Page 33 of Oz Wisdom

She did and again he found himself smiling, intrigued by her enthusiasm.

"She already ordering you around?" King teased.

"She wants me to check out a used car.”

"And she asked you?” Mac laughed.

"I do nothing unless she asks,” Oz told them.

"Finally learning to be a hard ass?"

Oz shook his head. "Leaving that to you. She's had things handed to her for her entire life until Drifter. Then she had everything stripped away, including her voice. She’s learning to accept help and ask for it.”

"Alright daddy," Mac joked.

"Maybe it's Daddy,” King laughed, slapping his shoulder.

"It's a friend," Oz corrected.

"Ask Nova how that friend zone plays out.” King shook his head. “When you bringing her around?"

"Not."

King straightened and spun to face Oz. "Talk to me."

"You know she had a bad experience with a club. She didn’t want to come back here. Much less have anything to do with a club.”

"That it?"

Oz took a deep breath. "Not comfortable here. Doesn't feel welcome."

King crossed his arms over his chest. "Reasons for that?”

"She's working on it." Oz paused and chose his words carefully. "Not all lessons are easy. But they must be done in her time to be beneficial.”

King only gave a nod and returned to what he was doing.

"Where we going?" Mac asked Oz.

Oz cocked his head toward his brother.

"I'm sure you want your friend to get the best car for her money.”

Oz huffed a laugh and relayed the car lot where Taylor had said she was heading to.

Mac's brows popped up. "I've had a few cars come in from there to be checked. I know his scam. And he intimidates easily.”

"Then let's go."

***

“Here we are,” Oz announced pulling into a small car lot.

“That it?” Mac asked.

Oz studied Taylor walking around a blue car and nodded. “Yeah. Must be.”

Oz caught a slight change in the salesman's stance as he and Mac stepped from their bikes and strolled toward her. "Hey darlin’ what did you find?"

---