Page 185 of Renard's Deliverance

Uh-oh. She wasn’t liking this.

“What the fuck is going on?” Renard demanded.

“Opal?” Mrs. G called out as she crossed the street and headed toward her house.

“Let me out.” She pushed at Renard.

“No.”

“Renard, it’s Mrs. G!”

“Fuck.” He stepped further forward, then reached back to gently grab her. Keeping himself between her and the agents, as though he fully expected them to make a grab for her, he helped her down off the porch.

Then she moved swiftly to Mrs. G who was halfway across the lawn. Reaching her, she carefully took the older woman into her arms.

“How you doin’, Mrs. G?”

“Good as can be expected, I guess,” the older woman grumbled. “Elvis isn’t much of a cook, but he makes a good cup of coffee.”

Opal glanced over the older woman’s shoulder at Elvis. He had to be close to eighty, was stooped, and moved extremely slow.

And he had the sweetest smile she’d ever seen.

“Elvis, how’s it going?” she asked.

“Can’t complain, Opal,” he replied.

“Thanks for looking after Mrs. G.”

“He doesn’t look after me,” Mrs. G complained. “I look after him.”

Elvis winked at Opal.

“Want to tell us what’s going on? Why are all these people cluttering up our quiet street?” Mrs. G, said. “Don’t you boys know it’s after five? Some of us want to eat our dinner in peace.”

“Sorry, ma’am,” Eli said. “This is FBI business and we need to ask you to move on.”

“FBI business?” Mrs. G asked. “Why would the FBI be here? And the sheriff and a deputy? Wait, I know you. You’re a Jones boy. Both of you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Eli said. “But perhaps we could ask you to go back home.”

“Can’t go home, boy. I was kidnapped and assaulted in my home. Imbecile.” She turned to Opal. “Is this about Barney?”

“They said it’s not. But they haven’t said what it is about,” she said.

“Well, spit it out, boy,” Mrs. G said.

“We cannot speak about this here,” Eli said. “Opal, you’ll have to come with us.”

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Renard said, stomping over to her side.

“Especially since you won’t say why you are here!” Mrs. G said, just as a series of cars and trucks headed down the street.

Opal watched in shock as a number of people climbed out of the vehicles. All of the Malones were there except for Flick and Scarlett, who she guessed were looking after the kids.

Next, she spotted Laken, Savannah, Max, and Logan as well as Lila and her men.

Then there was Saxon and Remington as well as Devon and a few regulars from Dirty Delights.

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