“I wouldn’t know how that would be possible.”Yet despite everything, she took Lo’s hand.
“It is.I promise.”
As they climbed, she whispered her plan.
THIRTYLo
They reached the top of the pile.Together.
There was the card, bright, beautiful, and golden.From up here, the rest of the gambling salon looked small, unthreatening.As planned, Mayté snatched the card and held it up.
“I did it, Alejandro …,” she whispered.
An even brighter light shot out from the card.Glittering and miraculous, it washed over their glass prison, creating a spiderweb of cracks.Bigger and bigger, until it completely shattered and lit up the entire salon, It filled Lo with warmth and clarity.She still didn’t regret killing Alejandro to save her best friend, but everything else leading up to that … it was a terrible mistake.Even though she had thought of herself in control, the house had given the darkness inside her full control.And now she was free thanks to the miracle of El Beso de la Fortuna.“Mayté …” She fell onto Mayté’s lap.“Thank you.”
Mayté held her.“Everything’s going to be okay now.”
The mountain of petals shrank as the two girls slid to the bottom.Carlos met them there, holding Mayté’s Lotería board in one hand and a bean in the other.“Mayté, look.”
Her board had every space filled except for the one of the middle squares which contained a picture of El Beso de laFortuna.With trembling fingers, she took the bean and placed it on the space.“Lotería!”she cried out.
Trumpets blared and golden confetti rained down from above.
“And we have a winner,” Misterioso said in disbelief.“Congratulations, María Teresa!We will now grant your wish.What is it that you most desire?Fortune?Power?”His eyes cut to Lo.“Revenge?”
Mayté squeezed Lo’s hand.She took a deep breath.“I wish for Lorena de León to replace Loretta de León as supreme Gamemaker for all time.”
Loretta stiffened, and Misterioso’s jaw went slack.
Lo flashed them a wicked smile.Her earlier dreams may have shattered …
Loretta wasn’t the Mamá she knew.
But Sera and Sofia were free of her father, and they would have his fortune.
What good would it do if Lo returned?
Frankly, she didn’t want to return.Not anymore.
Loretta’s folded hands tightened.“Is that so?But would that not make you the same as me?”She tried to sound calm, but Lo had become quite good at reading people.It helped her perform.Survive.She could sense her mother’s calm facade unraveling like the threads off a beautiful but cheaply made gown.“Do this, and you’ll become exactly what you despise.”
“I disagree,” Lo said, truly at peace.“I understand now what drove you to this, but that doesn’t excuse the terrible things you’ve allowed to take place.I won’t use my pain to destroy the innocent.”She nodded at Mayté, who grinned back at her.
Loretta stood.Her bronze face twisted with fury and panic.“You can’t do this!”
“Actually.She can.”Miguel walked over.He pulled off his tie, tossing it aside.“Mayté’s wish is earned.That trumps all.”
“I have told you my wish,” Mayté said, voice firm.“Now make it come true.”
Loretta stiffened, before dropping to her knees and writhing in pain.Orange lights raced from her chest and floated toward her daughter.
Lo closed her eyes as a powerful heat flowed through her veins.It felt good.Felt right.Now the world almost felt new.The house looked even more splendorous.Glittering dust wafted down sparkling under the candlelight.Marigold petals were sprinkled among the golden rubble.Lorena de León felt more alive than ever before.This was truly who she was, and where she belonged.
Loretta already looked more her age, an accordion of creases across her forehead.A few strands of shiny gray mingled with her curls like spider silk.Her nostrils flared and her face turned red.“What will become of me?”
Lo smiled.“Sera and Sofia need you, you’ll remember how to love them.”
There was a power in Lo’s words as she spoke them.Simply saying it, she could feel a pulsating shift in the air.This was what Gamemakers were capable of.As Loretta said, they could do anything.
