“I had every intention of returning.But once I was given the choice, I didn’t want to leave Fortune’s Kiss.It became … everything to me.”
Each of her words was like a venomous barb latching on to her heart.
Lo had come here for her Mamá.This woman wasn’t her.Not anymore.
There was nothing left here to fight for.
Nothing worth saving.
And then a small voice inside her whispered, “Except Mayté.”
Mayté.
The red haze that had surrounded her every thought began to dissipate, and for a moment everything became clear as a cloudless morning.
Without another word, Lo ran from the room.Take me to Mayté.Take me straight to her.But the house wasn’t leading herin any particular direction.Was her power gone?Had her mother removed it?
She lifted her skirts and sprinted to the elevator.She kept smacking the button until the doors opened.She had to find Mayté before it was too late.
The elevator descended, but not fast enough.Soon Lo heard muffled shouts.
“Stop!Don’t hurt her!It’s me you want!STOP!”
The doors opened and Lo stumbled into the gaming den.A crowd of croupiers surrounded a table.
“Stop!”Alejandro yelled, as other croupiers held him back.His makeup was smeared and his left eye bruised and swollen.Blood dribbled down his busted lip.His wide eyes were trained on something across the room.
Lo’s heart almost stopped.
Misterioso had Mayté by the neck, pinned against the main table.“You’ve made enough of a mockery of my game!”he snarled.“And now that you’ve cheated, the house won’t care what I do to you!”
Lo’s vision flashed red.“STOP!”
“L-Lo,” Mayté whimpered.
“Cheaters cannot win,” Misterioso hissed.“Either I deal with them or the house will.”
He was right.Lo’s mother had said as much.
But there was a way out.
Alejandro met Lo’s eyes.He knew it, too: the one way they could give Mayté a chance to survive.
“Please,” he said quietly.“I’m begging you.”He lowered his head.
Lo knew exactly what Alejandro was asking.She knew what she had to do.
She strode toward him.
“Lo?”Mayté whimpered.
“Lo?What are you—?”Carlos.He was being restrained at another table.Dominic was with him.“Stop!”
Lo couldn’t feel her own heart pounding anymore.Maybe it was gone.Destroyed.
She pulled the letter opener out of her bodice.
It had to be done.Lo believed her mother.It was her house, after all.
