Page 65 of Bloody Quarter

“I see that.” He motioned to the cut on my cheek. “Did he do that,” he asked, looking over my shoulder at the truck.

“No, he didn’t. He actually saved my life.” Rex’s eyebrows shot up in obvious shock. “Thank you for telling him you hadn’t seen me all night. I…let’s just say I wouldn’t be standing here right now if Greyson hadn’t come looking for me.”

“Well shit, and here I was thinking he was shady as fuck.” I laughed hard. Greyson was definitely shady as fuck. “I’m glad to see you’re okay. So does this mean you’re back, or are you moving on?”

“Well, I’m hoping that we are both going to be moving on,” I said and then cleared my throat.

“Oh, is that so? And where exactly do you think I’m going to go?”

Clenching the envelope in my hand a little tighter, I quickly ran through the lie I had prepared. “Greyson has a lot of contacts with Veterans Affairs, and I asked him to put your name in for a few things.”

Rex crossed his arms and gave me a stern glare. “You know how I feel about handouts,” he said.

“It’s not. I promise. Just hear me out.” He motioned with his hand for me to continue. “They have a housing unit for soldiers and veterans, and they had a spot open up. They also have donations that are allocated to pay for surgeries, and the hospital has agreed to operate on your leg.”

“This is all sounding like a handout to me,” he scoffed. I crossed my arms and gave him my best ‘I wasn’t finished’ stare. “Sorry, go on.”

“They need workers. Everything from maintenance and painting to helping those who are struggling to readjust and just need someone to talk to who will understand. You can do all of that. You pay them back with your time and labor. This way, you wouldn’t need to…you know….”

“Eat oxy like candy?”

“I didn’t want to say it, but yes.” Walking forward, I held out the envelope. “It’s all legit, and this way, I still get to see you all the time. Molisano’s Artesian is not far away, and the owner is going to help me with school. One day, I might even buy him out.” Rex’s lip turned up.

“You better watch out. That almost sounded like a dream, Alora,” he said, and my face heated. I looked back at the truck and the man inside and nodded.

“Yeah, I’m beginning to believe I’m worth betting on, and I know you are worth it too. You have a lot left in you, Rex, and you helped me so much when I arrived. How many more people could you help who are struggling? Please, you’re my friend, and well…you know how I feel about you. It will mean everything to me if you take this opportunity.” I held out the envelope that had all the details and the offer to be signed.

“Oh sure, pull out the emotional card,” he said, but there was no anger in his tone. His weathered cheeks reddened as he drummed his fingers on his leg. I held my breath to see what he would say next as I mentally willed him to say yes. “You’re sure this is legit?”

“One hundred percent. They start with your operation, and as soon as you’re cleared, you’ll get a small apartment. Then you can choose what you want to do.” He chewed his bottom lip, and I stepped closer, gently placing the envelope in his hand and closing his fingers. “It’s not a handout, it’s a hand up. You kept telling me that I could dream, and you were right. You were one of the few people who made me feel safe and worth anything. Help more people, or just fix equipment, but allow yourself the opportunity to have more than this. You’re worth it, Rex. I believe in you.”

Emotion filled his eyes, and he grabbed me, pulling me into a brief, hard hug before stepping back. “Alright, I’ll go, but only because I want a free beignet and coffee when I come visit.”

I smiled, barely holding back the well of emotion inside me. “I’ll make it two beignets.”

“Oh, big talker.”

“They are expecting you tomorrow. I tossed a fifty in there for a cab. Don’t even bother trying to argue. You’d never make it there, you old hop-along,” I teased, making him laugh. Turning, I walked back to the truck but stopped with my hand on the door as Rex called my name. I stared at him as he looked at the envelope, tapping it against his hand before looking up at me once more.

“Thank you,” he said and then turned away as a tear slipped from his eye. “Alora…” He looked over his shoulder. “If you were my daughter, I’d be so fucking proud of you.”

My throat choked up as he walked away, and I had to blink back the tears that stung my eyes. Getting in the truck, Greyson didn’t say anything as we drove away. I watched Rex for as long as I could before we were too far, and he was nothing more than a pinprick in the distance. I really hoped he followed through.

“Why are we here,” I asked, as I shook myself out of deep thoughts and recognized the small church by the cemetery.

“I have a gift for you,” Greyson said, pulling out a small velvet box and handing it over. “No, it’s not a ring. At least not yet.”

“We don’t need rings or a ceremony. We had our own,” I said, lifting the lid and smiling as I stared at the blood-filled crystal.

“It’s mine of course. I wanted you to have a piece of me wherever you go,” Greyson said and leaned in for a kiss, which was tender and sweet. I nibbled at his lips as he pulled back.

“I love it,” I said, pulling the necklace out and dropping the leather rope over my head. It looked perfect sitting just above the dip to my breasts, and I ran my hand over the black and red piece. “Thank you.”

“I’m not done yet. I have another gift for you,” he said, and the evil glint that formed in his eyes had the blood in my veins pumping faster. “This gift you have to come with me to see.”

We got out of the truck, and I held Yara in my arms. It was silly, but I wondered if she was too young to see what was about to happen. I had a feeling I knew what this gift was, and once more, I knew why it was that I’d fallen so hard for this man. He was right. He wasn’t the type to offer flowers and chocolate as a gift. But a soul on a platter…that was a whole other story. If this was Keith, and I had a feeling it was, then it would be the sweetest platter ever served.

It was time that I got my justice.