Chapter Nineteen
Elodie rolled her neck and covered her yawn. It felt like days since she’d had a good night’s rest. It had been a long two days. She’d holed up in her apartment, closed the store on the ruse of a family emergency, and didn’t leave. Less than an hour after returning from the X-Lounge, she opened her father’s file. It was thick and a lot to go through. Countless pages of crimes and accusations. Each one was worse than the last.
She was still coming to terms with what she’d learned and the betrayal she’d felt. He knew. Elodie couldn’t wrap her mind around it. She needed an explanation. Or did she? She’d been avoiding all of Oz’s calls. There was nothing he could say to rectify the situation. He’d lied. Maybe not in so many words. But the trust was lost, and it left her reeling.
And broken-hearted. It was a feeling she tried her best to shove into the background. Impossible. As much as she wanted to walk away and never think of him again, she loved him. This is so fucked-up. She was torn between what she wanted and what was right. Were they the same? She stared down at the folder and papers spread across her coffee table. She needed to step away and process everything. It was over, for now.
Elodie got up from the couch and headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready. Unfortunately, with short notice, none of the girls were scheduled. It meant she’d be on the floor all day. Like a gift from above, in the afternoon Charley showed up with a bowl of soup. She’d been under the impression the store had still been closed. She insisted on staying and working a few hours to relieve Elodie.
“Thanks for coming in.” Elodie folded her arms, leaning against the counter as Charley buttoned her jacket. “And for staying. Pretty sure I would’ve closed early without you.”
Charley smiled, peeking over. “I’m always available, Elle. But um…” Charley paused and rocked back on her feet. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure, because there’s a bug going around, and you look a little pale, and…” Charley clamped her lips together, and her cheeks pinkened. She waved her hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say you don’t look good. Of course, you always do and…”
“Charley.” Elodie chuckled and grasped hold of her hand. “I just have a lot going on. And now that you mention it, I’ve been extremely tired, so maybe I am coming down with something.”
Elodie had felt a little off, and battling exhaustion and bouts of nausea, which she chalked up to the events with Oz. She needed to take better care of herself. I’m all I’ve got.
“I appreciate your concern, but I promise I’m okay.”
Charley walked to the door just as a customer was walking in. Dammit . Her brain was in a complete fog, and she’d forgotten to flip the “Closed” sign over. Charley widened the door and looked back at Elodie with a shaky smile.
Elodie held up her hand and winked, mouthing, “It’s fine.”
The woman walked in, but Elodie was so focused on Charley she only saw a flash of blonde hair before a display blocked her from view.
Charley gave a short wave and walked out. Elodie made a beeline for the front of the store, securing the lock and flipping the sign. She was in no position to turn away customers, but she wouldn’t be inviting any in after hours. The woman’s back was to Elodie, and she eyed her as she returned to the counter.
“Let me know if I can help you with anything.”
The woman stilled and slowly turned.
“Hello, Elodie. I’m not sure if you remember me.”
Elodie mustered up a smile and gave a nod. “I do. It’s nice seeing you again, Camille.”
Camille eyed her and cocked her head. “You can call me Cam. No one calls me Camille except Oz. He’s got a fixation on formal names. If I remember correctly, most people call you” —she flattened her lips— “Elle, right?”
“Yes.”
Camille chuckled, glancing over at the jewelry display. She slipped her fingers under a gold chain. It was dainty and fragile, and Camille treated it gently. Elodie didn’t feel as though she was in danger, but she wasn’t entirely comfortable.
“I haven’t seen you in here before.”
“First time. You have beautiful things.”
“Thank you. Is there something in particular you’re looking for?”
Camille drew up her finger, pointing. “You.”
An unsettling vibe suffused the room. She was sensing Oz had downplayed his relationship with Camille. Why else would a random ex-employee show up at her boutique? Elodie maneuvered around the counter and peered out the window. It hadn’t gone unnoticed. Camille looked over at the door and windows. With the exception of a couple passing by, the road was empty.
Camille said all the right things and looked the part, but Elodie sensed something was off. It was too random that she’d show up at her store just as she was closing and alone.
“I’m scaring you.” Camille’s voice was soft.
Elodie snorted and shook her head.
“No.”
Camille smiled. “Good. Because it’s not my intention.”
Interesting.
“What is your intention?”
Camille chuckled softly. “I’m out of practice with this. I might’ve lost my touch.”
Elodie eyed the woman, suspiciously. She had no idea what Camille was talking about. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask, but she got sidetracked when Camille moved toward her. She’d lost a bit of her confidence from when she’d initially walked in. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Camille tucked her hands in her pockets and stared across the room.
“Did Oz send you?”
“No,” Camille blurted, and her cheeks pinkened. “Trey asked that I come by. I think he was worried.”
Trey? Elodie furrowed her brows and rounded the counter. “Why would Trey be concerned about me?”
“He’s an empath, though I’m sure he’d deny it.” Camille chuckled. “I think it stems from Oz’s concern.”
“I haven’t spoken to Oz in days.”
Camille raised her brows. “Exactly.”
What?
“Did Oz tell you about me after the night we met?” Camille asked.
“He said he’d known you a while. That you’d worked for him, but he didn’t go in to detail.”
Camille snorted, shaking her head. “Still protecting me after all these years.”
Protecting her? Elodie felt a bubble of jealousy race through her veins. Camille’s comment was making her wonder the extent of their relationship. But she wouldn’t ask.
“Your relationship with Oz is none of my business.”
“I think it is.”
Jesus Christ. Did Camille think being subjected to a background of her relationship with a man she loved was a good thing? Elodie was shutting this down right now for her own sanity.
“Camille, I think…”
“Cam.”
Elodie cleared her throat, growing increasingly annoyed by the second.
“Cam, I have no interest in your past relationship. And it is none of my business, especially since I don’t have a current relationship with him.”
Camille’s smile faltered, and she approached the counter. “I’ve been with Oz since I was twelve.”
What. The. Fuck? Elodie’s mouth fell open, and her stomach twisted.
“Excuse me?”
Camille must have read her face. She quickly held up her hand. “Not the way you’re thinking. I’ve been working for Oz since I was twelve. He took me in. In a sense, he kind of raised me.”
What?
“I was with my uncle at the time, and he set up a meeting to sell” —Camille cleared her throat— “product to Oz.”
Product?
Elodie furrowed her brows. “What was he selling?”
Camille flattened her lips and stared down at the floor. Her voice was almost too soft to hear. But Elodie heard it. “Me.”
Elodie’s heart dropped to her stomach in a strangling twist, staring back at Camille. Her head was hung low, as if in shame. Her body seemed to curl inward, making her appear smaller than the woman who’d walked through the door.
“He didn’t tell you?” Camille’s voice was soft.
“No,” Elodie whispered, circling around the counter. As she got closer, Camille stepped back, looked up, and smiled. It was forced. An attempt to help Elodie feel at ease.
“I’m not really surprised. Oz is good at keeping secrets. Everyone’s. He’s like a vault. It’s impossible to get anything out of him.” Camille snorted. “Not that many people try.”
I did.
Elodie drove her hand through her hair, angling her head and staring at Camille.
“When he took me in, I was scared. With my uncle I kind of knew what to expect. But here was a total stranger. They all were—Oz, Rogue, and Trey. I was so anxious waiting for them to unleash on me like my uncle. Minutes, hours, days.” Camille paused. “I waited for it. But it never came.”
“You were twelve?”
Camille nodded, sighing. “Yeah.”
“What happened after Oz took you in?”
“He set me up in an apartment. I can still smell the lemon fragrance. It was so clean, and I wasn’t used to that. I barely slept the first few nights and refused to eat because I thought for sure they’d drugged my food. That’s how my uncle kept me in line. After the second day, Oz came to the apartment and sat with me until I ate. He actually took a few bites as if to show me it was safe. I probably would’ve starved myself if he hadn’t done that.” She snorted. “In more ways than one, he saved me.”
Camille was painting a picture of the Oz she knew, not the leader of the Underground.
“And then you started working for him?”
Camille smiled. “Yeah.”
“Doing what? You were only twelve.”
“I did a lot of cleaning. The office, the club. When I got a little older, I started counting cash. He set up a bank account and paid me each week. At eighteen, he handed it over to me, along with a choice. He was giving me an out.”
“That’s when you left?” Elodie asked.
Camille shook her head. “No. I stayed. It’s where I felt safe. Until I met Tracer, my husband. Oz gave me the choice again. Then I left.”
It was such a personal, tragic story. It wasn’t meant for strangers’ ears.
Elodie swallowed the knot in her throat. “Why are you telling me this?”
Camille glanced up. “Because not many people see the real Oz. He doesn’t show it except to a select few. I’m thinking you’re one of them.”
The shop was drowned in silence.
“I should get going. Tracer has me on a strict schedule. For a man so put together, he’s a nervous wreck since I got pregnant. Browsing at a boutique at ten is going to be a hard lie to pull off.” Camille laughed and started toward the door.
Elodie glanced over at the jewelry display, locking eyes on the dainty necklace Camille had been eyeing.
“Wait,” she snapped and rushed to the display, grabbing the necklace. She glanced over her shoulder to find Camille stopped in the middle of the store. She waved her to the counter and placed the necklace down. She bent over, grabbing a handful of tissue paper and gingerly wrapped it and placed it in a small bag.
“Now you have evidence you went shopping,” Elodie said, handing Camille the bag.
Camille stared at her hand but didn’t take it.
“I can pay for it.”
Elodie was shaking her head before Camille was finished talking.
“It’s a gift.”
She took the bag, smiling. “Thank you.”
Elodie nodded and rounded the counter, walking Camille to the door. She unlocked it and opened it wide.
“Thanks for stopping by and” —Elodie sighed, leaning against the door— “sharing with me.”
Elodie recognized how much courage and love Camille had for Oz to open up to a complete stranger.
Camille took a few steps and slowly turned.
“Not everything is as it seems in the Underground. You’d be surprised at the amount of humanity you’ll find there.” Camille clamped her lips and started to the car parked at the front of the store. Elodie closed the door but stayed in front of the window, watching until Cam’s taillights disappeared down the road.
****
The last place Oz wanted to be was in the basement of the safe house questioning a liar. What was the point? There was only one outcome. It didn’t matter what the man said or offered. But still, he tried.
“If I tell you where my uncle is hiding” —Karl gulped— “will you let me go?”
The room was silent. No amount of betrayal was bigger than this. Garner was willing to go against the Underground for this kid, and Karl was eager to throw him under the bus to save himself. There was no honor in this move, especially since it was Garner who’d done everything to spare his nephew. Karl’s fate was sealed the second he’d opened his mouth to the authorities. No one could save him from the wrath of the Underground.
Oz shared a look with Trey and lifted his chin. Trey stepped forward, standing in front of Karl. He’d already been worked over, bleeding from his mouth, cheek, and temple. The bruising was covered by his clothes, but Oz knew there’d be welts all over his body. That was the price one paid for betraying the Underground.
“Where is he?” Trey asked.
Karl gulped, shifting his gaze around the room at the men. “You’ll let me go?”
Trey shrugged. “Why not.”
“He’s out of state, up north. There’s a house off exit eighteen. Get off the highway, make a left. About two miles down, there’s a bend in the road. The driveway is on the left. He’s probably got about ten guys with him. No cameras, but he’ll have it heavily guarded.”
Fucking traitor.
Trey glanced back at Oz, and he gave a sharp nod. One move was all it took for every man in the room to withdraw their weapons and aim them directly at Karl. His eyes widened, and he scooted back to the wall on his knees.
“You said you’d let me go,” he pleaded.
Rogue stepped forward. “We fucking lied.” The shot rang out through the room. Only one was necessary, but Rogue shot again and again. Karl’s lifeless body lay on the floor with blood pooling around his head and chest. There was no need to check for a pulse. Rogue walked toward the corner of the room, passing Oz.
“That was a bit over the top.” Oz narrowed his gaze.
Rogue grinned. “That was me being nice.”
True.
Oz resisted the urge to smile and walked out with Nash by his side. He hadn’t expected Trey to follow him.
“Have you spoken to Elle?”
Oz clenched his jaw. He had twenty-four-hour security on her building with strict instructions. If she left, they were to follow. It had nothing to do with concern she’d go to the police. He just needed her safe. As of now, she had yet to leave the apartment, and her store had only opened today.
Oz didn’t know how to approach her or the situation. But of one thing he was certain. Elodie was his, and he’d find a way to make it right with her. For now, he’d give her space.
“No,” Oz said and turned to Trey. “And neither you nor Rogue will go above me on this. If I find out you did, there will be consequences.”
“ I wouldn’t,” Trey said.
Oz’s gaze shifted over his shoulder to Rogue, who was walking out of the house. “And you make sure he doesn’t.”
Oz got into the SUV and glanced down at his phone. Still no call from her.
Fuck!