Victim of Love by Darien Cox Read Free Book Online Page B

ass, Turner. I heard you’re here on a job.” He took an aggressive step toward Beck. “You owe me!”
    “I don’t owe you shit, Quinn, and you know it. It’s time to wipe your little tears and get over it. Olsen, take the statuette to the car.”
    I still stood dumbly, bag in one hand, nun in the other. I stuffed it in the bag and started toward the parking area.
    “Oh, no, no, no.” Quinn stepped to the side, blocking my path. “I’m not stupid, Turner. You’re on vacation? Right. And you happen to come to an antique shop?” His hard brown eyes focused on me now. “You there, peaches and cream. Give me that.”
    Beck stepped between us. “He’s not giving you shit.”
    “You owe me, Turner! It’s time to make amends.”
    “You’re wasting your time, Quinn,” Beck said. “The statuette is worthless.”
    “Bullshit! I know you. You don’t waste time on worthless antiques.”
    Beck’s grin appeared. “Quinn. If you want to earn money, perhaps it’s time you went out and did your own work for a change. Inadequate as that work may be.”
    Quinn leaned in, face tight with rage. He towered over Beck, and his height should have given him some advantage, but Beck remained unruffled, still smiling sweetly up at him. “You ripped me off, Beckett. Did you think I was just going to let that go?”
    “Yeah. I kind of did think you’d let it go. Since I didn’t rip you off. The only harm I did was to your ego and you know it.”
    “What’s the deal with the nun statuette?”
    “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
    A group of customers left the barn, glancing our way, then moving on to the parking area. Right behind them, Laurie and Kamal appeared, loaded with bags. They stopped dead when they spotted us.
    Beck glanced at Laurie, then back up at Quinn. “That’s my sister,” he said softly. “I don’t want her to know I’m on a job, so just keep quiet, all right? Go on your way, Quinn.”
    “Happy to,” Quinn said just as softly. “Just give me the statuette that’s supposedly so worthless , and you won’t see me again.”
    Beck’s lips tightened into a straight line, his eyes darting back and forth between Laurie and the man standing before him. He growled. “Damn it!” Hands on his head, he walked in a circle, then looked at me. “Give him the nun, Olsen.”
    A wide grin broke on Quinn’s face.
    “Are you sure?” I said.
    Beck rolled his eyes. “Yes, just give it to him. It’s not worth having him tail me all over town.” He pointed a finger in Quinn’s face. “We’re even now. So I better not see you again.”
    Quinn held his hand out to me, and I handed him the plastic bag with the statue. “Who is your buyer, Turner?” he asked as he pulled the nun out of the bag and examined it.
    Beck grinned. “I’m afraid you’ll have to sort the details out yourself. I’m not gonna do all your work for you. And good luck with that. I’m sure it will be a challenge for someone like you.”
    Quinn laughed. “Fine. I don’t need your help. I’m more resourceful than you think, my friend.” With that he turned and left, strolling toward the parking area.
    Once he was gone, Laurie pounced, storming over with her two giant bags. “Beck! You promised!”
    “It wasn’t work!” he said. “The guy thinks I screwed him over and he’s looking for payback. I had no idea he was here. I had to trick him to get rid of him.”
    “I don’t believe you,” she said. “You had him meet you here for whatever reason. I know you, you’re like an addict or something. You do this every time we get together. Damn it, Beck!”
    Beck looked at me. “Olsen?”
    I came bounding to his defense, though I had no clue what in the crazy hell was going on. “It’s true, he surprised Beck. Started going off about Beck owing him and so on.”
    “ Did you screw him over?” Laurie asked Beck.
    “No! Look, can we please go talk in the car? People are starting to stare.”
    “Fine.” Laurie stormed toward the