Leopard's Wrath (Leopard People 11)

“I understand, Ania. I’m really sorry. Is there anything our family can do to help?”

His eyes slid over her, and to her horror, there was speculation there. For a moment, his gaze drifted over her body and then back up to her face.

She shook her head and sipped at her cooling latte. She glanced up to see Vikenti and Zinoviy both looking grim. A burst of laughter came from a large table of customers who had just come in. Apparently they were celebrating a victory of some sort, and according to them, it was impossible to do without Evangeline’s chai cupcakes and Ashe’s amazing blended drinks.

Ania could hear so clearly. The rain outside. The conversations. Breathing even. The three men who had accompanied Alessandro into the bakery were seated at a table close by. Vikenti was between them and Ania on one side and Zinoviy was on the other. She knew by the way Alessandro was looking at her that he was interested. Twice, his dark eyes had changed to a very intense amber. At first there were golden flecks through the dark brown and then she was staring at something much more predatory.

She’d never been in this situation before and didn’t know how to handle it. She wanted information from Alessandro, as much as she could get, but she wasn’t very good at deceit.

“Do you do quite a lot of business with Jake?” Deliberately she used his first name, as if she saw the billionaire every single day and they were good friends. She’d met him twice. She worked out of his building. She didn’t run in his circles, but maybe the Carusos did.

“No, this will be my first time meeting with him. A mutual friend arranged it. Drake Donovan. He’s been a good friend to us for several years. He owns an international security company and is a close friend of Bannaconni. I had some business I wanted to discuss with him, but even our name didn’t buy us an instant meeting.”

He didn’t sound in the least bit annoyed over that, which surprised her. The Caruso family was a powerful one. Most people gave them whatever they wanted. She would expect that Alessandro and his brothers might be spoiled.

“Donovan’s did?”

He nodded. “Immediately. I didn’t have the same pull with your lawyer, though.” He laughed softly at his own joke but all the while his eyes were on her. Watching. Alert.

She really wasn’t feeling good. Her body felt hot. Her breasts ached. Every time she moved, her nipples rubbed in the lace of her bra, inflaming them. She held herself very still, but anxiety was taking hold. That and the persistent headache that only seemed to be getting worse because her skull was too tight. Her skin felt too sensitive. Between her legs, fire danced.

She couldn’t seem to breathe without breathing in Alessandro. She glanced up and suddenly the room felt like it was filled with too many men, all looking at her with lust in their eyes. She couldn’t stop what was happening to her body. In another minute she was going to have to rip off her clothes before her skin was rubbed raw.

The bell over the door rang and a chill went down her spine. Before she looked up, she knew exactly who was walking through the door. Deep inside, her female leopard jumped, as if she were trying for freedom. Ania lifted her lashes and her gaze instantly collided with Mitya’s. There was no expression on his face. None at all. But he looked ruthless. Dangerous. Exactly what he was. He didn’t try to hide the killer in him. His eyes were dark blue. Flat. Cold. The eyes of a predator. His gaze moved from her to Alessandro.

Automatically she followed his gaze. Alessandro had gone on alert immediately. His breath hissed out and his face was a mask as well. She could see the golden flecks moving through the dark brown in his eyes, his cat close.

Her breath hitched in her lungs. She had no idea what to do. Bodyguards spread out. Mitya strode straight to her table, not even acknowledging Evangeline’s greeting. He used long, purposeful strides. Ania attempted a smile, but her heart was beating like crazy and she could barely breathe.

He held out his hand to her, still looking at Alessandro. “You’ll have to excuse my fiancée.”

She rose. Alessandro did as well. “Mitya, this is Alessandro Caruso. Alessandro, Mitya Amurov.”

Alessandro recognized the name. She could tell it meant something to him. His gaze had followed Mitya’s hand as his fingers wrapped around Ania’s arm and pulled her around the table to him.

The moment Mitya touched her, his eyes went that fierce glittery arctic blue she came to recognize as his leopard being close. She knew he was all predator, a savage fighting machine, both cat and man. He dragged her close, tipped up her chin, and his mouth came down on hers.