Page 145 of To Catch a Sub

“He plans to create evidence so he can arrest me,” she said.

Landon nodded once. “That’s my take too. Fuck knows there’s no evidence to find. I looked.”

“Maybe I didn’t steal anything. Ever.”

He glanced at her, brows raised. Her lips twitched, and the stiffness faded from her shoulders. Good.

Colette passed him back his phone. “Does this mean Interpol has decided giving me back to Damien is a bad idea?”

“It means Interpol never thought it was a good idea. Novak is an ‘anything to make the case’ agent, and that’s a fucking problem. Hopefully now other people realize it.”

“And if you were to be arrested with manufactured evidence,” Andrei said, “Landon and I could both testify about what he said.”

“He never explicitly said he’d manufacture evidence.”

“A good barrister would be fucking giddy at the prospect of getting this to trial.”

Colette glanced between them. “You do realize you just offered to help an…alleged…thief.”

Landon couldn’t handle not touching her any longer. He hauled her onto his lap. “The only person putting you in prison is me,” he declared.

Colette twisted. “Is that meant to be…sweet?”

“Maybe he means the playroom with the cage when he says prison.” Andrei was back to lounging in the doorway.

“All these accusations of theft.” Colette shook her head and tsked. “I didn’t steal the Saudi Diamond.”

“Not originally,” he agreed.

“Not this time either. I bought it at auction.” Colette picked up his phone, opening a typing app. “Here’s the date and location of the auction. It’s not black market, though I must admit there have been a few accusations and rumors around this particular auction house, so its reputation isn’t untarnished.” She typed fast. “I’m adding how much I paid, and the information for the wire transfer I used for payment.”

Landon stared at her, shocked. “You’re…giving me the information.”

“Yes,” she said with a quick smile. “I’m afraid I don’t know where it was before it was put up for auction. After I purchased it, and realized what it was, I brought it to you.”

That had to be a lie. There was no way she’d bought the diamond, then realized what it was. She either knew or suspected, but couldn’t tell him that, because it would be admitting to purchasing stolen property.

There were a lot of things Colette couldn’t tell him, because of his job. That thought wasn’t new, but left him feeling uneasy.

She handed him back his phone, and he glanced at the information. He nearly choked on his own spit.

“You paid that?” He stared at the eight-figure number.

“Yes.”

Andrei came over to look, his brows rising. “That’s a lot of money to pay for something you planned to give away.”

“I was desperate,” she said calmly.

Landon was still processing. “Was it real money or…wire fraud?”

“Why does sound like you want it to be wire fraud?” Colette teased.

“Because then I’d know you didn’t bankrupt yourself doing this.”

“Aww.” Colette kissed his cheek. “I didn’t bankrupt myself, though I did deplete my liquid funds.”

Landon and Andrei both stared at her.