Page 193 of Renard's Deliverance

“Messy,” Kellan said.

Worry filled her.

“Breathe, sweetheart,” Jardin told her.

She glanced at Jardin. But he didn’t look worried and she forced herself to breathe.

“So now you know the truth. Opal was defending her mother from a rapist. And it wasn’t the blow to the head that killed him. He was suffocated after she left. Likely by one of Stefan Masters’ goons.”

Eli and Kellan shared a look.

“It’s not that we don’t believe you, but you know who the victim’s father is. He’s not going to let this go without someone going to jail for the death of his son.”

“That person isn’t going to be Opal,” Jardin said firmly. “His son was killed by one of Stefan Masters’ goons.”

“And you have no proof of that,” Eli spat out. “How are we supposed to keep her safe from this with conjecture?”

Keep her safe?

“You want to keep me safe?” she asked quietly.

“Of course we do,” Kellan told her. “We’re not the bad guys. Fuck, we don’t even want to be looking into this asshole’s murder. By all accounts, the world is a better place without him. But our boss is under pressure from his boss. And then his boss, who is the fucking President. We cannot shield her from this.”

“You can’t,” Jardin said with a small smile. “But I can.”

Eli shook his head. “There’s no way. Not unless we find the person who killed him and he fucking confesses. Not likely to happen. And she’s still liable for assault. Even if she was defending her mother.”

“Just wait,” Jardin said.

She gave him another worried look, but he winked at her. “It’s all good, sweetheart.”

“Do you call all your clients sweetheart?” she asked.

“Nope.”

Then Eli’s phone rang. They all looked at it. He picked it up and left the room. He was back in a few minutes, looking pale. He gaped at Jardin. “How did you do it?”

Jardin stood and held out a hand to her. She slid her hand into his and let him help her stand. “I take it that we’re free to go.”

“How did you do it?” Eli asked.

“Sometimes, the good guys get to win. Also, Grey Lindon is a complete asshole and a stupid one. He needs to make sure that people can’t get hold of his dirty secrets and use them against him. Like the fact that he had to bribe a college to ensure that his son was accepted, then pay off a number of girls on campus not to talk about the assaults they suffered at that fuckwad’s hands. Some of those girls are very willing to go to the press with stories of their treatment if their safety is guaranteed and their pockets lined.”

Holy heck.

“Let’s just say that Grey Lindon has decided to let the soul of his son rest. In hell. Oh, and you can expect an eyewitness account from someone who saw Stefan Masters smother Mark Lindon. Just so this can all be wrapped up in a bow.”

Wow. Regent Malone was a freaking miracle worker.

“Regent found one of Masters men?” Eli asked, looking shocked.

“I didn’t say that.” Jardin moved toward the door, tugging her gently behind him. “Come on, Opal. Let’s go get your man before he storms in here and gets himself arrested.”

Shit.

Yeah. She had to get to Renard.

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