Page 28 of Oz Wisdom

"What are you requesting?" King wanted to know.

"Nothing. Just let her get back on her own two feet."

"You plan on giving her a job at the Landing?" King asked.

"No. She'll find her own,” Oz informed him.

“London will be happy. She said that girl worked like nobody's business,” Rash spoke up.

"She's not going back there either."

"Clear this up,” KO leaned forward. “Did you bring her back as your old lady or what?"

"I'm giving her a home and lending her my car until she gets her own. As a friend. A house mate. Whatever you wish to call it."

"Crazy. That's what I call it," Ghost jumped in.

"That may be true,” Oz agreed. "But she needs support and encouragement more than anything else right now. She must learn she doesn't need to depend on anyone else. Then she'll be confident and happy with herself. You know you can’t move forward until you have all your ducks together. I’m just helping round up those ducks.”

"A little praise goes a long way," Blade advised.

"I'm counting on that," Oz admitted.

"You've always done things the hard way. Just tell her how it's going to be and be done with it,” Cowboy said.

"Like you did? Hell, you thought we didn’t know you two were sneaking around,” Nova laughed, reminding Cowboy of his past. "If not for Oz manipulating the system and staying on top of things, she would be hitched to somebody else."

Cowboy laughed among the snickers of his brothers. "She does do what I say." He cocked his head toward Mac. "Isn't that what you said women do?"

"If she knows what's good for her," Mac joked.

Lola shook his head. "Y'all are sad. I didn’t need to manipulate Mia.”

"You just happened along when she was vulnerable and didn’t know better,” Brew told Lola.

"What can I say? I have perfect timing,” Lola agreed.

"All joking aside, what are you asking of us?" King pressed for clarity.

"Just give me some leeway. She's not a bad person. Only bad situations. I've gotten to know a different side of her. One I believe anyone has rarely witnessed. She’ll be separate from the club, but if you do see her, don't treat her any differently. She'll heal how she needs to and whatever happens will happen.”

***

Oz didn’t seem to notice the fading sun. Normally he would be appreciative of the darkening sky declaring another day lived. But tonight, his thoughts were back in Kansas City. Specifically, the Arison home. Their complete disregard for their daughter still boiled his blood as the encounter echoed through his mind.

“What kind of parents are you to turn away from your own daughter? Afraid your character will be proven a façade if the truth of the situation was under your roof?”

“Taylor is surely being dramatic,” Tenley had snapped.

Oz whirled on Tenley. “Hold up there, homewrecker.”

Mr. Arison stepped forward. “You can’t talk to my daughter like that.”

By this point, Oz was utilizing every ounce of power in himself to appear calm. “I’ll talk to her and to you any damn way I please. And if you take another step toward me, I’ll break your fucking neck.”

Mrs. Arison’s gasp did nothing to slow his rant. How dare she pretend to be innocent?

“You think she was being dramatic, being held against her will? Is that why no one looked for her during those long months she was missing? You thought she was being dramatic? Or were you afraid of the fact that your precious princess here tossed her to into the hands of the maniac who had her after she kicked her out of her home?”

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