“No, he isn’t. We’re just good friends. I’m worried about him. He doesn’t pay any attention to the news or what’s happenin’ around him. He spends half his time drawin’ and the other half workin’ on his sculptures. It’s rare for him to show up at a gallery and actually talk to anyone who wants to purchase his work. I don’ want him to be an easy target for this killer.”

“You’re worried that if he’s around you, he might be next.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I’m worried about you too, Remy.”

He gave her his leopard grin. Dangerous. Predatory. “Worry about the other guy, chere.”

Chapter 15

15

REMY glanced out the window of the Inn and froze. “What idiot let him go out there before he talked to Robert?” He swung around to glare at his brothers.

“You know Drake. He just gets that look on his face and you back off and let him do whatever he wants to do.”

Saria moved up beside her brother to stare out at her husband. She gasped, one hand going defensively to her throat. “Can you stop him if he tries to kill Robert?”

“What do you mean, tries?” Remy demanded. “Robert doesn’t stand a chance against Drake. Not even if Dion was stupid enough to try to help him. Robert challenged him, and you’re pregnant. What do you think his leopard is goin’ to do?”

“No one said anythin’ about Saria bein’ pregnant,” Lojos pointed out with a pious expression.

“Do you have any idea how bad this is?” Remy asked, worry edging his tone. “Two male members of Drake’s lair came into his home uninvited. His pregnant wife asked them to leave repeatedly and they didn’t. One laid out a challenge for leadership of the lair in Drake’s own backyard. He’s always in control of his leopard, but this is too much. Mine would be killin’ both of them by now.”

Bijou slipped her hand into Remy’s back pocket. He glanced over his shoulder at her. Her face looked pale.

“The laws of civilization don’ apply to leopards. We aren’t exactly civilized,” Remy explained, trying to gentle the words with a softer tone.

“Absolutely lethal,” she whispered. “That’s what you’re sayin’.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. That’s who we are. Robert has been leopard for years and he chose to take such a risk.” Remy’s gaze went back to the large leopard tearing up the trees in a rage. Drake wasn’t known for being a hothead. If anything, he was always the voice of reason. If there was one man who could always keep his leopard under control, it was definitely Drake. He didn’t look under control at the moment.