Page 45 of Conquering Oz

“It’ll just take a minute. I think there’s been a misunderstanding, and I’d like to get it rectified before…”

Oz placed his drink on the table, glaring at him with a direct warning.Shut the fuck up.Garner clamped his lips but made no move to walk away. Oz had two choices. He could have Garner physically removed. Or he could take the quick meeting. Usually, Oz never allowed his hand to be forced. He glanced over at Elodie, who sat silently with her hands in her lap. She offered him a smile. It was clear she was reading the tension, and it was putting her on edge. A physical altercation would only heighten her fear.

Oz grabbed the edge of the table. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

She held up her hands, and he saw the relief flash over her features. “Absolutely. Take your time.”

Oz stood and gestured for Garner to follow. Oz knew the entire layout of the restaurant. There was a private room in the back. It was isolated. Cyrus opened the door and stepped back as Oz walked in with Garner behind him. A few seconds later, the door closed. Oz turned toward Garner, who’d just noticed that Ridge and Nash had entered the room with them as well.

Garner was a seasoned member of the Underground and had worked for years under Oz, and Sal before him. There was a certain level of trust. Garner had fractured that, and he wouldn’t be given the courtesy of a private meeting.

“This is a misunderstanding, Oz.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I hadherpermission,” Garner snapped.

Oz narrowed his gaze and squared his jaw. “You didn’t have mine.”

Garner clamped his mouth and circled the small area, shifting his gaze to Nash and Ridge. Even being a higher-ranking member of the Underground didn’t mean he didn’t have to abide by all of Oz’s rules. No one was given concessions, especially someone who knew better than to cross Oz.

Garner sharpened his glare. He was set to go head-to-head with him. Oz welcomed it.You won’t fucking win.

“My plan was to transport just through Inez’s territory, and make the rest of the haul outside state lines.”

“Inmystate.” Oz folded his arms. “You’ve been doing this too long not to know while it’s her territory, it’s my state. That means anything coming over the state lines requires my permission.” Oz narrowed his gaze. “And compensation.”

“I’ll make good on the money. Just name the price.”

There weren’t many aspects of running the Underground that he enjoyed, per se. But this was one of them.

“I’ve already been compensated.”

Garner furrowed his brows and looked over at Nash. “I don’t…”

Nash smiled. “We have the shipment along with the thirty-five thousand in cash. Oz found that to be an even trade.”

Garner’s face paled. “That’s Polinski’s.”

“Yes, I know,” Oz said, and Garner jerked his head. “I spoke to him ahead of what would’ve been the delivery. I informed him that his product was in my possession. He was not happy, as you can imagine. However, he proved to be quite the businessman. I never understood his strict rule about not laying out the cash ahead of delivery.” Oz straightened, eyeing Garner. “It certainly worked out for him on this deal.”

“This is a fucking trifecta, Oz.”

“That isn’t my problem, nor is it Polinski’s.” He pointed at Garner. “It’s yours.”

If Garner hadn’t prepaid for the shipment, it meant he’d bartered a deal with the distributor. Garner would’ve taken his cut, but without payment, he essentially owed money, and it would come out of his pocket. It would be a hard and expensive loss.

Consequences.

Garner gripped his hips, lowered his chin, and muttered, “Fuck.”

The room was drowned in silence as the seconds ticked by.

“I’ll buy it back from you.”

The corner of Oz’s mouth curled as he started toward the door. “It’s not for sale.”

This meeting was over.

---