She stopped struggling and let him lead her a couple of steps. She breathed deep with both steps and summoned her cat. To her shock, the female leopard answered, roaring her rage, the sound echoing through the garden, claws bursting through her fingertips and strength coiling inside her, allowing her to twist free, raking and ripping through flesh. Twisting and turning with the cat’s flexible spine, she fought her way out of his grip. Hot blood streaked across the trees and splattered over vines and leaves, droplets sprinkling over her dress.

“Fucking wildcat,” he snarled, “you’re going to pay for that.”

She tilted her chin. “Go ahead and kill me. See what your friend says.”

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you, but I have a lot of ways I can make you sorry. I’ve learned a thing or two from Imelda.”

Her stomach lurched. She tried to remember what Conner had said. She’d backed away from Ottila earlier to get him to follow her out into the open. But backing away would draw him to her and she’d be off balance. She needed to step to the side, keep her feet under her shoulders, not be flat-footed. He wouldn’t be caught by her cat twice.

Ottila reached for her again, and the sound of a cocking shotgun was loud. Ottila turned toward the sound without expression. He didn’t bother to wipe the blood from his face or chest. It dripped from the claw marks on his arms. He smiled at Harry. “Are you sure you want to be a part of this, Harry? Just walk away and you’ll stay alive. I won’t only kill you, but I’ll kill your boss as well. This isn’t your business.”

“She was put in my care,” Harry said. “Isabeau, walk back to me.”

“Don’t you move, Isabeau,” Ottila hissed. “I’ll kill him before he gets a shot off and then I’ll have to kill the old man.”

“You kill Alberto, and Imelda will never let you live. She’ll hunt you down, and nowhere will be safe for you. She’ll kill every man, woman and child you care about,” Harry promised.

Isabeau held up her hand. “Harry, I don’t want you and Alberto in the middle of this. Elijah will come after me. And his team is lethal. I’ll go with him.”

“I don’t think so, Isabeau.”

A new voice came from behind Ottila. Confident. Accented. So very familiar. Isabeau looked past Ottila and saw Felipe and she couldn’t help the relief bursting through her. She’d seen Felipe move and he was fast. Very fast.

“Harry, thank you. I can take it from here. Don’t leave the old man alone,” Felipe said.