Dizzie tensed for an attack. As far as she knew, Portia had no enhancements. Still, the last few days had taught her that the upper classes kept secrets from the paparazzi. Like Killian’s leg.
And her.
Portia dragged a chair into the cell. She pulled the door closed behind her, then positioned the chair right in front of it. She sat, one leg neatly crossed over the other. If it weren’t for the dark circles under her eyes, there would be no way to tell this Portia from last week’s pre-bombing version.
Dizzie sat back down on the bunk, mimicking Portia’s position. It wasn’t a perfect imitation. Then again, neither was she.
A sense of déjà vu overtook Dizzie. It hadn’t been that long ago that she’d sat in this cell and faced Killian. Dizzie hadn’t convinced him of her innocence then, but she had in the days following. Unfortunately, she didn’t have days to convince Portia. She might not even have an hour.
“Didn’t we do this already?” Dizzie asked. “At the hospital?”
Portia’s smile was pinched and didn’t reach her eyes. “Ah, the hospital. You made quite the impression there.” Her tone was biting.
“As the good Tremaine sister?” Dizzie smiled sweetly. Portia may want her dead, but Dizzie would make her work for it.
“No, as the ungrateful piece of trash who took advantage of nurses who just wanted to help.”
Dizzie winced. If Portia peddled that story to the newsies, it wouldn’t be a hard sell. She really hoped that the nurses hadn’t been blamed for her escape. “Don’t blame them. They didn’t know.”
Portia continued. “Killian was pretty pissed that you left without telling him.” Lips pinched, she studied Dizzie.
Dammit. If they’d grown up as real sisters, maybe she’d have learned to read Portia’s expressions.
“He’s way out of your league.” Portia struck again.
No shit.Dizzie knew that, but her heart refused to listen.
She sighed and pulled her knees up, hugging them. “What’s your point, Portia? You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”
“You’re not my sister.” The snapped words came out of nowhere.
God, if this was what having a sister was like, Dizzie was glad she’d never had one. Even Alice had never been this bad. “Well aware. Looks like I dodged a bullet with that.”
“How can you make jokes?” Portia pushed off her chair, sending it clattering into the door as she lunged at Dizzie. Portia was faster than she’d expected.
Dizzie uncoiled her legs and moved, but she didn’t get completely clear.
Portia caught her around the middle and they both landed on the bed.
Dizzie was on the bottom, trapped between Portia and the thin mattress, while the other woman punched her in the side.
“Ow. Dammit! Get off me!” Her mostly healed ribs didn’t appreciate the attack. Dizzie slapped Portia’s shoulder. She didn’t want to hurt her, just make her move. Only Portia, Phillip Tremaine, and a few security guards knew she was down here. It would be easy to make Dizzie disappear if Portia actually ended up hurt.
“Is this your big plan? Squish me to death?” She slapped at Portia’s shoulders again. Dammit. If only she could bring her legs into the fight. Instead, they were trapped under Portia too.
Dizzie jabbed Portia in the side with her nails. Not hard enough to draw blood.
Probably.
“Ow!” Portia yelled and rolled off Dizzie.
Freed, Dizzie stood, though she wobbled a bit. After she regained her balance, she kicked off her heels. She was too inexperienced wearing them to fight in them.
Too slow.
Portia’s slap came out of nowhere.
Dizzie’s head whipped to the right and her left cheek stung almost immediately. “Ow!” Portia could hit harder than Dizzie had expected.
