Page 46 of Renard's Deliverance

“So why are you here?” Beau asked.

“I got a call from a neighbor with some concerns,” Jake explained.

“What neighbor?” Raid asked.

“It will be Mrs. Gingers,” Tanner said. “She was a problem when we were moving Opal in, remember? Complaining about the noise, the people, the cars.”

“Yeah, but everyone complains about the noise when we’re all together,” Raid said. “What’s she got to complain about now? Opal isn’t causing any trouble.”

“Well, I could be,” Opal said. Then she glanced at Jake. “But I’m not.”

“No one said Opal was causing trouble,” Jake said.

“Then what is there to complain about?” Tanner demanded. “And how come that light wasn’t working? We only installed it a couple of months ago.”

“It was smashed up,” Renard said. “And the old shrew was complaining about me because I told her off for calling Opal a trollop.”

“Renard,” she chided.

“What?” What was wrong with her? Why was she acting so quiet and almost scared? He turned so he was blocking her from the rest of them, then took a few steps forward so she was forced to back up until they were out of earshot. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

Here was something else he didn’t like.

Lies.

She could lie to whoever she wanted. She wanted to lie to the sheriff? To the Malones? He’d back her up, no problem.

But he didn’t like her lying to him.

“Don’t lie to me. You want me to get rid of them? I will. They’re all annoying the shit out of me so it will be a pleasure.”

She frowned up at him. “No.”

He eyed her. “What are you worried about? The sheriff? He’s not a bad cop. The shrew? She’s all hot wind. The Malones? Sure, they’re annoying but mostly they’re okay. You don’t need to take any shit from anyone.”

“Right. You’re right.” She straightened her shoulders, some attitude coming back into her face.

“That’s my girl.” Then he wished those words back.

She wasn’t his girl.

And he didn’t want that. Nope.

“I mean, my friend.”

Shit.

She gave him a strange look before stepping around him. Renard turned. Tanner, Beau, and Raid were staring at her with a mix of concern and confusion. While Jake just looked serious.

“Jake, I’m really sorry Mrs. Gingers called you out here,” Opal said. “She’s been a pain in the ass ever since I moved in. But I don’t think there’s any reason to call the cops when Renard was just defending me. He would never harm a woman.”

“I didn’t think he would or he wouldn’t be living here.”

Renard made a scoffing noise.

“Guys, I’m fine.” She turned to Tanner and the others. “Renard helped me with the security light there was no need to call in the fucking cavalry.”

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