Page 89 of Wicked Ambition

Reaching out, Ayla grabbed her sister’s hand. “Io, I love you. I would never leave you in trouble. No matter what.”

“Love you, too, and we’rebothstill in trouble.”

“The Russian mobsters.” Io looked confused, so Ayla filled her in on that.

“Damn,” Io said. “We’re in bigger trouble than I realized. If we didn’t look alike…”

“But we do. Who kidnapped you? Who drugged you?”

“Have you heard the name Fuentes?”

Ayla nodded. “Archer sent you down to learn about him. He wants the treasure.”

Io frowned. “Lots of people want the treasure. I didn’t realize how many assholes would come out of the woodwork the minute it got out that I work for the Paladin League. There’s Fuentes, an arms dealer, two drug lords, guerilla fighters expelled from the rebel army, and now Russian mobsters.” Her lips curved, but it was a rueful expression. “Maybe more I didn’t run into yet. You’re in danger because of me, and I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” Ayla said, and because she knew her twin would continue to beat herself up, she changed the subject. “I’m going to need help getting my second bedroom set up as a nursery. Will you help me paint and assemble furniture?”

“You know I will. What about your baby’s long-haired daddy?”

“His name is Oziah, but he prefers Oz.” Ayla sighed. “And I don’t know how much he’ll be around. He’s working in Puerto Jardin.”

Io turned to meet her gaze. “You are aware that he’s not a mercenary, right?”

Ayla tried for an innocent expression. “Why do you think that?”

She must not have pulled it off because Io nodded. “You do know what he really is. Good. You also better realize that a man in Special Forces is not walking away from his responsibilities to his baby or its mother. You’re going to be parenting with him for the next eighteen years minimum, but my guess is you get a proposal. I saw the way he looked at you last night. Oz is thinking forever with you.”

“You were out of it last night.”

“Not that far out of it.” Io smiled. “At least not until I passed out.”

She was tempted to ask how Io knew Oz was a Green Beret, but she’d save that question for later. She had a more important one first. “I need a favor. Will you help?”

“Absolutely. Anything, Ay.”

“Switch places with me.”

Io stiffened and got to her feet, turning to stare at her. “We haven’t switched since we were teenagers. Why do you want—?” She stopped short. “Oh, no, Ayla. You do not want to test him. Hewilltell us apart, and he’s not going to be happy with you.”

Ayla stood. “No one can tell us apart. Even Mom and Dad get us mixed up. If Oz can’t notice the difference, well, maybe I don’t mean much to him.”

Her twin shook her head. “He’ll know immediately.”

“Why would he?”

“He’s in love with you.” Io crossed the room and took hold of her shoulders. “Don’t let Mom and Dad’s actions ruin your chance with the manyou’rein love with. Our parents have ignored us both since we became adults. Don’t you get it, Ay? We were anoops. They never planned to have kids, not ever.”

“How do you know that?”

“Grandma and Grandpa were talking about it one of the times we were dumped off at their house. I overheard the entire conversation. It explained a lot of things.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you would have let it eat at you even more than what you believed the situation was. Is it better to think you’re extra or to know you were never wanted at all?”

Her sister understood her sometimes better than Ayla understood herself. “How do you deal with knowing we weren’t wanted?”

“Your heart is more tender than mine. As long as I have you, I don’t give a shit about them.” Io shrugged. “They care about us as much as they’re capable of, for what that’s worth.”

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