“I want to make certain we get the entire ring and know where it leads and to whom. He’ll have tentacles everywhere. I want it all,” Jake said. “Give me just a couple more weeks. Don’t move on Patrizio until it’s absolutely necessary.”

Alonzo waited, his body still, feeling his leopard waiting too. They both knew what was at stake. Timur and Gorya did as well. Lazar couldn’t be allowed to get too cozy with Patrizio. Alonzo wouldn’t put it past Patrizio to go to Lazar and ask for a favor, never realizing he’d be selling whatever was left of his soul to the devil. But that favor would be a hit from the Russian mob on Alonzo. As soon as his picture was distributed, Lazar would know right where to find him.

“We’ll wait,” Elijah decided. “That’s too important, but you’ll have to hurry, Jake. Patrizio will make a move soon against Alonzo.” He glanced at him. “Watch your back.”

That was the second warning. That meant Elijah was really concerned about an attack. Alonzo simply nodded and glanced at his brother. Their eyes met. Patrizio was going to die very soon, much sooner than Jake might want. He’d track down the trafficking ring himself if he had to.

They went on to the next order of business. Alonzo allowed the talk to swirl around him but he pulled out his phone and brought up the live feed at the bakery. There were seven cameras and he cued up each one.

His woman was laughing, leaning one hand on the counter, her manner open and friendly, not at all guarded as she’d been the day before. He liked seeing her that way as she talked with a customer. The customer shifted just a little, and he instantly recognized Brice Addler. The man was dressed in the clothes he often wore, making himself out to be a carpenter.

Alonzo imagined his leopard chasing the bastard down and ripping him apart before ending him. Evangeline shook her head and gestured toward the door, still laughing. Brice and his two fellow cops obediently sauntered out, but not before Brice put his fingers to his ear mimicking a phone. She shook her head again, and smiling, went to help the next customer in line.

She was beautiful. He swept his finger over the screen, touching her face, that flawless skin, her gorgeous, exotic eyes, the long hair she liked to tame by weaving it into some intricate classy braid, and the curves that filled out her luscious figure. She was his. All his. Brice could go fuck himself because he was never going to have Evangeline.

Without warning he smelled blood. Water. Fear. Every leopard in the room went still, and Jake froze. The door opened and Emma was standing there, looking very pale and clearly scared.

“Jake. My water broke. The contractions are very strong.”