The Curse Keepers Collection (157 page)

When I entered the room, he spun around in his metal office chair that creaked from his excessive weight. As far as I knew, he’d never been a small man, but he had to have gained at least a hundred pounds since I’d first met him.

“Collin, my boy.” He clapped his hands once in mock joy. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

I closed the door behind me and crossed my arms. “You offered the right incentive, but then you knew that, so let’s cut to the chase.”

Marino’s smile fell. “One of these days I won’t find your mouth so cute.”

I cocked my head and flashed him a grin. “Lucky for me that’s not today.”

Marino looked like he didn’t agree with that assessment, but he moved on anyway. “You haven’t been to see me lately, Collin. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”

I shifted my weight and recrossed my arms, putting my left arm on top this time. “I’m here now.”

“Where’s the money you owe me? I hope that’s not why you’ve stayed away.”

I forced my shoulders to stay relaxed. “I’ve got most of it.”

“Most isn’t good enough.”

“I would have had it all, but my engine died and I couldn’t get around to all my cages.”

“Collin, Collin.” He shook his head, pinching his lips together. “You know what they say about excuses? They’re just like assholes—everyone’s got one and they all stink.”

If he’d told me that joke once, he’d told it a hundred times. But it carried more bite today.

“Marino, you know I’ll get it. I always do.”

He laughed again. “Have a seat, Dailey. I think we can work something out.”

I sat in an uncomfortable office chair across from his desk and waited while Marino screwed around with the motherboard in front of him.

“Fifteen years ago, your father and I worked on a job,” he said after a moment. “It was an estate that became available for auction. We had only just begun to case it and your father . . . disappeared.” He rolled his chair across the concrete floor and stopped next to a small table covered in papers. He grabbed a file, then rolled back to me. “Three weeks ago, I heard rumors that the estate was available again, and I got preview photos from Emilio Ricardo’s attorney.”

He handed me the manila folder and I opened the cover to reveal a stack of photos. Pictures of swords and spears, both plain and intricate, along with images of pocket watches, candlesticks, and a wide variety of jewelry filled the folder. I tried to hide my interest. There was a strong likelihood that the Dare weapons were in that collection. I closed the folder and looked up at him. “So where do I come in?”

“We know it exists, but we don’t know where. Ricardo’s attorney is in Greenville, but I suspect the collection is being kept in Charlotte. I want you to track it down and case it out. Then I’ll send Tony and Vinnie with you to steal the loot.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What’s my take?”

“Ten percent, I’ll forgive your debt, and you’ll be promoted within the organization.”

His terms sucked and he knew it. It was a test to see how interested I was. He had showed me enough to pique my curiosity, but not enough to find the collection without his help. There was obviously information he was holding back until I committed myself. Damn him. “Thirty percent and no promotion.”

Marino burst out laughing. “You’re hilarious.
Thirty percent?
”

“I’d be doing all the legwork, Marino.”

“And I have all the pertinent information, Dailey. Twenty percent and you commit to full-time employment.”

“Twenty-five percent and no change to my employment status.”

He shook his head. “No deal. And if you don’t take part in this, you better pay off your loan—with interest—by Friday.”

I stood, ready to bluff. “Then I’m done.” I headed for the door, waiting for Marino to call me back, but I kept going when he didn’t. Any hesitation on my part would mean I’d never get my terms. I wasn’t surprised when I reached my truck without being stopped, and I wasn’t even surprised when I drove all the way home. But I was surprised when he didn’t call me back. He knew what he was doing. He knew I wanted in. Fucker.

But I was a stubborn son-of–a-bitch, and I needed to find those weapons. Part of me wondered if I should just cave and accept his terms. What if I found the weapons and hid them from the Dare Keeper, then tried Ahone’s crazy scheme?

If what Ahone said was true, I’d finally be free.

Marino might think I was his minion, but I could escape if I wasn’t bound to the Outer Banks anymore. I could go anywhere. The thought made me eager with excitement. For a man who spent most of his life lying, I couldn’t find it in me to agree to Marino’s terms, even if I didn’t have any plans on following through. Call it pride, but I’d spent years telling him no. I couldn’t agree to be his full-time goonie now.

C
HAPTER
F
IVE

A week passed without word from Marino. The boat engine was definitely dead, and the jobs I did for Marino—small time theft, usually involving breaking and entering—were my only source of income. It was only going to take a couple of days before I became desperate. But desperation apparently had varying levels, and I decided to climb the lower rung first.

I paid a visit to my brother.

I wasn’t entirely sure why I felt a strong need to see him. Perhaps because all the curse-related nonsense was dredging up bad memories. Or maybe I just needed to talk to someone other than our grandmother about what was going on in my life. But the need to spill to Conner was a gut feeling I couldn’t deny. And, to be honest, I was hoping he might help me out with some money.

I pulled my truck up to the curb in front of his cute house with its well-manicured yard. The thought of living in such a suburban stamp of a house made my skin crawl. A wife, two-point-five kids, a dog, and a spotless home with stainless steel appliances and granite counters. That had always been Conner’s dream . . . and my nightmare. Even walking up to the front door was hard. The only thing that made it easier was the six-pack of Corona tucked under my arm.

Conner had gotten his respectable job and made an attempt to distance himself from his disgraceful past, but for some reason he’d chosen to stay in Buxton. He wasn’t tied to the Outer Banks like I was. He was free to go to Timbuktu if he wanted. God knew I’d get the hell out of here if I had the choice. But the real reason he hadn’t left the island answered the door seconds after I knocked on it.

The gorgeous, dark-haired beauty gave me a slow, seductive smile. “Collin, long time no see.”

“I’ve been busy, Rosalina.”

“Too busy for your own brother?”

I knew what she was really asking, but I kept my thoughts to myself. She made no secret of the fact that she was interested in me. Conner had enough reasons to hate me without adding that one to the list. “It’s soft-shell crab season.”

“Hmm . . . ” She gave me a sexy pout.

“Is Conner in a good mood?”

She grimaced. “He
was
.”

I sighed. There wasn’t going to be any ideal time to do this, so it didn’t really matter what kind of mood he was in.

“Have you eaten?”

I hesitated. “No.”

Her face lit up with a bright smile. “Then I insist you stay and eat with us. I’m making enchiladas.”

“Sounds tempting. We’ll see how it goes.”

She gave me a pretty pout and I instantly regretted my decision to possibly stay. Rosalina was one of the most beautiful women I had ever met, and Conner was definitely a lucky man in that regard. More than a few of his ex-girlfriends had tried to jump ship after meeting me, so he’d waited until two months into their relationship before introducing us. To her credit, she hid her interest in me when she was around Conner.

I knew women were drawn to me, so finding beautiful women had never been a problem. And if I’d met Rosalina before she and Conner started dating, I wouldn’t have thought twice. But Rosalina was just like all the other women I’d met since turning fifteen—biding her time, waiting for the next best thing to appear. Conner deserved better than that and I sure as hell wouldn’t be the one to screw his girlfriend. Still, I couldn’t help wondering how long it would be before someone else did.

I was still on the front porch while she stood in the open doorway. She must have realized this because she took two graceful steps back, allowing me room to enter, but she stayed close enough that her breasts brushed against my arm. I suppressed a groan. I hadn’t slept with a woman for weeks, and despite her character flaws, Rosalina was tempting.

But I’d sooner take the
Lucky Star
out to the Atlantic and jump off the deck before I would betray my brother. Turned out I had some scruples after all.

“Is he out back?”

“Yeah.”

I walked through the kitchen and out the back door to the covered deck. Conner sat in a folding camp chair, watching a small dog sniff around in the yard while he nursed a can of beer.

“I hear they actually make outdoor furniture that’s comfortable to sit in,” I said, stopping a few steps outside the doorway.

He glanced up, and a grin lifted his mouth before it fell, as though he remembered he was angry with me. “Old habits die hard.”

There was an empty camp chair next to him, presumably Rosalina’s, but she stood behind the screen door and motioned for me to sit there before she walked away. I sat down and pulled a bottle out, popped off the top, and handed it to him. He took it without hesitation and gulped down a long drag. Turned out the chairs weren’t the only habits to die hard.

I grabbed another bottle and took a sip after removing the cap.

Conner turned his gaze toward me. “What do you want, Collin?”

“Why would you ask that?”

“You show up out of nowhere with a six-pack of my favorite beer. It’s not my birthday, so you must want something.”

I could have denied it, but it would have been a waste of both our time. “Do you want the bad news or the really bad news?”

He grimaced, then took another long drink. “Just spit it out. The Daileys are cursed with nothing but bad luck.”

“Not you,” I said. “You have a great job. A loving girlfriend.” I gestured to the black-and-white puppy bouncing in the grass, chasing a flying bug. “And a cute dog. You’re well on your way to the great American dream. When did you get that?”

He shrugged. “Two weeks ago. Rosalina wanted it . . . ”

I took another drink as memories washed over me, making me melancholy. “Remember how we always begged Mom for a dog?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “I think that was part of the reason I agreed to it. All those unfullfilled childhood wishes.”

I took another drink then spat out issue number one. “The engine on the
Lucky Star
is officially dead. We need to replace it.”

“It should have died five years ago. It only lasted this long because of your expert finagling.” It was a compliment, which was rare from him.

“We need to come up with thousands of dollars to get a new one.”

“We?” he asked, his gaze on the dog. “I’m not sinking another dime into that boat.”

“You’re half owner.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. Last I heard, Marino holds the title.” He took another long sip. “And even if he didn’t, I don’t even want the damn thing.” He took another long drag, finishing his beer. He set the bottle on the deck, then held his hand out toward me, still not meeting my eyes.

I opened another bottle and handed it to him.

He took a drink and said, “You should sell it.”

I grimaced. “You know I can’t do that.”

“Why? Because it belonged to our loving father?” he sneered. “The shithole’s a money pit.” Then he grinned. “Besides, you suck at fishing.”

My eyes bulged. “I do not.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “You’re terrible. Even Uncle Gus says so.”

I was silent for several seconds. Maybe that was part of the curse too. “I can’t sell it.”

“Look, Collin,” he said, finally turning to study me. “There’s no denying you love the sea, which I always found ironic considering all that son of the earth nonsense. But then again, Dad always took
you
out at night, leaving
me
behind.”