The Most Dangerous Dame

He sighed and shook his head. “I told you before — I don’t blame you for her death. I blame the person who did the killing. This… Natalie. I want her dead.” His jaw tightened. “I want blood for blood. Her and anyone else involved.”

“You might not want this, Flacco. You tangle with the Service, you lose.”

“Maybe that’s true outside of New Haven. Not inside. This is my city, Mick. And Sophia was my blood. I’m not afraid of taking on those Service thugs. I’d like to think you feel the same.”

“You’d be right. Sophia wasn’t the only one killed on account of this grudge match. I’m not out ‘till it’s finished. I owe a lot to the SS right now, and I’m gonna pay them back with interest.”

Moe nodded. “I’ll be working things out on my end. You follow whatever leads you got. We’ll stay in touch. Just remember: when it goes down, I wanna be there for the fall. I want my pound of flesh for Sophia.”

“I understand. What I’ll do is—”

“Hey Moe.” No-Nose Nate approached, dragging a very frightened and familiar figure with him. “Looky what I got. Caught her snooping around the door.”

I tilted my Bogart back and sighed. “Let her go, Nate. She’s with me.”

“You got time to skate on the job?” Nate grinned. “Not that I blame you. A piece of ass like this is hard to find.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re talking about a lady, Nate. Get that through your head, or I’ll put something else through it.”

Nate’s smile slipped. His face reddened as he caught the amused glances of the crew. He opened his mouth for a retort, but fortunately was spared the embarrassment when Moe cut him off with a wave of his hand.

“A friend of Mick’s is a friend of ours.” Removing his Bogart, he took Natasha’s hand and kissed it. “I apologize for your rough treatment. Merely a precaution.”

I stepped closer to Natasha. “I told you we’d be right back. You should have stayed with Maxine.”

Natasha looked at the collective crew of Borgata. “I just wanted to see what was taking you—” Her hand drifted to her mouth when she noticed Nelson in all of his unspectacular glory. “Oh.”

Moe followed her gaze. “You don’t need to see this, young lady. An unfortunate side of the business, I’m afraid. Benny, why don’t you escort her back to the car?”

“Sure thing, Uncle.” He gently placed a hand on Natasha’s shoulder.

Her eyes were wide as she was led away. I averted my gaze, surprised at the guilt I felt. I couldn’t help but think she saw me in a different light since observing me in my element. For the first time she saw the other side of my world. A world much uglier than the one she was used to.

Moe watched them leave. “The girl. She looks familiar.”

“Her name’s Natasha Luzzatti.”

“Ah, yes. Luzzatti’s daughter. All grown up now. I met Luzzatti once.”

“Wouldn’t have guessed.”

“You’d be surprised who I’ve gotten to know in this business. I tried to buy his apartments in a real estate deal some years ago. He wouldn’t budge. Good man. Stubborn as hell, but a good man. His daughter was just a little girl then.” His expression softened. “They grow up so fast.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

Moe gave me a shrewd glance. “Let me guess. You’re keeping her close so she stays out of harm’s way.”

I nodded.

“It never works. Trust me, I know. The best thing you can do for a girl like that is let her go, Mick. Don’t let her be the next Sophia Flacco. She’s already lost enough. Capeesh?”

“I hear you, Flacco.”

Electra sidled over, a smile teasing her lips. “I just had the grandest idea.”

Nate smirked and slid a finger across his golden schnozzle. “Oh, I gotta hear this. Spit it out.”

“If this killer is after all of Mick’s sexual partners, why don’t we give her one to target?”

I froze. “Who?”

She gazed at me from under her eyelashes. “Let’s not be coy, Mick. What’s the matter, afraid you can’t handle me?”

I took a careful step back. “I’m just not sure that’s a good idea, Electra. Putting you at risk like that? There’s got to be a better way.”

Moe frowned in thought. “Electra might have a point, Mick. This killer dame of yours must be jacked into the surveillance network. She has no problem finding her targets and can black out every camera in the area. So we know she likes to watch. Why not give her something to see and maybe get the jump on her at the same time?”

I threw up my hands. “Because Electra might get whacked, is why. Natalie is trained for assassination by the Secret Service, and let’s not forget the other four members of her crew that we don’t even know about yet. It’s too risky. I don’t want to be responsible for any more women dying on my watch.”

No-Nose Nate grinned. “Electra can handle herself. I’d bet on her against any of your Service agents. Any day. You’d be surprised how good she is.” He glanced at her. “You sure you’re up to it?”

“You don’t have to ask.” She looked at me like a cat at a cornered mouse. “If Mick can step to the plate, that is.”

“Sister, I can always step to the plate.” My heart sank behind my brave words. “You just give me the where and when, and I’ll be there.”