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There was something wrong with Ryson’s wife? “Is that why he didn’t come down here himself?”
Maizie nodded. “But it’s not what you think. It’s twins.”
Kenna gaped. “They’re having another baby?”
Maizie grinned. “Maybe if it’s two girls, he’ll name them Kenna and Maizie, but I can’t suggest that to Valentina yet because no one is supposed to know. She’s not very far along, like nine weeks maybe. I’ve been reading up on multiple pregnancy online. It’s pretty gross.”
The first time in a very long time Kenna found herself in a conversation about pregnancy not overwhelmed with grief.
But laughing.
ChapterSeventeen
The front door to Navarro’s house opened before they even walked up the front steps. Kenna lifted her chin to the man holding the door open, aware of Maizie right behind her. The teen had given her a cross necklace, the metal pendant chunky enough to hide a tracker.
They stepped inside, and she positioned herself to see whoever came toward them and keep Maizie in sight at the same time.
The teen had opted for jeans that completely disguised the shape of her legs, whether that was by design or because it was a fashion statement Kenna didn’t know. But personally she wasn’t going to give up skinny jeans. Ever.
Maizie also had a sweater on, despite the temperature, and her hood pulled up so only the wavy front strands of blond could be seen. For now all she wanted to do was hide in whatever way she could, which was fine by Kenna. They had good reason to believe she was safer if she did. Later she could choose what she wanted to do with her life.
Kenna was thinking of talking to her about online college. Not that the girl couldn’t test out of basically anything, since she was so smart. But if she wanted to make a life for herself, she needed qualifications rather than a shadowy past, no medical history, and a whole lot of trauma.
Stairns stepped in last and took the lead when Navarro appeared.
The cartel leader strode down the hall toward them. “Drinks?”
Stairns lifted his chin. “If that’s what you called us here for.”
“Dinner is almost ready.” He led the three of them to a terraced dining area.
Maizie hung back, leaning against the adobe exterior with one foot on the wall like she didn’t have a care in the world. Unless, of course, a person already knew that she did everything out of an epic sense of self-preservation that bordered on justifiable defensiveness. If she was honest, Kenna had lived a lot of the last few years doing exactly the same thing.
Not drawing attention to herself.
Hanging back.
“Sit. Please.” Navarro waved a hand at the table. Eight chairs—three on each side and one at either end.
Kenna pulled out the end of a three-side, farthest from Navarro as she could get. She glanced over at Maizie. “Sit down, kid.”
The girl pushed off the wall and slumped into the chair, immediately pulling out her phone. She looked for all the world like a recalcitrant teenager—and Navarro wasn’t impressed. He would dismiss her.Good.
Kenna lifted one foot, bent her knee, and set her shoe on the chair so her shin pressed against the table. That way she could recline like someone with no care over facing Navarro.
“No thank-you for me?” His brows rose, and he sat back while an older woman in black pants and button-down shirt poured him a drink, then one for Stairns. “I did rescue you.”
Kenna folded her arms. “I figure you’ll get whatever you were promised.” She just had no idea what it was.
Stairns sipped from his glass.
Kenna raised her hand at the offered whiskey and told the server lady, “Water. Please. For both of us.” She motioned to Maizie and back.
The server returned with their drinks, then trays of appetizers.
Maizie only took one after Kenna had eaten. Yet another thing that Kenna wanted to note so she could address each one in turn. Figure out why the girl did what she did and if it was a habit or learned behavior that she needed to break if she wanted to be free. Maybe Maizie was simply checking to see if it was poisoned first—rather than respect for Kenna’s position in her life, or in consideration of not appearing rude.
Stairns set his elbow on the table, his chair turned to face Navarro. “Several months ago, during the summer, Kenna here met Camila in Colorado.”
