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Shame and anger boiled in Jake’s veins. Some fucking protector he’d turned out to be. How could he let her down like this? They were stuck between a breathing rock and Burlington’s Smith and Wesson.
Burlington reached into his pocket with his free hand and drew out two zip-ties.
“Shit,” Clair said under her breath.
“There is no need to whisper, Ms. Layton. I am rather impressed with these pragmatic items.” His lips twisted in wry amusement. “I admire its unassuming efficiency. Too often my colleagues get wrapped up in convoluted schemes to defraud their clients, showy actions that land them in jail. Simplicity is the key to a successful scheme. Whether it is little old ladies, pension managers or small-town police officers, give them a plausible and easily understood explanation for cash losses and they will accept it.”
Fuck. Sweat slid down Jake’s spine as dread solidified in his belly. Burlington had no plans to leave them tied up while he split.
“Ah, I see understanding dawning in your eyes, Mr. Warrick. When you quit, the answer to why was obvious. You had the flash drive and were planning to use the information to access the three million dollars yourself. No one walks away with my money. No one.”
“That’s not true, not everyone is as big of a crook as you are. Anyway, the flash drive is incidental, worthless to anyone but you.” If Jake could keep Burlington talking, he could increase their chances for survival.
“That is where you are woefully ignorant. The Cayman Islands bank account codes on the flash drive will give anyone access to my funds.” Burlington shrugged his shoulders.
“The money you stole from the little old ladies and pension funds?” Claire’s soft words hung heavy in the air.
He marveled at the innocent curiosity in her voice. She might not know his plan’s details, but she played along as if she never doubted it would work.
“Of course not.” Burlington’s voice rose an octave. His jaw tightened and he took a menacing step forward. Then, as if recalling himself, he released a quick breath and smoothed his expression into a mask of superiority. “Stealing is a repugnant activity. I paid myself a bonus percentage of the market profits they wouldn’t have gotten without me.”
“That’s a one-way ticket to prison.” Jake would enjoy seeing this weasel in an orange jumpsuit.
“Only if the police find out about it, which is why Kendall had to be silenced.” He jerked his head in a firm nod.
“She was blackmailing you.” The pieces came together in Jake’s head. The money manager had been adamant the phone not fall into anyone’s hands but his.
“Yes.” Burlington shook his head. “It is extremely distasteful to discover the child you reared and sent to the finest boarding schools would stoop to something as low-class as extortion.” Burlington sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “She had extraordinary technical skills and hacked into my accounts. She downloaded everything she needed to try to bleed me dry.”
“That’s why you let Darcy kill her?” Jake asked.
The zip-ties rested in Burlington’s hand. The gun pointed to the floor. Burlington was caught up in telling his tale.
“Termination was not a part of the original plan, but there is little in this world that Mr. Darcy cannot mess up. We had hoped Kendall would give him the flash drive and phone as she had promised him. Then, Mr. Franklin would take care of him and return the items to me. Neither of us realized just how far Mr. Darcy’s methamphetamine paranoia had progressed.”
If Jake took a run at Burlington, Franklin would try to save his boss, leaving Claire free to escape. As far as plans went, it wasn’t a great one. But he didn’t have time to come up with anything better. They needed to act now.
He straightened up in his seat, adrenaline pumped through his body. He doubted he’d make it out alive, but he’d go down saving her. A fair trade.
He forced his breathing to slow. Kept his sights on Burlington. Tracked Franklin out of the corner of his eye. His body was primed and ready to take action.
“It was a simple plan. The only difficulty was keeping the truth from my wife, who I doubt would be pleased, even if it was necessary. Charlotte is more than my wife; she is my partn
er, my soul mate. Why, just thinking of her makes me anxious to move forward with this endeavor so we can be together again on the beaches of Brazil, enjoying our millions.” He took a step forward. “Mr. Franklin, if you will be so kind as to restrain Ms. Layton. I do believe Mr. Warrick will be more cooperative if his lady love is…how shall I put it…effectively detained.”
Claire gasped and dropped Jake’s hand, drawing his attention away from Burlington. In the dim light, he couldn’t make out her features exactly, but he didn’t need to. The image of her storming into Harvest’s bar a few days ago, her temper running at full steam, was enough.
He hadn’t come to Dry Creek looking for the woman of his dreams, but he’d found her anyway. A redheaded firecracker with a smart mouth, a fast brain and a body that had him praying for X-ray vision. If he died saving her, she needed to understand the sacrifice was worth it to him. Grasping her face in his hands, he lowered his lips to hers.
A powerful hand pulled against his shoulder, fingers digging into his flesh, but Jake refused to be torn away from Claire.
“No, Mr. Franklin, let us allow them this moment. Our social mores demand that every condemned person be granted one last request. This is theirs.”
Burlington’s words danced on the edge of Jake’s consciousness. His focus centered on Claire. He put everything he wanted to say into that kiss. From the moment he’d tapped her on the nose, he knew he’d never be the same. He’d been bewitched by her fiery hair and luscious curves. She’d captivated him with her stubbornness and passion. Her sarcastic, quick wit had mesmerized him. She was his warrior pixie.
“I love you, Claire Layton.”
Her dazed look sharpened. It morphed from understanding to horror.
