Page 107 of Conquering Oz

“What are you doing here?”

“They fucking killed him. Murdered him.”

Oh God…Elodie had no idea who he was talking about, but clearly it had something to do with Oz. She shifted her gaze to the hallway. The chances of making it to the door were in her favor depending on how fast Garner was in his condition. The lock would cost her a few seconds.

“They took my nephew from me.” Garner’s eyes went wild as he approached, stopping a few feet away. He tapped his hand over his heart. “He was like a fucking son to me.”

Elodie darted her gaze around the room in search of some type of weapon to protect herself.

“They fucking killed him.” Garner’s voice echoed off the wall and she jumped.

“I’m so sorry, I…”

“Shut the fuck up.” He shouted.

She clamped her lips and without thinking, pressed her hand to her stomach. His gaze dropped, and he furrowed his brows. The thought was instant. Another lie. Or maybe it was the truth. But if Garner was invested in family, it might give her a fighting chance.

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted.

He winced and for a brief second, he showed some semblance of reality. This was good.

“Oz’s?”

She nodded.

His top lip curled, and his eyes darkened, losing all the warmth he’d shown a few seconds earlier. “Eye for an eye. He took my kid. Now I’m gonna take his.”

Her heart dropped as he reached into the waist of his pants. It happened as if in slow motion. When his jacket slid to the side and she saw his hand reach for the gun, she pushed off the counter, racing toward the hall. His footsteps pounded behind her. She grabbed a large granite piece of art from her entrance table. She turned and threw it directly at him. Garner’s reflexes worked in his favor, and he flattened himself against the wall. The piece whipped through the room and crashed through the window, shattering the glass.

It was a two-second reprieve, and she ran down the hall and into her bedroom. She closed the door and tried to turn the lock, but her hands were shaking so much, and the extra second cost her. He slammed into the room, the door nailing her in the temple and tossing her across the room. Elodie fell into her dresser and ultimately to the floor. A loud ringing sounded in her ears, and her vision was so blurry. She could barely make outanything beyond the silhouette coming toward her. She raised her arms, covering her face, but he gripped her shoulders and lifted her.

“Stop!” she screamed. “Help!”

It was her last-ditch effort to save herself. Garner pushed her onto the bed, knocking the wind out of her, and she gasped for breath. He straddled her stomach, pressing his hand with the gun against her throat. The cold metal sent a shiver through her body. He reached across the bed, grabbing her pillow. She flailed her arms as the pillow came down over her face. Her screams were muffled as panic set in. She kicked her legs trying to fight but he overpowered her.

She screamed with every last breath she had in her. But as her breathing shallowed, her head grew heavy.

Was this it?

It was her last thought before his weight was lifted. She thrashed, pulling the pillow from her face as a loud breaking crash sounded from the hall. She scrambled off the bed just as a man stepped inside the doorway.

“Fuck,” Ridge snapped and slowly moved toward her. He stopped a few feet away and bent down, holding up his hands. “Elle? I’m gonna help you okay?”

She nodded, and he gently grasped her arms, slowly guiding her to the bed.

“Have a seat.” Ridge nudged her slightly until she sat. He released her arms and angled his head. His eyes darkened, and he gently grasped her chin, turning her head.

“You’re bleeding. Does it hurt?”

She nodded, unable to speak.

“Alright, you just sit here. I’ll grab a cold washcloth.” Ridge walked out the door but kept it open. Seconds later she heard cabinets open and then the faucet. She had her eyes trained on the door. Her heart was beating too fast, and no matter how hardshe tried to settle down, she couldn’t. She focused on steadying her breathing.

Ridge walked back in and dropped to his knees. He pressed the cloth against her temple. She winced and tried to pull away.

“We’ve got to stop the bleeding.”

Elodie kept still and eventually held the cloth on her own. Ridge scanned her body.

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