Page 73 of Renard's Deliverance

Now she was in bed, leaning back against the headboard with pillows propping her up. She claimed it was the most comfortable position.

He plugged in her heating pad that she had by the side of the bed and placed it behind her back before helping her settle back in.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t need to thank me, Gem,” he said gruffly. “The shower helped, so will the heat, but you need drugs.”

“I know.” Shadows crossed her face. “But I just . . . I don’t know that I can trust myself to have them in the house.”

Hmm.

Didn’t trust herself?

That told him something he didn’t much like.

“Talk to me, Gem,” he ordered gruffly.

“Do you know much about what brought me, Ryleigh, and Lilac to Haven?”

“Guessing it had to do with Ryleigh being a long-lost Malone daughter? You just can’t make up this sort of shit.”

“You sure fucking can’t,” Opal agreed. “We came to Haven because we hoped that her brothers were decent people who would help us. Or, at least, protect her. Lilac and I were prepared for the fact that we might have to keep running. Hiding. But we couldn’t keep going with Kye. He needed stability. A home.”

“The Malones were always going to take care of all of you. They might be wild, but they’re all about family and loyalty and all of that shit.”

“Tell me about it. If I’d known I was going to be an honorary Malone, I might never have come here.”

Well, add that to the hundred and eighty-three things he didn’t like. The idea of her not being here.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he growled.

Her eyebrows rose. “You’re awfully demanding for someone who doesn’t want anything long-term.”

Well, fuck.

Yeah. He could see the hypocrisy considering he planned on leaving.

But he still didn’t want her going anywhere.

“I don’t like the idea of you not being here, where you’re safe.”

With me.

However, he bit back that last part. And then wished he hadn’t as her smile drooped slightly. She rallied, hiding her disappointment.

But he still felt lower than a pig’s belly.

“I’m not . . . I’m not going anywhere. Because this place, even though I still think it’s some sort of crazy cult, it’s the safest I’ve ever felt. The most accepted. I think this’ll surprise you, but I’m not actually everyone’s cup of tea.” She grinned as though she expected him to agree, to join in the joke.

“Who the hell said you weren’t their cup of tea,” he demanded.

“Lots of people, darlin’. I get it and I don’t care. I am who I am.”

“Anyone tells you that again, I want to know.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

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