Thicker Than Blood (Thicker Than Blood #1)(80)

“Fuck off,” Alex said, his tone low, yet deadly. “Fuck off right now, *.”

Neither Alex’s anger nor his warning seemed to faze this man. In fact, he smiled and shook his head.

“You’re a greedy son of a bitch, aren’t you?” He shrugged. “No offense meant, man. I’m just a guy looking to fill some time. Ain’t got nothing but time to fill these days.”

“Fill it with somebody else,” I snapped, drawing the attention of both men to me. I glared at the blond man, hoping the disgust I felt was being properly conveyed. “I’m not a plaything,” I continued, still seething. “I’m a woman, a person! Didn’t you have a family? A mother? A sister? A girlfriend? How would you feel if they were being passed around like…like…like cans of creamed corn?”

The man’s mouth opened and closed, as if he were trying to decide on what to say next, yet couldn’t quite find the words. “Like I said,” he eventually replied, his eyes dancing with amusement. “No offense meant. I wouldn’t share you either.” His gaze flickered between Alex and me one last time, and then he headed off in the direction we’d come.

“Creamed corn?” Alex asked, raising his brow.

I shrugged. “I was thinking of Eve, holding on to that stupid can. I don’t know, it just popped into my head.”

Still thinking of Evelyn, of the last thing I’d said to her before she’d left the room, I squeezed my eyes closed. It was a horrible lie born from anger, and I was intensely frustrated with myself.

“I need to find her,” I said, opening my eyes. “I need to apologize.”

Alex nodded. “We will. She’s fighting today. We can head over to the arena soon. But first, I have a present for you.”

After taking my hand, he pulled open the tent flap, revealing what seemed to be a small clothing shop. Hangers fitted with dresses and skirts ran across a rope that had been fitted to encircle the entire space. Neatly folded stacks of shirts and pants were piled on miscellaneous end tables and chairs, while pairs of shoes in all colors and sizes were tucked away in every corner.

“Ah! Alex, my boy!” a woman cried out, poking her head out from behind a small, squat dresser. She jumped to her feet and clapped her hands together. “I cleaned them just like you wanted!”

Smirking, Alex pulled me forward. “Lei, this is—”

“Grannie!” the woman practically shouted.

As she stepped out from behind the dresser, I took in her long and colorful shift, which was obviously handmade. It looked like a patchwork quilt turned into a dress, complete with randomly placed buttons and glittering sequins. And an equally colorful scarf had been wrapped haphazardly around her neck amid nearly a dozen necklaces.

She was an older woman, plump but not fat, and if I had to guess I would have figured her to be in her sixties. Her long gray hair was piled neatly on top of her head in a tight bun, showcasing the numerous dangling earrings she was wearing.

Extending an arm in my direction, she wiggled her hand, causing the array of bracelets she wore to shake and jingle. Smiling, I took her hand in mine.

“Everyone calls me Grannie!” she continued excitedly, pumping my arm up and down. “And I have something special just for you!”

Releasing me, she hurried back to the dresser and disappeared behind it. I glanced up at Alex, wondering what on earth he’d done, but he refused to look at me.

“Ta-da!” Grannie sang as she leaped out from behind the dresser, holding in her hands a pair of pink fuzzy slipper boots.

My mouth fell open. Despite Grannie having said she’d cleaned them, they were still dirty and stained, the pink faded to a peachy sort of color. There were obvious holes that I could see, and small patches where the fur was missing entirely. And they were absolutely perfect.

“Oh my God,” I breathed, bringing my hand to my mouth. “Oh my God.”

“Happy birthday…?” Alex said. “Or Merry Christmas? Whatever,” he finished almost shyly.

I glanced from him to Grannie and back to him. “But we didn’t bring anything to trade.”

“Now, now,” Grannie said, thrusting the boots into my hands. “That’s all taken care of. You see, I’m a betting woman and I’ll be betting on Alex tonight. He’s promised me a win, and in return, I’ve given him a five-finger discount on anything in the shop.”

“You heard her,” Alex said, still not looking at me. “Go pick some stuff out. For you and Eve.”

I gaped at him, shaking my head. “When did you do all this?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Met Grannie outside the Drunk Tank, got to talking…”

“Come, come!” Grannie urged excitedly. “Let me show you what I’ve got for a pretty girl like you.”

Still smirking, Alex rolled his eyes. “I’ll be outside,” he said, and moved to turn. I grabbed his arm before he could leave, pulling him back to me. Juggling the slipper boots in one arm, I attempted to hug him with the other.

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling overcome. “I don’t know what to say, or what to do.”

Running his hand through my hair, he tugged gently, lifting my face. “You can thank me later,” he said quietly. “Tonight. After I win that fight.” Then he grinned.