Page 69 of Wicked Ambition

KW was already there when they arrived, holding down the seat in the corner. Oz brought Ayla over and guided her to the far end of the sofa, close to the wall. “I’ll grab us some coffee. Did you want the same thing you had last time, Pollita?”

Ayla shook her head. “I don’t think my stomach will handle a pastry. If they have bottled water, that would be my preference.”

Nodding, Oz turned to KW. “I’m trusting you to keep her safe.”

Winter, that prick, smirked. “On it, dude. And don’t worry, I won’t brief her on what I learned until you get back.”

Scowling, Oz headed up front to order. There was a line, and he had time to get over his aggravation with KW before he headed back to where they were sitting with the tray. Setting it down on the coffee table in front of the sofa, Oz handed Ayla her water. “I grabbed a pionono for you in case you change your mind.”

Ayla looked apologetic. “I don’t think?—”

“It’s okay,” he said gently. Reluctantly, he took the ottoman seat on the other side of the coffee table. KW didn’t appear as if he was going to move his ass, and it would call attention to their group if Oz jammed himself on the other side of Ayla. “If you can’t eat it, I will, but you’re starting to worry me. You need more than crackers.”

“I know. My stomach will settle soon and then I’ll eat protein and vegetables. I promise.”

“Stomach bug?” KW asked. “Or did you forget to use bottled water?”

“Morning sickness,” Ayla said. “Although it doesn’t confine itself to the beginning of the day.”

Oz watched realization dawn and gave KW a threatening glare. He grinned anyway. “Things are beginning to get clearer.” He turned to Ayla. “I heard you work for the Paladin League.”

“Yes, in public relations.” She opened her water bottle and took a sip. It didn’t erase her pallor. His Pollita was suffering.

“In Los Angeles, right? That’s where you met the Wizard.”

Ayla nodded absently.

“KW,” Oz growled. It was a warning.

“What?” his teammate said, feigning innocence. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other before Puerto Jardin. Looks like Stony wasn’t the only one celebrating his wedding.”

“Dude, I suggest you shut the fuck up. Now.” Oz kept his voice low, but there was no way in hell he was going to sit by and let KW make Ayla feel self-conscious or uncomfortable.

“Copy that.” KW’s smirk returned. “Shutting the fuck up.”

His teammates were like brothers to him, but the downside to that closeness was that Winter could read him and figure things out. He’d put Oz’s protectiveness together with Ayla living in Los Angeles—and the trip the team had made to LA for Stony’s wedding nearly eight weeks ago—and come up with the right answer. The only reason she hadn’t turned bright red was she was too focused on her queasiness to register KW trying to stir things up. He glowered at his teammate anyway.

“Why don’t you give us a report on what Mother Teresita told you?” It was an order, not a request, despite how he’d phrased it.

“Yes, please,” Ayla said, becoming more attentive. “I need to know what she said about my sister.”

KW looked around, and although they’d already been talking softly, his voice became quieter. “You know about the brooch, right?”

“Yeah,” Oz said.

“What brooch?” Ayla asked at the same time.

His teammate met his gaze and Oz gave a small nod. Only then did KW share what he knew. “Last year, while I was working at the convent, I discovered a jeweled brooch. I gave it to the Reverend Mother. It ended up being auctioned off to pay for renovations to the abbey. It was identified by Archer at the Paladin League as part of the Treasure of Trujillo.”

“That’s what my sister talked to the Mother Superior about?”

Nodding, Winter said, “Yeah, although Mother Teresita didn’t know that much about it. I’m the one who found it. Of course, I wouldn’t have trusted your sister enough to tell her anything, so…” He let his voice trail off and shrugged.

“So Io was better off getting partial information from the Mother Superior than no information at all from you.”

Another shrug from KW.

Oz reached for his coffee. “What else? There must be more than this.”

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