Jake Bannaconni was an imposing man. It wasn’t just about his looks. He clearly was leopard and had the added advantage of muscle and power clinging to him. He was highly intelligent and that showed in the burn of his golden eyes. He owned several oil fields and was renowned for discovering new pockets of oil. More, he acquired companies and often took them apart.

Eli Perez was a very scary-looking man. Like Alonzo, danger clung to him, but he looked rough and scarred. He had tattoos everywhere and his muscles were the roped, powerful muscles of a leopard. He moved with fluid grace and had eyes for one person—Catarina. He smiled at Evangeline and devoured the baked goods along with Jake, but mostly he watched his wife and saw to her every need. It was a little shocking to see the man wait on her. He didn’t seem the type, but then neither did Alonzo. When she’d been laid up in bed, he’d been the one to bring her everything she could possibly want.

“Why did Alonzo bring Mitya?” The question slipped out before she could stop herself.

Jake smiled at her. “Your man will no doubt tell you that, and you won’t be happy with him.” He took another bite of her cannoli. “This is heaven. You know how to bake. I thought our Catarina was the number-one baker but you just might give her a run for her money.”

“What are they up to?” She wasn’t going to be distracted by compliments.

“You’ll know soon enough,” Jake said, making it clear he wasn’t about to give her information if Alonzo didn’t want her to have it.

She made a mental note to tell Alonzo she wanted to be informed of everything that had to do with her family, and that included her boys. If he didn’t like it, he would have to learn to live with it. He knew when he’d chosen her that she wasn’t a woman to be pushed aside easily.

*   *   *

ALONZO and Joshua were seated at the table to Elijah’s right. Elijah’s bodyguard, Joaquin, brought in Emilio and two other men Alonzo had never met. One was introduced as Fredo Lombardi and the other was Ulisse Mancini. Alonzo had heard of both.

Ulisse ran a counterfeiting ring that was very successful. Mitya’s father had wanted in on it in a bad way. Ulisse was a shark, always hungry for more territory and power. From what Elijah had said, the other bosses were leery of Ulisse.