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“And how will you do that?”
“I always know what my boys are up to.”
Clary narrowed her eyes.
“Those miserable boys deserve to be miserable.”
“You deserve every ounce of misery.” Not much grace in that, but that was the nicest of all the things Clary wanted to say.
“You think you know so much about them just because you’ve spent a week or two with them?”
“Holly, you could win the Nobel Peace Prize, and it wouldn’t change what I think of you. To me, you’re a monster. You hurt Seth and his brothers.”
“I did not!” Her gaze flicked toward the door, and her chest rose as she leaned back in the chair. “I loved them with all my heart. I bought them everything they wanted. I gave them every opportunity. Without me, they would have rotted away in the orphanage.”
Clary got up. “Now, you can rot away in this small room.”
“I want you to leave Seth,” Holly said as Clary took a step toward the door. “I want you to tear his heart to shreds—the way they did mine.”
“Why would I do that?”
“You will.”
Clary shook her head. “Why are you like this? What did they ever do to you?”
“They are why I’m in here!” Holly slammed her fists on the table. Again, her gaze quickly darted toward the door, and she subdued her voice. “They convinced my father that I abused them.”
“You did.”
“I did not!” Holly collapsed back into the chair, her eyes closed. Her hands fell limply by her sides. “I loved them.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I loved them with all of my heart.”
If Clary hadn’t seen for herself the long-lasting effects of Holly’s abuse, if she hadn’t seen for herself the pretentious behavior of abusers while working in Safe Homes, she might have fallen for Holly’s act.
Instead, Clary rolled her eyes. “Cut it out. I’ll never trust you over them.”
Holly slowly rolled her head up straight. Though the teardrop was still making its way down her face, all dejection had dissipated. Instead, a corner of her lips hooked back into a smirk and her eyes gleamed with arrogance. “Really? Don’t be so sure.”
“Whatever you’re trying to do with Pete, stop. It won’t work.”
“It got you here,” Holly sang, then gave her a devastatingly sweet smile.
Clary had to fight a shudder at the smile that seemed to exude an aura of slyness and ... evil. “Goodbye, Holly.” She walked toward the door, refusing to continue this conversation.
“I have proof that Oliver killed Winnie,” Holly said in a casual tone. She waited for Clary to spin around before continuing, “Do you even know who Winnie is?”
“Liar.”
Holly’s brows rose. “He told you.” She pulled down the corners of her lips. “I didn’t think he would. I thought he would carry that secret to his grave.” Then, her lips curled into a bright smile. “Must be true love.”
“We’re done.” Clary was about to turn away when Holly continued.
“It was in one of Olly’s sleepwalking episodes. Still, I saw him do it.”
Clary shook her head and continued toward the door.
“Why are you shaking your head? Because that sweet boy couldn’t hurt anyone?” Holly tipped her head to the side, then pouted and shook her head when Clary looked over her shoulder. “You haven’t had a preview, have you?”
Clary licked her lips when she locked eyes with the employee waiting for her cue to let her out. And she wanted out.
