Portia withstood the onslaught of words. Her father was a cold-hearted bastard, but damn, that was a new low. “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said quietly. She understood the pain and the power of grief.
“Oh, we don’t want your pity. You’re as bad as your father. We want our granddaughter as far from you as possible.” Mrs. Solveig glared at Portia for a long moment. When she transferred her gaze to Dizzie, it softened. “We can’t wait for you to come back with us.”
“What? No,” Dizzie said. “I’m not going back with you.” She shook her head.
“Of course you are, dear. You’ll have everything you need to start a new life. The life you should have had instead of being forced to live like a gutter rat.”
What the hell? Portia blinked. She couldn’t be serious.
Next to her, Dizzie clicked her nails together. “I have everything I need here. I’m married to the man I love. What else do I need?”
“Pfft. He doesn’t love you. We can get an annulment.” Mrs. Solveig smiled coldly. “I’m sure it’s just a cruel trick thatsheput him up to. They’ve been close since childhood, you know.”
The gleam in Mrs. Solveig’s eye and her tone told Portia exactly what she was trying to imply. Which, no.Ew.She and Killian had one date before they’d even graduated high school and there was nothing romantic between them. Ever.
Portia looked at Aleks. His eyes were wide and he looked as confused as she felt.
Dizzie’s clicking increased. “I’ve never had grandparents before,” she said, “but I’m pretty sure this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” She stood abruptly. “You wanted to meet me. Now you have. We’re done.”
She stepped toward the door. One of the Solveigs’ guards stepped toward her.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Portia said very softly and pinned him with a glare.
He flinched and stepped back.
Aleks coughed, though it sounded like he was smothering a laugh.
Portia stood. Her fingertips rested on the edge of the conference table. “Meeting adjourned.”
“You can’t do that.” Mrs. Solveig stood as well, moving so quickly that her chair hit the wall.
“You wanted to meet my sister. As she said, you did. That’s all you get.”
Turning her back on the Solveig contingent, Portia followed Dizzie out of the room without a care in the world, despite the never-ending threats Mrs. Solveig continued to throw at her back.
Chapter27
Aleks gotone last glimpse of Portia before the Tremaine Security guard closed the door behind her. Despite her departure, Mrs. Solveig continued to hurl vitriol at her.
“That woman brainwashed my granddaughter. Why would she want to stay in this horrible city with these horrible people?”
Behind her, one of the Solveig security personnel quietly set her chair upright, then stepped back to his position against the wall.
Her husband grabbed her hand. Cradling it between his palms, he patted it soothingly. She wrenched her hand free, then dropped into her chair with a wail.
Aleks hid his wince. The high-pitched sound battered his ears, but he couldn’t let his discomfort show.
“You!”
He should have known that he would be her next target. “Yes, ma’am?’
“This is your fault. You were supposed to set up a meeting with our granddaughter, not that, that... ”
She trailed off and looked to her husband for a suitable word. He shrugged.
Aleks wished he could do that. Instead, he had to sit here and take whatever abuse she hurled at him with a smile. Like always.
“Why was that woman here?”
