“No, but I could do a background check later,” she murmured. They’d helped each other with cases before.

Wolfe glanced down at her, his gaze warming. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you.” It was nice he’d noticed, although the outfit wasn’t really her style. She was more a jeans and flannel type of girl. She shuffled uneasily in her heels. That way he had of switching topics had thrown her ever since they’d met. “Okay. I’m going to mingle and ask questions. You?”

He smiled, the sight daunting. “I just cuffed you. No dom would allow a sub to mingle.”

Allow? Oh, heck no. She blinked. “Then uncuff me.”

“No. Last time you didn’t have backup, you nearly died.” He crossed his arms, somehow scouting the entire room while also watching her.

Her back teeth gritted together. “You’re not in charge here, Wolfe.”

“The cuffs say otherwise,” he said, angling his head to take in the dance floor.

She couldn’t help it. She really couldn’t. Full on, she’d chased this story, and now she was pretty much tied up because of a guy who only wanted to be her friend. She kicked him, as hard as she could, right in the shin.

He stiffened and rapidly pivoted, and both hands went to her hips to lift her. She was in the air, halfway to the bar, before she even thought to struggle. A heavy thud sounded from behind Wolfe. A woman screamed.

Wolfe dropped Dana to her feet and shoved her behind him, angling toward the dance floor. He looked up to a balcony high above.

Dana craned her neck to look around him, staring down at the dead man on the ground with a bullet hole in his head. His eyes were wide open and frighteningly blank. Her stomach lurched, and she coughed. “That’s Albert,” she whispered.

Wolfe looked over his shoulder at her. “Well, shit. That’s Clarke, too.”

Sirens sounded in the distance. Wolfe grabbed her bound wrists. “We have to get out of here. Now.”

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Holding Dana tight, ignoring her sweet orange blossoms scent, Wolfe ran past the gaping onlookers to the vestibule, where Thor with an attitude tried to stop him. Not halting his stride, Wolfe lifted the moron beneath the neck and tossed him against the far wall. The fancy wooden paneling cracked, and the guy dropped to the marble floor.

Dana gasped but kept pace with him as he charged out the front door and into the street, scouting for threats. “Where’s your car?” he asked.

Trembling, she pointed down the quiet street to a compact lime-green bug.

His steps faltered and then quickened again. “Where did you get a tiny green car?” he snapped.

“Rented it,” she panted, her eyes wild. “Figured it’d be tough to trace me if something went wrong.”