He supposed her bakery would become even more popular. People would go because they would want to catch a glimpse of a suspected mobster. That was simply human nature. His activities would be good for her business, but it would also mean increased security, which would make her even more upset than she already was with what they’d done.

She hadn’t liked the cameras, not in her shop and certainly not in her home. They were necessary for her safety. When they had children, their children would need bodyguards and cameras. He doubted if she’d like that either. He pushed both hands through his hair in agitation.

She is strong. She tried to save your life. Again, for the second time since he’d been a young child, his leopard reached out to reassure him.

Alonzo had forgotten that feeling of comfort. Of camaraderie when he had no one else. What had made his leopard settle so much, even when his woman was sleeping off the anesthesia? With everything that had happened, normally he would have been snarling and snapping, raging to be free to wreak vengeance on anyone near.

I think just knowing you have a mate has mellowed you.

There was a silence. Your woman is calm. Inside. She is calm. Always.

What did that mean? Alonzo didn’t care as long as it meant his leopard was easier to live with. Right now, he needed a little respite to think. To plan. He was bringing Evangeline to the Arnotto estate to recuperate. He could take care of her there, and the security was tighter. He wouldn’t have much time to find out who had ordered the hit. The moment she felt better, she would want to go back to work. He had to have taken care of the problem by that time.

He was allowed to go into her room and sit beside her bed. A nurse was with her at all times and that nurse was also leopard, part of the surgical team Jake had brought in. Drake prowled the corridors, a roving guard, while Elijah’s men stayed in the hallway outside of her room. Timur and Gorya were just inside the double doors.

No one spoke. They didn’t want to be overheard, or caught on camera. Alonzo knew Timur, Gorya and Sevastyan would know what was uppermost in his mind. Another hour went by. Mitya had been in surgery for eight hours. At least he wasn’t dead. Jake had told Alonzo that Doc was the best. Evangeline’s surgeon had reiterated that fact. He glanced at his watch. Evangeline was showing signs of waking. Twice she’d lifted her long lashes and turned her head toward him. Both times he saw her leopard staring at him and then she closed her eyes again.