Carrie smiled to herself, humming as she flopped onto the unmade bed. She wrapped herself in the sheets, her naked body still hot to the touch. Ansel had just left, and she could still feel the delicious warmth from their afternoon of lovemaking.

He really is a lot of fun, the brunette thought, licking her lips to taste the aftermath of Ansel’s salty kisses. I hope I run into him again before he leaves.

The encounter in his suite with the gunmen had scared her, but Ansel had explained their arrival with near laughter.

“They weren’t real guns,” he had told her reassuringly. “It was just a bad joke my manager was playing on me. He had no idea that you would be there.”

Carrie had been skeptical at first, but Ansel had licked away her fears in seconds, and she had soon believed him.

After all, she reasoned, if they had been out to hurt us, they wouldn’t have left witnesses behind.

Carrie stretched leisurely and sighed happily.

A knock on the door caused her to jump, but she instantly relaxed, a grin exploding on her face as she jumped to her feet, wrapping a sheet firmly around her chest.

He’s back for more already, huh? What a beast!

She threw open the door and gasped.

“Hello, sweetheart. Remember me?”

The man pushed his way inside the hotel room, and Carrie stepped back, trying to make sense of what he was doing there.

“Ansel isn’t here,” she explained quickly, looking behind the man who Ansel had called Tony. She was relieved to note that he wasn’t carrying a gun, but she was beginning to doubt Ansel’s story.

“I know, honey,” Tony replied, allowing the door to close behind him. Carrie gulped back her fear and stared at him.

“What do you want?” she whispered.

“I just want a little bit of information, sweetheart. I saw your boyfriend leave just now, and I was hoping you and I could have a little chat.”

Carried pulled the sheet tighter around her body, her face growing hot.

“I can’t help you. I don’t know anything,” she told him flatly.

Tony grinned lazily and looked around the room.

“I just wanna know a bit more about your boyfriend,” he explained. “What can you tell me about him?”

“He’s not my boyfriend. I barely know him at all!” she protested, gaping at him. “We only met a couple days ago after his fight.” And even if she knew something, she wouldn’t tell this man anything.

“You seem to be his go-to girl here in Vegas,” Tony purred, stepping closer. “You must know something,”

It was then that Carrie saw the gun in his waistband, and she shuddered slightly.

“You don’t need to get hurt, sweetie,” he continued. “I just wanna know why he is the way he is.”

Carrie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“I don’t know anything about Ansel,” she told him. “I only know what I’ve read in the papers. He’s a heavyweight champion from England.”

Tony scowled, reaching for his pistol. He struggled to remove it for a second, and even though Carrie had the opportunity to run, she decided not to risk it.

I’ll tell him whatever he needs to know, and then he’ll go, she thought. He let me go last time. There’s no need for any violence this time either.

“You’re gonna have to do better than that, honey,” Tony growled. “I wanna know everything about him. Tell me about his family.”

Carrie shook her head again, her face gaunt as he waved the firearm in front of her.

“I swear, I don’t know anything about him!” she insisted. “Until a couple days ago, I only knew who he was from boxing. And…”

“And what?” Tony demanded, his patience waning.

Carrie lowered her hazel eyes downward, whispering her answer. “And we didn’t do a lot of talking.”

“Well,” Tony spat in resignation. “You are completely useless to me.” He raised the gun, and Carrie screamed out in terror.

“No! Wait!” she cried. “I know he has a girlfriend! Or an ex-girlfriend!”

Tony lowered his weapon slightly. “Oh? What about her?” Carrie struggled to catch her breath, terror spotting her vision.

“He’s looking for her. She probably knows everything about him!”

“I need a name, sweetheart,” Tony said. When Carrie remained silent, finding it was harder to breathe, he barked, “What’s her name?”

“Nora!” she gasped. “Nora…”

Suddenly her mind went completely blank as she tried to recall the name she had seen Ansel searching for in his computer.

“I’m waiting,” Tony hissed.

Carrie closed her eyes, trying to focus. “Nora…” She begged her brain to produce the information she needed.

The first shot landed in Carrie’s shoulder, and her eyes flew open in shock.

Tony had shot her.

“The next one will end it all,” he said flatly. “Give me a last name and give it to me now.”

Carrie shook her head, dizziness overwhelming her. Was this how her life was going to end? She had slept with the wrong guy, and now she would get murdered for it?

She gazed down at the blood gushing from her arm before looking back up at Tony.

“Nora Chambers,” she mouthed, falling onto the mattress.

Tony nodded approvingly. “Very good, sweetheart. Now, what else do you know about him?”

Carrie tried to shake her head, but the effort proved to be too much.

“I know you know why they call him ‘The Dragon’,” Tony continued. “How did he become that way?”

Spots danced before Carrie’s eyes, and she slipped toward unconsciousness. The question did not make any sense to her.

Why is he asking about his stage name? What does he want with Ansel?

“I need a doctor,” she moaned.

Tony snorted. “You tell me what I need to know, honey, and you can call yourself a doctor. If not…”

Carrie didn’t need to hear the rest of his sentence to know what he meant.

“I… don’t… know… what…” Her words were barely a slur. She didn’t even know what she was saying anymore. “Nora… Chambers…”

Before her eyes fell closed, she watched as Tony pointed the gun at her again. The last thing Carrie ever heard was the sound of him firing another bullet at her.