The sound of it snaked through the ice in Alonzo’s mind like the hot lash. He actually saw the snakelike whip sizzling through the glacier that kept his emotions from playing a part in his life. It took every ounce of discipline he possessed to stay still.

Elijah and Joshua were also on their feet. Bodyguards instantly squared off with the others in the room. Emilio sat quietly looking around at the men standing as if he were a bit puzzled by everything. Amodeo’s bodyguards rushed to get to him, one knocking into Evangeline’s arm as he swept in close to his boss. The coffeepot fell from her hand to the floor, shattering. A dark stain, much like a puddle of blood, spread across her tiled floor.

“Joaquin,” Elijah addressed his personal bodyguard. “Please escort Evangeline to the kitchen and stay there with her. She’s under my protection. Patrizio, tell your bodyguards to stand down immediately. Everyone sit down and take a breath.”

There was no mistaking the complete authority in that voice, and immediately Patrizio took the “out” Elijah offered and sent his bodyguards back to their original stations, leaving Alonzo his opportunity to kill the man. Three seconds to kill five men. Maybe six. That was all he needed once the bodyguards obeyed and settled into their previous positions.

Evangeline’s fingers found the back of his shirt, beneath his suit jacket, and bunched the material into her palm. She leaned into him. Close. Her front to his back. She was trembling. “Don’t.” She whispered the word against his back. Lips against the material of his suit jacket while her fist held his shirt captive.

She knew. She knew things about him she shouldn’t know. She should be terrified of him. Running. But instead she stood behind him knowing he would give his life for her. Knowing she was under his protection. She stood close. Her body was so close he felt her breasts and hips. One arm. That single word spoken so low was far more of a command to him than Elijah’s had been. He drew air into his lungs and breathed away the need to kill.

Reaching behind him, he caught Evangeline’s wrist and slowly drew her around him. Elijah nodded toward the kitchen. She shook her head, just once, but Alonzo saw her chin lift as she glanced down at the broken glass and pool of coffee. She didn’t understand that Elijah was trying to save Alonzo from killing. Alonzo could have told him there was no saving him from anything, but he didn’t want to terrify Evangeline.

“Go with him,” he said, his hand on her arm all but forcing her toward Elijah’s guard. “Timur will go with you as well.”

“And Jeremiah,” Joshua said.