Page 14 of Renard's Deliverance

She knew someone fighting inner demons when she saw them.

And that was a man who had some demons.

The way he’d stared at that glass of rum . . . like it was his worst nightmare and yet held the answers to life’s biggest questions.

Yeah.

She understood that all too well.

There had been a time when she’d tried to quiet the screaming in her mind with all sorts of things.

Drugs.

Drink.

Sex.

None of it had worked. The only time she’d come close was when she submitted. But it was nearly impossible for her to find a partner who she trusted enough to let go with. Still, she kept going back to Saxon’s in the hope that someone would be able to step up.

Moving to the bar, she took the diet soda that Devon handed her.

“That stuff will rot your teeth,” Renard said from behind her. “And your brain.”

Turning, she drank down the soda in front of him.

Was it a red flag in front of a bull?

You bet.

Ask her if she cared?

You do, though, don’t you?

Caring was a real bitch. When you didn’t care, you didn’t get hurt. Unfortunately for Opal, she now had three people she had to take care of.

And she was worried that number would grow with every day she spent here. Yet, when she tried to get up the gumption to leave, she just kept thinking about Lilac, Ryleigh, and baby Kye.

And she couldn’t fucking do it.

Finishing off the glass, she let out a satisfied sigh. She half-expected him to give her a disgusted look.

Definitely an impatient one.

She could certainly test the patience of a saint. She’d heard that often enough.

Instead, he just raised his eyebrows. “You finished being a brat?”

Opal swallowed heavily. She could be a bit of a brat, but a lot of the time it was an act.

A shield to keep people away.

“Just enjoying my drink.”

“I’m taking her home,” he said, glancing over her shoulder to where she could feel Devon was standing.

Um.

Say what?

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