Page 76 of Fortune's Kiss
By now, Dominic’s entire body trembled.Blood dripped down his chin, staining his shirt, coating his eyelashes, and covering his lips.He didn’t dare wipe it away.Lo didn’t blame him.Who knew if that would count against him?
“Shake hands with my greatest rival at this table.”
Dominic hesitated as he stared at the three of them.
The answer was clearly Don Zelaya.He was the biggest threat in this game.
But instead, Dominic turned and held his hand out to Lo.A small trail of blood made its way to his shoulder, snaking down his sleeve.
“What?Are you sure?”Lo stammered.
He nodded, looking scared but certain.She slowly raised her hand and he grabbed it, shaking it.
“You have youth … and beauty.”Dominic spat away blood.“You’re the most sought-after young woman in Milagro and rejected the chance to become her daughter-in-law.She can’t stand the thought of someone from your bloodline getting so much adoration.From the moment your paths crossed in here, she has looked only at you.”
“Correct,” Señora Montoya said, sounding like she wanted to scream.“You … win.”
Dominic ripped off the bonnet, and it vanished.Some of the croupiers clapped for him.With a triumphant grin, he wiped his bloody face and shook out his hair like a dog.
“Congratulations,” Misterioso said, with a voice equal parts eager and amused.“My, this round is a long one.”He clasped his hands together and grinned, clearly still riding the sickening high from Rodrigo’s death.
“Then please let it end,” Mayté mumbled from her seat.Next to her, Carlos nodded.
“Every game has a loser,” Misterioso said as if he hadn’t heard her.“And I’m curious who it will be.”
Pearla drew the next card.“La Dama.”The card flashed, flipped out of her hand, and grew in size.A woman stepped out.She wore a ruffled gown the color of a deep blush.Purple ruffles and stripes of white silk accented her figure and gathered at her decolletage.For a moment, all Lo could focus on was the gown.It was as if her mind refused to comprehend anything else, but once it did, her blood ran cold.
Mamá!
Thick, bouncy brown curls hung at her waist.Her droopy brown eyes sparkled, and her full lips curled into a knowing smile.Golden bronze skin glowed under the candlelight.It really was her.She looked exactly the way she had when she had left Lo.Without even a sign of wrinkles or aging.She didn’t have streaks of gray in her hair or puffy eyebags like Mayté’s mother, or fine lines on her forehead and around her mouth like Señora Montoya.She looked the way Lo remembered her.Nothing about her had changed.Not even the length of her hair or the way she parted it to the side.
Mamá locked eyes with her.Her smile grew as she crooked her finger, beckoning for her.
Just like she always used to do.Mamá would never call out to her.Instead, she would wiggle her finger, and Lo always knew to come.They were connected like that.It wasn’t until she was much older that she realized that Mamá probably did that so as to not draw her father’s attention.Better to stay hidden, and in such a large hacienda, it usually worked.How many times had Lo pretended not to hear when her father called for her?
“La Dama has chosen you, Lorena.Your life is on the line.”
She stared at Mamá, searching for any sort of reaction, but Mamá simply smiled.
Lo’s stomach flip-flopped.Why wasn’t she saying anything?“Ma—”
“Vamos a bailar.”Mamá cut her off and pulled her into a dance.She swung her hips and twirled her skirt, all while staring expectantly at Lo.
Lo wanted to argue.Scream at Mamá to just stop and talk to her.She had so many questions.But she had to remind herself that this was a challenge.The questions could wait.Lo stood, and music filled the air.The shake of maracas.The lively strum of guitars.But there wasn’t a musician in sight.Mamá had always loved to dance.At every fiesta, she spent most of the night on the dance floor twirling around and clapping her hands.Smiling and accepting dances from any man who would ask.
And then afterward she and Lo’s father would scream at each other until the wee hours of the morning.He always hated that she danced.Accused her of being unfaithful with every man she danced with.But most of all, Lo was sure he just hated seeing her happy.
The music swelled louder as Lo approached Mamá.She grabbed the ruffled hem of her gown and twirled around.Mamáspun with her.The memories of all her dance lessons came back.The countless hours learning how to move her legs and twirl around in her dress.
Good girl.
Look at my bonita mamita.
Soon you’ll be dancing like your Mamá.
Lo glanced back at the table.Don Zelaya stared, deep wrinkles cutting into his forehead.Dominic covered his mouth and looked away.The Banker lingered near the other croupiers.He watched with interest.
Her heart flipped in her chest.
