Page 73 of A Way Out
“Lawyer fees,” Oz said tightly. “To change the kids’ last names. I wanted them to have my sister’s family’s name, not…”
“Their father’s?” Elaine suggested, faux sweetly.
Oz thinned his lips and did not respond to her goading.
“There are drug addicts in his family,” Elaine continued. “Someone he is close to. Someone who has regular contact with those children.”
“My cousin Carina,” Oz said tightly. “She’s a recovering addict.”
“She wasn’t recovering when she stole prescription medication from your mother less than two years ago.”
How had her mother found all of this information?
Tim. That was why she’d forced him to take Vic’s case. Because Tim was one of the best lawyers around. As Elaine was currently proving.
“You’re behind on your payments,” Elaine said. “Dangerously behind. Your mother is going to lose her house if you don’t do something soon.”
“What? You didn’t tell me that,” Maria said. She would have helped. Except, he’d refused her help, until he felt he couldn’t say no any longer. And even then, he hadn’t mentioned the debt. Only that he needed to support his mother and the kids.
Was it truly all a ploy to get her to fall in love with him? So she’d eventually marry him and then he’d have access to her inheritance?
Oh God, her mother couldn’t possibly be right. Could she?
Oz wasn’t capable of that, was he?
Was he?
“You shouldn’t be talking about this in front of Riley,” Oz ground out through clenched teeth. “Even a hoodlum like me knows that.”
Elaine arched one perfect brow.
Oz shook his head and shifted his glare to Maria. “I’m going to a hotel so I can crash for a few hours. If you want me to explain all of this to you, you can come find me. I’ll be on the not-rich side of town. But I’m only there until I head back to LA tomorrow morning. It’s your decision, Maria.”
He strode toward Vic, who stiffened, but all Oz did was crouch in front of Riley and spread his arms. Riley fell into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes.
Maria pressed her fingers to her mouth and willed herself not to cry.
“I’ll see you later, kid,” Oz said.
“I love you, Oz,” Riley replied.
Tears slid down Maria’s cheeks.
Oz did not glance her way as he stalked out of the room and a moment later, out the front door.
“You do not love that man,” Elaine scolded her granddaughter.
“Leave her alone,” Maria snapped.
Elaine’s eyes widened. Maria could count on one hand the number of times she’d ever talked back to her mother. And she wouldn’t use all the fingers.
“Leave,” Maria said, pointing at the foyer.
“This isn’t your house any longer,” Elaine said.
“You can’t have it both ways,” Maria replied. “Either you want us together or you don’t. Choose. Now.”
Elaine’s eyes widened once again. Maria held her breath. She honestly wasn’t sure how she’d prefer her mother to react to her ultimatum.
