Page 25 of Wicked Ambition

That earned him a full smile. “Yes, exactly.”

Oz found it difficult to focus on the conversation. Ayla was always beautiful, but when she smiled, it made it hard to breathe. That she continued to hold him only made it that much more potent. He latched on to something. “You said distance is a problem. There are thousands of miles between Trujillo and Los Angeles. How’d you get anything from Iona?”

When the smile left Ayla’s face, Oz wished he asked something else. “The message was garbled. Just a few words came through.”

“Which words?”

“Puerto Jardin. Kidnapped. Help.I checked with her department at the Paladin League and found out she’d been assigned to do a story on the ruins at San Isidro.”

“That’s when you booked your ticket, grabbed your passport, and rushed down here? Based on four words? Your sister, who knows you hate flying, asked you to help her?”

Ayla stepped back and crossed the room. Oz missed the warmth of her body pressing into his, but he stayed where he was. It was a miracle she’d held onto him to begin with. He wouldn’t scare her now.

“There were large gaps in the message. I’m sure she told me who I should contact for help, because yes, she knows I don’t like to fly. She knows I don’t like adventure or risks, even small risks. And if a Russian mafia boss is after her, she definitely wouldn’t want me leading the rescue. But I didn’t get that information, and checking on the situation in this country made it clear the authorities were out of the question. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“And you haven’t received any other messages from her?”

“I hear the skepticism in your voice.”

“Sorry, Pollita.” Oz leaned his hips against the table that they used as a desk. “I can’t help it. I am skeptical, but I’m doing my best.”

“This is why Io and I swore not to tell anyone about it.” Her shoulders slumped. “No, there haven’t been any more messages. I’ve tried to contact her, but I get nothing. The complete disconnect is terrifying. What if she’s dead?”

Oz heard her voice wobble on the last word. He didn’t like Ayla scared and tried to reassure her. “You said you can’t get anything when someone is stressed. If she’s been kidnapped, she’s in an extremely high-stress situation.”

“That’s what I keep telling myself, but I’m not getting any of her emotions, either.”

He froze for a moment. “Whoa. Wait a minute. What do you mean byget her emotions?”

Ayla looked stricken and reluctantly admitted, “There’s an empathic link, too.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Thank God the captain wasn’t here for this little nugget of intel.

The anger returned, and Oz was glad to see it even if he was the cause. He would bet, though, that the reason she was dealing with mood swings had as much to do with fear for her sister as adrenaline. Ayla had been doing a great job of compartmentalizing it. Until now.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like that.” He was usually better at concealing what he thought. “Let me ask this differently. Are you telling me the link isn’t just telepathic, but you two are also empaths?”

She looked at him warily as she tried to read him, but Oz was back in full control. “Only with each other. And it’s not all the time.”

“Same parameters as the telepathic link?”

“Mostly, although we can get each other’s emotions even when we’re not deliberately sending. It depends on the situation and how strong the feelings are.”

Oz thought about that. “With a kidnapping, her emotions should be strong.”

Ayla nodded. “I expected to pick something up in Trujillo.”

“You’re dealing with the aftermath of two stressful incidents. Your own emotions are seesawing all over the place.”

Her expression brightened. “You’re right. Maybe Io is okay, and my moods are the problem. I’ve been out of kilter since I got off the bus and those gang members surrounded me. Then add you and the Russian mob on top of that?” She shrugged. “It makes sense.”

Nothing Ayla said made sense, butshebelieved what she told him.

“Once my shock wears off, I should pick up something from Io especially if we’re close to her.”

“You’re staying here,” Oz told her, firmly.

“Oh, no, I’m not.” Ayla took a step forward and glared at him. “This is my sister we’re talking about. No one cares about finding her more than I do. No one has the connection to her that I do, and we’re going to need to use it. I know it. I’m going to search for her.”

---