Then the leopard stood where the human had been, the backpack hanging around her neck, heavy, but doable. She wanted to roar with elation. Instead, she directed her female out the window and across the lawn. The cat used a slow, freeze-frame stalk, crouching low, to cross the lawn. In the distance, she caught sight of Alonzo, but the wind was blowing in the opposite direction and if he was a cat—and she suspected he must be or he wouldn’t have been named by her grandfather as a possible spouse—then he could catch the female’s scent if the wind shifted.

Siena wanted to scream at the cat to hurry, but she left the leopard alone, allowing it to make its way safely across open ground. They made up time in the heavier foliage and then used the vineyard. The leopard made a wide circle, backtracking to the large building on the other side of the massive winery. She sent her leopard a million thanks, lots of warmth and shifted back to her own body. She found herself on her hands and knees, her body aching, her joints painful, but she was free—or almost. The door to the garage was right in front of her and she punched in the code without even dressing first. Once inside, she hurried to the bathroom there, dressed hurriedly in her suit, left her heels off, put her hair up, and flung the backpack on the front seat of the Mercedes.

She grabbed the car keys, didn’t bother with lights, hit the door opener and backed out, using the road that led to the back side of the property. Once she was off the estate, she drove fast, putting the hill country behind her so that she could hit the city early. She wanted to be there first thing in the morning when Jake Bannaconni got to his office. If he did. Her heart tripped double time. He had to go into work. She knew he had a helicopter pad on top of his building and used that to get to and from work. If he wasn’t there, she planned to have his secretary call him. She couldn’t imagine that he wouldn’t know her name. Her grandfather’s winery was very famous.

She parked her car in the underground garage of Jake’s building, hoping that Paolo didn’t find the car right away if he was tracking her. She hoped he wouldn’t realize she was gone for another few hours. Surely he would wait to let her sleep in after such a terrible trauma. She waited through dawn, to working hours, watching out for anyone coming after her. Finally, she was able to go into the building. Using the ladies’ room on the lower floor to touch up her makeup and hopefully cover up most of the bruising, she stared at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized herself.