“We’re leopard. Leopards like the night. They aren’t aware I’ve finally coaxed my woman into my bed. I’ll be as fast as I can. Go into my room, use the large bathtub and climb into my bed after.” She wouldn’t have access to the audio and security screens in his room. He ran his finger from her chin down her throat, between her breasts, to her belly button and right to the vee between her now bare lips, feeling her shiver. “Go to sleep, angel moya, and I’ll wake you when I send them on their way.

She nodded.

He kissed her because he couldn’t resist kissing her and because of that little nod. She might not be in the least submissive, but she did like to please him. He was fairly certain there wasn’t a luckier man on earth.

15

“DAMN it all to hell, Alonzo,” Elijah snapped. “You’ve got dead bodies from one end of the city to the other. What were you thinking?”

Alonzo studied the man’s face for a long time, keeping his features expressionless. For years Elijah had been an enforcer in his father’s territory. He’d become the same for Antonio Arnotto. He had been a soldier. He’d wanted to stay a soldier. Elijah had talked him into becoming a boss. That hadn’t felt right until now. This moment. He knew what he’d done was necessary to keep his woman safe. Not just his woman, his family. Timur. Gorya. Mitya and Sevastyan. The other members of his crew. His soldiers. They needed someone strong or they’d all get eaten alive.

He’d made his decision and he’d carried it out, showing the other bosses no one messed with his people. Elijah didn’t have to like it, but then, he didn’t need Elijah’s permission or his approval. He wasn’t about to defend his decision or argue. It was done. He merely stared at the man who had recommended him for his position.

Elijah shook his head slowly, taking a deep breath and letting it out. Beside him, Joshua stirred. There was no doubt his leopard was very, very close.

“My cousin got out of this world,” Joshua said. “You brought her back into it. I want her out.” There was iron in his voice. His eyes glittered dangerously. “She deserves better than dead bodies in her home.”

Alonzo felt the stirring of his leopard. A snarl. A rake of his claws in warning. He kept his expression frozen. His gaze cool. He shrugged. “She’s my leopard’s mate and she’s my woman. We’ll be married very soon. If you really want to challenge me, that’s up to you, but you won’t win. No matter how fast, no matter how experienced, you don’t have that killer’s edge to you. I do.”