And yet—
His eyebrows furrowed.“Now I just want us to make it out of here.Alive.”
Lo’s fluttering heart slowed.What didshewant?When this began, she could have confidently answered: she wanted Mamá.A way for her family to start anew.
Hours ago, she also could have answered: destroy Fortune’s Kiss.
But now … now everything felt empty and dull.As if her soul were already claimed by this wretched place.
Carlos was kind, but as much as she cared about him, they could never be together.Maybe in another world.Another life.One where her mother never left and Señor Robles didn’t destroy his family.But in this life, no.She hugged him tighterand buried her face in his chest.Her pounding heart was almost as loud as the howling winds.
Maybe they could have stayed like this forever, but El Abysmo had a different idea.The force grew even more powerful, pulling Carlos and Lo’s feet off the floor.Carlos gritted his teeth as he struggled to hold on.
But what about Mayté?
There was something that Lo wanted: for her best friend to be safe.She frantically looked around.Wreckage flew through the air.The debris circled the black hole in the room’s center.
Mayté and Dominic held on to a different table.Dominic coughed and coughed.His chest convulsed.
As Lo stared, he lost hold of the table—
And plummeted toward the spinning vortex.
TWENTY-FIVEMayté
Time slowed.One moment, Dominic was next to her, clinging to the table for dear life.The next, he was gone, sliding toward El Abysmo—its mouth ravenous and greedy, ready to swallow him whole.
“DOMINIC!”Mayté caught him by the arm.Her feet flew from under her, and the two plummeted toward the black hole.She barely managed to grab part of a curtain.It was enough to stop their momentum.She cried out.It felt like her arm would rip off at any moment, but she refused to let go.She couldn’t.Wouldn’t.A loud rip filled the air.The curtain’s threads began to pop and unravel.
“Mayté.”Dominic looked back at her.His bloodstained lips curved into a half smile.
Her blood ran cold.
“Remember me, Mayté.”He shook free from her weak grip.
Mayté screamed, “No!”The force of El Abysmo dragged him into the black hole.As soon as it swallowed him, it vanished.She fell to the floor just as the curtain tore.
He was gone.
Mayté slammed her fist into the floor with a screaming sob.
Dominic.
Would the house never be satisfied?How much more horror did they have to endure?
Misterioso spoke, but she couldn’t make out his words over the roar in her ears.She didn’t want to.
She glanced at Carlos, who helped Lo back to the table.
Was it even possible to save them?Mayté didn’t know anymore.
“Señorita.”Antonio the shopkeeper knelt before her.“You must return to the table so the game can continue.”
Mayté wanted to lash out at him, but she bit her tongue.It wasn’t his fault.He was just another victim of this Dios forsaken place.
She stood on shaky legs.The gambling den was in shambles.Tables and chairs were strewn around the room, vases and statues cracked.But despite it all, the golden embellishments shone brighter than ever.
Carlos and Lo found seats at the table.Her brother looked miserable, cradling his head in hands, and Lo …
