Page 128 of Renascence

He looks to me, his expression faltering. I guess my pretty-boy prez didn’t seem intimidating enough. Guess he never heard that looks are deceiving.

“Those two”—he points to Rico and the prospect—“took Emily, and she hasn’t answered my calls.”

“And who are you?”

“Her lawyer.”

“Well, Em’s lawyer, they didn’t kidnap her, if that’s what you think.”

“I’ll judge for myself when I see her. She may have walked out the door with those men but she was scared, noterrifiedof something.”

“Renley,” Gage steps forward, all business. “I was actually about to call you.”

“Is that so?” the sheriff sneers. Our history with him isn’t great, and he especially hates Gage.

“Tell your men to back off. Come to my office and let’s talk.”

“What the fuck do we have to talk about?”

“Emily.”

He grits his teeth but nods. While they head to the office, I get Emily from my room.

“What’s going on?” she asks.

“Need you to talk to the sheriff, darlin’. Apparently your boyfriend thinks we kidnapped you.”

“Boyfriend?” Her brows knit, confusion written on her face.

“Some lawyer prick in a suit.”

“Johnathan? He’s here?”

“Yeah.”

“We were supposed to have drinks, Liam. I hardly think that constitutes a relationship. Then again, you wouldn’t know.”

“I’m not doing this right now, Emily.”

She turns up her nose at the forceful tone of my voice, walking to the door. I take her to the office, knocking before we enter. Renley’s eyes almost pop out of his head when he sees Em’s face.

“Fucking hell, Hunter! When are you idiots going to learn?”

“Watch it, Renley,” Gage warns. “Your badge only gets you so far.”

“Look at her! You’d think what happened to Raven would’ve—”

“Mywifeis none of your business. This had nothing to do with us.”

“Yeah,” he says, voice rife with disbelief. He approaches Emily carefully, not even glancing in my direction. “Miss Pierce, would you be okay to come down to the station?”

“Can’t you talk to her here?” I ask.

“That’s fine,” Em answers his question as if I hadn’t spoken. “Can you give me a ride to my uncle’s after?”

Her words knock me back a step.

“Sure. I’ll put two guys on the house until we catch this Vitalli asshole.”