Julie looked around and then back, her voice lowering. “Just the usual rumors that if you wanted drugs, he was the go-to guy, or if you wanted connections, he was the guy to ask.”
“Connections?” Dana murmured.
Julie nodded. “Yeah. Like if you somehow ended up with jewelry or a painting or whatever that you needed to get off your hands, then Albert Nelson was the guy to call to find the right people who could get it done.” Her voice dropped lower. “I only know that because I was playing with Ralph, the big blond guy, and he got really drunk one night and talked a lot about getting rid of an ex-girlfriend’s designer purses without her knowing.”
Ralph. Wasn’t that name in Candy’s notes? Dana perked up. “Is Ralph here tonight?”
“Haven’t seen him, but I’ve been up playing.” Julie straightened.
In the office. Were there records in there? Dana moved toward the door. “Hey. Does Trentington know about Albert?”
Julie pursed her lips. “I doubt it—especially the drug part. Trentington has a no-drugs policy.”
Anybody could’ve killed Albert Nelson, apparently. She opened the door, her breath catching at the sight of Wolfe leaning against the fireplace, waiting for her. With the dark mask covering his eyes, he looked like a roadside bandit determined to kidnap some helpless female.
Dana’s body tightened, awakening, and she padded on her bare feet across the smooth marble to reach him. Without her shoes, she felt even more vulnerable. “Happy now?”
“Watch your tone, sub,” he said gently, grasping her chin.
Her heart dropped to her stomach. His fingers were warm and firm, and for the briefest of seconds, she forgot she had a part to play. Before she could think of an answer, he turned her toward the staircase and released her chin. “Let’s check out the playrooms upstairs,” he murmured.
She was suddenly thankful she’d tossed the high heels since her legs felt wobbly. “I heard there’s an office upstairs to play in.”
“Ah. One of my favorite fantasies,” he said smoothly, leading the way up a grand staircase. “Over the desk in an office.”
The image of Wolfe bending her over a desk flashed into her mind, and her breath quickened. The staircase curved to the left at the top, with bedrooms spaced down a long hallway leading to a wide window with a reading alcove beneath it.
She swallowed and peered in the first room, which had been set up with a bed big enough to be two kings pushed together. Several people were in the middle engaged in various forms of sex. She blinked and took a step back, her eyes widening. Another step, and she collided with Wolfe.
He gently turned her. “Need to check out the rest of the rooms,” he said.
She blanched. Too much flesh. Way too much nakedness. “Does that turn you on?” she whispered.
“Sex with a bunch of people at the same time? Hell, no. Not my thing. I don’t judge it, but I’m more of a one-on-one type of guy.” He kept her to the side and poked his head into the next room, quickly withdrawing. “Nope.” Before she could look, he tugged her farther down the wide hallway.
The next room was western themed with saddles, whips, and even hay spread around the floor. A couple was having a good time over a bench, the man working hard.
Wolfe grabbed her hand and drew her farther down the hallway. Her adrenaline surged as she took in a vacant room with a desk, complete with a laptop. She stepped inside and instantly began opening drawers, which were all empty. “Shoot. This is just a prop room.”
Wolfe looked at his watch. “Beyond the living room downstairs on the main level is a cordoned-off area. That has to be his actual office.”
Loud voices caught her attention, and three couples stumbled into the room. The first woman, a dark-skinned beauty in a silk negligée, smiled up at Wolfe. “Hi. We were going to play corporate tycoon. Would you like to join in?”
Wolfe reached for Dana’s wrist. “Thanks, but we thought we’d check out the dungeon downstairs.”
Her companion leaned in, his brown eyes dilated. “Unless you’re into knife play, stay away from the room at the far end of the dungeon.” He shook his head.
“Good tip.” Wolfe drew Dana out of the room and headed swiftly back the way they’d come.
“Knife play?” Dana asked, wincing. “Do people really cut each other?”
Wolfe shrugged. “I guess. To each his own, but I’ve seen enough knife fights in my life.”
The cold marble chilled Dana’s feet, but she followed Wolfe down the stairs and over to the cordoned-off area. He pressed her against the wall, his hands at her waist, his body warming hers. “What are you doing?” Her entire body heated.
He dropped his mouth to her bare shoulder. “Look around and tell me when nobody is watching us.” His breath brushed her skin, and she shivered.
Concentrate, damn it. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to them, most people watching two women dance together, removing clothing as they did so. “Um, now would probably be a good time.” Her voice came out garbled.
