Page 211 of Tangled Like Us

Price locks eyes with me. His fingers clenching his tablet tighter. But he’s not about to jump the table. They’re all leads for a reason. A cool, controlled temperament is a hallmark to being a good bodyguard.

“I’m going to ask you one question,” Price says, his voice even, despite the bite in his eyes. “And you better be fucking honest with me.”

I nod.

“Did you sleep with her?”

“Yes, sir.”

Sinclair lets out an aggravated laugh. Price shoots to his feet. I stand at the same time as Akara, who slashes his hurt, angered gaze at me.

“You and me, Thatcher,” he says harshly. “You and me—we’veprotected our men for years. That’s the way it’s been.”

Covering asses, cleaning messes. Good cop, bad cop. Him and me.

I nod.

“And you should’ve known better,” Akara says between gritted teeth. “You knew, more than anyone, what you’d fucking destroy.” His nose flares, pained.

SFO.

His men.

His responsibility.

Nothing I say will make a difference. But he deserves an apology. “I’m sorry,” I say from my core.

Akara shakes his head more, still fuming, still in disbelief.

Sinclair glowers. “This fake dating op wasn’t a gateway for you to stick your dick in her.”

I rake a hand across my mouth, acid in my throat, shifting tensely on my feet.Don’t charge.But I fucking hate how he’s talking about Jane.

“You took advantage of my trust in you,” Price states like a leader disappointed in his men. “And I should fire you right now. I honestly can’t stand to even look at yourfuckingface.”

That one cuts.

Only because I think of Banks.

How much shit is he going to get for this?

My jaw clenches, muscles flexed. Staying quiet. Opening my mouth isn’t going to help, and I can’t disagree with them. I did take advantage of the op. And of their trust in me to stay professional.

I screwed them.

Price runs two angered hands over his head. He blows out a breath and looks at Sinclair. “He needs to go.”

“He can’t,” Sinclair states. “We have that problem.”

My brows knit in confusion.

Price turns to Akara and asks him, “What are the chances that if we fire Thatcher, Banks will quit security?”

“One-hundred percent,” Akara says, still glaring at me.

That’s not really true. And Akara knows this. My brother would want to stay and protect these families. And I’d want him to keep them safe. Especially if I’m dating Jane.

But I keep my mouth shut.