Page 97 of Conquering Oz

No.She had no explanation of her own, but she couldn’t fathom the picture Chris just painted was the truth. Elodie bit her lip, shaking her head.

“No. You’re wrong,” she whispered. The second the words slipped past her lips, an onset of visions played in her mind. It was as if all the small things she’d questioned about Oz came at her in the form of a tsunami. The security, his authority, eating in the back room of the restaurant, Garner, his home. It hadn’t made sense, and she ignored it. But now? The blood drained from her face. Her head grew heavy, and she swayed. Elodie reached out, grabbed the back of the recliner, and dug her fingers into the leather. There had to be a mistake. She turned to Chris.

“I know him,” she whispered.

Elodie had bared her soul to him. She slept beside him feeling safer than she’d ever been.

Chris shook his head. “You don’t know anything about him, Elle. He’s not who you think he is.”

“Chris, I—” She drew in a breath, unsure of anything.

“A few years ago, we had this case. A wife reported her husband and brother missing. Had a few witnesses who saw them. These were good leads. The next day, the investigation was completely shut down. Couldn’t get answers from anyoneexcept a direct order to stop investigating. But I couldn’t let it go. So, I looked into it myself. Found out they were affiliated with organized crime. That’s when it all made sense. One of the first things I learned when joining the force is the Underground has their own rules. An unspoken code that if it happens in their world, they handle it. And we look the other way.” Chris dug his hands into his pockets. “But nothing happens in the Underground without Oz knowing about it.” Chris paused. “Nothing.”

*

Elodie should’ve waited until she’d processed everything. It had to be a mistake. Everything in her mind was hazy and blurred, but the facts were there. At least Chris’s facts. She’d never known him to be a liar and couldn’t figure out his motives. It didn’t make sense, nor did his claims. Oz, King of the Underground?No.

Elodie pulled into the back lot of the X-Lounge. The car was barely in park when she opened the door and got out.

While they hadn’t been together very long, sheknewhim. Elodie had opened up to Oz in a way she hadn’t with anyone else.I know him.

Then why not call him? Not once did she consider calling him with the information Chris had shared. That should’ve been her first indication of her wavering trust.

Shit.She dismissed that thought and banged on the back door. Elodie gave it a few seconds, then slammed her fist on the steel again. She heard a latch on the other side and stepped to the side. When the door opened, she rushed in not even bothering to look at security.

Security. She’d questioned it early on in her head. Why did a club owner need so many people watching his back? Her stomach twisted, and she quickened her steps to the elevator. She glanced up at the camera, and the doors immediatelyopened. The ride up to the second floor felt longer than usual. It would’ve been a good time to consider what she was going to say to him. But she didn’t. Her mind was racing with so many thoughts, Elodie could barely form a coherent one.

When the doors opened, she stalked toward the balcony. There were several of Oz’s security in the space, but they weren’t lined up like usual. Instead, they were casually scattered at a few tables and in small groups. She only went unnoticed a second before every set of eyes was on her.

“Where’s Oz?”

All the men immediately stood, but only three approached in formation. Ridge and Cy were on either side of Caine, who was a step ahead of them.

“I need to see him.”

Caine’s brows dipped in a tight scowl. “Is he expecting you?”

She shook her head. “No, but it’s important, and I want to see himnow.”

All three men stared down at her.

Ridge lifted his chin. “I’ll get him for you.”

She scanned the room. This was not the same scene she’d walked into minutes earlier. If they’d been on some type of break, it was officially over. She brushed her hair away from her face, hooking it behind her ear.

“Elle?”

She jerked her head and watched Nash stroll across the room. No urgency or much concern except for the small lines between his brows.

“I need to speak with Oz.”

Nash scanned her face. “He’s in a meeting right now. Why don’t—”

Before he could finish, Elle rushed toward him, grasping his forearm. It was a bold move. And possibly desperate. “It’s important. I really need to speak with himright now, Nash.”

“What’s wrong?”

Everything?Until she saw Oz and sorted it out, she wouldn’t be able to calm down. She needed answers only he could provide and lies he could debunk.

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