Chapter Twenty-Two
Oh shit!
It would’ve been easy to avoid going onto the sales floor had she not sent Saylor home early. It was currently her biggest regret. Elodie eyed the man on the video cameras from the back. He looked so out of place. He’d only been inside of the store once, at the request of his wife.
My best friend.
Elodie watched Chris arch his neck, looking toward the back hallway. There was no evading him. Elodie circled around her desk and inhaled, prepping herself. She walked out and stifled a smile when he furrowed his brows at the sensual candles lined up on the counter.
“Well, this is a surprise.” Elle forced a smile, rounding the counter. “But don’t even think about trying to make a purchase. One, as I told your stubborn wife, I’m not taking any money from you guys. And two, in her current state of building a baby, she won’t fit in these clothes, and Chris, there’s nothing worse than giving a woman an article of clothing meant for when her body bounces back .”
Elodie laughed, waiting for him to join in. Chris, while serious by nature, usually gave in to her jokes with at least a semblance of humor. Not this time.
Elle eyed him standing in the center of her boutique. Something was clearly off. A surge of panic raced through her veins, and she rushed forward.
“What’s wrong? Madalyn? The baby? Tell me!”
Chris grasped his hips and sighed. “They’re fine. Of course, you’d know that if you’d stopped by yesterday.”
Elodie flattened her lips, forming a tight smile. “One of the girls called out, so I had to close.”
Chris slowly nodded. “She mentioned that, among other things.”
It was a valid excuse for her absence. And it was a lie. Elodie had every intention of going over to Madalyn’s house until she found out Chris wasn’t working. She was purposely avoiding him since their last conversation.
“What other things?”
He scowled. “Congratulations are in order? I take it you’re still with Oz.”
She rested her hand on her flat stomach. “Yes.”
Chris snorted, pacing around her shop. “It’s all Madz can talk about.”
Elodie had told her best friend a week ago. Madalyn had been just as excited, if not more than Elodie. She talked nonstop about how their children would grow up together and be best friends. Madalyn painted a beautiful picture. However, she obviously wasn’t aware of how Chris felt about the situation.
“She’s excited. But I don’t expect you to be.”
He glanced up and stared at her stomach. “I’m worried about you.”
His heart was in the right place, and she appreciated the concern. But it wouldn’t change anything.
“Nothing to worry about. I know your thoughts on Oz. And you’re entitled to them. And I’m entitled to mine. So if you’re here to, I don’t know, try and change my mind about him or argue about my decision to be with him? You’re wasting your time.”
Chris scoffed, shaking his head. “Known you long enough, Elle. Not a man alive can make you do anything you don’t want. And it’s not my place to try.”
She furrowed her brows, scanning his face. This seemed like a resolution of sorts. But there was something bothering him. She walked around the counter and stopped near the display case a few feet away.
“Then what’s with the surprise visit that I’m assuming Madalyn knows nothing about?”
Chris dug his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t tell her, but I’m not asking you to keep a secret. After I leave if you want to call her, then I’m good with that. And if you don’t, your secret is safe with me.”
Secret? Before she had a chance to ask, Chris cleared his throat and turned toward her.
“You never mention anything about your dad.”
What? This might’ve come completely out of left field months ago. But now? It was suspicious. Elodie shifted on her feet and clamped her lips.
“I asked Madalyn about him, but she didn’t know many details. She made a point of telling me that under no circumstance was I to ask you about him.”
Madalyn had always been a protector of secrets. It wasn’t a secret her father was murdered. It helped that she didn’t share his last name. It put distance between their connection. However, there was never a way to escape all the whispers. Who doesn’t love gossip?
It was imperative to change the subject.
“And yet here you are asking, and in turn defying your wife’s request. I could use this as leverage, Chris.” Elodie chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood. It worked. Momentarily.
Chris smiled and folded his arms. “You really didn’t know about the connection between Oz and Sal Caruso before I told you. Did you?”
Finally, a question she could answer honestly. “No.”
“Then why the interest in Caruso?” Chris cocked his brow. “Did you think he had something to do with your father’s murder?”
What?
She mentally debated on answering. Flipping it back on him was her best line of defense in answering any further questions.
“You said yourself Sal was never a suspect in any homicide investigations.”
“Not on paper, no.”
Elodie clasped her hands and shrugged. “There you have it.”
“I looked into your father’s case. You know what I found strange?”
Oh shit! She needed to shut this down.
She parted her lips, but Chris held up his hand, “His death should’ve been solved considering all the factors. Broad daylight, an active family neighborhood with plenty of stay-at-home mothers. People were around that day. Witnesses. And no one could give any information.” Chris folded his arms. “No one saw anything, heard anything. He was shot two times, Elle, and no one heard anything.”
She raised her brows. “It happens every day.”
“What does?”
“Murder.”
“Or? Vigilante justice?” Chris paced around the store, staring off. “Your father had a long record. Is it possible his death was retribution for something he’d done?”
Elodie had to be careful with her words. She may not be part of the Underground but she’d do her part to keep Oz and those close to him safe. Elodie wouldn’t give Chris any information on Oz. Or Sal.
She shrugged with a soft smile. “Anything’s possible.”
Chris snorted. “Yeah.”
He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I’m not the bad guy here, Elle.”
I know.
Chris slid his hand over her arm and up to her shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze. This conversation and theory would forever be buried. As it should be.
“Madalyn’s going to call you later and invite you to dinner on Monday. She’s got something she wants to ask you. She’s really excited so don’t let her down. Show up.”
She smiled. “I’ll clear my schedule.”
He grasped the back of his neck and sighed. “I need a favor, Elle.”
“Anything.”
“She’s gonna insist you bring Oz. I’m asking you not to.”
Elodie may have accepted Oz into her life, but she understood Chris’s reservations. Everything he knew of Oz was criminal and dangerous. He was doing what any good man would do given this scenario. Chris was protecting his family. Elodie couldn’t fault him even if she disagreed.
“Okay.”
Chris nodded and started toward the door.
“Oh hey, what can I bring?”
He halted and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m grilling steaks with baked potatoes. Madalyn’s making a salad.”
“What about dessert? I saw this recipe for…”
“She’s making cheesecake.”
Elodie’s mouth watered. “Okay, what about an appetizer? I just saw this thing online. It’s a queso dip with chorizo and…”
“I’m making wings.”
At this point, she was running out of things to offer.
“Chris, I want to bring something.”
He sighed and gripped his hips. “Fuck, please don’t.”
What the…
She gasped. “Why not?”
“Because you can’t cook, Elle. I know it, Madalyn knows it. The only one who doesn’t know is you. Okay? And every time you bring something, my wife forces me to eat it.”
What? Admittedly, she wasn’t the best cook but certainly not the worst. Right?
“Madalyn had never said anything bad about my cooking.”
He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Yeah because she doesn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
Elodie scoffed, folding her arms. “I see you have no problem doing that.”
Chris’s lips twitched. He gave a short wave and walked out the door.
Elodie waited a few minutes and grabbed her phone. Chris’s suspicions weren’t necessarily alarming but she wanted Oz aware. She tapped the screen and brought the phone to her ear.
As she’d promised Oz, there would be no secrets between them.
****
While life had settled down, there were still issues to be addressed. Elodie’s call informing him of Chris’s visit was one of them. Oz wasn’t too concerned. He mentioned it to Rogue and Trey during their meeting. He was careful to lay out all the details of Elodie’s friendship with the couple. It gave a background that would ease their minds. Madalyn and Chris were family to her which in turn gained them protection from the Underground.
As expected, Trey was far more accepting than his brother.
“Now, we’re fucking protecting cops?”
Oz narrowed his gaze. “Elodie’s family is under our protection.”
Rogue scoffed and shook his head. “And what makes you think this motherfucker can be trusted?”
“I didn’t suggest, we trust him. He voiced his suspicions to Elodie and she shut him down.” Oz eyed both men. “He won’t be a problem.”
Trey lifted his hand. “I’m not questioning how you want to handle this, Oz. But you’re putting a lot of faith into someone we don’t know.”
Oz understood Trey’s concern. It was valid.
“You’re underestimating Elodie’s friendship with his wife. To them, Elodie is family. He didn’t tell her as a threat. He’s worried about her. He wants her safe.” Oz arched his brow. “In that respect, we’re all on the same side.”
Oz grabbed his cigar from the ashtray. “Anything else?”
“We’ll be checking out the new poker house next week. Are you available to join us?” Trey asked.
Oz nodded. He’d make a point of being there.
“Have there been any issues with Killcreek?”
Trey shook his head but Rogue seemed to have a different opinion.
“Yeah, they’re fucking assholes. That’s my issue.”
Oz didn’t bother engaging with Rogue on the topic.
“Then, I guess we’re done.” Oz stood, heading to his desk.
Rogue stopped midway through the room. “She hasn’t reached out to Sal.”
Oz drew in a breath, fisting his glass. He was well aware of that fact. Pushing Elodie wasn’t an option, and even Sal had insisted she be the one to decide to reach out to him. But it had been three weeks.
“Sal and I have both agreed she’ll do it on her terms.”
“When?” Rogue snapped.
His brother wasn’t known for his patience but Oz wouldn’t allow Elodie to be pressured. However, he understood Rogue’s stand. Sal was their family and that would never change. Elodie needed to find common ground with him. But for now…
“When she’s ready.”