And yet, he hadn’t denied it.Lo felt like a pawn in the Banker’s game, yet she still couldn’t figure out his goal.Usually, she was the one in control, moving around the hearts of men for her own gain.Being on the other side of it was unexpectedly thrilling.
Because she couldn’t wait to take over the game and make it her own.
“I see, but it almost seems like youwantMisterioso to believe we’re in cahoots.”
The Banker smirked.
“Why?”Lo pressed.
“I think you’ll find it more pertinent to focus on the matter at hand.This may very well be your final round.”It wasn’t so much a threat as it was a vague warning.The playful excitement drained from his face.It was almost as if he were certain she would die.
And that made her hell-bent on proving him wrong.
“Round two of sudden death.”Misterioso strutted along the table and waved his arm for the crowd.“Let us begin.”
“Don’t forget that anything goes, this round.”The Banker shuffled the cards around.
“Oh, really?”Lo smirked.“Does that mean you’ll be able to play with us too, Señor Banker?”
But before the Banker could respond, one of the dancers sauntered over and whispered something in his ear.His face became deadly serious, and he nodded before stepping away from the table.
The dancer stepped into his place.“I am Pearla, and I will deal this round,” she said, voice cold.
Lo raised an eyebrow.She caught the Banker’s eye, and he simply half shrugged, before tossing the deck to Pearla, who caught it with ease.Her frilly dress was black as obsidian, and she wore a matching veil, obscuring her hair.Lustrous black pearls, shining in different deep shades of blues, greens, and purples adorned her bodice.That, combined with the skull mask, fully covering her face, made her look more sinister than the Banker ever had.
“This is an unexpected change,” Misterioso drawled.There was a tense undertone in his voice.
“I wanted to see this sudden death for myself,” Pearla simply said.
Misterioso stiffened.Lo would have loved to see what his face looked behind his mask.It surely hid a lot.
Pearla called out cards, voice loud and booming.She dealt fluidly, as if she had done so many times before.Lo couldn’t swallow back a feeling of unease.There may have been a strange tension between Misterioso and the Banker, but it had strengthened tenfold with Pearla here.
“Oh, what a shame,” Don Zelaya said with a triumphant smirk.“You don’t have your little joven to help you.Don’t think we haven’t noticed that you both are the reason we’re in thissituation.”With a chuckle, he raised his glass to Xiomara, who happily clinked her glass against his.
He couldn’t have been more wrong, but Lo ignored him.She wouldn’t let him frazzle her.
The first few cards were uneventful.El Melon.Pearla flicked her wrist and plates of fresh melon landed on the table.Then La Mariposa, where hundreds of orange monarch butterflies fluttered and flitted about.Xiomara oohed and ahhed, while Dominic caught one on his finger.Don Zelaya swatted at the ones that flew too close.Lo didn’t care so much about the butterflies.What she found much more delightful was the fact that her board was filling up.
“Lotería!”Xiomara proudly called out and waved her arms.
Lo’s smile fell.
Pearla checked Xiomara’s board before snapping her fingers.The board then appeared for everyone to see.She had a vertical line filled with beans.Damn it.Lo had only needed one more card in several spots to get lotería.
“Congratulations, Xiomara,” Misterioso said.“Now choose a card.”
Pearla held out several cards.Xiomara scrunched up her deep amber face in concentration before plucking one and holding it up.“La Corona.”A card with a golden crown covered in red rubies.
“Ah, a powerful card,” Misterioso said.“You will become a monarch within the game.You can order anyone to do your bidding and they will have to obey.How fortunate indeed.”
“Yikes,” Dominic whispered.
Lo gulped.At any moment, Xiomara could command one of them to kill themselves.She could end the round—if she was smart enough to do so.Don Zelaya leaned over and whisperedsomething in her ear.With a nod, Xiomara handed the card to him.
“What are you doing?”Lo asked.
“What does it look like?”Xiomara scoffed.“We’re working together.No one said that was against the rules.”
