Page 79 of It Starts With A No

“Nope,” Clary interjected. “You do not drag me into whatever deal you two have.”

“It’s an enormous sum of money, Clary. Do you know how much you’ll be helping Seth save?”

Her lips disappeared between her teeth.

“Our agreement on the loan is settled,” Seth said and turned his attention to Clary. “I don’t need the incentive.”

Clary stared back at him without a word, then jumped when the officer knocked on his window. “We have to go. There’s a police officer parked outside the house.”

Seth rolled down the window, and a spark of recognition went off in the officer’s eyes when he saw Clary.

“Miss Fiore! I’m sorry.”

Clary smiled and returned to speaking to Edward Eolenfeld on the phone, so the officer turned to Seth.

“I wasn’t informed about this car or that she’d be with someone.”

Seth turned off the ignition. “Her own car’s being fixed at the moment.”

“Oh. Should I arrange for the officer on the next shift to escort her to work?”

Seth grinned. “You can try asking her.” There was no way Clary would agree to that, though.

The fact that she’d agreed to having a patrol outside the mansion was surprising enough. Perhaps she is more worried than she’s letting on?

“Sorry about that,” Clary said after ending the call.

“The officer wants to know if you’d like an escort to work tomorrow.”

Her brows puckered. “No!” She quickly flashed an apologetic smile at the officer when he flinched back. “Sorry. I mean—” she cleared her throat “—no,” she said at a perfectly acceptable volume this time. “I’ll be fine.”

“But—”

“I’ll pick her up.” Seth opened the door before Clary could say a word, then went around the car and took her bag and jacket from her as she met him halfway.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to walk me in.”

Seth put a hand on her back and nudged her forward. “Remember the FBI agent with the gun?”

“Zane, who didn’t shoot me.”

Seth nodded. “He lives right across from my apartment. If we need anything, he’ll be right there—with his gun.”

“We?”

“I have a spare room at my place. I live with my brother, though.”

“No, thanks.”

“Not Elton. Another brother.”

She yawned and trotted forward. “What if Zane decides to shoot me after all? He’s had some time to think about not shooting me the last time. He could’ve changed his mind.”

“He won’t shoot you. He likes you.”

She laughed. “Sure he does.”

“He wouldn’t have offered to help with the shipping label if he didn’t like you.”

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