Page 13 of Wicked Ambition

Ayla fought, struggling against the man’s grip. She was here to help her sister, and she wasn’t letting anyone stop her.

He released her.

Shock rendered her immobile for a moment. Had her feeble effort—? A grunt from behind made her whirl. Oz was there. One of the men was on the floor, unmoving. Now he fought the other.

The creep drew a knife.

Ayla backed up. One step and the mattress was at the backs of her legs. It would be too easy for the jerk to put that blade to her throat and use her against Oz.

She wouldn’t allow that to happen.

Carefully, she worked her way between the suitcase and the bed. Now she was cornered with the window behind her, the bed to her left, and a wall to her right. But it gave her another few feet of distance.

The man seemed skilled with the knife. At least to her eyes. He held the blade with confidence.

Oz stood far too close. She wanted to tell him to be careful, but Ayla remained mute. He couldn’t afford her distracting him, but why didn’t he draw his gun and shoot the creep? Her breathing was shaky, but so were her legs. Adrenaline. Again. Damn it.

The trembling worsened as she watched Oz jump away from the knife as the man tried to take a slice out of him. She swallowed her gasp.

With a speed that shocked her, Oz moved. There was a strike to the man’s throat, followed immediately by another to hisforearm. The knife fell to the carpet, but instead of giving up, the creep charged.

More strikes. Oz used his elbow to deliver a blow to the man’s head, followed by a flurry of action that left Ayla’s mouth hanging open. Martial arts. Before she could gather her wits, the creep was on the floor. Out cold. Oz held the knife as he knelt with one knee on the attacker.

“Stay where you are,” he ordered as he stood.

Ayla nodded, words beyond her capability at the moment. She realized her mouth was still agape and closed it as he walked into the bathroom.

Oz returned in no time with what looked like a cord.

“What?” she asked, unable to do more than gesture helplessly.

He understood what she was asking. “There was a retractable clothesline in the bathroom. I helped myself to some of it.”

She nodded again, but he wasn’t paying attention. Stupidly, she stared as Oz tied up the two men. Ayla tried to shake herself out of her stupor. Iona wouldn’t stand and watch. She’d be helping Oz secure the men. Or at least phoning for help.

Except Oz had reminded her earlier that authorities in Puerto Jardin couldn’t be relied upon. Calling for help might get Oz in trouble, not her attackers.

“You’re all right?” he finally asked after both men were tied and gagged.

“Yes.” Her voice came out like a croak.

“We need to move then, before dumb and dumber wake up.”

Ayla managed another nod, but she felt frozen as if her feet weighed a ton each.

“Okay, Pollita, snap out of it.” Oz stood close to her and Ayla wasn’t sure when he’d crossed the room to where she stood. “I’m not kidding about needing to move. These guys might be bozos,but the next team won’t be. We don’t have much time to get clear.”

He grabbed her suitcase and herded her toward the door.

“You’re taking my suitcase?” Ayla sounded vague even to her own ears, but she couldn’t pop out of her fugue state.

“I don’t want to risk them searching it and finding something that gives them too much information. Where are the keycards for the room?”

Ayla reached into the pocket of her trousers and passed him the folder. They made it to the door, but Oz stopped her from opening it.

“Hang on. I need to check the hallway first.”

Nodding as if she understood what he was talking about, Ayla waited. She continued to shake, but she couldn’t stop that either. Maybe Io was right. Her life was too predictable, too boring if she was knocked this far off kilter by— She stopped short. Two men had invaded her room, one had grabbed her, and she had no idea what their intentions were. Her reactions were normal. Her sister likely taking this in stride? That was the abnormal reaction.

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