“You need a paycheck,” Elijah pointed out.

“I’ve got money. Live off the grid. Don’t spend. I can get by.”

Elijah studied his face. The man gave absolutely nothing away. If he was lying about wanting to make certain Siena was safe, he was the best actor on the planet. His voice rang with honesty. Even Elijah’s cat had a difficult time objecting. He glanced at Drake, who nodded subtly, both actions so slight most wouldn’t have caught it.

“You ever think about a different way of life?” Elijah asked.

Alonzo’s eyebrows shot up. “What other way of life is there for someone like me? Like you? We need this. Our leopards need it. We aren’t human. We’ve got that prey drive, some more than others. My leopard would go insane and drive me that way if I tried to live normal.”

Elijah nodded. “Yeah. I get that. So how do we solve this little problem we’ve got going on right now? You coming onto my land and trying to sneak past the guards I have on Siena?”

“You let me see her. Talk to her. Alone, so I know she’s where she wants to be and not doing what you’re forcing her to do.” Alonzo didn’t change expression. “I might even try to tell her what kind of man you are if she insists on staying with you.”

Elijah stared at him for several long moments. “You don’t think by saying that, it might lower your chances of seeing her?”

Alonzo shrugged. “You can try killing me. I’ll take one or two of you with me. But that’s the only way you’re going to keep me from seeing her.”

“I don’t mind killing.” Elijah told him the stark truth and let the honesty ring in his voice so there was no mistaking it.

“I knew that the first time I ever laid eyes on you.”

“Still. You’re here.”

“I’m here.”

“You love her.” Elijah made it a statement, and watched him closely.

Alonzo shrugged, not bothering to deny it. “Not like you think,” he said. “I told you, my leopard is a savage bastard. Wants to kill anything that comes close, even women, and don’t tell me you don’t know what that’s like or what it means. Doesn’t accept Siena’s leopard. Don’t have family. She’s it. I made her it when Tonio assigned me to keep her safe. She was a good kid. Sweet. Turned into a fine woman. Not like Tonio. Not like anyone I’ve ever known. I’m her soldier.”