Page 114 of Conquering Oz

“Murder.”

“Or? Vigilante justice?” Chris paced around the store, staring off. “Your father had a long record. Is it possible his death was retribution for something he’d done?”

Elodie had to be careful with her words. She may not be part of the Underground but she’d do her part to keep Oz and thoseclose to him safe. Elodie wouldn’t give Chris any information on Oz. Or Sal.

She shrugged with a soft smile. “Anything’s possible.”

Chris snorted. “Yeah.”

He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I’m not the bad guy here, Elle.”

I know.

Chris slid his hand over her arm and up to her shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze. This conversation and theory would forever be buried. As it should be.

“Madalyn’s going to call you later and invite you to dinner on Monday. She’s got something she wants to ask you. She’s really excited so don’t let her down. Show up.”

She smiled. “I’ll clear my schedule.”

He grasped the back of his neck and sighed. “I need a favor, Elle.”

“Anything.”

“She’s gonna insist you bring Oz. I’m asking you not to.”

Elodie may have accepted Oz into her life, but she understood Chris’s reservations. Everything he knew of Oz was criminal and dangerous. He was doing what any good man would do given this scenario. Chris was protecting his family. Elodie couldn’t fault him even if she disagreed.

“Okay.”

Chris nodded and started toward the door.

“Oh hey, what can I bring?”

He halted and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m grilling steaks with baked potatoes. Madalyn’s making a salad.”

“What about dessert? I saw this recipe for…”

“She’s making cheesecake.”

Elodie’s mouth watered. “Okay, what about an appetizer? I just saw this thing online. It’s a queso dip with chorizo and…”

“I’m making wings.”

At this point, she was running out of things to offer.

“Chris, I want to bring something.”

He sighed and gripped his hips. “Fuck, please don’t.”

What the…

She gasped. “Why not?”

“Because you can’t cook, Elle. I know it, Madalyn knows it. The only one who doesn’t know is you. Okay? And every time you bring something, my wife forces me to eat it.”

What? Admittedly, she wasn’t the best cook but certainly not the worst.Right?

“Madalyn had never said anything bad about my cooking.”

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