person since he met you, Fallon,” he continues, and I love how well his friends know him.

“I wish my friends would approve of us like you all do. It’d make my life easier.” I sigh deeply, not expecting them to care, but needing to get it off my chest.

“They’re girls, right? I’m sure they’re just worried. It’s nothing against you or Ozzy, just think about it from their perspective,” Lex offers, and I weigh his words, knowing he has a point.

“It’s frustrating because they’re my family. I’ve supported them through phases, situationships, and horrible one-night stands, but my happiness seems to be too much for them to accept blindly as I’ve done for them.” I pop the top off a beer, letting the foam warm my belly, and kick my feet up on the coffee table.

Surprisingly, Lex is easy to talk to, even though he’s normally the quietest one out of them all.

“Families fight, though. That’s what brothers, and sisters, do,” he casually says, and I wince, hating how much it makes sense.

I leave the conversation there, not wanting to talk about myself the entire time. I want to learn more about them and how they operate.

“Can I ask you guys something?”

“Depends,” Max says, glancing around at each of the guys.

“What’s the story with Doc?” I jump straight into the deep end, and they all recoil a bit, each of their faces wearing different expressions.

It could be a sore subject for them all, but I’m still reeling from Ozzy’s reactions the other night, and I haven’t had the heart to bring it up to him again.

“Ozzy’s breakdown a few nights ago?” Oliver asks, and sometimes I forget how thin the walls are in this place.

Journey sighs, and Max holds his hands up in defense, clearly not wanting to take the lead on this.

I glance between Oliver and Lex, seeing which of them plan on cracking, and finally, it’s Oliver who speaks up.

“Doc was complicated. Most of the traditions, routines, and rules we have are because of how he taught us. On the other hand, he was ruthless, and arguably, turned us all into criminals. The final straw was Masha, which I assume you’ve heard about?” He pauses, sipping his beer while waiting for my answer.

“Uh, yeah. Ozzy told me a little about her, and how she died.”

The other guys are frozen, listening to Oliver recount the highs and lows of working with their mentor. Their faces are all expressive, some showing anguish, some looking like they’re ready to snap, just like Ozzy. Suddenly, I feel guilty for circumventing him to find out about his past without checking with him first, and for bringing all the buried turmoil back to the surface.

“Once we all had enough, we forced a mutiny. Something that was always on the table if we didn’t like his leadership anymore, but he never thought we’d actually band against him. It was bloody, messy, and hard on all of us. We still struggle with how to remember him,” Oliver finishes, and Max balls his hands into fists.

“I know how I remember him. Cold-blooded and heartless,” he interrupts, kicking the table and walking off in a huff.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought this up,” I say softly, but the guys assure me that it’s okay.

I’ve found my place within their circle, at least with Lex and Oliver.

Max still doesn’t seem to like me, and Journey can’t take his eyes off me while Ozzy isn’t here, which makes me uncomfortable. I’ve been insisting that it’s no big deal for Ozzy’s sake, not wanting to get between them, but I can’t stand how he looks at me, or the seemingly harmless comments he lets slip.

“We won’t tell Ozzy you asked,” Lex says, passing me another beer.

“No, I won’t lie to him. I’ll tell him once the dust settles from the job.”

Ozzy would never lie to me, and I won’t disrespect him by having secrets with his friends. Besides, we all survived the conversation and nobody got to upset, so maybe he can take this as a sign that it’s not a taboo topic.

The conversation slowly starts to stall and the quiet takes over, but I can’t possibly find it in me to stay awake any longer. My eyelids are heavy, and sleep is calling out to me.

I can hear the guys clearing the room, cleaning up the beer and pizza mess, but someone drapes a blanket over me, and my body freezes when I realize it’s Journey.

“Beautiful, Cinderella. He doesn’t deserve you,” he whispers, slowly dragging a hand down my ass and over my legs.

I feel completely violated, disgusted, and disrespected.

I think about what Ozzy would do if he were here, and I channel his power when I decide in a split second to defend myself.

If he thinks I’m asleep, and nobody is looking, he’ll do it again if I don’t set a clear boundary.

“Excuse me?” I sit up, and he freezes as he picks up the last of the dirty dishes.

He doesn’t say anything, and none of the other guys are within earshot.

“You just whispered something when I was asleep,” I say, my voice growing louder with each word, and he shakes his head nervously.

“You might have been dreaming, Fallon.” He turns toward me, a smug look on his face as he rakes his eyes over my body in a way that makes me shudder internally.

Lex and Oliver come back in the room and see us caught in a heated stare down. He can deny it all he wants, but I’m not backing down.

“Was I dreaming when you touched my ass, and rubbed my legs, too?”

I can see his mind scrambling, and he’s visibly anxious as he can’t find a lie to get him out of this.

“We good here, Fallon?” Oliver asks, coming closer to me and giving me the confidence to use my voice.

“No, we’re not. Tell them what you whispered, or I will,” I say, not taking my eyes off Journey.

“She’s insane. I was nowhere near her.” He backs away, standing on the opposite side of the coffee table.

“He called me Cinderella and whispered that Ozzy doesn’t deserve me, before touching my ass and legs over the blanket.” I cross my arms over my chest, feeling ripped open and vulnerable with everyone’s eyes on me.

“Journey?” Lex asks, and Oliver’s eyes shift between the two of us.

“I have no idea what she’s talking about. I didn’t go near her.” He doubles down, and I shake my head, fully prepared for them all to call me crazy.

“How’d she get the blanket then?” Oliver asks, picking up the throw blanket from the floor, and relief washes over me.

They don’t think I’m lying.

“You’re going to accuse me of doing something insane like that? Believing this bitch over me?” He yells, and my body tenses in response.

The last person to take advantage of my body and call me a bitch was my stepfather, and I refuse to be reduced to the person I was at that point in my life.

Without thinking, I react, snatching one of the guns off the coffee table, and pointing it directly at Journey.

“ Fuck !” Lex yells, and Oliver steps closer to me, resting his hand on my shoulder.

“Fallon, do you know how to use that?”

Admittedly, I don’t. But nobody else needs to know that. This is about me taking a stand, and I feel pure power cascading through me.

“Call me a bitch again. I fucking dare you,” I say calmly, keeping my aim steady.

“Jesus fucking Christ, what is going on?” Max joins us, and behind me I can hear Lex filling him in.

“Fallon, you don’t have to do this. I’m sorry you think I touched you,” Journey says, but it’s not enough.

His attempts to deflect and pin this on me as if I imagined it aren’t going to work. I know what he did, I heard what he said, and this isn’t over until he gets it through his head that I’m not interested.

“You did touch me. I’m not yours to touch, and you don’t call me Cinderella, do you understand?”

All eyes are on me, and everyone is holding their breath, waiting for my next move. I could shoot him, put a bullet in his leg, or maybe his arm, not enough to kill him, more like a warning shot. I could drop the gun and bury the hatchet, but none of those scenarios feel like the right way to end this.

“Alright, Fallon. You’re right, I did touch you, and I’m sorry. I lost my head for a minute,” he confesses, but I don’t lower the weapon, keeping it trained on his chest, deciding not to let him get away from me without regretting ever laying a hand on me.

“Are we good, Fallon?” Max asks, and before I can answer, the door opens.

Ozzy walks in, and his eyes scan the room, immediately falling on me as I hold Journey at gunpoint.

“What the hell is going on?” He barks, that protective instinct kicking in as he strides across the room to my side.

“Just a misunderstanding,” Journey attempts to defend himself, but I shake my head, not letting him speak another word.

“He touched me while I was sleeping.” I stand firm, my hands beginning to sweat as I keep my grip tight on the pistol.

Just because Ozzy is here doesn’t mean I’ll back down. He fucked with me, and I’ll be the one to handle it. I don’t need my man to fight my battles every time, especially when it comes to sleazy guys who think a woman’s body is something they automatically have a right to.

Oliver pulls Ozzy aside, and I hear them whispering, but I don’t take my eyes off Journey. This is far from over, and I’m not letting him get away with disrespecting me.

“Ozzy, she’s got it all wrong, man.”

“Did you not just admit to touching her?” Lex asks, and Journey stumbles over his words, attempting to excuse his actions.

“Enough. I know what you said, and I felt your hands on my body. He is the only one who touches me, are we fucking clear?”

“We’re clear,” he says, raising his hands in surrender.

“One punch, Fallon. That’s how we settle shit,” Ozzy explains, and I toss the gun back on the table, focusing solely on my target.

I wind up, using every ounce of strength in my body, landing a hard punch to his gut, and instantly, he doubles over, holding his stomach while stumbling backward.

“Is it done?” Max asks, offering me a beer as everyone finally relaxes now that I’ve dropped the gun.

“If he fucks with me again?”

They all exchange a look, something I’m not privy to, but I wait patiently through their silent conversation.

“You handle it as you please,” Max answers, and I’m learning that he uses minimal words, but always gets the point across.

“Then it’s done.” I let myself relax, sipping from the beer bottle as I walk to Ozzy, wrapping my hands around his neck, and pulling him in for a kiss.

The power is still coursing through my body, and I raise the stakes a little higher, letting everyone know not to mess with Fallon Mariano.

“Fuck me to sleep?” I challenge a playful grin forming on my face.

The guys all laugh, and Ozzy doesn’t waste a second, tossing me over his shoulder and carrying me to the bedroom.

He slams the door shut behind us, locking it for good measure, and when he sets me on the floor, a fierce rage is behind his dark chocolate eyes.

“Are you okay?” He questions, an affirmative tone in his low voice that shoots fire through my bones.

“I’m fine. He had it coming.” I shrug, and he takes my cheeks in his hands.

“I’m so fucking proud of you. You’re a force, Fallon,” he says, kissing my forehead gently, letting his lips hover against my skin.

Everything clicks back into place now that Ozzy is in my arms again, and if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s me and him against the world.

Nobody touches me, except him.

Not a single person will ever reduce me to ashes, again, stealing pieces from me with their actions, words, or hands.

I’m unequivocally his , and have been ever since the moment he locked eyes with me across a crowded restaurant. He entered my life, planted seeds, and wrapped his vines around the darkest depths of my soul that nobody else has ever seen.

He made me his home, and unintentionally, but ever-so beautifully , I’ve done the same for him.

“Come here, Bambi,” Ozzy whispers, patting my side of the bed.

“I had no idea how to shoot that gun,” I confess, and his anger fades, a voluminous laugh erupting from his belly.

Not the kind of laugh that patronizes me, or makes me feel like an idiot, but the kind that makes me feel like I’m his equal, and he genuinely thinks I’m funny.

“What were you going to do with it?”

“I don’t know. Knock it into his teeth, probably,” I counter, shrugging my shoulders and he shakes his head.

“ My Bambi. My dream girl ,” he whispers against my neck, bringing me down and tucking his arm around me.

“Will you teach me? I want to be able to protect myself,” I plead, and he nods generously, almost like he didn’t need to give it a second thought.

“Absolutely, Fallon. He won’t mess with you again, that much I can guarantee.”

I know Ozzy won’t let Journey get away with how he behaved tonight, but I appreciate him letting me handle it, and trusting that I can stand up for myself.

“It’s not just about him. There was something … freeing about holding that weapon, being the one in charge. I liked it.” I let another confession slip, and he doesn’t judge me, or think it’s strange.

Instead, he just holds me while I speak, nodding along as I explain how taking my power back and defending myself has lit a new fire within me. It’s been a long road, but I feel confident in my abilities, and I’m not the scared little girl posing in front of a camera anymore.

Since I met Ozzy, I’ve noticed small changes about myself, things that I do a little differently than I used to, or pieces inside that don’t feel so broken anymore, and I think it’s because of him.

It’s almost as if something shifted, maybe even aligned, and I’ve taken a first-class transport to the life I feel was meant for me.

There’s only one thing I feel guilty about, and I refuse to fall asleep without confessing.

“Oliver told me a little more about Doc,” I say, and I feel Ozzy’s body stiffen under mine.

“Max let him talk about Doc in front of you?”

“Well, I asked, but Max left halfway through the conversation after the mutiny was mentioned,” I explain and he sits upright in bed.

“Oh, Fallon. I shouldn’t have left you wondering, searching for more information,” he sighs, raking his hands through his hair.

“Did I fuck something up?”

“No, it’s just … Max shot Doc. He carried out the mutiny clause, and it’s haunted him in more ways than one. He was like a father to all of us, but he also preyed on us. We were young and impressionable, and he took advantage, especially when it came to Masha. She was the first girl in the group, but she had mental health issues and a ton of trauma.” He shakes his head like he’s trapped in a memory, the pain prominent on his face.

The more I dig my heels in to learn about Doc, the more I regret it. The baggage that these men carry because of him is heavy, and my curiosity is starting to get the best of me.

“Masha’s family was extremely conservative, like a cult, and Doc found her sleeping at a train station. He offered her food, a place to sleep, and a job. From there she was a part of us, and I wish we had just sent her back to her family. She was a kid, barely eighteen, and there was no reason for her to have her hands in the dangerous shit we were into back then.” He pauses to collect himself, and wipes away the stray tears, but the sadness in his eyes is heavy.

I pull him close, running my hands through his hair, and placing gentle kisses on his cheeks.

“Ozzy –”

“No, Fallon. It’s time to be brave like you’ve been and tell you the whole story.” He holds a finger to my lips, and I nod, giving him the space to sort out his thoughts.

What he needs from me is patience, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give him. I’ll wait all night if that’s what helps him get this off his chest.

Sometimes, talking about our past helps the healing process, and I’m hoping that if Ozzy opens up, he can begin to move on from the chaos of Doc in life, and death.

“We choose our jobs now, ones that don’t require us to become hitmen … but Doc was all about the money, and more often than not, we had to draw blood to get paid.” He trails off, closing his eyes as if the memories are coming back to life in his mind.

“How many people have you …” I ask, choosing my words carefully, but before I can finish the question, he answers.

“Six.”

One thing about Ozzy is that he’ll always tell me the truth, without hesitation, and this time is no different. We’re still learning things about each other, but I feel we’ve moved past the stage where we’re afraid of our confessions.

There’s nothing he could say that would make me walk out that door, and I have the same confidence in him – and our dynamic.

I hold him close, knowing how much courage it took for him to admit that number aloud, and I want him to feel safe sharing something so complex, dangerous, and haunting with me.

“One day, when I’m brave enough to walk away from this life … I’m going to marry you, Fallon. We’re going to have beautiful babies, a big house, and maybe a cat, but it’s always you and me against this cruel world,” he whispers, and I can’t stop the tears from slipping down my cheeks.

“I’d marry you right now, Ozzy.”

“I’m sorry that you had to get involved in our shit tonight,” he says, but it’s my turn to shush him.

“I’d rather help you than see anything happen to you guys. Thank you for the wine, and dirty note, but Mick and Rae may be a lost cause now.” I sigh, and lifts me up, placing me in a straddling position on his lap, while he lays flat on the bed.

I steady myself with my palms flat on his chest, and he looks up at me, brushing the hair from my face.

“My only regret is the division I’ve caused between you and your friends, my beautiful girl . You and your fluffy little jammies were a very welcome addition to work, though.” He smiles, the sparkle returning to his eyes.

I stare down at him, taking note of the way his lips curl when he smiles at me, and the slight kink in his eyebrow where a small scar indents his skin.

“I feel so ridiculous in these, Rae bought them.” I tug at the silky fabric, wishing I’d changed into something else, but Ozzy smiles wickedly, his mind filling with other ideas.

“Really? I think they’re perfect, clinging to your skin, highlighting your curves … the daring choice to forgo a bra.” He smirks, pinching my nipples over the fabric.

“No panties, either,” I whisper, my lips hovering over his.

There’s been two days full of revelations, changed plans, and harsh realities since the last time our bodies met to make the magic that we do, and right now, I’m desperate for that connection.

“Oh, Bambi , I’m going to take my time with you tonight.” He drags his tongue along my neck, and my body is in overdrive, begging for even a tiny piece of him.

“ Wreck me, Ozzy ,” I say softly, grinding my hips on him, mirroring the ways I begged for him the first night we spent together.

There’s nothing more I want than to feel him inside me, claiming me as his, and showing me exactly who I belong to. It’s a certain roughness that I’ve come to love, and when his calloused hands mix with the silk draped over my body, it’s a new sensation that sends me over the edge, and I give myself to him in every way possible.

The element of danger that I endured tonight has taken control, and even though I promised Ozzy I’d never need to be a part of his world to be with him, there’s a piece of me that longs for the chance to do it again.

It’s been three days since the motorcycle heist, and Keith and Kevin haven’t reported it stolen. They think it was an inside job, but I’m not the suspect. The company that does our deliveries is Kevin’s primary target, and I’ve heard Keith mentioning ways that they can bargain to get the bike back.

It’s a dead end, but they don’t need to know that.

I was barely questioned, and the working theory is that someone hacked the system, which is true, but them believing I’m incapable of something so sinister is even better for my cover.

Today, I have to face Mick and Rae again, and they’re not messing around this time. I think they’re more suspicious of me than my actual bosses are, even if the bike hasn’t been reported to the police.

Ozzy is coming with me, mainly for support, because I have a feeling this may get ugly. I barely spent an hour with them before being whisked away by someone who was a stranger to them, and I know Mick will be out for blood.

“You okay, Fallon?

I sigh, searching for the words to explain how I’m feeling, but I can only shrug.

“I don’t know. I think I’m about to lose my friends, and the more my mind weighs on it, the more I’m okay with it. It’s been a constant battle since I met you, and they’re treating me like a child who can’t make her own decisions. It’s belittling.” I stare out the window, watching the trees pass as we take the familiar turns toward my building.

“You have a home with me, Fallon. If you want it,” he says softly, and my heart swells, knowing that he means every word.

“Thank you, Ozzy.” I stay quiet the rest of the ride, fidgeting with the strings on my sweatshirt, and preparing myself for battle.

I don’t want to fight, but it’s almost inevitable at this point.

Ozzy reaches for my hand and gently squeezes it to reassure me that he’s with me before coming around to open my door for me.

“My gentlemen,” I whisper, kissing him quickly before jumping down.

“You can face this, Bambi. I believe in you.” He walks a step ahead of me, holding the lobby door open and escorting me inside.

We take the stairs slowly, my way of stalling as long as possible, but I find comfort in the way his arm hovers near my lower back. Small gestures of affection – and protection – are Ozzy’s bread and butter, one of the very many reasons why I’m falling for him so hard.

It’s the only way I can rationalize what I’ve been doing, why I essentially ditched my entire life for a man who was a stranger, and I would be concerned, if it didn’t feel like the exact trajectory my life is supposed to take.

Falling in love – absolutely free-fucking-falling off the face of the Earth – with Ozzy is both the simplest, and most complex, form of pleasure I’ve experienced.

I’ve transformed since meeting him, blossoming into a stronger version of myself that I never knew was possible, and now, I find myself channeling that same strength.

With him beside me, I’m ready to face one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do: walk away from the only family I’ve ever known. My decision has been made, and I believe it’s for the best – for all of our sakes.

“Let’s do this,” I whisper, turning my key in the lock, and entering enemy territory.

Ozzy is one step behind me, closing the door, and acting as my protector.

“Hello?”

Mick comes out of her room, hands on her hips, with papers tucked by her side.

“You brought him?” She rolls her eyes, slightly laughing, and calling for Rae to join us.

“I did, yes. He’s got every right to witness whatever it is you two have up your sleeve.” I lean against the counter, tapping my fingers on the granite while we wait for the other half of the firing squad.

“Hi, Fal! Ozzy.” Rae smiles, bringing us both in for quick hugs.

“So, what did you guys want to talk about?” I cut right to the chase, not interested in watching the good cop, bad cop routine they’re putting on.

They exchange a look, darting their eyes to Ozzy, but there’s no way he’s leaving when I need him here for support.

“Where’d you go the other night?” Mick asks, getting straight to the point and all eyes fall on me.

I run my hands through my hair, sweeping the smaller pieces from my eyes in an attempt to mask them from rolling right out of my head.

“I helped him at work, like I said,” I say sternly, holding my ground, but Mick shakes her head.

“Kevin and Keith are my cousins, Fallon, did you forget who got you the job?” She spits, and I put on my best acting face, not giving her the satisfaction of being right.

“I know that, Mick. Why are you throwing that in my face after all this time?” I ask, and Ozzy takes my hand, squeezing gently.

Just then, it clicks .

They know what happened at the shop, and are accusing me – us – of being responsible.

“Did you steal a motorcycle from Keith’s, Fallon?” The room is silent, and I swallow the lump of bile forming in the back of my throat, knowing the fact that I’m a shit liar.

“Mick, you claim to know Fallon so well, do you think she’s capable of stealing from her job, and then continuing to show up for work?” Ozzy steps forward, defending me from the attack.

Rae looks around nervously, hating all the confrontation, but Mick is still in the center of the room, a look of disgust on her face as she latches her claws into Ozzy.

“This doesn’t concern you, and everything that’s wrong with her right now is because of you!” She yells, slapping the stack of papers she’s been holding on the counter with a smug look on her face.

We all fall silent as the sound echoes through the apartment, and there’s almost no room for her ego, it completely absorbs every inch of this place while she relishes in thinking she has the upper hand.

One thing about Mick is she can’t stand to be wrong, and I’m about to rain all over her fucking parade.

“You’re a fucking criminal. Should I read these aloud, or would you rather keep your past a secret?” Her eyes narrow, and she has a slight smile tipping up in the corner of her lips, thinking she won the battle by simply looking up Ozzy’s name on the internet.

I calmly walk over, taking the top piece off the stack and tearing it down the middle, watching as the words typed split into two.

“I already know about his past, Mick. You’re jumping to conclusions. Do you think a couple of charges on a piece of paper are enough to sway my mind?” I laugh, taking the rest of Ozzy’s past and handing it to him.

It’s his business, and he can do what he pleases with the invasion of privacy brought upon by Mick and Rae.

“Fallon, this is getting out of hand,” he whispers, shifting his attention to the girls.

“I’m not trying to get in between friends, but you’ve caused her a lot of pain with how you’ve treated her since we started seeing each other, and I won’t stand by and let you attack her this viciously.” He wraps his arm around me, places a kiss on my cheek, and turns back to face the girls, whose faces are riddled with total shock.

“I think it’s best if I just get my things,” I say softly, walking toward what used to be my bedroom.

“Fal, you don’t have to do this,” Rae speaks up, following a few steps behind me.

I close the door, looking into her baby-blue eyes, and attempt to find the words to tell her that this has nothing to do with her, and everything to do with Mick.

I can’t find my happy ending here, within the confines of these walls, but that is not because of Rae.

“You made this place home for me, you know that? You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met, and you took a chance on me, letting me move in here when I had nothing. I’ll always be grateful to you,” I say, tearing a few pieces of clothing off their hangers.

“I’m so sorry, Fallon. I never wanted it to come to this,” she whispers, pulling me in for a hug.

“I know, Rae. Still, we’re not going to get along. She thinks I’m a criminal, and will never accept Ozzy, no matter what I say.” I wipe the tears that have fallen, stepping back to find a suitcase for all my things.

“This will always be your home.” She kisses me on the cheek, slipping out of the room and giving me the space to breathe.

Shortly after Rae leaves, Ozzy knocks, offering to carry the suitcase and a few of my bigger items down to his truck.

“We’ll pack up anything you left behind, okay?” Rae smiles, blinking away the tears and bringing me back in for one more hug.

“Thanks. For everything,” I whisper in her ear before pulling away.

Mick stares at me with a disturbed look on her face, and I don’t wait to see if she says goodbye. I drop my key on the counter, brushing past the whiteboard we used to update our weekly schedules. I run the pad of my thumb across the pink marker that spells my name, erasing the remnants of what used to be a triple threat . I close the door on what feels like a completely different life and take the stairs toward the only place that has ever truly felt like home .

Still, the feeling of loss slowly begins to sink in as we drive away from the apartment, and I can’t stop the tears from trickling down my cheeks.

“Come here,” Ozzy whispers, patting the middle seat, and I slide under his arm.

My head rests against his chest as the reality of what just happened hits like a blow to the gut.

I met Mick and Rae two days after I moved here and we’ve been inseparable ever since. I’d never treat them this way, though, and for that reason, it was time for us to go our own way – for me to follow my heart.

Ozzy doesn’t pressure me to talk, or rush me out of the truck once we get back to the dealership. Instead, he holds me tightly as I cry, letting me mourn the loss of the only two friends I’ve ever had.

“It had to be done,” I say quietly, wiping the last of my tears and urging myself to move forward.

“What can I do to make this feel like home, Bambi?” Ozzy asks, breaking the silence and gently brushing the hair away from my eyes.

“All I need is you. You’re my home now, my only family.”

“ Tu sei la mia casa,” he breathes, his voice barely above a whisper.

For the first time, I open the door to the dealership without feeling like a guest. This place has changed me, and the people who are waiting inside might be some of the best I’ve ever met.

Ozzy carries my bags, and together, we unpack the suitcase, making room beside his things for mine.

It’s official.

We live together, and I no longer have to feel guilty, as if I belong in two different places.

I know now that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Ozzy hands me the papers that Mick printed, and I shake my head, the rage boiling back to the surface.

How fucking dare she? That’s all I could think at the moment, but now that we’re gone, I can speak my thoughts aloud.

“God, she’s so infuriating. I’m sorry, Ozzy.” I wrap my arms around him, feeling his heartbeat against my chest.

“There are a few things on here that I didn’t tell you, Fallon.” I look into his dark brown eyes, but what’s written on a police report from years ago is nothing compared to the man that I know deep down, inside and out.

I reach into his pocket for the lighter he always has, holding the flame to the paper.

After a few seconds it catches, and I watch as the embers engulf the ink in a plume of smoke.

I stomp the small fire out in the trash can, pouring a splash of water on the ashes and destroying any evidence of whatever happened in Ozzy’s past.

“You aren’t that person anymore,” I whisper, taking his face in my hands and stroking his cheek with my thumb.

“Oh, Bambi. I don’t deserve your grace,” he says softly, pressing his forehead to mine.

Nothing he’s done in his past would bother me, change my mind, or send me running. He could’ve tossed me aside like trash when I confessed the things my stepfather did, but instead, he showed me kindness, empathy, and made me believe I was worthy of being cared for.

I will always return that same sentiment to him, and then some.

“You’ve proven yourself to be the most loyal, gentle, and emotionally intelligent man that I’ve ever met. You’re strong enough to carry us both, but sometimes, it’s okay if I take the load for a bit. That’s why our dynamic is so special, and I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. It’s you and me, starting fresh, living together, and taking on the world.” I hold him tightly against me, afraid that if I let go, he’ll fall apart.

We hold each other together in ways that other people wouldn’t truly understand. An hour ago, I was the one in pure turmoil, sobbing in his arms with no relief in sight, but now, he’s the one who needs me to take care of him.

“It’s a new adventure, and I can’t wait to spend each and every single day with you. I genuinely believe you’re my perfect match, Fallon.” He breaks apart from me with a smile on his face, the sadness that plagued him a few minutes ago completely vanishing before my eyes.

“No more sadness, we’re celebrating!” He cheers, the excitement radiating off his body.

“Is everyone going to be okay with me living here?” I ask, suddenly afraid that I’ll be stepping on their bro toes.

It was different when I had my own place to go, and I feel like I’ve settled in nicely with the crew, but living here is a bit of a blurred line.

“They won’t care. We all pull our weight with the cleaning, shopping, and cooking, it’s very laid back,” he assures me, and I make mental notes of ways I can help out.

“What about you-know-who ?”

Ozzy sighs, flipping his hair into a bun, and stripping his shirt off, tossing it on the floor.

I watch in awe, attempting to keep my jaw from hitting the floor as his tanned muscles and back tattoo are on full display.

No matter how many times I’ve seen him naked, it’s a treat every single time. I’ve traced my fingers along every inch of him, studying him like my life depends on knowing every freckle on his skin, or how his scars vary in shape and size.

I’m an expert in all things Ozzy, but now that we’re living together, there are endless opportunities for me to absorb as much knowledge of him as I can handle.

I’m a nerdy student who never stops learning, and my subject is fascinating – almost addicting .

“Don’t worry about him, Bambi. We’ll deal with him if we have to, I promise you that. Now that you’re living here, if he even breathes in a way that makes you uncomfortable, I’ll gut him. No hesitation,” he says, a slight growl in his voice that sends a shiver through me.

His fierce, protective side sneaks out, and I can’t stop the heat that floods through my body, turning my cheeks a shade of pink that I know Ozzy can quickly decipher.

“I love you, you know that?” I tease, bringing him back into my arms.

He looks into my eyes, lightly stroking my cheek as he flips us over, climbing on top of me, and sitting on my legs.

“I love you, too, my beautiful girl .”

There’s a devilish grin on his face, as his eyes dart between mine, and down my chest.

“Fucking perfect, Bambi. Look at you, fully clothed on this bed, already making me hard. You like driving me wild, don’t you?” He says under his breath, seemingly to himself as he trails his fingers around the outline of my bra.

I wait in anticipation for what he will say or do next, my body nearly buzzing as he takes his sweet time deciding his first move.

When he finally decides, my jaw drops, and I’m a trembling mess as I watch him from the comfort of the mattress.

Never did I ever think I could be any more attracted to Ozzy, but when I see the blade in his hand, his knuckles white as they grip the handle, everything in me melts into a puddle of desire.

He’s in nothing but his boxers, looking like the fucking God I worship him as, and his rings glimmer in the light, drawing my attention from his body back to the knife.

The stainless steel has me in a trance, the euphoric sensations coming back to me as quickly as my ragged breaths.

I catch myself biting my lip before he’s even said or done anything, and when the tip of the blade touches the exposed skin on my belly, Ozzy never breaks eye contact.

He’s stuck on me, watching as a quiet moan slips from my lips, and my eyes gently fall shut.

Everything that comes after this moment will be the beginning of my new life, one that is full of darkness, sacrifice, and fucking insanity.

Magic or madness?

Heaven or sin?

It doesn’t matter because we’re all mad here .