The Most Dangerous Dame

“I’m serious. We all have a choice to be who we are. I chose to be Mick Trubble. You understand? You can choose your life also. It doesn’t have to be—”

“Spare me the empathy speech, Michael. I’m not buying it. You have no idea who you’re up against. I should just kill you now.” Her hand tightened around the pistol grip. “My mission was to bring you in if I couldn’t jolt your memory, but no one fully understood the complete disaster you are. I’m going to tell them the truth.” Her jaw trembled. “I’m going to tell them Michael Trudo is dead.”

“What’s holding you back then?” I gestured with my manacled hands. “You got me right where you want me. You won’t ever get a better chance than right now.”

Her eyes glistened. “You want me to do it? Don’t push your luck, Michael. I’ll do it.”

Sinn’s voice buzzed over the Datacom. “It’s done, Mick. Poddar’s taken out the sniper.”

I grinned at Natalie. “Too late, sweetheart. Should’ve done it when you had the chance.”

She had just enough time to look confused before the shot rang out. Her handgun sparked and ripped from her grip, flying across the room. She threw herself in the corner, holding her injured hand while throwing a murderous stare my direction.

“Guess I underestimated you, Michael. I figured you had some help in all of this. Whoever they are — they’re going to regret ever being born.”

“No.” Electra used the comforter to help pull herself up from the floor. Her eyes narrowed into slits. “You’re the one who’s going to regret being born, bitch.”

Natalie stared. “Your catsuit. It’s made of poly-liquid aramids, isn’t it?”

Electra twirled the switchblade in her hand. “A girl has to be prepared for these kind of hijinks. Think the Service is the only distributor of PLA suits? You should try the Grey Market sometime. Everything’s for sale at the right price, baby.”

Natalie smirked and raised herself into a crouch. “The impact still hurts, doesn’t it? I know it does. You know what — I’m glad you’re not dead. Just gives me the chance to cut your throat out like the other pathetic little girls.” She yanked a stiletto dagger from her boot and flew across the room.

The air hummed with the speed of their slashes. I was a hapless witness to one deadly display of speed and reflexes as they tried their best to spill each other’s guts across the floor. The blades scattered glints of light across the room as the two women thrust and parried. Most knife fights end in a few seconds, but those dames where good. While they practiced their slice and dice skills I struggled to free myself again. Both the cuffs and the bedframe still refused to cooperate.

“Sinn? Poddar? A little help here would be nice.”

My ear buzzed. “Hang on, Mick. Natalie has another agent on-site. Poddar’s taking fire.”

Automatic gunfire erupted in bursts outside the hotel, followed by the screams and mass panic of the crowds. Engines revved, tires squealed, and metal crunched as vehicles careened into one another. I figured Poddar could handle himself. I was more worried about my own predicament.

Electra bashed a cheap vase across Natalie’s head, leaping back to avoid a wild slash. Her free hand tossed a key at my feet. “Get out of here, Mick. This puttana is mine.”

“Glad to oblige.” I concentrated on trying to pick up the key with my feet. It was a bit hard to do while two women took turns throwing each other into walls and across furniture. Both seemed to have lost their knives and were engaged in a vicious round of fisticuffs. Enraged screams, grunts, and the sound of shattered furniture filled the room as the key dangled precariously between my big toes.

I nearly cried when Electra was flung from halfway across the room and took a tumble over the bed. Her body struck my legs, the key glinted as it tumbled across the room. Electra fell awkwardly on the other side, grimacing as she clutched her right arm, which appeared to be broken. Blood slid down her face from slashes to her cheek and forehead. She gritted her teeth as her gaze fell on the Mean Ol’ Broad lying beside the bed.

“That’s not gonna—”

My warning was cut off by Natalie, who catapulted over the bed and landed right on top of Electra’s injured arm. Enraged shrieks followed as Natalie pressed her advantage, pummeling Electra with repeated lightning-quick punches. After Electra went limp, Natalie snatched up the Broad, aimed at Electra’s head, and pulled the trigger.

Or tried to. She looked at the Mean Ol’ Broad in disgust, wiping her bloody nose with the back of her hand. “I can’t believe it. This old piece has bio-recog installed?”

I gave her my best guilty smile. “Can’t be too safe these days.”