This was theonlyway.
Lo plunged the letter opener deep into Alejandro’s heart.
TWENTY-THREEMayté
This wasn’t real.
The other croupiers released Alejandro.He dropped onto the floor, a bloodied dagger in his chest.
This was a terrible nightmare.
Mayté knew she would wake up and thank Dios that none of it was real.She would wake up.She had to.But the longer she stood there, looking between Lo and the boy she cared for, the more it sank in.
Lo had stabbed Alejandro.She had killed him.
Mayté screamed.
Misterioso backed away, hissing curses under his breath.
“Wh-wh-why?”Mayté’s lips wobbled.
“It was the only way to save you,” Lo responded.
Mayté dropped to her knees and crawled over to Alejandro.A pool of blood had already formed around him.His face twisted in pain and his chest heaved.She didn’t know what to do.An icy shock flowed through her.Even her tears felt cold as they dripped down her cheek.
Alejandro!No one was trying to help him.Why weren’t they?
The elevator doors opened and the Banker stepped out, face extra pale.He didn’t spare a glance at the bloody sight beforehim.“She’s amused.She wants to push up the final round.”With a sigh, he shook his head.“Someone clean this mess up.”He headed back for the elevator.
“Go with him.All of you,” Lo ordered Misterioso and the other croupiers with a growl.Even without the magic of La Corona, they obeyed.After they left, Lo herself sauntered to the elevator without looking back.
Carlos and Dominic remained, yet Mayté barely noticed them.The rest of the gambling den blurred around her until all she could see was Alejandro.With a sob, she folded herself over him.It didn’t matter that blood stained her robe and nightgown.“A-Alejandro …?”If she could race back to Carlos’s suite, perhaps there was a little bit of Dominic’s potion.“I have a bit of Dedo de Dios.”
“No,” Alejandro said, voice soft.He grabbed her hand, squeezing it: his fingers felt weak.“Stay … with me …” Tears coated his dark lashes.His lips twitched into a smile.Even as the life gradually dulled from his hazel eyes, they were still as beautiful as ever.
“Win … the game … be … happy.”
“NO!”Mayté sobbed and pressed his hand against her cheek.His knuckles felt cold.
They were supposed to leavetogether.
All of the could-have-beens swirled through her mind.Beautiful, but faded as the harsh grays of reality overtook them.They would never get to step into Milagro together.She would never get to show him the beautiful sunrise and the way the soft amber and pink hues painted over the distant mountains.He would never taste elote fresh off the grill or pick out a colorful serape to drape over the grass as the two of them lounged in thefountain garden.They would never make art together or know what could have happened between them outside of this hellish place.All of their beautiful hopes and wishes were now tainted with blood.
Alejandro tried to stroke her cheek, but his arm fell.He stiffened.He was gone.Dead.
Mayté took Alejandro’s hand and pressed it against her cheek.“NO,” she whispered.
There was nothing she could do to get him back.
She sat there with him, not knowing how much time had passed.It could have been a few minutes or several hours, but soon she heard footsteps.It wasn’t Carlos and Dominic come to comfort her.No.
“Señorita, we need to—”
“NO!”She laid herself on top of Alejandro, holding him tight.They weren’t going to take him away.She wouldn’t allow it.
But she was powerless.They easily pulled her up and dragged her into the elevator.
“Don’t touch her!”Carlos snapped, but the workers restrained him and Dominic, forcing them into the elevator as well.
