“We’re here to say goodbye.” The words were difficult but Portia forced them out.
“Goodbye? Have you finally come to your senses and decided to leave the company to me? Are you going to Sweden to be the Solveig lackey’s whore?”
This was just like her childhood when she hadn’t done what he wanted. He really had been a crappy father. Dizzie must have sensed her distress because she took Portia’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “No, Father. I’m not going anywhere. You are.”
“Is this some kind of joke?” he demanded.
“No,” Dizzie said. “No joke. It’s time you paid for your crimes.”
“I wasn’t talking to you, little girl. You’re not part of this family.”
Dizzie’s sucked-in breath held a wealth of pain. Portia squeezed her hand.
“You’re going to Sweden. The Solveigs will finally have the chance to get justice for what you did to their daughter and their granddaughter.”
He threw back his head and howled in laughter. “That’s a good one, Portia. You almost had me.”
When she didn’t respond, he stopped laughing. Watching his face, she saw the exact moment he realized she was serious. That was when the berating and begging started in earnest.
She felt physically ill. She couldn’t do this, couldn’t stand here and take this abuse. This wasn’t what she wanted her last memory of her father to be. But then, after her mom died, he’d never been the father she needed.
“Goodbye, Father,” she whispered. Releasing Dizzie’s hand, Portia stepped backward until she stood in the threshold.
Fists clenched at her sides, she watched Dizzie study their father.
“Goodbye,” Dizzie said simply. Then she turned her back on him and walked out of the room.
Taryn locked it behind them.
Focusing on logistics was the only way she would get through this without crying. “How will you get him on the plane?” Portia asked. The flight was scheduled to leave in the evening, so he would be arriving in Sweden around the time they had their meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Solveig.
“We’ll drug him,” Taryn said matter-of-factly.
Portia gaped at her. “What?”
“We’ll give him a sedative. Enough to knock him out for the flight.”
“Perfect,” Dizzie said.
Portia smiled weakly. “Perfect,” she echoed.
“I’m starving. Anyone want to get lunch?” Dizzie followed Taryn up the stairs.
Portia lingered for a moment, staring at the closed door. Then she turned and followed her friends up the stairs.
Chapter53
“Are you sure everything is ready?”Portia asked. Again.
“Ease up, Portia.” Ash was getting annoyed, but Portia wanted—needed—this meeting to go well. If it did, the Solveigs would be out of their lives for hopefully ever.
“We control the video feeds. We have access to air traffic control if we need it.”
“And the flight’s on time?” She was never this micromanage-y, but this had to go right. It had to.
“Yes, the flight is about an hour away. It will be landing right about the time of your meeting.”
Portia paced across her office. “You and Mendez will be standing by for any technical help?”
