Page 55 of Conquering Oz

And there it was. Quinn saw Rogue very differently than anyone else. Not only did she accept his brother for who he was, Quinn appreciated it and embraced him.

“You know that saying, ‘when someone shows you who they are, believe them?’”

Oz was familiar, though he wasn’t sure where Quinn was going with it.

?“I think it’s true for most people.” She paused, tucking her hands under her thighs and staring at the carpet. “But sometimes people show you what they want you to see. It’s a shield to protect themselves. And I think if you look really hard and see behind what they’re showing, you might see something different. I’m not blind to what Rogue shows the world.” She peeked up. “But I get the real him.”

Oz took a deep drag from his cigar, staring back at his brother’s wife. She immediately darted her eyes around the room before settling on the carpet once again. If he’d chosen a woman for Rogue, it wouldn’t have been Quinn.And I would’ve been wrong.

She tapped her foot and peered up through her lashes. “Do you want to share anything with me?”

No.

His face must’ve said it all because she lost her smile and tension marred her forehead.

He never gave anyone anything personal about him. But for her? “I have a cat.”

Her eyes widened. “You do?”

Trust me, Quinn, nobody is more fucking surprised than I am.“Yes. It was a stray who wandered onto my property, and I kept it.”

It was a half-truth.The asshole won’t leave. Fucking cats.

“So, you’re an animal lover too?”

Hardly.“No.”

She knitted her brows briefly then recovered quickly and scooted to the edge of the couch.

“Does he have a name?”

There was a gleam in her eyes. It was probably the first time Quinn let her guard down in front of him.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

He could’ve easily answered. It would have been the right thing to do. But Oz always had a hidden agenda, and this was no different.

“No.”

Quinn blinked and cocked her head. “You’re not going to tell me?”

“No. But he wears a collar with his name on it. If you accept the offer to come over with Rogue, then you can read it for yourself.”

Oz had bestowed an open invitation to his home to both Dahlia and Quinn. It was his way of showing acceptance. Dahlia took full advantage. Quinn did not.

Her gaze softened, and she slowly nodded but didn’t say a word. Unlike Dahlia, who’d embraced all of them wholeheartedly, Quinn was hesitant. Two different women, opposite pasts, and very unique connections to the Underground. Quinn was still finding her way into their family. It wasn’t much, butthiswas his olive branch.

“What the fuck is going on?”

Rogue was standing in the doorway. His brother darted his gaze between him and Quinn. Trey stepped up next to him and cocked his brow. Oz was sure it was a sight. He’d never been alone in a room with Quinn, just the two of them.

“We were just chatting.” Quinn jumped up from the couch and rushed to Rogue. She grabbed his waist and lifted on her toes, kissing him. “I’m going to get something to eat.” Just before she disappeared past the wall, she looked over her shoulder and smiled directly at Oz.

“I really want to meet your cat.”

Oz narrowed his gaze, and lowered his chin. It was progress.

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