The last game Read Online Free PDF

work out because he still
hadn´t touched his cards, which made Alvaro wonder about his
fascination with the girl. Everyone there knew who´d invited them
and who the little girl was, but Hector couldn´t take his eyes of
her. Maybe her shadow intrigued him more than her. Maybe he was
still trying to work out how that was possible?
    “Pass.” Hector said when it was his turn to
call.
    He still hadn´t touched his cards. Alvaro
didn´t know what he was up to. This was a game in which you had to
pay attention to everything. But there was Hector without the least
interest in what was going on. That very fact started to worry
Alvaro. His rival´s filthy, ragged appearance was one thing,
perhaps part of a strategy to confuse his opponents. But Alvaro was
already looking deeper than that, looking for the personality
within which decided each action in game of poker. If he couldn´t
unveil the mystery that surrounded Hector he wouldn´t be able to
work his emotions out, or anticipate his game. And Alvaro needed to
do that.
    “We still haven´t talked about why we´re
here.” Alvaro said casually. “I´m a surgeon and I still haven´t
been informed about why I received this invitation. Our little
friend still hasn´t said anything.”
    Judith was curious. “Seriously? How strange!
It must be a mistake then.”
    Alvaro thought the same. But judging by the
way Judith had spoken it seemed that she had all the information
she needed. Maybe that applied to the rest of them.
    “ Very interesting.” Dante said, irritated.
“How about playing?”
    “ Of course.” Alvaro agreed, throwing a
couple of chips onto the table. “I´ll bet two. And you, Hector, can
you tell us something to make the night a little more
interesting?”
    Hector looked away from the little girl for
the first time since they´d sat down. “I can´t tell you anything.
Your chit-chat doesn´t interest me.”
    “We just want to be entertained a little,
that´s all.” Alvaro informed him.
    “You can see how this rag and bone man
answers a stupid question. You´ve got to be more direct.” Dante
suggested. “Like, when was the last time you changed your
clothes?”
    “ Leave him alone.” Judith said, her voice
way too soft to transmit authority. It was difficult to imagine
such a sweet looking face getting angry. At least that´s what
Alvaro thought. “If he doesn´t want to tell us anything, that´s his
business. Why don´t you tell us something instead? ” She challenged
Dante.
    “ Let´s cool it a bit.” Alvaro said. “We can
start by telling the others what we do. I´ve already told you I´m a
surgeon. And you Dante?”
    Dante didn´t answer straight away. He dealt
the cards according to the discards. Only Hector who´d passed
didn’t get one.
    ” I´m a businessman, an investor.” Dante finally
said.
    “That´s all I need to hear. Don´t you know
who this rogue is?” Hector scoffed, directing his comment to
Alvaro. The surgeon looked at Dante again. His face was familiar.
“He´s a corrupt speculator who . . .”
    Dante was already off his seat. “What did you
say, gutter snipe?”
    Although Dante was at least twenty years
older than Hector, he had a wiry build and in a scrap Alvaro would
have put his money on the older man. But all of that didn´t bother
Hector, still sitting on his chair without having bat an
eyelash.
    Dante took one step towards Hector but
froze with one foot in the air. A growl echoed through the room as
Zeta stood in his way, his enormous legs tensed, ready to spring,
his fangs bared.
    “ Play!” The girl said, smiling. She was
building a house with her chips. “I want to play some more. Isn´t
it pretty?” She asked, slapping the table both sides of her
castle.
    “ Ve . . . very pretty.” Judith said to
placate her.
    “ I´d sit down again if I were you.” Alvaro
advised Dante. “Do what the girl says.”
    Dante´s eyes were fixed on the dog, who at
that moment looked more like a black lion. The beast would