Freeze, I thought, ducking to the side into another suite. Fat fucking chance, babe.

My ears were still ringing from the grenade’s explosion. I wasn’t sure how many men had been in the stairwell, but was pretty sure they’d be out of commission for the rest of the fight.

One had come through fast when I’d thrown the grenade. A woman, by the sound of her, swingin’ around a combat shottie that looked like bad business.

Kept moving. There was an access door between these two suites that I’d opened earlier, in anticipation. Closed it carefully behind me and crept to the hallway door to listen to the cop’s subdued breathing, her careful footsteps.

Smart girl. Keep clear of that door. No tellin’ what kind’ve nasties are waiting.

“Fuck, Benito,” she cursed. I froze. “Yeah, I know you, motherfucker. Nowhere for you to run. Come out, hands up, and you might get out of this alive.”

Not likely, I thought. On either count.

Her boots screeched on marble and I stabbed my thumb down on the switch in my hand.