It hadn’t been the violence of the moment that had traumatized her so much, but the sheer impossibility of a man turning into a leopard. The leopard had been snarling, covered in blood just as she was. Terrifying. Close. Those eyes glowing with the drive to kill. She shivered, and wrapped her arms around herself.

“I’m sorry you saw that, Siena,” Alonzo said quietly. “You had nightmares after that, and you wouldn’t come near me.”

She had hurt him. She hadn’t even realized he could be hurt. That shamed her. “Alonzo, I don’t know the first thing about what my grandfather was doing or what he wasn’t doing. I love that you’re protective of me and that you’re looking out for me, but I have no idea what to do.”

“Your man does.”

“My man doesn’t need to be involved in my mess.” She stuck her chin up.

Elijah caught at her arm. “That’s it, baby. You’re done here.”

“You can’t tell me I’m done here. I have to sort this out.”

“Your man sorts it out,” Elijah said, and dipped down, his shoulder hitting her belly gently, and he stood up.

She found herself upside down, over his back, hair hanging down in her face, his arm across her buttocks holding her in place. Before she could get more than a squeak out, he was striding from the room, using long, purposeful steps, slamming the door behind them. She was not giving him the satisfaction of being so undignified that she struggled.

Elijah carried her through the house, past the atrium without going inside it this time, which meant there were more ways than one to get to the various rooms on this side of the house. He set her on the counter and kept one hand on her belly.

“Baby, I’m going to say this once more because it’s important. I know what you were doing in there, and I appreciate it. I do. But this business does not touch you. I know you think you’re responsible, but your grandfather is, not you. You are mine now. My woman isn’t touched by shit. Not ever. Mi amorcito, this business is shit. I was born into it and I know how to handle it. You are not to go near it again. Are we clear?”