Timur lounged against the wall looking for all the world as if he was bored, but Alonzo knew better. His brother was aware of everything and everyone. He was ready to spring into action the moment there was need. He’d been raised the same as Alonzo, and his leopard was equally as vicious and cruel. Alonzo also knew Timur would kill anyone to protect his brother.

“I’m not going to ask you two why you aren’t admitting to the relationship,” Jake said, looking from Alonzo to Timur. “But if there’s a problem that could jeopardize what we’re doing, we need to know.”

Alonzo didn’t look at his brother. There was nothing to say. Sooner or later their uncles might find out they were still alive and come after them, but that time wasn’t now. He shrugged. “You wanted me in the position of the king. I told all of you it wasn’t for me, but you insisted. You want someone else, I’ll stand down.” That would make it so much easier with Evangeline. She didn’t want a criminal for a husband. He was all that word implied and more.

“Sorry, Alonzo,” Elijah said, not sounding it. “You’re a natural and we need you. Patrizio will go to Custer Carlson next. Custer will demand too much from him, and he knows that, but he’ll have no choice. I sent the message to him this morning that there would be no alliance between us. I told him we like to fly under the radar and his need for the spotlight didn’t fit with us, but we held no animosity and would certainly do business with him any time.”

“Alonzo.” Drake sent him a small grin. “You managed to piss off just about everyone with your defense of your woman.”

He didn’t respond. There was no response to make. He wouldn’t apologize for keeping Patrizio in line. He resisted looking at his brother. They’d discussed killing the bastard, the pros and cons. Both were for it, believing that he’d come after them eventually, but they’d decided to bide their time. They didn’t want anything coming back on them, and the “undercover” cops had been all over that meeting in the bakery. There was no doubt that they had pictures of every single person attending. Multiple pictures. When they killed Patrizio, they wouldn’t want anyone to know they were involved, not even the men sitting at the table—the men they trusted most.

“Watch your back,” Elijah advised.

Timur stirred, but didn’t speak. The atmosphere in the room grew tense for a moment. Every leopard could feel the rage of the male lounging against the wall, looking on the outside as cool as ever. Inside, his leopard raked and clawed for freedom and the other leopards in the room reacted. Alonzo shot his brother a quick, quelling look. Timur shrugged.