Page 14 of Wicked Ambition

Her chin came up. She was the ordinary one, and there was nothing wrong with it.

“Ayla,” Oz said, voice firm, “Focus. I know you’re rattled. I know you’re dealing with one hell of an aftermath, but we are still in danger. And you being a zombie isn’t helping the situation. You can have a reaction later. Right now, I need your help. Understood?”

“We’re still in danger?” Her gaze seemed to sharpen. “How much danger?”

“A lot.” He didn’t look as if he were joking. “Come on.” He led her out into the hallway and steered her to the left.

After checking the vestibule around the elevators, he guided her to a doorway. Stairs.

The world came into more focus. “It’s too risky to use the elevator?”

“Yes. Hang onto the railing and be careful, but go as fast as you can.”

She followed his instructions because she didn’t know what else to do. Her brain was losing its fog, but this wasn’t the time to ask him questions. The bottom line was she felt safe with Oz. He’d rescued her from the gang, and he’d returned to save her from the creeps. She could trust him.

When Ayla reached the end of the stairs and faced a metal door with a push bar, she looked back at Oz and waited.

“Don’t move until I give you the all-clear,” he said, setting down her suitcase. He passed her, went to the door, and cracked it open. After a moment, he slipped outside. Her heart pounded faster, but he was back in less than a minute. “We’re going. Stay with me.”

Ayla nodded again, but he was retrieving her suitcase, and she wasn’t sure he noticed. When he walked out the door, she kept her eyes glued to Oz’s broad back and followed him as ordered.

Every time her shaking increased, she reminded herself that they were still in danger. She didn’t need Oz to tell her that. The way he scanned their surroundings, the way he made certain she stuck close to him, and the way he glowered at anyone who dared to get too close to them made it clear she needed to keep it together.

She had questions, so many questions, but she remained quiet. Oz was too edgy to risk distracting him, and despite all the reasons she shouldn’t, Ayla trusted him absolutely when it came to her safety.

It didn’t take her long to realize he had taken another circuitous route. This one was far more elaborate and thorough than the one he’d used to bring her to the hotel. That must meanOz viewed the danger from the men who’d invaded her hotel room as greater than the gang members. Who were those men? Why did they want her twin? Sure, Io liked adventure, but her sister wasn’t stupid. She didn’t take unnecessary risks.

Oz walked into an open-air market. Vendors were everywhere, some with large, covered shops, others with small stalls with tarps to protect their merchandise. There were fruits and vegetables, fish and meat, spices, blankets, clothing, anything someone might want. And Ayla knew—knew—her sister had come through here.

She saw flashes: Io buying fruit from a large shop. The woman weighing her purchase wore a teal smock to protect her clothing.

Io stopping at a food trailer to buy a sandwich and coffee. She’d sat at a table in front of it and did some people-watching.

Io helping a nun pick up the package of spice she’d dropped.

Io—

“Ayla, focus,” Oz commanded. “I need you to keep up.”

Only then did she realize she’d stopped walking in the middle of the market. “Sorry. I got distracted.”

“Pollita—” He stopped short and shook his head. Then Oz took her hand and tugged her into motion. He didn’t release her.

She looked around, deliberately shutting out the echoes of her sister. That she’d been here days ago meant nothing. Io wasn’t here now. But a few minutes later, when she spotted the food trailer with tables in front of it, it took all her willpower not to come to a halt and gawk.Thiswas where Io had eaten lunch.

There was no feeling of fear, so Ayla was fairly confident Iona hadn’t run into trouble during her visit here. So where had things gone off the rails?

Oz brought her through a gate and out of the market. The area here was placid. A rusted-out produce truck sat half-parkedon the sidewalk with empty vegetable pallet boxes stacked next to it, blocking the street.

“How much longer are we going to meander?” she asked quietly as they squeezed past the truck.

He glanced over at her. “Until I’m a hundred and ten percent sure our tail is clear.”

Ayla risked another question. “Who were those men?”

“That’s part of the discussion we’re going to have once I get you somewhere safe.” Oz gave her a look she couldn’t read. “Yeah, we’re definitely having a long conversation.”

Her frown was wasted because he faced forward again as they cleared the truck. They could talk all he wanted. She didn’t know anything, and if he thought she did, he would be sorely disappointed. Ayla perked up. Oz was the one with the information. A conversation meant she would get some answers.

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