Page 122 of It Starts With A No

“Because of you! You and your relentless need to do the right thing. If you’d just go with the flow, we wouldn’t have to do this.”

“Did Neil win you over with the diamond earrings and bracelet?” Clary shook her head. “I thought they were presents from Mr. E.” At worst, she’d thought it was Hugh. Because plying people with gifts to get his way seemed like something Hugh was capable of.

Tamara’s lips twisted into a scornful scowl. “Do you think you’re the only one who deserves to get shiny things from admirers? Mr. Eolenfeld. Seth Anderson. Only you can have people falling at your feet?” She adjusted her grip on the gun. “You should’ve just handed the watch over.”

How was she supposed to hand over something she didn’t have? “You haven’t done anything serious, Tamara. Just put down the gun and—”

“And what?” Tamara shouted at her. “It’s too late!”

“No, it isn’t.”

“So easy for you to talk when you have everyone on your side.”

“Tamara, it isn’t worth getting into so much trouble for Neil. You were there in the elevator. You saw what he did, heard what he said.”

“He was just trying to intimidate you!”

“Tamara,” Clary said softly. “Please.”

Her assistant strode forward, wrenched the throw out of her hand, and grabbed her arm. “It’s you or me.” She dragged Clary over to the railing. “And unlike you, I’m the only one on my side.”

Clary stuck her heels into the grass, but she wasn’t in her stilettos. She was in slippers, which wasn’t at all useful. “Tamara, stop this. Neil’s out. You don’t have to do what he says.”

“He has my … compromising photos.” Tamara’s grip tightened.

Clary winced. “I’ll—” She cried out when Tamara jabbed the gun roughly into her side.

“Stop wasting time.” Tamara dragged Clary forward while she was bent over in pain.

Why was everyone so strong?

“Once you’re gone,” Tamara said, “everything will be over.”

Gone?

Tamara shoved Clary roughly against the banister.

The breath rushed out of her when she hit the edge of the railing.

Tamara pushed the gun against her head. “Once you’re gone, everything will be mine.”

“That’s not how it works. You and Neil broke in. You attacked a—”

“Neil will fix it. He can control Hugh. He always has, and Mr. Eolenfeld won’t let his family name be tarnished.”

Clary swallowed hard. Her father wasn’t here to lift her to safety. Grandma Moretti and Mrs. E weren’t here to hold her hands.

But unlike Tamara, she wasn’t the only one on her side. Jesus, help.

“You may think you’re everything to the old man.” Tamara laughed and shook her head, which was when Clary jumped forward and made a grab for the gun.

She didn’t care that her left hand was still injured. She didn’t feel any pain even as she struggled with Tamara over the gun.

But Tamara was in stilettos, and she learned well.

Her assistant lifted her leg and kicked out at Clary. The sharp pain in her abdomen stunned her, and she fell back.

Her legs hit the banister.

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