Page 99 of Conquering Oz

Sal shook his head. “He wasn’t a good guy, Elodie.”

Says the murderer.

Elodie scoffed. “I’m sure there are plenty of people who would say the same thing about you.”

The corner of his mouth curled and he slowly nodded.

“Without a doubt, honey.” He settled in his seat, pointing at her. “You’ve done your homework, I see.”

Elodie stiffened, gripping her hands in her lap. She wouldn’t give up any information or how she’d gotten it. Elodie needed to craft her words carefully to avoid drawing attention to her uncle and Chris.

“You killed my father.” Heat rose through her body, and she lifted her gaze, glaring. “In front of me.”

Sal’s gaze softened. “You weren’t supposed to be there.”

“But I was!” she snapped. “You have no remorse?”

“For what you witnessed? Yes. But not for taking him out. He wasn’t a good man.” Sal raised his brows and leaned forward. “You knew him better than most people. Tell me I’m wrong.”

What?She snorted, shaking her head.

“Tell me, Elodie.”

She glanced up at Sal.

“You tell me I’m wrong.”

I can’t.

“I’m not going to give you validation for what you did so you can clear your conscience.”

“My conscience is clear, honey. Your father got exactly what he deserved, and while you may not want to acknowledge it, which I understand, the death of your father made your world a whole lot safer.” His gaze softened. “I’m sure your mother would agree.”

She clenched her jaw. Her uncle’s words played over in her head.Killing him probably saved her life.

Elodie had so many emotions rolling through her. And it all stemmed back to Oz. As if she’d been smacked in the face with a two by four, a new realization emerged. She slowly turned to Oz.

“You knew.”

****

You knew.

Oz steeled his features, squaring his jaw.

She glanced up, visibly shaken. “You never asked forhisname because” —her eyes welled, and her throat bobbed— “because you knew.”

Getting everything out in the open had been his main objective. With it all laid out in front of him, he was seeing the depths of her pain even more so than when she’d told him. In her eyes, he’d betrayed her. Oz knew firsthand it was something people rarely came back from or could forgive.

“Yes.”

Her gaze was pained. “You let me tell you that whole story when you knew everything.”

Oz straightened in his seat, pinning her in his stare. “I didn’t knowyourstory.”

Elodie snorted and jumped up from the couch. She pointed at Sal but kept her glare locked on him. “He mercilessly beat my father and then shot him to death in my childhood living room. Didhetell you that?”

“He didn’t have to.” Oz fisted his glass, knowing the next words out of his mouth would destroy her. “I was there.”

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