Bannaconni’s secretary looked up as the security guards walked her through the enormous outer office with its artwork and comfortable furniture. She waved her hand and reached for the phone, presumably to inform her boss she’d arrived. The man who had spoken opened the door for her, stepped back and indicated she go in alone. Siena didn’t hesitate. She lifted her chin and walked in. The door closed with a soft snick and she found herself in a large corner office with glass for two walls, overlooking the city.

The suite was so large she couldn’t see into every corner, but her leopard went wild, suddenly edgy, as if she might be in danger.

“Miss Arnotto,” Jake said, standing as she entered. He indicated a chair. “Please sit down.” His eyes jumped to her face and narrowed, his darkened gaze studying her carefully. “Do you need medical attention?”

He was observant, and she knew, in spite of the fact that she tried to hide that she could only breathe shallowly, he noticed.

She shook her head. “I don’t want to waste your time, Mr. Bannaconni. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I’m grateful.”

He walked around his desk and leaned one hip against the granite top, his eyes on her face. Seeing the bruises in spite of her makeup.

She ignored his frown. “I know that you are friends with a man named Drake Donovan, a man who runs a security company. I once heard my grandfather say he was incorruptible and if he or his men were involved in something, that everyone else should walk away. My grandfather was very admiring, and he didn’t admire many people. I need to find Donovan.” She didn’t feel she had conveyed the urgency of the matter fully. He didn’t look in the least as if he was going to help her. His expression hadn’t changed. She leaned forward, her fingers twisting together until her knuckles turned white. “Immediately.”

Bannaconni studied her face. He didn’t blink. The edgy restlessness began to hurt, to burn. Her temperature soared. She tried breathing the feeling away, but her ribs prevented that from working very well.

“You’ll have to do better than that, Miss Arnotto.”

“My grandfather was killed last night. Murdered. I’m not safe . . .” She broke off as her leopard leapt, surging forward. She turned her head toward the shadows.

Elijah Lospostos walked out. He looked as gorgeous as ever. Not at all like she looked. Not as if one single thing had been ripped from his life. He walked like a jungle cat, and he stared at her bruised face with the same unblinking focus as Jake Bannaconni had.

She was up, out of the chair and across the room instantly, shaking hand on the door. “I’m sorry. I made a terrible mistake in coming here.”