Page 84 of Conquering Oz

Oz cupped his mouth, keeping his gaze trained on Sal but feeling Nash’s eyes on him. He was waiting for some type of reaction, knowing his connection to Elodie. Oz wouldn’t give anything away.

“You never fucking said anything?” Rogue asked.

“No.”

Trey cleared his throat, inching to the edge of his chair. “To anyone?”

Sal shook his head. “We don’t leave witnesses, Trey. If I’d told anyone, Elodie and her mother would no longer be breathing. A true silence courtesy of the Underground.”

“And Elodie never said anything?” Trey asked.

“As far as I know, no. Her mother passed away two years ago. Death changes people. Maybe she’s seeking me out, or…” Sal turned to Oz. “It was just coincidence we ran into oneanother. But one thing is for sure. And if I had any doubt before, our encounter today confirmed the truth. She knows who I am.”

Fuck!

Chapter Sixteen

It had been a long time since Elodie took a day off from the boutique. It hadn’t been planned, but Charley was available to cover the shift. She needed a day to get her mind straight after the encounter at the market. Seeing Sal Caruso again triggered all the memories. A few details were fuzzy, but she had a fairly clear picture when she remembered that day years ago.

Elodie was left with so many unanswered questions and missing pieces. Her mother never spoke of it, and the few times Elodie brought it up, her mother refused to engage. Growing up, Elodie rarely thought about it, putting it in the back of her mind until it became almost non-existent. A few months ago when she had been going through her mother’s belongings, she came across Sal Caruso’s name on a ledger. Her mother kept everything, including her banking statements. Like clockwork, a cash payment had been deposited monthly. In her mother’s handwriting, his name was penciled in beside the amount. It didn’t take much digging to find him. One small picture from years ago triggered all her memories.

Elodie may have had some information, but she wanted more. And she knew just who to go to.

She started up the walkway to the familiar house. Madalyn wasn’t home. She had an early doctor’s appointment with her mother and would be taking full advantage of her house-break with lunch.

Chris usually worked later in the day and into the evening. Elodie didn’t know his schedule, but she took a chance stoppingby. When she saw his truck in the driveway, she pulled in behind it.

Before she reached the top of the stairs, the door opened. Chris lifted his chin, eyeing her.

“Madalyn’s out with her mom. She had an appointment.”

Elodie sagged her shoulders and sighed dramatically. “That’s today? Oh damn.”

She wasn’t sure if she was pulling off the lie, but Chris didn’t seem to notice. She handed him a bag.

“This is her order from the market. They ran out of bread.” Elodie watched his jaw tighten. “And you get to be the one to tell her.”

Chris snorted, grabbing the edge of the door. “Thanks for dropping it off. I’m sure she’ll call you when she gets home.”

Elodie nodded but made no move to leave. Chris was a good man but not overly friendly. She needed a segue to keep this conversation going. She shifted on her feet, glancing past him and into the house. From her view she saw the television on in the background and a bottle on the coffee table.There it is.

“You need something else?”

Elodie smiled. “Well, I’m not gonna turn down a beer if you’re offering. And I won’t mention to Madz you’re breaking your pact of no alcohol while she’s pregnant.”

His brows furrowed, and his jaw squared. “That’s blackmail.”

“Yes, it is.”

Chris shook his head, but she caught the small smile on his lips as he widened the door. She walked inside and headed to the living room. She dropped her pocketbook on the recliner and sat. Chris walked into the kitchen and a minute later emerged with a bottle of beer. He offered it to her then sat across from her on the couch.

Elodie lifted the bottle. “Your secret is safe with me.” She took a swig and settled into the chair. “How’s work?”

He sipped his beer. “Good.”

“That’s good.” She took another sip. “Still working a lot of overtime?”

Chris cocked his head. “Yeah.”

---