Page 187 of Renard's Deliverance

Opal sucked in a breath. Was he threatening Mrs. G?

All of a sudden everyone who was crowded around started to speak up.

“She was with me!” Butch Malone cried.

“And I was with him,” Raid added, pointing at Butch. “So, really, she was with both of us.”

“And I saw her that day too,” Mr. Oldsman cried out.

“All of you! Be quiet!” Eli said, holding his hands up.

They all ignored him.

“Pork Chop and I saw her too!” Clem cried. Her pig let out a snort as though in agreement and started to stomp toward Eli.

Eli didn’t falter, to his credit. He just stood there and stared at the pig.

Suddenly, Duncan let out a wolf whistle and everyone fell silent.

“What the fuck do you feed that?” Kellan asked Clem.

“Language, young man,” Mrs. G scolded Kellan.

“Dead people,” Clem answered with a grin. “But don’t worry, they were all mean.”

Opal stared at everyone in amazement. “What are you all doing?”

“We’re defending you, dear,” Elvis said. “Grace told me how you put yourself between her and her awful nephew.”

“You didn’t leave her behind when you could have to escape,” Mr. Oldsman called out.

“And you’re one of us,” Jaret told her.

“Means we come when you need us,” Maddox said with a dark scowl at Eli Jones.

Yikes.

“You’re part of Haven, Opal,” Laken told her. “And you’re our friend.”

“Shit. I don’t wanna cry,” she said.

Renard pulled her against him, and she buried her face into his chest.

“Look. I get you all care about Opal. But we still need to question her and before you all give me false alibis, you should know that the date in question is three years ago. When none of you knew her.”

Three years ago?

She frowned. “What date?”

“August tenth,” Kellan replied, giving her a serious look.

Well.

Fuck.

“What is it?” Renard whispered. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I think I might be in trouble.”

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