Page 82 of Now or Never
Amara repeated, “Petyr,” as if that alone confirmed Kenna was right. “Too bad you failed.”
“Question is, who is in on it with you? Are theyDominatusas well? Or did you recruit them?” Kenna gave Smith a second, but she said nothing, so she continued, “I see we’re going to stand here in this bathroom for the rest of the night. Until the drug you put in that drink has run its course and your partner believes you’ve changed your mind and left him. Or her. I guess it could be a woman helping you. Someone strong enough to help you carry him to the car after he passes out. Am I right so far?”
Smith just stared at her.
Kenna would’ve waltzed over there and taken the phone, had she not been pregnant. “I’ll talk to Petyr. Make sure he’s safe. We need to know who the partner is.”
Amara nodded. “Send Bruce in.”
Kenna pushed the door open and found Jax and Bruce right outside. She looked at Bruce. “We need the phone, the plan, and the partner’s name.”
He nodded and headed into the bathroom, leaving her with Jax.
“Good?” He touched her elbows, worry on his face.
She nodded. “Good thing I had to pee, because if we’d just left, he would’ve been kidnapped and probably killed.”
“Petyr is the target?”
“If he’s the one looking drunk like he’s gonna pass out,” Kenna said. “I guess it might be hard to tell in a crowd already well into their cups…but we need to figure out who she dosed.”
Jax took her hand. “I’m resisting the urge to accompany you to every bathroom from now on. Just in case.”
She squeezed his hand but neither of them let go. “I wouldn’t blame you, but I’m not sure you need quitethatmuch information about how things are going with me.”
She heard a breathy exhale out of his nose that was almost a laugh. They stopped at the archway that separated the lobby from the ballroom and glanced around. She scanned the crowdlooking for Petyr, or the ambassador, or anyone stumbling and looking drunk enough they might’ve been drugged.
“I don’t see him,” Jax said.
“Neither do I.” Kenna twisted around and found the hostess with her black pants and white shirt, tight bun, and earpiece. “Could you help us?”
“Yes?” The woman had heavily accented English.
“We’re looking for President Blazevic. We believe someone might’ve drugged his drink and they’re going to attempt to kidnap him.”
The woman flinched, twisted around, and lifted a hand to her ear. She spoke in Croatian as she strode fast through the ballroom.
“Does that mean it’s taken care of?” Kenna looked at Jax.
His attention drifted over her shoulder. “They’re out of the bathroom.”
They met Amara, Bruce, and their new friend by the entrance. Smith had Amara’s wrap around her shoulders, but the pale face was a dead giveaway that something was wrong with her.
Amara said, “We’re going to take a ride in the car with our ill friend.” She glanced at an embassy staffer who approached. “She isn’t feeling well, so we’re going to leave.”
The guy nodded. “I’ll have your car retrieved.”
Amara smiled like she was an older actress, still in her prime. A starlet. “Thank you so much.”
Kenna and Jax followed them out. “Can we continue the ruse and catch whoever she was supposed to meet?”
Jax glanced over, but a yell from their right interrupted whatever he was going to say. She glanced over and saw Petyr collapse to the floor. Kenna flinched toward him, the innate instinct to help someone there before she caught herself and stayed where she was.
Amara shoved Smith into the car and got in with her before anyone saw the blood on the woman’s shoulder or asked too many questions.
Jax said, “I’ll see if they figured out who she was working with.”
Two of the thugs caught Petyr, who stumbled toward the car. The crowd was comprised of half a dozen plus a woman in a dark-green dress with very pale skin and black hair, who fussed around them all. If they were trying not to draw anyone’s attention, it wasn’t working, though there was a chance some inside hadn’t seen any commotion.
