Free Graphically Novel (Love Hashtagged #3) by Allyson Lindt Page B

her lips. “Drop the bullshit act. This isn’t a business negotiation.”
    “It could be. Prove otherwise.”
    Nervous, sick adrenaline coursed through Tori. “Did you see the sign when you walked in the store, saying we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone?”
    “I did. I also saw the Better Business Bureau sign next to it. Have you dealt with formal complaints from them before?”
    Tori swallowed a gulp of air, hands shaking against her knees. “Then I’m also certain you saw the signs warning that the shop is under twenty-four-hour surveillance and all interactions are recorded?”
    “I did.”
    Tori turned the flat-screen monitor and started the footage from an hour ago. The abusive language echoed through the shop for the second time that day, and her gut threatened to evict its contents, but she swallowed back the sick and sat through the entire scene.
    “Son of a bitch, you caught him.” The edge was gone from Gwen’s voice, replaced with something softer.
    “Excuse me?”
    Gwen dropped her purse on the counter, shoulders sinking. “I’m not stupid. I know the little fuckers aren’t angels, and I know their father lets them get away with murder—well not literally. Not yet, anyway. They’re deceptive, and they’re good at what they do. Somewhere along the way, they learned how to spot cameras in shops and always keep out of view of them.”
    “Mine are well hidden.” Archer hadn’t relaxed.
    Tori might not think much of Zane, but he was good at what he did, and that included wiring the comic shop with cameras no one could see and setting them to write the footage to a series of secure hard drives, with real time cloud backup.
    Gwen glanced around the room. “I see that. Or rather, I don’t. I’m impressed. I need to get the name of your guy—gal, whatever—and see if they can hook me up.” She grabbed the cordless phone off the counter and handed it to Archer. “I’d like you to press charges.”
    “You would?”
    “I wasn’t trying to be a bitch. You’re all but family. It’s that the accusations have never stuck before, and it’s too much hassle to deal with them if there’s no proof.” She nodded at the figurine on the counter. “If that price tag is correct, it’s grand larceny. You have them on tape, they were shoplifting, and I know it’s not my place to discipline them, but if their dad won’t, I’d really like to teach them a lesson while they’re still young enough to learn. Please, call the police. Press charges.”
    Archer was already dialing, before he talked to a dispatcher, and explained the situation.
    Tori knew they still weren’t getting the whole story. “So you know they’re brats, and you let them wander down here alone? Did one of us piss you off?”
    “I try to avoid places like this at all costs.” Gwen’s smile turned sheepish, the first crack in her exterior since she’d walked in, and pink peeked through her makeup.
    Tori sat up straighter, indignation running through her again. “There’s nothing wrong with this place.”
    “Except I would spend a small fortune on Archer’s figurines.” Gwen’s smile became a wide grin. “I love it in here. How do you not go broke in a place like this?”
    The conversation lightened and continued to flow after Archer got off the phone. When the police showed up, they took Archer’s statement, pulled Gwen aside, and eventually took the boys away in handcuffs in the back of their cruiser.
    Derrek walked through the front door as the excitement wound down. “Did I miss something?”
    Tori felt drained. The conversation with Gwen hadn’t been bad, but the rest of the day had dragged her through the wringer, leaving her insides a crumpled mess.
    “Not all that much.” Archer looked at Tori, gaze softening with worry. “I’ll explain later. Watch the shop for a few hours?”
    “Sure.”
    Archer intertwined his fingers with Tori’s and tugged her off the stool. “Come on.” His voice was