Page 57 of Midnight’s Captive (Stroke of Midnight #2)

Ash stepped off the executive elevator, regretting every decision that had brought him to this point. But his one-sided conversation with Hope this morning had brought clarity. If he wanted to start a new life with Taryn and with his sister, he had to make peace with his old one. He could only hope that Taryn would understand if this all went wrong.

He’d received a few funny looks when he’d entered the Tremaine building, but no one had stopped him, so maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as he thought.

Yeah, right.

The executive elevator opened at Portia’s floor and he wiped his sweaty palms on his pants before exiting. He’d stopped to change clothes before facing Portia because he’d need every advantage if he wanted to come out of this meeting little worse for wear. Of course, he’d also grabbed his copy of the potential cure for Hope.

Head up, shoulders back, he faked confidence he didn’t have and strode right past her receptionist. She didn’t even look at him, her attention obviously focused on the network. Over the last two weeks, he’d spent so much time up here, he was a regular visitor.

Ash watched her work for a moment, resisting the urge to rub his own port. It was still healing. Plus, he didn’t want anyone to know that it was active again. The back of his shirt carefully covered the newly opened port.

“Go on in.” She didn’t even check the calendar first.

He stepped around the receptionist’s desk and crossed to the big, metal doors. They were still impressive, but they didn’t intimidate him the way they once did. The woman behind them still did, though.

Portia looked up sharply at the interruption. “You have a lot of nerve showing your face here.”

“We need to talk.” Refusing to be intimidated, Ash dropped into the seat across from her with a casualness he didn’t feel.

“Have a seat.” Portia’s laugh was bitter rather than amused.

Ash studied the woman across from him. He’d known this conversation would be difficult, but now that he was here, he didn’t know how to start. How did you blow up your own life and hope to come out the other side unscathed?

“I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Why?” He didn’t want to give her more ammunition. Not just yet.

Her blue eyes bored holes in him. “You disobeyed my orders, disappeared for two days, and created a door in our network security big enough for the enemy to slide through. Am I missing anything?”

Ash swallowed hard and didn’t respond. Yeah, she was missing a few big pieces of information.

“And now you have the nerve to stroll into my office without the courtesy of even knocking.”

“I can explain about the attack,” he started.

Portia cut him off. “Oh, don’t bother. I know you’d do anything for your precious sister, up to and including betraying me.”

Ash blanched. Deep down he’d known that Portia would see his behavior as a betrayal. It absolutely was. But he’d forgotten there was a living, breathing woman behind the Ice Queen. One he liked and respected. Once again, in trying to save his sister, he’d left a trail of carnage for Portia Tremaine to deal with. And that was why he was here. To repent.

“You’re right. I had to get my sister away from Caspar.” His forced “employment” at the Tremaine Corporation had sucked, but being forced to work for Caspar in return for Hope’s safety would have been worse.

“How did he get her away from the hospital?”

“He had a very clever plan.” Ash refused to say more. He wouldn’t risk Portia learning about Taryn’s involvement.

“Is she okay? Is she safe?”

The concern in her voice was so surprising, it had to be sincere. He hadn’t expected that from the woman who’d held Hope’s well-being hostage to get what she wanted.

“She’s fine.” He added, “Thank you for asking.”

“You need to bring her back to the hospital. Who knows what being away from there could have done to her condition.”

“That’s not necessary.” He shook his head. “She’s getting medical attention and isn’t any worse for the brief time she was in his care.”

Portia stared hard at him. “How did you find care for her so quickly?”

When he didn’t answer, she sighed. “You had contingency plans. Of course, you did.”

Ash didn’t move, barely even breathed. Portia was incredibly astute. Giving her any additional information could endanger the two most important people in his life.

“You and your sister were both free. Why come back?”

Ash had been asking himself that from the moment he’d walked through the building’s front door.

“We have unfinished business,” he said finally.

The Ice Queen was back and her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m glad you recognize that.” She leaned back in her chair. “Explain to me why you helped a known criminal break into my network. Make it good and maybe I won’t toss you in the cells for very long.”

Ash shook his head. “You already know why. He kidnapped my sister. I would have done anything for her freedom.” He paused and collected his thoughts. “I always have.”

“What does that mean?” Portia leaned forward. She’d definitely picked up on his word choice.

This was it. Confessing could change his life forever. It wasn’t too late to keep silent.

Except it was. He had to do this.

Ash blew out his breath slowly. “Since the night Hope and I were captured, I’ve been trying to find a way to free myself from your family’s clutches.”

“Yes, your file was quite clear about your escape attempt.” Her tone was snappish.

His lips curled into a not-quite smile. “Yeah. I stopped trying when my sister’s life was threatened.”

Portia paled. “I had nothing to do with that.”

“I know.” That hadn’t stopped him from blaming the entire Tremaine family. All two of them. “Your father was in charge then. I don’t know if the orders came from him or if someone in the cybersecurity department thought it up. But you know what an effective leash my sister’s presence provided.” He pinned her with a stare.

Portia squirmed slightly before returning to her upright posture.

Ash felt a glimmer of satisfaction. It probably wasn’t smart to antagonize her right before confessing to ruining her life, but he couldn’t help it. She may not have threatened Hope’s life at the beginning, but she’d willingly used his sister as leverage.

“Once escape was off the table, I thought maybe I’d be able to blackmail my way out.”

Portia’s mouth dropped open. He’d surprised her. Not what he’d expected.

She recovered quickly. “How?”

He gave her a questioning look. “Your system is filled with secrets. I’m a hacker.” He shrugged. “Uncovering them is what I do.”

Had he said too much? Ash had no idea how to break this next part to her.

“I started digging through the system. There’s a lot of useful information buried once you get past the first few levels of security.”

Ash took a deep breath. His stomach churned. He’d delayed this next part for as long as he could. “Information like the cure for brain burn. Secret projects. Secret sisters.”

Portia sucked in a breath. Her mouth opened and closed. “It was you? All this time and it was you ?”

She clamped a hand over her mouth and scrambled away from her desk. Her heels clacked unevenly as she raced across her office to the bathroom tucked into the corner. The door slammed behind her.

“Fuuck.” That had sucked. He didn’t feel any lighter for confessing, but he knew it had been the right thing to do. All his secrets were out in the open now. Except for Hope’s location and Taryn.

If he were a complete and utter bastard, Ash would leave now, while she was otherwise occupied. Disappear before she sicced security on him.

A bitter laugh escaped. He might think he could disappear, but the arms of the Tremaine Corporation were long and Portia’s pockets were deep.

One way or another, if he ran now but stayed in Seattle, Portia would find him.

And staying in Seattle was the only way he could be with Taryn.

He rubbed his hands over his eyes. It had always just been him and Hope. Now he had Taryn and Dani. And even Portia.

The restroom door opened, and Portia stepped out. Her face was pale and her eyes were red. “I didn’t expect a coward like you to still be here.”

He stood and faced her. “Portia?—”

“Ms. Tremaine,” she corrected him through clenched teeth.

“Ms. Tremaine. I’m sorry for what happened. I had no idea what the information I provided would be used for.”

“You didn’t intend to kill my husband and others? It was just a happy accident?” Her voice was scathing.

Ash flinched from the verbal blow. “Your father’s assistant told me that he would use the information to blackmail your father into a more favorable position in the company. He promised me that when that happened, he would use his power to free both me and Hope.”

“I asked you to help me find my husband’s killer. And you sat here— in my office —and said you would. You must have gotten a good laugh about that.”

He shook his head. “I didn’t. I felt terrible.”

“But you did it anyway?” Her blue eyes were like lasers. He wanted to look away, but she deserved his full attention.

“I had to rescue Hope before anyone caught me. Her freedom was the most important thing to me. I hoped to be with her, but I knew it might not be a possibility.”

“For her sake, I hope she’s truly safe, because you’re never leaving this building again.”

Shit. He’d been expecting it, but that didn’t make it better. Ash took a step back.

He hadn’t decided what to do before the office doors burst open and half a dozen Tremaine Security personnel surrounded him.

Ash dipped his head in acknowledgment. No matter how devastated she was, underestimating Portia Tremaine—even when she was throwing up in the executive restroom—was a mistake.

“Put him in a cell,” Portia commanded.

Two of the guards grabbed his arms. The others gathered around him.

His muscles tensed, but he didn’t struggle. Taryn would come for him. He had to believe that.