Page 40 of The Vampire Kingpin
“Yeah. Open it.”
“Ooh,” Zayne murmured. “A surprise.”
Spider’s gaze flicked to her. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“And miss the show?” she returned. “Besides, this is my night off.”
I froze, still half-expecting Spider to backhand a low-ranking soldier like Zayne for mouthing off to him, especially when he was already angry about something.
But he just jerked his chin at me. “Open it, already.”
Everyone in the Cavern had turned to watch. I pulled the bag closer.
Had he?—?
I unzipped the bag. The first thing I saw was my backpack, the one I’d picked up at a thrift shop on my way out of Vegas, with my leather jacket beneath it.
He had.
My gaze snapped to Spider. “You got my things?”
“Figured you’d want your own clothes and shit. So you don’t have to go back to Grimclaw for anything. And just so you know, I told him he’s not your alpha anymore—I am.” He crossed his arms over his chest, daring me to object.
I drew a breath, aware of everyone listening to our exchange. It was a high-handed, very alpha thing to do, but that was Spider. I should point out that he had no right to do that, but my relief was too strong. I wouldn’t have to see Grim again. Even better, I’d never have to see Troll again.
“Thank you,” I said gratefully.
Spider shrugged a shoulder and seemed to settle, the aggression easing. “No problem.”
I set the backpack aside and pulled out the leather jacket. Zayne ran a hand over the buttery soft leather. “Niiiice. What else d’you have in there?”
I barely heard her, my eyes locked on the Rabanne dress shimmering up at me. Even on Net-a-Porter, the Rabanne had cost more than the rest of my clothes combined. Mom had bought it when we hit Las Vegas. It was the last thing she ever got me.
My vision blurred. I smashed my lips together, fighting back tears.
I put the leather jacket on the couch and carefully lifted out the sleeveless gold dress.
“Damn,” said Zayne. “That’s fire. Bet you look hot in it, too.”
I held it to my chest and mouthed another heartfelt “Thank you,” at Spider, who gave me a crooked smile in return.
I placed the dress on my lap and rifled through the rest of the bag. It was all there. He’d even brought my shoes.
Spider unfolded his arms. “That’s everything, right? Unless you had something inside Grimclaw’s lair?”
“No. This is it.”
Zayne ran a hand over her short red hair. “You weren’t inside Grimclaw’s lair? Aren’t you the dude’s cousin?”
“It’s complicated,” I told her.
His mouth compressed. That’s when it hit me that he’d seen my make-shift den, knew that I’d been sleeping outside Grimclaw’s lair. Was that what had pissed him off? And he wasn’t just angry. That vertical crease between his brows told me he had questions. Questions I didn’t want to answer.
“You should take her clubbing,” Zayne told Spider. “In that dress.”
His eyes warmed. “I should.”
I stiffened in alarm. “No! I mean, that’s okay. Really.”
