Page 45 of Renard's Deliverance

“Not me. I don’t need Malone help. I can get myself in and out of trouble on my own,” Renard said.

“Truer words were never spoken,” Jake replied.

“Sheriff! What are you doing here?” Tanner asked as he walked around to stand by Opal. “You okay, Opal?”

Renard frowned, not liking the implication that he couldn’t keep her safe and happy. “Of course she is.”

The Malone men glared at him. Renard just raised his eyebrows. They didn’t intimidate him.

“We were asking Opal,” Raid said. “You all right, Opal?”

Opal opened her mouth.

“What are you doing here, Renard?” Tanner asked before Opal could speak.

“I came to replace the security light for Opal. It was broken.”

Tanner frowned down at her. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come and replaced it for you.”

“Or me,” Raid added.

“Me too,” Beau said.

“I, uh . . . I . . .” Opal looked overwhelmed.

He didn’t like that.

There were a lot of things that Renard didn’t like, but it turned out that Opal being upset was something hereallydidn’t like.

In fact, it made him feel a bit murderous.

“You’re upsetting her,” he said.

“We are? She doesn’t look upset,” Raid said.

“Why would that make her upset?” Tanner asked. “Opal, how come you didn’t call?”

Calm.

You’re in control.

“Renard,” Jake warned, clearly seeing that he was getting upset.

“You all need to stop talking over her and let her speak,” he informed them.

There. That was civilized, right?

“Or else I’ll have to throat punch the three of you so you have to shut up and listen.”

Ah, well.

He’d tried.

Opal gaped up at him. “Do you always choose violence?”

He shrugged. It was a legit question, he just didn’t have an answer.

“Nobody is throat punching anyone,” Jake said firmly. “I do not want any threats or trouble. All of you need to calm down.”

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