Page 46 of Conquering Oz

“Oz!” he blurted. “And Karl? I know you’re looking for him.”

Oz slowly turned, eyeing the man. “Same rules for him. Anything that happens in my state, I’m compensated. Where is he?”

Garner clamped his lips, and Oz arched his brow.

“I’ll handle it.”

“He was selling on the side. You know that? Dipping into Polinski’s transport for his own gain. Unless you knew about his extracurricular activities, then I’m led to believe he was taking money from you as well. You may not take issue with that.” Oz hardened his glare. “But I do.”

“Oz.” Garner growled and clenched his jaw. He was losing a bit of his control. “He’s my nephew, like a son to me and part of my crew.”

Oz scoffed, sharing a look with Nash. Desperation came in all forms. While Oz could respect Garner for wanting to spare his nephew the wrath of the Underground, it wasn’t an option.

“Do you know what I see? A man trying to help his family. In any other case, it would be considered noble.” Oz leveled him with his eyes. “However, since you’re the same man who brought him in, I don’t think that applies to you.”

Garner’s face turned red, and his jaw squared. Oz had hit a nerve. He lunged forward. Ridge and Nash immediately rushed forward. While Oz was surrounded by security, he rarely needed it. Oz could handle himself. And he did.

He reached out, grabbed Garner by the throat, and slammed him into the wall.

“Coming at me will only get you one thing.” Oz tightened his grasp on Garner’s neck. “Is thatreallywhat you want?”

Garner’s throat bobbed against Oz’s palm, and his face turned a dark shade of red as he gasped for a breath. A few minutes. That was all it would take to squeeze the life out of him. Oz dug the pads of his fingers into Garner’s flesh.

“It’s your sole responsibility to make sure those working under you have a grasp on how we do things. Your nephew? He made a mistake. Now he has to answer for it. To me. Do you understand?”

Garner scowled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he shot a harsh glare at Oz. The Underground was built strong and deadly. Garner was no different. But at some point even the strongest had to cave into defeat. This was a battle Garner couldn’t win. Oz slowly loosened his grip, but not before giving the other man a shove against the wall.

“You deliver him, or we find him,” Oz said, hearing the soft gasping of breath. “But your nephew will answer to me.”

Oz dropped his hand to his side and turned, lifted his chin to Ridge, who opened the door. He stalked to the end of the hallway, just a few feet from the dining room where Elodie was waiting.

Oz glanced back at Nash. “Find his nephew.”

It was a direct order, and one he knew Nash would make a priority. Oz had no doubt Garner would play a pivotal role in hiding him.

Oz returned to the table, and when he was a foot away, Elodie glanced up, smiling.

“Is everything okay?”

Oz sat down. “Yes.”

The encounter with Garner changed the mood for the whole evening. Oz didn’t have many expectations for the night, but it didn’t go as he’d planned. It seemed with Garner’s interruption came her silence. Just another reason why when they found Karl, he’d make him suffer more.

The food came out shortly after. He noticed her peek up from her plate a few times, but conversation was minimal. Her energy had shifted since he’d come back to the table. She mentioned the food being some of the best she’d ever had and made small talk about the décor of the private room. It was all surface level chatter. For his part, Oz didn’t add much. He was still harboring anger over Garner’s intrusion.

When the check arrived, it was placed in front of him, and he watched as she stretched her arm to grab it. Oz was quicker, wrapping his hand over her wrist. The second he touched her skin, a fire raced through his veins. It was no secret to him he wanted to fuck her. He’d made it known the first night he’d laid eyes on her. Elodie in his bed had been a given, merely put on hold until he found out her identity. He may not have acted on it, but it hadn’t changed his desire. He wanted her.

Her lips parted when he slid his thumb over her racing pulse. The chemistry between them was undeniable.

“My treat, remember?”

He dug the pads of his fingers into her skin. Not hard enough to hurt her but strong enough to make his message clear. “Let it go.”

“But…”

“Elodie.” He growled.

The corner of her mouth spiked, and her gaze heated. In a restaurant full of people, it was not the look she should be giving him.

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