Page 170 of Renard's Deliverance

“That’s because there’s nothing that needs fixing. There have been times where I don’t feel worthy of someone as amazing as you.”

She opened her mouth, likely to argue, but he placed a finger over her lips.

“But now I’ve decided, screw that. I’m keeping you.” He removed his fingers.

“You’re keeping me?” she repeated.

“Yep.”

“Good. Because I’m keeping you too. And that bit about you not being worthy is bullshit. You’re protective and kind under the gruffness. You’re smart and sexy and you cook like a dream. You’re worth everything good that comes your way.”

All he wanted was her.

“We should get you back into bed, though. You need to rest.”

She grasped hold of him. Tight. “I don’t want you to leave me.”

“Not going anywhere, Gem,” he told her gruffly. “Not going any-fucking-where.”

As he stood,cradling her close, Opal let that sense of safety wash over her. She hadn’t been certain that she’d ever feel safe again. But Renard seemed to have the ability to make her feel that way.

“Hope Stefan is rotting in hell,” he muttered as he carefully set her down in the bed.

She wouldn’t tell him this, but she might have overdone things as it felt like every part of her body hurt.

“Hopefully he is,” Opal told him. “If there’s a God at all, he will be.”

“Barney deserves to suffer too. He hurt you as well.”

“Don’t go after him, Renard.”

He grunted and she was well aware that wasn’t agreement.

“Renard, he’s been arrested. He’ll be convicted. That’s enough.”

“It’s not enough,” he growled. “He kidnapped and beat you. Terrified you and his aunt. The bastard should feel some of that terror that you felt.”

“I’m sure he’s feeling that right now. But here’s the thing, for all the terror that I felt while I was with him, I also had hope.”

“Hope?” he asked as he sat on the bed, facing her.

“Yeah, I had hope and I had faith. When I was with Stefan, I never had that. I thought that was going to be my life until he one day went too far and killed me. But this time, I knew you were out there searching for me. I knew that the Malones were raising hell trying to find me. That Jake would have all of his people searching. Didn’t quite realize the whole town would be on the rampage and neither did Barney. You all came for me and it showed me more than anything that I have people on my side. And that made all the difference. That’s why I could stay calm. Why I could help Mrs. G without losing myself to the fear. Because all of you were coming.”

“I always will come for you, baby. Always.”

“I know.” There was something she needed to explain though. “I know it sounds silly, but me wanting to do my makeup . . . well, my hair, clothes, and makeup are like armor for me.”

“I understand needing your armor, a way to protect yourself. I understand it more than you think. But you don’t need to wear that armor around me.”

“What if it’s about making me feel more like me?” she asked. “What if it feels like that’s one part of myself that he took that I wanna take back?”

He was silent for a long moment before nodding. “Then let’s get that back for you.”

* * *

Her hand shookas she attempted to contour, and the stick slid right down her cheek. She let out a noise of frustration. She was exhausted and shaky and sore and she just couldn’t get any of this right. Even her foundation looked wrong.

But she was determined to keep going because that bastard wasn’t taking this from her. A sob escaped and she tried to fight back her tears.

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