Free The last game by Fernando Trujillo

this never-to-be-forgotten business makes any
difference to those who already have one foot in the grave? Your
theory´s far too elaborate. As far as I´m concerned it´d be a whole
lot easier to put everything into words instead of sending fucking
messages via that mutt over there.”
    Dante paused and looked at the dog than ran
his eye around the table. Everyone was listening to him. “She´s got
another reason for doing this. As far as I´m concerned she´s just
having fun at our expense. It must be breaking her up inside, all
the more so seeing the rubbish that’s been going on.”
    “It´s possible. We´ll never know for sure.
And really it doesn´t matter. Nothing does.”
    Alvaro was going to refute that last
sentence, but thought better of it. He couldn´t convince anyone who
was determined to die, and for better or worse the time had come to
finish all this. It was his turn to deal the cards and the moment
he’d been preparing for had arrived. A chill ran up his spine.
    To achieve his aim he needed Judith to
stay in the game, so he arranged the cards to give her an excellent
hand: four kings. He gave Dante a lower set of four and Hector
three of a kind. He didn´t want to leave him out, now that he
wanted to lose. He distracted them with a comment about the girl
and changed the pack of cards without them realizing it. Then he
began to deal.
    “I´ll kick things off with a little week
nothing more.” Dante said.
    Judith and Hector equaled the bet and Alvaro
did the same. It was better to raise later on. They discarded as
was to be expected. The preparation was perfect and everything was
going well. It was all about not doing anything stupid and staying
calm. He could pick the pace up later.
    “How about another week to heat things up a
bit.” Dante said.
    “Make that a month.” Judith countered.
    Hector accepted the bet. The game was moving
under its own steam. Alvaro decided to bet, but modestly. “Because
it´s the first time the four of us have played a hand together I´ll
raise it to two months.”
    “Very good, Doc.” Dante said approvingly.
“You want us to feel comfortable, don´t you? There´s no need to
sound so pleasant. The truth is you make me sick and it´s better to
speak straight with those you’re trying to kill. I’ll see this
miserable bet of yours and raise it six months. Let´s see if you
sound so friendly the next time you open your mouth.”
    “It´s my turn first.” Judith interrupted.
“And I´m going to accept that bet. I´d be more than happy to finish
up with six of your months.”
    Alvaro would have preferred Judith to have
raised the bet, but even with the hand he´d dealt her she was
cautious. At least she was still in the game. It was impossible to
fold with four kings.
    “I bet the lot.” Hector said. “There you´ve
got everything I´ve got left. I don´t have any need for chips
now.”
    He threw the cards down and leaned back on
the chair. Alvaro studied him with curiosity. For someone who was
determined to die he was as cool as a cucumber. But he´d put all he
had down. That was unexpected. Now Alvaro’s straight flush would
wipe them off the table and he´d be the winner, thanks to cheating.
But who’s perfect?
    “Well, I´m not going to back down now. I´m in
with the lot too.” Alvaro said.
    It was a certain bet that Dante would do the
same. Alvaro had analyzed everything very well and knew the old
businessman wouldn´t drop out now with four of a kind in his
hand.
    “ If you´re in, Doc, then so am I.” Dante
confirmed. “There´s all my chips, losers. Now there´s only you
left, princess.”
    Judith took her time. The hands that were
holding her cards were shaking as she scrutinized her hand. “It
looks like this is the last hand. I´ll see you too.”
    As soon as he heard those words Alvaro
knew that it was too late. A fraction of a second before he was
going to warn Judith not to bet. She´d come in quicker than he
thought. Too quick. No words or