Ash grimaced, but was still grateful that the other man was stronger. No, not stronger. Morevindictivethan Ash could have imagined. “You don’t think he’ll eventually, um, change his mind?”
“No, I’m quite certain that he won’t. Leopold Brunswick is dead.” An emotion he couldn’t identify threaded through her voice.
Shock—and was that actual fear?—coursed through him as he recognized how much more dangerous the game he was playing had just become. “You killed him?” Did his voice just squeak?
Her cool gaze and even cooler voice chilled the air between them. “Do you really think I would stoop to murder, Mr. Cutter?”
She paused longer this time, obviously waiting for a response. “Um, no?” Yeah, that was definitely a squeak.
Her smile was all Ice Queen and he shivered. “No, I did not kill Leopold Brunswick. Someone else did. And when I find that person... they’ll wish they hadn’t done that.”
Ohfuckohfuckohfuck.Goosebumps covered his arms. He didn’t want to imagine what she would do to him when she found out he had helped Brunswick. That was why he had needed the Jack’s help. He had to get himself and Hope out of Portia’s reach before she found out. But then he’d gone and fucked that up.
“That’s, uh...” What the fuck did he say to that?
“Not truly a loss in the greater scheme of things.”
Cold.Ice cold.Then again, the man had tried to kill her, had likely killed her father, and had definitely killed her husband.
“Did you ever meet him?”
Ash swallowed hard. “Brunswick?” How was he supposed to answer that?
“Mm hmm.”
Her gaze was like a weight. Or maybe that was all the secrets he was keeping.
He cleared his throat. “I think so. Maybe. He came down to watch us in the cybersecurity room sometimes. Like he was inspecting us or something. I don’t think we actually evermethim. Like officially.”
Portia nodded. “That sounds like something he would do. He was always trying to be more important than he was. He wasn’t a Tremaine, but he wanted to be one.”
“That’s... interesting.”
Ash had never wanted to be a Tremaine. There was too much structure, too many downsides of running a big company, but he wouldn’t mind the money upside. Ever since he and Hope had been left to manage on their own, thoughts of money and survival had been his constant companions. Until he’d been captured and freedom became more important.
Portia’s laugh was bitter. “No, it’s not. My father was never going to relinquish the company. Not to me and not to his assistant. He thought he would live forever. Now he’s gone and I’m... here.”
Alone. That was what Ash heard. Portia was the last Tremaine left. Unless you counted Dizzie, which neither woman seemed inclined to do.
“I’ll expect you here every afternoon after your morning shift.” The change of subject made his head spin. “Do not keep me waiting—either for your shift or for the information I want.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ash dipped his head in acknowledgment. Then, because he couldn’t afford for her to be suspicious of him, he got up and moved to his desk.
Several hours later, Ash logged off, then stood and stretched. The setup wasn’t nearly as comfortable as the one he used in the cybersecurity room, but it was better than the first desk she’d had installed.
Portia remained at her desk. Behind her, the cityscape had shifted from gray autumn sky to neon lights that shimmered through the raindrops on the windows.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Back to my room. It’s end of shift.”
She raised her head. In the pale glow from her screen, her skin looked even paler. “Really?”
His head dropped back and he couldn’t contain his sigh. “Look. I understand this project is important. But I am not my computer.” His hand twitched and he shut down the urge to rub his port. “I need food and I need sleep or I’m going to be useless to you and to the company.”
His days of living on caffeine and cheesy orange snacks were long gone. Not that he’d had either while working today. He hadn’t eaten, period. His stomach rumbled, the sound loud in the quiet room.
“Very well,” Portia said and returned to her work.
