Aleks didn’t even remember making the decision. One minute he was listening to Portia’s father disrespect her and the next, his fist was in Phillip Tremaine’s face and the other man was dropping to the ground.
“Whoops.”
Behind him, Portia gasped.
He whirled around, careful to keep his body between her and the open door. He was relieved that she was dressed in clothes similar to last night’s. Less thrilled when she looked between him and her father in shock.
“He’s still alive. I just knocked him out.”
That startled a laugh out of her.
“What do you want me to do with him?” Aleks asked. Nothing had prepared him for a situation like this.
“Bring him inside,” she said. “We’ll need something to tie him up with. And probably a gag.”
Hand on Tremaine’s collar, he paused and looked up at her. “What are you planning to do with him, Portia?”
She gnawed on her lip. “Funny you should ask.”
She stepped out of the way and he dragged her father through the front door. Portia closed it behind him, then turned and walked back to the living room.
With no choice but to follow, he dragged the other man into the living room.
“I need to make some calls,” Portia said. She paused and got a faraway look in her eyes.
Was she counting on her fingers?
“Can you set up a meeting with your employers for two days from now?”
“Yes,” he said slowly. “Why?”
“I think I have the answer to our problems, but I need a little time to set it up.”
“What?” He was so confused.
She’d disappeared into the bedroom, then reappeared with a handful of ties. “You’re in charge of securing him.”
Chapter49
“Portia,I can’t just hack into any computer system. Not with a snap of my fingers. Or your fingers,” Ash said darkly on the other end of the call.
“Of course, you can, Ash. You told me that you’re the best. Was it all a lie?” She gasped dramatically.
“Portia.” He dragged her name out. Her heart twinged. Aleks had said her name just like that several times last night. And again this morning, when they’d had their first fight. She understood his point, but she still believed that the memory removal procedure was the best option for everyone. Why couldn’t he see that?
“Portia. Are you still there?” Ash’s tone turned concerned.
“Yes, sorry. Got distracted.”
“By Mr. Tall, Hot, and Blond? At least that’s what the newsies are calling him.”
Portia stifled a sigh. She couldn’t be too upset about the newsies’ reports. After all, they’d brought her father right to her door, setting in motion the plan to turn him over to the Solveigs. Ash’s teasing, on the other hand...
She ignored his question and returned to the matter at hand. “You said you and Mendez had already hacked into the Solveig Consortium’s system. So a repeat performance should be no problem. Right?”
Ash’s sigh came through the phone like he was standing right next to her. “Yes, but why?”
“Did Taryn tell you about the favor I requested?”
