Page 158 of Renard's Deliverance

And then he saw a vehicle up ahead that was pulled over to the side of the road. The back of their truck was open.

Saxon hadn’t come to a stop before he was out of his vehicle and racing toward that truck. He ignored everyone’s yells at him to get back. To stop.

Then he saw her.

She stared at him out of one eye, the other was swollen shut. Her hair was a mess. So was her face and clothes. And her hands . . . her fucking hands were bound at the wrists and bleeding. One of them looked swollen, the fingers crooked.

But she was alive.

She was fucking alive.

“Gem,” he said in a choked voice. He reached for her, grabbing her just as she fainted in his arms.

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What was that strange noise?

Like someone sniffing. Who was doing that?

Where was she?

What was that smell?

And why did she feel so heavy and lethargic? She could barely gather up the energy needed to even open her eyes.

She got one eye open and glanced around. She had no idea why the other eye wouldn’t budge.

Strange. This place had a hospital feel. But why would she be in the hospital?

“Baby. Gem, you’re awake.” Renard sat up. Had he been leaning on the bed? He quickly swiped at his cheeks.

Wait. Had he been crying?

Why was he crying? Renard hated tears. And she assumed that included his own.

“What’s wrong?” she asked hoarsely. “Why were you crying?”

“Wasn’t crying,” he replied defensively. “Just had something in my eye.”

Well.

She knew all about pride so she wasn’t going to push him on that. Instead, she nodded sagely. “I get that. I seem to be having trouble with one of my eyes.”

And with her whole body if she was honest. It felt like she weighed a ton.

“Baby, you’re awake!” He stood suddenly and she let out a squeak of fear.

What was that about?

She wasn’t afraid of Renard.

Suddenly, she started to feel anxious. Opal didn’t like feeling this way. As though her tummy was filled with knots and she couldn’t breathe properly.

There was something going on . . . oh God.

That’s why she was in the hospital. Why she felt like she’d been run over by a truck and trailer.

And why she couldn’t think.

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