Page 85 of Renard's Deliverance

Shit.

“Nothing to do with Renard. I mean, the tweaking had nothing to do with him. He helped me home and . . . stayed and why am I telling you all this? I’m not a fucking teenager who snuck a boy over.”

To her shock, Alec’s lips twitched. “Nope. You’re not. Just want to make sure you’re safe. And happy.”

“Jeez, this town. Something in the water, I tell ya.” But she owed him this truth and she owed it to Renard, too. Glancing up, she looked right at him. “But I am happy and safe. Renard kept me that way.”

“Then I owe you thanks,” Alec said to Renard.

“None needed seeing as I’m now gonna be Opal’s guardian.”

“Wait, what?” Jake asked. “You are?”

“Yep. We’re together,” Renard said. “So, Malone, good of you to come, sorry it was a waste of your time. But I’ve got her.”

He had her?

She nearly groaned. Alec Malone wasn’t a man that you just dismissed like that.

She knew because she’d tried.

“You’ve got her? Well, that’s good to know. Opal? That’s what you want?” Alec asked.

She took a deep breath. She could say no.

But she didn’t want to.

“It is. Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate all that you’ve done for me, though, Alec.”

Alec waved a hand through the air, silencing her. “I’ve done hardly anything. Nothing that I wouldn’t normally do for family. And that’s what you are. No matter who you’re with or who is your guardian. Remember that you’re a Malone. We’re always here for you.”

“I can stay here?” she whispered.

Shit.

She hadn’t meant to sound so worried . . . so stark.

Alec walked over and crouched in front of her. “Bought this place for you, sweetheart. If I thought you’d agree, I’d sign it over to you now.”

She sucked in a breath.

She’d never expected that. Not in a million years.

“Why?” she asked hoarsely.

“Told you. You’re a Malone. You might not have the last name, but you helped keep my sister and my nephew safe. You kept Lilac safe. That means I take care of you. No matter who you’re with or who is your guardian. Got me? I can say it as many times as you need for it to penetrate.”

No need, it was starting to penetrate.

“I got you, Alec Malone. Haven’t had one good thing in my life until I met Lilac and Ryleigh. And now it seems my world is overflowing with good. Kind of hard to adjust to when you’ve had a life of bad.”

“You’ll get used to it,” he advised. “If you just let the good settle in, you’ll live the life you deserve.”

She nodded, unsure that she could speak without bursting into tears.

“Gonna stay and hear what’s going on, though,” Alec said, standing and glancing over at Jake, then Renard.

She wondered if Renard would protest. He could be prickly. But he just nodded back.

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