“Catarina? Is she considered a loose end?” In a way it was a relief that maybe she wasn’t the cause of the danger to Emma, her children and Catarina.

“I think we were his target,” Elijah admitted. “Gaton would perceive us as his biggest threat. You’ve inherited your grandfather’s territory. Paolo may act like he’s running the show, but you’re the princess. You’re living here with me. In everyone’s eyes, that makes us partners. Gaton, as well as several other bosses, believes we’re joining forces.”

His voice was matter-of-fact, as if he wasn’t delivering really, really bad news. In fact, his voice was devoid of all feeling. She hadn’t even considered what the outside world might believe about the vacancy on her grandfather’s throne, but it was his voice that sent a chill down her spine.

“Elijah,” she whispered softly, her fist bunching in his shirt.

“I don’t know for certain, mi amorcito, it’s just a gut reaction. We’ll know more when we find out who’s out there.” He didn’t look at her. His gaze fixed on a point above her head and his features were cut deep with lines, carved with something dark and very dangerous.

She pressed her face against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, trying without words to bring him back to her, because, although he held her, he wasn’t hers. She felt him moving away from her, his mind going somewhere she couldn’t follow. His fingers burrowed beneath her long braid to find the nape of her neck, massaging gently to ease the tension out of her, but he did it absently, as if she barely registered.

He suddenly lifted his head and looked toward the house. “We’ve got the all clear. I need you inside. Now.”

She winced at the edge in his voice. His tone cut, lashed, a crisp command delivered impersonally.

“Elijah,” she began, running her hand up his chest, trying to find their connection. Feeling suddenly very afraid.

He caught her hand and brought it down to his thigh, still not looking at her. “I’ll want Drake to explain to me how someone got close enough to the house to fire on us.”

“It sounded like a rifle to me.” She tried placating him, diverting his anger from Drake and the others. Because he was angry. She got that, not from his voice, but from the heavy, oppressive feeling coming off him in waves.

“It was, but no one should have gotten close enough even for that.”

She shivered at his cold tone. Yeah. He was seriously pissed. She didn’t think it was fair to Drake or his team. The ranch was huge. No one could cover the entire acreage.

“They got him, honey,” she reminded softly, as he pulled her to her feet.