Poker Face (The Masks Series Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

will to run, but my brain stopped me. There was nothing I could do to escape this without being raped or shot. So instead, I squished that banana until my toast was flat like a piece of paper.
    Santiago’s eyebrows rose with amusement. My knife clattered onto the plate and I picked up my floppy toast and tried to eat it.
    “I am guessing you looked out your window this morning. You know where you are?”
    I nodded, licking a few crumbs off my lip.
    “Do you know which casino you are in?”
    I shook my head.
    “Huh.” He grinned. “Well, welcome to Palacio del Diablo.”
    “What does that mean?” I frowned.
    He chuckled, his eyes lighting with glee. “The Devil’s Palace.”
    My face scrunched with disgust, making him chortle.
    “Come, come, you have not seen it yet.” He winked. “It is actually the newest casino in Las Vegas. I only opened it six months ago and we are doing...” He nodded, lavish pride blooming over his face. “Very well.”
    “So what do you need me for then?” I dropped my half-eaten toast onto the plate and dusted off my fingers.
    “I am going to try you in a few different areas. I’m thinking security may be useful, but you were also incredibly valuable to Miguel at his poker game.” He tapped his forefingers together. “Think of this as a trial period. We will work out where you are most useful to me and go from there.”
    I nodded, dropping my gaze to the table as my mind raced with ways I could play this. If I was useless in the areas I didn’t like and shone at the things that weren’t so bad...
    “Remember Carlotta.” He touched my arm. “I need your best effort.”
    My eyes shot to his and I felt like I’d been caught doing something wrong. He couldn’t read minds, could he?
    I studied his face carefully, trying to figure it out, and quickly came to the sinking conclusion that although he might not be a mind-reader, he was intelligent and he wouldn’t let me get away with anything.
    “I know you don’t need me to keep repeating myself, but you saw last night how much Bruno wants you.” Santiago tipped his head. “He has always been fond of blonde girls and...” Santiago grimaced. “That boy seems to thrive on fear.”
    The words dripped off his tongue like a poisonous warning.
    “I do not know where he gets it from, but...” Santiago’s finger trailed slowly up my arm, his light caress sending spikes of terror prickling down my back. “He would have so much fun with you.”
    I jerked away from his touch, rubbing the goosebumps from my arms. “I told you, if you let him touch me I’ll be worthless to you.”
    “Oh, I know.” Santiago grinned. “I wanted to assure you that if you do your best for me, I will keep you safe, untouched.” He tipped his head with a small shrug. “However, if you do not, I will be gifting you to Bruno and when he is done, we’ll sell you to the highest bidder.”
    He flashed me a broad smile, revealing straight white teeth; shark teeth that could rip me to pieces in a flash.
    “Do I have your word on that?” I squeaked.
    “Look at my face and you tell me.” He leaned towards me and I scrutinized his mask-less expression, my head finally bobbing in a shaky rhythm.
    With a chuckle, he rubbed his hands together. “I am glad we understand each other.”
    An icy numbness settled over my body, my joints feeling stiff and unusable as my brain tried to shut down, but Santiago wouldn’t let it. He popped from his chair with the vigor of an elementary school kid.
    “By the time you finish your food, there will be fresh clothes waiting for you. I want you showered and dressed within the hour.”
    I glanced up at him.
    “Sal will guard your door. You are safe.”
    He spun away and left the room. As soon as he was gone, the waitress stepped in and started clearing the table. She wouldn’t look at me, just kept her eyes down and her hands busy.
    I didn’t have the strength to talk to her. I barely had the willpower to function.