Chapter 36

From

behind him, Riley’s voice was like steel. “You won’t come near him, y’ hear?”

Curtis

squirmed in Riley’s grip. What was he, some damsel in distress? Yet he couldn’t

deny the warm feeling it gave him, knowing he had Riley on his side.

“I’ll

do what I please, cowboy.”

“No.

It’ll be what Curtis pleases.”

Curtis

didn’t know what it was in Riley’s tone, or maybe his expression–he wanted to

twist around and see, but he didn’t dare take his eyes off Nick–but for the

first time, Nick looked nervous. “This is between Curtis and me. I’m owed that

money.”

“I

don’t have it, you bastard,” Curtis burst out, “And you bloody well know that.

I’ll pay you back, but I can’t find it all at once–” He was interrupted by a

loud blast of a taxi’s horn. A sweep of headlights arced over the alley

entrance and they could all hear the ticking sound of the taxi’s engine as it

pulled to a halt. The sound of footsteps echoed in the alley, and three people