Page 68 of Wicked Ambition

The next problem was his hair. He couldn’t cut it, but he combed it back into a queue at the base of his neck, put the elastic on it, and dropped it between his T-shirt and his fatigue shirt. As far as disguises went, it was dicey, but it was something. He didn’t want Ayla identified because of his appearance.

He cleaned up the area around the sink, tossed the disposable razor in the trash, and left the bathroom. Ayla was sitting up in bed, leaning back against the pillows propped against the ledge behind her. She was eating crackers but still looked green around the gills. Oz crossed the room and sat on the side, facing her. “Hey, Pollita, how are you feeling?”

“Horrible.” Her voice was raspy, and she sounded miserable. “The crackers aren’t doing much to help this morning.”

Cupping her head, he ran his thumb across her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

Ayla tried for a smile. “Señora Alvarez said morning sickness means a healthy baby. The way I’ve been feeling, our little one is going to set some kind of record.”

“You’re fine otherwise? It’s only morning sickness?”

She turned her head far enough to kiss the palm of his hand before she said, “Only the queasiness. You need to stop worrying about last night. You didn’t hurt me.”

He couldn’t help being concerned. His number one priority was to keep his woman and their baby safe. Before he could think of how to respond, Ayla said, “Could you get me some water, please? I’d get it myself, but if I stand up, I’m afraid?—”

“I’m on it, Pollita, hold on.”

Being careful not to jostle the bed as he stood, Oz headed for the bottles of water on the table. They didn’t have a fridge, so they were room temperature, but that had to be the best thing for her stomach. He hoped. Because they seriously needed to get moving and he couldn’t roust Ayla, not when she was worried about hurling if she stood up.

She was nibbling another cracker when he returned. Oz handed her the water but stopped before she could reach for it. “Here, let me loosen the cap for you.”

“Thank you,” she said as she took it from him. Putting the cracker down on top of the sheets, she sipped the water. Watching the careful way she drank drove home how nauseated she actually was.

Oz snuck a peek at the time. It was early. They had hours before checkout. He didn’t have to hustle his pregnant woman out of bed and risk her puking. Not yet, anyway. The longer they stayed here, the greater the risk. But even if she was able to stand right now, she still needed to shower and get dressed. They were definitely more than an hour away from leaving.

No sooner did he have the thought than Ayla apologized again.

“What for?”

“I’m holding us up. I know you want us moving. Give me a few more minutes and then I’ll try getting out of bed.”

“We’re okay,” Oz said. It was probably the truth. “We can spare a little more time.”

She took another sip of water before Ayla gave him a look. “Oz, you shaved. Do you think I don’t know that means you’re worried?”

“We talked about disguises.”

“It’s more than that. You told me that you didn’t want to stay in one place too long. You want us out of here. Like I said, just give me a couple more minutes. I can shower and dress quickly.”

“Pollita, as green as you look right now, fast movement is not—” His phone vibrated, interrupting him, and Oz reached for it.

“Is that Baggs? Did he find Io?”

He glanced at messages. “No, it’s KW. He talked to the Mother Superior about your sister and wants to know when we can meet.” It wasn’t exactly true. Oz was going totellKW they needed a meeting. That would keep Ayla out of trouble for a while longer.

“Now!” Ayla closed the water and put the bottle and the crackers on the ledge behind her, threw back the blankets and got to her feet. He had a moment to admire her in nothing except one of his T-shirts before her eyes got big. Putting her hand over her mouth, she ran into the bathroom, throwing the door closed behind her.

The sounds coming from the bathroom showed he’d been right about her needing to move slowly. Oz took a step in that direction, wanting to help in any way he could, but his phone vibrated again.

Baggs had finished searching the brothels and there was no sign of Iona Desmond. When Ayla had said her sister was drugged, Oz had feared the worst. Of course, that was assuminghis Pollita really could pick up her twin’s state of mind. He had some major doubts on that score, but he was grateful Baggs had come up empty. Having to tell his woman that her sister— Yeah, he was relieved not to have to go there.

When the shower turned on, he sent quick replies to his two teammates. Ayla was tougher than she looked, and as soon as she left the bathroom, she’d be prodding him to meet with KW and get his report. Winter better know they were meeting.

Oz thought about the way Ayla took charge the first time they made love yesterday, and his lips curved. Yeah, definitely tougher than she looked.

Finding somewhereto meet up with KW proved challenging. Oz didn’t want to take Ayla to the open-air market. With all the food, the chance of some aroma making her sick again was too great. For the same reason, he ruled out restaurants.

Returning to the coffee shop where they’d originally met KW was a risk, but it was the only option that made sense. Ayla wore her brunette wig and the rest of the disguise, but she appeared pale beneath her makeup.

---