Page 90 of Conquering Oz

Oz lifted his cigar to his lips, eyeing Rogue, whose brows shot up. He was clearly reading between the lines.

“Wait, hold the fuck up.” Rogue’s lip curled. “Are you fucking her?”

The heat shot through his veins, and he sent a sharp warning glare at his brother. “Watch yourself, Rogue.”

Rogue snorted, which rolled into a laugh. “Well, that’s a fucking yes.”

“Rogue,” Trey snapped.

“I’m not missing the opportunity to point out the fucking irony here.” Rogue smirked. “Weren’t you the one who told me I needed to do a better jobvettingthe women I take to my bed?”

Rogue’s gloating was weighing on his last nerve, but Oz kept his composure.

Oz found his own irony in this conversation and didn’t hesitate to point it out. “As I recall, neither of you were very forthcoming with Dahlia or Quinn.”

“They also didn’t have a vendetta against Sal. Well, this gives new fucking meaning to keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” Rogue taunted.

“And what vendetta would that be exactly?” Oz glanced over at Nash, who stood quietly. “Please share once again with my brother. We didn’t find any connection between her and Sal,at the time.”

“But there is one, Oz. You weren’t there that night at the restaurant. She fucking knew Sal. That bitch had nothing but silent venom for him.”

“Watch your fucking mouth, Rogue.” Oz snapped, pointing at his brother. “That’s the last warning you get.”

The room was drowned in silence. It was rare Oz ever lost his temper, but he wouldn’t allow anyone, including his brother, to call her anything other than her name.

“When did you end it with her?” Trey asked but Oz kept his glare directed at Rogue.

“I didn’t.”

Rogue’s lips twisted. “You’re not gonna cut her loose, are you?”

It was the moment of truth and Oz didn’t hesitate.

“No.”

Rogue snorted and spread out his arms. “Then what’s the fucking plan, Oz? Sal told you the connection, and you’re fucking tied to it.Youtook one of the shots at her father. You think if that ever comes to light she’s not gonna care? Piece of shit as he was, it’s her fucking dad. It takes a whole lot of forgiveness in your fucking heart for that one.”

His delivery needed work, but Rogue had a point. Oz cupped his mouth, tapping the ashes from his cigar into the ashtray.

“That’s not necessarily true.”

Oz glanced over at Nash, who stood ten feet away. Up until now, he’d been silent, merely observing.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Rogue asked.

Nash stepped forward. “You don’t hold it against Quinn for playing a part in the Killcreek member’s death, do you?”

“That’s fucking different.”

Nash shrugged. “Fair enough. Would you hold it against Quinn if she killed your parents knowing the type of people they were?”

It was an interesting twist, but one Rogue could relate to.

“I’m fucking done with this conversation,” Rogue snapped without answering the question, though they all knew the answer. Neither Rogue nor Oz would’ve held a grudge against anyone who took out their parents.

Rogue stalked through the room, stopping beside Nash.

“Next fucking meeting, you’re not invited.”

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