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“I’m not. You know I used to be a thief too, just like you know I’m telling the truth.” Jake locked gazes with his boss, refusing to look at Tara. It might break his resolve to do what had to be done. “I’ve been trying to control this situation the whole time. I planted Tara’s name in your lap because I didn’t want to get caught. I knew with a little blackmail and a few kisses, she’d be putty in my hands. She was.”
“What?” Tara stiffened behind him, tore free of his hold, and came to his side. “No. No. He’s lying to protect me. Don’t believe him. He had nothing to do with this.”
Jake’s chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. This was it. The moment when he ruined everything they had, simply because he couldn’t send her to jail. Wouldn’t. “It’s not a lie and you know it, man. How do you think she could have ever gotten the code from me? She’s good, but she’s not that good. This was all me. An inside job.”
The look Tara gave him ripped his heart out of his chest. The panic and worry in her eyes crippled him. Sickened him. She looked…broken.
He’d done that to her.
Fuck, he hated himself.
“I am too. I am that good. I did it—not him.” Tara curled her hands into fists. “Arrest me, not him. He had nothing to do with this. He’s been clean for years.”
Cooper rubbed his jaw, frowning at them both. “I don’t know. He’s been acting different lately. It would explain a lot of stuff. I never really believed that you could have gotten in so easily, when no one else has before. I have no idea how I could’ve missed all the signs. It’s clear he’d been playing me all along.”
Tara shook her head frantically. “No. I got in because I’m that good. That’s it. He’s innocent. I take full responsibility. Leave him out of it. Please.”
Jake swallowed hard at her plea, wanting to put her out of her misery. But he couldn’t. There was only one way for this to end, and he had to see it through.
He had to play his part.
Snorting, he crossed his arms. “Cooper. It was my idea and you know it. She was someone to blame, and a welcome distraction in my bed. But nothing else. She doesn’t know how to get the code. I’m the one who needs to be locked up.”
“Hell no. This is not happening. Arrest me and ignore him.” She held her wrists out to his boss. “Let’s go. Now. Lock me up.”
Cooper held his palms out. “I can’t. He’s admitting his guilt, so he needs to go in. If you knew the code, you would have given it to us. You’re clearly being set up.”
“No.” Tara turned to Jake, shov
ing his shoulders hard. He could see tears swimming in her eyes, trying to escape. Fuck, she was crying. He reached out for her, knowing that he’d hate himself more than she would ever hate him, but she lurched backward. “Tell him you’re trying to protect me. Tell him the truth.”
He shook his head. “I already did. You’re free, Tara. Be happy I didn’t make you take the fall like I planned.”
“I’m calling this in.” Cooper grabbed his phone. Next to the black office phone was a picture of him and Kayla in England. They were so happy. So in love. Jake would never get that in his life. Not after this. “Jake, I’m disappointed in you. I trusted you. Gave you a second chance. This is how you repay me?”
Tara slammed her hand over Cooper’s. Cooper, for his part, seemed as if he wavered for a second. At least he wasn’t the only one who felt like shit over this plan.
“No. Please.”
Jake’s heart wrenched at the desperation in her tone. He was an ass of the worst sort, because though every instinct screamed at him to comfort her, he remained silent.
“I really am sorry.” His boss cleared his throat, freed himself from Tara’s grip, and dialed. “Yes, Officer Davis? I have a suspect in my possession. His name is—”
“Don’t do this.” Tara shook her head, her gaze darting back and forth between Jake and Cooper. “Please. I’ll do anything you want.”
Cooper avoided her gaze, his knuckles white on the phone as he continued to talk. He looked as if he was ready to throw it across the room. Neither of them had liked this plan in the first place, but it was working. Just as Jake had known it would.
“Yes. Jake—”
“I’ll give you the code,” Tara called out, leaning down and catching the other man’s gaze. “Please. Hang up, and I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll prove that I was the one who took the vase. You’ll see the truth. I swear it on my parents’ graves; I’ll give you the fix. This can all go away.”
Cooper covered the receiver, glanced at Jake, then asked, “Are you giving me your word?”
“Yes. Yes. And you know I’ll keep it, too. You checked into my past.” Tara gripped the edge of the desk. “Hang up the phone, and I’ll give it all to you.”
Jake flinched. “Tara, stop…”
“Don’t.” She glowered at him, fury humming off her like a visible thing. “I’m not letting you go to jail in some lame attempt to save me. I won’t let it happen.”
